1 A soldier of fortune of a aept once powerful in Westmeath. It
•will be seen that all through he acted like a soldier and a gentleman.
See the two figures in the Plate, of Thomond and M'Geoghagan, an
absurd representation of the parley. Compare the attitude of the
figures with the words of the text.
2 Sandy Bay waa the harbour of the little town called Castletown.
The green island is called Deenish and is as green as ever. The
place where Carew was expected to land for the island was on the
strand on the west, now called Caemtreenan. Here Tyrell had
thrown up his fortifications. Castletown was once called Castle
Derniot, such being the name of the castle round which it is built,
and which will be found marked in the Plate.
N 2
i8o Pacata Hibernia.
high ground, of very little capacity, where the descent
was to be made, which was intrenched and barricaded
with gabions of earth ; in which trench, and behind
the gabions, the enemy had placed three musketeers,
and their gross at hand to give them seconds. But,
not contented with a view so far off, the Queen's
pinnace, the Merlin^ riding not far from him, he com-
manded Captain Fleming to pass him over into a
little island, called Donghe Irish, which lay between
the Great Island and the main, and some part of it not
twelve score from the sandy bay aforesaid. When he
came to the said island, and taking an exact view of
the landing-place, and how the rebel army lodged to
forbid our descent, and the apparent danger he saw
would ensue in the attempt, he rounded all the small
island, and at last found a convenient place to land in
the main ; and the same, by reason of a rising ground
in the midst thereof, was out of sight of the sandy
bay. Presently he commanded Captain Fleming to
land out of his pinnace in the island two falcons of
brass, and haled them upon their trunks to a place
naturally formed like a platform, and parapetted with
an old ditch, as if it had been fashioned to that pur-
pose. In this place the pieces were planted. From
it to the mainland was not above one hundred paces ;
and although the distance from the sandy bay to this
place was not four and twenty score, yet to come to it
was more than half a mile, by reason of a gurt, or
cleft rock, made by the sea ; which ran up far into the
land, which the enemy must compass before he could
come to it. By the time that the President had per-
formed as much as he intended in the small island the
President's and the Earl of Thomond's regiments
were embarked and under sail, whom the President,
Pacata Hibernia. i8i
wlien they came near him, caused to land where he
stood in the small island, and, drawing them to that
end of the same which faced the sandy bay to amuse
the rebels, being not distant from them, as is said, a
musket shot, he formed them into a battalion and so
stood firm confronting the enemy, as if thence he
would pass them into the main. Sir Richard Percy
and Sir Charles "Wilmot with the rear regiments by
this time were Ukewise embarked.
For you must understand that we had not boats
sufficient to transport all our regiments at once, and
they hkewise made to the small island, but instead
of landing in the same the President directed them
to pass by the end of it, where he had placed the
falcons, and to land directly in the main. Before
the rebels found themselves deceived the two rear
regiments were landed and formed into order ready
to fight. Then the President drew his own and the
Earl of Thomond's regiment to the boats, not twelve
score from them, which the rebels perceiving, and
too late finding their error, in a disordered manner
made towards our landing-place, but before they could
compass the fret, or cleft rocky ground aforesaid,
all our army were landed. Nevertheless they came
on bravely, but our falcons made them halt; our
vanguard made towards them and a good skirmish
ensued which continued until the other regiments
came up, but then they broke and ran faster than
we could follow. Upon the place eight and twenty
of them were slain, whereof two were officers, and
thirty wounded, whereof Captain Tirrell was one,
shot in the body, but not deep enough. There were
only two prisoners taken, and presently hanged,
whereof a servant of James Archer, the infamous
1 82 Pacata Hibernia.
Jesuit, was one, and with him his master's sword and
portace. And if the Jesuit himself had not been a
light-footed priest he had fallen into our hands, and
yet, nimble as he was, he escaped with much
difficulty, and besides him, great numbers of them
would have passed the edge of the sword had not
they had a boggy wood at hand wherein they were
sheltered. The loss on our side was only the hurting
of seven men, none of mark. The skirmish being
ended, we lodged that night upon the same ground,
near Castle Derpiond.
CHAPTEE VII.
The Spanish ship which arrived near Ardea brought passengers,
munition and money to the rebels — The distributors and dis-
tribution of some of the money — A letter from Owen Mac-
Eggan to Richard MacGoghagan at Donboy — A letter from
James Archer^ Jesuit, to Dominic Collins, Jesuit, at Donboy —
A letter from John Anias to Dominic at Donboy — A letter
from John Anias to the Baron of Lixnaw a little before his
execution.
"Within two hours after the skirmish aforesaid
the rebels had intelligence that there was a
Spanish patache landed the night before at the haven
of Kilmokilloc, not far from Ardea, in jthe Bay of
Kenmare. She was purposely sent from Spain
to know the state of the castle of I>onboy, whether
it held still for the King of Spain. Some Irish
passengers were in her, namely a Friar, James Nelane,
a Thomond man,, belonging to Sir Tirlogh O'Brian^
who had the charge of the treasure; Owen Mac-
Eggan, the Pope's Bishop of Eoss, and Vicarius-
Apostolicus, with letters to sundry rebels and
twelve thousand pounds, as the President was credi-
bly informed by one called Moylemurry MacEdmond
Boy MacSwyny, then a rebel, who saw it, besides
munition, which put such, fresh, spirit into the
rebels, who formerly were advising rather to break
and disperse than to endure a siege, that they
solemnly vowed to persevere in the defence of the
1 84
Pacata Hibernia.
castle, assuring the messenger (wliicli tliey confirmed
by their letters) that they would hold the same until
Michaelmas, within which time they prayed aid,
which the messenger confidently promised; "for,"
said he, " two thousand men were drawn to the
Groyne before I departed thence. And the next morn-
ing, being the fifteenth, he set sail for Spain, carrying
with him Brian O'Kelly and Donnagh MacMahon
O'Brian. The distribution of the money by appoint-
ment in Spain (as Moylemurry aforesaid aflSrmed)
was left principally to the disposition of Donnell
O'Sulevan Beare, Owen MacEggan, James Archer,
and some others ; and Ellen Carty, wife to Owen
O'Sulevan, then a prisoner with Donnell O'Sulevan
Beare, saw some part of that treasure disbursed in
manner following.
To Donnell O'Sulevan Beare .
To James Archer, Jesuit
To Donogh Moyle MacCarty ;
To Finnin MacCarty
To Dermond Moyle, Florence's brother
To O'Donevan ....
To Sir Finnin O'Driscall and Connor, his
To Connor MacNemarra
To Richard Blake
To the Lord of Lixnaw
To John FitzThomas
To O'Connor Kerry
To the Knight of the Valley .
To Donnell MacCarty, the Bast
1500 li.
.
150
: }
160
.
300 li.
, ,
200
s son
600
. }
100
. .
100
•
200
: }
100
•
400
Sum.
3710 li.
Pacata Hibernia. 185
And likewise the said Moylemurry saw four great
boat-loads of wine, munition, and money taken out
of the patache and carried on shore by O'Sulevan
Beare into the Castle of Ardea ; ^ but how much muni-
tion was brought he did not know ; part thereof was
presently sent to Donboy, to encourage the rebels in
the castle. Owen MacEggan wrote a letter to Richard
MacGoghagan, which is here ensuing truly related,
and another written by Archer, the Jesuit, to Dominic
Collins, the Friar, and a third from John Anias, who
conceived himself to be a good engineer : all which
letters here ensue : —
A Letter eeom Owen MacEggan to Richaed Mac-
Goghagan AT Donboy.
Mastee Richaed, — I commend me to you, being very
glad of the good report I hear of you, whereby I
cannot but expect much (with God's assistance) in
that lawful and godly cause of you. I am sorry but
it was my luck to confer with you and with the rest
of your company and inform you of all the state of
the matters of Spain ; but upon my credit and con-
science there is no piece of service now in hand in all
Christendom for the King of Spain than the same that
ye have. How great it is to God and necessary for
our country affairs you know. Moreover within a few
days you shall have relief of men come to help you
thither out of Spain. The great army of fourteen
thousand men is forthcoming. You shall all be as well
recompensed, both by God and by the King's Majesty,
as any ward that is in all the world again. Have me,
I pray, commended to all, and especially to Father
1 Another O'SuUivan castle on the shore of Kenmare river.
1 86 Pacata Hibernia.
Dominic, and bid him be of good courage. There
comes with the army a Father of the company, an
Italian, for the Pope's Nuncius, in whose company I
came from Rome to the Court of Spain, and there he
expects the armies coming hither. He shall give all
a benediction, yea I hope within your castle there,
spite of all the devils in hell. From the Catholic camp
this present Wednesday, 1602.
Your assured friend,
Owen Hegaine.
In my sacrifice and other poor prayers I will not
fail to commend you and your good cause to Grod.
Our ship arrived three days ago, and our letters are
com& to the King by this time, Nisi Dominus cus-
todierit civitatem, etc.
A Letter feom James Archer, Jesuit, to Dominio
Collins, Jesuit at Donboy.
Your letters of Thursday last came to our hands,
but our disagreeing in some matters makes to be slack
in performing your desire ; yet you must take better
order for the premises. Meanwhile, however becomes
of our delays or insufficiencies, be ye of heroical
minds, for of such consequence is the keeping of that
castle that every one there shall surpass in deserts
any of us here, and for noble, valiant soldiers shall
pass immortal throughout all ages to come. For the
better encouraging, let these words be read in their
hearing. Out of Spain we are in a vehement expecta-
tion, and for powder, lead, and money furnished.
Now, to come to more particular matters, understand
that there are but two ways to attempt you, that is,
Pacata Hibernia. 187
scaling with ladders or battery., For scaling, I doubt
not but your own wits need no direction ; and for
battery, you may make up the breach by night. The
higher you raise your works every way the better, but
let them be thick and substantial. Kaise to a greater
height that work Captain Tirrell made betwixt the
house and the cornel. Make plain the broken house
on the south side. For fire-work direction do this •
prime the holes and stop in the balls with powder
mixed through the material well, and some powder
uppermost that shall take fire. The rest you know,
as you have heard me declare there. By all means
possible send me one ball and the rest of the saltpetre.
This in haste till better leisure : camp this Thursday.*
Your loving Cousin,
James Aecheb.
To father Dominic Collins, these in haste.
A Letter teom John Anias to Dominio Collins,
Jesuit at Donboy.
Be careful of your fortifying continually ; with a
most special care raise in height the west side of your
port ; fill your chambers on the south and north side
with hides and earth ; what battery is made suddenly
repair it like valiant soldiers ; make plain in the south
side the remnant of the broken houses ; make ways
out of the hall to scour and cast stones upon the port,
and, if the enemy would attempt the like, dip deep
that place we first began and a trench above to defend
the same, as I have said to you. Although we expect
speedy relief out of Spain, yet be you wise to preserve
^ We have already read of Archer's sword which was captured in
the battle of Sandy Bay.
1 88 Pacata Hibernia.
the store of victuals discreetly. Devise yourselves all
the invention possible to hold out this siege, which is
the greatest honour in this kingdom ; with the next
I shall prepare shoes for you ; send me the cord or
long line and the rest of the saltpetre, withal the iron
barriers, seven pieces in all. Salute in my name
Richard MacGoghagan, praying God to have of His
special grace that care of your success. From the
camp, the — of June, 1602.
Your loving Cousin,
John Anias.
To Father Dominic, Bearehaven, these.
In November following, this John Anias, who in
October was taken prisoner by John Berry, the con-
stable of Castle Mange, was executed by martial law.
"Whether he was a priest or no, it was held doubtful.
The day before his execution he wrote this ensuing
letter to the Lord of Lixnaw.
A Lettee feom John Anias to the Baeon op
Lixnaw a little befoeb his Execution.
In trust is treason : so Wingfield betrayed me ; my
death satisfies former suspicions, and gives occasion
hereafter to remember me ; and as ever I aspire to
immortalize my name upon the earth, so I would
request you, by virtue of that ardent affection I had
towards you in my life, you would honour my death
in making mention of my name in the register of your
country : let not my servant Cormock want, as a
faithfid servant unto me ; let my funeral and service
of the Catholic Church be observed for the soul.
Here I send you the pass and letter of that faithless
Pacata Hibernia. 189
"Wingfield, having charged the bearer upon his duty to
God to deliver this into your hands. O'Sulevan was
strange to me, but inures himself to want me. Com-
mend me to Captain Tirrell, O'Connor, your sister
Gerode Oge. This the night before my execution, the
eighth day of November, 1602 ; and upon this sudden
I cannot write largely.
Your loving bedfellow ^ sometimes,
ISMABITO.
1 When men made a solemn contract they often slept together
afterwards. It was probably the custom in medieval Europe, for
some of the greatest Norman lords observed it in Ireland. In this
letter, one of the countless tragedies of this terrible time reveals
itself as in a flash. Wingfield was one of Carew's captains. Wing-
field apparently sent the writer a " pass " or protection, and then
broke his word. A forged protection was one of the many ugly
tricks resorted to by the State at this time. A brother of the Earl of
Clanricarde was so caught and executed. Yet the House of Clanri-
carde was now on the side of the State.
The "Ismarito" which finishes the letter T cannot explain, unless it
be a mis-spelling of Dlie is-Maire-with, i.e. " God and Mary be with
you."
CHAPTER VIII
The Lord President vieweth the castle of Donboy — The Lord
President finds good ground to encamp in and to plant the
battery, contrary to all men's opinions — Two spies of the rebels
hanged — The artillery landed — The camp intrenched and the
artillery drawn into the market place — Our approaches begun —
The Island of the Dorseys taken, and in it divers rebels slain
and taken prisoners, besides artillery, munition, and much other
spoil — The rebels taken in Doreeys executed and the fort razed
— Captain Kingsmill maimed with a shot — An attempt of the
rebels given on our camp — Sir Samuel Bagnall brings letters
to the Lord President from the Lord Deputy and from Don
Juan de Aguila — A fair escape — The artillery planted before
Donboy — Donboy battered and a breach made — The breach
assaulted — Divers of the rebels slain in seeking to escape by a
sally — Others slain in the water — The Lord President's colours
placed on the top of the castle, but the vault still maintained by
the rebels — Sundry rebels voluntarily yielded themselves — The
remainder made election of a new captain, whose resolution was
extraordinary — A battery made upon the vault — The rest
surrendered themselves — A desperate resolution of Richard
MacGoghagan — Eight and fifty rebels executed ; the rest re-
served for a time — The whole number of the ward in Donboy
— The loss we received in the siege — Captains, men of quality,
and others wounded — Artillery, munition, and spoils got in the
castle.
The seven til, the President drew his forces to a neck
of land within a mile of Donboy, opposite it, an arm
of the sea passing between the castle and the camp,
whence the President, taking Sir Charles Wilmot and
one hundred foot for a guard with him, stole out of
the camp and marched directly to the castle to view
it and the grounds adjoining, in doing whereof some
small shot was bestowed upon thorn, but no other
MAP <>V TIIK SIKOK OK KrNROY.
To fucc pnnf lyi.
Pacata Hibernia. 191
hurt done than Sir Charles Wilmot's horse shot in
the foot. There they found, contrary to the reports
of all men who had seen the same, a fair place of good
ground, and of capacity sujficient to encamp in,
within twelve score of the castle, and yet out of sight
of it by reason of a rising ground interjacent ; and
also, upon the top of a small ascent in the midst of
the rocks, a fair green plot of ground, not a hundred
and forty yards distant from the castle, like a natural
platform, of just sufficient largeness to plant the
artillery upon. At their return, the report being
made, it was hardly believed. For the Lord Barry,
the White Knight, Cormack MacDermond, Captain
John Barry, and Owen O'Sulevan,^ who was born and
bred in the castle — all of them, being in the camp,
constantly averred that there was no other than rocky
ground near it, and surely I conceive they did think
it to be so, supposing that the plots of ground afore-
mentioned were too little to lodge in and to plant the
artillery. Further, the President assured them that,
with God's favour, he would plant the ordnance with-
out the loss of a man, and, within seven days after
the battery had begun, to be master of all that place,
Hereat the whole army much rejoiced, for the general
opinion was that it would be a long siege ; but after-
wards, as you shall hear, the President kept his
promise aforesaid. The same day, seven great shot
were made from the castle to the camp, but no harm
was done.
The eighth, we planted two falcons, taken out of
the Queen's pinnace, upon a point of land on the
1 Remember this gentleman was the son of the iirecediiig chieftain
and dwelt here until his father was driven out by Donal and the
Government.
192 Pacata Hibernia.
north side of the castle, hard by our camp, which
beat upon the enemy, who were then carrying turf
and earth to advance their works. And the same
day the hoy was brought aground, and two culverins
were unshipped and put into boats, and two spies sent
by the enemy into our camp were taken and hanged.
And we also sent soldiers to the wood to cut gabion
stuff and to bring the rafters of an old church to
make joists for the platform to plant the ordnance on.
The ninth, the Sergeant-Major, Captain George
Flower, was sent by sea to take view of the Spanish
bay near Donboy, to see whether there was any good
landing for the ordnance there, and found the ground
rocky ^ and unfit for draught.
The tenth. Captain Francis Slingsby, whom I can-
not too much commend, in the hoy with the demi-
cannon, and the three boats laden with two culverins
and one demi-culverin, passed the point underneath
the castle, within one hundred feet of the same,
whence their great shot were made at the hoy, but all
without harm, for his muskets so plied the artillery
that the gunners durst scarcely stand by the same.
And the same day we landed the two culverins and
the demi-cannon, and encamped within musket-shot,
but not within sight of the castle, by reason of a
rising ground aforesaid which shadowed us, although
oftentimes their great and small shot came over the
camp and amongst us into the same.
The ordnance could not be drawn from the
place where we landed to the place where wo
made our quarters, but there was a small creek
very near the castle of Donboy, which being once
1 So called still, a shallow rocky little harbour, but very pic-
turesque.
Pacata Hibernia. 193
entered into, they might ride in safety, being then
covered with a hill between them and the castle, but
all the way of their coming thither was open to the
play of the ordnance of the castle, until they were
within that creek/ whose mouth was not above forty
yards distant from the castle. The President com-
manded the ordnance to be shipped into boats, and
to carry them into that creek, which, by the help
of dark nights and still rowing, was effected undis-
covered. But the cannon and culverins were of such
weight that no boat there could carry them, and none
durst venture in the hoy to carry them by night.
In this difficulty Captain Slingsby desired the
President that he would commit that to his charge
and give him but thirty shot, and he would (by God's
grace) carry that ordnance by daylight into the
creek or sink by the way, if his Lordship would
please to venture the ordnance ; which was accepted
and performed the same day without the loss of a
man, though many shot were made from the castle ;
for he had placed all his shot in the hold upon the
ballast, so that the deck was breast-high above
them, so that they had only their pieces and head
and shoulders above the deck to play with their small
shot ; and that he that steered the hoy might be in
safety (which much concerned the effecting of that
service by his safe conducting) he placed him in the
hold, and ordered it so that with two cackles he might
steer the hoy either to starboard or to port as he
was willed above by the captain, who stood aloft by
the mizen-mast to order her course as he saw cause ;
but it was so fine and fresh a gale of wind that
though they sailed above half a league in play of the
^ This creek is the efetuary of the only river in this neighbourhood.
VOL. II.
194 Pacata Hibernia.
ordnance and small shot of the castle, yet she made
that way that they could not above twice discharo-o
and lead their ordnance before she attained the creek,
where she was then in security from any further
annoyance of the castle.
The eleventh, we entrenched our camp, mounted
our ordnance, and drew them all into the Market-
place ; and the same day, about eight o'clock in
the evening, the Lord President gave direction to have
a demi-culverin drawn within shot of the castle,
which made but two shot that night and was with-
drawn. The Spanish cannoneers, finding the shot,
willed the Irish to be of good courage, for that piece
would do them no harm. He also caused two
minions to be landed out of the Queen's ship, and
placed them upon a point of ground on the north-west
side of the castle, which overlooked it, to annoy the
rebels whilst we were about our work. The same
night we began our approaches, the care whereof
the President imposed upon Captain Francis Slingsby,
a discreet and dexterous gentleman, making him
trench-master, who performed with commendations
the charge which was laid upon him, having all the
day before employed a great party of men in the
wood,^ which was a long mile and a half distant from
the camp, to fetch more wattle to make gabions,
and was constrained to send a strong guard with them
for their defence. This day the enemy made a sally
out of the wood upon some of our guards, but were
immediately repulsed.
The twelfth of the same, understanding that the
enemy had fortified the Island of the Dorseys, and
' The wood near Castle Dermot to which Tyrrell's mcu ran after
their defeat.
Pacata Hir.ERNiA. 195
carried tliitlier three pieces of Spanish ordnance,
and placed a strong ward of forty choice men in the
same, reserving that as their last and surest refuge,
the Lord President made special choice of Captain
John Bostock, and sent him with Owen O'Sulevan
and Lieutenant Downings ^ (officer to Sir Francis
Barkley), and gave them (as also to Captain Thomas
Fleming, who had command of Her Majesty's pinnace)
secretly in charge that, now, whilst their army was
occupied in besieging Donboy and making their
trenches and approaches, and the enemy secure from
any suspicion that we would give any attempt else-
where, they should presently take Her Majesty's pin-
nace and four boats, and put into them one hundred