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
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
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
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
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