clans, and those called degenerate English. Of the extent of military execution, plunder and confiscation, I have seen no correct detail; but it need not be doubted, that such a tyrant as Bingham would not let slip so fine an opportunity of sating his thirst for Irish blood, and his coffers with their spoil. Many escaped death, by inlisting in the army destined for the Low Countries, in support of the revolted faithful of the new gospel; some escaped to Spain. Now three of the provinces being comfortably reclaimed, reformed and civilized, by the queen's ministers and forces, in conjunction with their Irish auxiliaries, the benefits of which to the province of Munster Spencer thus sketched. Notwithstanding that the same was a most rich, and plentiful country, full of corn and cattle.-Yet, ere one year and a half, they were brought to such wretchedness, as that any stony heart would rue the same. Out of every corner of the woods and glynns, they came creeping forth upon their hands, for their legs could not bear them they looked like anatomies of death; they spake like ghosts crying out of their graves, they did eat the dead carrions, happy were they could find them, yea, and one another soon after: insomuch, as the very carcasses they spared not to scrape out of their graves, and, if they found a plot of watercresses or shamrocks, there they flocked as to a feast for the time, yet not able to continue there withal; that, in short space, there was none almost left, and a most populous and plentiful country suddenly left void of man and 3 Q VOL. I. beast."* The other provinces had no Spencer to record the favours conferred on them by their reclaimers. It was now high time to turn their attention to the north, the only part of Ireland continuing unreclaimed, exulting in the untouched population, agriculture, manufactures and religion of that province. Monasteries and seminaries of learning were still protected there. The catholic religion maintained its ground, consequently, dainty morsels of church plunder might be looked for, and plenty of confiscations, already decreed by the provincial parliament, in the second year of Elizabeth. Had it not been predetermined to extend to the north the same discipline exercised in the south, this act would not have passed, or stood unrepealed. How could it be expected, that the extermination of the antient race, and the colonization of the land by English adventurers, projected, and in part executed by popish England, should be relinquished by their protestant successors? That the dominion of the crown of England would be submitted to by the northern lords, and preserved by equitable and moderate administration, is acknowledged by Leland, and by Lee.† It was practically proved by deputy Perrot. But then the odious stipulations, of not being compelled to renounce religion, and submit to the plunder and outrages of sheriffs, carrying along with them a posse of robbers and prostitutes, offending the pious, and corrupting the youth, by their scan*Spencer's State of Ireland, p. 158. + See Memoir, in Appendix. "A dalous profaneness and open immoralities. great part of the unquietness of O'Donnel's country (Tirconnel) came by Sir Wm. Fitzwilliam placing one Willis there to be sheriff, who had with him three hundred of the very rascals and scum of that kingdom, which did rob and spoil that people, ravish their wives and daughters, and made havoc of all; which bred such a discontent, as that the whole country was up in arms against them, so as if the earl of Tirone had not rescued and delivered him and them out of the country, they had been all put to the sword."* Lest Fermanagh should be jealous of the graces bestowed on O'Donnel's country, it was favoured with a similar visitation. The chieftain of Fermanagh, Maguire, alledged, "that he had given three hundred cows, to free his country from a sheriff, during the lord deputy's government; and that, notwithstanding, one captain Willis was made sheriff of Fermanagh, having, for his guard, one hundred men; and leading about some hundreds of women and boys. all living upon the spoil of the country: upon which, taking his advantage, Maguire set upon them, and drove them into a church, where he would have put them all to the sword, if the earl of Tyrone had not interposed his authority, and made composition for their lives, upon condition that they should all leave the country. Upon this occasion, the lord deputy Fitzwilliams sent the queen's forces, commanded by the earl of Tyrone and the English marshall of Newry, into * Lee's Memorial to queen Elizabeth, Fermanagh, won Maguire's castle of Enniskillen, and proclaimed him a traitor. The Irish avow, that his lordship let fall some speeches against the earl of Tyrone himself, calling him a traitor also, (notwithstanding his late services,) which speeches coming to that earl's hearing, he ever after said, were the first causes that moved him to misdoubt his safety, and to stand upon his defence; now first combining himself with O'Donnel, and the other lords of the north, to defend their honours, estates and liberties.' "In the northern province, which had but just now professed to accept the English polity, the execution of the laws was rendered detestable and intolerable, by the queen's officers. Sheriffs purchased their places; acted, as in Connaught, with insolence and oppression; spoiled the old inhabitants, and obliged them to recur to their native chieftains for protection. As the state had no forces in Ulster, nothing but the mutual suspicion and disunion of the Irish prevented a sudden and violent insurrection." What else was looked for, but such an event, as might lead to church plunder and confiscations? Wherefore send profligate miscreants, with the queen's commission, to pillage, rob, ravish, to destroy morals and religion, but the hope, that resistance to a tyranny, at once so shameful and detestable, so intolerable and base, would furnish a pretence for extermination and plunder? Will any man be surprised, that the De Burghos of Connaught * Curry's Hist. Rev. c. v. and Morrison's Hist. of Ireland. + Leland, Vol. II. Book IV. c. iii, p. 305. refused to admit such nefarious pests of society, for which noncompliance they were prosecuted with fire and sword? or that O'Donnel refused them entrance into Tyrconnel, whose noncompliance the state, unable by force, revenged by fraud. "A merchant of Dublin was instructed to lade a ship with Spanish wines, and to sail up by Donnegall, into the country of O'Donnel, to expose his wines to sale, to shew an extraordinary courtesy and bounty to the natives, to invite and feast them in his ship: and if the old chieftain or his son should be prevailed on to come on board, to entertain them liberally; and when intoxicated, to secure them under hatches, and to convey them to Dublin. The pretended Spanish merchant executed his commission accurately and successfully. The rude inhabitants crowded to purchase his wines, and to partake of his liberality. The eldest son of O'Donnel, and two companions, accepted his invitation to carouse on board of his ship: and when they awaked from their debauch, they found themselves prisoners. They were deposited in the castle of Dublin."* Their treatment therein is thus described by Lee, "His manner of usage was most dishonorable and discommendable, and neither allowable before God or man. For he (O'Donnel) being young, and being taken by this stratagem, having never offended, was imprisoned with great severity, many irons laid upon him, as if he had been a notable traitor and malefactor."† *Leland, Vol. II. Book IV. c. iii. p. 310. |