English miles from Cork to Beare, the plains so
deep and hoggjy the mountains so rough and
craggy, and the carriage-garrans, that are never
strong, were not able to travel six miles a day ; and,
besides, easterly winds are so rare upon this coast
that it would take a long time to transport their
victuals and munitions by sea. Notwithstanding,
wading through all those inconveniences with in-
dustrious travel and laborious diligence, he had
planted Sir Charles Wilmot with one regiment at
Donkerran, Sir Richard Percy at Kinsale, Captain
George Flower, the sergeant-major, at Bantry, and
Captain Roger Harvy at Baltimore. But the present
service received no small prejudice by means of the
untimely departure of Captain Roger Harvy, whose
heart, being overwhelmed with an inundation of
sorrows and discontentments taken, though on my
conscience not willingly given, by one who had been
his honourable friend, became blown like a bladder,
as the surgeons reported, and was no longer able to
minister heat to the vital parts, and therefore he
yielded to that irresistible fate which at last overtaketh
all mortal creatures. The untimely death of this
young gentleman was no small occasion of grief to
the Lord President, not only that nature had con-
Pacata Hibernia. 271
joined them in the nearest degrees of consanguinity,
but because his timely beginnings gave apparent
demonstration that his continual proceedings would
have given comfort to his friends, profit to his
country, and a deserved advancement of his own
fortunes. Great were the services which these
garrisons performed, for Sir Kichard Percy and
Captain George Flower, with their troops, left neither
corn, nor horn, nor house unburnt between Kinsale
and Ross. Captain Roger Harvy, who had with him
his brother. Captain Gawen Harvy, Captain Francis
Slingsby, Captain William Stafford with their com-
panies, and also the companies of the Lord Barry and
the Treasurer, with the President's horse, did the Hke
between Ross and Bantry.
Not many days after the death of Captain Roger
Harvy, Captain George Flower, having the charge of
Baltimore and the commanding of the garrisons there-
abouts, which formerly were under Harvy's direction,
understanding that the Castle of Cloghan was guarded
by the rebels, and that in the same there was a
Romish priest lately come from Rome, taking with
him Captain Francis Slingsby and Captain William
Stafford with their companies of foot, besides his
own, marched to it, in hope to gain it, the rather
because he had in his hands one called Donnell
Dorrogh, a traitor, brother to the constable that had
the charge thereof. Upon his summons they refused
to yield. Then he told the word that if the constable
did not presently render the castle to him, he would
hang his brother in their sight. They said the con-
stable was gone abroad (but therein they said un-
truly, as afterwards was proved). In conclusion, to
save the priest (whose life they tendered), they per-
272 Pacata Hibernia.
severed ohstinately not to yield ; whereupon Captain
Flower, in their sight, hanged the constable's brother.
Nevertheless, within four days afterwards, the priest,
being shifted away in safety, the constable sued for
a protection and rendered the castle to Captain
Flower. I relate this incident to the end the reader
may the more clearly see in what reverence and
estimation these ignorant, superstitious Irish hold a
Popish priest, in regard of whose safety the constable
was content to suffer his brother to perish .
CHAPTER XVI.
A branch of a letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
President — The ensigns of magistracy re-delivered to the Corpora-
tion of Kinsale — Of Spaniards defeated at Kinsale in the time
of King Richard the Second — The rising-out of the country
committed to the charge of the Lord Barry — The Lord Deputy
requires the Lord President to meet him at Gal way — Sir George
Thornton appointed to join the Lord Barry — A messenger from
the rebel Tirrell to the Lord President, and his answer — The
Knight of Kerry defeated — The Knight of Kerry, Thomas Oge,
and O'Sulevan More's son make their submission — A foul
murder committed by O'Sulevan More's son.
The Lords of the Council, by the letters dated the
sixteenth of December, signified their pleasures to
the President : That in regard Florence MacCarty was
a prisoner in the Tower, his children, to avoid Her
Majesty's charges, should be set at liberty, and also
the children-pledges of others, except the President
saw cause to the contrary, to be enlarged ; that Her
Majesty was pleased that the President should deliver
to the corporation of Kinsale their charter and other
ensigns of magistracy, and to impose upon them,
instead of a fine, the rebuilding of their walls, at their
own charges, and certain workmen towards the
finishing of the fort of Castle ny Park ; that Her
Majesty was pleased at the President's request that
a fair and strong house should be built for the
President, where he thought it convenient, to be de-
frayed upon the fines and casualties of the province ;
VOL. II. T
274
Pacata Hibernia.
that tlie fort of Haulbowlin should be presently
finished ; lastly, thanks in Her Majesty's name for his
services, liking well his proceedings with Cormock
MacDermond, the courses he had taken in his
return from Donboy, the well disposing of the
garrisons, his raising and making fortifications,
etc.
By this letter it appears that the President was
directed to re-deliver to the burgesses of Kinsale their
charter and other ensigns of magistracy, among which
was a fair large standard of damask with the arms of
England on it. This standard was first delivered to
them (by command of King Henry the Eighth) by
Sir George Carew, the Lord President's cousin-
german, when he arrived at Kinsale, who, not long
before the siege of Boulogne, was admiral of some of
the King's ships. In the hands of Sir George it was
left in safe keeping when the Spaniards arrived there,
and by the same Sir George Carew, by Queen Eliza-
beth's command, it was (as is said) re-delivered to
them again. Although this petty note may seem to
some scarce worth relating, yet for the rareness of the
incident I thought it meet to be remembered ; and
that the reader may also understand what a fatal
place Kinsale hath been to the Spaniards in former
times, as well as now, I think it not impertinent to
relate what happened to them in that port in anno
1380, and the fourth year of the reign of King
Richard the Second. My author is Thomas of
Walsingham, who lived in those days, and thus
Englished in HolHnshed : —
" In this meanwhile that the Earl of Buckingham
was passing through the realm of France, the French
and Spanish galleys did much mischief on the coast
Pacata Hibernia. 275
of England, but about the latter end of June, by a
fleet of Englishmen of the West countries, part of
them were forced to retire, and take harbour in a
haven in Ireland called Kinsale, where, being assailed
by the Englishmen and Irishmen, they were van-
quished, so that to the number of four hundred were
slain, and their chief captains taken, as Gonzales de
Vorse and his brother, Martin de Motrigo, Turgo,
Lord of Morrans ; also the Lord of Reath, Peers
Martin of Vermew, John Moditt of Vermew, the
Seneschall of Wargarie, the Seneschall of Saint
Andrews, Cornelis of Saint Sebastiano, Paschale de
Biskaya, John Martinez, Sopogorge of Saint Sebas-
tiano, and divers others. There were taken four of
their barges, with a ballenger, and one and twenty
English vessels recovered, which they had robbed and
taken away from their owners. There escaped yet
four of their notable captains from the hands of our
men : Martin Grantz, John Perez Mantago, John
Husce Gitario, and one Garcia of Sebastiano."
Thus far HoUinshed, craving the reader's patience,
for to some this old story may seem to be a needless
curiosity. But to proceed.
The President, to make the speedier prosecution
and expedition in the affairs of the province, caused
the rising-out of the country to be assembled to the
number of sixteen hundred, at their own charges,
under the conduct of the Lord Barry. These pro-
vincial forces were not prepared for any great need
that was of their service ; it was thought meet to
draw as many hands together as conveniently might
be, who, according to their manner, for spoil's sake
would not spare their dearest friends. And also it
was thought no ill policy to make the Irish draw
T 2
276 Pacata Hibernia.
blood one upon another, whereby their private
quarrels might advance the public service. The
President had first determined himself in person
with five hundred English, joined to the provincials,
to have taken the field ; but his intentions were
casually diverted by letters from the Lord Deputy,
who, signifying that his Lordship purposed to be at
Galway about the two-and-twentieth of December,
required him (all other business set apart) immedi-
ately to repair thither to consult about certain
affairs much importing the service of the State, by
reason whereof the President appointed Sir George
Thornton with 500 English soldiers, inhabitants as
Undertakers in Munster, to accompany the Lord
Barry with the provincials, and all these to meet
together, about the twentieth of this present, at
Donkerran, which was the place of their rendezvous.
In the meantime the rebel Tirrell, not liking to
stay any longer in the air of Munster, wherein he
had run many dangers, bethought himself of a retreat
out of the province, hoping that the President would
condescend to any composition rather than be troubled
with his company, whereupon he sent his intimate
servant, Laghlin O'Dally (before mentioned in this
discourse), to Cork, who, coming to the President,
told him that his captain (meaning Tirrell) would be
CO ^ent to leave the province, and would after this, so
as he might have a pardon, a pension, and a company
of foot in Her Majesty's pay, serve the Queen and
deserve the reward demanded by his future services.
The President, knowing that for want of food he
would be forced ere the spring of the year to depart,
and also assuring himself within that time to get
some good draught to be drawn upon him by some of
Pacata Hibernia. 277
the provincial rebels, who, now beinsf heartbroken^
would do anything for their pardons or for a littlo
money, not only rejected his offers, but bid O'Dalley
tell him that although he were ever so wary, yet ho
doubted not before long to have his head sent to
him in a bag, willing him to forbear to send any
more to him.
While these forces aforesaid were gathering,
according to the directions afore recited, the Governor
of Kerry, losing no opportunity and forbearing no-
labour, had the like fortune upon the Knighb of
Kerry that Sir Samuel Bagnall had upon Tirrell;
for, being conducted to his quarter in the night, he
killed forty of his men and took from him his whole
substance, which consisted of five hundred cows, two
hundred garrans, and two months' provision of meal
and butter for his soldiers, which small spoil was a
great loss to the poor Knight ; for thereby he, being
disfurnished of all his provision and unable to minister
entertainment to his followers, and having no castle
whereunto he might safely retreat, was constrained,
like a wolf, to shelter himself in waste woods and
desolate mountains^ until he could work means with
Sir Charles to accept his humble submission, which
incontinently, upon his defeat, he earnestly solicited,
by the means of O'Sulevan More. And surely this
service was of good consequence for the settling of
Kerry ; for Thomas Oge, induced by the example of
the Knight, and likewise Donnell O'Sulevan, son to
the said O'Sulevan More, all jointly submitted them-
selves, and Her Majesty's protection was granted
them. The former performed as much as was pro-
mised ; but the latter, in the interim that he should
have put in sureties for his loyalty, according to a
278 Pacata Hibernia.
clause inserted in his protection, in the malice of his
heart to our nation, committed a most base and
traitorous murder upon a sergeant and ten soldiers
going after Sir Charles towards Donkerran, who, not
suspecting any false measure at his hands, being
protected, Trere most cruelly butchered by that in-
human perjured rebel. His father, old O'Sulevan,
conceived so great discontentment against him for
this damnable fact that he threatened to withdraw
from him his favour, his blessing, and birthright.
But of this sufficient.
CHAPTER XVII.
Sir Charles "Wilmot Chief Commander of the forces in the absence
of the Lord President— The rebels make three divisions of their
forces— Tirrell, afraid, flies the province— The Lord Barry and
Sir George Thornton join their forces with Sir Charles Wilmot
—A skirmish entertained — A prey taken from the rebels out
of the fastness— Divers rebels submitted themselves — William
Burke, John O'Connor Kerry, and O'Sulevan Beare with the
bonoghs fled out of the province — The rebels' loss in their
passage through the County of Cork, and the hard shift they
made" over the Shannon — The good service done upon the
rebels by the Sherifi" of the County of Tipperary— Captain
Henry Malby slain — Beare, Bantry, and Dorseys spoiled, and
the Castles of Ardea and Carrigness rendered— Captain Taffe
employed against the rebels in Carberry— The Pope's vicar
slain and the rebels defeated— The Cartys of Carberry sub-
mit themselves to the Lord President.
The Lord Barry and Sir George Thornton were now
upon their third march towards their rendezvous at
Donkerran, there to attend the directions of Sir
Charles Wilmot^ wha in the President's absence (for
by this time he was upon his way to Galway) com-
manded all that army in chief, composed of the
garrison of Kerry, and of the garrisons of Bantry,
Kinsale, Baltimore, etc., aforementioned, who with
great valour and discretion discharged the same.
The rebels, understanding by continual advertise-
ment of the great preparations made to rouse and
hunt them out of their fastness, thought fit in their
councils to divide themselves in three several parts, to
28o Pacata Hibernia.
tlie intent that Her Majesty's forces, then united,
might likewise be severed and divided in several
prosecutions, whereby each party might be the less
endangered ; for if the English should neglect any
one part of them they might harass and spoil the sub-
ject, for whose defence a good part of the army must
be withdrawn. This resolution being taken, 0' Sulevan
Beare and William Burke with seven hundred men
were appointed to remain in Beare, other four
hundred were appointed for Carberry, to be com-
manded by Sir Owen MacCarty's sons, and the
third division, which was five hundred strong, and
commanded by Captain Tirrell, were to go with the
Lord FitzMaurice into Kerry. But Tirrell, being
upon his pretended march for Kerry, fearing to run
80 hard a fortune, suddenly altered his former deter-
minations ; and, notwithstanding that he had lately
received a great impress of Spanish money from
0' Sulevan Beare, and farther he promised to him
1500 more in good reals of plate and one thousand
cows to stay with him but three months longer,
resolved with all possible expedition to leave the pro-
vince, and therefore acquainting the Lord Fitz-
Maurice with his intention, without farther consulta-
tion, giving a deaf ear to any contrary persuasions,
leaving all his carriages, sick men, and other impedi-
ments behind him, he set forward ^ on his hasty
journey, and never looked back till he came into
0' Carrel's country, which is from the mountain of
Slewlogher, where he began his march, no less than
sixty Irish miles ; and this his departure was the
same day that our forces should meet at their rendez-
' Tyrrell, a brave soldier, must have bceu by this time thoroughly
disgusted with the Muiistor lords.
Pacata Hibernia. 281
vous, wliose defection from the rest made the work
in hand much more easy to be effected.
Our forces under the Lord Barry and Sir George
Thornton met with Sir Charles Wilmot upon the
seven-and-twentieth of December. The thirtieth we
encamped in Glangarrem,^ on a plot of dry ground
(environed with woods and bogs) of so small capacity
that most of our guards and sentinels were held
either on the bog or in the edge of the wood, and yet
there was not so much firm ground together within
five miles of that place. "Within two miles thereof
encamped Donnell O'Sulevan and William Burke with
his bonaghts. Before the camp was settled, the
rebels entertained a skirmish for an hour's space, and
hurt three of our men, whereof Captain Stafford's
lieutenant, William Jeffries, was one. The same
night they gave us an alarm and poured into our
quarter a volley of shot ; but, being encountered by
our guards adjoining, were repulsed and driven into
the wood.
The one-and-thirtieth, a convoy was sent to Don-
kerran for victuals ; and the same day Sir Charles
Wilmot sent four hundred of the risings-out under
the command of Captain John Barry, and two
hundred of the army in list under the command of
Thomas Selby, Lieutenant to Captain Francis Slingsby,
to beat the fastness where the rebels with their
cartel lodged. Their quarter was entered by our
men, and their cartel seized, whereupon ensued a
bitter fight, maintained without intermission for six
hours ; nevertheless they kept the prey they had got ;
the enemy not leaving their pursuit until they came in
sight of the camp, for whose relief two regiments
1 GlcDgariffe. Not a word of its beauty.
282 Pacata Hibernia.
were drawn forth, to give countenance, and Downings,
lieutenant to Sir Francis Barkley, was sent witli one
hundred and twenty choice men to the succour of
Barry and Selby, who in the rear were so hotly
charged by the rebels that they came to the sword
and pike, and the skirmish continued till night parted
them. Many were slain on either side, but the
greatest loss fell upon the traitors. There were
taken from them in that day's service, 2000 cows,
4000 sheep, and 1000 garrans.
Immediately upon this defeat, many of the coun-
try that escaped, leaving the rebels, having before
lost all their goods, submitted themselves to the
Governor and obtained mercy. Hugh MacSwine and
Owen Grayne, with eighty of their followers and
other of the bownoghs, likewise became suitors for
Her Majesty's protection, which, to weaken the
adverse party, was also granted; whose revolt, or
rather return, so disturbed and distracted William
Burke, the chief commander of O'Sulevan's forces,
that he endeavoured, by assaulting them on their
way to Sir Charles, to resist their submission, wherein
some men were lost ; and, not prevailing in the same,
purposed to follow the steps of Tirrell his forerunner,
and therefore wished O'Sulevan Beare either in-
stantly to rise with him or else to shift for himself as
well as he could, for a longer stay in those parts could
promise him nothing but apparent ruin and destruc-
tion. And when the other urged the entertainment
that he had given to him and his company beforehand,
Burke answered that he had already lost, not that
only which of him was received, but whatsoever else
he either brought into the province or gained there-
in, besides the slaughter of many of his followers
Pacata Hibernia. 283
and near kinsmen, whom he prized and valued * (in his
affection) above all the King of Spain's treasure ; and
therefore with extreme passion (as was reported)
cursing and damning himself for staying so long
in ]\Iunster, in all haste with two hundred men (for
the rest were either slain or protected) he fled and
followed Captain Tirrell into O'Carrel's country.
O'Sulevan, finding his estate desperate, that either he
must starve in Munster or beg in Ulster, made choice
of the less evil, and therefore himself and John
O'Connor Kerry kept company with the bonoughs,
content to partake with their fortunes till he might
get to Tyrone.^
As they passed by the skirts of Muskerry they
were skirmished with by the sons of Teg MacOwen
Carty,^ where they lost some of their men and most
of their carriage. In passing by Liscarcell, John
Barry, brother to the Viscount, with eight horsemen
and forty foot, charged their rear at the ford of Bel-
laghan, where he slew and hurt many of them, and of
his part one horseman was slain.
When they came to the river Shannon, they,
finding the river high and no boats or troughs
* A touch of nature and reality. The mutual affection and
fidelity of the chief and his chosen followers were indeed very great.
Of the chief and his clan that cannot be said, for the clan teemed
with malcontents. William Burke was a chieftain without land.
^ Of O' Sullivan Bere's heroic retreat into the North there is a
very animated account in the Historia Hibernioe by his kinsman,
Philip O'Sullivan, who derived his information from the men who
partook in it.
2 WhUe he was in rebellion O'Sullivan had committed many spoils
and devastations on this lord. But indeed O'Sullivan was attacked
by every lord through whose territory he fled. This, observe, was not
the retreat of a clan. The clan were now Queen's people imder the
sons of Sir Owen O'Sullivan. It was the retreat of a foiled chieftain,
guarded by hia faithful bonoughs or hired warriors.
284 Pacata Hibernia.
to pass them over into Connauglit, killed many of
their horses, and made shift with their hides to make
certain little boats, called in Irish nevogs, in which
they transported their men and baggage. Never-
theless, before all had passed the river, the Sheriff
of the county of Tipperary fell upon their rear and
slew many of them. Being in Connaught they passed
safely through the County of Gal way until they came
into the Kelly's country, where they were fought
with by Sir Thomas Burke, the Earl of Clanri-
card's brother, and Captain Henry Malby, who were
more in number than the rebels. Nevertheless, when
they saw that either they must make their way by the
sword or perish, they gave a brave charge ^ upon
our men, in which Captain Malby was slain, upon
whose fall Sir Thomas and his troops, fainting with
the loss of many men, studied their safeties by fliglit^
and the rebels with little harm marched into
O'Rwyke's ^ country.
The next morning, being the fourth of January,
1602, Sir Charles, coming to seek the enemy in
their camp, entered into their quarter without re-
sistance, where he found nothing but hurt and
sick men, whose pains and lives by the soldiers
were both determined.^ The Governor sent the Lord
^ The battle was won by O'Sullivan against groat odds, mainly
through his own valour, skill, and presence of mind. The field of
battle was Aughrim.
^ Brian of the Battle- Axes, referred to in Preface. This lord was
not now at ease in his mind. A Queen's O'RDurke had arisen in
Leitrim who in the end conquered and expelled him. This Queen's
O'Kourke was Cathal, son of the late chieftain and the Lady Mary
Burke, sister of Ulick, Earl of C'anricarde. Brian was illegitimate.
When he seized upon O'Kourkelaud, Cathal was a boy at school,
Master White's school, in Limerick.
^ As Irish history is usually written, this horrible atrocity would
bo set down to " the English." But observe VVilmot's force con-
Pacata Hibernia. 285
Barry witli sorne of his light foot after them, but
all in vain, for they flew so swift with the wings of
fear that passing by many preys directly in the way
they never made so much stay as to molest either
the cattle or their keepers.
Hereupon Sir Charles, with the English ^ regiments,
overran all Beare and Bantry, destroying all that
he could find meet for the relief of his men, so that
that country was wholly wasted. He also sent Cap-
tain Fleming with his pinnace and certain soldiers
into O'Sulevan's island.* He took there certain boats
and an English bark which O'Sulevan had got
sisted mainly of the rising-out of the County of Cork, the 1600
provincials already referred to, under the leading of Lord Barry, and
500 English "inhabitants in Mouuster as Undertakers." So in an
army of 2100 men less than a fifth are stated to have been English.
Now as to the 500 so-called English " inhabitants of Mounster as
Undertakers." The Undertakers had but recently returned to their
estates. Therefore they simply had not had time to plant them with
English tenants. When the Undertakers first settled in Munster it
•was years before any of them could get over a few English families.