wide their gates, repaired to the cathedral for protection-where, under the shadow of the temple, venerable with the hoar of ages, and consecrated by the holiest memories to the highest services of patriotism and religion, Murrough O'Brien, debasing a name hitherto so highly honored, perpetrated the savage atrocity which will be for ever associated with his memory. In a portion of the building, which is to be seen at this day, a monument of his refined cruelty, Murrough "of the burnings," after having shaken the walls with the thunder of his guns, in despair of obtaining an entrance, had recourse to the horrible expedient of piling up a quantity of turf against the outward wall, and to this he applied fire, by the action of which the religious and other people who were crowded inside, were absolutely baked to death. Upwards of thirty priests and friars fell victims to the atrocious Inchiquin on this ever-memorable occasion. Flushed with these victories, as no doubt he called them, he defeated the Irish army under Lord Taaffe at Knockinglass, near Kanturk, where there was also a terrible slaughter. Inchiquin then led his army into the county of Limerick. In a short time he brought the whole province of Munster, the cities of Limerick and Waterford, the towns of Clonmel and Kilmallock, under contribution. He proceeded to the county of Kilkenny, where he took Callan, and having some of the baronies in that county made tributary, a part of his cavalry marched within musket shot of the city of Kilkenny, where he succeeded so far that he paralysed the council of the Confederates. It is not surprising that the Nuncio should feel intensely this state of affairs, which was principally brought about by the jealousies, the disunions, the envy, it may be added the treasons, of certain of the Catholic party, and that he should express himself in terms of extreme bitterness and reproach, to the Holy Father. These losses, fearful in extent and significance, would be sufficient to make all parties in the Confederation, including the most Irish and inflexible, to seek for peace, if it could be had with honour; but the Parliamentarians had now so far succeeded in England that the King had become a prisoner in the Isle of Wight, and there was no access to him. The Confederate council, which had already removed from Limerick to Kilkenny, sent Lord Antrim, Lord Muskerry, and Geoffrey Browne, Esq., to France, to see the Queen of England and the Prince, in order to make them acquainted with the gloomy state of affairs. Dr. French, Bishop of Ferns, and Nicholas Plunkett, Esq., were sent to Rome to negociate for assistance. An ambassador was sent to Spain for the same object. Meantime, whilst these active negociations were proceeding, the citizens of Limerick were improving and strengthening the city, fortifying the out works, spacious pile, seated upon a Rock, fully manned, his Lordship intends to endeavour the reducing of it, then to fall upon Fethard, and from thence to Clonmell. The Gentry in the Countrey desire to be admitted to a contribution, and his Lordship desires supplies from his souldiers from hence.-From a Perfect Diurnall of some Passages in Parliament, from Munday, 27 Septemb. till Munday the 3 of October, 1647. The portion of the Cathedral which Inchiquin struck with his cannon did not fall, though a breach was made, till 1848, when it came down with a terrible crash. The black marks of the fire are to be seen to this day. Nunziatura. and preparing for the emergency. The north gate of St. Francis's Abbey was finished, and bore this inscription: SANCTE JACOBI DEFENDE NOS AB HOSTE, HIC BELLONA The Catholics continued to hold possession of the city. Rinuccini had given directions for the resumption of the Divine service and ceremonies in their olden pomp and splendor, in St. Mary's Cathedral, to which he appointed the seculars and regulars, preachers on days specially set forth. Catholic rectors were in the receipt of their rents and dues. It was essential, under the circumstances, that they should not only show their sympathy, but that every prompt and decisive means should be adopted to place the city in a becoming state of defence. Affairs, however, outside, were hurrying with rapid strides to a disastrous issue. The Nuncio, who had been making wonderful exertions to sustain the old party of the country, to encourage the timid, to fortify the wavering, to infuse life into the councils of the Confederates, discovered that all his exertions were of no avail. Those who had appeared willing to accept his proposals were among the first to betray him. He found himself in a city-Kilkenny-where he had seen three hundred armed horsemen enter at the command of Lord Mountgarret, where the dominion of ill-intentioned persons would, in a few days, have joined hands with an army which was his declared enemy. It was stated that the commissioners of the council at Kilkenny had agreed to send letters to Prince Charles, to the effect that if he came to them, he should be proclaimed King of Ireland, and ratify the agreement between the council and Ormond, they would join with him against England, the Prince still making good all engagements to them by the latter and his agents. The council, it was further stated, Ormond being present, ordered that a squadron of ships, part of Prince Rupert's Fleet, and part of the Irish, should be sent to block up the Bay of Dublin, to hinder provisions from coming thither by water, and that all the forces they could spare out of garrisons should march into the field into Leinster, to a general rendevous within sixteen miles of Dublin. Everything conspired to compel the Nuncio to make a hasty retreat-he had lost, among others, the wise advice of his friend Richard Arthur, the Bishop of Limerick, whose obsequies he had attended. He left Kilkenny, to 1 See Ecclesiastical portion of this History. 2 "The lease made unto me by Andrew Creagh Maior of Lymerick and Francis Gough, Bp. of Lymerick, and Thomas Dunnohow Rector of St. Laurence, of the Tenement or waste Messuage in Mongrett-street, belonging to that Rectorie, was dated 20° die Junii anno Domini 1632, the rent reserved thereout to the Rector is fife shillings yearely by even portions, which was duely payed by James Mahowne in my absence yearely until Michaelmas 1644, since then myself payed the same to the Catholique Rectors, as appeareth by their several Acquittances, the last whereof beareth date the 17th of November, 1649."—Arthur MSS. It further appears from p. 100 of Arthur MSS. that this rectory of St. Laurence was in the patronage of the Corporation. Dr. Arthur states that at this time, 1648, he attended the Right Rev. Dr. James Moloney, Bishop of Killaloe, for an old fracture, which was not cared for previously, the bad effects of which had been going on for nine months, and which turned into gangrene. He says he was paid his fee of £1, probably the ordinary fee of that day. From a perfect Diurnall of some passages in Parliament, from Munday 12th March till Munday 19th March, 1648. the terror and consternation of those who had heard of his sudden departure, many of whom expressed a belief that it was his intention to move O'Neil against them; but O'Neil at this time had not six hundred soldiers, and before he could collect the remainder of his army together, the conspirators were aware that the forces of Preston would have arrived in Kilkenny before him. He thus escaped arrest, and the confiscation of the money which he yet had with him, and resolved to proceed to Galway, which had shown a strong affection for the cause, and be near the sea to take shipping for France on the very first moment. He reached Maryborough in his route, where he met Don Eugene, and several of the Bishops, who took council as to the imminent danger in which he was at the moment, surrounded by Preston's army, which was deemed ten thousand strong. The Bishops begged of him, on their bended knees, not to abandon the country in the emergency-that if he had no regard for his own honour, he should for that of the Holy See, of which it would be said with eternal shame in Ireland, that after having sent succours in religion, the Irish gave nothing but empty shadows. He saw that things had come to the worst-that delay was only a danger. However, after several interviews, he came to the resolution on the 27th of May, together with the sub-delegated Bishops, of publishing an excommunication against the accomplices and adherents of the truce, and of interdicting the cities where it would be received. In an instant 2000 soldiers passed from the side of Preston to O'Neil. This bold step saved the cause, for the time, from utter annihilation. Seventeen of the Bishops were for the censures, eight were against them. The religious orders were divided in the same proportion; the Dominicans, with only one exception, and the Franciscans, without an exception, concurred with the Nuncio. Preston, taking advantage of the disagreement among the Bishops, stated that the excommunication did not affect him. Disunion, desertion, treachery, and above all, the overwhelming influence of Ormond even on the Bishops, who otherwise felt for the cause, forced the Nuncio to adhere to his determination of abandoning the country. With good guides he was conducted in safety to the confines of Connaught, and remained in the house of Mr. Terence Coughlan, of whom he speaks in the warmest terms of praise, as a man, who having joined neither side, in these disastrous times, was confided in generally, and had a singular affection for the Catholic religion, which he showed by his enthusiastic reception of the Nuncio. Coughlan heard one evening that Preston was to pass the following day, in order to unite with the troops of Viscount Dillon, and he immediately acquainted the Nuncio with the fact; nor was he less prompt in at once departing, than Coughlan in advising him to the step. He was conducted that night to a strong place on the river side; and in his journey he did not refrain from admiring the twilight of these northern nights, which irradiated the whole horizon, and gave light to their footsteps.3 From that place he went by water to Athlone, and from thence at last to Galway, from whence he could not at the time depart, and where directions were sent by the Ormondists to deprive him of the very necessaries of life. His vouchers and papers, which had remained with the Dean of Fermo, in Kilkenny, had been already seized, so that he could not show what money he had expended. The Bishops who adhered to him were threatened with the loss of their churches and benefices. Several were most severely dealt with. Don Eugene, for not uniting with Inchiquin, was declared to have 2 1 The Nuncio in his report to the Holy Father states that this was an exaggeration. 3 Ibid. 2 Nunziatura. broken the confederation, was pronounced a rebel, and guilty of high treason. The effects and property of the Nuncio were taken possession of, and sold by auction in Kilkenny. The Nuncio was in want of a ship. The San Pietro lay at Duncannon Fort, which had ever been true to the cause of the Nuncio since it fell into the hands of the Catholics two years before, when Preston took it, not, however, without the special assistance and valuable help of Father Scarampi. Ultimately, however, the San Pietro was got around the coast to Galway, from which he took his departure soon afterwards. 3 On the 29th of September, Ormond, who had been some time in France, from which he took his departure by Havre-de-Grace, landed at Cork, accompanied by Lord Castlehaven and others. Lord Inchiquin went to Cork to meet and welcome him. Slowly advancing towards his noble palace at Carrick-on-Suir,-a palace which to this day, even in its decay, shows what it had been in its olden splendour, he gave it to be understood by every one that he was sent by the Queen in order to find a means of settling the affairs of Ireland. In Carrick-on-Suir he received a solemn embassy from the Assembly of Kilkenny, at the head of which was the Archbishop of Tuam,2 standard-bearer to all those who, forgetful of their duty to the Holy See, employ their hands in every act of sacrilegious violence, and that person, above all, who had promised the Nuncio that he never would consent to the re-establishment of the Marquis. On the 6th of October he published a declaration upon his arrival in Ireland, in which there is the passage:-"We profess and declare, first, to improve our utmost endeavours for the settlement of the Protestant Religion, according to the example of the best reformed churches-secondly, to defend the King in his prerogatives." The city of Limerick, which was applied to for money, to meet the exigencies of the Irish army, pleaded inability, and offered only £100. The four distinct interests in the kingdom, continuing to remain irreconcilable, viz. the King's, the Presbyterians', the Supreme Council's, and Owen Roe O'Neil's, the Parliament, on the 28th of March, solemnly resolved that Oliver Cromwell should be constituted General of all their forces then in Ireland, and that he should be sent thither. Cromwell, accordingly, prepared for the expedition with the greatest diligence." The Lord of Ormond is at last landed, beyond all expectation; and for his better welcome hath brought over with him 4000 Armes, and 500 Curassiers' Arms, part of that supply designed for the Scots' armey in England by the Lord Jermin, and those in France; hee hath not brought above 50 Cavaliers, and yet enough to put this poor kingdom into more troubles, and make it the seat of their malice, where it can have no vent in England. Wee are in exceeding want of men and money, without which wee can do nothing, unless it be to sculk out a little, and perhaps snatch away a garrison, and so return. The Bogg of Allen was taken rather by courtship than foul, at the armies last march.-Moderate Intelligencer, from October 12 to Oct. 19, 1649. 2 The Archbishop of Tuam in his escape from Kilkenny, on his way to Tuam, was killed by the Scotch at Sligo. He had a document on his person which gave an account of the monies brought to Ireland by the Nuncio, and how they were expended. He received from Cardinal Barberini 10,000 scudi, from Cardinal Mazzarini 25,000 lire, Tornese; he also received arms and ammunition. The Nuncio also had 15,800 scudi of his own, which he gave in sustainment of the cause.-Nunziatura. 3 Nunziatura. 4 Ibid. Carte's Life of Ormond. • Nunziatura. 7 Cox Hib. Angl. CHAPTER XXVI. LIMERICK CROMWELL SENT ΤΟ IRELAND CONTINUED NEGOCIATIONS CROMWELL, having taken the field in 1649, perpetrated the most revolting excesses. The Province of Connaught, however, continued in the hands of the Catholics, whilst Waterford, Limerick, and Galway, were so strong as to be capable of resisting the advances of Ireton, the son-in-law and lieutenantgeneral of Cromwell. These cities, too, hoped for succours from sea, and feared no force that could be brought against them. The forts of Duncannon and Sligo, the castles of Athlone, Charlemont, Carlow, and Nenagh, were in the hands of the Catholics also. Strength and numbers were of no avail, however, without union, and we have seen already how deficient in that essential element were the councils of the Catholic party-parties, we should say-for the Catholics were split up into contending factions. Ormond allowed the Catholics to select a leader in place of O'Neil; the choice fell upon M'Mahon, the Catholic Bishop of Clogher, who not only stood high in the estimation of Ormond, but possessed great favour with the Ulster Irish.' M'Mahon saw the necessity of the whole nation uniting together as one man for their defence; he laboured so hard with the clergy that he got them to enter into a superficial union at least, to bury in forgetfulness all that had passed; to enter into solemn resolutions that for life, fortune, religion, they could expect no security from Cromwell; to express their detestation of all animosity between the old Irish and the English and the Scotch Royalists, and their resolution to punish all the clergy who should encourage them. Brave and courageous in his new capacity, but deficient in experience and generalship, M'Mahon was defeated with great loss in a battle at Letterkenny, by Sir Charles Coote. Ormond at once cast his eyes on Limerick, "a place of the utmost consequence, and which soon would be attempted by the Parliament forces." Having come to Limerick, he endeavoured to persuade the citizens to receive fifteen hundred infantry soldiers and three hundred cavalry, as the only means of saving the kingdom; this proposal was rejected; and Ormond attributed its rejection to the influence of the clergy. He summoned twenty-four of the Catholic Bishops to attend him at Limerick, that he might confer with them and some of the nobility, and resolve, on their advice and assistance, on effectual measures for the advancement of the King's service and that of the people. A conference was held, in which the Bishops agreed to certain propositions which they presented to Ormond for the removal of the discontents; they required that the Receiver General should account for the monies levied since the peace, and that a privy council should be composed of the native nobility, spiritual and temporal, to assist the Government. Ormond consented. The Bishops then published a declaration that they would root out of men's hearts all jealousies and sinister opinions of Ormond and the Government, desiring his further directions, and promising, on their part, the utmost care and industry. These proceedings partially changed the determination of the citizens of Limerick-but events proved that the change Carte. |