enemies at aduantage but howsoeuer he chaunced to finde them he fortunately suppressed their pride and followed the faithful course and forme of a most noble captaine And because it shalbe seene to the worlde orderly what heedid herein shal bee set downe the matter place and time of a part of his honourable seruices to the intent it shall not dwell in forgetfulnesse and to encourage other noble personages in doing their countrey good to treade the steppes of the noble Earle of Ormound I remembring his forwardnes in the young king Edwards dayes with whom he was brought vp and the charge he had of some horsemen in Queene Maries raigne against Rebels in England haue called in like manner to minde the seruice hee did against the Omoores and the Oconnors in their rebellion of Ireland also the ouerthrowing of Dunloghe Oswilleuane Moores chiefest house is woorthie note for it was in time of Rebellion with other ordinary seruices that alwaies did testifie that this Earle was a sharpe scourge to Rebels And to proue that his daily desire thirsted after noble enterprises for the punishment of malefactors he serued chargeably and in no little daunger on his owne proper coste and expence with two hundred footemen and fiftie horsemen in Ulster the North parte of Irelande against Iohn Oneale who was in open action of rebellion manie and sundrie seasons In the like manner all on his own charge he serued against the scot called Iames Maconell in Ulster whose force he ouerthrewe to the number of two thousand men and in the ende droue the scot to flye away Then hauing charge of Thomounde by vertue of the Queenes highnes commission hee tooke all the Castles and hoâ—â—es thereof in spite of the Earle of Thomounde who was in rebellion slue diuers of his men and brought others of them to submission compelling the Earle himselfe for safegarde of his life to flie into Fraunce where hee remayned vntill her Maiestie on her meere clemencie pardoned his life and restored his landes The Earle of Thomoundes mother notwithstanding was Aunt to the Earle of Ormounde which shewes that neither respect of blood nor friendship could hinder any peece of dutiful seruice In another greate seruice the Earle of Ormound hearing that Desmound went about to annoy Syr Maurice fitz Gerralt late vicount of the Desies he raised a power and mette Desmounde in the fielde gaue him battaile at Athmanie slue fiue hundred of his men tooke himselfe captiue and sente him into England where he remayned till the Queenes highnesse vouchesafed to remit his offence and returned him home to his countrey Nowe in processe of time my Lord of Ormounde by the Queenes appointment became gouernor of Mounster in the beginning of Desmondes last reuolt when hee had of Rebels about him two thousand able men but he was folowed so fast and so hardly beset by suche as were appointed for that purpose that he was driuen to manie extremities partely by the ayde and aduice of the L. Iustice Syr William Pelham and partly by the policie and power of the Lord Gouernour who chiefly was general in the field that of two thousand men the Desmound was left but one bare hundred and as it seemed and may be prooued the Earle of Ormounde was cause of the weakening of the enemies force as hereafter you maye reade when it comes to that point But the L. Gouernour being remoued from that charge came into England from whence after some time spent there about necessarie causes he was sent againe to his former gouernement of Mounster with most noble authoritie and commission and being arriued in Irelande he made heade against the Desmound with whom was a thousand tall souldiers that were gathered together in the absence of the Earle of Ormound He comming to scourge these Rebels and finding the enemies force strong tooke order both by watch spial disciplyne of Warre and warlike deuises to supplante Desmoundes determination and marchinge in marshall manner towardes the enemyes his verye countenaunce daunted so muche Desmoundes companye that they fell to their woonted feare where they thoughte them in moste safetye but beeynge painefullye followed and pursued moste fiercelye as Rebelles shoulde bee they fell from flyinge and fightinge to yeeldinge and crauinge of mercye so euen as the matter fell out in the pursuite yee shall reade as followes the names of some fewe of the chiefest that were slayne beeyng Leaders of companies and menne of accounte amongest the traytours Henry fitz Gerralt base brother to Syr Iames fitz Gerralt of the Desies Kennedy mac Bryen mac Brien Ogonaghs sonne Gibbon Roe Lord of the great wood The Deane of Brohils sonnes the Earle of Desmoundes receiuer Connoghore O Multean Daniel Mantagh foster brother to Sir Iohn of Desmond Rowrie Moel mac Conoghane Mac Thomas thiefe of his name Mauryce Uale Iames Uale Brownes of the Earle of Desmoundes foster Brothers William Graueye sonne to mac Bryen Ogonagh with manye more too tedious to be recited besides two hundred fortie sixe of their menne and confederates that were put to the sworde and executed in such manner as diuers other Rebelles beeyng greatlye terrifled therewith were fayne to submit themselues to the Queenes Highnesse mercie And further the Lord Gouernour caused al the Cattle of the Countrie to bee brought out of Desmoundes reache into places of strength whereby Desmounde and suche of his companye as remained with him were brought to most miserable state driuen for want of other relief to feed vpon horse-fleshe and carrion in suche sort as with very harde shifte they saued them selues from being sterued And thus was the Earle of Desmound of al his force consumed and lefte accompanyed onelie with seuen menne and his Priest who from the tenthe of the laste Iulie hidde them in a glinne within Sleaueloghra hauing no other foode the space of seuen Weekes there but sixe Plowegarrans whereon they fedde without eyther breade drinke or other sustenaunce About the twentieth of September laste Desmounde beyng hardly followed by certaine Kearnes appoynted by the L. General to serue against that traytour his priest was taken from him with another of his men and brought to the Earle of Ormound Since whiche time the Earle of Desmounde was relieued by a Captaine of Galloglas called Gohorra mac Donnagha mac Sweenye whereof the Earle of Ormounde hauing aduertisement by suche as hee imployed to doe that seruice pursued hym into Olearies Countrie where hee tooke the moste parte of his goodes and lefte no reliefe for him nor Desmounde insomuche as the first of the laste Nouember the sayde Gohorra was enforced to repayre to Iniskiue mac Carthy Reoghs Countreye in the Countye of Corcke and there tooke thyrteene Cowes and eyght Garrans from one Donogho mac Teig of Iniskiue aforesaide Gentleman whiche Donnogho with tenne more in his companye made pursuite after the sayde Gohorra rescued his Cowes and garrans slewe the saide Rebell and sent his head to the Earle of Ormound The eleuenth of
A Scourge for Rebels Wherin are many notable seruices truly set out and thorowly discoursed of with euerie particular point touching the troubles of Ireland as farre as the painfull and dutiful seruice of the Earle of Ormound in sundrie sortes is manifestfestly knowen Written by Thomas Church-yard Gentleman Imprinted at London for Thomas Cadman 1584. Churchiards Armes To the Right honourable my verie good Lord the Lord Haward of Effingam Lorde Chamberlaine of the Queenes Maiesties houshold one of her Highnesse priuie Councell and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Thomas Church-yard wisheth increase of honour and many happie newe yeeres AS all worldly giftes good tournes faithful friendship and true affection springs of good wil so my good Lord a certaine kind of seruiceable liking towards your Honour thrusteth me forwarde to this boldnesse in presenting your L. a little bare worke of mine being stirred thervnto First for the general fauour that the world beares you a loue not wonne without desert and next for the fauour your noble Parents shewed me I am encouraged not onely to proceede to present some matter meete for you to reade but likewise to shew my selfe thankefull for fauour receiued So in waying those causes as becomes me and knowing the good consideration your Lordship carries in sounde iudgement of friendes that time did plant trueth makes growe and triall doeth gather I bethought me of the Earle of Ormounde who honoured your Parentes and loueth your selfe in whiche conceite of mine I found that you hearing well of that woorthie friend by my meanes woulde beleeue I were zealous of your Honour and a fauourer of noble actions Wherefore and in respect a writer ought to be plaine I treate plainly in my booke of the Earle of Ormoundes seruices knowne to many and hid to a few naming him the scourge of Rebels as truely I proue Which presumption of mine in that regard and glorie of his in gayning good report I trust your Lordeship will peyze in ballaunce of equall weight iudging me to boldnes as I merite and his deseruings as they shal compell by proofe to credite So wishing great grace good happe to your L. I present this my first new yeeres gift in the latter time of mine age to your Honour and the worldes iudgement Your L. humblie at comment Thomas Church-yard To the louing Reader MY waking goodwil to the world first for the pleasuring of friends generally to please the multitude keepes my 〈◊〉 alwaies occupied in suche matter as the time bringeth forth whiche time is mother nurse aswel to bad causes as to good actioÌ„s And it is sufferable to a true Writer to treate of both the â—â—des as the maner and nature in thinges discoursed of giueth light vnto So finding plentie store of matter both to study on trauaile with I cannot but for easing my burden impart a peece of my study with thee of vertunous disposition good friendly Reader not that my wordes haue such effect to worke a common commodity leade thee to like my doinges voyde of cunning style eloquence but to winne thy fauour creeping as I may vnder thy sounde consideration I laye my selfe playne open to the iudgement and hastie opinions of many which sodainely condemne slowly allow the labour of willing writers The grounde whereof proceedes not of enuie but of further cause then I name Ignoraunce peraduenture a let for the true vnderstanding of matter well meant yet my hope is thy grauitie and goodnesse that beares with my ouerbolde presumption will accept my good meaning passe ouer the faults of my booke fantasies I had when I took in hand to write this Discourse The truth is in sleeping softly on the cushion or carpet of peace where age is contente to take a nappe the sounde of Drumme and Trumpet awakened my muse For a loude blast and brute of Irishe warres bade me looke about me and here what might be saide by good seruices for the scourging of Rebelles Then hearinge the fall or tragedie of Desmond the faithful seruices and noblenesse of Ormound with many more thinges then nowe I expresse I tooke pen and registred in memorie what was moste meete and fitte for thee to knowe in causes not yet published by anie true report or Writer doubting not though the matter be but little the trueth thereof shal greatly delight thee So commending all that followes to thy vpright iudgement I craue and earnestly desire thee wishingly to reade this small discourse called The Scourge for Rebels Promising out of hande to print another woorke called A rebuke to rebellion and a triumph to true Subiectes So farewell A Scourge for Rebels of matter touching duetifull seruices that merites immortall fame wherein rebels are scourged and discoursed of which seruices chiefly by the Earle of Ormound and noble Souldiers vnder his charge were manfully begunne worthily mainteined and happily ended WHereas men of good mindes studious to set out trueth Louers of vertue Haters of vice Fauourers of common weale haue framed themselues members of the state writers of good thinges woorthie memorie that craueth witnesse of the beste wittes haue taken paines in publishing manye volumes well penned and printing of bookes needefull for this time necessary for al ages to read behold in time to come and in manner written partly on reportes and partly on experience by viewe haue set downe not onely their owne opinions in matters treated of but also haue made rehearsall of many mens actions and last out the seruices of a very honourable and valiaunt Earle named the Earle of Ormounde whose noblenes both in nature and condition argues a great minde and commands a multitude to speake wel of For which cause the rather to encourage valiant hearts to continue in vertuous actions a thing looked for in eche degree and calling that may aduaunce the hardy and stoute parsonages I haue aduentured to put pen to paper in the behalfe especially of some heretofore long forgotten and others both presently to be praised and hereafter may be worthy of great renowne and credit And to be plaine writers are so small regarded worlde so enuious and people so greedy of their owne glorye that fewe goes about to blow the blast of good fame towardes any worthy mans aduancement Such is our weakenes of goodwill and shortnes of breath that we can spare no speeches wel spent and bestowed to the benefice of such as deserues wel whose doings claimes good liking and a generall good report of the world Yet commonly the best sort of companies being inclined to noble disposition are glad to heare the worthy commended with sweete wordes furthers the fame of any one that merits commendation The trueth of things is wel bestowed among such people nothing should be hid from their knowledge that so thankfully welcomes the wel doing of others And in effect no enterprise of value is taken in hand but in hope that labour and
the sayde Nouember the Earle of Desmounde for wante of the sayde Gohorra to brynge him hys woonted nourishement was vrged with meere famyne and pinchinge penurye to sende to one Daniel mac Daniell Omoriherteighe to seeke some reliefe whiche Daniel made answeare to him that brought the message that hee was bounde in band and by othe sworne to the Lord Generall and also that hee had deliuered his pledge into the Generalles handes for performaunce of dooynge good seruice against Desmounde and his Adherentes wherefore he would giue him no reliefe at all Wherupon the Earle being almost famished with extreame hunger determined a desperate action First for relieuing his necessitye and after to escape the daunger of other fortunes that might followe and in that resolution hee aduentured to pray where he thought for that purpose and because the verie trueth of his doinges then and the manner of his death shalbe well knowen to the worlde throughly heere is sette downe an examination of one that was at his ouerthrowe and sawe his head cut off The Examination of Owen mac Donill Omorihertegh taken the xxvj of Nouember 1583. before those whose names are heereunto subscribed of the manner and discourse how the Earle of Desmound was pursued and slayne THe said Owen being duely sworne and examined vppon the holie Euangelist by vertue of his othe deposeth that on Saterday beeing the ix of this present Nouember the Earle of Desmound departed the woods lying neere the Iland of Rierye and went Westward beyond Tramore to the wood called Dorremore neere Bongoinder from whence he sent ii of his Horsmen called Conoghore Nescolly Shane Deleo with xviii kearns to bring him a pray hauing himself and Iohn mac Ullug and two or three footmen stayed there at Dorremore for them which company by the said Earles direction went to Cahir nefahye lying by west Gregories Castle by the Sea side and there tooke the pray of Maurice mac Owen brother in law to this Deponent and the pray of Robert mac Edmound being Tenauntes to this deponent and to his eldest brother called Donil mac Donil Omoriherteighe in that town that is to say forcie Cowes niene capples with great store of other goods and houshold stuffe and stripped naked the said Maurice his wife and children At the takinge of whiche praye to terrefie the people from making pursuit the said traytors published and saide that the Earle of Desmound lay neere them with the rest of his companie to ayde them if pursuite had beene made after them Whereuppon the saide Maurice sent worde to Liuetenant Stanley then beeing in the Dungle and also to this deponent and to his sayd brother Douil mac Donil being then at Castle dromin neere Castle Maing of the taking of his pray Whereuppon this Deponent and his said brother Donill mac Donil hauing also word sent them from Lieuetenaunt Stanley to pursue and tract out that pray and to call to their ayde the ward of Castlemaing and that he and the countrey were making ready to followe them to rescue the same hauing respect chiefely to their othes assuraunce and promise giuen and made to the Lorde General to doe seruice set forwarde being xiiii proper Kearnes in companie whereof two were shot And this Examinate went to Castlemaing and tolde the Cunstable Cheston of the whole matter and besought him to rise out according to the Lieuetenaunts direction to followe the praye in the companie of him and his brother Daniel to which Cheston aunsweared that he could not himselfe depart his charge and saide he woulde let him haue some of his companie to go with this Examinate and so sent away fiue Souldiers with him This Examinate and those fiue Souldiers came together to the Mountayne of Sleauemisse where his Brother Daniell mac Daniell wayted for them and from thence they came altogether toward Tralye in the Euening a Sunday beeing the tenth of Nouember in hope that they shoulde ouertake the praye before the same shoulde passe the straight of Tramore where they were sure as they thought to rescue the same praye from the traytours if they had ouertaken them there At their comminge to Traley they found the tracte of the pray going Eastwarde to Sleaueloghra Whereuppon the Souldiers whiche came from Castlemaing beganne to stay and sayde they woulde traueyle no farther after the praye but turne backe to theyr charge till at length this Deponente perswaded them to staye and keepe him company to pursue the pray promising them two biefes of the pray if it had beene theyr lucke to rescue the same from the Traytours if not that he woulde giue them a Biefe of his owne in respecte of their trauayle Uppon whiche promise the Souldiers agreed to goe forwarde the tracte was followed by daye light to Balleore and by mooneshyne towarde Glamagnitie at Sleaueloghra where then the Elder Brother Daniell and this Examinate tooke aduice to gette vppe aboue the Glinne to viewe whether they might see anie in the Woode or heare anye stirre and hauing come to the heyghte ouer the Glinne they sawe the fire vnderneath them Whereuppon Daniell sayde that he woulde goe to spy whether the Traytours had the praye there with them whiche hee did and came backe to the companye and tolde there were some of the Traytours there whiche hadde no Cattell with them and sayde it were beste not to assaulte them beefore the praye and them selues coulde bee founde together Whereunto this Examinate agreed In the dawninge of the daye on mundaye the eleuenth of Nouember they put themselues in order to set vppon the Traytours in their Cabbins This Examinate and his Brother Donill with theyr Kearne tooke the forewarde and appoynted the souldiers to keepe the rewarde sauinge that one Daniell Okelleye a Souldier whiche hadde but his Sworde and Target stoode in the forewarde with them they all makinge a greate crye entered the Cabbin where the Earle laye and this Examinate ranne thorowe the Cabbin after the Earles companye whiche fledde to the Wood and at his retourne backe to the Cabbin doore the Earle beeynge stroken by one of the companye by whome certayne hee knoweth not but that all the Footemenne and Souldiours were together within the Cabbin hee discouered him selfe sayinge I am the Earle of Desmounde saue my life To whome this Examinate annsweared thou hast killed thy selfe longe agone and nowe thou shalte bee Prisoner to the Queenes Maiestye and to the Earle of Ormounde Lorde Generall of Mounster Wheruppon hee tooke him by his arme beeing cutte and willed the Earle who was slowe in going to make speede else they woulde carrye awaye his Heade seeynge the Traytours drewe verye neere to haue him rescued Whereunto Daniel mac Daniel sayde I will carry him on my backe a while and so shall euery one of you Daniel caried a good while and being weary he put him off the Traitours being at hand al the companie refused to carry him any further considering the eminent danger they stood in the traitours
drawing neere Where at this deponent Owen mac Donil willed the souldier Daniel O kelleye to cut off the Earles head for that they could not apply to fight and carry him away to whose direction Kelley obeyed saying he would so doe drawing out his sworde and striking off the Earles head whiche they brought to Castle maing where this Examinate and his brother Daniel mac Daniel deliuered the same to be kept as in her Maiesties Castle til they had made themselues ready to bring the same to the Lord General and haue sent woorde to Lieuetenaunt Stanley who followed them in armes with the force of the countrey hauing the charge of the seruice in those parts by the L. Generals appointment of their happye successe willed him to take his waye to Castle maing to meete them who came thither with his companie And the forenamed Daniel O kelley being likewise examined before these testified that the Earle of Desmounde was pursued in the order and maner afore written and that he him selfe wounded the said Desmound within his Cabbin and after cut off his head least he should be rescued and that hee the sayd Daniel mac Daniel layd vp the same head to be kepte at Castlemaing til it had beene brought by them to the Lorde General These thinges beeyng saide by othe before the right Honorable the Earle of Ormound the Bishop of Oshry and the Soueraigne of Kilkenny NOw may you that wishe wel to the worthye sort of men behold how manfully good minds goes forward in scourging of rebels And so may you note how by Gods ordinance al naughty practises are supplanted the wicked rooted vp the worthie preserued and briefly to rehearse the noble exploites brought to good passe by the Earle of Ormound it shall make thousandes thinke that a secrete deuine grace vpholds the true subiect and a prepared plague from aboue plucketh downe the pryde of false people that delights in paltry rebellion for the good and sound quarrel alwayes ouerthrowes the ficke and charged conscience as is seene by this seruice First marke this Earle serued against his owne nation against his owne blood against his familiars and against all forreyne power and deuises against whom often he obtained victories and neuer tooke foyle where his Aduersaries were conquered and broughte to vtter subuersion Truely a matter to be maruelled at and a terrible example to all those that foolishely committe offence For trueth is so watchful so stoute in right and strong in battaile that falshood can finde neyther force nor cunning to auoyde and resist This Irishe action scourge of Rebelles may warne the busie wittes and wanton heades to beware of punishment and make retchlesse children feare the rodde Which rodde and scourge euery noble mind beares openly and awfully to make the miserable offender quake and tremble not onely at his owne treacherie but also at the view of a true mans face which forceth a Rebel to blush and turne backe vnto and either mainely to run away or feebly to fight Yea and though a while the rebel waxeth wilde wanders at pleasure Yet sodainly he is made tame and taken in a net like a wyld goose that knowes of no danger till the fowler hath him in his fingers Nowe by this notorious seruice of the Earle of Ormounde and forwardnesse of good souldiers the whole realme of Ireland may see that trueth hath euer the victorie and treason is put to shame and dishonour which iustice of God and fidelitye of man shalbe I trust a myrrour for al kind of nations to look into and shal cause to be made cleane al infected consciences and blottes of the browe that defiles the faces of many wicked people So thus farre I haue gone in the rehearsal of a portion of the Earle of Ormoundes seruices meaning to write more as time permitteth me And thus was the rather taken in hand finished in haste because your good Lordship shall see howe I imploy mine aged yeeres For the exercises of pen and trauell of body makes me looke so young And now to knit vppe my careful pilgrimage I frame my selfe daily to purchace noble friends whose power may further my good fortune here and yeeld some sparke of good reporte when I am gone and my candle is cleane burned out for which intent only I haue presented your honourable Lordship this litle booke A peece of forgetfulnes hath hindered my memorie left out a great matter which shold haue bin mentioned in order amōg the rest of this seuere Earles seruices who as I haue sayd before took no regard of blood birth friendship familiarity nor personage whatsoeuer when it came to y e point of iustice For in execution therof all people were alike vnto him were they neuer so neere of his kin or consanguinity as appeareth plainly by the hanging of his owne base sonne and his Brothers sonne of late with a number hanged likewise of their folowers which noble and seuere deede of his as it is rare and most to be marueiled at so is it an act cōparable to kinges that spared not their owne children in causes of punishment and shewing good example And as the other his worthie doinges merites an euerlasting same so this deserues a perpetuall renowne and praise as all iust men I knowe wil confesse Further as I saide I forgate some matter so the taking and bee-heading of Syr Iames of Desmound which was when the Earle of Ormound was Gouernour of Mounster must be remembred for I mind at the length to bring most of al his good actions to light Your L. humbly and loyally in al at commandement Thomas Churchyard