dis

" without being guilty of any new crime, and without a legal trial were afterwards condemned and executed, to the great honor of her majesty, and discredit of her laws.”

It would be equally shocking and tedious to recite all those well attested acts of cruelty and perfidy, which were perpetrated on these people, by the order or connivance of her majesty's principal ministers in that kingdom. Two or three instances only, which include hundreds of sufferers, will suffice for the present.

When, in the year 1583,3 the garrison of Smerwick, in Kerry surrendered upon mercy, to lord deputy Gray,* he ordered upwards of seven hundred of them to be put to the sword or hanged.4 "Wingfield was commissioned to disarm them ; and when this service was performed, an English company was sent into the fort, and the garrison was butchered in cold blood; nor is it without pain that we find a service so horrid, and detestable, committed to Sir Walter Raleigh. The usual, and obvious excuse for this severity, could not efface the odiousness of it; on the Continent it was received with horror."§

3' Borlase's Reduction of Ireland, p.136.

4 Leland's Hist. of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 283.

• Repeated complaints were made of the inhuman rigour practised by ́this deputy, and his officers. The queen was assured that he tyrannised with such barbarity, that little was left in Ireland for her majesty to reign over, but ashes, and dead carcases."-Leland's Hist. of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 287. ↑ "The Italian general, and some officers, were made prisoners of war, but the garrison was butchered in cold blood.”—Lel. ib. p. 283.

For this and other such exploits, Sir Walter Raleigh had forty thousand acres of land bestowed upon him in the county of Cork, which he afterwards sold to Richard, first earl of Cork.-See Cart. Orm. vol. v. fol. 67.

§ The Irish annals thus relate this massacre. A. D. 1580. In the war of the Fitzgeralds, an Italian fleet belonging to the pope, landed its men, in the month of September, on the coast of Kerry, in an island called Oilcan an Oir, which the Fitzgeralds had fortified in the former year. The intention of this expedition was to assist the Fitzgeralds, much distressed through their attempts to support the catholic religion in Ireland.

On the news of this landing, the lord-deputy Gray ordered Thomas, eart of Ormond, to head an army, and lead it towards the island, where the Italians were fortifying themselves. The earl delayed not. He marched into Kerry, where an army of the Fitzgeralds were preparing to oppose him an engagement ensued, and Ormond had, at last the way left open to him, till he arrived in sight of the island, and took a view of the entrenchments

B

About the same time, « Walter, earl of Essex, on the conclusion of a peace invited Bryan O'Nial, of Claneboy, with a

5 MSS. Irish Chronicle in Trinity College, Dublin.

which were thrown up by the Italians. He concluded, that it was too desperate an undertaking to attack them within their lines; he retired, and waited for the lord deputy, who was on his march to join him. On their joining, it was concluded, that they should not encamp close to the island, but approach it at the head of a few, to reconnoitre the works of the enemy, and to decoy them into an interview. Some chiefs of the Italians came out to confer with the deputy and the earl; and after some debates, the Italians were offered good conditions. While these terms were entering into, the lord deputy's troops passed over into the island, and massacred, to a man, the whole body of seven hundred Italians, who had landed there. The deputy after this sad exploit, seized upon a great quantity of gold and other effects of the invaders. This happened in November, 1580." Translated by my learned and very worthy friend, Charles O'Conor, of Balenagare, Esq.

A Roman catholic writer, who lived near that time, relates it thus. "Nine hundred Spaniards, except about eleven officers, were stript of their weapons, and all slain, and cast over the clifts into the sea, (for that fort stood upon a mighty high rock over the sea) notwithstanding the lord deputy's word and faith unto them all for their lives, liberties, goods, and safe-conduct into Spain."-Theatre of Cath. Relig. p. 579.

"The queen (says the bishop of Chichester) was not pleased at the manner of this execution, and was hardly after drawn to admit any excuse of the slaughter committea."-Thank. Rememb. p. 48.

Gray's excuse for this bloody deed, was that he had not men enough to guard the Spanish prisoners. But this excuse, says Borlase, did not easily please the queen, the enemy having yielded on mercy.-Reduction of Ireland, p. 186.

Sir Richard Baker, mentioning this massacre of the Irish and Foreigners at Limerick, says, " "Twas concluded, that only the leaders should be saved, the rest slain, and all the Irish hanged up, which was presently put in execution, to the great disliking of the queen, who detested the slaughter of such as yielded themselves, and would not accept of any excuses or allegations."-Chronicle, fol. 356.

The same historian says, concerning the above landing at Limerick, "that the Spaniards seeing but a few Irish come into them, and these unarmed, began to distrust the state they were a, and to cry out they were undone." Ib. fol. 355.—He adds, “that Ficzmorris heartening them with hopes that supplies were speedily to come, and going himself to get more company, he passed through the lands of his cousin, William a Bourge, (an Irish Roman catholic nobleman) who opposed, and killed him and most of his company; but withal two of a Bourge's sons were killed in that skirmish also." Id. ib.-The queen so comforted him for the loss of his sons, adorned him with the dignity of baron of Castleconnel, and rewarded him with a yearly pension besides.”—Ib.

great number of his relations, to an entertainment, where they lived together in great harmony, making good cheer for three days and nights; when, on a sudden, O'Nial was surprised with an arrest, together with his brother and wife, by the earl's order.* His friends were put to the sword before his face; nor were the women and children spared: he was himself, with his brother and wife, sent to Dublin, where they were cut in quarters. This increased the disaffection, and produced the detestation of all the Irish; for this chieftain of Claneboy, was the senior of his family, and as he had been universally esteemed, he was now as universally regretted."

We do not find, however, that any remarkable commotion was excited on this account; or that any immediate provocation on the part of the Irish, was so much as pretended, for so barbarous an act of perfidy." After the 19th year of queen Elizabeth, viz. anno 1577, the Lords of Connaught, and O'Rorke," says Morrisson " made a composition for their lands with Sir Nicholas Malby, governor of that province; wherein they were content to yield the queen so large a rent, and such services, both of laborers to work upon occasion of fortifying, and of horse and foot, to serve upon occasion of war, that their minds seemed not yet to be alienated from their wonted awe, and reverence to the crown of England. Yet, in that same year, an horrible massacre was committed by the English, at Mulloghmaston, on some hundreds of the most peaceable of the Irish gentry, invited thither on the public faith, and under the protection of government.

The fact is thus literally translated+ from the Irish annals of queen Elizabeth's reign. "The calends of January, on Tuesday, 1577. In this year the English of Leinster and Meath, committed horrid murders on such of the O'Mores and

6 History of Ireland, fol. ed. p. 3.

7 Lee's Memorial, MSS. Trin. Col. Dub.

* " Such relations," as Dr. Leland justly observes on this occasion, "would be more suspicious, if these annals in general expressed great virulence against the English, and their government. But they do not appear to differ essentially from the printed histories, except in the minuteness with which they record the local transactions, and adventures of the Irish. And sometimes they expressly condemn their countrymen, for their rebellions against their prince."-History of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 258.

+ By Charles O'Conor, of Balanegare, Esq. as likewise the former.

O'Conors, and others of the King's and Queen's County as kept the peace, sued for protection, and held no correspondence with those of their kindred, who still stood out in arms against the English government.

"The English published a proclamation, inviting all the well affected Irish to an interview on the Rathmore, at Mulloghmaston; engaging at the same time, for their security, and that no evil was intended. In consequence of this engagement, the well affected came to the Rathmore aforesaid, and soon after they were assembled they found themselves surrounded by three or four lines of English and Irish horse and foot, completely accoutred, by whom they were ungenerously attacked, and cut to pieces; and not a single man escaped."

To this massacre, the memorialist before mentioned, probably alluded, when he complained, that her majesty's servants, who were placed in authority, to protect men for her service, had drawn unto them, by such protection, three or four hundred of the Irish, under color to serve her majesty; and brought them to a place of meeting, where her garrison-soldiers were appointed to be; who there, most dishonorably, put them all to the sword. This," adds he, "was done by the consent and practice, of the lord deputy for the time being."

CHAP. IV.

Motives for the general discontent in Ulster.

IN the year 1589, "When Sir William Fitzwilliams entered upon the government, Ireland was in the best estate that it had been in for a long time, not only peaceable and quiet, but so as any, the greatest lord, called by letter or messenger, readily came to the state; and none of them were known to be any way discontent. But, within three months after his taking the sword, having been informed, that the Spaniards lately wrecked upon the coasts of Connaught and

8 Lee's Memorial, MSS. Trin. Col. Dub.

1 Morrisson's History of Ireland, fol. 4.

"Those (Spaniards) who were shipwrecked in Ireland, and cast a-shore, were all put to the sword, or perished by the hands of the execu

Ulster,* had left with the inhabitants great store of treasure, and other riches, he greedily sought to get it into his hands, pretending the queen's service, as appeared by a commission, by which he first essayed to seize the same; but that not taking effect, he made a journey himself into these parts, where, altogether failing of his purpose, he brought thence with him, as prisoners, two of the best affected gentlemen to the state, that were in those parts, whom he deemed to possess the greatest part of the treasure, namely, Sir Owen Mac Tooly, father-in-law to the earl of Tirone, who had long enjoyed a pension of two hundred pounds a year from the queen, and Sir John O'Dogherty. The former refusing to pay for his enlargement, continued prisoner till the beginning of Sir William Russel's government, who in pity discharged him; but the old gentleman's heart was first broken, so as shortly after he died. The latter was released, after two years restraint; but not without paying for his liberty. At

tioner; the lord deputy, by whose orders it was done, fearing they would side with the rebels; at least this was the pretence made use of, to excuse this barbarity."'Tis said, that on the coast of Ireland, seventeen ships, and five thousand three hundred and ninety-four men were then destroyed. -Rapin's Hist. of England, vol. ix. p. 122. note.

"Sir William Fitzwilliams," says Borlase," was accused of too much rigor in enquiring after the spoils and wrecks at sea, which happened on some of the invincible (Spanish) navy being split in Ireland; and the ensuing war is laid to his charge."-Reduction of Ireland, p. 141.

"Sir John Perrot, upon delivering the sword to Sir William Fitzwilliams, declared, that he left the kingdom in peace; and that now, though a private man, he would engage to bring in any suspected leader within twenty days, without violence or contest. He embarked with the acclamations, particularly of the lower order of the people, who felt the benefits of his administration. Old Tirlagh, of Tirowen, followed him to the water side bathed in tears."-Leland's Hist. p. 311.

"In 1584, this deputy (Sir John Perrot) prevailed on the people of Connaught to consent to an assessment, or composition, whereby eleven hundred troops might be maintained in their province, without charge to the queen; a concession utterly astonishing to those of the council, who attended on the lord deputy; and who had exclaimed against the attempt, as dangerous, and impracticable."-Leland's, Ib. p. 294.

"Nevertheless, the people in Connaught (says the same historian) were severely governed by Sir Richard Bingham; the sheriffs and other officers of justice followed the example of lord president (Bingham), they entered the several counties, attended with large bodies of armed men, pillaging the inhabitants, whom they affected to despise.”—Id. p. 302.