the Treaty of Peace and offered very largely and at Dundalke Tyrone upon his knees made an humble submission to the Queen before these Commissioners and made many requests promising reformation and many circumstances and Ceremonies then passed But these inconveniences followed these delayes being no better then delusions that the Vlster Rebels had rest this Summer and O Neale in the midst of this Negotiation required aid from Spain Sir Richard Bingham a valiant wise man on some complaint of the Irish was sent for over into England and Sir Coniers Clifford sent in his place but afterwards Sir Richard was againe employed in great command in that service Again an other Treaty of Peace with Tyrone who layd the cause of his disloyalty on the wrongs that were offered him and so with many dissembling words oaths and protestations making answer to some questions concerning Spaine he departed This Lord Deputy being recalled into England and the Lord Bourgh or Borough was sent over in his place with absolute authority so that Sir John Norris was much disheartned thereby and was thought of purpose for that end sent over by the Earle of Essex whom Generall Norris had dipleased by undertaking an action with lesse force then the said Earle required At this Dep arriving Generall Norris was commanded to his charge which was Lord President of Munster and not to stirre thence without leave which thing did presently break his heart so that he died there in the armes of his brother Sir Thomas Norris Now Tyrone submitted or sweld as he saw occasion So that the Lord Deputy perceiving it presently made his way towards Tyrone thinking it best to strike at the head who encountred the Irish in a narrow path and made them give way hee tooke the Fort at Blackwater and left Souldiers in it which being not long after assailed by the Rebels was againe relieved by the Lord Deputy who immediatly fell sick as hee was passing to Tyrones house at Dungannon and not long after departed this world to the great joy of the Rebels who found his severity disadvantagious to them Then Sir Thomas Norris Lord President of Munster under the great Seale of England was made Lord Justice of Ireland who repaired to Dublin but being very ill through the great grief he conceived for the losse of his brother in a moneths space he made suit to be released So that Adam Loftus Lord Chancelour the Lord Archbishop of Ireland and Robert Gardiner chiefe Justice of Ireland by Patent from England were made Lord Justices for the Civill Government And the Earle of Ormond was made Lord Lievtenant and chief Generall of all Martiall affaires Tyrone again sues for pardon and proffers submission saying that it was offered injuries that compelled him thus to revolt So there was another meeting appointed at Dundalke Decemb. 22. where on his knees hee shewed great sorrow and made humble submission desiring a cessation from Armes eight weeks now this submission being sent into England the Lord Lievtenant received authority from the Queen to make a finall conclusion so that another meeting was appointed March 15 at Dundalke where many articles were propounded to the Rebels which they slightly regarded but for better deliberation Tyrone desired the tenth of April for another meeting But Tyrone with pretences did frustrate all these parleys and though hee had his generall pardon granted yet continued he in his disloyall courses so that on the former Indictment 1595 he is after out-lawed in 1600. But he being prepared and his men expert by trayning and often skirmishing whereas at the first two or three of them were employed in the discharge of a Musket hee left off to dissemble and submitted no more but gives incouragement and that with good successe unto his Confederates First he sends ayde to the Lemster Rebels to annoy the English and assaulted the Fort of Blackwater as being a hinderance in his passing too and fro But Captaine Williams valiantly defended it with great losse to Tyrone who went and lay further off but this Captaine and his Company continued their defence bravely untill August though much pinched with want of victuals when Sir Henry Bagnal Marshall of Ireland with foot and horse of the English endeavoured to relieve it and passing along the narrow passages through the thicke Woods beyond Armagh Where the Rebell with all his force assayled him and bearing a deadly hatred and malice against the Marshall against whom he bent his whole strength and commanded his Souldiers so to doe that he had the fortune to kill him yet like a valiant Gentleman he sold his life at a deare rate to many of the Rebels But his fall caused our mens hearts to fayle whereupon the Rebell had the greatest advantage against the English the like never hapning againe called The Defeat at Blackwater wherein we lost thirteen valiant Captains and fifteen hundred old Souldiers whereupon likewise the surrender of the Fort ensued It was thought this misfortune to happen from an oversight of the Marshall who made the Van of the army too suddenly to retreat and too sudden faces about puts feare in the Reare and makes them suppose it may be a running away For as Sir Walter Raleigh in his fifth book first part of the History of the World that as well in the Wars of these later ages as in former times it hath been found ever extreame dangerous to make a Retreat in the head of an enemies army as he renders the reason but I cannot digresse any further This overthrow much increased the insolencie of the Rebels the Rebells having gotten courage and armes thereby and Tyrone termed the Deliverer of his Countrey and the authour of their liberty All Vlster in Rebellion Connagh revolted and the Rebels in Lemster a continuall terrour and vexation to the English And now Tyrone sent forces into Munster where after the departure of Sir John Norris most of the County revolted and now brake out like Lightning making havock and destroying in a barbarous manner And for the better countenancing of the matter a new pretended Earle of Desmond is set up on condition to be Vassall to O Neale At this time a supply came out of England of a thousand and fifty old Souldiers from out the Low Countreys and nine hundred and fifty joyned to them of new raised in England sent under the command of Sir Samuel Bagnal Colonel and nine other Captains to strengthen the Queenes forces iâ—Lemster and a hundred under Colonel Bagnals command In the midst of these broyls the impudent Rebell is noâ— ashamed to intreat for pardon and sue for peace Although as appeared in his Letters sent to the King of Spaine he magnified his victories and vowed perseverance but his conditions were insolent and so not regarded And now the wound is growne so great and the case so desperate that it admits of no cure but by the hand of a valiant expert souldier And none found like Robert Earle of
peny sterling In Corke by Patent to Knights and Esquires and to their heires were granted 88037 Acres with Rents five hundred and twelve pounds seven shillings and six peace half pâ—ny sterling In Waterford and Tipperary 22910 Acres with Rents three hundred and three pounds three pence sterling But these Undertakers having got so large a proportion of Lands and so little care to plant them with English Colonies and build and fortifie them with Castles as by Patent they were tied but for private ends without any regard to the publick good or her Majesties bounty sold them either to Papists or to Irish ill affected unto the English which was a great prejudice to the State of that Kingdom and the seeds of the ensuing Rebellion raised by Tyrone Concerning which I will briefly shew unto the Reader such collections as I have gathered from divers Authors COncerning the name and title of O Neale it is in so much esteeme that even those honourable titles of Earles Marquesses Dukes and Princes are despised in regard of that and in such reverent regard among the Irish that it is thought hee deserves the greatest curse in the world to fall upon him that shall dare to lay violent hands upon him nor have any loyall subjects a more dreadfull awe to violate the person of their sacred Prince then these people have to touch their great O Neale So that two thousand pound being offered by Proclamation to any that should betray him in his vast Campe prevailed nothing at all although hee were proclaymed Traitour and held guilty of that crime by Act of Parliament to take that name upon him Neere Tâ—llogh Oge there was a stone Chaire placed in the open field wherein he sate down that was created then we whose office it was took an old shooe and cast it over his head proclayming him O Neale Henry O Neale and Câ—nmâ—re matching into the Family of the Earles of Kildare by this their good fortune grew so insolent and proud that by their cruell tyranny they grew intolerable Câ—n Batto because lame succeeded his father in the dignity of O Neale and cursed his posterity if any of them should learne English sow corne or build houses to entertain the English This mans greatnesse grew in suspition with Henry the eighth having been a party in the former Rebellion of the Earle of Kildare which hee perceiving went into England renounced the title of O Neale and surrendred his Lands unto the King Which not long after was regranted unto him by Henry the eighth to hold in fee together with the title of the Earl of Tyrone to him and to Matthew his reputed sonne and to the heires of their bodies lawfully begotten At which time also Matthew was created Baron of Dungannon This Matthew till hee was fifteene yeeres of age was reputed the sonne of a blacksmith of Dundalke whose Wife Con had formerly kept and she at her death gave him unto the said Con as being his sonne which hee did accept and appointed him to be Lord of Dungannon but hee was murthered in his fathers life time by Shant that is John O Neale the lawfull heire of Con but Matthew the base sonne left Brian who was murthered by O Donell at the instance of Shan And Hugh and Cormack who by the means and help of the English were preserved yet both proved Rebels Shan being barbarous and bloudy did â—ave and rage in a cruell manner over the Lords and people of Vlster Began to dispute that his father had no power to surrender to Henry the Eighth being but a termer that Mattheâ— was base borne that himselfe was O Neale and had Sovereigne power and authority over the Lords of Vlster Who taking armes overthrew O Really and took Callogh O Donnell Lord of Tir Conell cast him and his children into prison took his wife from him and bore himselfe as absolute King of Vlster But hee was soone quelled by the forces of the Earle of Sussex the then Lord Deputy and by perswasion of the Earle of Kildare went into England and made great submission to Queen Elizabeth and promising allegiance was received courteously And so returning conformed himselfe awhile in civill manner and did some good service against the Scots killed their Leader and drove them out of Vlster howbeit hee suddenly fell to his old byas and played the Tyrant over the Lords of Vlster who craved aid of the Lord Deputy to suppresse him but he grew the more outragious and with fire and sword drave Mac Guir Lord of Fermanagh out of his Country set fire on the Metropolitan Church of Armagh and laid siege to Dundalke but had the repulse by the Garrison and assistance of the Major But Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy taking the field with some forces sent Edw. Raldalph a brave Souldier to the North side of Ireland where at Derry at Coghfoyle in a pitchfield though hee lost his life yet gave the rebell such an overthrow that he was never able to appeare any more abroad so that hee was minded to have submitted with a halter about his neck to the Deputy but by the perswasion of his Secretary hee tried the friendship of the Scots who received him kindly but not long after slue him So that presently after Shan by a Parliament at Dublin was attainted of high Treason and all that hee had fell to the Queen Then Turlogh Linnogh took the title off O Neal for feare of the children of Shan and Matthew the bastard but being aged was quiet and lived peaceably Now Hugh son of the base son Matthew lived somtime in Ireland but much in the Court of England commonly called Baron of Dungannon who had served with a troop of horse under the Queen against the Lord of Desmond and behaved himselfe so valiantly that hee had given him a yeerly pension off a hundred marks He was a man of mean stature but of a strange body able to endure labours watching hunger and cold being industrious and active valiant affable and apt to manage great affaires and of a hgh dissembling subtile and profound wit He put up a Petition to the Parliament in Ireland that he might enjoy the inheritance of his Grandfather Con and his father granted to be Earles of Tirone which by the help of Sir John Perrot Lord Deputy was procured of the Queen And so hee handled the matter as well knowing the humour of the Court of England that through the Queenes mediation he got Turlogh Linnogh to surrender his government upon some conditions After whose death he usurped the title of O Neale which was capitall yet coloured it over with a pretence that it was only to hinder others In the yeer 1588 when that great Armado of Spaine was scattered by the English and many of the ships cast away on the Irish coast it is thought that this Hugh lodging and entertaining many of them was by them seduced and perswaded to Rebellion And going into England he was there
detained prisoner for that he came without the licence of the Lord Deputie Sir William Fitz Williams but on submission and certaine Articles proposed to him by the Lords and he willingly accepting promising to confirme them before the Lord Deputy in Ireland In the yeere 1590 it hapned that Con the sonne of Shan O Neale accused Hugh of treasonable practices before the Lords in England All which Hugh vehemently denied but after getting his accuser in his power he hanged him In August the same yeere Hugh Earle of Tyrone for so hereafter we must call him did promise under his hand before the Lord Deputy and counsell of Ireland to performe those Articles agreed upon in England but used many excuses to put off the execution of them And about this time Hugh Ror Mac Mahone was put to death by the Lord Deputy Williams very unjustly as some say to the great scandall of the Lord Deputy and it caused great complaints and out-cryes among the Irish who presently preferred their grievances against that Deputy and he driven to answer them And upon this fact the government of the English in the North became odious and they did strive what they could to shake it oft by expelling the Sheriffs from among them fearing the like usage as Mâ—c Mahone And 1593 Mao Guir chiefe of Fermanagh stood upon his guard accusing the Deputy of injustice in the businesse off Mahone and set upon Captain Willis and drove him and his guard being Sheriffe into a Church and would have put them all to the sword had not Tyrone interceded for them Whereupon the Deputy got into his hands Eniskillen Mac Guirs castle and proclaimed him a Traytor and likewise gave out some hard speeches concerning Tyrone which did much exasperate him and caused him to combine with the Lords of the North to defend their Honours Laws and Liberties and used two notable plots to assist him towards this Rebellion 1 To make his men skilfull hee profered to serve the Queen with 500 men of his own And for that end procured expert Captains to exercise them and so often changing these his men got most of his followers to be able Souldiers Secondly hee pretended to build a faire house at Dungannon and so got much lead to make Battlements which after he cast into bullets In the meane time Sir Henry Bagnal Marshall of Ireland whose Sister Tyrone had married did preferre many Articles against him unto which hee answered so cunningly saying that the Marshall did it out of spleen of purpose to detain his sisters portion and seemingly quitted himselfe but afterward he grew jealous of his owne safety At this time Gauranus a Priest whom the Pope had made Primate of all Ireland seduced certaine Irish Lords among which Mac Guir was chief and was overthrowne by Sir Richard Bingham and the Priest slaine in which service Tyrone was against Mac Guir with the Queens forces but secretly prepared for his Rebellion Then the sonnes of Shan O Neale were prisoners in Dublin Castle which had they been kept had been a bridle in Tyrones mouth but by connivance of Sir William Fitz Williams the Deputy were suffered to escape and so Tyrone got them into his custody nor would he release them although thereunto required But covering his Rebellion with feeming feares of his conceived enemies made daily complaints of the Marshals envy and what wrong he had done him In the yeere 1594 the Rebellion burst out Sir William Russel came in the place of Fitz Williams at which time Vlster men openly distressed her Majesties forces and Tyrone was supposed to countenance them Yet he appeared in person at Dublin before the new Lord Deputy desiring her Majesties favour out of which hee had falne rather by the calumny of them then any cause of his own But the Marshall charged him with great matters ready to prove them so that the Deputy thought fit to stay him but the Councell of Ireland were of the contrary opinion so he was let goe but the Queene was much displeased for it and sharply reproved the Deputy but he laid the fault on the Councell of Ireland And presently tooke the field with his Army to relieve Eniskillen in Ferminaght and in the Winter following there was little done because there was some Treaties of peace but the Rebels grew so peremptory in their demands that it was not liked by the Lords in England And therefore sent over two thousand old souldiers that had served in Britany and a thousand more taken up in England which news Tyrone hearing and that the Castle of Balishannan and Relike were to be planted with English Garisons Drew his forces together and tooke the Fort of Blackwater razed it and broke down the bridge there and now the Northerne Rebels appeare but Tyrone shewed a seeming desire of pardon This Lord Deputy fearing this storme might fall upon him desired the Counsel of England to send him an assistant of some experienced Souldiers which hee meant should be under his command but the Lords mistaking his meaning sent over Sir John Norris a great Commander and well experienced that would scarce give way to any who was styled Lord Generall and to command in chief in the absence of the Lord Deputy But the emulation that grew between these two hindered the businesse yet both of them went into the field with the Army towards Armagh Tyrone makes suit again by Letters for pardon but being intercepted came not unto the Deputies hands untill hee had proclaymed him Traytor But upon Tyrones instance Commissioners were appointed by the Queen to treat with the Rebels At which time Tyrone complained of the Marshall of many injuries And his demands were that hee might have his Wives portion of the Marshall and the free exercise of his Religion and many other But when Articles were propounded on the Queenes part they set so light of them and made such scorne that the Conference brake off though the Queen for sparing of bloud had resolved to give them any reasonable Conditions This parley ended the Lord Deputy and the Lord Generall comming to Armagh did so much terrifie the Rebels that Tyrone left the Fort of Blackwater burnt the Town of Dungannon and pull'd down his house there and betooke himselfe to the Woods Sept. the third Hugh Earle of Tyrone Hugh O Donel Brian O Rourk Hugh Mack Guir Brian Mac Mahone Sir Arthur O Neale Cormac Mach Baron Tyrones brother Con O Neale Tyrones base sonne Henry Oge O Neale Turlogh Mac Henry O Neale Brian Art Mac Bryan and one Francis Mountford were though absent indicted and condemned of high Treason Now the Lemster Rebels being revolted grew strong and forraged even to the gates of Dublin to the County of Wexford This Winter passed without any matter of moment because indeed Generall Norris not yet acquainted with Tyrones subtilties seemed to harken to peace thereby to reclayme him by faire means In the yeere 1596 the Queen granted another Commission for
which course did so vexe the Rebels who were driven to lye in the woods without shelter for themselves or cowes which allowing them not milk they wanted present provision nor could they save their corne for the future 4. Againe he had a speciall care to cut the passages open and plaine that our forces might the more secure meet together 5. Further he was not easie to grant Pardons and Protections but to such who had drawne blood on their fellowes and so lost the hope of reconciliation to the Rebels and forbad all parlyes with them But as the Rebels were many at the Earle of Essex comming so now much more increased In the County of Dublin increased one hundred And in many other Countreys besides five Castles lately taken by the Irish In the Province of Lemster increased 1280. Rebels In the Province of Connagh increased 300. Rebels besides the doubt of Tibot ne Longe Who had one hundred Irish men in the Queenes pay So that now the Enemie strongest the English weakest and many other disasters made the businesse very difficult In this case the Lord Montjoy undertooke the businesse about Ian. 1599. A little before whose comming Tyrone marcheth out of the North in a vaunting manner unto Munster to incourage and countenance the Rebels but under a religious pretence to visite a peece of the Crosse at a Monastery in Tipperary County and so accompanied with the Lemster rebels went on his devotion Now the army of English reduced to 12000. foot 1200. horse for whose payment order is given to the Treasurer and Chamberlaine of the Exchequer of England to pay the Treasurer of the Warres of Ireland after the rate of the former establishment and other extraordinaries So there was signed an establishment by the Queene Ian. 1. 1599. for the pay of Commanders and Souldiers And the Lord Deputy hasting away for Ireland Ian. 10. 1599. in his way wrote backe to master Secretary that he might have more Forces in regard the Rebels were so strong A second establishment signed by the Lords 11. Feb. 1599. wherein every Officers and Souldiers pay and other charges the whole yearely charge 14055 pounds 4 shillings 8 pence farre short of that allowance which the Earle of Essex had February 26. the Lord Deputy landed in Ireland when Sir George Carew was made Lord President of Munster Tyrone did not expect such a sudden arrivall so that hee was still in West Munster where he might be surprised as the Earle of Ormond thought if things hapned well And that he could not thence escape without engaging himselfe if the passages were watched So that daily newes came that Tyrone now or never was to be ruinated and how many Lords and others of the Irish which were for the Queene had layed waite for him and would stop his passage back but all this vanished into Irish ostentation of service which seldome use to take effect and many times are not truly intended as this businesse did shew And that his Lordship should not expect any helpe from divers of the Nobilitie and Gentry of the Pale they preferred a Petition to him that they were not able by reason of the spoyles the souldiers had made upon them but a meere excuse as Essex shewed before Then his Lordship wrote to Secretary Cecill to excuse himselfe for not reducing the 14000 which hee found in the Army unto 12000 and the cause thereof as he had done before And upon that receives an answer from the Queen that she doth accept of his reasons for the present but would have him effect it by degrees And not to entertain many Irish Commanders who are of small fidelity and being employed to use them far from their own countrey and useth some other advertisements and so concludeth And now for all the great hopes Tyrone escaped into the North passing over the Enny in great hast and marcheth 27 miles in one day more then he had gone in five before so that he could not be over-taken And at his being there he sent out a Mandate by which hee summoned the Subjects of Munster to appeare before him in this forme O Neal commendeth himself unto you Moris Fitz Thomas O Neal requesteth you in Gods name to take part with him and fight for your conscience and right and in so doing O Neale will spend his life to see you righted in all your affaires and will help you And if you come not to O Neale between this and 12 of the clocke tomorrow and take his part O Neale is not beholding to you and will doe to the uttermost of his power to overthrow you if you come not to him by Saturday noon at the furthest from Knoc Dumain in Calrye the fourth of Feb. 1599. O Neale requesteth you to come and speak with him and doth give you his word that you shall receive no harme neither in comming or going from him whether you be friend or not and bring with you to O Neale Gerald Fitz Gerald subscribed O Neale March the 7 the Lord Deputy had intelligence that Tyrone was come to his house at Dungannon and that the Earle of Clanrichard had sworn that when his sonne came out off England in May he would enter into action for so they call Rebellion and that the Plantation at Logh foyle was endeavoured to be hindered by the Rebell The 20 of March the Secretary informed his Lordship of the relaxation of the Earle of Essex who sued earnestly in his behalfe to the Secretary even so far as to make his excuse for the matter in Ireland The Lord Deputy makes a List of his army about the beginning of the yeare 1600 and casts up the allowances Generall Officers for the army as in the former establishment Collonels 12 apiece per diem 10 s. Twenty six troops of horse in some more in some lesse at severall rates of pay in number 1200. In Loghfoyle Garrison 4000 foot In Carickfergus Garrison 700 foot In the Province of Connagh 1400 foot In the Province of Munster 2950 foot In the Province of Lemster 4500 foot Totall of Foot 1400. Likewise a List which the Deputy drew out of the Companies formerly mentioned which lay in Lemster Newry and Carbugford for to prosecute Tyrone in his Country horse 325 foot 3200. Out of these taken to guard places and passages while the Army did return foot 810 horse 20. Besides deduct the six dead pays allowed to each Company of foot which is 288 and foure out of fifty horse which is 26 and other deductions of sicke and unsufficient men for service There remayns for his army in field 2102 foot horse 279 which is but a small handfull for so great a service Divers others there were which had pay as his Lordships chief Chaplain five l. a week and ten other Preachers at forty shillings a week his Doctor of Physick five pound a week In Aprill it was consulted about entertayning of 2000 Scots and that each man should have a
Cow for a moneths pay or six pence per diem Which businesse was to be furthered by the Queens Agent in Scotland but it came to nothing being disliked in England Now the Deputy resolved to pursue the Rebels in many places at once both by the North Garrisons and the rest of the Army Aprill the third the Lord Deputy sent Master Secretary notice of the falsheartednesse of those that seemed most sure and that the Irish Commanders were dangerous to keep yet knew not how to remove them without certain losse of them And how he intended to send a thousand old Souldiers out of Dublin to Loghfoyle and others to lye in Garrison at Balishannan both places of great consequence and proved very advantageous to the English afterwards And informed likewise that Tyrone by his so suddain and hasty flight out of Munster had much disheartned many of his Confederates so that daily the heads of some Rebels or others were brought unto the Deputy And the Rebels of Lemster made suit to be received to mercy only the Towns where the Rebels had to do were very insolent And Tyrone by the arrivall of two ships wherein were many Priests did incourage his friends Lastly the Deputy complained to the Secretary that all places were bestowed in England so that he could gratifie no deserving man Further hee sent word that hee doubted of the Earle of Ormonds constancy to the Queenes cause and shewed his reasonsa name greatly followed in that Countrey In that Province of Munster the Rebels were very strong by reason Tyrone had been there and by the aide of Mac Carty more There hapned an ill chance about the time that Sir George Carew went to his charge of Munster whereof he was President Who comming to Kilkenney in his way from Dublin with the Earle of Thomond in his company and a hundred horse to attend him where the Earle of Ormond told them that he was to parley with some Rebels of those parts whereof Owâ—y Mâ—c Rory was chiefe and requested them to accompany him To which they consented and rode eight miles to the place of meeting with some twenty horse of the Earle of Ormonds and a few followers refusing the guard of the Lord Presidents 100 horse and the Earl of Ormond left his two hundred foot two miles short and with his other company met with Owny who came out of the Woods leaving five hundred men well appointed not farre off came up to him with some pikes but after an houre spent and nothing agreed on the Lord President wisht the Earle of Ormond to returne but he said hee would first speak with the Jesuit Archer and did much revile him calling him Traytor In the mean time the Rebels foot had incompassed the Earle and his company and presently tooke the Earle of Ormond prisoner and Mac Rory laid hands on the Lord President but the Earle of Thomound rushed on him with his horse and they both hardly escaped the Earle of Thom. being hurt in the thigh The Countesse of Ormond having one only daughter was much perplexed and distressed but the Lord Deputy sent her a Guard for her House There were severall conceits upon his surprisall some supposing it was not against his owne will but howsoever the Lord Deputy thought it a matter of no great consequence The Fort of Phillipstown in Ophaly was to be victualled and the Rebels gave cut that they would hinder it And through the emulation of a great Commander that had another preferred before him and strengthened by the Court faction in England It might have miscarried for the said Commander chose out some weake companies for this service to be led by the other but the Deputy being advertised thereof profered them to him that had made the choise of them but hee refused to goe with them And Sir Oliver Lambert with 14 companyes did with much valour and courage effect the businesse though strongly opposed May the fifth the Lord Deputy makes toward Tyrone in the North who had intelligence that he was lodged in the strong Fortresse of Coughlurkin where the Rebels had fortified three miles in length His Lordship drew towards Armagh with 1500 hundred foot and two hundred horse and sent Captain Edward Blany with five hundred foot and fifty horse to make good the passage through the Moyry for the Earle of Southampton and Sir Oliver Lambert who were to come that way to the Army and comming to the Faghard not far from Dundalke whether hee went to the Earle and told him of the convoy assuring him that the Lord Deputy would meet him by two of the clocke in the afternoon hereupon the Earle having with him besides the conuoy two foot companyes and fifty horse of Gentlemen Volunteers and so marched backe to the dangerous passage of the Moyry where the Rebels taking advantage of the Woods and Bogs assailed our men lying lurking on both sides our men being to passe over a Ford But by this time the Lord Deputy himselfe was come neere the place who sent two Regiments who beat backe the Rebels who left a few to skirmish with those two Regiments and the rest fell back into the Wood and issued out upon the Reare brought up by the Earle of Southampton with great fury both with horse and foot But Sir Henry Foliot made very good stand and Sir Oliver Lambert taking his colours in his own hand with some thirty of the Earle of Southamptons best men hastened towards the assaylants to second the Earle who behaved himselfe with great courage and made the Rebels give ground Tyrone was seene not farre off with great forces yet fell not on so that they marched to the Camp little hurt being done to the English but much to the Rebels May the 26 the Deputy had Letters from the Lords in England and it was only to answer the demands of some Irish Lords upon submission June the 19 the Lord Deputy sent to Master Secretary how that certain aide was come from Spaine to the Rebels and makes a request for a fleet to lie on the Coast of Ireland and some small Barks to hinder the Scots from relieving the Irish Now Sir Samuel Bagnal drew out of the Newry into Monaghan where he took some booty and slue six Commanders and many of the Rebels men with little damage to himselfe Many Rebels of Lemster now seek for mercy but are not admitted except some service done for the Queene against their companions Two chiefe Rebels offer to submit but neither could be received without the others head His Lordship now out of England required to doe some thing against the Lemster rebels in his way thither tooke two hundred Cowes seven hundred Garrais and five hundred sheep burning and wasting the corne all the way as he went to a most dangerous passage where Sir Oliver Lambert was appointed to meet him both being constrained to fight all the way with the rebels untill they met having done much harme unto the
rebels May the seventeenth they both marched towards a Fortresse where the Rebels had stored much provision of all sorts at whose entry there was a Foard compassed with Bogs over which our horses passed quietly but his Lordding in the head of the foot was assayled with fury The Traitour Terrill having appointed a hundred shot to ply the Deputies person and given them marks to know him But the English defeated and slue 35 rebels among which was Owmy Mac Rory a vile rebell who before had taken the Earle of Ormond prisoner a bloudy bold young man by whose death that party never was able to appear in field And now the Captaine and by their example the souldiers cut down the corn with their swords that the rebels were driven to want for the future His Lordship returned one day with the foot alone and sent about the Horse and yet the rebels which lay there about durst not fight with him Eight heads of chief rebels were brought unto his Lordship that night and one arch-rebell alive who was presently hanged Sir Oliver Lambert foraging abroad tooke a thousand Cowes five hundred Garrais and a multitude of sheep and killed twenty rebels and much spoile daily was done then by the English At his Lordships going out of Leaz some were received protection At this time his Lordship had letters of approbation from her Majesty with a promise of supply both of horse and foot and with advice to make the company lesse thereby to gratifie more Gentlemen with places of command August the twentieth his Lordship returned to Dublin where hee heard of the complaints that were made against him by those of the Pale to the Lords in England In answer whereunto he writes to Master Secretary onely desiring his good wil in candid interpretation of his actions September the fourteenth his Lordship takes his journey towards the North and encampeth three miles beyond Dundalke and lay there untill the eighth of October it being most tempestuous foule weather his Lordships Tent having been often blown over Tyrone in the mean time before his Lordship came had possessed the Newry a strong Fortresse as any the Rebels had but his Lordship was resolved to cut his way through them if they made resistance Many skirmishes fell out well on our part and in small time he came to Armagh where not farre off his Lordship built a Fort in a very convenient place having a River by it all environed with Bogs a hill like a Promontory which his Lordship called Mount Norris So hee sent some companies of ours to fetch corne and timber over the Bogs where Tyrone met with them and skirmishing with them was put to the worst and next day Neale O Quin was taken prisoner Tyrones great Favourite And the rebels intending to hinder the building of the Fort were soundly beaten and that finished and left in it foure hundred men under Captain Blany His Lordship returning by Carlingford found the passage very difficult for his horse that they were sent a little about and now they had certaine intelligence that Tyrone was come downe unto a place by which we were to passe Which was a very great Wood at the foot of a Mountain reaching so neer the Sea that it had no more space then that six or seven might walke abreast with some lesse and at full Sea none in some places His Lordship disposing his forces for the fight sending out a forlorne hope to march afore and a forlorne Reare The enemy sought to make good a small piece of ground like a semicircle where the Sea made a Diameter and a thick Wood the Circumference and at the corner next to our Army there ran a River out off the Wood at the side of which they made strong trenches and at the further corner a Barricado which reached far into the wood and down to the Sea The enemy appeared horse and foot on this plain but at our mens going over the River their horse drew into the Woods and their foot into the Trenches whence they poured out Vollies of shot But the stout courage of the English was such that in little space they beat them out of their Trenches and from their works and made them retire into the woods but sallied out againe upon our Reare to their further losse And in all this not much hurt to us only two Gentlemen of quality killed not twenty lost about sixty hurt of the enemy eighty killed and the losse was as wee had intelligence two hundred Our Marshall and Serjeant Major were always ready to assist the weak and bring succour to the distressed and the Army went on cheerfully And by this Tyrones reputation got a crack His Lordship returned to Dundalke and from thence to Dublin with his followers and Voluntiers having disposed the horse and foot into Garrisons Forts and Provinces under their Commanders The horse were 1198. The foot 14150. About November his Lordship sends into England in the behalfe of two chiefe Rebels submitted Conner Roe Mâ—â— Guire and his sonne both which had done good service in the last North journey and had taken Tyrones brothers eldest sonne a yongman of the greatest hope in the North and though three thousand l. were offered for his ransom yet they brought him to the Lord Deputy There were certain rebels neere Dublin in the Glinne which in his Lordships absence had done much spoile so that his intent was to chastize them but seeming and shewing to goe another way that they should not suspect him on Christmas day early in the morning and after a tedious march he arrived at the chiefe rebels house so suddenly that he took his wife and eldest sonne and made him fly starke naked into the Woods while his Lordship kept a good Christmas in his house till the twentieth of January his souldiers wasting and spoyling the Country in the mean time And leaving Garrisons in some places he passed into Trim in Eastmeth and so to Danoar in Westmeth a strong Castle having visited many chiefe Gentlemen in the way February the two and twentieth his Lordship had letters out of England in which hee heard that the Earle of Essex was in the Towre for treason which news wrought much alteration in the Deputy now hee begins to insinuate and comply with Secretary Cecill And Essex irreparably fell more perchance by the sharpnesse of his enemies wit then by the burthen of his owne crime Howsoever the Deputy being privy to so much as hee was he said he would not put his necke under the Queenes Attourneys tongue and resolved with himselfe that had he been sent for into England not to have undergone the hazard of a triall but his Lordships former service and future employment blew over this storm without any shatter falling on him But with countenance and good successe hee goeth forward and with courage to set on Tyrrils Island very strong standing in the midst of a Bog in the midst of a Plain neere an
Abbey where his Lordship proclaimed Tirrils head at two thousand Crowns and so assayled the Island But the next day the foure and twentieth of February so much snow fell that nothing could be done and in the night the Rebels stole away quitting the Island and left some store of corne and a few cattell so his Lordship passed beyond the Island into a Plain destroying the corn and burning the houses as he went into Meth and then to Trim and so marched into the Ferney from whence to Ardes so seven miles to Mellifont then to Drogedagh two miles where he stayed untill the tenth of Aprill and then went to Dublin in all which passage nothing of moment was done but visiting some chiefe Subjects and striking terrour to the Rebels About this time his Lordship had order for the proclayming of a base coine and cry down the currant To hinder the Rebels traffick as was pretended but it proved the undoing of the poore souldier each shilling having but two pence half-peny silver in it so that commodities were raised to an excessive rate and the exchange which was formerly provided for their helpe was growne difficult or altogether put down At Drogedah his Lordship altered the list of the foot but not the horse and disposed them into Garrisons Her Majesties charge in the yeere 1600 to 1601 by establishment and orders for increase was 276914l 9s 4d Out of which by his Lordships providence was saved 15262l 6s 5d Also by Checks imposed on the Army 1729l So the charges that yeere besides munition and other extraordinaries 234622. Certaine businesses that hapned in Munster that yeere under the command of the Lord President Sir George Carew In generall some submitted and some revolted His Lordship comming to Dungarun had notice that Florence Mac Caâ—â—ie though hee had received favours from the State was entred into action for so they call Rebellion and raised in Carby and Desmond of the Provincialls and Bonnaghs for so are hired souldiers called two thousand foot never assailed the English untill they came betweene Kinsale and Cork where they set on Captain Flowre Serjeant Major of Munster who had 1200 foot and 100 horse who did valiantly resist and beat back the Rebels though he had two horse killed under him yet were 100 of the Rebels slain upon which Florence Mac Carty submits and yielded his son for pledge Now plots are laid for the killing of the titular Earle of Desmond by one Dermod Oconner who had married the Daughter of the old Earle of Desmond and had the leading of 14000 Bonnaghs who after surprised him by a tricke and presently sent his wife to the Lord President for the mony promised in reward and wished him to come to Kilmâ—…h and there hee would bring him but the Rebels in the way rescued him and set him free again May the twentieth his Lordship took the field and marched towards Liâ—â—eck and from place to place prosecuted the rebels so close that many submitted and others fled out of the Country and the titular Earle of Desmond by Sir Charles Wilâ—â—â— was quite driven out of the Countrey in whose passage Sir George Thornton sent out the Garrison and killed 120 of the Rebels and got 320 Garrans laden with baggage fifteen Pikes and Peeces 40 horse but lost sixteen horse of his owne in the fight the titular Earle was quite broken and stole backe into Munster and lived as a Wood Kerne with three or foure in his company and once againe being like to be surprized he ran away in such hast that he left his shooes behind him The Lord Deputy wasted and gathered in all the corne so that the yeere following the Rebels were pinched and in Munster all subdued or submitted so that 400 of that Province received their pardons under the great Seal And all being quiet hee did question the Corporate Towns that were so ready to assist the Rebels as being aiders and abetters of the rebellion for their owne private gaine And so he sent 1000 of the Munster List to the Lord Deputy to be disposed at his pleasure The Lord Deputy and the Counsell wrote into England from Tredagh where he had layne from March 21 untill Aprill the sixteenth following to signifie that many chiefe rebels had submitted Chiefe of the Ferny and of the Fewes and the chiefe likewise of the Bienny And further sollicited for supplyes of mony victuals and munition to be sent some to Dublin but most to Galloway for the forces to plant Ballishannon An establishment signed by the Queen March 31 1601 which was according to the former the charge 255773l besides the charge of munition of levying horse and foot for re-inforcing the Army with many like charges About April divers Rebels in the North submit and discover many secrets to our Captaine concerning the Spanish Invasion this yeare Oghy Ohanlon submitted at Tredagh and subscribed to divers Articles The Garrison at Liffer did spoyle the rebels and tooke 300 Cows The Lord Deputy kept Saint Georges Feast at Dublin April the twentieth inviting many of the submitted Rebels where he carryed himselfe with such wisdome and gravity that they did both admire him and feare him In May Munster Rebels had their pardons granted them upon the intercession of the Lord President A list out of five English Shires and Irish Submitties 207 horse 374 Archers as likewise arising out of the Irish Lords and their Captains horse 128 Kerne 361. And now preparation is made for the Summer service whence to take forces for the field To be drawne out of Munster to Connagh a thousand foot fifty horse And in Connagh already 1150 foot horse 74. Thus to be disposed in Connagh at Galloway and Athlone 350 foot At the Abbey of Boyle in Connagh under the command of the Earle of Clanrichard a thousand foot 62 horse To leave in Lemster side of the Shannon at the Annaly to further the plantation of Balishannan eight hundred foot horse twelve These all lying to infest the Rebels or to hinder their joyning together or to hinder Northerne forces from comming into Lemster And to hinder Tyrones gathering in the corn May the two and twentieth his Lordship parts from Dublin and wrote into England for six thousand souldiers ready if so be any forreigne aide should come and to have a Magazine at Limrick many pardoned in the County of Corke And about the eight of June his Lordship came neere the Pace of Moyry where hee purposed to build a Fort to secure that Pace Now againe hee sollicits his former demands by Letters into England And so he marched by Dundalke to Lecagh comming suddenly on them he took much booty and many submitted to his Lordship in this passage from thence he went to Mount Norris and so hee intended to plant a Garrison at Armagh and so forth hee went to Blackwater to see that way to that Fort where the Marshall Bagnal had his defeat The foure and twentieth hee marched two miles short
of the Newry with a thousand two hundred and fifty foot and an hundred and fifty horse The nine and twentieth day his Lordship had notice that Sir Henry Davers had done much damage to Brisan mac Art in killing his men and taking his cattell Many received Pardons and were accepted of because that certaine newes came that the Spanish forces which lay at Lisbone were to come for Ireland So his Lordship disposed of the Companies into Garrisons and Forts neere the enemies Countrey and went with his followers to Dundalke having with him onely three companies of foot and a troop of horse but going towards the North he gathered some forces out of the Garrisons so he went to a Hill neere Blackwater on the Southside making a stand where Tyrone and his horse and foot shewed themselves in a Medow beyond the River with Trumpets and Drums and Colours which they used not to doe before but now only in a bravado Making some shot at us which being at too fat distance fell short without doing any hurt but we having a Rabenet and a Falcon planted on a little Hill made some shot at the Rebels which made them seulke into the Woods like Puppits So that his Lordship sent 300 foot to a Hill close by the waterside and at the evening came and encamped upon it whence he saw Tyrone draw some horse over the water to our side but Sir William Gâ—dâ—lphin went with a troope of horse to meet him but he presently retyred back So we placing the two small pieces charging them with Musket shot drove the Rebels out of the Trenches which they had made beyond the River so that the 300 men passed over the River and possessed them and an adjoyning old Fort with a plain not altogether Musket shot from the Wood where the Rebell was fled and his Lordship seeing the Trenches did admire that they wold take so much pains to make that which they had so little care to keepe so his Lordship went to view a Place in Tyrones Wood who stood looking on us who only made a few shot at our men in their retreat So the sixteenth his Lordship passing over the Blackwater with a Regiment of Irish marched to a place at the left hand of our Campe at the entrance of a great Wood where our men made a stand in a fair green Medow having our Campe not farre behinde them and the Wood at each side and before them in which great multitudes of the Rebels were assembled so that there hapned a great and large skirmish with various accidents sometimes they sometimes wee giving ground for the Lord Deputy drew our forces out of the Campe as he saw the Rebels increase Doctor Latwar his Lordships Chaplaine not content to see this in the Campe went into the Medow to our Colours and was shot so that he died the next day Not one more slain of the English only a Captaines legg broken but 26 of the Irish on our side and 72 hurt such as were kept in pay only that they should not side with the Rebell Among the Rebels Tyrones Secretary and above two hundred Kernes were killed which did much abate their courage and animate our men His Lordship wrote into England complayning of the scarcity of the victuals and that which was being salt fish which as hee said was most unfit for marching was not good nor wholsome His Lordship rising from about Blackwater made another Proclamation for Tyrones head at 1000l and 2000l to bring him alive So hee marched too and fro spoyling and cutting downe all the Corn thereabouts and burning houses in the woods neere where the Rebels lay but would not fight So he returned to the Blackwater and with some choice foot and horse went to view the way to Dungannon Tyron's chief house ten miles distant and setting some to cut down the wood the Rebels sought to hinder them but were beaten back so after we marched six miles to Armagh and three to Rawlaghtany From whence Sir Hen. Davers with 300 foot and 40 horse went to burn some houses that stood in a Fortresse which he performed but the Rebels followed them back even to our Campe into which they poured a Volley of shot and retyred into an adjoyning Fortresse Here the Commissary viewed the Army and found in the List 2950 but by Pole 1728. The fourth day at night the Rebels came with cryes Drums and Bag-pipes as if they would have attempted our Campe And poured into it two or three thousand shot but doing little hurt For his Lordship commanded that none of our men should stirre having lodged in a Trench some 400 shot with command that they should not give fire untill the rebels were neere which doing they put up paid with the shot and sent out lamentable cryes So then his Lordship sent for more forces because hee had intelligence that Tyron's Army was much increased Now there came more certaine newes of the Spaniards comming and of their intention to land at Waterford in respect of the commodious harbour and the peoples good affection unto the Spaniards A speedy supply of a thousand shot was required out of England because Tyrone was growne very strong as appeared by a list given by one that had been lately Tyrones Marshall and now received into favour as followeth Tyrone for his guard 100 horse His sonne Hugh O Neale 100 horse in all 400. His brother Carmack 100 horse in all 400. Art mac Baron 20 horse Phelim O hanlors sonne 10 horse Turlogh Brasils sonne 50 horse Con Tyron's base sonne 20 horse His guard of foot led by James O sheale a Lemster man 200. 400 Led by Jenken Fitz Simon of Lecale 200. 400 Other chiefe Commanders of foot 3260 foot Tot. Horse and Foot 4060. All these except 300 had meanes to keepe themselves and companies in Tyrone and divers of them besides have great forces to keep their owne forces About this time some discourtesies hapned between the Lord Deputy and the Lord President of Munster for that he had made some complaints of the Deputy in England but by perswasion of Secretary Cecil the Lord Presidents great friend they were united as fast as greatnes will permit His Lordship for want of victuall lay about Armagh and the Blackwater Fort Aug. 29. his Lordship came to Trim where the counsell of Dublin met him and from whence September the third they wrote into England in excuse that they had passed the limited summe of 6000 for extraordinaries it being farre too little to compasse so much businesse and provide so many things as was needfull and had not been able out of it to repaire Athlone Castle the Key of Connagh nor divers other Forts and Castles of great consequence Now intelligence came from Secretary Cecill that the Spaniards were discovered about Sylly 45 sayle whereof 17 men of warre and supposed that they would lâ—nd â—t Limrick most of them 100 tun apiece and had six thousand souldiers in them As
with his forces who came from Carickfergus at their meeting place his Lordship raised a Forâ— capable of a 1000 foot and 100 horse and called in Mountjoy after his own Barony And his Lordships resolutions were to follow Tyrone from place to place but that a scarcity of victuals hindred him so that he was faâ—â— for 20 days to goâ— elswhere to provide but leaving those Garrisons in the mean time so strong about Tyrone that he should not dare to venture on the plainâ— and they stirring about to seek after him in his fortress he should not feed his Câ—…is abroad Now fresh news came of new supplyes from Spaina and confirmed for that a ship of Spaine arrived at Ardea and brought O Swillivan Beare and other Captaines of the Rebels munition and store of money which made them grow somewhat resolute whereas before they were ready to sue for mercy this caused some obstructions in their proceeding But the Lord Deputy intending to take the field and have the Newry but hearing that Tyrone would send and disturbe the parts about Killultagh to hinder that himselfe should not be prosecuted His Lordship sent some Commanders to invest a strong Fort wherein lay all the goods of such Rebels as were fled into Tyrone called Enishlanghen which was seated in the midst of a great Bog and no way accessable but through thick Woods very hardly passable and the Fort had about it two deep ditches both compassed with strong Pallisado's a very high and thick Rampire of earth and timber and well flanked with Bulwarks and sixty souldiers for its defence who by the industry and valour of our men were made to yield and men brought to his Lordship at the Newly This done his Lordship took the field Aug. 20 marched towards Armagh and so spoyled Tyron's Country who was fled into Fermanagh from whence he went to a Fortresse at the bottome of Lough Earne so that hee could not be approched so that making wast thereabouts leaving Garrisons at the end of SuÌ„mer his Lordship returned to Dublin About October 20 many Rebels offered submission especially many of Tyrones Captains and Tyron himself writes an humble letter to the Lord Deputy Who begins a journey into Connagh to take the submission of other Rebels and to view the Towne of Galloway where he continued all Christmas and caused a fort to be built there The Lord President of Munster went to surprize the castle of Dunbay which Oswillivan Bear got from the Spaniard at Bearhaven where in were sixty Warders and three peeces of Ordnance neere unto which his Lordship pitched his camp having a rising hil between it the castle there were within it some Spaniards Italians But our battery making a breach was entred by the English and possessed part of it but the Rebels defended the rest all the day and night and part of the next day untill our men wonne it by force and slue and executed 134 men sparing 12 of good account which were kept to worke upon Tirrill Spanish Ordnance taken in this Fort one Demyculvering two Sacres and one Falcon all of brasse and two Sacres five Minions and one Falcon of iron the Castle was blown up and his Lordship returned to Corke Sir Samuel Bagual with a Regiment fell by night into Tirrils Campe lying in Muskerry killed 80 of his men made him flie away in his shirt took a thousand cattell 60 horses and hackneys and much rich spoyle And Sir Charles Wilmot brake by night into the quarters of the Knight of Kerry killed 40 of his men tooke 500 Cows 200 Garrais and two moneths provision of meale and meeting with other Rebels he took in all 2000 Cows 4000 sheep and 1000 Garrais so that the Rebels as bâ—oken men flew towards Pale About this time Captain Taffe commanding our Irish in Carbery assaulted a band of Rebels led by a Priest the Popes Nuntio who killed the Priest with most of his men and got his cattell Upon whose death Mac Carties all Cerbery submitted So the Lord President from Connagh returned to Munster and leaving two Commissioners to governe Munster in the beginning of March sailed into England And now Tyrone himself sues for the Queenes favour which she is very unwilling to grant supposing him not worthy to live who had cost so many lives and caused he so much charge and trouble yet the Deputy earnestly mediates but it doth not appeare that ever shee did yield unto it yet willing he should come in But Tyrone had little left but the grudging of the common people which alwayes followes disasters and exclaymed that he had ingaged the ruine of his whole Nation for his owne private discoâ—tents and that these warres howsoever beneficiall to him yet were they most peâ—nicious to them Thus Tyrone having almost if not altogether worne out and wasted his friends and fortune found it high time to seek â—avour and accept it upon any terms Which the Deputy having secret intelligence of the Queens death not yet publikely knowne made some haste to accept of his submission lest another should have taken the beast out that he had taken in his toyle And so March 30 1603 at Meâ—ifont hee made his humble submission to the Deputy sitting in a Chaire of State on his knees and in the company of the Deputy rode to Dublin April 4. At which time open tydings came of the death of that victorious Queen and the happy comming in of K. James do the Earle of Tyrone made a new submission to the Deputy as to King James King of England And now upon this change divers of the Towns and Cities as Cork Waterford and Wexford through the â—educing of the Priests and Jesuits had set up the Idolatrous Masse and brought in Popish superstition by force and violence on a â—aâ—â—e suggestion that K. James was a favourer of the same So the Deputy was â—ike to have a new businesse in hand by those that had not shewed themselves all this time who seeing their hope of gaine gone the rebellion growing to an end themselves will venture to continue it rather then let it â—â—â—ke As Limrick and Galloway but especially Corke grew exceeding insolent and by force to advance to the height the Romish Religion And for prevention hereof his Lordship first writes to the Maior and then drawes towards them with the Kings forces Hanged some of the Ring-leaders at Corke sware the other Cities to obedience leaving strong Garrisons in them Left Sir George Carem the Kings Deputy sent for Tyrone and carried him into England where he was joyfully welcomed and graciously entertained at the Court created Earle of Devonshire and made a privy Counsellour Tyrone having procured his pardon of the King and a Proclamation for his safegard in his return to Ireland being grown exceeding odious to our Nation there he stayed awhile but after being disloyall fled into Spain and there died The War ended the army List horse 1000 foot 11150 and