title of Earle a cunning way to extenuate his worth and greatnesse in his countrey it was apparant that Con had no interest but for tearme of life nor could without the consent of the Lords and Dinastas of Vlster transferre anothers right into the Kings hands Besides such was the ancient glory of his Familie that the true heire must bee certified by the Oath of Twelue Men which in Mathews case fayled and therefore was the nullity of them very conspicuous and all such proceedings of England against him worthily frustrated but concerning himselfe he had approbation both from God Man as the lawfull Sonne of a louing Wife and was confirmed by the law Tanist according to the suffrages of the people and seuerall applauses of the Families of Vlster and for his since progression hee neuer admitted of other thought then to maintaine the ancient glory of his vnmatchable House nor vsurped other iurisdiction then his Ancestors by many Presidents apparant records had formerly exercised and confirmed without contradiction and to which the other Kings of England had graciously consented and most indulgently protected them Notwithstanding all this hee ranne a contrary course to former protestations in the violent race of rebellion plunged himself to his vtter extirpation confusion as by the sequell may appeare For first he audaciously suppressed O Realy quarrelling with Callogh O Donel defeated his complices tauished his wife imprisoned himselfe and children deuasted his Castles vsurped his inheritance and like the King of Vlster indeede proceeded with all imperiousnesse and malicious insulting ouer his inferiors but as soone as Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Lieutenant of Ireland prepared our English forces to rebate his pride and reduce the other Countries hee a little moderated his ambitious courses and a while procrastinated his former resolutions wherein the perswasion of Gerard Earle of Kildare his Cosin whom Queene Mary had restored was so effectuall that he retired into England and in all suppliant manner abiected himselfe before the Councell with promises and strange protestations not onely of being a true subiect but an entertayner of Ciuility and fashionable order both in life and habit the hope whereof dismissed him home againe and like a cunning strumpet insinuating with the good opinion of a new deceiued Friend hee beganne reasonably well shutte his eares against the Syren-like temptations of his Bardes and Rimers vndertooke to heare the controuersies of his people releeued the wants of the distressed In a word demeaned himselfe with a noble kinde of moderation in Peace and when there was cause of Warre expulsed the Scots of Vlster cut off the head of Iames Mac-Connell their captaine and principall occasion of that Innouation In these sweete passages of peace and quietnesse hee continued a while and the poore churle thought hee beheld a faire shining Planet in a perspicuous Heauen growing proude of such an alteration that hee now might complaine of receiued iniuries and obtaine redresse for vnsufferable wrongs But the better sort finding him ouer-insolent to indure and misdoubting a proiect against all their estates and dignities complotted to ouerthrow him suggesting matter against him and so ordered the busines that Mac-Guier Lord of Fermanagh came in person to Sir Henry Sidney by this time Lord Deputy to implore his assistance for the restrayning or if you will suppressing this vsurping King of the North which Shane Oneale tooke so despitefully and apprehended with such indignation that drunke with rage he became vnsensible of reason forgetting his allegeance with all the former faire promises of loyaltie he prosecuted Mac-Guier at his returne with fire and sword besieged Armagh demolished the Church destroyed the buildings and came to Dondalk with purpose to ruine the Countrey but was a while intercepted by a worthy expedition of Sir Wil. Sercefield Maior and the Citizens of Dubline I might adde the power of the Countrey the mustred forces of the English Irish about Sordes Tredagh By this time are the royall arms of the State spred abroad the Lord Deputy after he had shipped 7. companies of Foot a troope of Horse for Logh-foile vnder the command of Sir Ed. Randoll set forward in person toward the North with the rest of the Army which when Shane had intelligence of as what could be done which some or other made him not acquainted with that hee vnderstood there was a purpose with all aduantages to presse him both behinde before he raysed himselfe toward the Derry and with great expedition brought the matter to deciding so that many skirmishes were but as it were preparatiues to that maine encounter which to his perpetual renown cost Sir Ed. Randoll his life brought Shane to confusion For very quickly all his purposes were disanulled his forces weakened his Rebels dissipated the whole strength of his proiects infringed so that despayring to reintegrate his estate he determined a strange alteratiō O that man dare presume of any thing being subiect to such an alteration with a Halter about his neck to submit to the Deputy but diuerted from so base a course by the aduice and couragious spirit of his Secretary hee made tryall of a new confederacy with Alexander Oge and the Scots who were resident and rebellious in the Claude Boies But first as an introduction of peace hee released Surleboy the brother of Alexander whom hee had long detained in prison and thus presuming on this new combination with the enforced Odonnels wife and some few others he is welcommed into the tent of Alexander and for the present entertained as the very Prince of the North or King of Vlster but after extraordinary drinking and ouer-liberall carouses certaine vnkindnesses and vnfortunate repetitions began betweene them about his other brothers death and the honour of his sister whom Shane had formerly married but despightfully refused Wine ouercame reason reason thus entangled was subiected to confusion of words words encreased rage and rage induced reuenge so that Alex Oge and Mac. Gilaspic his brother tooke aduantage of the time and these occasions which was performed with such inueterate malice and offensiue digressions that Shane was set vpon ouermastered and with many wounds slaine that his Secretary was cut in pieces his wife or rather Concubine surprised and the company dispersed that the Rebels of the North were vtterly subuerted these Scots made a way to their admission and pardon and by consequence the peace of Vlster restored This businesse thus setled and determined a Parliament was called in Ireland in which Shane Oneale with all his followers was proscribed the name of Oneale interdicted the Lands and territories of the North or Vlster incorporated to the Crowne of England and all occasions of innouation remoued had not Turlogh Leignogh brothers sonne to Con More Oneale assumed the title a man of declining age and more quiet then the rest of his name suspecting indeede that according to their law Tanist either Shane Oneales
this Interim assaulted Black-water Fort but therein commanded that industrious Captaine Th. Williams who at the same instant by meere valour and resolution propulsed them and many times after by patience and constancy endured all those mischiefes where by a Souldier is put to the test and enemy maketh demonstration of his hate and policy For when the Irish found themselues vncapable of such a businesse by way of expugnation or assault they tooke another course by intercepting the passages to famish them which when the English vnderstood they were as resolute to affront all mischances as the enemy was violent in contriuing displeasures and so with noble stedfastnesse bare vp a head against the streame of sicknesse and wants eating Horses and Weedes and if it had beene possible the very durt and stones In this time the gouernment of Ireland was in the hands of the Earle of Ormond as Lieutenant Generall of the Army the Lord Chancelor and Sir Robert Gardner Iustices to whom the Earle of Tyrone by many dilatory Letters did lay open all his grieuances touching sparingly his breach of promise with Sir Iohn Norris and all the effectuall points of his disobedience and refractary courses To these Letters hee receiued answere which hee interpreted displeasing rather then satisfactory and so accordingly entred into further Rebellious actions pressing Black-water Fort again with a more dangerous siedge against whom the Lord Lieutenant and Iustices aforesaid sent Sir Henry Bagnoll the Marshall his only reputed aduersary with sixteene Companies of Foot and foure troops of Horse who aduancing forward more malicious then fortunate as ouerwrought by a predestinated wilfulnesse came to blowes and according to the slippery footing of Warre fel to a dangerous Skirmish in which Tyrone shouldred him with all his strength nigh vnto Armagh determining as it were to punish his Enuy and supposed abuses against him wherein it should seeme the Mistrisse of successe as we abuse Gods prouidence by the Character of Fortune was coadiutrix and displayed all the maligne circumstances of reuenge against vs. For ere night decided the controuersy hee triumphed with a notorious victory whereby in one houre the Marshall ended his brauery life and enmity nor could the Irish euer boast of a more conspicuous triumph since the Conquest or if you had rather haue it so since we first curb'd their immanity For we lost fifteene Captaines and 1500. Souldiers ouer whom the manner of insulting was more barbarous then the accident tyrannous Presently followed the surrendring of Black-water Fort when the besieged saw all reliefe debarred them and heard how Tyrone was proclaymed the deliuerer of his Countrey and Protector of the Catholique cause seeming the very darling of prosperity and delight of Bellona wherein he proceeded accordingly making all the Kingdome witnesse his glory and renowne For hee presently sent Ouny-Mac Roory Oge and Tirrill into Munster with foure thousand Rebels against whom the Lord President Sir Iohn Norris hauing lost his brother by sicknesse or as some suppose a disastrous Melancholy with reasonable equipage and orderly attendance set nobly forward but the enemy not appearing he retired to Corck and diuiding his Army into seuerall Garrisons gaue them liberty to take aduantage of our wearisomnesse and impatience For presently they proceeded to all hatefull courses of sauage outrage and after Iames Fitz-Thomas a Rebell of that House was proclaymed Earle of Desmond who thereupon acknowledged Oneale his benefactor and superior they returned with ambitious alacrity and cheerefulnesse and sent word into Spayne of their admirable successes wherein Tyrone behaued himselfe so audaciously that he interdicted the peace of England as if there had beene a way opened vnto an easy conquest of the same and the first steppe into Ireland would helpe them vp the degrees of a more illustrious glorie to which purpose the King of Spayne should not onely bee assured of the Popes blessing but Oneales Fortunes and assistance yea the whole power of the Kingdome This was the lamentable estate of Ireland when her Maiesty taking pitty of her Orphan Countrey substituted Robert Earle of Essex whom the successe of Cales voyage and many other memorable designes and prosecutions had worthily renowned her Lieutenant Generall of Ireland But how hee had formerly wound himselfe into the good opinion of his Countrey how England looked vpon him as a glorious sonne of comlinesse and honour how his forces Treasure and Fauours were extraordinary in this proiect of Ireland how hee proceeded in this military race how the applause of the people and the greatest part of the nobilitie attended him How a sudden storme as if some ominous signe from Heauen presaged misfortune intercepted his iollity euen at his first setting out of London how landed in Ireland hee beganne his businesse as preposterously How that braue Sir Coniers Clifford was abused by presumption and ouer-credulous opinion that his bosome friend O Roorck would not haue prooued such a Traytor and so not only lost his life at the Curlews a boggy Mountaine by the Abby of Aborle but was inhumanely after the skirmish mangled and with great immanity cut in peeces How the Earle of Ormond and Sir Henry Harington were surprized and taken prisoners by Harry Oge Owny mac Roory and the sonnes of Feff mac-Heugh rebells vnited against the peace and flourishing prosperity of Lemster How hee came to a priuate parley with Tyrone and was much affected by the Irish How her Maiesty rebuked him and from incensed indignation challenged both his loyalty and the wisedome of the Councell of Ireland for a contrarious and vntoward method of gouernment and prosecutions in the North How his glorious celebrating the feast of Saint George in the City of Dubline considering the times and turmoyles of the kingdome was imputed rather an ostentous brauery then a necessary honour How contrary to expectation hee comes into England after a priuate prohibition by her Maiesties owne Letters How hee was commanded to his owne House and his Offices dispensed withall How his sorrows multiplied How the peoples loue encreased eyther from a generall commiserating of such men in distresse or particular apprehension of his greatnesse and worth How his fortunes and Life ended I will leaue to a Story of it selfe yea if I might say so to many Stories in which such infinite obseruations might bee folded that if a man durst or might spread them abroad all the passages should be laid open and exposed to publique ouerlooking of the fauour and disfauor of Princes the dangers of men insatiable of glory the condition of Councellours emulous of one anothers greatnesse the mutability and inconstancy of popularitie the perill wherein men plunge themselues that dare presume to perpetrate vniustifiable actions and the misery which an vntimely death bringeth to a man projecting high matters to himselfe But to our Irish businesse againe When my Lord of Essex troubles were published abroad and divulged in Ireland the Earle of Tirone with great indignation brake the
THE TRVE EXEMPLARY AND REMARKABLE HIStory of the Earle of Tirone Wherein the manner of his first presumption affrighting both England and Ireland with his owne and the King of Spaines Forces and the misery of his ensuing deiection downefall and vtter banishment is truely related Not from the report of others or collection of Authors but by him who was an eye witnesse of his fearefull wretchednes and finall extirpation Written by T. G. Esquire LONDON Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rownthwaite and are to bee sold at the signe of the Floure de-Luce and Crowne in Paules Church Yard 1619. Est vero vbi silentium sermone potius sit est porro vbi silentio sermo Eurip Orestes TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE Earle of Clenricard Gouernor of Conach and Councellor of State in his Maiesties Kingdome of Ireland RIGHT HONORABLE I Haue my selfe beene an eye-witnesse of your Loyaltie and generall loue to our Country or if you please the Maiesty of England and can resolue the strangest humor'st that neuer man deserued better of the State then your selfe for many employments But especially when I saw you Knighted in the Field and none but your selfe yea the durty fields before Kinsole my heart leaped for ioy to apprehend that your Vertue and worth commanded that addition of Honour without which let ambitious hastinesse imagine what it list Princes cannot set their best Fauorites on a more substantiall Seate of glorious eminence And thus much for the generall For particulars I was in those dayes beholding to your Table and Purse and in a manner the third Officer of your Regiment as it pleased you to grace and fauour me farre beyond my desert All which considered as I haue great reason to bee thankefull vnto you so could I thinke of no better meanes then this poore Dedication First because I am resolued it will out-last a Marble Toombe and when Death hath vndertaken to obliterate our memories yet shall after-ages demand who this Earle of Clenricard was and wish from their hearts that the Noble men of their times would set you before them for a Mirror Secondly because it is the remarkeablest Story of Ireland and a businesse so well knowne to your selfe that I submit to your better iudgement if I haue fayled in any thing Thirdly because I am taught by experience that there is no presenting of Bookes to any man without a primordiall acquaintance secret supportation or as wee call it Court friendshippe Last of all and I hope the best of all because it may stand in the steade of Precept or Caution to detaine such worthy persons within their owne Circles or diuert them from presuming on any power against such a Prince as the Monarch of Great Britaine of gouernement as the Maiesty of England In which assurance I leaue you to the Commander of all Thoughts Words and Actions submitting my selfe and the worke to your fauourable censure and Honourable acceptation Your Honours humbly deuoted Th. Gainsforde THE EXEMPLARY HISTORY AND Lamentable deiection of the Heart of Tyrone THEY which write of the Basilisck and would seeme to dispell the vapours of ignorance with the strong and swift winde of knowledge report that whosoeuer hee lookes vpon dies the death but if he be first discouered his owne venome poysons himselfe whereupon Treasons are resembled to his eyes which of their owne nature must needes preuaile without preuention but made apparant by some timely intelligence they are broken as wee say in the shell and strangled in the Wombe Notwithstanding such hath been the secrets of Innouation and disposition of turbulent spirits that they euer had a trick to flie to forraigne Princes for refuge when their owne designes were vnable to stand vpright in the frame of gouernement And although I neuer read of subiect that returned to recouer his estate or purposes by the meere coadiutement of a forraigne King except that King proiected for himselfe to make anothers disloyaltie the steps to stand more firmely vpon and raise his owne ambition to a greater height yet haue they not desisted to follow the deceits of their owne hearts and as the Iewes found a rotten Reede and broken Staffe of Egypt vndertaken impossibilities to the destruction of infinite thousands and at the best but the sauing of their owne liues for a time For although Hadad an Edomite of the Kings seede fled vnto Pharao King of Aegypt who gaue him a House Land and the sister of his wife euen Taphnes the Queene whereby it should seeme hee thriued in his reuolt Yet alas was it so farre from preiudicing of Salomon that he onely discouered a willingnesse without power or meanes to disturbe the State and made the great King stand on his guard the better Although Ieroboam fled vnto Sisag continuing there vnto the death of Salomon and so receiued as it were supportation in his Treasons Yet it was the reuolt of the tenne Tribes and the curse which branded Salomons Idolatry made Israel rebell against Rehoboam and settled this Seruant in his Masters Throne Although as Herodotus reporteth that Harpagus Medus after Astiages had with great immanity murthered his Sonne fled vnto Cirus into Persia in hope of reuenge and so set the East and whole Asia in combustion Yet alas hee onely made hauock of his Countrey and brought a stranger to possesse both the Monarchies If you ouerlooke the story of Hannibal and would know what entertainement hee had with Prusias King of Bithinia you shall finde him a miserable spectacle of deiection and that hee onely opened him the doores of death scarce affording him leisure to enter before hee was deliuered into the hands of scorne according to their intention to leade him captiue to Rome Looke vpon Pompeis miseries who fled vnto Ptolomy his supposed friend but to what end Euen to be brought to the house of slaughter for feare of the preuailer What could Cleopatra auaile her Anthony or Lepidus Sestus Pompeius and infinite others sufficiently shrowd themselues vnder forraigne shades when the greater cloudes were thickned to raine downe shewres of deuastation vpon their heads and Octauius held vp his head in the turbulent Sea of those ciuill warres And thus could I send you into the wilde fields of instances especially concerning traytors who were all choaked with this Machiuillian Position of admitting the Treason but not suborning the Traytors did I not purpose to disclaime an vnciuill vncouering the hoary head of Antiquity and diuulge this Principle that there is no confidence in Princes further then the reuolts of others may second their own businesse and the priuate quarrels of a kingdome weaken themselues for a strangers admission which yet must be done by the factions and coadiutements of the same Nation Therfore I stand amazed at the fanaticall hopes of diuers Spirits in our nation that in those daies relied vpon the supportation of Spayne are still confident on the blessings and cursings of the Pope especially his ridiculous excommunicating of Princes now
subiects of Charity and had onely a poore suppliment from some speciall Cardinals yet because I haue beene a spectator of this flourishing Tree like the Chaldeans vision and saw his blasting and fall of Leaues as the Fig-tree cursed by our Sauiour giue mee leaue to bee beholding to M r Cambdens compendious discourse and with some additions of my owne set him thus on the Stage of fearefull admiration Thus much by way of Introduction The Story followes THE HISTORIE OF THE EARLE of Tirone I Will here desist from any dilations of Irish businesse of old or mention of the great Oneale who as they say before the comming of Saint Patrick possessed Vlster and most parts of Ireland shining as the Sunne of the same vntill the conquest from England obscured his light and taught his barbarous immanity another manner of obedience and lesson of submission to a greater Maiesty by which occasion this ambitious family was in a manner suppressed and lost that seeming lustre where with it graced the North of Ireland yea the whole Iland lying close to the shore and not daring once to launch forth into the Ocean of turbulent dissention or refractary contesting with England vntill Edward de Bruse of Scotland proclaymed himselfe King of Ireland Then Douenaldus Oneale impatient of such indignity launched forth by degrees into the Channell of a new disturbance and held vp his head as presuming on his owne Greatnesse equall to Bruses and so in his letters and submission to the Pope accustomed the titles of heire of Ireland King of Vlster and one of the sonnes of the mother Church But that trouble appeased these new Kings were separated and their vnited Greatnesse euen in their posterity disioynted vntill againe that implacable contention betweene the two Families of Yorke and Lancaster not onely deformed the prosperity of England but according to the preuailing of factious Greatnesse sent ouer diuers Gouernours their particeans into Ireland who still temporizing with the strongest party and contriuing for their priuate lest the generall cause at randome and were indeed vnable to redact to any vniformity of gouernement the disparity of Irish obedience and so gaue way vnto this ambitious insulting and rude people to hold vp their heads and aduance themselues as high as their owne titles the law Tanist and liberty of nature could dignifie them Wherevpon Harry Oneale the son of Oenus or Eugenius matched himselfe with the daughter of Th. Earle of Kildare his son Con More or great Con married the daughter of Gerald Earle of Kildare his owne mothers Neece whereby vnited to the flourishing colours of the Geraldines which many yeeres had beene displayed in Ireland and swelled with the fulnesse of a most vberant family they beganne besides a strange elation of their spirits with a tyrannous suppression of their own Nation and this Con More despised all titles of either Prince Duke Marquesse or Earle in respect of the name of Oneale To this Con succeeded another Con surnamed Banco or Lance whose inueterate hate against the English was such that hee cursed his posterity if either they learned the language sowed any wheate or builded houses This mans greatnesse bred him enuy in the Court of England according to the misery of all times there wanted not priuate whisperers yea flatterers of Princes by whose suggestion that famous King Henry the eight was iealous of his power especially when it was corroborated by that factious house of Kildare whose story alone is of worthy memory and affordeth so many excellent obseruations that I wish them folded vp as it were in one carpet to be spred abroad with hansomnesse for our delight and vnderstanding But when the strength of our armies and fortune of the warres had both ouerawed their weaknesse and reduced to good order those dangerous enemies bringing them into the schoole of correction for their misdemeanors and reformation for their inciuility This Con was compelled to prostrate himselfe before the Maiesty of England and so disclaimnig the title of Oneale by Letters-Patents was created Earle of Tirone his eldest sonne Mathew though suspected a Bastard Baron of Dunganon and all his Family as it were incorporated to the new obedience of the King This Mathew vntill the age of fifteene yeere was imputed the sonne of a Smith in Dundalk whose wife being Oneales Concubine did at the time of death according to the custome of Ireland present him with this sonne whome Oneale did not onely receiue with gladnesse but accepted him as his owne yea preferred him before his other children to his titles and possessions But Iohannes or Shane Oneale his sonne by a lawfull wife tooke it in such indignity that making a strong faction against his father hee not onely supplanted his brother Mathew cutting off his head but tormented the old Con with many vnnaturall assaults and violent excursions depopulating his territories killing his complices banishing his auxiliaries and at last brought him with vntimely griefe vnto his graue and all the country to bee affrighted with his tyranny For he not onely stepped forward more gloriously then his other ancestors proclayming himselfe the great Oneale but with seuerall expeditions contracted the loue and obseruation of the other Prouinces insomuch that many Rebels both of Conach Meths and Munster assisted him in the prosecution of Mathews childrē amongst whom Brian falling into the hands of Maudonel Totan was cruelly murthered Hugh Cormach were vnder English protection and hardy preserued which fell out so crosly against Shanes expectation and disastrous to his rebellious presumption that with a lothsome sauagenesse and traitrous conspiracy he deformed the beauty of Irelands peace and made hauock in a strange manner of her prosperity to which insolency and violent rage of preuailing Sir Henry Sidney L. Iustice of Ireland in the absence of T. Earle of Sussex Lord Lieutenant made opposition and cast such blocks in the way that his fury was somewhat rebated and a Cataplasme of restraint applied and when there was no remedy but cutting and fearing the vlcerous flesh of this putrified body of Rebellion by force of Armes hee not onely propulsed the indignity lashing the sides of these proud Treasons with the stripes of a reuengefull hand but brought this insulting Lord on his knees and made him confesse the superiority of Englands Maiesty But first by way of expostulation the matter was disputed with this Shane how he durst presume to cast as it were a defiance into the face of Englands Gouernment and put on his Iearean wings to flie higher then his owne Feathers would warrant him Hee answered very peremptorily that hee was the true and lawfull heire of Con Oneale as issuing from a worthy wife and of a noble house whereas Mathew was the Sonne of a Smith in Dondalck and onely foisted in to ouerthrow the families of Oneale which hee neither would nor could be a Pathick vnto as for the Kings Letters patents affording Con the honor of a Coronet and
sonnes or Hugh Baron of Dunganmon might intercept his claime and preuent his right as he supposed which compelled him to this audacious enterprise contrary to the edict and prohibition of the same notwithstanding to salue the sore of his suspected loialty he kept correspondency with vs in all his other actions and in her Maiesties seruice not only encountred Odonell but ouerthrew the Scots Ilanders and at last destroyed Alexander Oge the murtherer of Shane Oneale All this while Hugh the sonne of Mathew stood on his guard and liued warily sometimes vnder the security of his owne faithfull followers sometimes vnder the trust of English protection for so in his yonger time he trooped in the streets of London with sufficient equipage and orderly respect and sometimes as a Souldier he commanded a company of horse vnder the Deputy in Munster against the Earle of Desmond with a pension beside of one thousand marke a yeere out of the Exchequer which orderly proceedings with the trust conceiued of his loialty drew the bow for him wherewith hee hot the marke of his owne aime and so by new Leters-Patents hauing diuers restraints and reseruations hee was admitted to his Grandfathers titles and inheritances nor should it seeme that Turlogh Leignogh stomached his aduancement but rather vpon hope of his vertues which gaue a lustre to his actions surrendred his titles and Lordships into his hands But oh the ambition of men or vnconstancy of manners these proceedings with him in this faire and gentle manner made him either proud of his owne greatnesse or presumptuous that the State was afraid to displease him or superstitious after the Priests had insorcered him For presently against the Queenes absolute prohibition this new Tirone takes vpon him the title of Oneale excusing the fact lest some rebellious spirit according to their warlike custome of maintaining that Character in their Family might assume the same taking aduantage of his negligence protesting to disclaime the honour so he might not be vrged by oath and from hence arose the first motiue of Tirones vnsted fastnesse At this instant was that memorable defeat and admirable discomfiture of the King of Spaines formidable Armado or if you will according to Mendozas owne words then Embasdor Leiger in Paris inuincible Nauy whereby in their returne by Scotland and Ireland many of them perished but the better sort were kindly intertaind by Tirone after the manner of Irish Hospitality and vnexpectedly welcome considering that any reliefe to men in distresse and cast on a strange shore by Shipwrack is as Balme and Oile powred into wounds In requitall whereof such a Loome of mischiefe was set on worke that at the last the cloth was wouen of his corruption and folded together to keepe his treasons warme in his owne bosome till a strong supposed and yet presumptuous hand spred it abroade to his vtter destruction and shamefull disgrace by reason of his deformed filthinesse For when then these straggling Spaniards perceiued his naturall inclination to ambitious willingnesse concerning the maintaining some turbulent faction in Ireland and demonstration of a stirring spirit for the glory of his Ancestors they quickly added fuell to the fire and with all the baites of prosperity and incantations to flattery choaked his loialty cast dust into the eyes of his faithfulnesse Some promising that their great Master should recompence his humanity and noble respect Some repining at their misfortune layd many slaunders on the shoulders of our country Some vnder collour of religious obedience assured that the Pope himselfe should gratifie him Some more dangerously cunning crept within him by that imposturing art of commendation inferring he was more worthy of a Crowne then a subiects prostitution some more plainely with demonstratiue reasons led him as it were by the hand to the chaire of presumption and possibility that it might bee so if he durst attend his owne fortunes and prosecute the times in their seuerall changes By which occasion this mans irresolute loue to his Prince and country was first enuenomed and tainted Afterward it rancled more and more in his declining from himselfe and first soundnesse by contracting a league with Spaine Thirdly it swelled apace with the oath and allegeance of many followers and particians to coadiute him in any enterprise whatsoeuer and last of all it restred incurably in consenting and putting the same in practice to bee an opposite to the gouernment of England and a famous Rebell against the peace of our country which yet was neither so cautelously disposed of nor firmely compacted but Hugh ne Gauclock his brother fearing the feareful consequence of the downefall of his house discouered the same for which the Earle found a time to strangle him colourably prosecuting the Actors that durst lay hands on any of the bloud of Oneale but alas it serued not his turne For not onely this barbarous Fratricide but all his other refractary courses were laid open to the peering eyes of Englands Maiesty but such was his preuailing fortune that vpon his reasonable iustifications and seeming penitency our gracious Elizabeth not onely remitted those offences with fauour but continued him in his Greatnesse with Honour In this manner he moued awhile in the highest orbe of prosperity and from our English supportation commanded his country as a Prince of the North and except an open displaying of the colours of Rebellion performed what he durst and durst doe any thing which tended not to manifest treason and dangerous innouation For not long after vnder colour of corroborating the peace of his country and insinuation with some English affinity hee made Sir Samuel Bagnols sister beleeue that the great Oneale of Ireland was captiuated to her loue and in which if the time could haue serued hee would haue shewed himselfe as braue and complete an Amorist as the formallest Courtier in England To this the Lady seemed no great opposite onely with some shew of modesty depending on her brother she referd the successe to his approbatiō who som what too stubborne interposed as it were a negatiue not without exprobation of the barbarous customes of the North of Ireland which Tirone interpreted disgracious to his exaltation and finding no other remedy to appease his wilfulnesse in a manner by force of armes tooke her to his wife wherevpon hee was denied her dowry and that exasperated his displeasure to which when the Deputy added the suppressing of Mac Mahond his neighbour I am afraid it exulcerated his loialty For when hee perceiued hee was forbidden the title to the abasing of his Family and saw his inheritance distributed to the impouerishing his estate he quickly startled vp and many displeasures discouered themselues against his former establishment so that the Earle by occasion of retchlesse booke-keepers cast vp his vntoward account in this manner First that the State had a purpose to suppresse the flourishing eminence both of himselfe and all the Lords of the North Next that they should bee
from so dangerous a faction returned our English Commissioners with some amazement at their oratory and cunning insinuation whereby they might haue excused diuers things if by a wrong course they had not incurred the danger of contesting with Princes yea their royall Souereigne whose incensed Maiesty could not indure such opposition whereupon the truce is ouerpassed and the Trumpet of defiance sounded through the Kingdome foreshewing that the Schoolemaster of reformation was at hand and Sir Iohn Norris as Lord Generall of the Armie in the absence of the Deputy ready to display the colours of correction but it should seeme the Deputy would needes haue a share in the glory of this businesse For contrary to his first appointment hee hasted apace and vnited his troopes with Sir Iohn Norris and so both together attended the successe of the matter and prosperity of the time The beginning was a fortunate terrifying him at Armagh and pressing him so closely that the Earle left Black-water Fort dismantled the Towne thereabouts fiered some houses at Dungannon his owne principall seat and secured himselfe in his chiefest fastnesse winning much time by this politike retreat but we vnexperienced in those dangerous places of his boggs and woods with only proclaiming him Traitor in his country and leauing Garrison in Armagh returned which Tirone audaciously interpreted to his owne aduantage repining at nothing more then our fortification in Monaghan Thus was our businesse kept awhile out of the running current of applause For the Deputy and the Generall of the Armie grew to some impatient contradicting one another as if there had beene a fault committed which was questionlesse to be imposed on one of their shoulders wherefore the Deputy commanded or if you wil wished S. I. Norris to prosecute the seruice in Vlster whilst he retired to Dubline to prouide for the peace of the other Prouinces but it preuailed little to the lifting vp the head of the maine body For he performed nothing worthy the glory of his former reputation or dignity of so eminent a place But whether the emulation of the Deputy or fauouring the Earle to whome hee was as much inclined with respect as the Deputy transported with hate Or whether he suspected the businesse in hand the nature whereof with the basenesse and intricate obscurity of the country was so contrarious to the military proceedings elsewhere and spent all mens spirits without so much as the memory of manhood or whether in inclination of fortune he began to stagger from his first firmenes which in a customary defect dealeth strangely with such Commanders somtimes heaping her fauours and prosperous successes anon againe withdrawing her happy hand and by degrees extenuating both their valour fame and iudgement I dispute not vpon Only this I am sure of that faire errors might lead them both For the Deputy by reason of Sir Henry Bagnols and some others despight was brought to looke vpon a very face of disloialty in Tirone and Sir Iohn Norris commiserated his misfortune as abused with dissimulatory submissiue letters in which the Earle was ready on his knees to any penitent prostitution when yet vnder-hand hee implored the aid of Spaine with warrantise that if an Army were intended against England then to vnite their forces if only warres were proclaymed and protraction vsed then must the Catholike King supply them with men and money wherevpon O Roorck Mac Williams and others openly and the Earle priuately subscribed to a certaine instrument of Indenture like ratification giuing yet notice to the State of all these contracts and determinations to which was added another parley with Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Geffery Fenton Secretary in persons full of very strange promises and colluding protestations to runne a race of obedience and loyalty all which accustomed Leuity hee infringed laying imputation vpon the discrepant humors of the Deputy and Lord Generall but especially that his onely enemy the Marshall was returned from England with new forces and inueterate malice against him Whereupon by way of Apology hee excused himselfe to the Councell of England and vrged many iustifiable reasons as he thought for his discrepant proceedings to which it should seem their answere was both distasting and fearefull vnto him For as it were exasperated rather then forewarned he presently returned to his old courses and taking great aduantage of our slacknesse and ill prepared forces spoiled the country filled all the paces with Rebels Barrocaded the passages and with military excursions ran an vncontroulable iourney of doing what he pleased through the North. Thus was all Vlster and most part of Conach excepting certain Garrisons at his absolute command vntil the Lord Borrough 1597. a man of a great spirit and quick capacity was sent Deputy into Ireland from whose worth some auspicious expectation seemed to comfort vs and new endeuours in a manner to warrant new fortunes This sonne of Mars quickly pulled off the clogs of delay within two moneths rolled the stone of Tirones vnquietnesse making way with great industrie and vertue into his country fortifying the Fort of Black-water and discouering this secret that neyther his Boggs Glinns Woods Mountaines Paces Confederats or any power of Ireland or Irish coadiutors could hide him from the searching eyes of England Besides if we would vndertake an industrious prosecution against him it was neyther Spayne with her Gold nor the Pope with his Fulminations against our Countrey could secure him For the farre reaching armes of our people would for a neede pull him out of the Center of the Earth and thus accordingly euen at the first skirmishes were his forces dissipated and the best troopes disranked but as my Lord was giuing God thankes with a warlike solemnity a sudden Alarum set them anew to worke and Henry Earle of Kildare with the Gent. Volentiers had the Fortune to put him againe to flight which yet yeelded not so full a satisfaction as it might haue done because my Lord lost his brother in Law Francis Vaughan and Captaine Turner Sergeant Maior besides the Earle of Kildare to the sorrow of his heart saw two of his brethren wrapped vp in the Bed of blood all men of worthy expectation and extraordinary Merit Thus is a way made into his Countrey and Black-water Fort strengthened with new trenches not without some ramparts and Caffamates which the enemy so repined at that betweene hope feare and shame they resolued to dismantle it had not the Lord Deputy opened more larger embracings and with a new manner of wrestling resolued to lay him on the ground irrecouerably but hinc illae lachrimae as he was treading the measures of prosperity an vntimely discord of Death sounding Musike deceiued him of hope and vs of him whose forwardnes and vertue with a little addition of experience and solid vnderstanding himselfe had no doubt effectuated this Herculian labour of Irelands peace Now is Tyrone putting on his Icarean wings and the Rebell with accustomed Clamors taking aduantage of
truce of his Country raised his forces mustred his Rebells rumored the inuasion of England by Spaine and audaciously set open all the passages of war and defiance whereupon the Traytours increased both in pride and numbers and those which were meere Irish expected their pristinate liberty such againe as had settled their estates either by purchase or gift of the Prince began to misdoubt themselues when they perceiued such a confluence and concurrence of tumultuary businesse to the detriment of the Kingdome yea I am afrayd they were without all hope in their hearts when Tirone proclaimed himselfe Protector of Ireland and Maintainer of the Catholique Religion nor was this onely titular and a formall tricke of vaine promises and flattering friends For he proceeded accordingly imperiously managing all affaires vnder his gouernment the rebellious he moderated the weake supported the strong confirmed the staggering reduced the wilfull punished and in a word applied himselfe altogether to the extirpation of the English whereunto he was animated by assured intelligence of preparations in Spaine and the receiuing a competent treasure from thence Nor wanted there certaine indulgences and promises from the Pope to set his desire on a blaze but when for a present hee had receiued an hollowed Phoenix plume with Ixion that boasted of lying with Iuno being yet deceiued with the shape of a clowd hee presaged good fortune and ranne away with full confidence of successe and the rather because hee remembred how Vrban the third had sent King Iohn a crowne of peacockes feathers at his designation for the Lordship of Ireland Thus marched he ouer the Countrey with extraordinarie preuailing and vnaccustomed pomp for an Irish Commander with new publications of his regardable proceedings and Princely confirmations And to adde fuell to that fire which in his absence was kindled in Munster he went thither in person and vnder colour of visiting a peece of the crosse of Christ in Tiperary attempted further sending Mac-Guior to forage the country who chancing on S r. Warrham Selenger fell to blowes and in gallant encounter charged one another so brauely that with their staues they equally received their deaths wounds through their bodies which a while curbed Tirones headstrongnesse and peraduenture was cause of his sooner retiring home after he had celebrated Mac-Guiors exequies but in truth the aduertisement of the Earle of Ormonds comming against him with all the English forces rebated his first forwardnesse and made him suspect all was not so well as he wished but yet animated by many superstitious presages and giuing all credit to his Bards and Rimers of which sort of people especially if I adde the Priests I will bee bolde to say thus much that they are the very bane and confusion of Ireland liuing in such obscenity and filthinesse that no Gentlewoman thinketh herselfe happy without them and supposeth it no disgrace euen to bee prostituted vnto them Insomuch that ill custome besides the intolerable yoke of superstition to which these people are out of measure addicted hauing got the vpperhand these insorcering wretches at marriages feasts births of children contracts burialls and peraduenture all their liues time challenge certaine priuiledges immunities and gifts yea priuacies with the women and imperious ouerruling the men So that as their families encrease in mightinesse these damnable creatures prosper in reputation as if all blessings depended vpon their incantations and prayers no action could thriue without their crossings and sanctifying So that in my conscience the most of the rebells and strumpets amongst them are the bastards of these rogues and vagabonds and all the treasons which haue turmoiled our Nation haue receiued life and originall from their imposturing and perswasions By this time is S r. Charles Blunt Lord Montioy confirmed Deputy of Ireland on whom long since the Queene had looked with respect for the same purpose But the Earle of Essex proposing to himselfe the managing of all military affaires somewhat couertly impugned the same extenuated his experience in the warres and that hee onely had a view of some skirmishes in the Low Countries Besides his spirit was not stirring enough to curb such a Nation as giuen ouer much to his booke and a kinde of retired melancholy rather fit for ciuill gouernment then violent hurliburlies All which wiped not yet out the print of her good opinion but shee went forward in her choyce and made the election more notable because her owne iudgement affoorded sufficient reason of his merit onely she proposed before him by way of caution my Lord of Essex wilfulnesse and in a manner presumption practizing diuers things against her liking and prescription and so alike restrained his commission and by word of mouth commanded his charines and wisdom concerning the knighting of men which must needes be vilipended brought once to a community as for any hinderances by the maleuolent aspect of single Councellours shee promised on her Princely word that shee would bee the Queene of her Kingdome and no man should contract a brow of mislike or preuaile in any secret information against him whereupon hee was much comforted and well hoped that that enmity which was whispered betweene M r. Secretary and him I meane S r. Robert Cecill might be easily reconciled and as it were like the swet of a mans browes wiped away with a gentle hand which accordingly came to passe For when certaine honest men performed good offices betweene them neuer man obserued such a Councellour of State better than my Lord did him nor such a greatnesse honoured a person in such an eminent place then M r. Secretary did my Lord so that to their dying dayes their friendship was indissoluble and as they loued one another so both respected the glory of their country before one another Thus without any publique ostentation or great attendancy in the month of February 1600. he tooke his iourney toward Ireland and was welcommed to our true-hearted English as you see a famous Physician presented to a sicke patient who hath long expected his comming For hee found Ireland so desperate languishing that he rather feared her funerals then recouery which must bee so at this instant considering the very best did droop with despaire and the worst insulted with pride Tyrone passed and repassed without controll and the Rebell had nothing in his mouth but the Spanish Inuasion and that Tyrone should bee the Prince of their Countrey vnder the Catholique King whereupon to exasperate the new Deputy and terrifie him at the first they gaue an assault to the suburbs of Dublin and the Alarum rung euen to the Castle where my Lord was resident which indeede so much incensed him that he resolued to intercept his returne out of Munster whatsoeuer chanced and so gathering together the rest of the dispersed forces and taking along such Gentlemen as came with him out of England he marched into Fereall for you must consider the maine army was with my Lord of Ormond in Munster and