compelled to alter their Religion and disclaime the Popes vsurped authoritie ouer the Church Thirdly that the Marshall Sir Henry Bagnoll had not onely prosecuted him with despightfull and malignant enmity but iustified Articles of Treason against him Fourthly that he was denied the fruits of his owne labor and honor of his industry after he had as hee obiected with the losse of much blood and expending of great Treasure of his owne reducted the Prouince of Vlster And last of all that Sir William Fitz-William Lord Deputy had not only giuen way to the malice of the Marshall but possessed the Court of England with many vntruths against him all which were quickly capitulated to the Dinastas of the North his kinsmen fauorites and dependents they as quickly commiserated his discontents and meerely out of inueterate hate against vs all contracted themselues to the maintaining the Romish Religion and obedience to the house of Oneale keeping yet an open correspondency with vs though in couert their hearts as the Lapwing cryeth farthest from her nest stored vp as it were all prouocations of disloyalty lying yet in waite for some aduantagious excuse if they once were discouered The first that brake the Ice of their ill contriued Rebellions was Mac Guier a turbulent yong man crafty and reuengefull who seduced by Gauranus a Priest confirmed Primate of Ireland by the Pope inuaded Conagh and in insulting manner vsurped the Countrey as hee went with full confidence that the holy Fathers blessings should in a manner make security and successe attend them But the doores of Heauen were barred on the inside excluding them as yet from any entrance and the vertue of Sir Richard Bingham so counterchecked Mac Guiers fortunes that hee fled discomfited the Primate slaine and all his forces dispersed Yet after a while the scattered limbs of Pelops are gathered together and as if Anteus should recouer by touching the Earth Mac Guier maketh a stronger party and with some deceiueable beginnings goes into more open Action against whom the Earle of Tyrone himselfe was compelled to ioyne with the Marshall his only suspected enemy and receiued a wound in that seruice But his heart as it should seeme was worser hurt with priuate discontentments For you must vnderstand that before he set forward in her Maiesties seruice order was taken for the safe keeping of Shane Oneales children whose deliuery hee had denied to the State inferring by way of complaint that the Lord Deputy and Marshall picked nothing but quarrels against him and by new occsiaons of vnkindenesse determined to supplant him Now is Sir William Fitzwilliam recalled and Sir William Russell constituted Deputy in his stead to whom of his owne accord the Earle of Tyrone came to submitte himselfe with all those promises that might induce a generous spirit to beleeue him but the Marshall Bagnoll then present audaciously articulated 1 That he countenanced Mac Guier and the Primats Rebellion 2. That hee supported Odonell and the rest of that coniuration 3. That by the aduice of Cormach Mac Baron his Bastard Sonne Con had coadiutement from him in the deuastation of Monaghan and besieging of Inigkellin 4. That hee corrupted the Faith and Obedience of the Captaines of Kilulto and Kilwarney 5. And that all his protestations were counterfet and dissimulatory fictions These were hainous obiections and indeede deuided the Councell For the Deputy and Marshall would haue detayned him prisoner but the greater part eyther by vaine feare or corrupted respects interceded vntill a more fitter oportunity to whom as men better acquainted with the affaires of Ireland the Lord Deputy hardly condiscended So Tyrone returned home and indeede turned as the Dog to his vomit to his former impressed resolutions to disturbe the State if the State disturbed him whereupon vnderstanding of an Army raysed in England with new supplies of 1300. Low-countrey Souldiers against him whom that worthy and renowned Sir Iohn Norris by the famous name of Generall Norris brought out of Britany hee not onely stood on his guard but mustred his followers by this time reasonably disciplin'd in the open fields and whilst the English went against Balishanon and Belike Castles at the further end of Logh Erne he approched Black-water Fort and comming on the suddaine had it surrendered into his hands but not with that confidence that eyther hee relied on the security of the place or power of his owne Army whereupon he very politiquely one way attempted the Earle of Kildare to support him against the manifest iniuries of the Deputy and Marshall and another way promised the Earle of Ormond and Sir Henry Wallop Treasurer to remaine within the limits of iustifiable obedience To this hee added the vnclasping the booke of these occurrences to Sir Iohn Norris Generall of the Army imploring his commiseration and as it were begging at his hands that hee might not bee enforced to such exorbitant actions as necessity and the law of Nature would and could contriue but the former Letters the Marshall intercepted and these too Generall Norris quite suppressed which he sparingly misliked though it fell not to his turne absolutely to finde fault withall But when Tyrone vnderstood of these calumnious and dangerous proceedings against him hee was put quite out of patience exclayming that his destruction was now on the webbe and in the hands of a pestilent workeman yea his aduersary wanted onely meanes to his will to contriue his vtter destruction indeede Notwithstanding all this hee put on new wings to his deceiueable hopes and turmoyled all the Kingdome with inficious Rebellion whereupon hee was publikely proclaymed Traytor and enemy to the Queene which hee professed accordingly with all correspondency of an aduersary For in Vlster his Army consisted of a 1000. Horse and 7000. Foote In Conach he had or if you wil O Roorck and the Conners kept them together at his disposing 200. Horse and 2400. Foote In Lease and Ophaly the number was as vncertaine as their dispositions being sometimes violent Rebels and anon submissiue Subiects In Munster they liued so dispersed that the Gouernour found it worke enough to finde them out and follow them The English forces vnder Sir Iohn Norris equalled their greatest Armies but nothing was done worthy of so great a Commanders name and souldiers renowne For vnder colour of priuate displeasure betweene the Deputy and him many bad offices were performed and the time spent to small purpose in parlies and conferences affording Tirone such leisure that hee contracted with Spaine and expected from thence continuall supplies But before the matter came to martiall deciding Sir Henry Wallop Treasurer at warrs and Sir Robert Gardner chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench men layd downe in the ballance of integrity wisedome and experience were deligated to heare the grieuances of these great Lords of the North enforced to a defensiue warre as they intimated and yet obscured by the name of traytors against the State The commiserate hearing of these compulsions and vnquiet discourses
subiects of Charity and had onely a poore suppliment from some speciall Cardinals yet because I haue beene a spectator of this flourishing Tree like the Chaldeans vision and saw his blasting and fall of Leaues as the Fig-tree cursed by our Sauiour giue mee leaue to bee beholding to M r Cambdens compendious discourse and with some additions of my owne set him thus on the Stage of fearefull admiration Thus much by way of Introduction The Story followes THE HISTORIE OF THE EARLE of Tirone I Will here desist from any dilations of Irish businesse of old or mention of the great Oneale who as they say before the comming of Saint Patrick possessed Vlster and most parts of Ireland shining as the Sunne of the same vntill the conquest from England obscured his light and taught his barbarous immanity another manner of obedience and lesson of submission to a greater Maiesty by which occasion this ambitious family was in a manner suppressed and lost that seeming lustre where with it graced the North of Ireland yea the whole Iland lying close to the shore and not daring once to launch forth into the Ocean of turbulent dissention or refractary contesting with England vntill Edward de Bruse of Scotland proclaymed himselfe King of Ireland Then Douenaldus Oneale impatient of such indignity launched forth by degrees into the Channell of a new disturbance and held vp his head as presuming on his owne Greatnesse equall to Bruses and so in his letters and submission to the Pope accustomed the titles of heire of Ireland King of Vlster and one of the sonnes of the mother Church But that trouble appeased these new Kings were separated and their vnited Greatnesse euen in their posterity disioynted vntill againe that implacable contention betweene the two Families of Yorke and Lancaster not onely deformed the prosperity of England but according to the preuailing of factious Greatnesse sent ouer diuers Gouernours their particeans into Ireland who still temporizing with the strongest party and contriuing for their priuate lest the generall cause at randome and were indeed vnable to redact to any vniformity of gouernement the disparity of Irish obedience and so gaue way vnto this ambitious insulting and rude people to hold vp their heads and aduance themselues as high as their owne titles the law Tanist and liberty of nature could dignifie them Wherevpon Harry Oneale the son of Oenus or Eugenius matched himselfe with the daughter of Th. Earle of Kildare his son Con More or great Con married the daughter of Gerald Earle of Kildare his owne mothers Neece whereby vnited to the flourishing colours of the Geraldines which many yeeres had beene displayed in Ireland and swelled with the fulnesse of a most vberant family they beganne besides a strange elation of their spirits with a tyrannous suppression of their own Nation and this Con More despised all titles of either Prince Duke Marquesse or Earle in respect of the name of Oneale To this Con succeeded another Con surnamed Banco or Lance whose inueterate hate against the English was such that hee cursed his posterity if either they learned the language sowed any wheate or builded houses This mans greatnesse bred him enuy in the Court of England according to the misery of all times there wanted not priuate whisperers yea flatterers of Princes by whose suggestion that famous King Henry the eight was iealous of his power especially when it was corroborated by that factious house of Kildare whose story alone is of worthy memory and affordeth so many excellent obseruations that I wish them folded vp as it were in one carpet to be spred abroad with hansomnesse for our delight and vnderstanding But when the strength of our armies and fortune of the warres had both ouerawed their weaknesse and reduced to good order those dangerous enemies bringing them into the schoole of correction for their misdemeanors and reformation for their inciuility This Con was compelled to prostrate himselfe before the Maiesty of England and so disclaimnig the title of Oneale by Letters-Patents was created Earle of Tirone his eldest sonne Mathew though suspected a Bastard Baron of Dunganon and all his Family as it were incorporated to the new obedience of the King This Mathew vntill the age of fifteene yeere was imputed the sonne of a Smith in Dundalk whose wife being Oneales Concubine did at the time of death according to the custome of Ireland present him with this sonne whome Oneale did not onely receiue with gladnesse but accepted him as his owne yea preferred him before his other children to his titles and possessions But Iohannes or Shane Oneale his sonne by a lawfull wife tooke it in such indignity that making a strong faction against his father hee not onely supplanted his brother Mathew cutting off his head but tormented the old Con with many vnnaturall assaults and violent excursions depopulating his territories killing his complices banishing his auxiliaries and at last brought him with vntimely griefe vnto his graue and all the country to bee affrighted with his tyranny For he not onely stepped forward more gloriously then his other ancestors proclayming himselfe the great Oneale but with seuerall expeditions contracted the loue and obseruation of the other Prouinces insomuch that many Rebels both of Conach Meths and Munster assisted him in the prosecution of Mathews childrē amongst whom Brian falling into the hands of Maudonel Totan was cruelly murthered Hugh Cormach were vnder English protection and hardy preserued which fell out so crosly against Shanes expectation and disastrous to his rebellious presumption that with a lothsome sauagenesse and traitrous conspiracy he deformed the beauty of Irelands peace and made hauock in a strange manner of her prosperity to which insolency and violent rage of preuailing Sir Henry Sidney L. Iustice of Ireland in the absence of T. Earle of Sussex Lord Lieutenant made opposition and cast such blocks in the way that his fury was somewhat rebated and a Cataplasme of restraint applied and when there was no remedy but cutting and fearing the vlcerous flesh of this putrified body of Rebellion by force of Armes hee not onely propulsed the indignity lashing the sides of these proud Treasons with the stripes of a reuengefull hand but brought this insulting Lord on his knees and made him confesse the superiority of Englands Maiesty But first by way of expostulation the matter was disputed with this Shane how he durst presume to cast as it were a defiance into the face of Englands Gouernment and put on his Iearean wings to flie higher then his owne Feathers would warrant him Hee answered very peremptorily that hee was the true and lawfull heire of Con Oneale as issuing from a worthy wife and of a noble house whereas Mathew was the Sonne of a Smith in Dondalck and onely foisted in to ouerthrow the families of Oneale which hee neither would nor could be a Pathick vnto as for the Kings Letters patents affording Con the honor of a Coronet and
this Interim assaulted Black-water Fort but therein commanded that industrious Captaine Th. Williams who at the same instant by meere valour and resolution propulsed them and many times after by patience and constancy endured all those mischiefes where by a Souldier is put to the test and enemy maketh demonstration of his hate and policy For when the Irish found themselues vncapable of such a businesse by way of expugnation or assault they tooke another course by intercepting the passages to famish them which when the English vnderstood they were as resolute to affront all mischances as the enemy was violent in contriuing displeasures and so with noble stedfastnesse bare vp a head against the streame of sicknesse and wants eating Horses and Weedes and if it had beene possible the very durt and stones In this time the gouernment of Ireland was in the hands of the Earle of Ormond as Lieutenant Generall of the Army the Lord Chancelor and Sir Robert Gardner Iustices to whom the Earle of Tyrone by many dilatory Letters did lay open all his grieuances touching sparingly his breach of promise with Sir Iohn Norris and all the effectuall points of his disobedience and refractary courses To these Letters hee receiued answere which hee interpreted displeasing rather then satisfactory and so accordingly entred into further Rebellious actions pressing Black-water Fort again with a more dangerous siedge against whom the Lord Lieutenant and Iustices aforesaid sent Sir Henry Bagnoll the Marshall his only reputed aduersary with sixteene Companies of Foot and foure troops of Horse who aduancing forward more malicious then fortunate as ouerwrought by a predestinated wilfulnesse came to blowes and according to the slippery footing of Warre fel to a dangerous Skirmish in which Tyrone shouldred him with all his strength nigh vnto Armagh determining as it were to punish his Enuy and supposed abuses against him wherein it should seeme the Mistrisse of successe as we abuse Gods prouidence by the Character of Fortune was coadiutrix and displayed all the maligne circumstances of reuenge against vs. For ere night decided the controuersy hee triumphed with a notorious victory whereby in one houre the Marshall ended his brauery life and enmity nor could the Irish euer boast of a more conspicuous triumph since the Conquest or if you had rather haue it so since we first curb'd their immanity For we lost fifteene Captaines and 1500. Souldiers ouer whom the manner of insulting was more barbarous then the accident tyrannous Presently followed the surrendring of Black-water Fort when the besieged saw all reliefe debarred them and heard how Tyrone was proclaymed the deliuerer of his Countrey and Protector of the Catholique cause seeming the very darling of prosperity and delight of Bellona wherein he proceeded accordingly making all the Kingdome witnesse his glory and renowne For hee presently sent Ouny-Mac Roory Oge and Tirrill into Munster with foure thousand Rebels against whom the Lord President Sir Iohn Norris hauing lost his brother by sicknesse or as some suppose a disastrous Melancholy with reasonable equipage and orderly attendance set nobly forward but the enemy not appearing he retired to Corck and diuiding his Army into seuerall Garrisons gaue them liberty to take aduantage of our wearisomnesse and impatience For presently they proceeded to all hatefull courses of sauage outrage and after Iames Fitz-Thomas a Rebell of that House was proclaymed Earle of Desmond who thereupon acknowledged Oneale his benefactor and superior they returned with ambitious alacrity and cheerefulnesse and sent word into Spayne of their admirable successes wherein Tyrone behaued himselfe so audaciously that he interdicted the peace of England as if there had beene a way opened vnto an easy conquest of the same and the first steppe into Ireland would helpe them vp the degrees of a more illustrious glorie to which purpose the King of Spayne should not onely bee assured of the Popes blessing but Oneales Fortunes and assistance yea the whole power of the Kingdome This was the lamentable estate of Ireland when her Maiesty taking pitty of her Orphan Countrey substituted Robert Earle of Essex whom the successe of Cales voyage and many other memorable designes and prosecutions had worthily renowned her Lieutenant Generall of Ireland But how hee had formerly wound himselfe into the good opinion of his Countrey how England looked vpon him as a glorious sonne of comlinesse and honour how his forces Treasure and Fauours were extraordinary in this proiect of Ireland how hee proceeded in this military race how the applause of the people and the greatest part of the nobilitie attended him How a sudden storme as if some ominous signe from Heauen presaged misfortune intercepted his iollity euen at his first setting out of London how landed in Ireland hee beganne his businesse as preposterously How that braue Sir Coniers Clifford was abused by presumption and ouer-credulous opinion that his bosome friend O Roorck would not haue prooued such a Traytor and so not only lost his life at the Curlews a boggy Mountaine by the Abby of Aborle but was inhumanely after the skirmish mangled and with great immanity cut in peeces How the Earle of Ormond and Sir Henry Harington were surprized and taken prisoners by Harry Oge Owny mac Roory and the sonnes of Feff mac-Heugh rebells vnited against the peace and flourishing prosperity of Lemster How hee came to a priuate parley with Tyrone and was much affected by the Irish How her Maiesty rebuked him and from incensed indignation challenged both his loyalty and the wisedome of the Councell of Ireland for a contrarious and vntoward method of gouernment and prosecutions in the North How his glorious celebrating the feast of Saint George in the City of Dubline considering the times and turmoyles of the kingdome was imputed rather an ostentous brauery then a necessary honour How contrary to expectation hee comes into England after a priuate prohibition by her Maiesties owne Letters How hee was commanded to his owne House and his Offices dispensed withall How his sorrows multiplied How the peoples loue encreased eyther from a generall commiserating of such men in distresse or particular apprehension of his greatnesse and worth How his fortunes and Life ended I will leaue to a Story of it selfe yea if I might say so to many Stories in which such infinite obseruations might bee folded that if a man durst or might spread them abroad all the passages should be laid open and exposed to publique ouerlooking of the fauour and disfauor of Princes the dangers of men insatiable of glory the condition of Councellours emulous of one anothers greatnesse the mutability and inconstancy of popularitie the perill wherein men plunge themselues that dare presume to perpetrate vniustifiable actions and the misery which an vntimely death bringeth to a man projecting high matters to himselfe But to our Irish businesse againe When my Lord of Essex troubles were published abroad and divulged in Ireland the Earle of Tirone with great indignation brake the
title of Earle a cunning way to extenuate his worth and greatnesse in his countrey it was apparant that Con had no interest but for tearme of life nor could without the consent of the Lords and Dinastas of Vlster transferre anothers right into the Kings hands Besides such was the ancient glory of his Familie that the true heire must bee certified by the Oath of Twelue Men which in Mathews case fayled and therefore was the nullity of them very conspicuous and all such proceedings of England against him worthily frustrated but concerning himselfe he had approbation both from God Man as the lawfull Sonne of a louing Wife and was confirmed by the law Tanist according to the suffrages of the people and seuerall applauses of the Families of Vlster and for his since progression hee neuer admitted of other thought then to maintaine the ancient glory of his vnmatchable House nor vsurped other iurisdiction then his Ancestors by many Presidents apparant records had formerly exercised and confirmed without contradiction and to which the other Kings of England had graciously consented and most indulgently protected them Notwithstanding all this hee ranne a contrary course to former protestations in the violent race of rebellion plunged himself to his vtter extirpation confusion as by the sequell may appeare For first he audaciously suppressed O Realy quarrelling with Callogh O Donel defeated his complices tauished his wife imprisoned himselfe and children deuasted his Castles vsurped his inheritance and like the King of Vlster indeede proceeded with all imperiousnesse and malicious insulting ouer his inferiors but as soone as Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Lieutenant of Ireland prepared our English forces to rebate his pride and reduce the other Countries hee a little moderated his ambitious courses and a while procrastinated his former resolutions wherein the perswasion of Gerard Earle of Kildare his Cosin whom Queene Mary had restored was so effectuall that he retired into England and in all suppliant manner abiected himselfe before the Councell with promises and strange protestations not onely of being a true subiect but an entertayner of Ciuility and fashionable order both in life and habit the hope whereof dismissed him home againe and like a cunning strumpet insinuating with the good opinion of a new deceiued Friend hee beganne reasonably well shutte his eares against the Syren-like temptations of his Bardes and Rimers vndertooke to heare the controuersies of his people releeued the wants of the distressed In a word demeaned himselfe with a noble kinde of moderation in Peace and when there was cause of Warre expulsed the Scots of Vlster cut off the head of Iames Mac-Connell their captaine and principall occasion of that Innouation In these sweete passages of peace and quietnesse hee continued a while and the poore churle thought hee beheld a faire shining Planet in a perspicuous Heauen growing proude of such an alteration that hee now might complaine of receiued iniuries and obtaine redresse for vnsufferable wrongs But the better sort finding him ouer-insolent to indure and misdoubting a proiect against all their estates and dignities complotted to ouerthrow him suggesting matter against him and so ordered the busines that Mac-Guier Lord of Fermanagh came in person to Sir Henry Sidney by this time Lord Deputy to implore his assistance for the restrayning or if you will suppressing this vsurping King of the North which Shane Oneale tooke so despitefully and apprehended with such indignation that drunke with rage he became vnsensible of reason forgetting his allegeance with all the former faire promises of loyaltie he prosecuted Mac-Guier at his returne with fire and sword besieged Armagh demolished the Church destroyed the buildings and came to Dondalk with purpose to ruine the Countrey but was a while intercepted by a worthy expedition of Sir Wil. Sercefield Maior and the Citizens of Dubline I might adde the power of the Countrey the mustred forces of the English Irish about Sordes Tredagh By this time are the royall arms of the State spred abroad the Lord Deputy after he had shipped 7. companies of Foot a troope of Horse for Logh-foile vnder the command of Sir Ed. Randoll set forward in person toward the North with the rest of the Army which when Shane had intelligence of as what could be done which some or other made him not acquainted with that hee vnderstood there was a purpose with all aduantages to presse him both behinde before he raysed himselfe toward the Derry and with great expedition brought the matter to deciding so that many skirmishes were but as it were preparatiues to that maine encounter which to his perpetual renown cost Sir Ed. Randoll his life brought Shane to confusion For very quickly all his purposes were disanulled his forces weakened his Rebels dissipated the whole strength of his proiects infringed so that despayring to reintegrate his estate he determined a strange alteratiō O that man dare presume of any thing being subiect to such an alteration with a Halter about his neck to submit to the Deputy but diuerted from so base a course by the aduice and couragious spirit of his Secretary hee made tryall of a new confederacy with Alexander Oge and the Scots who were resident and rebellious in the Claude Boies But first as an introduction of peace hee released Surleboy the brother of Alexander whom hee had long detained in prison and thus presuming on this new combination with the enforced Odonnels wife and some few others he is welcommed into the tent of Alexander and for the present entertained as the very Prince of the North or King of Vlster but after extraordinary drinking and ouer-liberall carouses certaine vnkindnesses and vnfortunate repetitions began betweene them about his other brothers death and the honour of his sister whom Shane had formerly married but despightfully refused Wine ouercame reason reason thus entangled was subiected to confusion of words words encreased rage and rage induced reuenge so that Alex Oge and Mac. Gilaspic his brother tooke aduantage of the time and these occasions which was performed with such inueterate malice and offensiue digressions that Shane was set vpon ouermastered and with many wounds slaine that his Secretary was cut in pieces his wife or rather Concubine surprised and the company dispersed that the Rebels of the North were vtterly subuerted these Scots made a way to their admission and pardon and by consequence the peace of Vlster restored This businesse thus setled and determined a Parliament was called in Ireland in which Shane Oneale with all his followers was proscribed the name of Oneale interdicted the Lands and territories of the North or Vlster incorporated to the Crowne of England and all occasions of innouation remoued had not Turlogh Leignogh brothers sonne to Con More Oneale assumed the title a man of declining age and more quiet then the rest of his name suspecting indeede that according to their law Tanist either Shane Oneales
sonnes or Hugh Baron of Dunganmon might intercept his claime and preuent his right as he supposed which compelled him to this audacious enterprise contrary to the edict and prohibition of the same notwithstanding to salue the sore of his suspected loialty he kept correspondency with vs in all his other actions and in her Maiesties seruice not only encountred Odonell but ouerthrew the Scots Ilanders and at last destroyed Alexander Oge the murtherer of Shane Oneale All this while Hugh the sonne of Mathew stood on his guard and liued warily sometimes vnder the security of his owne faithfull followers sometimes vnder the trust of English protection for so in his yonger time he trooped in the streets of London with sufficient equipage and orderly respect and sometimes as a Souldier he commanded a company of horse vnder the Deputy in Munster against the Earle of Desmond with a pension beside of one thousand marke a yeere out of the Exchequer which orderly proceedings with the trust conceiued of his loialty drew the bow for him wherewith hee hot the marke of his owne aime and so by new Leters-Patents hauing diuers restraints and reseruations hee was admitted to his Grandfathers titles and inheritances nor should it seeme that Turlogh Leignogh stomached his aduancement but rather vpon hope of his vertues which gaue a lustre to his actions surrendred his titles and Lordships into his hands But oh the ambition of men or vnconstancy of manners these proceedings with him in this faire and gentle manner made him either proud of his owne greatnesse or presumptuous that the State was afraid to displease him or superstitious after the Priests had insorcered him For presently against the Queenes absolute prohibition this new Tirone takes vpon him the title of Oneale excusing the fact lest some rebellious spirit according to their warlike custome of maintaining that Character in their Family might assume the same taking aduantage of his negligence protesting to disclaime the honour so he might not be vrged by oath and from hence arose the first motiue of Tirones vnsted fastnesse At this instant was that memorable defeat and admirable discomfiture of the King of Spaines formidable Armado or if you will according to Mendozas owne words then Embasdor Leiger in Paris inuincible Nauy whereby in their returne by Scotland and Ireland many of them perished but the better sort were kindly intertaind by Tirone after the manner of Irish Hospitality and vnexpectedly welcome considering that any reliefe to men in distresse and cast on a strange shore by Shipwrack is as Balme and Oile powred into wounds In requitall whereof such a Loome of mischiefe was set on worke that at the last the cloth was wouen of his corruption and folded together to keepe his treasons warme in his owne bosome till a strong supposed and yet presumptuous hand spred it abroade to his vtter destruction and shamefull disgrace by reason of his deformed filthinesse For when then these straggling Spaniards perceiued his naturall inclination to ambitious willingnesse concerning the maintaining some turbulent faction in Ireland and demonstration of a stirring spirit for the glory of his Ancestors they quickly added fuell to the fire and with all the baites of prosperity and incantations to flattery choaked his loialty cast dust into the eyes of his faithfulnesse Some promising that their great Master should recompence his humanity and noble respect Some repining at their misfortune layd many slaunders on the shoulders of our country Some vnder collour of religious obedience assured that the Pope himselfe should gratifie him Some more dangerously cunning crept within him by that imposturing art of commendation inferring he was more worthy of a Crowne then a subiects prostitution some more plainely with demonstratiue reasons led him as it were by the hand to the chaire of presumption and possibility that it might bee so if he durst attend his owne fortunes and prosecute the times in their seuerall changes By which occasion this mans irresolute loue to his Prince and country was first enuenomed and tainted Afterward it rancled more and more in his declining from himselfe and first soundnesse by contracting a league with Spaine Thirdly it swelled apace with the oath and allegeance of many followers and particians to coadiute him in any enterprise whatsoeuer and last of all it restred incurably in consenting and putting the same in practice to bee an opposite to the gouernment of England and a famous Rebell against the peace of our country which yet was neither so cautelously disposed of nor firmely compacted but Hugh ne Gauclock his brother fearing the feareful consequence of the downefall of his house discouered the same for which the Earle found a time to strangle him colourably prosecuting the Actors that durst lay hands on any of the bloud of Oneale but alas it serued not his turne For not onely this barbarous Fratricide but all his other refractary courses were laid open to the peering eyes of Englands Maiesty but such was his preuailing fortune that vpon his reasonable iustifications and seeming penitency our gracious Elizabeth not onely remitted those offences with fauour but continued him in his Greatnesse with Honour In this manner he moued awhile in the highest orbe of prosperity and from our English supportation commanded his country as a Prince of the North and except an open displaying of the colours of Rebellion performed what he durst and durst doe any thing which tended not to manifest treason and dangerous innouation For not long after vnder colour of corroborating the peace of his country and insinuation with some English affinity hee made Sir Samuel Bagnols sister beleeue that the great Oneale of Ireland was captiuated to her loue and in which if the time could haue serued hee would haue shewed himselfe as braue and complete an Amorist as the formallest Courtier in England To this the Lady seemed no great opposite onely with some shew of modesty depending on her brother she referd the successe to his approbatiō who som what too stubborne interposed as it were a negatiue not without exprobation of the barbarous customes of the North of Ireland which Tirone interpreted disgracious to his exaltation and finding no other remedy to appease his wilfulnesse in a manner by force of armes tooke her to his wife wherevpon hee was denied her dowry and that exasperated his displeasure to which when the Deputy added the suppressing of Mac Mahond his neighbour I am afraid it exulcerated his loialty For when hee perceiued hee was forbidden the title to the abasing of his Family and saw his inheritance distributed to the impouerishing his estate he quickly startled vp and many displeasures discouered themselues against his former establishment so that the Earle by occasion of retchlesse booke-keepers cast vp his vntoward account in this manner First that the State had a purpose to suppresse the flourishing eminence both of himselfe and all the Lords of the North Next that they should bee
from so dangerous a faction returned our English Commissioners with some amazement at their oratory and cunning insinuation whereby they might haue excused diuers things if by a wrong course they had not incurred the danger of contesting with Princes yea their royall Souereigne whose incensed Maiesty could not indure such opposition whereupon the truce is ouerpassed and the Trumpet of defiance sounded through the Kingdome foreshewing that the Schoolemaster of reformation was at hand and Sir Iohn Norris as Lord Generall of the Armie in the absence of the Deputy ready to display the colours of correction but it should seeme the Deputy would needes haue a share in the glory of this businesse For contrary to his first appointment hee hasted apace and vnited his troopes with Sir Iohn Norris and so both together attended the successe of the matter and prosperity of the time The beginning was a fortunate terrifying him at Armagh and pressing him so closely that the Earle left Black-water Fort dismantled the Towne thereabouts fiered some houses at Dungannon his owne principall seat and secured himselfe in his chiefest fastnesse winning much time by this politike retreat but we vnexperienced in those dangerous places of his boggs and woods with only proclaiming him Traitor in his country and leauing Garrison in Armagh returned which Tirone audaciously interpreted to his owne aduantage repining at nothing more then our fortification in Monaghan Thus was our businesse kept awhile out of the running current of applause For the Deputy and the Generall of the Armie grew to some impatient contradicting one another as if there had beene a fault committed which was questionlesse to be imposed on one of their shoulders wherefore the Deputy commanded or if you wil wished S. I. Norris to prosecute the seruice in Vlster whilst he retired to Dubline to prouide for the peace of the other Prouinces but it preuailed little to the lifting vp the head of the maine body For he performed nothing worthy the glory of his former reputation or dignity of so eminent a place But whether the emulation of the Deputy or fauouring the Earle to whome hee was as much inclined with respect as the Deputy transported with hate Or whether he suspected the businesse in hand the nature whereof with the basenesse and intricate obscurity of the country was so contrarious to the military proceedings elsewhere and spent all mens spirits without so much as the memory of manhood or whether in inclination of fortune he began to stagger from his first firmenes which in a customary defect dealeth strangely with such Commanders somtimes heaping her fauours and prosperous successes anon againe withdrawing her happy hand and by degrees extenuating both their valour fame and iudgement I dispute not vpon Only this I am sure of that faire errors might lead them both For the Deputy by reason of Sir Henry Bagnols and some others despight was brought to looke vpon a very face of disloialty in Tirone and Sir Iohn Norris commiserated his misfortune as abused with dissimulatory submissiue letters in which the Earle was ready on his knees to any penitent prostitution when yet vnder-hand hee implored the aid of Spaine with warrantise that if an Army were intended against England then to vnite their forces if only warres were proclaymed and protraction vsed then must the Catholike King supply them with men and money wherevpon O Roorck Mac Williams and others openly and the Earle priuately subscribed to a certaine instrument of Indenture like ratification giuing yet notice to the State of all these contracts and determinations to which was added another parley with Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Geffery Fenton Secretary in persons full of very strange promises and colluding protestations to runne a race of obedience and loyalty all which accustomed Leuity hee infringed laying imputation vpon the discrepant humors of the Deputy and Lord Generall but especially that his onely enemy the Marshall was returned from England with new forces and inueterate malice against him Whereupon by way of Apology hee excused himselfe to the Councell of England and vrged many iustifiable reasons as he thought for his discrepant proceedings to which it should seem their answere was both distasting and fearefull vnto him For as it were exasperated rather then forewarned he presently returned to his old courses and taking great aduantage of our slacknesse and ill prepared forces spoiled the country filled all the paces with Rebels Barrocaded the passages and with military excursions ran an vncontroulable iourney of doing what he pleased through the North. Thus was all Vlster and most part of Conach excepting certain Garrisons at his absolute command vntil the Lord Borrough 1597. a man of a great spirit and quick capacity was sent Deputy into Ireland from whose worth some auspicious expectation seemed to comfort vs and new endeuours in a manner to warrant new fortunes This sonne of Mars quickly pulled off the clogs of delay within two moneths rolled the stone of Tirones vnquietnesse making way with great industrie and vertue into his country fortifying the Fort of Black-water and discouering this secret that neyther his Boggs Glinns Woods Mountaines Paces Confederats or any power of Ireland or Irish coadiutors could hide him from the searching eyes of England Besides if we would vndertake an industrious prosecution against him it was neyther Spayne with her Gold nor the Pope with his Fulminations against our Countrey could secure him For the farre reaching armes of our people would for a neede pull him out of the Center of the Earth and thus accordingly euen at the first skirmishes were his forces dissipated and the best troopes disranked but as my Lord was giuing God thankes with a warlike solemnity a sudden Alarum set them anew to worke and Henry Earle of Kildare with the Gent. Volentiers had the Fortune to put him againe to flight which yet yeelded not so full a satisfaction as it might haue done because my Lord lost his brother in Law Francis Vaughan and Captaine Turner Sergeant Maior besides the Earle of Kildare to the sorrow of his heart saw two of his brethren wrapped vp in the Bed of blood all men of worthy expectation and extraordinary Merit Thus is a way made into his Countrey and Black-water Fort strengthened with new trenches not without some ramparts and Caffamates which the enemy so repined at that betweene hope feare and shame they resolued to dismantle it had not the Lord Deputy opened more larger embracings and with a new manner of wrestling resolued to lay him on the ground irrecouerably but hinc illae lachrimae as he was treading the measures of prosperity an vntimely discord of Death sounding Musike deceiued him of hope and vs of him whose forwardnes and vertue with a little addition of experience and solid vnderstanding himselfe had no doubt effectuated this Herculian labour of Irelands peace Now is Tyrone putting on his Icarean wings and the Rebell with accustomed Clamors taking aduantage of
it lightned and thundred accordingly as if the stones from heauen should fall on Sisera's head on our behalfe How that worthy Earle of Clenricard was knighted onely of all the army before the walls of Kinsale when the Spanyards colours formerly surprized were flourished as a token of thanksgiuing for so prosperous successe How my Lord of Tomond and many worthy Gentlemen of his Countrey lay close vnto the towne and in our last approaches sued for the honour-poynt as we tearme it to assault the same after the battery How the Spanyard on the New-yeeres day following sent their Drum Maior to entreat a parlee and afterward grew to a composition How at last they departed and were shipped by vs vnder the ouer-looking of Captaine Cotes who set safe on shore Don Iohn de Aquila and the rest at the Groine How the Irish retired dispersing themselues into their seuerall fastnesse and couerts I will not heere enlarge because you haue many discourses and a iournall written to the same purpose You shall onely now bee certified what this angry Ionas did after his gourd was withered and how with others of that sort he drenched himselfe in the whirlepoole of confusion when his Spanish props were shrunke or bladders taken away His first retreat was into such countryes and to such persons as he was sure of releefe both from the nature of charity and commiseration and the bond of duty and former gratuity from whence with some adoe because his souldiers were rather men looking after a prey then subiect to the disaster of a defeat hee got home againe with little interception of our side the army as yet resident at Corcke or thereabouts but when he came to Dungannon the walls seemed to weepe for his disaster that well hoped to haue beene new coloured with the trophees of his rebellion My Lord Deputy returned to Dublin and as it was requisite and most necessary celebrated S t. Georges Feast and by way of thanksgiuing welcommed all the Gentlemen of the Pale who durst not but giue God the praise and him the renowne of the victory by which occasion Tirones proceedings had no such couerture but they all as it were in a glasse saw the change and alteration of fortune making this vse thereof that there is no confidence in worldly prosperity Nor must a man be too much elated though terrestriall blessings seeme to make his cup to ouerflow For the man that of late proclaimed himselfe Protector of the ancient liberty of Ireland and Defender of the Romish Religion that for the same purpose led whole armies into the field and displayed the coulours of a most dangerous innouation that posted and reposted through the Kingdome at his pleasure as if Maiesty meant to kisse him in the chaire of successe that was glorious in the eyes of his owne people famous to other Nations and a very terrour to the English Inhabitants of Ireland that was coadiuted with the purse nauy countenance and an army of six thousand well appoynted souldiers from a mighty Prince that was emboldned with the loue and admiration of his own followers that tooke aduantage of our first slacke proceedings to debilitate his insolence and that promised himselfe the very harbour of felicity as being in the high way of establishment was now subiect to distresse and bowed vnder the burthen of mischance and vntoward alteration For my Lord Deputy presently followed him into his owne countrey and as I remember the brauery of Charles the fifth vpon his writing of Plus vltra when the West Indies were discouered where as before the great Hercules had set vp his pillers at Gades in Spaine with this inscription Non plus vltra so may I apply it vnto this our Generall who comming now to Blackwater Fort cried Plus vltra wheras before none of our Deputies could euer step three miles beyond But Montioy mounted with ioy euen to the walls of Dungâ—nnon and pitched his tents in the fields of Tirone expelling the great Rebell from his owne house and taking possession of the same and all the territories for the vse of the Queene his Mistresse and although in a perillous encounter by the Lough attempting to sapp the strong castle of the same well stored with Rebells he lost that valiant kinsman of his S r. Iohn Barkley Sergeant Maior of whose worthinesse one of the starrs of our Countrey George Earle of Cumberland had good experience in his voyage to S t. Port Ricco yet apprehending the chance of warre and condition of mortality he was no whit affrighted or troubled but rather exasperated to reuenge whereupon he set fire of their cabbins and townes entred the very castle of Dungannon rifled the same and although hee was wronged with a strange report of obtaining great treasure yet I beleeue he brought home one little guilt bason and eure of siluer a madder tipped with siluer and guilt and some rotten hangings more memorable for a trophee then seruiceable for any glorious vse In the fulnes of this prosperity he built the Fort of Mountioy fortified in many places of this dangerous country driuing him with the rest of his followers into more remote places and the obscure corners of his Glan Cancones to which when he added the cutting vp of the corn which the cheerefull souldiers performed with their swords and taking away their cowes of which they had good store it is admirable to tell you what miseries followed and the whole people endured For their sword-men perished with sicknesse and famine the next yeere following and the poore Calliots deuoured one another for meere hunger and shewed vs the lamentable effects of a calamitous warre and afflicted Countrey Thus was Tirone made the tennis-ball of fortune and abandoned of Spaines ouerprized greatnesse thus did hee see the losse of his armies and the miseries of his people thus was he deiected from the pride of his possessions and repined to behold his aduersary seated in his castles and townes thus was hee forsaken of his friends kinred and complices and confined into the vncouth and remote places of his bogs and woods thus was hee afraid of betraying euen of those which leaned on his bosome especially when the state bandited him and valued his head at a thousand pound sterling and his body aliue at two thousand pound and thus was hee made the scorne of alteration and spectacle of humane condition hauing nothing left but a poore disconsolate life which it should seeme the Law of nature assisted him to maintaine otherwise a Romane spirit in spight of mischance had ouercome distresse with a glorious death But time had not fully ripened as yet his fruit nor brought forward the haruest that should gather in this dispersed corne For this great tormented Rebell with strange demisnesse sought his peace at the hands of his long abused Soueraigne with new teares begged a new life nor was this submission ordinary after the custom of a souldiers misfortune but as it