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
for his pleasure Turgesius hearing that wished these Damsels Cupids wings for their more speedy arrivall But the other attired certaine young men of courage in womens apparell and had them conducted into the Kings Chamber from whence all his attendance were commanded but when hee expected more kinde embraces hee was suddenly slaine in the place so the Norwegians were destroyed and the Irish enjoyed their estate untill the yeere 1172. When Dermet Maâ— Morck King of Lemster having forced the wife of Maâ—rice O Rork King of Meth a light woman and with consent by whose husband the other was pursued so eagerly with the revenging sword that hee was driven to quite his Kingdome of Lemster and fly to England for succour to Henry the Second who very willingly entertained this occasion who had long sought occasion of getting Ireland Yet not willing to entertain it at the first in person being not a matter of that consequence for himself to undertake He gave Dermot licence to draw-what power of Voluntiers he could into that action Who applyed himself to Wales where he found a valiant Gentleman of Norman Race one Robert Fitz Stephen who willingly undertook the service with some Voluntiers whose happy and good successe caused Richard Earle of Pembroke called Strong-bow being the principall man invited by Dermot and that with the promise of his daughter and Kingdome in marriage the Earle himselfe with two hundred men at arms and a thousand other Souldiers who arrived in the Bay of Waterford 1171 and presently marched towards the town of Waterford and took it by force the next day to the exceeding terrour of that Nation Dermot then accomplishes the match giving the Earle his daughter Eva with which Ring of Mariage he affianced that Island unto this Kingdome for hee went on with such resolutions that hee in little space subdued much of Ireland Which news being carried unto Henry the Second hee made hast over thither that hee might have the glory of the Conquest and seemed to be displeased with the Earle for his forwardnesse and his rigorous using of that people recalling all from thence under pain of confiscation of their goods in England but the King seemed somewhat appeased before his going over which was 1172 at which time landing at Waterford hee imprisoned Robert Fitz Stephen as having gone over without his leave but not long after released him but took Weiford and other Territories from him Thus did hee receive the homage of divers Irish petty Kings willing to obtain them by gentle means And keeping his Christmasse there in great state and setling the Government of the Church hee is unexpectedly called into England leaving Hugh Lacy at Dublin Who in ensuing time rebelled and were brought under by King John who was the first that planted English Laws and Officers in Ireland and both annexed that Kingdome and fastned Wales to the Crown of England and was the first who enlarged the Royall style with Lord of Ireland In the yeere 1339 there was a generall warre betweene the English and Irish wherein many of the Irish perished after which time matters were quiet untill the eighteenth yeere of Richard the Second being 1400. Who went over then with a great Army but having accepted of the Rebels submission he returned into England during whose time and till the civill warres in England all matters were setled and composed without any charge or assistance out of this Kingdome But in the time of the wars between York and Lancaster wherein many Noble Families were quite extinguished in England many English came out of Ireland either to take part of possession of some inheritances which fell unto them by the death of their friends So they have but small regard of what they leave behind in Ireland The meere Irish rushed on the forsaken lands so that growing rich and proud they began to kick against authority willing to cast off the English yoke and the English Pale had its limits sometime more and sometimes lesse according as they were able to mayntaine But when those civill discords were blown over and all things became calme by the good successe of Henry the Seventh and leasure afforded to look towards Ireland which then harboured a Rebell against him one Perkin Warbeck who connterfeited himself Richard the Third but was suppressed by the sending over of 1000 men Again Henry the eighth sent over 500 souldiers to suppresse the Geraldines of English Race Afterward all peaceable untill Queene Elizabeths time when they saw themselves out of hope to plant Popish Superstition in any of her Dominions Then Religion never untill that age became the cloake for Rebellion and the Roman Locusts the incendiaries of Christendome to mayntaine the Popes usurped authority breathed every where fire and sword and worse against her sacred person and Dominions And taking advantage of the blinde zeale of the ignorant Irish unto Popery working on their variable condition Boulstering up their hopes and hearts with that old saying He that will England win must at Ireland first begin By which means they raised two dangerous Rebellions in that Country By the Earle of Desmond one 1578 the other of Tyrone about 1590 plotting and intending although it brake not out till afterward This Gerald Earle of Desmond of English Race whose Progenitours had done good service against the Irish and borderers of Wales in the behalfe of the English King had the Earldome of Kildare given them and Earles of Desmond by Edward the Third But in Henry the Eighth's days one of them being Lord Deputy and questioned for his ill government on which occasion Thomas Fitz Gerald his sonne took armes but was soon suppressed himselfe and five of his Uncles being taken and executed Queen Mary restored the Family to honour and estate But after Gerald Earle of Desmond 1578 rebelled against Queene Elizabeth unto whose aide came certaine bands of Italians and Spaniards sent by Pope Gregory the twelfth and Philip King of Spaine who landed at Swirâ—ic and built a Fort called Del ore wherein they were besieged by Arthur Grey Lord Deputy of Ireland soone taken and put to the sword And the Earle of Desmond flying into the Woods being betrayed by his own followers and his head cut off So this fire soon vanished into smoake and the Earldome by Parliament annexed to the Crowne and made a County with Sheriffs appointed yeerly to be chosen by the Lord Deputy Upon the Attainder of this Earle and his Confederates much land fell unto the Crown viz. 574628 acres English mesure wherof great part was restored to the offenders the rest divided into Signories was granted by Letters Patents unto certaine Knights and Esquires English who were called Undertakers In Kerry and Desmond by Patent to Knights 30560 Acres with yeerly rents 524 pounds six shillings and eight peace sterling In Limrick by Patent to Knights and Esquites and to their heirs were granted 96165 Acres with rents nine hundred thirty three pounds foure shillings half
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