it fit to giue you particular notice of this our purpose and to require you to use all your authoritie and your judgement likewise tâ—ward our people there as well of the Townes as others to make this new course pleasing and well liking to them vpon such reasons as are contained in our Proclamation publishing the same and as you may gather touching the same out of such other matters as haue passed from vs to our Deputie and Councell there or betweene vs and our Treasurer of Ireland concerning this matter whereof wee haue given order that herewith Copies shall bee sent vnto you by which you will be sufficiently instructed of apparant reasons to leade vs to doe it although it be a matter which wee need not make gracious with any reason at all being meerely dependant of our Prerogatiue to alter the Standerd of our Moneys at our pleasure Wherefore though wee nothing doubt of your forwardnesse to further whatsoever wee finde reason to command Yet we require you in this thing as a matter which wee would haue well founded in the first establishing to giue all attention of it as well by your owne actions as by assisting Our Treasurer and his Deputies in the uttering of these newe Moneyes and bringing in all others according to the course of Our Exchange which by Our Proclamation you may perceiue that wee haue instituted to make the matter better accepted of Our people Given vnder Our Signet at Our Mannour of Greenwitch this sixteenth day of May one thousand sixe hundred and one in the three and fourtieth yeere of Our Raigne The Copie of the Proclamation for publishing the new Money for Ireland THe Queenes most excellent Majestie finding by the Records of both her Realmes of England and Ireland that in the times of divers her Progenitors Kings of England and Ireland it hath beene accustomed as a thing by them found convenient for the good of the loyall Subjects of both Realmes that there should bee a difference betweene the Standerds of the monies allowed to bee currant in each of her said Realmes and knowing by many Lawes of this her Realme of England and namely by one made in the third yeare and another in the nineteenth yeare of Her Majesties Grandfather of famous memory King Henry the seventh that the tranâ—portation of monies of the Coyne and Standard of England into that his Realme of Ireland is severely forbidden under great penaltieâ— perceiving also by experience in some part heretofore but more fully and apparantly now of late yeares since the last Rebellions which haue caused Her Majestie to send great summes of money into that Realme for the paiment of her Armie for other services that a great part of such monies into that Realme sent doe either come into the hands of the Rebels by divers slights and cunnings of theirs who by the use and meanes thereof trafficking in forraine Countâ—ies doe releeue themselues with such warlicke provisions as they need as with Powder Lead Match Armour and Weapons of all sorts and with Wines Cloath and other necessaries without which they could not possibly so long subsist in their treasonable courses and bring so huge Calamities to the rest of her good Subjects and waste the whole Realme or else the said sterling monies aswell in respect of their goodnesse being better then the monies of other Countries is also for want of merchandize wherein to employ them which that Countrey now specially since the Rebellion doth not yeeld are partly by Merchants Strangers and partly by the naturall Merchants of the Countrey vsing trade in forraine Countâ—ies transported from thence into the said Countries to the inestimable losse and impoverishment aswell of that Realme of Ireland as also chiefely of this Her Majesties Realme of England Hath therefore in Her Majesties princely wisedome entered into consideration with the advice of her Privie Councell how these great inconveniences might be avoyded and found after long and serious debating that the readiest way to prevent the same is to reduce the State of her Monies and Coynes to the ancient course of her Progenitors that is to a difference in finenes betweene the monies of this Realme of England and that her Realme of Ireland And for that purpose hath caused great quantities of moneys according to the ancient Standard which was in use for that Realme in the dayes of Her Majesties Father Brother and Sister to bee coyned here into severall peeces of shillings sixpences and peeces of threepence stamped with Her Highnesse Armes crowned and inscription of her vsuall stile on the one side and on the other with the Harpe crowned being the Armes of that her Kingdome of Ireland with the inscription Posui deum Adjutorem meum and also certaine peeces of small moneyes of meere Copper of pence halfepence and farthings for the use of the poorer sort stamped on each side as the other And the same moneyes so coyned hath sent into her said Realme of Ireland there to bee established as the lawfull and currant moneyes of that Realme and so to bee uttered and issued aswell to the Armies and Officers in payments to them as also to all other her Subjects of that Realme and others there abiding or thither resorting for trafficke and intercourse of buying selling and all other manner of trading amongst themselues which sayd Coynes as well of Silver of three ounces fine as also of meere Copper for small Moneyes her Majestie doeth hereby publish and make knowne to all men to bee from thencefoorth immediately after the publishing of this Proâ—lamation her Coyne of Moneys established and authorised to bee lawfull and currant within that her Realme of Ireland and proper to that Kingdome and doth expressely will and command the same to bee so used reputed and taken of all her subjects of that Realme and of all others conversing there And doth expressely charge and command that they nor any of them shall not after the day of the publishing heereof refuse reject or denie to receiue in payment of Wages Fees Stipend or in payment of Debts or in Bargaine or for any other matter of Trade Commerce or dealing betweene Man and Man any of the said Moneys of either kind either mixt of Silver or pure Copper but that they shall receiue and accept the same at such values and rates as they are coyned for viz. shillings for shillings pieces of sixpence for sixpence and so of all other the severall kinds of that Coyne respectiuely Denouncing hereby to all such as shall be found wilfully and obstinately to refuse the said Moneyes of this New Standerd being tendâ—ed unto them in payments or in any dealings betweene partie and partie that they shall for that their contempt receiue such punishment as by her Majesties Prerogatiue Royall may be inâ—licted upon persons contemning puâ—lique Orders established for the universall good of that her Realme And to the end the said Moneyes may the better haue their due course and passage among
minde Sir Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy And at that time the Presidencie of Mounster being voyd by the unfortunate death of Sir Thomas Norris lately slaine by the rebels shee made election of Sir George Carew Knight who was by his former services experienced in the Irish warres to be the Lord President of that Province The 23 of Februarie these Lords embarqued at Beaumarris and upon the day following they landed at the head of Hothe lodging that night at the Lord of Hothes house and the next day they rode to Dublin where by the relation of the Councell they found a miserable torne state utterly ruined by the Warre and the rebels swollen with pride by reason of their manifest victories which almost in all encounters they had lately obtayned The President although hee much desired to employ himselfe in his government yet he was enforced to make a long stay in Dublin as well to assemble the Forces allotted unto him by order out of England to bee in list 3000 Foot and 250 Horse which were dispersed in sundry remote Garrisons as to procure the dispatch of his Instructions from the State which is usuall and of sundry Commissions under the great Seale of Ireland which of custome is graunted to every President but especially the passing of his Office by vertue of her Majesties Warrant under the great Seale of that Realme the Copies of which Warrant Letters Pattents and Instructions I doe heere insert as ensueth Her Maiesties Warrant RIght Trustie and Welbeloved wee greet you well Our Province of Mounster in that our Realme of Ireland being without a principall Officer to governe it ever since the death of Thomas Norris Knight late President there And the tumultuous state of that Province requiring the government of a person of Iudgement and Experience Wee haue made choise of our servant Sir George Carew Knight Lieutenant of our Ordnance heere To commit to him the charge of that part of our Realme as one whom we know besides his faithfull and diligent endeavours informer services to bee well acquainted with the estate of that our Realme where he is a Councellor and with the condition and nature of that Province Wherefore we require you immediatly upon the taking of our Sword and chiefe charge of that our Realme of Ireland as our Deputie according to our Commission graunted to you To cause a Commission to bee made out vnder our great Seale of that our Realme of Ireland to the said Sir George Carew of the Office and Charge of President of our Province of Mounster in such manner and forme as Iohn and Thomas Norris Knights or any other our Presidents of that Province haue used to haue or with any such other clauses as you shall thinke that the present State of our affaires there doth require Giving him thereby power to rule and governe our people in that Province with the advice of our Councell there according to such Instructions and Directions as haue been given by us or our Councell heere or our Deputies of that our Realme or shall heereafter bee directed to him for the government of that Province The same his power to continue during our pleasure And our further will and pleasure is that he receiue towards his charges all such Allowances Fees Profits and Entertainments of Horse and Foot as Sir Thomas Norris Knight our late President at the time of his death had The same to begin from the day of the date hereof and to continue during our pleasure And these shall be to you and to our Treasurer for the payment thereof sufficient warrant and discharge Given under our Signet at our Mannour of Richmond the seven and twentieth day of Ianuary in the two and fortieth yeare of our raigne c. The Letters Patents ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all men to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Whereas our Province of Mounster in that our Realme of Ireland being without a principall Officer to governe it ever sithence the death of Sir Thomas Norris Knight late President there And the tumultuous State of that Province requiring the government of a person of Iudgement and Experience Wee haue made choice of our trustie and welbeloved Servant Sir George Carew Knight Lieutenant of our Ordnance in our Realme of England and one of our Privie Councell of our sayd Realme of Ireland and to commit to him the charge and government of that part of our realme as one whom wee know besides his faithfull and diligent endeavours in former services to bee well acquainted with the State of that our realme and with the condition and nature of that Province Knowye that wee reposing our trust in the Wisedome Valour Dexteritie Fidelitie and Circumspection of the sayd Sir George Carew Knight of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion and according to the tenor and effect of our Letters on that behalfe directed to our right trustie and right welbeloved Councellor Charles Lord Mountioy Knight of the most noble Order of our Garter and our Deputie generall of our realme of Ireland dated at Richmond the seven and twentieth day of Ianuarie in the two and fourtieth yeere of our raigne Haue given and graunted and by these presents doe giue and graunt to our said Servant George Carew Knight the Office of our Lord President of our said province of Mounster And the said George Carew Knâ—ght our Lord President and Governour of the said province by these presents doe make ordaine and constitute and to the said George the government of the said Province and of our people there resident doe commit And further wee doe giue and graunt by these presents to the said George Carew Knight in and for the exercise and execution of the said Office all such Authorities Iurisdictions Preheminences Dignities Wages Fees Allowances and profits whatsoever which Iohn Norris Knight or the said Thomas Norris Knight or any other President of that province haue used to haue And with such other clauses or articles of Authoritie as our said Deputie shall thinke that the present state of our affaires there doth require to bee further graunted unto him the said George Carew Knight Giving him heereby full power and authoritie to rule and governe our people under that province with the advice of our Councell there according to such Instructions and Directions as hath been given by us or our Councell heere or our Deputies of that our realme or shall hereafter bee directed to him for the government of that Province To haue exercise and enjoy the said Office to and by the said George Carew Knight with other the premises and all Authorities preheminences wages fees entertainments and profits to the sayd Office belonging and all such allowances profits entertainments of Horse and Foot as the said Thomas
and goods which all are in hazard through your folly and want of due consideration Enter I beseech you into the closet of your Conscience and like a wise man weigh seriously the end of your actions and take advise of those that â—an instruct you and informe you better then your owne private judgement can leade you unto Consider and reade with attention and setled minde this Discourse I sende you that it may please God to set open your eyes and graunâ— you a better minde From the Campe this instant Tuesday the fixt of March according to the new Computation I pray you to send mee the Papers I sent you assoone as your Honour shall reade the same O Neale The Lord Barries Answer to Tyrone YOur Letters I received and if I had answered the same as rightfully they might be answered you should haue as little like therof as I should mislike or feare any thing by you threatned against me which manner of Answere leaving to the construction and consideration of all those that are fully possessed with the knowledge of the Law of duetie to God and Man You may understand hereby briefly my mind to your obiections in this manner How I am undoubtedly perswaded in my conscience that by the Law of God and his true religion I am bound to hold with her Maiestie Her Highnesse hath never restrained me for matters of religion and as I felt her Maiesties indifferencie and clemencie therein I haue not spared to releeue poore Catholikes with duetifull succour which well considered may assure any well disposed mind that if duety had not as it doth yet kindnesse and courtesie should bind me to remember and requite to my power the benefits by me received at her Maiesties hands You shall further understand that I hold my Lordships and Lands immediately under God of her Maiestie and her most noble Progenitors by corporall service and of none other by very ancient Tenour which Service and Tenour none may dispence withall but the true Possessor of the Crowne of England being now our Soveraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth And though yee by some over weening imaginations haue declined from your dutifull allegeance unto her Highnesse Yet I haue setled my selfe never to forsake Her Let fortune never so much rage against me shee being my annointed Prince and would to God you had not so farre ran to such desperate and erronious wayes offending God and her Maiestie who hath so well deserved of you and I would pray you to enter into consideration thereof and with penitent hearts to reclaime your selues hoping that her Highnesse of her accustomed clemency would be gracious to you wherein I leaue you to your owne compunction and consideration And this much I must challenge you for breach of your word in your Letter by implication inserted that your forces haue spoiled part of my countrey and preyed them to the number of foure thousand Kine and three thousand Mares and Gerrans and taken some of my followers Prisoners within the time by you assigned unto mee to come unto you by your said word if yee regarde it I require restitution of my spoile and Prisoners and after unlesse you bee better advised for your Loyalty use your discretions against mee and mine and spare not if you please for I doubt not with the helpe of God and my Prince to bee quit with some of you hereafter though now not able to use resistance And so wishing you to become true and faithfull Subiects to God and your Prince I end at Barry Court this twenty sixe of February 1599. While Tyrone was in Mounster a disasterous action hapned upon the day of February Tyrone with his Hell-hounds being not farre from Corke Sir Warham St Ledger and Sir Henry Power who after the death of Sir Thomas Norris Lord President of Mounster in the vacancie of a President had beene established Commissioners for the government of the Province riding out of the Citie for recreation to take the aire accompanied with sundry Captaines and Gentlemen with a few Horse for their Guard not dreaming of an enemie neere at hand carelesly riding every one as he thought good within a mile of the Towne or little more Sir Warham St leger and one of his servants a little stragling from his companie was in a narrow way suddenly charged by Mac Guire who with some Horse likewise dispersed had spread a good circuit of ground in hope either to get some bootie or to haue the killing of some Subjects they charged each other Sir Warham discharged his Pistoll and shot the Traytor and hee was strucken with the others Horsemans staffe in the head of which wounds either of them dyed but none else on either side was slaine Tyrone having dispatched his busines in Mounster turned his face towards Vlster The Earle of Ormond the Lord Lieuetenant generall of Her Maiesties Forces with a competent Army was before him with a purpose to fight with him in his retreat But by what accident hee missed of his intention I know not being a hard matter to fight with an enemy that is not disposed to put any thing in hazard He went through Ormond and stayed not untill he had passed through a part of Westmeth betweene Mollingar and Athlone The Lord Deputie on the 5. of March had intelligence that hee meant to passe through Westmeth Whereupon with all the force hee could presently aâ—â—emble hee marched from Dublin but his endeavour was fruitlesse for Tirone was past before his comming CHAP. III. The Lord President leâ—â—t Dublin The Earle of Ormond taken prisoner by Owny Mac Rory Omore A joynt Letter from the Lord President and the Earle of Thomond to the Lords of the Councell in England The manner of the Earle of Ormonds taking prisoner The narrow escape of the Lord President and wounding of the Earle of Thomond The order taken for the 〈◊〉 of the Countâ—ey after the Earle of Ormonds disaster The submission of Tho Fitz Iames and Tho Power THE Lord President having attended long at Dublin about his dispatches afore mentioned wherein he lost no time upon the seventh of Aprill being accompanied with the Earle of Thomond the Lo Audley Captaine Roger Harvy Captaine Thomas Browne Captaine Garret Dillon and some other Captaines and Gentlemen with seven hundred Foote and one hundred Horse Hee tooke his leaue of the Lord Deputie who with all the Councellors and Captaines then in the Citie to doe him honour rode with him about two miles out of the Towne and that night he lodged at the Naas the next night at Catherlogh and the day following hee came to Kilkenny to visit the Earle of Ormond being a noble man whom he much respected aswell for the honorable parts that were in him as for the long and familiar acquaintance which had beene betweene them After salutations and complements were past the Earle told the President that the next day hee was to parlie with the Rebell Owny Mac Rory
side there was but one man slaine not aboue fiue hurt whereof Pierce Butler a kinseman of the Earles was one who behaved himselfe valiantly and about foureteene taken Prisoners and of the Enemy was one slaine and a few hurt the Prisoners were taken by their owne negligence who were grazing their horses The taking of this great Lord breeds unsetled humors in these parts for all the Gentlemen of the countrey whereof some of them were his true followers for want of a Defender are wavering others which in their owne dispositions were naught and contained themselues as Subiects but for feare of his power are now at liberty and we feare will shortly declare themselues To keepe them from present uproares I the President did immediately send for sixe hundred Foote of the Mounster Companies which were at Watterford the hundred Horse which were in the countrey to the Towne of Kilkenny which hath wrought good effect and staied the unsetled humors besides thereby it did assure the Lady of Ormond and her daughter which otherwise had beene subiect to many dangers so sorrowfull a Lady in all our liues vvee haue not seene and doe beleeue that if it had not pleased God that we at that time had beene there she would hardly haue undergone those griefes that did oppresse her For besides the losse of her husband in being Prisoner with those rogues she beheld the apparant ruine of her selfe and her daughter and no lesse danger of both their liues the Guard vvhereof she committed unto us not being assured of those that serue her for there is divers that pretend to bee the Earles Heires First Sir Edmond Butler his second Brother which Sir Walter Butler the Earles Nephew whose blood is not attainted vvill not yeeld unto because his Vncle Sir Edmond is not restored in blood And the Vicount Mountgarret thinks that he ought to be Earle of Ormond for many reasons vvhich he pretends This controversie could not but breed great danger to the Countesse and her daughter for that either of those vvould bee glad to possesse themselues in the Earles houses and the doubt vvho is to succeede him breeds unsetled humors in the Gentlemen of the countrey that bee follovvers to the Earle every one addicting himselfe to the partie they affect vvhereby there is a generall distraction vvhich vvould haue broken out into a dangerous Rebellion if the Forces and vve had not beene heere to keepe them in awe Besides we did not neglect to send for all the Lords and Gentlemen in the countrie that are of the best quality and haue temporized with them So as we hope the dangers which were like to ensue will be for a time well appeased Also understanding that Balliragget a house of the Lord Mountgarets in the which there is a Warde for the Queene kept as a Pledge for his loialty that the same was attempted to be wonne by the Vicecounts sonnes who are in rebellion And immediately upon the Earles taking lay before it in hope to starue the Souldiers for their last daies victuals was spent I the President did take up in Kilkenny upon my credit victuals and with a strong convoy of Horse and Foote haue revictualled it for sixe weekes whereof the Lord Deputy is advertised praying him to be carefull before that victuall be spent And because that all things might be continued in good order We thought good to remaine in Kilkenny untill the Lord Deputy should determine of some course so to hold it for her Maiesties benefit the countries good and the Countesse and her daughters safetie wherein we were enforced to make large disbursements of our small stores for dieting in that time of the horse and foote Troopes whereof I the Earle defrayed the charges of my owne Company of two hundred Foote and I the President of all the rest during our abode there which was eight dayes In this meane time wee understanding that Mountgarrets sonnes which are in rebellion did come to spoile the countrie neere to Kilkenny We sent out some part of our Troopes who lighted upon some of their men And amongst them which they slew there was one of the Butlers a neere kinsman to Mountgarret and a Leader slaine and the Traitors driven to their Woods being enforced to leaue their enterprize The sixteenth of this present Sir George Bourchier and Sir Christopher St Lawrence sent from the Lord Deputie came to Kilkenny Sir George for chiefe Commander of her Majesties Forces there and to take charge of the Countesse her Daughter and the Earles Houses and Sir Christopher to bee directed by him The Forces there left is two hundred Foote of the Earles other two hundred Foote of Sir Christophers thirtie Foot left in a ward in Mountgarretts house called Balliraggett eightie fiue Horse whereof fiftie of the Earles fiue and twentie of St Lawrences and tenne of Sir George Bourchiers Since the Earles taking wee kept the Rebells from doing any hurt in the Countrey neither as yet is there any in rebellion in the same but Mountgarrets sonnes whose force is not such but in our opinions without they call strangers to assist them her Majesties Forces there is much too strong for them The seventeenth wee left Kilkenny and came to this Cittie leaving Sir George Bourcheir as aforesaid This accident hath withheld mee the President from my peculiar charge more then I purposed but therein I hope your Lordships will hold mee excused being other wayes so necessarily imployed in these causes of so great importance whereof I humbly beseech your Lordshipps in your wisedomes to haue due consideration To morrow wee proceed in our Iourney towards Corke from whence with the rest of the Councell there wee will advertize your Lordships in what estate wee finde the Province not being able heere to certifie your Honours so particularly as then wee may So wee humbly take our leaues From Waterford the eighteenth of Aprill 1600. Strange it was to consider how much this misfortune distracted the minds of sundrie that before were inclined to subjection and greatly animated the Traitors to persevere in their wicked enterprises which might evidently be seene in Pierce Lacy a wise and malicious Traytor who being but few dayes before upon the Earles protection promising great loyaltie and much service did presently relapse and became a more dangerous Rebell then at any time before But now leaving farther discourse of former occurrents we will betake our selues wholly to prosecute the relation of such things as happened in Mounster after the Lord President came to Waterford which was the sixteenth of Aprill For the prosecution of the Service in which Province by order out of England the List as aforesayd for Mounster was established to be three thousand Foot and two hundred and fiftie Horse After his repaire thither Intelligence came unto him that the Titularie Earle of Desmond with the greatest part of his Forces was remaining not farre from Yoghall about Drumâ—inin with intent to giue impediment
chiefe of small Countreyes submitted themselues to her Majesties mercie But the principall marke which the Lord President aymed at before his entrance into the Field with his Armie was to reclaime if possible it might be Florence Mac Cartie before spoken of from further pursuing those hatefull and ingratefull courses which unadvisedly he had entred into This hee desired for divers reasons First and especially for the service which he foresaw might receiue some good countenance by his subjection Secondly because if hee continued in action of necessitie hee must bee constrained to imploy a great part of his Forces which hee thought both inconvenient and dangerous to bee divided to follow the prosecution of him and his Complices And lastly a good opinion which some his honourable friends in England and himselfe also had conceived of him For these causes was the President moved earnestly to desire that this Florence might bee stayed from further persisting in those exorbitant courses and the rather because the said Florence had written Letters unto him which upon his way into Mounster hee received that assoone as hee should come to Corke hee would present himselfe personally to him aud doe all his endeavours to advance the Service All which being made knowen by the Lord President to the Earle of Thomond he intreated the said Earle and Sir Nicholas Welsh to joyne with Iohn fits Edmonds Florence his Godfather a man very famous in those parts for his learning and liberall hospitalitie in entertaining of strangers to send a Messenger to signifie to Florence Mac Cartie that they were very desirous to conferre with him about certaine particularities concerning his owne good By his Letter remised in answer of this message hee appoynted both a time and place for their meeting which was accordingly performed After more then two houres spent and many Oathes passed as well by the Earle as Sir Nicholas Welsh that the President had promised his safe returne with fearefull guiltinesse hee came to Corke and from thence to Shandon Castle upon the third of May 1600 where the Lord President remained at that time before whom when hee had presented himselfe hee made his submission upon his knees with many protestations of the sinceritie of his Heart and the true loyaltie which hee alwayes bare towards her Majestie desiring that hee might bee received into her Majesties favour and hee would serue her as faithfully and unfainedly as any man in Mounster The Lord President reprooved him very sharply for his trayterous behaviours laying before him the odiousnesse and foulnesse of his faults and the monstrous ingratitude towards her Majestie from whom hee had received many great benefits and gracious favours These speeches finished the President bade him to stand up when as both hee and the Earle of Thomond Sir Nicholas Welsh and Iohn fits Edmund did every of them very feelingly preach Obedience unto him His answer being very generall carried great shew of loyaltie and obedience at that time Vpon the next morrow hee was called before the President and Councell who was againe urged by them all in generall not onely to desist from proceeding in evill but with alacritie of minde to doe some such service as might merit reward for assurance and performance whereof the President demaunded his eldest sonne in pledge for the avoydance whereof hee used many colourable reasons viz. That it would cause the Bonnoghs to forsake him yea and to driue him out of his Countrey erecting his wiues base Brother in his place That he had of long time tasted of miseries and wants That hee had lately recovered his Countrey of Desmond with great travell and charges and therefore like the burnt child hee feared to run into any such inconvenience as might cause his friends to relapse from him Adding moreover that it was needlesse in them to exact any such thing at hishands who was in his soule wholly addicted devoted to her Majesties service The weaknesse of these reasons were both wisely discovered and effectually answered but all that could bee said was no more pleasing to him then is delightfull musicke to deafe eares which being discerned the President betooke himselfe to a new devise for now hee vehemently threatned that leaving for a time all other services a sharpe prosecution of Hostilitie with fire and sword against himselfe his tenants and followers should speedily overtake him upon his returne into Desmond Much was hee amazed with this denunciation and therefore hauing made a short pawse answered thus Since my needlesse pledge is so earnestly desired I am content to leaue my eldest sonne in Corke upon these conditions That her Majestie would passe unto mee the Countrey of Desmond in as large and ample manner as before it was conveyed unto my Father in law the Earle of Clancare Secondly that shee would giue unto mee the Name and Title of Mac Cartie More or Earle of Clancare Thirdly that shee would giue unto mee three hundred men in pay for assuring my Countrey from all that would offend it These hyperbolicall demands were no sooner propounded but absolutely rejected Therefore he desired that Licence might bee graunted unto him to write to his honourable friends in England to worke for him the afore recited Conditions which without any great difficultie was permitted Lastly the President questioned with him what hee intended to doe if these his desires were not satisfied thereupon hee sware upon a Booke that hee would never beare Armes against her Majesties Forces except hee were assaulted in Desmond and that his followers should likewise abstaine from actuall rebellion and further that he would send him intelligence from time to time of the Rebells proceedings and doe him the best underhand-service that possibly hee could Now had the President effected a great part of his desires namely that by Florence his remaining in Neutralitie his Forces might be wholly imployed against Iames fits Thomas who being once slaine or banished it would bee an easie matter to teach him to speake in a more submissiue language and forget to capitulate either for Lands Title or Charge Florence is now departed towards his Countrey of Desmond where leaving him in suspence betwixt doubt and feare wee will proceed in the accidents of Corke Now the President discerning this Warre in Mounster to be like a Monster with many Heads or a Servant that must obey divers Masters did thinke thus that if the Heads themselues might bee set at variance they would proue the most fit Instruments to ruine one another The two chiefe Heads were the Sugan Earle for so they called Desmond Commander of the Provincials and Dermond O Conner Generall of the Bownoghs before mentioned This Dermond O Conner was a poore man in the beginning of his fortune and not Owner of two Plough Lands in Connaght his natiue Countrie his reputation grew partly by his wife who was daughter to the old Earle of Desmond and partly by his valour being reputed one of the most valiant Leaders and
within lesse then two Moneths namely before the end of February the President had recommended aboue foure thousand by name unto the Lord Deputie for Pardons who had all put in such pledges or other Caution as by the State of the Province was thought convenient which indeed was such and so warily taken as no Governour in former times had ever done the like All which notwithstanding the President could not satisfie himselfe in the safetie of the one and so consequently in the securitie of the other so long as their pledges were remayning in the Cities of Corke and Limerick the places of their custodie not being of sufficient strength the Keepers many times negligent or corrupt in their charge and the Citizens so partiall as they had rather helpe to convey them into the Countrey then to retaine them within the Citie for prevention whereof the President became an humble Suitor to the Lords of the Councell of England that they would be pleased to giue commandement that the Pledges of greatest moment might by an order from them bee commanded to the Castle of Dublin which should not be any thing chargeable to Her Majestie and yet very profitable for the State As also that they would be pleased to giue Commandement to all such Vndertakers as hold land within the Province that they should make their immediate repaire unto their Signiories that thereby the Countrey might bee the better furnished with English upon any occasion As also that Her Majestie might from them receiue their rents in some part of that immeasurable treasure which was expended in these Warres And lastly being fully assured of a Spanish Invasion in all his dispatches for England He evermore put the Lords in mind of it sending unto them the intelligences hee had and for that he would not be taken unprovided hee continually in all his Letters besought supplies of Victuals and Munition And for that in his last dispatch he had intreated a large proportion of Victuals now in this of the sixth of March hee forbare the same requesting onely fiue Laste of powder and foure hundred quarters of Oates The young Earle of Desmond having beene tenderly brought up in England and not well agreeing with the manner and customes of Ireland and also seeing how much he was deceived in his hopes supposing that al his Fathers Followers would haue relied upon him and obeyed his directions whereof finding little or no appearance desired the Lord President to giue him leaue to goe into England whereunto for the reasons afore mentioned the President easily assented for in all the time of his being in Ireland no one Rebell did for his sake submit himselfe to Her Majestie Thomas Oge of Kerry onely excepted who at his request submitted himselfe and rendered Castle-mange whereof he was Constable by Iames fits Thomas his assignement into Her Majesties hands as formerly hath beene declared But it may be truely supposed that wit and necessitie did perswade him to submit and render the Castle as he did for Sir Charles Wilmot had so blockt him up with Garisons as at that present he was in feare of starving and if he had not taken the opportunity offered upon the Earles motion he was in danger to haue lost both his life and it This I write not to upbraid the Earle or to lessen him in any thing for I must confesse he was too good to liue amongst such traitorly Followers and no man living had a more willing desire to serue Her Majestie then himselfe but the truth is that this was all the service which hee did or could doe during his aboad in Mounster from whence he embarqued the two and twentieth of March and landed at Miniade in Somerset-shire and so to the Court of England where after a few Moneths he died The Letters Pattents which Her Majestie had granted for his restoration the President never delivered unto him where in my opinion he did discreetly and according to his directions for they were sent unto him by Her Majestie with caution not to deliver them except he saw sufficient cause so to doe and that his services or services done for his fake should merit the same of both which there was but weake and slender performance In this first Booke the Reader may behold in what a confused estate the Province of Mounster was in when the L. President entred into his government in the first yeare whereof these memorable accidents hapned the unfortunate death of Sir Warham St Ledger the departure of Tyrone out of Mounster The taking of the Earle of Ormond by the rebels The defeat of Florence Mac Cartie the losse and recovery of Cahir castle the submission of the White Knight the recovery of the Iland and castle of Loghgier the bold attempt of Nugent and the effects which followed therof the burning and spoiling of West Clanwilliam Omulrians countrey the taking and escape of Iames fits Thomas the titulary Earle of Desmond the siege and winning of the Castle of the Glinn the freeing of the Province of 2500 Bownoghs Odonnels harrasing of Thomond the encounter betwixt Captaine Roger Harvy and the White Knights sonne the planting of garrisons in Kerry the perpetuall juglings of Flo. Mac Cartie the taking of the Castle of Listoell in Kerry the defeat by the garrison of Kilmallock given to the Sugan Earle the poore and distressed estate he was driven unto the submission of Dermond Mac Owen L. of Dowalla and sundry others the comming into Mounster of the young Earle of Desmond the submission of Flor. Mac Cartie the rendring of Castle Mange the murdring of Dermond O Conner the burning and spoyling of East Clanwilliam and Arlogh the quiet setling of the Province and the restoring the civill government Whosoever with indifferencie will consider how much was done in such short time must acknowledge it to bee beyond expectation and say that God fought for vs and directed our Counsels otherwise it was not to bee hoped for And had not the comming of the Spaniards given new interruptions the worke of Mounster had beene throughly finished The Province fully reduced to a setled peace and in all likelihood so to haue continued The end of the first Booke PACATA HIBERNIA THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE WARRES IN IRELAND Whereby that Countrey was reduced to Subjection and Obedience CHAP. I. Connaght and Vlster men drawen to a head to invade Mounster A Regiment sent by the Lord President into Connaght to assist Sir Iohn Barkley Walter Burke and Teg O Bryen slaine The Lord President with the remainder of the Army come to Limrick The rising out of the Countrey commanded by the Lo. Barry drawne neere to Limericke The Rebels distressed for want of victualls and defeated Donogh Mac Cormocke Cartie slaine Redmond Burkes letter to the Lo. President with the Lord Presidents answer THE prosperous Successes of the last yeere did promise faire hopes that the malice of the Warre was spent and that the Province would within
short time bee reduced to a setled conformitie but the malicious practises of the Irish Papists had so farre inraged the Pope and the King of Spaine against our Soveraigne Mistresse and her good Subjects the Professors of the true Religion whom the Romanists falsely tearme Heretiques as in this yeare of 1601 the Province of Mounster was not onely set in a raging flame but the whole Kingdome was indangered to bee torne from the Crowne of England But God in his great mercie fought for his servants and made this intended mischiefe to bee the breake-necke of the Rebellion throughout the Kingdome and consequently the peace and tranquillitie which by the goodnesse of God wee enjoy About the latter end of March 1601 Intelligences were brought to the Lord President and Letters intercepted whereby it probably appeared that Forces from Vlster and Connaght were in preparing by the way of Thomond to passe into Mounster under the conduct of Redmond Burke Captaine Hugh Mostian and Con Oneale Tyrones base sonne with about two thousand men besides Mounsters fugitiues to releeue the lurking Earle but although the circumstances of that Relation prooved to bee untrue both in the Leaders and number of men yet that smoake did arise from some fire for presently heereupon Redmond Burke and Hugh Mostian with eight hundred Connaght men and Teg Orwrk Iohn fits Thomas Donogh Mac Cormocke and Pierce Lacie with seven hundred of the North came through Connaght Sir Iohn Barkley Governour in the absence of Sir Arthur Savage being constrained to giue way to their greater force Likewise the Barron of Lixnaw and Teg Kewgh Mac Maghon were busie in providing Gallies to come by Sea and the O-Maylies and O Flagherties had a purpose with sixe hundred men which they had already furnished to invade Kerry The President having received certaine Intelligence of all those preparations principally set on foot to disturbe his Government first dispatched away one thousand Foot under the command of Captaine George Flower Sergeant Major of that Province with direction to march forward in all haste into Connaght to joyne with Sir Iohn Barkley that they might doe some good service upon the Rebels at their passage over the Shenan which of necessitie they must hazzard before they could come into Mounster The nine and twentieth of March Captaine Flower rose out of Limerick and that night lodged at Quyn in Thomond had notice that the enemy was aduanced into Thomond to spoyle the same having the assistance of Teg Sonne and Heire to Sir Tirloghe Obrien who went into action not aboue three dayes before The Sergeant Major discovering their Forces came up close unto them and when hee began to fight they began to runne whom notwithstanding he so well pursued with my Lord of Thomonds Company that they â—lew and hurt divers of them and amongst the rest Walter Burke Sonne to the blind Abbot was slaine and Teg Obrien now mentioned received a mortall wound whereof within three dayes after he died besides these Forces by land the President also made certaine provisions by Sea for preventing of Fits Maurice with his Omaylies and Oflagherties from coming into Kerry upon which occasion there was a tall Merchant lately come with provent apparell for the Armie into the river of Limerick together with certaine small boats well victualled and manned commanded to attend about the mouth of Shenan to doe service upon such Rebels as should appeare upon that Coast all which being notified in the Countrey the Enemy finding his purpose frustrate of transporting his Armie into Kerry that way they retyred themselues into a strong Fastnesse in Tough-kynalehin betwixt Clanrickard and Thomond Her Majesties forces lodging so neere them as possible they might The President also himselfe with all the rest of his forces except the Garisons of Kerry followed as farre as Limerick aswell to giue countenance to the other Companies that attended the Rebels as also to bee ready upon the first allarum to intercept or interrupt them If by any devise or chance they might escape the forces in Connaght and because the Enemy should bee desperate of any helpe and assured of strong resistance in the Province the President tooke order that all the Chiefes of every Countrey should assemble themselues at Galbally in the County of Limerick and to bring with them the best forces they could make of Horse and Foote together with victuals for ten dayes to attend such directions as they should bee commanded by the Lord Barry who was appointed Generall of the Provincials What service they would haue done if occasion had beene offered I know not But sure I am although they did somewhat exceede the time limited before they were assembled yet at last there was gathered thirteene hundred Foote and one hundred and twenty Horse of the County of Corke only with great alacrity as seemed of doing some acceptable service In the meane time Sir Iohn Barkley layeth so hardly to the Rebels still keeping within their Fastnesse that they could not possibly get any prey of the Countrey but were constraind from the thirtieth of March to the thirteenth of Aprill to feede upon garrans flesh and such unsavory meate Afterwards being halfe starved and altogether past hope of O Donnels coming to their reliefe with more forces they stole away in the night and drew into Omaddins Countrey out men perceiving their rising pursued them and held them fighting all night and in the morning found that wee had slaine many of them yet by breake of the day they had recovered another strong Fastnesse wherein Sir Iohn Barkley though often assaying could not annoy them after two dayes being distressed with like want as before they were inforced to dislodge againe in the night our forces pursued them at the heeles and coming close up unto them put them to route and forced them over the Sucke a deepe River wherein they lost two hundred men with the most part of their munition and baggage In this service there was lost and hurt of our men and twentie but not any of note except Nevile Sir Gerrard Harvy his Lieuetenant onely The Rebels were so terrified in this prosecution that such as escaped the River sought not to vnite themselues againe Teg Orwrke retired into his Countrey Redmond Burke went to O Donnell Iohn fits Thomas to Tyrone and the meaner sort dispersed into sundry places and Hughe Mostian with his Company rested himselfe in O Conner Roes Countrey In one of the aforesaid skirmishes in Oshafnes Countrey upon the seven and twentieth of March Donoghe Mac Cormock afore mentioned was slaine being lately inlarged by Tyrone to set a fire in Mounster These affaires thus accomplished with good successe although not fully so good as was both promised and expected Captaine Flower with his Regiment returned the one and twentieth of Aprill to Limerick Ever since the Presidents first coming into Mounster there had beene as formerly you may
Majestie professing to doe service such as should merit favour Humbly besought him not desiring any protection that hee might remaine with his Lordship The President granted his request and withall sent him a Protection which in an other Letter unto Richard Boyle the Clarke of the Councell hee besought The reason which moved the President to grant his request was the absence of the Earle of Thomond then in England that during the same the County of Clare might bee freed from Bonfires but now for a time we must leaue the President in Cork returne to Florence Mac Carty You heard before that Florence had a cutting as they call it upon Carberry towards his charges in the pretended journey for England but employed all the same and whatsoever more hee could procure to another end for about this time he provided a Barke which hee fraught with Hides Tallow and such commodities committing the care and trust thereof to some of Kinsale by whom the same merchandize should bee transported beyond the Seas and in liew thereof munition and abilliments of warre should be returned and and delivered unto him in the Harbour of Valentia Moreover about the same time hee did earnestly sollicit aide from the neighbour Provinces to resist Her Majesties forces and for the same purpose wrote a Letter in Irish which was read by Iames Welsh by whose relation I received this light unto one in Ormond called Cahir Mac Shane Glasse Omulrian desiring that he would leavy for him sixe hundred Foote in Linster which if hee could not then to procure Redmond Burke to come with so many to his aide and if hee failed likewise herein to deale with Captaine Terrill to the same effect and hee would pay them upon the Countrey of Desmond Lastly Donoghe Mac Cormuck called Mac Donoghe his Agent with Tyrone laboured so much at his hands and that so earnestly as he procured a Letter from Tyrone the Contents whereof were as followeth And thus translated out of the Irish. A Letter from Tyrone to Florence Mac Carty OVr commendations to yoâ— Mac Carty More I send shortly unto you according to our trust of you that you will doe a stout and hopefull thing against the pagan beast and thereupon our Armie is to goe into Mounster and with the will of God we consent unto you and will that you beleeue not any word from us for ever before wee write againe unto you for you shall see trouble enough in England by English men it selfe so as there shall be easinesse of suffering their warres at May next in respect of that it is now And since this cause of Mounster was left to you next under God let no weaknesse or imbecillitie bee found in you and the time of helpe is neere you and all the rest From Dongannon the sixth of February 1601. Stilo Novo Oneale The Armie mentioned in this Letter was the same which now you heard of taking their journey by the way of Connaght which as may appeare both by the examination of Iames Welsh and the Contents of those Letters were solicited and sent principally by the meanes promises and procurement of Florence he being then and before under protection the breach whereof hee nothing esteemed But surceasing farther to rake in the filthy Channels of his malicious practises like maladies immedicable lest it should be loathsome to the Reader I will leade him abroad into the open Aire to behold the hunting rousing and fall of a great Stag which was after sent into England to Her Majestie and by her received as a most acceptable Present although it was not Gods will that shee should liue to reward the chiefe Ranger About the middest of May the Lord President received a Letter from the Lords of the Councell in England which bare date the eight and twentieth of Aprill which for the Readers better vnderstanding how the Affaires of Mounster did sute with the Directions and Counsels in England I thinke it meet to be inserted A Letter from the Lords of the Councell to the Lord President AFter our very heartie Commendations to your Lordship Although we haue before this time acquainted you with her Majesties gracious acceptation of your service because wee know you had no greater object then to deserue her Majesties grace and favour yet now vve vvill forbeare to touch it at this time because her Majestie giues you notice of it with her owne hand and for the present onely let you know what care vvee haue taken to satisfie all your demaunds for her Majesties service because it may appeare unto you seeing you doe orderly and carefully giue us account of your proceedings that wee will in no sort neglect such things as you in your discretion hold fit or necessary Wee haue therefore first by her Majesties Commandement sent you a supply of Munitions according to your request We haue likewise given order for Victuals in good proportion although it seemeth to us by the Certificate of the Victualler that you were better stored at your writing then you knew for Wee haue also given order for Oates to be presently sent you and because you haue so good use of a Ship for transporting of Victualls to and fro besides the service shee may doe in mastering those Barques and Boats which offend the Coast wee haue sent Captaine Harvie with a good Ship for that purpose And now that you may know what Letters wee haue intercepted out of Spaine concerning those bruits which wee perceiue are spread of Spanish succours you shall receiue the Copies of three Letters whereof wee haue the Originall which were committed to the charge of Peter Strong of Watterford whose Ship and Goods were taken in Famouth where they were put in by storme One of them comes from the Governour of the Groyne and another from a Fryer that resideth with him the third from one Sennock who as it seemeth being unwilling to haue Tyrone deceived sheweth him truely how little reason they haue to trust to any of the Spanish Succours as they expect of these you may make such use as you thinke good As concerning your desire to know what shall become of the Lady Ioane of Desmond wee thinke you should doe well to set her at libertie againe as shee was before referring the care of her well doing to some of her Sisters that may haue an eye over her We doe also require you still to foresee that her Majesties Forces being now so much diminished may not bee spent in maintaining private mens Castles and houses but where those places are of use for her Majesties service Lastly concerning the Fine imposed on the Major of Limrick for which we finde you had so just occasion wee wish you in no wise to remit it but rather to bestow it upon the repaire of her Majesties Castle there which as it seemeth will serue to so good purpose for her Maâ—esties service And so wee bid your Lordship very heartily farewell From the Court
wherewith wee are of long time opprest by the English Nation Their government is such as Pharaoh himselfe never vsed the like for they content not themselues with all temporall superiority but by cruelty desire our blood and perpetuall destruction to blot out the whole remembrance of our posterity as also our old Catholike Religion and to sweare that the Queene of England is Supreame of the Church I referre the consideration hereof to your Majesties high judgement for that Nero in his time was farre inferior to that Queene in cruelty Wherefore and for the respects thereof high mighty Potentate my selfe with my Followers and Retainers And being also requested by the Bishops Prelates and religious men of my Countrey haue drawen my sword and proclaimed warres against them for the recovery first of Christs Catholike religion and next for the maintenancâ— of my owne right which of long time hath beene wrongfully derained from mee and my father who by right succession was lawfull Heire to the Earledome of Desmond â—or hee was eldest Sonne to Iames my Grandfather who was Earle of Desmond and for that my Vncle Gerald being the younger brother tooke part with the wicked proceedings of the Queene of England to farther the unlawfull claime of supremacie vsurped the name of Earle of Desmond in my fathers true title yet notwithstanding hee had not long enjoyed his name of Earle when the wicked English annoyed him and prosecuted wars that hee with the most part of those that held of his side was slaine and his Countrey thereby planted with Englishmen And now by the just judgement and providence of God I haue utterly rooted those malepart bowes out of the Orchard of my Countrey and haue profited so much in my proceedings that my daâ—â—erly enemies dare not shew their faces in any parâ— of my Countrey but having taken my Townes and Cities for their refuge and strength where they doe remaine as yet were Prisonerâ— for want of meanes to assaile them as Cannon and Powder which my Countrey doth not yeeld Having these wants most noble Potentate I haue presumed with all humility to addresse these my Letters to your High Majestie craving the same of your graâ—ious clemencie and goodnesse to assist mee in this godly enterprise with some helpe of such necessaries for the warres as your Majestie shall thinke requisit and after the quiet of my Countrey satisfaction shall bee truely made for the same and my selfe in person with all my forces shall bee ready to serue your Highnesse in any Countrey your Majestie shall command me And iâ— your Majestie will vouchsaâ—e to send me a competent number of Souldiers I will place them in some of my Townes and Cities to remaine in your gratious disposition till such time as my ability shall make good what your Majestie shall lend me in money and munition and also your Majesties high Commission under the broad Seale for leading and conducting of these Souldiers according to the prescript order and articles of martiall discipline as your Majestie shall appoint me and as the service of the Land shall require I praise the Almighty God I haue done by his goodnesse more then all my Predecessors for I haue reclaimed all the Nobility of this part under the dutifull obedience of Christs Church and mine owne authority and accordingly haue taken pledges and corporall oathes never to swarue from the same and would haue sent them to your Majestie by this Bearer but that the Ship was not of sufficiencie and strength to carry so noble personages and will send them whensoever your Highnesse please So there resteth nothing to quiet this part of the world but your Majesties assistance which I daily expect Thus most mighty Monarch I humbly take my leaue and doe kisse your Royall hands beseeching the Almighty of your Majesties health and happinesse From my Campe the fourteenth day of March 1599. Your Majesties most humble at all command Iames Desmond An other Letter from Iames Fits Thomas to the King of Spaine YOur Majestie shall understand that the bearer hereof Captaine Andrew Roche hath beene alwayes in the seruice of the Queene of England and hath performed her manifold services at Sea whereby he had great preferment and credit and being of late time conversant with Catholikes and teachers of divine Instructions that were sory for his lewd life made knowen unto him the danger wherein his soule was so that by their godly perswasions hee was at that time reclaimed and subverted to bee a good Catholike and to spend the residue of his life in the defence and service of the Church since which time of reconcilement hee was to repaire to your Majestie with his Ship and Goods as is well knowen to your Highnesse Councell who confiscated that Ship to your Majesties use himselfe being at that time strucken with extreame sicknesse that hee was not able to proceed in the voyage and when his Company returned into Ireland they reported that the Lantado wished rather his person then the Ship which made him fearefull ever since to repaire thither till hee should deserue his freedome by some worthy service to your Majestie The Heire apparant to the Crowne of England had beene caried by him to your Highnesse but that he was bewrayed by some of his owne men and thereby was intercepted and himselfe taken Prisoner where he remained of long till by the Providence of God and the helpe of good friends hee was conveyed into Ireland to mee in a small Boat and leaving these occasions to your Imperiall Majesty and being assured of his trust faith and confidence towards mee haue committed this charge into his hands the rather for that I understand your Royall Fleete is directed for England this yeare to the end he may be a Leader and Conductor to them in the Coast of England and Ireland being very expert in the knowledge thereof and in the whole art of Navigation And thus with all humility I commit your Highnesse to the Almighty From my Campe the fourteenth of March 1599 Your Majesties most humble at all command Iames Desmond Consider I beseech thee gentle Reader into what proud arrogancie and audacious insolency this Arch-traytor was elevated like a Vapor in a Sunshine day when blind fortune laught upon him the Queene a Tyrant the English all cowards the Cities and walled Townes all his and the Mounster Nobilitie subdued under his authority was there ever Rebell so farre transported with ambitious presumption beyond the limits of reason was it not sufficient for him like cursed Shimei or blacke mouthed railing Rabshakeh to revile the Lords annoynted but he must challenge her territories her Cities her People and her Nobilitie whom shee and her ancestors had created to be his owne who had no portion nor inheritance in any part thereof being the Impe of a borne Bastard But surely I must perswade my selfe all this was permitted by the unsearchable sapience of the alseeing Deity who even as hee caused proud Lucifer
notorious inconvenience aforesaid cannot bee prevented without there bee a due observation of such Lawes of this Realme of England as heretofore haue beene made restrayning the transporting of the monies currant in England into that Realme of Ireland in Specie wherein great disorder hath beene of late yeares committed and thereby great inconveniences ensued Her Majestie doth straightly charge and command all Magistrates and Officers to whom it shall appertaine to see severe execution of such Lawes as doe prohibit the transportation of her Coyne of England into Ireland and namely one Statute made in the nineteenth yeare of the raigne of Her Majesties Grandfather of famous memory King Henry the seventh Her Majesties purpose being by this Proclamation to admonish all her Subjects of both her Realmes and all others trading in her Realme of Ireland that they shall from henceforth forbeare all transportation of monies of England into Ireland for that Her Majestie will cause the former Lawes prohibiting the said transportation of money to be so straightly looked into and executed as the penalties thereof shall fall heavy upon the Offenders against the same without any hope of remission The Copie of certaine Articles contained in the Indentures betweene Her Majestie and Sir George Cary Treasurer of Ireland touching the Exchange established upon the alteration of Monies ITem the said Sir George Cary doth covenant c. That hee shall and will mainetaine for the better exercise of the said Exchange according to her Majesties princely meaning three Officers at the least within the Cities of London Bristoll and Westchester or so many and in such convenient places as hee shall thinke meete discreete persons to be there continually residing by themselues or their sufficient deputies to attend the said Exchange and to performe the same according to the establishment And other officers also in other parts of this her Majesties Realme of England if cause shall require and likewise to place and mainetaine at fower severall port Townes within her Majesties Realme of Ireland viz. Dublin Corke Galway and Carâ—igfergus or at such of them as shall bee found requisit other officers who shall be there continually resident by themselues or their sufficient deputies to attend her Majesties subjects for the exchange of their monies according to the establishment and if cause shall require other officers also or under ministers in other places of the said Realme of Ireland for the ease of her Majesties subjects Item the said Sir George Carie doth covenant c. to discharge and acquite her Majestie of all Fees Allowances and wages needfull for any of the sayd Officers or Vnder-ministers aboue mentioned and them to maintaine entertaine and wage at his owne costs and charges for and in consideration of a summe of two thousand pounds of the Moneys of this new Standerd of Ireland mentioned in another Article of this Indenture to bee by her Majestie allowed unto him for the Fee of himselfe and all other Officers necessarie to bee had and used for and about this Exchange as well in England as in Ireland The sayd allowance of two thousand pound per annum to take beginning and to bee due unto him from the first day of May now next ensuing the date hereof and to continue during the time of the Exchange And the Queenes Majestie our said Soveraigne Lady doth covenant and agree to and with the sayd Sir George Carey that hee as 〈…〉 of her Highnesse sayd Exchange shall haue full power authoritie and libertie to make choyce of all Officers and under officers needfull to bee had and imployed for and about the exercise and maintenance of his Exchange as well within this her Highnesse Realme of England as in Ireland and them and every of them to nominate and place and to them to assigne such Fees and entertainments as hee shall thinke convenient and all and every the sayd Officers to remooue alter or displace as often as to him shall be thought good and others in their places and roomes to substitute without any interruption of her Highnesse in or concerning the same Item our said Soveraigne Lady doth covenant and agree to aâ—d with the sayd Sir George Carey and by these presents doth giue him power and authoritie in and for performance of one breach of her Highnesse Proclamation aboue specified whereby all persons are invited to bring in all manner of sterling Moneys or of any other Standerds or like finenesse or better into her Exchange in Ireland that hee the sayd Sir George Carey shall and may allow to all bringers in of such Money Plate or Bullion aboue the just and true value thereof the â—umme of eighteene pence currant money of England upon every pound weight or sixpence upon every twentie shillings by tale the â—ame to bee taken defaulked and allowed by the sayd Sir George Carey out of such profits as doe arise unto her Highâ—esse upon this Exchange And our Soveraigne Lady doeth covenant and agree to and with the sayd Sir George Carey and by these presents doeth warrant and authorise him that to all her subjects of her Realmes of England and Ireland and to all Strangers Merchants or others being subjects of such Princes or States as are in amitie with her Highnesse which shall bring to any place for the Exchange appoynted within the Realme of Ireland any Moneyes of this new Standerd of Ireland and desire to receiue for the same moneyes currant of England heere within this Realme of England That the sayd Sir George Carey may deliver unto them and every of them here in England moneys currant of this her Realme by tale for tale viâ— twentie shillings sterling for every twentie shillings of her new Coyne detaining only and rebating to her Highnesse use twelue pence sterling upon every twentie shillings so to bee delivered for twentie shillings of her sayd new Coyne and after the same rate for more or lesse in quantitiâ— Item our sayd Soveraigne Lady doeth covenant and agree c. That hee shall and may to all persons which within her Highnesse realme of Ireland shall at any of the places for the Exchange appoynted deliver to him or his Deputies the value of twenty shillings sterling in money plate or bullion and desire to receiue for the same moneys Irish of this new coyne for every value of twenty shillings the summe of one and twenty shillings eight pence Irish by tale and after the same rate for more or lesse in quantitie And our Soveraigne Ladie c. That hee or his Assignes shall or may to all and every persons which at any of the places for the Exchange appoynted heere within this Realme of England shall deliver any Moneys Plate or Bullion of the Standerd of England to the end to receiue for the same within the Realme of Ireland moneyes of the new Coyne of that Realme pay or deliver unto them for the value of euery twenty shillings sterling one and twenty shillings Irish by the tale and
after that rate for more or lesse in quantitie Item our said Soveraigne Lady c. That hee shall and may to all and every persons bringing into any place for the exchange appointed in Ireland monies of base allay heretofore currant or now vsed within the Realme deliver by himselfe or his deputies like quantities by weight of the monies of this new Coyne as he or his deputies shall receiue of any such old base monies by weight Item our said Soveraigne Lady doth c. That she wil allow unto the said Sir Gâ—o Cary or his Assignes for the charges of transportation of the monies of this new Coyne from her Tower of London into her Majesties said Realme of Ireland aswell to the Citie of Dublin as to any other places where Exchanges are to be established or payments to bee made for her service after the rate of twentie pounds of this new Standard upon every thousand pound of the same coyne the same to bee allowed unto him upon his account as her Majesties Treasurer at warres in Ireland Item our said Soveraigne Lady doth c. That whensoever and as often as any of the monies of this new Standard of Ireland after their first uttering in payment to her Highnesse Armie there being brought backe againe to the Exchange to be converted in sterling or otherwise shall by her Majesties commandement bee 〈◊〉 againe for her Highnesse service in payment of her Armie or otherwise That so often her Highnesse will allow to the said Sir George Cary or his Assignes after the 〈◊〉 of ten pounds of this new Standard upon every thousand pounds of the same coyne by tale the same to bee allowed unto him upon his account as Treasurer of her Highnesse warres in Ireland Item our said Soveraigne Lady doth c. That shee will allow unto the said Sir George Cary for all such summes of money as shall by her Highnesse from time to â—ime beâ— sent or delivered out of her Exchequer for the furnishing mâ—intenance of this Exchange after the rate of 〈…〉 â—pon every thousand pounds by â—ale The said Sir George Câ—â—y taking upon him the charges and expence of conveying her Majesties said Treasure unto the placâ—s where the same shall bee vsed for the exchange Item our said Soveraigne Lady doth c. That all hazard and danger hapning in the transportation of this her Majesties monies out of her Realme of England into Ireland either by wrecke of Sea or tempest or by violence of enemies shall bee at the only perill of our said Soveraigne Lady her Heires and Successors as heretofore it hath beene in like cases the said Sir George Cary making proofe that hee his deputies or Assignes having charge of the said transportation haue vsed all such care heed and diligence for the safe conveyance thereof as they would or might haue done for the assurance of their owne goods or as heedfull provident men use to doe for the safetie of their goods in like adventures Item our sayd Soveraigne Lady doth c. That shee shall and will from time to time furnish and deliver to the said Sir George Carey or his Assignes all such summes of money as shall bee requisite and needfull for Exchanging and converting of this new Irish Coyne into moneys of the Standerd of England according to her Majesties Proclamation after the rate of one fourth part at the least of such quantities of this Irish moneys as her Majestie shall cause to be coyned from time to time or after a greater rate if it shall appeare by experience that a greater portion then a fourth part of the same shal be returned to the Exchange Item our sayd Soveraigne Ladie doth c. That if at any time heereafter her Majestie shall thinke good to cease the Exchange and not to continue the converting of Irish moneys into sterling and that it shall happen that at such time there shall bee remaining in the hands of the sayd Sir George Carey any quantities of Irish Monies great or small not issued for her Majesties service that in such case her Highnesse will accept and allow unto the said Sir George Cary upon his account all such summes of money at such raâ—e and valew as the same were delivered unto him to bee issued in payment for her service And further her Majestie doth covenant c. That for the defraying of all Wages Fees and Stipends as well to him the said Sir George Cary as 〈…〉 of the Exchanges as also to all other Officers needfull to bee established for the exercise of the same either within the Realme of England or in Ireland wheresoever her Highnesse doth and will allow unto the said Sir George Cary the summe of two thousand pounds of the monies of this new Standard by the yeare to bee taken unto him and stayed in his owne hands out of such profits as upon the exchange doth arise unto her Majestie The said allowance of two thousand pounds per annum to take beginning the first day of May now next ensuing the date hereof and to continue during all the time that the Exchange shall be upheld CHAP. V. A Regiment sent by the Lord President into Connaght Intelligence of the Spanyards comming for Ireland brought to the Lord President sundry wayes Iames fits Thomas his report of Florence Mac Cartie Dermond Mac Awlies report of the Counsell held in Vlster for the Spanyards landing THE Affayres of Mounster thus digested the President according to the Lord Deputies directions expedited with munition and victuals one thousand Foot into Connaght under the command of Sir Francis Barkley The List of the Captaines and Companies were as followeth viz. Sir Francis Barkley 100. Foot Sir Richard Percie 150. Sir Gerrard Harvie 150. Sir Edward fits Gerald 100. Sir Iohn Dowdall 100. Captaine Iohn Bostocke 100. Captaine George Kingsmill 100. Captaine George Blunt 100. Captaine William Power 100. Besides fiftie Horse under the command of Captaine Richard Greame which Regiment was sent to giue countenance unto the service of Ballishanon intended by Sir Henry Docwray although the President was very loath to spare them at this time for the rumour of Spanish preparations for Ireland which had been secretly whispered all this Spring was now strongly conceited and confidently beleeved by all the Irish And moreover certaine Advertisment hereof was daily brought unto the President from the Irish Merchants Factors in Spaine from the Priests in Italy to the Irish Lords from the English in France to their private friends all of them agreeing in one adde heereunto the constant Asseverations of Iames fits Thomas the titulary Earle then a condemned prisoner who after his apprehension and condemnation being often examined was still confident of the Spanyards comming and being demaunded his cause of knowledge answered That the Spanish Fryer Don Matheo de Oviedo whom they call Archbishop of Dublin did assure him of the Kings pleasure therein and to hasten the same hee tooke his journey from Spaine
is borne by the Towne and Countrey the Queenes expences is no more but the use of her Shovels Spades Pickaxes and Whildebarrowes c. Now wee may see how true a Prophet the President was that the Spaniards would invade Ireland but like unto Cassandra untill this time could never bee beleeved which proceeded out of the defects which both the Lords in England and the Lord Deputie of Ireland had of good intelligence whereof the President was better stored then either of them of the undoubted likelihood of their comming Sir Robert Cecill her Majesties Secretary wrote to the President as followeth A Letter from Master Secretary Cecill to the Lord President SIr George Carew on Wednesday last certaine Pinnaces of her Majesties met with a fleete of Spaniards to the number of fiftie saile whereof seventeene are men of warre the rest are transporting Ships as by this Note inclosed doth appeare which my Intelligencer sent me at their going out These Ships cannot bee but for Ireland from which Coast the storme kept them unlesse it should bee said that the King will land them in the Low-countries which I will never beleeue hee durst adventure knowing how long wee haue expected them and haue fourteene good ships out which if you compare with the note inclosed of his you shall find that wee might be ashamed to suffer his Fleete to land so quietly and our Fleete in the taile of them but which is more certaine to confirme my opinion ever for Ireland this proportion is fit for Ireland there it may worke mischiefe and besides that they which met them saw them set their course from the mouth of the sleeue where they were on wednesday just for Ireland and as I verily thinke they will fall for Limerick for in Spaine it was advertised me that their Rendezvous was for the Blaskys which you know is on that Coast about the Dingle or the Ventrey Lastly if they had meant to haue come hither they would haue beene here before this time being on wednesday at Silley and the wind having beene South-west since faire If therefore they bee not in Ireland they are certainely put Roomer with Spaine againe but that I dare not hope Now Sir what my Lord Deputy and you shall doe there is not our parts to tell you onely wee desire you to propound us possible things and then shall you haue them two thousand wee haue sent already into Mounster at least the want of wind hinders them in the imbarquing Ports if we know once where they are landed then must you also tell us where you will haue us second you for if you looke for our supplyes to come to you in the West side of Mounster or South parts then can we put them by Sea more properly and land neerer the parts of Accon then to send them to Dublin or to Corke but all this to you must bee referred to whom I wish as great happinesse as I wish to my owne heart And so I end from the Court at Windsore this twelfth of August 1601. Your loving and assured Friend Robert Cecill From Lisbona the fiue and twentieth of Iuly 1601. Here at Lisbon there are stayed about two hundred Sailes of Ships out of which number fiue and fourtie onely are selected for transportation of Souldiers The number of Souldiers are sixe thousand whereof three thousand are here kept aboard the ships left they should runne away the other three thousand are a comming from Andaluzia and those parts in a fleete of ships and gallies under the conduct of the Adâ—lâ—ntados sonne unto Lisbon The ships which carie the Souldiers are of the burthen of one hundred one hundred and fiftie and not aboue two hundred Tuns The Spaniards doe refuse greater ships of the East Countries which are stayed at Lisbon and make choise of the smallest Vessels they haue for their purpose Of their fiue and fourtie Saile of ships seventeene saile onely are fitted for men of warre whereof eleaven of them are but small ships the other sixe are Gallions the Saint Paul the Saint Peter the Saint Andrew and three smaller Gallions of the Kings whose names I know not For the manning of their ships fifteene hundred Sailors were sent hither out of Biskay The Marques of S. ta Croce goeth Admirall in the Saint Paul Sibiero alias Seriago Viceadmirall in the Saint Peter they make account to bee ready by the last of Iuly and ride with their yards a Crosse. The two ships of Dunkerke which haue remayned long at Lisbon doe make ready to come away with the Fleete By this Letter it appeares that they in England now were awake and confident of the Spanish invasion untill which time notwithstanding the Presidents daily calling upon them for Men Munition and Victuals they gaue a deafe eare also hee received an other of the same date a fragment whereof I thinke it not unnecessary to relate aswell to shew the assurance which was held in England of the invasion as the tender care her Majesties principall Secretary had of the President and of the deare affection he bare him My deere George now will I omit all the petty particulars of many things because the great storme which I presume is fallen upon Mounster drownes all my petty cares and wounds my soule for care of you of whom I know not what to expect but as a lost child for though I know you are not so mad as to runne to the enemies mouthes with a dozen persons in comparison yet I am desperatly affraid that the Provincials should betray you even those I meane that must or will seeme to be principally about you c. CHAP. IX The crosse Accidents which hapned to make the Lord Deputy to be offended with the Lord President The Lord Deputies Letter to the Lord President A satisfactory Letter from the Lord Deputy to the Lord President AS is formerly related Sir Francis Barkley being in the Province of Connaght with one thousand Foote and fiftie Horse of the List of Mounster when the President sent him thither among other instructions which hee gaue unto Sir Francis was that hee should not upon any direction goe out of that Province untill hee first heard from him the reason which moved him to insert this clause into his instructions was the confident assurance hee had of the Spanish invasion But yet to prevent the worst left the Lord Deputie might peradventure command him to march into Vlster or Linster hee presently dispatched a Letter to the Lord Deputie signifying unto him what direction hee had given unto Barkley and the reasons that moved him unto it beseeching his Lordship to allow thereof But see the mischiefe before the Presidents Letters came to the Lord Deputies hands hee had sent Captaine Henry Cosby with a peremptory commandement to Sir Francis Barkley to march to Ballisheman in Vlster Sir Francis being perplext what course to take at last resolved to obey his instructions hoping that the Lord
returned hee sent into Spaine a relation of his present estate which is as followeth translated out of the Originall under his owne hand A Discourse of the estate wherein Don Iuan de Aquila doth remaine with the appointment of such things as hee advertiseth to be needfull or his succour and good effect of his voyage translated out of a Spanish discourse ON the first of October hee arrived at the Haven of Kinsale and the day following Don Iuan landed all his Souldiers whereof framing two squadrons hee marched towards the said Towne out of which there issued fiftie Foote and fourtie Horse who leaving the place free went towards the Towne of Corke the persons of better sort going with them with all their goods whereupon there were presently sent in two Companies and the day following entered all the rest of the Armie and lodged there to the end to shelter the Troopes and munitions under covert although with great straightnesse the place contayning not aboue two hundred houses The seat and foundation of Kinsale is in a side of a River invironed with hils aud without any kind of defense in so much as Don Iuan is of the mind if the Enemy should come to quarter himselfe neere his front to try his fortune because otherwise hee should not bee able to make good the place There were disembarqued two Field-Peeces and two Demie-Cannons leaving the rest of the Artillerie unlanded not having Munition sufficient for so much Artillery for that the Powder and Match which remaines is little and the greater quantitie came wett as well as not to bee encombred with so much Artillerie without Horses to draw it since that with the next succors may be sent Munition enough There is in the middle of the Haven of Quinsale a certaine almost an Iland on the which it seemeth good to Don Iuan to haue a Fort made to secure and defend the Haven yet is there no convenient place to doe it for on the part that lookes towards the place an Arme of the Sea divides it from the land continued somewhat upwards into the land without having Pinnaces Boats or other meanes to crosse it and for that the Towne Quinsale is of so great a Seat and open in so many parts and so weake that it is needfull to haue halfe the Troupes in guard at least whensoever they should bee forced to draw out to some good effect which notwithstanding would not bee in good securitie the place almost an Iland not having sufficient water nor is there any place of those adjacent that yeeldeth meanes to fortifie it so that it is necessary to goe elsewhere for it having here nothing to make Cisterns nor Pinnases for a passage or to bring bavins and faggots the River being somewhat farther upwards into the land Hee sent to tell Don Diego Brochero that because the way remayned so ill hee should assist him before hee went in causing to be disimbarqued the Bisquet and afterwards that all the boats should make three or foure voyages for bavins or gabions whereof hee had great need the River as is aforesaid being somewhat farre aboue hee answered that hee could not attend to this or disimbarque the Biskets which came in the hulke which were there but to returne presently and so with great haste caused the munitions to bee landed which they left upon the shore without account or reason the Accounter and Steward of the Artillery remayning which would not undertake to account for it and such was the haste that on the durt and Ooes of the shore they were ill handled and wet as if the Enemy had beene already playing with their Artillery on their ships So soone as Don Iuan had lodged himselfe in the place hee dispatched to the Earles severall times advising them of his arrivall yet in nine dayes that passed untill I was dispatched into Spaine they received no answer There is from Kinsale to the place where the Earles abide seventie fiue Leagues the naturals of the Countrey report the forces of the Earles to bee much lesse then was given out to us and that the Enemy doth hold them in with forts The enemies haue drawen together all their Cattell and Corne and with their Cavallerie breake the Mils and because wee haue no Horse they presume to come every day up to our Wals not being able to avoid or hinder it notwithstanding our sallies against them insomuch that from without wee receiue neither flesh nor any other thing except some few Cowes from the poore people of the place which they sell the rather unto us because wee pay them what they demand yet within few dayes there would bee no flesh had by reason of the English who haue engrossed and gathered the Crets together and burned the houses of the naturals Don Iuan doth procure to draw from the Countrey people by loue and rewards all that he can yet withall this findeth no assistance from them neither dare they declare themselues and the greater part haue no will seeing the small forces which haue beene landed but seeing that there are more they will bee still comming and some of them receiue pay it is very re quisit to pay them and arme them because till now many of them are past to the Enemy Since the writing of this by Don Iuan de Aquila there came a spy from Corke where the Enemy doth joyne together who saith that the Viceroy had already together more then foure thousand Foote and foure or fiue hundred Horse and that the Queene of England had received advertisement of the comming of the Spaniards into Ireland whereupon were great preparations made for the expulsing them the Souldiers which were disimbarqued marched to the number of three thousand and foure hundred besides those which came in a hulke now arrived three Leagues from hence but making a squadron of them there was a lesse number found so that it is thought fit to take the first muster with much rigour taking note of the boyes and such besides of the rest as are Besognies who not knowing the use of their Peece nor how to discharge them are drawen out to exercise their Armes dayly many fall sicke and are already more then one hundred It is fit that the succour which his Majesty meaneth to send should bee dispatched with speed because the Enemy may not haue power to engage the places which Don Iuan hath designed to fortifie It should bee a matter of great importance and the Whole for Horse by reason of the difference of the Cavallerie which commeth out of England and that of the Earles for all that can bee leavied in Ireland or that they haue are small Horses and the Souldiers are unarmed which doe onely fight with halfe Pikes and Saddles without stirrops Of powder and matches as is aforesaid there is small store so that it is necessary to send some good quantitie together with Lead because there passed but little Bisquet and some wine is
entertaine the skirmish with those that came up and another strong party was sent out towards Rincorran who from the Bushie hill played in flancke upon their trenches and beate them from the same so as they that were first sent out close to our Campe being beaten backe by our shot and thinking to find the seconds they left behind them were disappoynted by the quitting of their trenches and by that meanes driven to follow the rest to the succour of the Towne our men following them with much furie hurt and killed divers amongst whom they brought off the body of a Sergeant and possessed the enemies trenches the which the Enemy being re-enforced made many attempts to regaine but were repulsed and beaten backe into the Towne we heard by divers that Don Iohn committed the Sergeant Major who commanded then in chiefe presently after the fight and threatned to take off his head commended highly the valor of our men and cryed shame upon the cowardise of his owne who he said had beene the terror of all nations but now had lost that reputation and he gaue straight commandement upon paine of death which hee caused to be set upon the Towne gates that from thenceforth no man should come off from any service untill hee should be fetcht off by his Officer though his powder were spent or his Peece broken but make good his place with his sword Captaine Soto one of their best Commanders was that day slaine for whom they made very great moane and some twentie more besides were hurt which could not but bee many on our side onely some ten hurt and three killed among whom Master Hopton a Gentleman of the Lord Deputies was sore hurt and since dyed thereof If this skirmish had not bin readily and resolutely answered on our part the Spaniards had then discovered the smalnesse of our numbers and would no doubt haue so plyed us with continuall sallies as wee should hardly haue beene able to continue the siege The same day wee had Newes of the Earle of Thomonds landing at Castlehaven with one hundred horse and one thousand foot of Supplies out of England in thirteene Ships which by violence of foule weather had beene driven to the westermost part of Ireland and with great difficultie recovered Castlehaven aforesaid from whence the fifth day following hee came with Horse and Foot to the Campe at Kinsale The next day being the eleventh wee were advertised that Sir Anthonie Cooke and Patrick Arthur were landed at Waterford with two thousand foot and some horse The twelfth Sir Richard Levison Admirall and Sir Amias Preston Vice-Admirall of the Queenes Fleet for Ireland with ten Shippes of Warre arrived at Corke with two thousand Foot besides Munitions Cannoniers Carpenters Wheele-wrights Smithes c. presently the Lord Deputie sent them direction to come for Kinsale The thirteenth nothing was done either by us or the enemy The Queenes Ships with much difficultie recovered the harbour of Kinsale the Admirall Sir Richard Levison and the Vice-Admirall Sir Amias Preston came to the Lord Deputies Campe That day and the next day the two thousand Land-forces were put on shoare and before that wee had certaine newes of the arrivall of the other Forces from Barstable and Bristoll at Waterford and Castlehaven but they were not then come to the Campe nor in many dayes after The Lord Deputie comming from aboard the Ships a great shott was made at him from the Towne from whence they might discerne him in the head of a Troupe and yet missed him very little Some of the Queenes Ships having direction began to play upon a Castle in the Iland called Castle Ny Parke held fit next to bee taken to invest the Towne on that side they brake off some part of the top but finding that they did it no greater hurt they left shooting and the rather because that day and the two next prooved so extreame stormie and foule as the Ordnance could not bee landed nor any thing else well done yet out of an extraordinary desire to effect somewhat the seventeenth being the most happy day of her Majesties Coronation which wee meant to haue solemnized with some extraordinary Adventure if the weather would haue suffered us to looke abroad wee sent at night when the storme was somewhat appeased the Sergeant Major and Captaine Bodly with some foure hundred Foot to discover the ground of Castle Ny Parke and to see whether it might be carried with the Pickaxe which was accordingly attempted but the Engine wee had gotten to defend our men while they were at worke being not so strong as it should haue beene they within the Castle hauing store of very great stones on the top tumbled them downe so fast as brake it so as they returned with the losse of two men and proceeded no further in that course The same day the Lord Deputie called a Councell of warre wherein it was propounded that now that her Majestie had plentifully furnished us with men munition and victuals we wereto consider of our owne strength and the best way either to attempt the Towne or to continue the siege we were also to consider of the force of the Enemy within Kinsale and what aides they were like to haue out of the Countrey and of all other commodities or incommodities that were to happen on either side The conclusion and resolution was that wee should invest the Towne with all celerity to keepe it short of reliefe and before the making of a breach to breake their houses that they might find no safetie in them and thereby to bee exposed to the like incommoditie of cold and raine as wee felt in the Campe in doing whereof it was conceived that many would bee slaine and indanger the destroying their magazines of powder and victuals for if presently we should make a breach and attempt it by assault there was no difference betweene a weake place stored with bodies of men and a strong fortified Towne besides the Enemy had ground sufficient if a breach were made to cast up new earth workes which would put us to more toyle and losse of men then an old stone wall and in the opinion of all the chiefest of the Armie it was concluded that wee could not doe the Enemy a greater pleasure or unto our selues a greater disadvantage then to seeke to carie it by a breach before the forces in the Towne either by sword or sicknesse were weakned CHAP. XVI The Earle of Thomond with his supplyes came to the Campe. Castle ny Parke rendred by the Spaniards A Spanish Captaine wounded whereof he dyed A braue Act of a private Souldier Approaches made neerer to the Towne The Lord President with the Earles of Thomond and Clanricard returned to the Campe. A sally made by the Spaniards THE Earle of Thomond also with one thousand Foote and one hundred Horse having beene by force of weather driven farre
to the Westward and with much difficultie had recovered Castle-haven came thence by Sea to the port of Kinsale The Lord Deputie to refresh his men and horses sent them to Corke for in their healths they were impaired and that evening some Spaniards fled from Kinsale and voluntarily came to our Campe. A Demy Cannon was unshipped assoone as it was calme and placed on this side the water which played most part of that day upon that Castle and brake many places but made no breach that was assaultable In the night they of the Towne attempted to releeue the Castle by boat but were repelled by Captaine Tolkern and Captaine Ward who lay with their Pinnaces betweene the Iland and the Towne The Demy Cannon played againe and a Cannon then landed and placed by it with some Ordnance also out of the Ship though they served to small purpose about noone one hundred men were sent with Captaine Yorke and Captaine Smith to view if the breach were assaultable and though they found it was not yet the Spanyards within being no longer able to endure the fury of the shot hung out a signe for parley upon the first shew of our men and yeelded themselues and the Castle upon promise of their liues onely which being accepted they brought them presently to the Campe being in number seventeene Before the Castle was yeelded the Spanyards in the Towne made divers shot at Captaine Tolkernes Pinnace with a piece of Ordnance which they mounted a day or two before close to the gate of the Towne but did no hurt at all unto her the Pinnace warping neerer to the other side under the hill and at last rode safely without danger of the shott The same day a Platforme was made upon a ground of advantage not farre from the Campe that commanded one part of the Towne that under the favour thereof wee might the better make our neerer Approaches which at that time wee could hardly haue done by reason of the great extreame frost and a Demy-cannon mounted vpon it with which some shot was made at the Towne and a Sentinell taken anon after affirmed that the first Piece shot off went through the house that Don Iohn was in and did otherwise great hurt An other Cannon was brought up and planted by the Demy-cannon which the night before was brought from the Ship and this day the Lord Deputie went over into the Iland to view how from thence the Towne might be best annoyed and invested Also the Prisoners which were taken at Castle Parke were sent to Corke with direction to the Major to send them and all the former prisoners into England the Sergeant Major and the Commanders of Rincorran and Castle Ny Parke excepted and this day a great number of Irish women and children were put out of Kinsale to trie their fortunes in the Countrey Foure other Peeces were planted by the Cannon and Demy Cannon which altogether played into the Towne one of those short killed foure men in the Market place and strucke off a Captaines legge called Don Iohn de Saint-Iohn who is since dead of the hurt That Evening one Iames Grace an Irishman ran out of Kinsale assuring the Lo. Deputie that Don Iohn at his landing was fiue thousand men and that hee was yet three thousand strong that hee had foure Peeces of Ordnance well mounted that the Irish which were with him were so much affrighted with our Artillery as Don Iohn had much to doe to hold them whose departure if it should happen would be a great want unto him for by them hee received ease and comfort and that Don Iohns house where hee lodged had been shot through with a great shot The sixe Peeces began againe about ten a clocke to batter upon the Towne and so continued till night in which time and in all mens judgements as by report of the Prisoners wee tooke they did great hurt to the Towne This day while the Lord Deputie the Marshall and the Sergeant Major were viewing the ground where the Approaches were intended a private Souldiour of Sir Francis Barkleyes in the face of the Guards attempting to steale as hee had done divers times before a Spanish Sentinell who was seconded with foure that hee saw not fought with them all fiue whereof one of them was the Sergeant Major whom he had almost taken and when he had found he could doe no good upon them all hee came off without other hurt then the cutting of his hand a little with the breaking of a thrust which one of them made at him and hurt the Sergeant Major The Lord Deputie this night began to make his approaches neerer the towne and for that purpose caused some 1000 Foot to be drawne out by Sir Iohn Barkley Sir Benjamin Berry and Captaine Bodley who continued the worke all night and although the ground were extreame hard by reason of the frost and the night very light yet they brought the worke to very good perfection the Enemy played all the night upon them with great Volleyes but hurt but three men neither in the Trenches nor in divers Sallies they made in the one whereof a Squadron of our new men beat them backe to the gates In the Euening his Lordship sent direction to Sir Richard Levison to land three Culverings this night and to plant them in the Iland about Castle Ny Parke that from thence they might likewise make Battery upon the Towne and Sir Richard drewe in the Admirall and Vice-Admirall betweene the Towne and the Iland from whence they did great hurt in the Towne the next day All the Artillery still played but because the shot from the ships did but little hurt saue onely upon the base Towne the Lord Deputie gaue direction to make very few shot except it were at the high Towne In the afternoone the Lord President the Earles of Thomond and Clanricard Sir Thomas Burke and divers others returned to the Campe Odonnell with his force being stollen by them This night direction was given to haue a Plat-forme made for the Artillery upon the trench which was made on Munday night somewhat after midnight the Spaniards made a sudden salley with purpose to force that trench but were quickly repelled by Sir Francis Barkley who commanded there that night The Companies that went with the Lord President returned and with them two other Regiments of the Earle of Clanricards and Sir Christopher Saint-Lawrence the Regiments were that night quartered by themselues upon the West side of Kinsale to invest the Towne and keepe the Spaniards and Odonnell from joyning This night the three Culverings from the Iland were planted on the poynt of the hil neere the water on this side behind the last trenches This morning the Spaniards played with a Demy Cannon from the Towne upon the Admirall which was twice shot and the Viceadmirall once they riding both close by the Towne and
in the Warâ—es of the Low-Countreys is most chargeable and of greatest import unto him and for the which he may thanke your Queene of England for had not shee assisted those Traytors they long since had borne the yoke of their deserts and neither Ireland nor England had ever been looked into or offended by us Harv Why then I perceiue it is not Religion or Conscience that hath brought you hither to releeue the Irish but onely Revenge for ayding of the States of the Low-Countreyes against the Cardinall Soto But did you ever thinke otherwise I know you did not and if you say so I know you dissemble with me for the place where you haue been brought up in hath better discipline Har. Why where haue I been brought up Soto I heare that you are neere in blood unto the President and that from a child you haue followed him and I know that you are better instructed then you make shew of Har. I must thanke you for your good opinion of me but haue you ever seene the face of the President Soto I assure you no and which I am very sory for for I heare that he is a worthy Gentleman and one of the wisest men in Ireland and if I would take the Irish opinions for my beliefe of him they confidently beleeue that he hath a familiar for they say he knows all things and that nothing can be hidden from him besides he is so inward with the Secretary of England as his power thereby is the greater which strengtheneth much my beliefe of his worth but I pray you Sir is it so Har. Truely I must confesse that I am neerely allyed unto him and that I am wholly his Creature from my Childhood But for your better satisfaction of what you haue heard of him unlesse in modestie I should wrong him I cannot doe lesse then maintaine the same opinion which the world holds of his worth and sufficiencie but for any familiar that he hath more then a noble Spirit and Iudgement and as the long experience of this Nation may sufficiently giue him understanding I assure you he hath not any and therefore the Irish in that doe wrong him And as for the greatnesse with the Secretary of England I know in his Affections he hath been very neere him these many yeares and to his uttermost hath wholly devoted himselfe unto him and in any reasonable matter I thinke Master Secretary will assoone hearken unto his Counsell as unto any if he were in England Soto But why would not the Secretary keepe him still with him but suffer him to spend his time among this Nation Harvie I cannot say but you object well but I assure you the necessitie of his comming hither was such as for the publike good hee was enforced unto it besides her Majesties opinion of his experience is such as shee knew he was able to end all the warres in these parts with Expedition which in foure Moneths my selfe can testifie hee had finished and had not your Armies comming hither caused a new rupture hee had good hopes to haue beene called long since home againe which I know nothing under Heaven hee desireth more Soto That makes me thinke that hee is weary of the warres and would be contented now to liue in peace Harvie I thinke not so unlesse it were a very happy peace otherwise warres is farre more welcome unto him although I thought not the Irish warres but I thought a Spanish Iourney royally undertaken would please him so much almost as to be seven yeares younger Soto Since your President loues a hote Clymate so well I would to God hee would bee a meanes to make a peace betwixt the two Kingdomes and then hee might take his choise in whether of them he would liue and be a welcome man unto both but was not he in France with Master Secretary when that businesse was a treating Harvie Yes Soto And were you there likewise Harvie No. Soto I assure you there was excellent jugling of your side and will be still where great personages are the Actors otherwise I imagine there had fallen out better successe but wee haue some Spirits in Spaine will never rest untill they haue either ruined the kingdome or themselues but dare you Sir impart this Conference unto the President Harvie I promise you if I liue I will Soto It may bee out of this may proceed some good effect for of lesse beginnings then this haue greater matters risen Harvie I beleeue you although I haue small hopes of this Soto And why Cannot England stand without the Low Countries Harvie Yes against all the earth but not so quiet if that were yours Soto Why wee will not aske any assistance from the Queene but onely haue her stand a Neuter and for her safetie and the kingdomes wee will put in pledge twentie of the best houses in Spaine such as your State will choose and if the State of England will 〈◊〉 looke judicially into it they shall find the offer honest and fit to bee accepted Considering that the Queene of England is by nature as mortall as others of lesse quality and if shee were dead I know the next that shall succeed will afford it and bee glad of it upon lesse conditions or else I am deceived Harvie But God bee thanked wee haue no cause in England to dreame of succession but hope shee shall be eternall unto us Soto That were ill newes unto him who lookes to succeed Harvie But Sir to the matter because I haue promised you to impart this conference unto the President let mee intreat you to haue somewhat under your hand to justifie it Soto You shall haue a Passe either for your selfe or any other from me to come into Spaine touching this busines The effect whereof I most humbly referre unto God and so bid you farewell Pedro Lopez de Soto Overseer generall of the Army of my Soveraigne the Catholike King c. For certaine due respects behoofull for his Majesties service this free Pasport in his royall name is assured for any English Ship which shall bring any dispatch from Roger Harvie Governour of the Garisons at Castlehaven and Baltimore directed and superscribed to mee which shall happen to arriue in any Port in Spaine from the date hereof unto the end of Iuly next By vertue whereof his Majesties chiefâ— Officer that shall governe the Province or port where the said Ships shall arriue shall giue commandement for the service of his Majestie that both it the Sâ—â—fâ—ring men and all other persons with their goods shall be freely received and entertayned and accommodated to their liking and content untill the dispatch in the said ship directed unto me bee sent unto Don Pedro Franquesa the said ship with her men and goods may not only freely returne to these Northren parts without any impediment but rather to bee intreated with all possible curtesies And if any of his Majesties ships of warre or any of his Subjects
his greatnesse who will by no meanes giue me a portion of Land to liue upon as was promised upon the delivery up of Kilcrey by your Honour wherein as of the rest I doe againe humbly beseech your favour and so as with a repentant and penitent transgressor of the Lawes I doe humbly submit my selfe to her Majesties grace and will endeavour my selfe hereafter by my good deeds and services to wipe out the memory of my former follies Expecting your favourable Answer I most humbly take my leaue From Carrigifuky this ninth of Iune 1602. Your Honours most humble to commaund Teg Mac Cormock Cartie The combination lately by Cormocke contracted with the Priest Owen Mac Eggan being manifestly prooved by severall witnesses subject to no Exceptions the Gentleman Porter called Master Raph Hammon was commaunded to bring the Prisoner before the President and Councâ—ll which were assembled at Shandon Castle who making his apparance was charged with the severall Treasons afore recited who insisted very much upon his Iustification pretending that those accusations were injuriously devised and slanderously suggested by his Enemies especially for the last Article concerning the Conspiracie with the Priest Mac Eggan which indeed was so cunningly and secretly caryed as he supposed that it was rather presumed then prooved against him Hee renounced all favour and pardon if it would bee justified by lawfull testimony The President replyed that this was the onely matter of substance that he was charged withall the former being pardoned since the perpetrating thereof being onely inducements and presumptions whereby they were the rather mooved to giue â—are and credit to the latter accusation But hee still persisting in his Innocencie was at last urged with this Dilemma namely that either hee should confesse his fault and so intreat her Majesties mercy or else in token of his loyall and guiltlesse heart he should deliver unto the State his Castle of Blarney upon condition that if the fact whereof he was charged were not evidently prooved against him the sayd Castle should be redelivered to him or his assignes by a day appoynted At first hee seemed very inclinable to the motion but in processe it was perceived that hee intended nothing but jugling and devices wherefore a Warrant from the whole Body of the Councell was directed to the sayd Gentleman Porter straightly charging and commanding that he should be kept in yrons closer then before untill he should demeane himselfe in more dutifull conformitie And besides they appoynted Captaine Taffe in whom Cormock reposed much trust to perswade him to surrender the sayd Castle into the Presidents hands undertaking upon his credit to retaine the same and all the goods in it or neere thereunto belonging either to himselfe or his followers from losse and danger either by Subject or Rebell Cormocke at last finding that the President was resolved either to make him bend or breake caused his Constable though much against his will to yeeld the said Castle to Captaine Taffe so that no other whatsoever might haue the charge or custodie thereof The Prisoner besides the Castle of Blarney had two places kept by his Dependants of good importance to commaund the Countrey the one an Abbey called Kilcrey distant from Corke sixe myles and the other a Castle called Mocrumpe sixteene miles distant from Corke the former scituated upon the South and the latter upon the North side of the River of Lee. The Castle and Abbey of Kilcrey was rendred to Captaine Francis Slingsbie sent thither by the President But Mocrumpe seated in the heart of Muskrey and invironed round about with woods and bogges could not be gotten without the countenance of an Armie therefore the President sent first Captaine Flower and afterwards Sir Charles Wilmott with competent numbers of Foot and Horse to lye before it untill such time as they might gaine it by Sapp or Myne or by some other stratageme as time and occasion should minister opportunity During this siege the President cast about for his wife and children and having gotten them likewise into his hands confined them within the walles of Corke These things thus accomplished the President dispatched Letters both to the Lords of her Majesties Privie Councell of England and also to the Lord Deputie and Councell of Ireland relating unto them the apprehension of Cormocke and the reasons inducing him thereunto desiring also to receiue their Lordships pleasures for his further proceedings in this businesse but before answere could bee returned an unfortunate accident unexpected altered the whole platforme of this intended service For Cormocks followers had plotted his escape and likewise to procure Cormock Oge his eldest sonne who was then a Student in Oxford to bee convayed secretly out of the Vniversitie and to be brought into Ireland or as some thought to bee sent into Spaine for effecting whereof Iohn O Healy one of Cormocks old theeues was the next passage to be sent into England Advertisement hereof was brought to the President who for preventing of both these Designes first sent for the Gentleman Porter delivered unto him at large the great prejudice that should arise to her Majesties Service if the prisoner should escape that the Queenes charge and his owne paines and laborious travell were all frustrated yea if the Spaniards should arriue as they were expeâ—â—ed the whole kingdome of Ireland should receiue hazard and prejudice by it Wherefore he charged him upon his duty to the State his allegeance to her Majestie and in the loue he bare unto himselfe that hee would bee no lesse carefull of his safe keeping then of his owne life which in some sort depended thereon Answer was made by Hammon that his Lordship should not need to trouble his minde with any such imaginary doubts for if shackles of yron walles of stone and force of men for hee had certaine Souldiers allowed him for a Guard could make him sure then should the Prisoner bee forth-comming whensoever the State should bee pleased to call for him and for Iohn O Healy the President held a watchfull eye over him but it was not thought good to make stay of him untill he should be aboard the ship that such Instructions and Letters as should bee sent by him might with himselfe bee apprehended whereby the whole circumstance of these plots and the chiefe Agents therein might bee discovered to make short the wind was faire the Master hasteth aboard the Marriners and Passengers purposing to set saile the next tyde amongst the rest Iohn O Healy unregarded as hee thought is also on shipboard but hee was much deceived in his opinion for presently a Messenger sent from the State found him in the hold when he began to search him for his Letters he making shew to deliver them willingly upon a suddaine threw both his Letters and money into the Sea which although it did plainely demonstrate apparant guiltinesse yet could hee never afterwards bee wrought to confesse either the contents of the one or
such Land If any of them heereafter be disobedient to her Lawes or breake foorth in Rebellion shee may when they shall bee more divided ruine them more easily for example unto others and if it be thought fit may plant English or other Irish in their Countreyes For although there ever haue beene and hereafter may bee small eruptions in some places which at the first may easily bee suppressed yet the suffering them to grow to that generall head and combination did questionlesse proceed from great errour in the judgement heere and may be easily as I thinke prevented hereafter And further it may please her Majestie to ground her resolution for the time and numbers of the next abatement of the List of her Armie somewhat upon our poore advise from hence and to beleeue that wee will not so farre corrupt our Iudgements with any private respects and without necessitie to continue her Charge seeing wee doe throughly conceiue how grievous it is unto her Estate and that wee may not bee precisely tyed to an Establishment that shall conclude the payments of the Treasure since it hath ever been thought fit to bee otherwise till the comming over of the Earle of Essex and some such extraordinarie Occasions may fall out that it will bee dangerous to attend your Lordships Resolutions and when it will bee safe to diminish the Armie heere that there may bee some course thought of by some other Employment to disburthen this Countrey of the idle Sword-men in whom I finde an inclination apt enough to bee carried elsewhere either by some of this Countrey of best reputation among them or in Companies as now they stand under English Captaines who may bee reinforced with the greatest part of Irish That it may bee left to our discretion to make Passages and Bridges into Countreyes otherwise unaccessable and to build little Pyles of stone in such Garrisons as shall bee thought fittest to bee continuall Bridles upon the people by the commoditie of which wee may at any time drawe the greatest part of the Armie together to make a Head against any part that shall first breake out and yet reserue the places onely with a Ward to put in greater Forces as occasion shall require which I am perswaded will prooue great Pledges upon this Countrey that upon any urgent cause the Queene may safely draw the greatest part of her Armie heere out of the Kingdome to bee employed at least for a time elsewhere wherein I beseech your Lordships to consider what a strength so many experienced Captaines and Souldiers would bee to any Armie of new men erected in England against an Invasion or sent abroad in any offensiue warre But untill these places bee built I cannot conceiue how her Majestie with any safetie can make any great diminution of her Armie Lastly I doe humbly desire your Lordships to receiue the further explanation of my meaning and confirmation of my reasons that doe induce mee unto these propositions for the Lord President of Mounster who as he hath been a very worthy Actor in the reducement and defence of this Kingdome so doe I thinke him to be the best able to giue you through account of the present Estate and future providence for the preservation thereof wherein it may please your Lordships to require his opinion of the hazard this Kingdome is like to runne in if it should by any mightie Power be invaded and how hard it will bee for us in any measure to provide for the present defence if any such bee intended and withall to goe on with the suppression of these that are left in rebellion so that wee must either adventure the kindling of this fire that is almost extinguished or intending onely that leaue the other to exceeding perill And thus having remembred to your Lordships the most materiall poynts as I conceiue that are fittest for the present to bee considered of I doe humbly recommend my selfe and them to your Lordships favour From her Majesties Castle of Dublin the sixe and twentieth of February 1602. After the Lord Deputie departed by reason of Easterly winds the President was stayed aboue three weekes in Dublin during which time every day Posts were emploied betweene them untill the twentieth of March which was the day the Lord President set saile for England the day following hee arrived at Bewmarris at his comming to Chester hee met with the lamentable newes of the decease of his good and gracious Mistresse Queene Elizabeth for whom as he had good cause he extreamely mourned But two dayes following being at Lichfield he assisted the Major in the proclaiming of King Iames which gaue him new life whom I beseech God long to preserue and continue his Posteritie for ever over his triumphant Monarchy of Great Brittaine and Ireland Although my VVorke bee finished yet according to the course I haue held in the end of the two former Bookes I may not omit to recount to the Reader the most memorable Services and accidents which hapned in this yeere 1602. In the Catalogue whereof I must first begin with the forces sent into Carbery with the Earle of Thomond The sending of Sir Charles Wilmot with his Regiment into Kerry The Lord Presidents departure from Corke with the Armie towards Donboy His long abode at Carew Castle expecting Munition and Victuals The difficulty he had in his approaching towards Donboy The defeat given to the Rebels The arrivall of a Spanish Caravell in Beare with Letters of Comfort Money and Munition from Spaine The siege of Donboy the winning and rasing of it The Presidents returne to Corke and Sir Charles Wilmots into Kerry The flight of Iames Archer the Iesuite and Connor Odrischall into Spaine The relapse of Sir Owen Mac Carties Sonnes The Spanish Hostages returned into Spaine The restraint of Cormock Lord of Muskery His escape and reduction The winning of the Castle of Mocrumpe The defeat of Tirrell and his Bonnoghs in Muskery The sending of Sir Samuell Bagnall with fifteene hundred men to the Lord Deputie The Service done upon the Knight of Kerry The flight of Tirrell with his Bonoghs out of the Province The defeat of the Rebells in Glangarne The flight of William Burke with his Bonoghs Osulevan Beare and Connor Kerry out of Mounster The overthrow of the Cartyes in Carbery And the killing of the Popes Apostolique Vicar Owen Mac Egan The sending of a Regiment with Munition and Victualls for the service in Connaght The defeat of the Lord of Lixnaw The finall Reduction of Mounster The appointing of Sir Charles Wilmot and Sir George Thornton joynt Commissioners for the Government of Mounster And the departure of the Lord President into ENGLAND FINIS 1599. Devoreux Butler Roche Blunt Carew The landing of the Lord Deputie and Lord President in Ireland St. Lawrence Carew The Warrant for the passing of letters Patents to the Lo. President Norris Carew Blunt Carew Norris Norris Norris Cary. The Lo. Presidents Letters Patents Norris Carew Carew Blunt Carew
necessary for the sustenance of our Troopes because there came not such a quantitie of Bisquet as his Majestie commanded and was not more then for two Moneths or little more It is likewise convenient that there come a great summe of monie for it imports much to pay well for want whereof there rise no disorders that of friends wee gaine not enemies That others may come in the place of the Accounter and overseer that brought us to the Groyne It is convenient to send two Doctors because there is none in the regiment of Spaniards Likewise that an Auditor Generall bee sent to serue here because there is none It behooveth also to send Carpenters and Smiths or Farriers being very necessary And that his Majestie bee served that there might remaine here three or foâ—re ships to giue advise of whatsoever shall succeed there being none left here at this present The next day after Don Iuan was landed Sir Charles Wilmot sent Captaine Francis Slingesby with his â—oote Company and Sir Anthony Cooks Horse with directions to take the best view hee could of their fleete and forces who at his comming thither found them possessed both of the Towne of Kinsale and of the Castle of Rincorran neere adjoyning unto it and to bid him welcome they drew forth a Company or two of Foote and a skirmish for a little space was entertayned wherein there were some hurt but none slaine Captaine Slingsby having performed his directions returned to Corke CHAP. XI Second Letters from Sir Charles Wilmot of the arrivall of the Spaniards in Kinsale Debate in Councell what wâ—â— meetest for the Lord Deputy to doe The Lord Deputy assented to the Lord Presidents advise The Lord Presidents providence A dispatch into England of the Spaniards arrivall The Lord Deputy goeth with the Lord President into Mounster None of the Provincials of Mounster did adhere to the Spaniards as their first landing The report of a Master of a Scottish Barque concerning the strength of the Spaniard Captaine Flower sent to view Kinsale Direction given for the burning of the Corne neere Kinsale A Letter from the Archbishop of Dublin and Don Iuan de Aquila unto Tyrone and O Donnell The Lord Deputy and Lord President c. went to view the Towne of Kinsale The Lord Deputy with the Army marched towards Kinsale AT the instant when Sir Charles Wilmots Letters of the Spaniards arrivall came to Kilkenny which was upon the three and twentieth of September as afore mentioned the Lord Deputie the Earle of Ormond the Lord President Sir Richard Wingfielde Marshall of the Army of Ireland and Sir Robert Gardiner the chiefe Iustice were in Councell advising what course was fittest to take if the Spaniards should land But now Sir Charles Wilmots Letters gaue them cause to advise what should be done they being landed to confirme the same while they were in Councell second Letters came from Sir Charles Wilmot and the Major of Corke that the Spaniards had quitted the harbour of Corke and were all at an Anchor in the haven of Kinsale The question was then what the Lord Deputy should doe The Earle of Ormond the Marshall and the chiefe Iustice were of opinion that hee should doe well to hasten to Dublin and there to assemble his forces together and whilest they were drawing to a head to giue order for supplyes of victuals and munitions to bee sent to Corke and that the President should presently bee dispatched into the Province to defend the Citie of Corke untill the Lord Deputie came to his reliefe wherein all expedition was to bee vsed for their reasons were that if the Lord Deputie presented himselfe in the Province with small forces it would encourage the Enemy and put distrust and feare in the Provincials which were either well affected or neutrals The Presidents advise was opposite to theirs beseeching the Lord Deputy to goe presently into Mounster although hee had no more then his Page with him for said he if the Provincials shall see that you turne your backe towards them they will conceiue it proceeds of want of force and then undoubtedly a generall revolt will ensue but when they shall see you personally amongst them that doubt will be removed and besides the Armie now dispersed will make more haste after you then they would doe if you attended their comming to Dublin The Lord Deputy inclined to the Presidents Councell but said he what should I doe there not being able to mainetaine the Armie with victuals for the space of a weeke nor to furnish it with munitions of both which there is no remaine in the Magazines in Dublin The President willed him to take no care for those wants for hee would furnish him and the whole Armie for two or three moneths which indeed hee was able to doe for hee had spared the expence of victuals not consuming so much as a Bisquet for more then sixe moneths giving the Souldiers money and having beene evermore confident of the Spaniards arrivall had procured good supplyes of munitions which were frugally and sparingly issued The Lord Deputy like unto one that was overjoyed with such unexpected provisions rose from his Chaire embraced the President and said that if hee had not beene more then provident that himselfe did not know what to haue done and that his honour had beene indangered and ascribed to him what hee well deserved In conclusion the foure and twentieth the Marshall Sir Henry Davers and Sir Iohn Barkley were dispatched into Linster and to Armaghe to assemble the Army and to bring it withall possible expedition into Mounster and Letters were dispatched to Sir Charles Wilmot to bee well upon his guard and dispatches sent into England by Captaine Iohn Roberts of the Spaniards arrivall All things being thus ordered doubt was made how the Lord Deputy could be conveyed safely to Corke being attended by no other then his household servants in that dangerous time which was satisfied by the President who had then with him there one hundred Horse and for the furnishing of the Lord Deputies house at Corke with stuffe and vtensils hee undertooke the care The same day the Lord Deputy and President Sir Robert Gardiner departed from Kilkenny and the same night they lodged at Kilkenan the Lord Dunboynes house the next night at Clonmell the sixe and twentieth at Glanogher the Lord Roches house and the next day following they came to Corke Now are wee come to siege of Kinsale a place ordayned wherein the honour and safetie of Queene Elizabeth the reputation of the English nation the cause of Religion and the Crowne of Ireland must bee by Armes disputed for upon the successes of this siege as these great and important consequences depended And here the malice of Rome and Spaine if they had prevailed would not haue ceased for their purposes did extend it selfe Ireland having beene conquered to make it their bridge to haue invaded England the
conquest and ruine whereof was the maine marke whereat they aimed It was generally expected that upon the first landing of the Spaniards that the greatest part of Mounster would haue presently relapsed and haue declared themselues Spanish but the President had so well established the Province by the apprehending of all the Principals which hee mistrusted and by taking good pledges of the rest that when the Lord Deputy came to Corke hee presented unto him all the men of living and quality in the Province who stood firme untill the comming of supplyes to Castlehaven as hereafter you shall heare The eight and twentieth the Lord President brought the master of a Scottish barke to the Lord Deputy which came from Lisbon who confidently reported that the Spaniards when they were embarqued for Ireland were sixe thousand strong And the same day we heard that none of the Irish had repaired to Kinsale to tender their service to the Spaniards but onely some dependants of Florence Mac Carties and that Don Iohn and his Captaines were much grieved that Florence was sent prisoner into England of whose restraint they understood nothing untill they were arrived And also wee were advertised that at Kinsale fiue and thirtie ships arrived with Don Iohn and that the rest of his fleete were driven into Baltimore having in them seven hundred Souldiers and that they brought with them sixteene hundred Saddles hoping as they were promised to find horses in Ireland and a great surplus of Armes to furnish the Irish and the Companies with Don Iohn for most part were old Souldiers taken from the garisons of Italy and the Terceras and that there was but a few Besognies among them The same day Captaine George Flower Sergeant Major of the Province of Mounster was sent with certaine Companies to view the Towne of Kinsale to see what countenance the Enemy did hold hee no sooner approached the Towne but the Spaniards sallied our men beate them into the Towne and were so eager in pursuit as they came to the Port and would haue set fire unto it if Flower had not drawen them off in this skirmish wee had some men hurt and the Enemy both slaine and hurt Also the same day certaine Companies were directed to march into Kinaley to burne and spoyle all the corne in that Countrey and within fiue miles of Kinsale and to command all the Inhabitants in those parts to bring their Cattle on this side the river of Awneboy and Corke whereby the Enemy should want reliefe neere unto them To hasten the comming of Tyrone and Odonnell the Spanish Archbishop of Dublin and Don Iuan de Aquila wrote unto them as followeth A Letter from the Archbishop of Dublin and Don Iuan de Aquila unto Tyrone and Odonnell PErvenimus in Kinsale cum classe exercitu Regis nostri Philippi expectamus vestras excellentias qualibet hora veniant ergo quà m velociter potuerint portantes equos quibus maximè indigemus jam alia via scripsimus non dico plura valete Frater Matheus Archiepiscopus Dublinens A Qui estamos guardando a vuestras Senorias illustrissimas Como largamente otra via hemos escritos A Dios. 12. Octob. 1601. Don Iuan de Aquila Excellentissimis Dominis Don Oneale and Odonnell This day the Lord Deputie the Lord President and Councell with divers others went to Kinsale to take a view thereof and found at their comming thither that the shipping had newly left the harbour and were under saile for Spaine so as they saw nothing was further to bee done till the comming of the forces The third of October Sir William Fortescu with his Company of Foot and Sir Beniamin Berry with the Lord deputies came to Corke The Marshall who was sent from Kilkenny to draw Companies out of the Pale came this day with Sir George Bourchier to Corke where at that time remained the Lord Deputie the Lord President Sir Robert Gardiner and Sir Nicholas Walsh Councellors expecting them and others Sir Iohn Barkley came that day also The Companies came to Corke that Sir Iohn Barkley had brought with him Sir Henrie Davers who was sent for the Forces about Armaghe came to Corke with Sir Henry Folliet captaine Blany and diuers other Captaines Master Marshall and Sir Iohn Barkley with some Horse and Foote went to Kinsale to view a fit place to encampe in The Companies that Sir Henry Davers went for came this day to Corke Some Horse and Foot sent foorth to keepe the Spanyards from Victuals Two Frenchmen were voluntarily taken that ranne away from the Spanyards who confessed their numbers to be three thousand fiue hundred besides those that were not yet come in It was resolved to take the field but no great Ordnance came yet to enable us thereunto The weather fell out so rainy as it was unfit to rise The Lord Deoutie left Corke and encamped with the Armie at a place called Owneboy fiue miles from Kinsale the Artillery Munition and Victualls which were to come from Dublin was not yet arrived yet was it thought fit being thereof supplyed by the Presidents store to take the field rather then the Countrie should discover those wants and so fall away CHAP. XII The Lord President requireth the Townes of Mounster to send Companies of Foot to the Campe. Don Iuan de Aquila his Declaration in answer of a Proclamation published by the Lord Deputy and Councell The Army encamped at Knockrobyn neere Kynsale The enemy attempted to disturbe our Quarter but were repulsed A skirmish betweene vs and the Spanyard Captaine Button arrived with Munition and Victuals A Skirmish in the night wherein twenty of the Spanyards were slayne The Army encamped close to Kynsale A prey of Cowes taken from the Spanyards THE Lord President in his providence before the Army was ready to march to Kinsale acquainted the Lo Deputie which hee well approoved that hee had sent to the Cities and great Townes of Mounster that every of them according to their proportions should send Companies of Foot from their severall Corporations to strengthen her Majesties Army which they accordingly but with some grudging did performe This he did not for any opinion he had to receiue fruite by their services but their being in the Campe was a good Pledge upon the Townes in these doubtfull times for their better loyalties the Lord Deputie not being able to spare any Companies to secure them The Lord Deputie and Councell before the Armie marched from Corke doubting as they had good cause that the Priests would leaue no practises unattempted that might animate or confirme the Irish in their Rebellion thought it necessary to giue notice to the world how uniust the pretended causes were that the Irish had taken Armes against their true annoynted Soveraigne and also how unjustly the same was maintained by the Pope and the King of Spaine which by Proclamation was