hundred of the principal men drew out of Kinsale, with
show, to go to relieve Rincorran by land, towards a
guard we kept between Rincorran and the town,
leaving a great gross for the seconds under the walls,
and under that colour to gain a safe passage for their
boats thither ; whereupon out of the regiments being
then in arms in the camp divers broken companies
drew that way, amongst which Sir Oliver Saint- John
sent Captain Roe, his lieutenant-colonel, and Sir
Arthur Savage's lieutenant, with one hundred men,
* Carew for a long time had been Master of the Ordnance in Ireland.
He afterwards held the same post in England, and was an enthusiast
in gunnery, a pleasing trait in such a character.
B 2
4 Pacata Hibernia.
and, seeing them likely to draw on a round skirmish,
took thirty shot of his own company and went up
to them, where he found Captain Roe and Carberry,^
lieutenant to Captain Thomas Butler, skirmishing with
shot, the enemy being hard by them with some
two hundred men, and another gross near towards the
town to second them. The Lord Audley, who drew
some of his regiment out of the camp, was then
coming up. As soon as Sir Oliver Saint-John came
where the skirmish was he saw the enemy drawing
up to give a charge, coming close with their pikes,
whom they presently encountered and beat them back
towards their seconds, and made them retreat apace ;
notwithstanding they played upon them with their
small shot out of every house in that quarter of the
town, being full of towers and castles.
In this charge Sir Oliver received on his target and
body divers thrusts with the pike, whereof one gave
him a very small hurt in the thigh : he killed a leader
and one other with his own hands. The Lord Audley
coming up to the charge was shot through the thigh ;
Sir Garret Harvy hurt in the hand, and his horse
killed under him ; Captain Butler's lieutenant was
slain, and four others ; Sir Arthur ^ Savage's lieutenant
was shot through the body, and thirty others were
hurt. The enemy left ten or eleven dead in the place,
besides those that were hurt, which in all likelihood
were many, by reason of the nearness of the shot ;
and, as one reporteth that came the next day from
Kinsale, and had been in the Guesthouse amongst
' Carberry MacEgan, Gcrlice Cairbre. The MacEgans were here-
ditary standard-beiirers to the House of Ormonde.
- The " Four Masters "coniraemorate in memorable terms the death
of this young Royalist ofTicor.
Pacata Hibernia. 5
them, seventy were brouglit thither hurt, whereof
eight died that night. In this skirmish was taken
prisoner Juan Hortensio de Contreras, who had been
sergeant-major of the forces in Brittany ; and divers
very good arms and rapiers were got from the
Spaniards.
All this while the three pieces played upon the
castle, until six o'clock at night, at which time they
in the castle sounded the drum and prayed admission
of parley, which the Lord President, whom the Lord
Deputy had left there, himself returning to take care
of the camp, accepted. There came with their drum
an Irishman born in Cork, who prayed, in the name
of the rest, that they might be licensed to depart
to Kinsale with their arms, bag, and baggage : this
being denied by the Lord President, who would not
conclude with any but the commander of the place, he
returned the messenger, willing him to tell the
commander that no other but himself should be heard,
and that he had no commission to grant them any other
composition than to yield to Her Majesty's mercy.
Then immediately they sent the drum again, and with
him a sergeant, called Pedro de Herodiay Cuacola,
whom the Lord President refused to speak with, upon
whose return the commander himself, called Bartolomeo
Paez de Clavijo an Alfero, came to the Lord President,
but, not agreeing upon the conditions, for he still
insisted upon departing with their arms to Kinsale,
being put safe into the castle, the battery began afresh,
and the defenders bestowed thicker volleys of shot
than at any time before. At length, about two
o'clock, when they found the weak state the castle was
grown into by the fury of the battery, they sounded
again their drum for another parley, which not being
6 Pacata Hibernia.
accepted, many of them endeavoured to escape under
the rock close to the water-side, which being espied
by us, our men ran presently close to the castle walls ;
and if the Lord President had not forbidden them
(although the breach was not sufficiently assaultable),
they would have entered the house of those who
attempted to escape. There were three and twenty
Spaniards taken ; and of this country birth a great
multitude of churls, women, and children : there were
likewise slain of the Spaniards towards thirty. All
this while the enemy shot not a shot, but as men
amazed lay still. Of the Irish there was not a man
taken that bore weapon ; all of them being good guides
escaped ; only one, Dermond MacCarty, by them
called Don Dermutio, was taken, who was then a
pensioner to the King of Spain, and heretofore a
servant to Florence MacCarty.
A good while before day the Lord Deputy sent Sir
Oliver Saint-John to the President to signify his
pleasure to him ; which was, if they would render
themselves he should accept their offer, excepting
the Irish. Not long after Sir Oliver Saint-John was
departed, that no error might be committed, towards
the morning the Lord President went to the Lord
Deputy to make relation of that night's proceeding,
and upon deliberation it was thought convenient if the
Spaniards would quit their arms and render the place,
with promise of life only to be sent into Spain, that
they should be received to mercy ; the consideration
whereof grew upon these reasons — the one because in
forcing a breach it was likely many good men would
be lost, and also to entice others that are in Kinsale
to leave the place, wherein they felt misery, by the
example of this merciful dealing with thojse of
Pacata Hibernia. 7
Rincorran, but especially because expedition in tlie
taking of this castle had many important conse-
quences.
About one hour after day the commander sent
word to the Lord President that he would render the
place and quit all their arms, so that they might be
sent to Kinsale, which being refused, he entreated that
only himself might hold his arms and be sent to
Kinsale, which also being denied, he resolutely
determined to bury himself in the castle and not to
yield. His company, seeing his obstinacy, threatened
to cast him out of the breach, so that they might be
received to mercy. In the end it was concluded that
all his people should be disarmed in the house, which
was done by Captain Roger Harvy, captain of the
guards, that night, and himself to wear his sword
until he came to the President, and then render it to
him ; which being performed upon his knees, they
were brought prisoners into the camp, and thence
immediately sent to Cork.^
The last of October the President received a gracious
letter from Her Majesty, all written with her own hand.
It was short, but yet therein is lively expressed in
what a thankful sort his service was accepted, the true
copy whereof ensueth : —
^ "We perceive something of the heroic Spanish temper in this
story. Don Paez had rather bury himself in the ruins of Rincorran
than come out without his sword. " The Spaniards," Carlyle asserts,
" were incontestably the noblest European nation of the sixteenth
century."
CHAPTER XIV.
Her Majesty's letter tothe Lord President — A supply of munition
and victuals — A resolution in Council that forces should be sent
to encounter O'Donnell — The Lord President of a contrary
opinion, and his reasons — The reasons why this service was
imposed upon the Lord President — The Lord President
mircheth towaids O'Donnell — O'Donnell lodgeth near the
Holy Cross, and the strength of his quarter — O'Donnell, by
means of a great frost, passed over the mountain of Slieve Felim,
whereby he escaped from fighting with the Lord President —
O'Donnell's hasty march — The principal men that were in
O'Dormell's army — The principal men in Tyrone's army.
Hee Majesty's Letter to the Lord President.
My faithful George, — If ever more service of worth
â– were performed in shorter space than you have done we
are deceived. Among many eye-witnesses we have
received the fruit thereof, and bid you faithfully credit,
that what so wit, courage, or care may do, we truly
find they have been all truly acted in all your charge ;
and for the same believe that it shall neither be
unremembered nor unrewarded. And in meanwhile
believe my help nor prayers shall never fail you,
Your sovereign that best regards you,
Eliz. R.
The second of November the ordnance was drawn
from Rincorran to the camp.
The third, the Spanish sergeant-major who had
been taken prisoner ujion the last of October, and the
Pacata Hibernia. 9
Alferes, wlio rendered himself upon condition of life
at Rincorran, obtained license to write to Don Juan,
and one of our drums was sent to carry their letters.
The fifth, four barks, with munitions and victuals
from Dublin, arrived in the haven of Kinsale.
The sixth, upon certain knowledge that Tyrone and
O'Donnell were drawing towards Munster, the trenches
of the camp were made deeper and higher.
The seventh, the Lord Deputy, having intelligence
that O'Donnell, with a great part of the northern
forces, was advanced near the province to join with
the Spaniards, and that Tyrone was but a few days
journey from him, it was debated in council whether
it were necessary that forces should be sent towards
him to divert his intention. It was agreed by the
greater part that two or three regiments of foot
and some horse should be employed in that service.
The President was of a contrary opinion, alleging, for
instance, that Tyrone, at his late being in Munster,
at whose return the Earl of Ormond, having good
espials, and very desirous to fight with him, yet could
never have sight of him or of any of his company ;
" and the reasons (said he) are very apparent, for they
are sure to have the country to friend, to give them
hourly intelligence of our lodging and marches ;
and they are so hght-footed, that if they once get the
start of us, be it ever so little, we shall hardly or
never overtake them." Notwithstanding these reasons
it was concluded that forces should be sent ; and
for so much as the country would be more willing to
give assistance to the Lord President than to any
other, as also because he was best acquainted with
the passages and places of advantage to give O'Donnell
impediment, he was commanded with his own
10 Pacata Hibernia.
regiment, and Sir Charles Wilmot's, wliicli were
in list two thousand one hundred and Mtj, but not by
pole above one thousand, and three hundred and fifty-
horse in list, which were by pole two hundred and
fifty, to undertake the service ; and for his better
strength Sir Christopher Saint-Lawrence,^ who with his
regiment was coming into Munster, and was to meet
him upon the way, should join with him, and also the
rising-out of the country. The President in obedience,
though without hope to meet with an enemy that
hath no will to hazard his troops in fight (for so he
conceived of O'Donnell), the seventh of November
left the camp, and never ceased travelling until with
long and weary marches he came to Ardmail, in the
county of Tipperary ; O'Donnell, with his sharking
troops ^ lodging not far from the Holy Cross, their
' Brother of Lord Howth. He accompanied Essex in that muddy
ride to "Windsor. A gentleman of the Court passed Essex without
salutation. Sir Christopher laid his hand on his sword-hilt and said,
" My lord, shall I kill him ? " The first Irish Saint-Lawrence was
the dear friend and comrade of the heroic John de Courcy, Earl of
Ulster. The family never flung out a second conspicuous figure.
' " Sharking troops " ? Carew, I think, set out on this journey with
the resolution 7iot to fight with O'Donnell. A battle with the young
northern dynast, all the responsibility of which would rest undivided
on his own shoulders, was like staking his whole forttmes on the cast
of a single die. Moreover, Red Hugh and his " sharking troops " had
an immense military reputation at this time. As Carew moved
slowly northwards to meet Hugh Koe, a correspondence of a quite
comical character went on between him and Mountjoy. " He is five,
he is six, he is seven thousand strong," quoth Carew. *' He is double
and treble my force. Tyrone is very near him ; I am undone. Why
did the Council send me on this hopeless business 1 " etc., etc. A letter
of some such purport Carew sent to Mountjoy almost every day.
On the other hand Mountjoy, whose own fortunes were not involved,
continued to assure Carew tliatHugh Roe was only 1500 strong. "Even
if you see 3000, don't l^elieve your eyes ; I know it," and to screw
Carew's courage to the sticking-place sent after him every availalile
man — Sir Christopher and his Leinster regiment, the young Earl of
Clanricarde with the army of Connaught, the Earl of Thomond
and his regiment — urging Carew, all he could, not to dally, but to go
Pacata Hibernia. II
camps not being distant the one from the other above
four miles. But the country stood so partially affected
to the traitors that by no promise of reward or other
satisfaction could they be induced to draw any
draught upon them ; by reason whereof, but with
great advantage, no probable attempt of good success
could be made upon them ; being lodged, as they
were, in a strong fastness of bog and wood, which
was on every quarter plashed.
For avoiding confusion I must ask some pardon of
the reader to continue the discourse of the President's
journey until I speak any more of the siege at
Kinsale. O'Donnell, on the other hand, fearing our
forces, which were increased by a regiment of foot
and some horse which Sir Christopher Saint-Lawrence
brought with him, durst not enter further into the
country, because he could not avoid us, and at that
time he had no other way to pass; for the mountain
of Slieve Felim, which in summer time is a good
ground to pass over, was, by reason of great rains, so
wet and boggy that no carriage or horse could pass it.
This mountain is in the county of Tipperary,
towards the Shannon ; and from thence to come into
the county of Limerick the passage is through a
in on Hugh Roe first, beat him^ and then go for Tyrone. When
Carew did eventually confront Hugh it was with an army of some
three to one, yet even so he would not go in upon hini^ or even
follow Hugh when the latter evaded him and slipped into West
Munster. The Council could send Carew against Hugh Roe, hut
they could not make him risk all his fortunes on the issue of
one battle with such a tighter as the northern chieftain. Carew's
incapacity, prudence, or poltroonery on this occasion involved
large consequences, for when Hugh Roe, unpursued, worked
into West Munster, West Munster was at his mercy, and whether
they liked it or not, all the West Munster lords were forced to
join him. In fact Carew's behaviour on this occasion shook the
provincial mind generally, and threw nigh half the province into the
arms of Spain.
12 Pacata Hibernia.
straight, near the Abbey of Ownhy, which Abbey,
from the place where O'Donnell encamped in
O'Magher's country, is at least twenty Irish miles.
Having, as we thought by lodging where we did,
prevented his passage, there happened a great frost,
the like whereof hath been seldom seen in Ireland,
and the enemy, being desirous to avoid us, taking
advantage of the time, rose in the night and marched
over the mountain aforesaid ; whereof, as soon as
we were advertised, we likewise rose from Cashell,
whither we were drawn (mistrusting that they
would take advantage of the frost), four hours
before day, in hope to cross him before he should
pass the Abbey of Ownhy, supposing that it had
not been possible for him to have marched farther,
with his carriage, without resting. The next
morning, by eleven o'clock, we were hard by the
Abbey, but then we understood that O'Donnell made
no stay there, but hastened to a house of the Countess
of Kildare's called Crome, twelve miles from the
Abbey of Ownhy, so that his march from O'Magher's
country to Crome, by the way, which he took
without any rest, was above two and thirty Irish
miles ; ^ the greatest march with carriage (whereof he
left much upon the way) that hath been heard of.
To overtake him we marched the same day from
Cashell to Kilmallock, more than twenty Irish miles ;
but our labour was lost. The morning following,
O'Donnell, with all his forces, rose from Crome and
lodged that night in the straight of Connelogh,
where he rested a few days to refresh his tired and
surbated troops. The President, seeing that this
' Equivalent to some forty Englisli. Apparently an insurf,'ent Irivsh
army at this date knew at least how to march. Observe that Hugh
Roe marched with "carriage."
Pacata Hibernia. 13
light-footed general could not be overtaken, thought
it meet to hasten to the camp at Kinsale to prevent
his coming thither ; wherein we used such expedi-
tion that if he had done his uttermost we were sure
to be there before him, or force him to fight with
us ; for we took the next direct way, and he, for his
safety, to avoid us, marched a farther way about
through Dowalla and Muskerry, which was very
troublesome to pass with horse and baggage. The
time of our return to the camp was the five-and-
twentieth of the same month. In our retreat to-
wards Kinsale, between Kilmallock and Moyallo, we
overtook the Earl of Clanricard with his regiment
marching towards the camp, and also, between
Moyallo and Cork, we met with the Earl of
Thomond, who was sent by the Lord Deputy with
his troop of horse to follow the President.
There came into Munster with O'Donnell these
principal gentlemen of Ulster and Connaught, viz.
O'Rwrke,^ MacSwiny ne Doa,^ O'Dogherty,' O'Boyle,*
the two MacDonoghs,^ MacDermond,^ O'Kelly,^
^ O'Roiirke, Brian of the Battle-axes, referred to in the preface.
â– â– ' MacSiveeney na Doe, i.e. either of "the Districts" or of "the
Battle-Axes," captain of a territory in the north of Donegal ; nomi-
nated to that command by Hugh Roe.
' O'Dogherty, Lord of the Peninsula of Innishowen. Hugh brought
this lord under his dominion in a singular fashion. At a parley he
made a sudden charge on O'Dogherty and his gentlemen, overthrew
them, took O'Dogherty captive, and only released him after he had
given in hostages and sworn to obey him. This O'Dogherty was
father of Sir Cahir, a chief who rebelled first against Hugh Roe and
afterwards against the Government.
^ O'Boyle, lord of West Tyr-Connall.
^ The two MacDonoughs, lords respectively of Corran and of
Tirerill, territories in the county of Sligo, over which Hugh exercised
lordship.
^ MacDermot, lord of the Curlew Mountains, hero of the battle of
that name ; an excellent soldier and gentleman. See Bog of Stars,
"^ O'Kelly, lord of a district in the east of the County of
Galway.
14 Pacata Hihernia.
O'Byrne, O'Connor Roe's two sons, O'Donnell's two
brothers,^ Donnell O'Connor Sligo's brother,' the two
O'Flares,^ "William Burke, brother to Redmond,* and
Hugh Mostian ; besides of Munster men, the Lord
of Lixnaw,^ John FitzThoraas, brother to the counter-
feit Earl of Desmond, the Knight of the Valley,^
Dermond Moyle MacCarty, brother to Florence, and
many others. His whole number consisted of
nearly four thousand foot and three hundred horse.
This was related to the President by one, James
Welsh, who was with O'Donnell when he fled
the encountering of the President's forces; he
also affirmed that Tyrone had in his army Mac-
Genis, MacGuire, MacMaghon, Randell MacSorley,
O'Xeal, and all the chiefs of Ulster with their forces.
' O'Donnell's two brothers were Rory, afterwards first Earl of Tyr-
Connall, and Cathbarr (Top of Battle). The most interesting of
Hugh Pioe's brothers, Manus, was already slain in battle.
* O'Connor Sligo's brother. Hugh, having caught O'Connor Sligo
intriguing with the Government, took him prisoner and advanced his
brother Donal to his room.
s The two O'Flares ] Probably O'Haras.
* Ricard Sassenagh, Earl of Clanricarde, had two sons, Ulick and
Shane, surnamed of the Clover. Ulick succeeded his father as Earl.
The two brothers quarrelled over the English and Irish aspects of
their position, and fought out the quarrel with deadly animosity.
According to the naive " Four Masters," they " were at war with each
other, but were both at peace with the Government." Eventually
Ulick not only killed Shane, but took possession of his country,the Barony
of Leitrim,in Galway. Shane was Baron of Leitrim. He left two sons,
Redmund, Baron of Leitrim, and William, mentioned in text. Red-
mund was a very stout and bi illiant warrior in the rebellion, though
he repeatedly offered the Government his services if they would
recognize his title, and compel the Earl of Clanricarde to restore him his
patrimony. But the Government, then leaning strongly on the Earl,
feared to alienate that great man.
5 The lord of Lixnaw, Co. Kerry, was head of that branch of the
Geraldines who called themselves MacMaurice or FitzMaurice,
descendants of Raymond le Gros, the celebrated Norman Con-
qiii.^tadur.
^ The Knight of the Valley, also called the Knight of Glynn.
Pacata Hibernia. 15
HUGH KOE O'DONNELL.
NOTE TO CHAPTER XIV.
Hugh Roe, or Red Hugh^ whose characteristic appearance with
his " sharking troops " we have seen, is one of the most interesting
characters in Irish history. He was the son of Hugh, son of JVIanus,
son of another Hugh Roe who was contemporary with Henry VII.
This ehler Hugh Roe was the most powerful Irish chieftain of his
time. At one time he had all Ulster and nearly all Connaught
under his control. He invaded the pale, and exacted tribute far and
wide there, at which time he took into his pay and directed the action
of the O'Moores of Leix (Queen's Count}'^), and of the O'Connors
of If alley (King's County). So at this juncture he was lord of nigh
half of Ireland. Finally, being opposed and rebelled against at many
points, he made peace with Henry VII., swore himself as the King's
" man," and surrendered to the latter a good deal of Connaught,
over which his ancestors had exercised a certain hegemony.
I have often thought that the ambition and political and martial
purposes of our Hugh Roe must have been stimulated by the thought
of the great career of his father's grandfather, who had the same
name as himself. Every chieftain at this time was intimately
acquainted with his family history. Hence, to a great extent, the
marvellous pluck and grit which many of them exhibited in their
struggles with the Crown.
Manus, son of Hugh Roe, was taken prisoner by Shane O'Neill,
who also conquered and governed Tyrconnall, or Donegal.
Manus was succeeded in the Chieftainship by his son Calvach.
Calvach supported the Queen in the Shane O'Neill wars, and was, as
a reward, presented by her with a patent for Tyrconnall, to himself
and his heirs in tail male, a fact which I will beg the reader to
remember.
Calvach, who was killed by falling accidentally from his horse, was
succeeded in the chieftainship by Hugh, father of Hugh Roe. It
was he who really broke Shane O'Neill's victorious career, beating him
utterly in battle, after which Shane summoned the expulsed Mac-
Donalds of Antrim to aid him, and was by them murdered in a
drunken brawl. This Hugh's wife was the Ineen-Du, i.e. the
Dark Daughter, of the house of the Cambells. All these northern
lords, I may add, were closely connected in blood with the Scotch
aristocracy. Before his marriage with the Ineen-Du, Hugh was
father, by an Irish lady, of Donal O'Donnell, whom FitzWilliam
made Sheriff of Donegal, and who, travelling beyond the bonnds of
his Shrievalty, made Hugh MacGuire lord of Fermanagh, This
Donal, who aimed at the chieftainship, was shot with arrows by the
Ineen-Du, mother of our Hugh Roe. Hugh, son of Manus, though he
did beat Shane O'Neill in battle, was a feeble and unambitious man,
governed by his wite and his principal chieftains.
In 1587, on the eve of the Armada, Sir John Perrott, Lord Deputy
1 6 Pacata Hibernia.
of Ireland, by a stratagem — and a very dishonourable one — took
captive Hugh Roe, son of Hugh and the Ineen-Du. Perrott, with the
Armada about to sail, for it was announced for 1587, desiring to make
his hold upon Ireland as strong as possible, stooped to this vileness.