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
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
people Gallaeci in Spaine a chiefe town and little inferiour to any in Ireland built round like a Tower a Bishops See much frequented by Merchants invited by a commodious haven and safe roade Foure miles from hence stands Knoc-toe that is the hill of Axes and not farre off Aterith having a large wall but poorely inhabited the Birminghams are Barons of English race but of Irish disposition The better sort of Irish are O Kelleis O Maiden O Flairles mac Dervis c. The country of clan Richard lyeth at the entrance of this County and is annexed to it it tooke the name from Richard de Burgh out of which stock Henry the eight made an Earle of Clan Rich whose eldest sonne hath the title of Baron of Dun Kellis In this territory is the Archbishops See of Toam unto which many Bishopricks were formerly subject but now only three The County of Maio limited on the West by the Ocean South by Gollway East by the County of Roscoman and North by the county of Slige very rich and fruitfull abounding with cattle Deere Hawks and honey taking its name from a little city which had a Bishops See but now laid to Toam as I said but the inhabitants are under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Killaly Lord Bourgh is Vicount Maio There is a remarkable lake at the West side of this called Loghmesk full of fish and two small Ilands this County is inhabited with a valiant kind of people stout and hardie most of which were invited by the rebels out of the Scottish Ilands the Hebrides to aid mac William and mac Conell who were defeated by Captain Bingham Governor of Conagh The County of Slego lying along the Westerne Sea betweene it and Ulster Northward runneth the River Tâ—obis issuing from the lake Erne it is parted from the bordering Counties Le Trim and Roscoman by the vast Curlew hills and cut in twaine by the River Suc it is very fit and convenient for the breeding and rearing of cattle Sligo is the principall place of this county where there stands a castle under which is the Bay of Slego a road full of good harbours for shipping the chiefe names besides the O Conors are O Don O Harris O Ghar and mac Donagh There is an honourable Family in Herefordshire now dignified with the title of Baron Scudamore of Dromore and Vicount of Sligo The County of le Trim formerly called Breany which incloseth the county of Sligo on the East and was the possessions of that ancient Family of the Rorck untill Brion O Rorck rebelled in queen Elizabeths dayes who was chased into Scotland and sent thence into England and there hanged so that his lands fell unto the Crown the Sherards are Barons of le Trim after it was made a county by the Lord Deputy and called le Trim from the chiefe towne This county is full of rising hills and very fat ranke pastures so that one saith of it but how true I know not that it is so full of forrage that unlesse cattle were kept sometimes from grazing their fulnesse would endanger them but so fruitfull and fertile it is that in a small circuit of ground it was able at once to shew one hundred and twenty thousand head of beasts here is the See of the Bishop of Achonry united to the See of Elphin The head of the long and large river Shannon first sheweth it selfe here The Families of note O Rorck O Murreis mac Lochleims mac Glancheis and mac Granelles all meere Irish The County of Roscoman lieth Southwest from le Trim made a county likewise by Henry Sidney Lord Deputy being long but narrow and bound with the Rivers Suc Eastward and Shannon Westward and on the North with Curlew mountaines which are high and impassible untill a cut was made thorow them It is a plain fertile countrey much abounding with cattle because tillage is too painfull for the inhabitants There are foure Baronies in this county lying under Curlew hils by the River Shannon 1 That of Boyle where mac Dermot is chiefe 2 That of Balin Tober by the River Suc where O Coner Dun is of greatest power and upon it joyneth Elphen the Bishops See Somewhat lower lyeth Roscomon the Barony of O Coner Roo but the Dillons since have been Earls of Roscommon in which place is feated the chiefe town but now poore and meane More Southward lyeth Athlone the Barony of the O Kellies so named of the head town which hath a castle in it and a most beautifull bridge of hewen stone built by queen Elizabeth and thought it the most convenient place for the Lord Deputies to reside the better to suppresse seditions The fifth part or Province is Ulster the North part of Ireland hath ten Counties THe County of Louth in Irish Iriel or Uriel situated beyond Meth and the River Boyn runneth out with a shore bending towards the North A fruitfull and pleasant soyle if well imployed neere Boyns mouth is seated Drogheda or in English Tredagh a fine town well peopled and frequented so called of the Bridge Boyne cutting it thorow it hath both a Market and Faire granted by King Edward the second as also a Mint once there The Moores now beare the honour of Vicount Drogheda Not farre off stands Mellifont Abbey much praised by Saint Bernard given by queene Elizabeth to Sir Edward Moore of Kent Seven miles off standeth Ardeth an inland town and above it Dundakle having a commodious haven and formerly a wall which Edward Brâ—â— the King of Scots brother did burne but after both himselfe and forces slain and defeated by Sir John Birmingham the Lord Gorges are Barons of it Eight miles from hence stands Carlingford a port of good use and frequencie the Swifts are honoured with the title of Vicounts of this place the names of note are Verdons Tates Clintons Bellewes Donedalls Wottons and some others Sir John Birmingham before named was formerly Earle of Louth But Henry the eight honoured Sir Oliver plunket with the Barony of Louth The County of Cavan lying to the West of Louth and formerly called East Brieny the habitation of O Kellies who have been powerfull in horsemen for the suppressing of whom Sir Henry Sidney divided it into seven severall Baronies to hold in fee from the Crown of England they have no townes but dwell scattered here and there in forts and piles they have a poore Bishop of their owne whose See is at Kilmore yet somewhat better than those Irish Bishops who had no other rents and revenues than three milch kine which being dry the Parishioners did change for a new milch one the L. Lambert or Barons of Cavan The County of Fermanagh lyeth to the West and nore of Cavan full of woods and many boggs in the middest whereof is the greatest lake in Ireland called logh Erne reaching out forty miles very full of inhabited Hands some containing three hundred others foure hundred acres of land and the banks of the lake are
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
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
Molachid belonging to the Talbots More within the countrey is Fingall a little place but very well husbanded even the garner and store-house of this Kingdome so great store of corne it yeeldeth every yeare This place discovers the idlenesse of the other Counties which would equally answer the industry of the labourer if it were imployed Divers worshipfull Families are placed here and there of English in this County as namely the Plunkets who are still Earle of Fingall and Lord of Kellene Barnwels Russels Talbots Dillons Netâ—orvils Lutterels Burnels Fitzwilliams Gouldings Ushers Cadlyes Finglasses Sarfeilds Blackneys Crucyes Baths c. NOw we come to the Province of Meth because it lyeth in the middle for strength and safety called the Chamber of Ireland peaceable likewise in the 38. yeare of Henry the eight divided into east Meth and west Meth. The County of east Meth is compassed with Kildare on the south with the County of Dublin and the Sea east on the north with the territory of Louth and with the County of west-Meth on the west The whole is divided into eighteene Baronies viz. Dueleke Scrine Slane Margallen Navan Kenlis halfe the Barony of Fower neere Kenlis Killalou Clove Moylagh Logherne Old-castle Luyn Moyfeuraragh Deese Rath-touth and Dunboyne Boyne a faire River springs out of the north side of the Kings County runneth thorow this country In the remotest places on this side Boyne are these memorable places Galtrim Killin Castle and Dunsany On the further side of Boyne are Trimletstown Gormanston and Slane the Fleming Lord of it of the next before Vicount Preston Barnwell Baron of the other Plunket Lord of Dunsany Among these last stands a Market-towne called Aboy upon the River Boyn which passing Glan Jores that is the Land of George runneth under Trim a fine towne of trade having a Castle erected by William Pepard So it flowes besides Navan the Barony of the Lamberts where the Bishops house is who having no Cathedrall Church doth all with the assent of the Clergie of Meth. Boyn then running higher and swifter neere unto Drodagh the Moores being intitled Vicount of it loseth himselfe in the Ocean Many chief Families of English blood are in this countie the Brabazens being Earles of east Meth. The county of west Meth so called in regard of the situation in relation to the former and reacheth to the River Shanon and lyeth betweene the Kings county south and Longford county north to which it is not much inferiour in any thing if answerable in civility Molingar is the chiefe towne as lying in the midst compassed with many bogges It is parted into twelve Baronies viz. Fertulogh Ferbile Delvin of which the Nugents were Barons and now Earls of west Meth Fourry as also Corkery Moyassell where the Tuts inhabited Moygoisy Rathcomire Magirquirke all propagated from English blood Clonlalon Moycassell meere Irish beare sway And others of more harsh and unpleasant names yet better liked of the Irish than our English names so that one of them said he would not learne English lest it should make him have a wry mouth Hugh Lacy subdued this county and had it given unto him by Henry the second who intending to build a Castle and bowing downe his head to shew the carpenter how hee would have a peece of timber squared had his head cut off by the same carpenter with an axe which hee held in his hand The county of Longford lyeth on the north side of west Meth made a county not long since called Anale before inhabited most by Irish and those potent and turbulent Shannon runneth along this county on the side of it and ariseth out of Therne hils in the county of le Trim and flowing along makes many open pools and after contracts himselfe againe and then runneth into a large broad mere called Lough Regith but after findes his bankes againe on which stands the towne Athlon from thence Shannon having passed the water-fall at Killoloe being very large and deepe six or seven fathome water disjoynes running with open armes to the imbracement of the city Limrick from whence speeding about sixty miles in length making here and there an Iland and where he grew shallow and passible there formerly stood forts and bulwarkes to hinder the inrode of the pilfering Irish and at last running with open mouth beyond knoc Patrick is devoured by the westerne Ocean two Irish Septs most powerfull and eminent in this county O-Pharoll Boy and O-Pharoll Ban the Lord Aungiers are dignified with the title of Baron of Longford Another Province is Conaght wherein are six Counties 1 Twomond or the county Clare which the Irish call Twowoun that is north-Mounster for so formerly was the name untill Sir Henry Sydâ—y laid it unto Connaught shooting out with a narrow promontory into the Sea westward and on the east and south side inclosed with the large streame of the River Shannon and to the west with the maine on the north barred with the county Galloway so that there is no entring of it by land The territories of Clan Richard are very fruitfull and commodious both for sea and land onely vexed with bad and idle creatures lazie inhabitants O fortunati si sua norint Did they but truly consider the benefit that would acrew by industry how would they indeavour As hath appeared by the care and paines of some English of note and esteem as the Muscegros and Clares who have built many forts and townes from whom Clare the chiefe towne takes name Other places of note Kilfennerag and Killalloe Orlaon the Bishops seat where there stands a Rock in the middest of the channell of Shannon from which the water maketh a great noyse in the fall thereof and which is a great barre and hinderance that no vessels can passe any further Not farre from this banke stands Bunraty made a Market towne by Henry 3. and is fortified with a Castle Seven miles off appeareth Clare the principall towne at a creek flowing from Shannon full of Ilands the chiefe Families are Irish the English being degenerated wholly mac Nemors mac Mahon O-Loughton the O Brians the chiefe of all and of ancient descent and now Earls of Thomond and who did good service against the Irish in Queen Elizabeth's time The County of Galloway boundeth South on Clare West on the Sea North on County Maio and East on Shannon abounding both in corne and cattle The West-shore is very craggy and rugged with a long border of greene Ilands foure of which called Aran make a Barony also Inis Ceath where the Monastery of Colman is a devout Saint founded for Scots and English but their continuall discord made the English quite forsake it More within lyeth a lake called logh Corbes spreading twenty miles in length and three or foure in breadth being navigable furnished with three hundred small Ilands full of grasse and Pine-trees but towards the Sea this lake is more streightned and runnes under Gallway Irish Gallive called so from the
beasts no where had he until then experience of such in the most barbarous parts that ever hee came unto no where had hee found for Manners so froward for Rites so devillish for Faith so impious for Laws so barbarous for Discipline so stiffe-necked for Life so filthy Christians they were in name but Pagans in deed lawfull Marriages they contracted none or such as are shamefull even with children of ten yeeres old So Langfrank complains to a King of Ireland Therdelâ—câ— that the Irishmen forsake and leave their Wives at their pleasure without any just cause and marry any others even such as be neer of kin to themselves or to the said forsaken wives and if an other man with like wickednesse hath cast off his wife her likewise with like rashnesse they joyn withall With which Rites if this Nation of the Irish had not bin corrupted almost to our days both the right of lineall succession among them had been more certain and as well the Gentry as the vulgar had not embrued themselves so wickedly with the effusion of so much bloud of their own kinred about their inheritance and legitimation nor had they become so infamous in these respects among other forreigne Nations And further concerning their natures and disposition you may take the relation from the Earle of Essex his Letter to Q Elisabet gathered by his experience The people in generall have able bodies by nature and have gotten by custome ready use of armes and by their late successe boldnesse to fight with your Majestis forces In their pride they value no man but themselves in their affections they love nothing but idlenesse and licentiousnes in their Rebellion they have no other end but to shake off the yoke of obedience to root out all remembrance of the English Nation in that Kingdome This is the generall quarrell of the Irish and they who doe not professe it are either so few or so false that there is no account to be made of them The Irish Nobility and Lords of Countries do not only in their hearts affect this quarrell and are divided from us in Religion but have an especiall grudge against the English Government because it limiteth and tyeth them who have and still would be supream Lords if not Tyrants The Towns being inhabited by men of the same Religion and birth with the rest are so carried away with the love of gaine and for that cause supply the Rebels with what they want therefore they must be strictly looked unto The Laws of the Irish was that of fish and birds the great devoure the lesse the strong the weak having but one Free-holder in a County and he Lord both of estate and lives of the rest For their succession to inheritances it was by the law or custome called Tanistry mentioned by that excellent Historian Sir Walter Rawleigh which is this that a man is preferred to a boy the Uncle before the Nephew and commonly the most active not the next heire is chosen to hinder the inroad and oppression of the next adjoyning Lord between whom there was alwayes contention which did so wast and consume them or else being idle the Land would not have sustained them Concerning the apparell of the Irish it is after a slovenly manner and the very English there are much infected with this nasty filthinesse especially lowzie beds and foule linnen except where the chiefe English live as in Dublin Wateford and Kinsale which in some measure retaine the English neatnesse but for the meere wilde Irish it may be said of them as of the Germans that they wander slovenly and naked and lodge in the same room with their cattle Among them the better sort used to weare close breeches and stockings of the same of red or some light colour so straight that the unseemly parts of the body were exposed unto view They used likewise a loose Coat and a three covered Mantle of coarse cloth with a cap of Thrums Their linnen is coarse and slovenly they seldome cast off a shirt untill it be rotten and are coloured with Saffron to avoid Lice which are incident to those people and they are very nimble in taking Lice in a Sunny day or a green bank But in the more Northern parts before the strict civilizing of them in King James his time both men and women went naked in the very Winter having only their secret parts covered with a rag and a loose Mantle cast over them Thus naked they walke with their sword tyed unto them with a wyth instead of a belt And at night men and women lye in a Ring together round about the fire in the middle of the roome with their feet towards it folding their head and upper parts in their woollen Mantle first steeped in water to keep them warm for they say woollen wetted and warmed by the heat of their bodies doth preserve heat The Church Discipline hath beene formerly and now is after the same manner with that in England by Archbishops whereof there are foure Bishops 29 many more formerly It has beene anciently a great Nursery of Religion and Pietie even from if not before Saint Patricks time and Saint Bridget his Disciple who did advance Religion and Piety much in that Kingdome as also in sundry other places of Christendome The Bishops were formerly consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury untill the yeere 1142 at what time Pope Eugenius the fourth sent Cardinall Paperio who together with Christian Bishop of Lismore Legat of all Ireland held a Councell at Mell and with the consent of the Bishops Abbots Kings and Dukes of Ireland established foure Archbishops videlicet Armagh Dublin Cassile and Toam But the estate of the Clergy has been very meane there so that by reason of devouring impropriations in the whole County of Connought The Incumbents stipend is not above forty shillings and at some places but fifteene shillings per annum that the people must needs be better fed then taught Their allowance being answerable to the Irish Bishops in former time who had but three milch Kine allowed them and when one was dry the Parish did change her for another Which makes the Gospell to languish where it finds so poore entertainment that the Messengers thereof through want and necessity should live so mean and contemptibly and it gives great advantage to the Priests and Jesuits both to abound and seduces who have mayntenance from elsewhere The right and title of the English Crown to Ireland was by Conquest by Surrender and Submission THe Danes first invaded it with forreigne forces then the Norwegians got possession of it but they were rooted out by the policie of that King of Meth who had a beautifull Virgin to his daughter with whom Turgesius was much inflamed requiring her to satisfie his lust to whose will the poore Prince could not assent yet durst not deny So that he told him he had at home a Bevy of faire Ladies out of which hee should choose
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
and afterward gives such direction to her Majestie as was followed in the ensuing warre though himselfe had not the good hap to put it in practice And in the conclusion bewayles his owne misfortune that his enemies whom he names had gotten so neere her Majesties elbow In the end of July his Lordship brought backe his forces into Lemster himselfe going to Dublin having done little but admitted some few to protection which afterward revolted againe In his absence 600. souldiers which were left in the Glinne had been beaten by the Irish for which his Lordship used great severity in punishing of them putting to death the tenth common souldier calling the Captaines to a Court Marshall caused an Irish Lievtenant to be shot for parlying with the Rebels By this time the Qu. advertised his Lordship of his errour in not setting on the chiefe Rebell Tyrone but he excused himselfe and layd the fault on the Counsell of Ireland and that his intention now was that way beat but yet that first hee must suppresse some neere Dublin which being done he took a view of his Army and found it so much impaired that hee sent to England for supply of 1000. new men to inable him presently to undertake the Vlster journey And now resolved to march Northwest he willed Sir Conyers Clifford Governour of Connagh to compell Tyrone to give resistance at Belike while himselfe set on him on the other side So that Sir Con. Clifford with one Troop of horse and 1400. foot came to the Curlew Mountaines where he left his carriages under the guard of his Horse untill he had tryed the passage forward Who was presently assaulted by the Rebels taking the advantage of the woods boggs and a stony Causey and although the English stoutly received the charge yet they being weary with a long march and their powder fayling them which they had about them they began to faint so to flye so that many were slain in the place and many hurt besides two worthy Commanders Sir Con. Clifford Alexand. Ratcliffe killed And had not Sir John Jepson valliantly succoured them with his Horse most of the rest had perished this happened by a great oversight as was thought By this time the 1000. men out of England were arrived in Ireland yet his Lordship wrote over that he could doe little this yeere but only goe to the borders of Vlster whether going in September Tyrone shewed himselfe two dayes together on severall hills some distance off whence hee sent to desire a parley with his Lordship Who rejected that offer also sent him word that on the morrow he should find him armed in the head of his Army The next day after a light skirmish one of Tyrones horsmen cryed that Tyrone would not fight but would speake with the Lord Lievtenant apart from the Army unarmed The next day also he was told that Tyrone desired the Qu. mercy and would faine speake with his Lordship at the foard Balla Elâ—nch neere the chiefe towne of the County of Louth Where they two only met and Tyrone saluted his Lordship very courtly many speeches passing betweene them Whether as being left not farre off his Lordship called sixe or seven of his chiefe Commanders and Tyrone as many of his friends and there was a Conference about a Treaty of peace and a truce made from sixe weekes to sixe weekes untill May with proviso that on 14. dayes warning given on either side it should be lawfull to resume armes againe Now the Queen having received his Lordships Letters what he had done which was nothing with such an Army in so long space She wrote him a tart Letter much blaming his proceedings and questioning his discretion Which did so gaule and wring his Lordship that presently he left Adam Loftus the Archbishop of Dublin and Sir George Carew Treasurer of the wars to governe Ireland so went into England And unexpected presented himselfe before the Qu. in her privy Chamber but had not that welcome that hee expected and after a few words was commanded to his Chamber and afterwards to the Lord Keepers house in the nature of a Prisoner And now a list of the Commanders and whole Army is taken and set downe both horse and foot how disposed of throughout the whole Kingdome and were 14422. Foote 1231. horse The truce continuing the helme was easily held by those hands in which it was put but Dec. 6. Tyrone began to practize acts of hostilitie upon that he had given as hee said 14. dayes warning and because the Earle of Essex was imprisoned in England on whom he did relye for safety and would not now trust the Counsell of Ireland that had so often deceived him before this intelligence posted into England that the Rebels were ready to assaile the Pale And a false rumour raysed by Essex enemies that England would suddenly be in a combustion which was no little prejudice to the said Earle The Queen hearing this and more that the Rebels daily increased and the English Irish discontented that the government was wholly out of their hands by sending English Deputies over That Tyrone grew proud bearing trust on the King of Spaine who had sent him somewhat but promised more and the Pope not wanting in his fatherly cate towards him sent him a crowne of Phenix feathers in imitation no doubt of Vrban the third who sent King John Lord of Ireland a crowne of Peacocks feathers Upon this Sir Charles Blunt Lord Montjoy is thought fit to be sent and was thought on by the Qu. before Essex came over who was forward to take the charge upon him and so turned the Queenes intentions This Lord was a tall comely man wise valiant and learned close in his counsels resolute in his determinations His courses were much contrary to other Deputies and so effected what they could not doe 1. He led our men warily on any service not willing to dis-hearten our men or incourage the enemie and himselfe ever at hand either to hearten or helpe hee ventured his own person often although it be a great question in Military discipline whether it be wisedome or no 2. His planting of Garrison in the Rebels countreys compassing Tyrone on every side so that they could not easily assist on the other Other Deputies made two or three journeys in the yeare and that with the whole Army which was discovered by the Rebels that they fled into the woods and bogges nor could the Army abide the field long for want of victuals being so many at one place where as the Lord Montjoy planting good Garrisons in many places taking the field with 1000 foot and 200. horse onely was able openly to affront Tyrone seeing he was compelled to leave many of his forces behind to guard his Countrey from those Garrisons which else would have forraged his Countrey Thus he did not only in Summer as others had done but in Winter also himselfe being five or sixe dayes in a weeke on horse-backe
called it to answer all alarmes and were exempted from other duties The Horse 857. The Castle Niparke upon a breach made by our cannon yeelded only on condition of saving their lives sixteen being only left in it It stood in an Island beyond the water The Lord President returned with foure Regiments two he carryed out and two met him and comming to the Campe they quartered by themselves on the West side of Kinsale and were commanded by the Earle of Thomand for the Lord President went to the Lord Deputy The Towne with a Demi-Cannon played upon our Admirall and Vice-Admirall in the the harbour of Kinsale And shot them throughout But our Shippe peeces presently dismounted the Demi-cannon and hurt their chiefe Gunner Our battery lay so continually upon the Towne on all sides that did it much offend the enemy within who impatient that we built a fort close to the towne West gate Made a brave sally with 2000 men on our Ordinance on the East side and made most furious assault having brought with them tooles to cloy the Peeces and to dismount them if possible And indevoured to pull downe the Gabions in our trenches and baskets filled with earth for the safegard of our Gunners and Cannoneeres But they found such resistance by the great courage of our men that they were driven to retreate into the Towne leaving above 120 dead in the place and many slaine neere the towne some others taken prisoners But on our side not many hurt two Captaines and one Lievtenant killed Among the Spaniards at their shipping many of them were found to have Spells Characters and hallowed Medalls as preservatives against death A Drumme was sent to offer Don Jean to bury his slaine who returned thankes but withall prayed the Lord Deputie to see them buried promising to doe the like for ours when they fell in his power At this time newes came that sixe Spanish ships were put into Castle-haven neere Baltamore and sixe more were scattered from them by foule weather these six brought two thousand men and many Ordnance and Munition and news that 20000 more were comming Sir Richard Levison getting five or sixe ships out of the harbour of Kinsale got in little time into Castle-haven and and sunke one Spanish ship The Admirall of the Spaniard having 9 Foot water in her hould drave on a rocke and the Vice-Admirall and two others run aground most of the Spaniards quitting them And so our Fleet returned to Kinsale Into which harbour came a Scottish Barke laden with 80 Spaniards who were by the Master put all into the hands of the English so were landed and carryed into the Campe upon whose examination divers discoveries were made that great preparations were made for Ireland and that in Spain they doubted not but that it was taken already Now intelligence came to the Campe that O Donnell was joyned with the Spaniards that landed at Castle-haven that he together with all the forces that Tyrone could make would releeve Kinsale Upon which our Campes did more strongly fortifie and intrench themselves for their owne defence And so had not leasure to follow the batteryes as they had done before because the new supplies were much wasted with hard service and great sicknesse Two small Sconces were built at the West side of the Towne betweene the Earle of Thomands quarter and the water and so cast up trenches from place to place to invest the town to the land and hinder the driving in of the cattell into the town O Donnels forces are said to be 4000. and Tyrones 8000. which are all to joyne with the Spaniards and lye not above sixe miles from our Campe A Letter was intercepted sent to Oneale by the Spanish Generall To the Prince Oneale and Lord O Donnell J Thought your Excellencies would have come at Don Ricardos going since he had order from you to say that upon the Spaniards comming to you from Castle-haven you would doe me that favour And so I beseech you now you will do it and come as speedily and as well appointed as may be for I assure you that the enemy are tyred and very few and they cannot guard the third part of their trenches which shall not availe them for resisting their first fury all is ended The manner of your comming your Excellencies know better there then I to give here for I will give them enough to doe this way being alwayes watching to give the blow all that I can and with some resolution that your Excellency fighting as ye doe alwayes I hope in God the victory shall be ours without doubt because the cause is his And I more desire the victory for the interest of your Excellencie then mine owne And so there is nothing to be done but to bring your squadrons come well appointed and close withall that being mingled with the enemies their forts will doe as much harme to themselves as unto us The Lord keepe your Excell Kinsale Decemb. 18. after the old stile Though you be not well fitted I beseech your Excellen to dislodge and come towards the enemy for expedition imports it is needfull that we all be on horseback at once and the greater hast the better Signed by Don Iean de Aquila This newes made us ply our batteryes the more and the like importunitie made Tyrone advance within a mile of us in the way to Corke But some of our Foot drawing out of the Campe towards him for that time he drew himselfe into the wooâ—s Our Army was but weake at this time many sick and some run away in number 6595. Tyrone often shewed his Horse and Foot on a hill not â—aâ—e off and we had intelligence from one of Tyrones Commanders that both he and the Spaniards resolved to aâ—…t our Campe together on all sides in the night But Tyrones guides missing the way happened to be withâ—â— an houre of day when they were discried in a plain not far from our Campe where Tirrill led the vantgard wherin the Spaniards from Castle haven were Tyrone leading their battell and O Donnell their reare intending to force the great Campe But the Lord Deputy with the Lord President having sate in Counsell all that night drew out some regiments The Marshall Sir Richard Wingfield with 400 horse and Sir Henry Fowers regiment advanced within 20 score of the enemy resolving to give them battell two more regiments being come up which the enemy perceiving retyred over a foard somewhat disorderly and the Marshall seeing it desired leave of the Lord Deputy to fight which being granted to take occasion according to his discretion hee presently marched forward over the foard The enemy still retyring further over the bogge into a plaine hoping to find the bogge some safegard from us But the Marshall with some horse and foot went to the bogge side and gave them occasion of skirmish there their Battalians standing firme on the one side of the bogge and our foot on the other In
the meane time the Marshall found a way through the Foord to the ground where the Rebels stood hee possessed the same with some foot and presently got over three troope of Horse with which he charged the enemies battailes of 1800 men but finding them stand firme wheeled about But now three troope of Horse more and two Regiments of foot which were with the Lord Deputy who stood not farre off with a vigilant eye came all up So that the Marshall with the Horse charged home upon the reare of the Battell which being Irish and not used to fight in the plaine especially seeing their horse dye which were the chief Gentlemen in number five or six hundred were suddenly routed and our men followed the execution The other two Battels seeing the other routed advanced to their succour but the Lord Deputy sending another Regiment to charge on the flanke of the Vangard which presently retyred disorderly being followed by our horse and foot But the Spaniards that were not so light footed drew out by themselves yet were soon broken by a troope of horse led by Sir William Godâ—lphin and most of them killed their Commander Don Alinza del Campo taken prisoner together with two Captaines 7 Alfieroes Ensignes or Colours as we call them and 40 souldiers In the mean time many of the light-footed Irish escaped away by advantage of this execution done on the Spaniard and all the mayn battaile except 60 were killed On our side little hurt Sir Richard Greames Coronet killed some Commanders of quality hurt and six souldiers hurt many of our horses killed and others hurt Of the Irish 1200 left dead in the place besides those that were killed in two miles chase Wee took nine of their Ensignes all their Drums Powder and two thousand armes And their destruction had been greater had not the greedinesse of our men in pillaging and rifling the Spaniards hindred it And had not our foot been tired out with continuall service and our horse spent for want of provision to keepe them in good case we had cut the throat of all the Rebels for they never made resistance nor looked behind them but ran and shifted for their lives His Lordship presently in the midst of the dead bodies gave thanks to God for this great victorie So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but let them that love him be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might The Rebels were upon report about six thousand foot 500 horse whereof 14 Captains slain souldiers slain 1995. His Lordship had not above 1200 foot and lesse then 400 horse so that it was Gods great goodnesse to give him the day And about noon he returned giving volleys of shot in manner of Triumph Which the Spaniards in the town hearing who had layn still all this while expecting Tyrone and now supposed that it had been he made a sally out upon our Campe but soone perceiving their errour they did retire into the town again But made divers sallies out to hinder our making of trenches and other works which now we did most earnestly About the last of December Don Jean sent to the Deputy about a parley tearming him Vice-roy and much complained of the treachery and falshood of the Irish And that if honorable conditions were offered he would accept and so after many parlyes and propositions Articles were accorded on both sides That the Spaniard with all he had and while they tarry be well intreated and have things necessary for their money and sent safe away into Spain in English ships assoone as conveniently they may paying for their passage and leaving a pledge for the safe returne of them backe againe So our army went to refresh it self at Corke and the Span. abroad in Kinsale only Don Jean rode with the Deputy and made means to his Lordship that his Excellencie would shew some commiseration on the Spanish prisoners that were in Corke that were in great extremity for want of provision in number 160. Ian 25 certaine Captaines are dispatched West ward to receive from the Spaniards at Castle-haven Baltamore and Bâ—â—r-haven those Castles which they possessed but they not knowing of this their Generals Composition they aâ—Bâ—â—r-haven being 60 did build a Fort of trees and earth and planted three pieces in it About the eight of March for so long it was by reason of foule weather and crosse winds before all the Spaniards could be sent home his Lordship with the Army attending thereabout not willing to trust them over-much or give them occasion of doing ill About the end of the yeere 1601 his Lordship wrote unto the Counsell in England shewing them the hope that they had of the peace and quiet of Munster upon the death and execution of three arch-rebels Likewise shewing them there was great discontentment in the army upon an occasion of an abatement of halfe a pound of beefe to each mâ—â— a day and two herring oâ—â—â—â—shdays and that the horsmen did murmure for that 〈…〉 were raised 5 s. in a quarter more then usual being but 〈…〉 before now 15 s. which his Lordship did alter againe for feare of a mutiny And presently after his Lordship fell sicke and so continued repayring to Dublin to take physiâ—k Now here Majesties charge is cast up for the former yeer ending 1602 and it was 246087 l 7 s. 8. d. Besides the Concordâ—uâ—â— Bils impressed upon account here the levies and transporting of forces paid in England the payment of works and the charge of the office of the Ordnance Powder Bullets c. Now a List is taken of the army in the beginning of theâ— yeere 1602 Collonels 14. Totallâ— of the horse by the list 1487. foot 16950. But of these only 500 horse and 3650 foot went into the field with his Lordship the rest were placed in severall Forts Castles and Countries for the better preventing of the Rebels joyning together and were so placed that upon little warning many oâ— them might meet with his Lordship now intending to bend all his forces on Tyrons country So being recovered took the field in Iune and marching up to Blackwater to the fittest passage into the heart of Tyrone five miles Eastward from the Fort of Blackwater There was but a small space or skirt of a Wood between our Camp and the River which wood he had cut through the yeere before and there building a bridge over the River and a Fort to safegard it calling it Charlemount he passed to Dungannon six miles distant a plaine open way whence Tyrone making hast away left the Towne and his own house there seated all a fire so his Lordship sending aâ— company before to view it presently marched thither with his army and Tyrone fled as high as the Castle Râ—â— uponâ— be Ban his Lordship sent out Companys to spoyle and forrage as farre as Enâ—â—killin or Lough Erne and taking two of Tyrones chiefe Islands hee marched to Lough-Sidney where he met Sir Arthur Chicester