(2) A Widespread Confederation. [The Lords Justices and the rest of the Council to the Privy Council (17 June, 1598). Cal. 8.P. Ireland, p. 182.] We have daily advertisements of Tyrone's treacherous practice to extend his rebellion and treason into all parts of the Realm, having his ministers to pass to and fro through every province and other country of the Kingdom, labouring to seduce the people, by many colourable offers and pretences, to right them in their supposed Irish claims and titles to land and countries, long since lawfully evicted from them, and to introduce Papistry, which he beginneth now to make a more firm ground of his rebellion than he did before, insinuating that he is borne up and maintained therein by the Spanish King, by which course he hath wrought dangerous impressions in the hearts of the people, who, of themselves, are overmuch inclined to alteration, but specially being carried with the promise of restitution to their idolatrous religion and old vain titles of lands. And though there be some, who are not so lightly carried down the stream as the rest, but do stay to await what time will bring forth, yet it is to be doubted that many of those seeing her Majesty not to proceed so resolutely as were to be wished, to pull down this great traitor, may grow to a further weakness in their loyalty than is meet for good subjects, specially when they consider how long her Majesty hath suffered him in his rebellion, and how much he hath prevailed therein . . . if Tyrone be not out of hand before winter otherwise encountered than he hath been, he will put in hazard to shake the whole State. For, though he feed the people with the pretences before touched, yet we are of opinion that it is not religion, nor old beggarly titles, that do carry him, but that it is the alteration of the Government and State that he aimeth at, as by his letters, which we have formerly signified to your Lordships, he hath promised to the Spaniards, and is still countenanced and encouraged therein by them. (3) Aims of English and Irish Lords. ["A Discourse of Ireland sent to Sir Robert Cecil from Sir George Carew (1601). Cal. Carew MSS., IV. 168.] The common opinion received, and by the rebels published, to be the principal motives of their late and former rebellions since her Majesty's reign, is supposed to be religion; but therein let no man be deceived, for ambition only is the true and undoubted cause that moves the lords and others of this Realm to take arms. In the which, the English race and the Irish have different ends. The English to recover again the supreme government in bearing her Majesty's sword by one of themselves, as for many years and ages they have done, and generally striving to have the captainries of their countries like palatinates in their own hands, not admitting of sheriffs or other officers of justice to restrain their barbarous extortion or to overlook them. Thus far only the ambition of the English reacheth; for to be subjects to any other prince than to her Majesty, or her successors, no man can think them so sottish as to desire it; and to be in any other quality (than in the state of a subject) they cannot be so foolish as to propound any hope. The Irish lords aim at a higher mark, still retaining in memory that their ancestors have been monarchs and provincial kings of this land, and therefore to recover their former greatness, they kick at the Government and enter into rebellion, losing no times. of advantage or refusing the least foreign aid that may (by troubling the State) advance their desires; hoping in time (by strong hand) to regain the Crown of Ireland to themselves. These several ambitions swelling in the hearts of the English and Irish lords . . . are the true grounds of their continual rebellions.1 XLV. IRISH NEGOTIATIONS WITH SPAIN (1) The Earl of Tyrone and O'Donnell to the King of Spain (5 Oct., 1595). [Cal. Carew MSS., III. 122-3.] Our only hope of re-establishing the Catholic religion rests on your assistance. Now or never our Church must be succoured. By the timidity or negligence of the messengers our former letters have not reached you. We therefore again beseech you to send us 2,000 or 3,000 soldiers, with money and arms, before the feast of St. Philip and St. James. With such aid we hope to restore the faith of the Church, and to secure you a kingdom. (2) The Earl of Tyrone to Don Carolo 2 (5 Oct., 1595). [Ibid.] The faith might be re-established in Ireland within one year, if the King of Spain would send only 3,000 soldiers. All the heretics would disappear, and no other sovereign would be recognised than the King Catholic. Both I and O'Donnell have besought him to succour the Church. Pray second our petition. If we obtain positive assurance of succour from the King, we will make no peace with the heretics.3 1 See Carew to the Privy Council (20 July, 1602)-Cal. Car. MSS., IV. 276–7. For further contemporary opinion as to the causes of Irish revolt, see Fynes Moryson, Itinerary (ed. 1907), II. 238-9; Spenser, View (Globe ed.), p. 649 ; Pac. Hib. (ed. O'Grady), I. 221-2; Capt. Thos. Lee, "A Brief Declaration of the Government of Ireland, opening many Corruptions in the Same" (1594), pr. in Lodge's Desid. Cur. Hibernica., I, 89-150. * Probably Don Luis de Carillo, Governor of Corunna. See Cal. S.P.I. (1600-1), PP. 105-6. 3 Both these letters which are written in Latin were intercepted. For the negotiations between the Irish chiefs and Spain at this period, see Cal. S.P. Spanish (1587–1603). (3) Philip II, King of Spain, to the Earl of Tyrone (22 Jan, 1596). [Cal. Carew MSS. III. 141.] I have been informed you are defending the Catholic cause against the English. That this is acceptable to God is proved by the signal victories which you have gained. I hope you will continue to prosper; and you need not doubt but I will render you any assistance you may require. Give credence to Fussius, the bearer, and acquaint him with your affairs and your wishes. (4) Matthew (de Oviedo), Archbishop-elect of Dublin,' to Philip III (24 April, 1600). [Cal. S.P. Spanish, pp. 655-6.] I came to Ireland by your Majesty's orders to obtain full information from the Catholics, and urge them to continued zeal in the service of the faith and your Majesty. . . . I can assert that your Majesty has in this island the most brave and faithful vassals that any king can have, such, indeed, that if they were not already devoted to Spain, it would be necessary to obtain their adhesion by all possible means. As the oft-promised aid from Spain was hourly expected, when we arrived with empty hands, only again to repeat the old promises, they were overcome with sorrow and dismay, especially as they had news of the enemy in force, both by land and sea. Although O'Neill and O'Donnell are full of courage, they cannot prevail over the other chiefs their followers, who fear the long delay in the arrival of succour, and suspect that they are being played with. We have done our best to stiffen them by every possible argument, assuring them of your Majesty's desire to help them . . . and promising that succour shall be sent by your Majesty with all speed. This has tranquillised them somewhat, and they promise to wait five months, as they think that they cannot in any case hold out longer than that without help. .. They have done great things this summer, and O'Neill has overrun all Munster and submitted it to your Majesty, whilst O'Donnell has subjected Connacht. That your Majesty may understand what you possess in these Catholic[s], I may say that O'Neill had almost prevailed upon the Earl of Essex to desert the Queen's cause and join that of your Majesty, and surrender all the Realm to you. O'Neill in the course of the negotiations promised him, Essex, on behalf of your Majesty, that you would show him signal favour, and as Essex was distrustful in consequence of certain injuries he had inflicted on Spain, O'Neill gave him his son as a hostage. What more could the most loyal Spaniard have done? It is also certain that very lately O'Neill was offered the surrender of the City of I See p. 33. Cork, and he had to refuse it, as he knew not how to hold it without Spanish aid. These and sixty other gentlemen met in this monastery of Donegal, and they discussed matters not like savages, but like prudent men. They received the chains and your Majesty's portraits with great ceremony, saying they would wear no other bonds or chains than those your Majesty put upon them.2 They are very grateful for the arms and munitions, etc., and I, for my own part, humbly supplicate your Majesty to bear in mind the great importance of this business, for with 6,000 men you may carry through an enterprise which will bridle English insolence in Flanders, and secure Spain and the Indies from molestation. . . . I remain here according to orders, anxiously hoping to do good service to the Church and your Majesty. (5) Report of the Spanish Council of State to Philip III. on Ireland (13 July, 1600). [Cal. S.P. Spanish, pp. 665-6.] The Council have considered your Majesty's reply to the report herewith, and Don Juan D'Idiaquez has explained that his reasons for thinking that it would be well to undertake the Irish enterprise this year are as follows :— Your Majesty would gain enormously in prestige by conquering a kingdom thus unexpectedly. The bridle which the possession of Ireland by your Majesty would put upon England and the northern powers, would enable you to divert them from all other points of attack, and prevent them from molesting Spain, the Indies, etc. It would also enable you to make good terms of peace and recover the Flemish fortresses held by the English for the rebels. In case of the Queen's death, your Majesty, as master of Ireland, would be in a greatly improved position to nominate a successor to the English Crown. The rest of the Council agree with Don Juan, but express doubts with regard to the financial possibility, the time, moreover, being so short, and they fear it will be impossible to send the expedition this year. They think it will be best to encourage the Irish, and keep them in hand, by sending them without delay the money, biscuits, etc., already agreed upon, and, in accordance with your Majesty's instructions, to endeavour to relieve their present distress at once. At the same time preparations should be made, both by land and sea, in Flanders and here, to be ready to execute what may be necessary for the future. This letter was written from the monastery of Donegal. "Most nations dislike Spain. The Irish love it. It is just, therefore, that they should be succoured."-Report of the Council of State to Philip III. Cal. S.P. Spanish (1587-1603) p. 674 (6) O'Sullivan Beare to Count Caracena1 (16 Feb., 1602). [Ca S.P. Spanish, pp. 704-5.] [I] am rejoiced to learn that his Catholic Majesty welcomed so kindly the Earl O'Donnell. The news your Lordship kindly sends consoles me somewhat in my troubles, and I am very anxious to serve you in all things, as you are so full of sympathy for my poor country. With all frankness, then, I will tell you the present state of warlike affairs here. All of us who took the part of the King are on the verge of ruin, in consequence of the agreement made by Don Juan Del Aquila with the Viceroy, unless some remedy be sent speedily by the King. By this agreement Don Juan not only surrendered Kinsale to the English, but all the forts and harbours held for his Majesty in the province of Munster; together with my own, which of my free unrestrained will I placed in the keeping of General Zubiaur for as long as it might be of service to his Majesty. If this place of mine be surrendered with the rest to the enemy, all of us who are faithful to his Majesty in the province of Munster will be lost, and the spirit of our people broken. I, by God's grace, can serve his Majesty anywhere with a thousand men, armed in our Irish fashion, and will muster them at my own cost from my twenty leagues of well protected coast. But once my castle, the chief stronghold of my land, is surrendered to the enemy, I shall be reduced to such straits, that my people will follow my castles, and the Queen of England will get both. ... As I see the great importance of the business, I have considered it necessary to trouble you with so long a letter, whereby I trust his Majesty may be led to send us succour and consolation.3 (7) The Death of O'Donnell. [Sir Treasurer Buckhurst 4 (15 Oct., 1602). George Carew to the Lord O'Donnell is certainly dead. The report is both brought and sent unto me from Lisbon by merchants of this town which I employed into Spain. I know they dare not deliver untruths unto me. The death of this traitor will much advance the Queen's service in Ireland; for the other Irish which live in Spain are not of the estimation which O'Donnell was of; and as I hear and believe, the King grows weary of the Irish which flock thither, I Governor of Galicia. 2 Hugh Roe O'Donnell fled to Spain after the great Irish defeat at Kinsale in 1601. See p. 180, n. 2. 3 The author of this letter was Donall O'Sullivan Beare, chief of the O'Sullivans of Beare, Co. Cork. He held Dunboy Castle with a Spanish garrison against Sir George Carew, 1602. He was the uncle of Philip O'Sullivan Beare, author of the Historia Catholica Iberniæ Compendium (1621). See above, pp. 44, n. 6, 140, я. 2. 4 Thomas Sackville, first Earl of Dorset and Baron Buckhurst, Lord Treasurer of England (1599-1608). |