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Connaght. The tenth day being Saturday, the Companies came to Corke, which Sir Henrie Davers had drawne from Armagh and the Northerne Garrisons. And this day Sir Richard Wingfield Marshall, and Sir John Barkeley Serjeant Major, were sent with some horse and foote, to view and chuse a fit ground neere Kinsale, where our Army might sit downe to besiege the Towne. The next day some horse and foote were sent out to keepe the Irish from selling victuals to the Spaniards. The twelfth two French men ran from the Spaniards to us, who confessed that three thousand Spaniards landed at the first in Kinsale, beside sixe hundred since arrived in a great ship scattered from them by a tempest.

1601.

This day one advertised his Lordship, that under pre- An advertisetence of favouring the Spaniards discent, he had spoken ment of the with their General; who inquired whether the L. Deputie Spaniards. in person came to view Kinsale, and with what numbers, to which he answered, that he was there in person with foure hundred foote lodged not farre off out of sight, and foure troopes of horse. That he asked what souldiers the Lord Deputy had, to which he answered some eight thousand, besides the daily arrivall of others of the Army in Lemster and the North: what souldiers were new, and what weapons they had, and what artillery the Lord Deputy had, to which hee answered with addition to our strength. He said that the Generall presumed by the contrary winds, that they in England heard not of his arrivall, and though hee told him the English Fleete was at Plymoth, he seemed not to beleeve it, and made countenance, that they should have enough to doe, to defend the English coast from invasion, and much insisted upon the copper money the Queene sent, with purpose to make the Irish her slaves: but promised gold and silver from his Master. That he inquired of Tyrone and Odonnel, seeming to distaste their being so farre off, and the way to them being dangerous, and his owne want of horses, and therefore prayed this Gentleman to certifie Tirrell and the Lord of Leytrim, that hee expected

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Tyrone with horses and beeves, which hee praied them to supply in the meane time, both sending him notice before they came, adding that himselfe had Bread, Rice, Pease, and Wine for eighteene moneths, and store of treasure. And that he inquired much after the strength of Corke, and the Queenes new Fort there. Lastly, he Ships returned advertised, that the ships returned were foureteene (of to Spain. them six the Kings owne of one thousand tun the least, in which was the Admirall Generall, Saint Iago, and the great Admirall of Castill, Don Diego de Bruxero.) That the twelve remaining were smaller, and embarged (or arested) to serve the King, whereof some were Irish. That the ships at Baltemore had 700 men. That by his

view, these were 3000 in Kinsale royally provided of all [II. ii. 141.] provisions for war, having many saddles for horses; and that upon Tyrones expected comming, they intended to take the field.

The thirteenth it was resolved we should presently take the field, though wee had not as yet any provisions fit for that purpose, but that day and the two dayes following we could not stirre from Corke, by reason of extreame raine and foule weather. Neither artillery, munition nor victuals were yet come from Dublin, yet it was thought fitter thus unprovided to take the field, then by discovery of our wants to give the Irish opportunitie and courage to joyne with the Spaniard.

END OF VOLUME II.

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