In 1580, the new Lord Deputy of Ireland, Lord Arthur Grey de Wilton, came to Dublin with 3000 troops to end the Desmond Rebellion. Accompanied with his secretary, Edmund Spenser, the great English poet, he proved, in battle and in transactions with the enemy, formidable but flawed. This play follows the historical relation closely. This historical drama maintains the classical form of tragedy in English with seven scenes of dialogue and seven choral performances.