from the penalties of which, Desmond was protected by his remote southern position, which reduced the power which the English deputies could exercise over his conduct, to something merely nominal. Of these rebellions, the first was in conjunction with the king of France, in 1523, and was terminated and detected by a peace made between Francis and Henry. The second was a similar correspondence with the emperor Charles V., who sent an ambassador to him to move him to rebellion. This embassy was, however, rendered abortive by the earl's death, in August, 1529. He was succeeded in the earldom by an uncle, who had been his enemy.

Edward, Fourth Lord Dunsany.

KILLED A.D. 1521.

THIS lord attended Gerald, eighth earl of Kildare, to the famous battle of Knocktow, in Connaught, in 1504; and was, in his own day, distinguished as a valiant warrior. He attended lord Surrey in his campaign, in 1521, in pursuit of O'Carrol and O'Connor, and contributed to the victory by his personal bravery; but, carried on by his military ardour, he ventured too far in the pursuit, and, being unsupported, was

slain.

Cormac M'Carthy, Lord of Muskerry.

DIED A. D. 1536.

OUR notice of this ancient chief must be confined to a few authentic facts.

The family of which he was one, was among the most eminent in the south of Ireland, having extensive territories in Desmond. Antiquaries trace his pedigree through thirty-five descents to Oilioll Olum, king of Munster in the 2d century. His father, Cormac Ladir, ruled as lord of Muskerry for forty years; during which, he built the castles of Blarney, Kilcrea, and Carricknamuck, with several abbeys and churches. He was fourth in descent from Cormac McCarthy More, who probably died 1353 and was the chief of the M'Carthys in his own time. His direct representative, in the period of our present notice, ruled under the title of M'Carthy More, in Kerry, between Dingle bay and Kenmare river; and Cormac, the subject of this notice, was lord of Muskerry, in the county of Cork.

He is mentioned by Ware under the name of Cormac M'Carthy Reagh the younger, to distinguish him from M'Carthy Reagh of Carbery in the same county; and in the government correspondence he is frequently mentioned under the appellation of Cormac Oge.

Ware mentions the efforts of William Rokeby, archbishop of Dublin, and "other delegates," to make peace between Cormac and his powerful neighbour James, earl of Desmond, as having failed; as Desmond, while the negotiation was pending, invaded the country of Cormac,

which he burned and pillaged. Upon this, Cormac entered into confederacy with Thomas of Desmond, the earl's most inveterate enemy, and afterwards his successor in the earldom; with this aid, and that of M'Carthy of Carbery, he defeated the earl at Cluthar and Moor abbey, slaying 1440 foot, and 480 horse with three or four Fitz-Geralds, the earl's near kinsmen. Ware places this battle in 1521, but a note appended to the lord lieutenant's letter to the king, in the State Papers, shows very clearly, from a comparison of dates, and other circumstantial considerations, too slight to be extracted at length, that the battle took place in 1520.* In the letter here referred to, the consequences of such a victory are mentioned as the subject of apprehension. But it is added, that Cormac was, of all the Irishmen of the land, save O'Donel, the most inclined to "fall into English order."

This appears to be confirmed by the circumstances afterwards stated by Surrey, in a letter to the king, in which he mentions that the earl of Ormonde had brought his friends Cormac Oge, and M'Carthy of Carbery, who were "of his band;" and they then gave their pledges to keep the peace toward Desmond, and to be ordered by the lord lieutenant in all causes of contention which might arise between them. To this, Surrey adds his testimony to the good character of these McCarthys. They be two wise men, and I find them more conformable to good order, than some Englishmen here. I have motioned them to take their lands, and to hold them of the king's grace, and they will be content so to do, so they may be defended."†

66

He is shortly after mentioned by Surrey, as a "sad wise man," who was very desirous to become a subject. He also applied through the same channel, to be created a baron: but this desire does not appear to have received the notice it deserved from king Henry. Cormac's entire conduct was such as to prove a disposition to conform himself to the English laws, and to be on good terms with the deputy. Surrey mentions among the reasons for compliance with his application, "surely he is substantial of his promise, and, without any safeconduct, hath come to me tendering his service, and is very willing to conform himself to the English order." It had, indeed, become an obvious opportunity for the extension of the English jurisdiction, as this inclination was beginning to be very general; but it was not adopted, and the line of disunion from which so much evil had arisen was kept up long beyond the time when it might have been obliterated.

Cormac was, as we have stated, the friend and faithful ally of Ormonde. He was also connected with James the thirteenth earl of Desmond, who married his daughter. Another daughter of his was married to M'Carthy of Carbery, nephew to the earl of Kildare.

Cormac McCarthy, in consequence of these alliances, is frequently mentioned as taking a prominent part in the military transactions of the English, and may, in this respect, be regarded as the most distinguished native of his time. He died in 1536.

In the beginning of the 14th century, a branch of this family migrated into Scotland, and spread into several illustrious families.

State Papers, Vol. II. Part iii. p. 8.

+ State Papers.

Ib., cxxxi. p. 332.

From one of these-George M'Cartney of Auchinleck, who, in 1649, removed into the land of his ancestors-descended the modern family of the lords M'Cartney, in the Irish peerage.

Ulick de Burgh, First Earl of Clanricarde.

DIED A. d. 1544.

THIS nobleman was a distinguished person in his day. His services were, however, as well as the main incidents of his life, too local in their character to claim a place in this advanced period of our work. We notice him chiefly as the founder of the important provincial towns of Roscommon, Galway, Loughrea, Clare, Concashel, Ballyforwer, and Leitrim; which achievements, more valuable than glorious, and more permanent in their results than memorable in the record of history, may show the vast extent of this great lord's territories. He was seized in fee of Clanricarde, consisting of the baronies of Loughrea, Dunkellin, Kiltaragh, Clare, Athenry, and Leitrim. In 1543 he surrendered, and obtained a re-grant of these territories from Henry VIII., who, at the same time, created him earl of Clanricarde; conferring on him, many other grants and privileges. He died in the following year, leaving one son, Richard, his distinguished successor, whom we shall have to notice under the reign of queen Elizabeth.*

Pierce, Eighth Earl of Ormonde.

DIED A. D. 1539.

As the political history of the generation in which we are immediately engaged, has been sufficiently noticed in the life of the ninth earl of Kildare, and his unfortunate and guilty son, we may now confine ourselves within brief limits in the remaining contemporary lives. The incidents purely personal that remain to us, in the annals of the 16th century, are few; and of the most prosperous and greatest man, if he had but the discretion and virtue to avoid a life of rebellion, or party war, and a bloody death, there can be little said beyond the meagre notice of the herald's book.

We have already statedf how this nobleman and his lady, a sister of the ninth earl of Kildare, were reduced to a condition of the most deplorable privation, and compelled to conceal themselves in some lowly dwelling among the woods, till, driven by the complaints of his wife, and his sense of wrong, he surprised and slew the usurper, and thus regained his estates and honours.

His family had, by the result of a series of political events, most of which have been noticed under their proper heads, been depressed in power and party importance in Ireland. This disadvantage was to some extent, counterbalanced by court favour, and that social im

*Lodge. Archdall.

Life of Sir James Ormonde, p. 423.

portance which results from polished manners and liberal accomplishments; in which respect, the members of this illustrious race, appear constantly in advance of their times, and seem to have transmitted through many descents, a vein of more refined humanity, than the historian may otherwise trace in the 15th and 16th centuries. The earls of Ormonde were in these ages more frequently to be found high in the councils and favour of the English monarchs, while the two great branches of the Geraldines, present, on the other hand, a uniform affinity for the Irish habits, and a strong tendency to factious movements. Their position and vast possessions in part account for these tendencies; but on a lengthened comparison carried through many generations, the singular uniformity becomes observable; the immense pride the reckless activity-the love of popularity—the insubordinate temper, breaking out with nearly similar results in each successive generation, and ripening into the same successes and disasters, appear to assume the character of family features. The opposite dispositions may be traced in the great rival race of the Butlers. They were, it is true, in common with all the illustrious persons of the period, rude in their knowledge, and inequitable in their notions of right; but they were refined beyond their age and country, and their faults were of the age, while their virtues were their own.

This earl was strongly urged by his lady, herself a Geraldine, to regain the political weight in Ireland, which his family had lost. But there was little hope of affecting this object by force of arms, or by the arts of Irish popularity. This earl was more versed in the ways of courts, than in the factions of the pale. He had, however, recourse to the weapons of a courtier, and we have seen the result in the history of his great but unfortunate rival.

This is

When lord Surrey was sent over as lieutenant, the earl of Ormonde was active, efficient, and distinguished in promoting the success of his various expeditions against the O'Tooles, O'Carrol, and other native chiefs. His character is set in a strong point of view, by the friendship of Surrey, who appears to have relied on his counsel in all important matters, and to have set high value on his conversation. made evident by his many letters to the king, and to Wolsey, in which he freely praises his conduct, and shows anxiety for his interests. In a letter to Wolsey in 1520, he writes, "beseeching your grace to cause thankful letters to be sent from the king's grace to the earl of Ormonde, as well for his diligence showed unto me at all times, as also for that he showeth himself ever, with his good advice and strength, to bring the king's intended purpose to good effect. Undoubtedly he is not only a wise man, and hath a true English heart, but he is the man of most experience in the feats in war of this country, of whom I have at all times the best counsel of any in this land. I would the earl of Desmond were of like wisdom and order." ""* It is stated on strong authority, that although bearing the title of Ormonde, he was not fully recognised as such, until 1528, although in the patent by which he was appointed lord deputy of Ireland, dated 6th March, 1522, he was denominated "Petrus Butteler comes Ormonde," without qualification.†

*State Papers, xiii. 58.

† Ib., iv. 38.

He was, during the time of Surrey's administration, involved in a party war with the earl of Desmond, and great efforts were made by government for their reconciliation.

The most remarkable incident to be noticed in the life of this earl, is perhaps the treaty which was for some time in agitation for the marriage of his son with Anna Boleyn, the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, and afterwards the unfortunate queen of Henry VIII., and mother of queen Elizabeth. Happy had it been for the lady, at least, had this treaty been carried into effect. The subject appears to have occupied considerable attention; it is thus mentioned in a communication to Wolsey, from Surrey and his council: "And where, at our being with your grace, divers of us moved you to cause a marriage to be solemnized between the earl of Ormonde's son, being with your grace and Sir Thomas Boleyn's daughter. We think, if your grace caused that to be done, and a final end to be made between them, for the title of lands depending in variance, it should cause the said earl be better willed to see this land brought to good order.”* The variance here alluded to, was one of long standing, and arose from the circumstance of Thomas, seventh earl of Ormonde, having had two daughters, and no male issue; in consequence of this, his large English estates, £30,000 a-year, according to the present value of lands, went to his two daughters, while his Irish estates went with his title to the male heir. The parties were not, however, themselves, satisfied about their rights; one of the co-heirs married Sir William Boleyn, who seems to have thought himself entitled to the Irish properties and honours. The marriage was approved by the earl; but did not, as the reader is aware, take place. The dispute was shortly after settled by a compromise. Sir Thomas Boleyn was created earl of Ormonde, and earl Pierce received the title of Ossory. About ten years after, on the death of Sir Thomas without issue, the title of Ormonde was restored to the earl of Ossory.

When Surrey, after remaining two years in the Irish government, was recalled, the earl of Ossory was, by his recommendation, appointed lord deputy. His conduct was such as to obtain for him in 1524 the office of lord treasurer, in Ireland. In 1528, he was again elected lord deputy by the council, and received many valuable testimonies of approbation also from the king. In 1537, he received a grant in confirmation of his extensive Irish estates to himself and heirs. The estates mentioned in this give some notion of his wealth. Among other estates, were the names of Gowran, Knockfert, Knocktopher, Kilkenny, Glashan, Carrick, Thurles, Nenagh, Roscrea, &c. &c.f

This earl was distinguished for his manly and honourable dispositions, which were generally respected; he was sagacious, and firm in council; a pleasing companion in private society, and a brave warrior in the field. He deserved the high praise of having exerted himself successfully for the improvement of the manners and condition of his people about Kilkenny, at a time when other eminent lords only thought of augmenting their estates and retaining power by unprincipled faction, and sanguinary wars. In conformity with this good disposition,