Such were the men, whose new religious doctrine, and dise cipline, these people were required to embrace, against the conviction of their consciences, and at the peril of their liberties, fortunes and lives.

At the same time that the ignorance, and immorality of the reforming missionaries caused the Irish to hate and despise their doctrine, these people held the persons of their own clergy, in the highest esteem and veneration.* Of this, I shall mention

one remarkable instance, out of many others, that occur in their history. “Towards the end of queen Elizabeth's reign, her majesty's forces, besieging the castle of Cloghan, and under

2 Pacata Hibernia, fol. 358.

These prejudices were originally occasioned by the mad licentiousness, which appeared in the conduct and writings of the first reformers, particu larly those of Martin Luther: for to say nothing of his libidinous practice and doctrine, in marrying a nun, and preaching to his married followers, Si non vult uxor, veniat ancilla. The manner in which he drew up his last will and testament, on which occasion men are apt to exert their best and most serious thoughts, seems totally void of humility and common sense; though his panegyrist, Dr. Robertson, says, "there is a certain elevation of sentiment in it.”—“I am known" says he "in Heaven, on Earth, and in Hell: and have authority enough to expect, that credit should be given to my single testimony (without the usual legal forms in such cases) since God has entrusted the gospel of his Son to me, though a damnable sinner. And truth has owned me for its teacher, in contempt of the authority of the Pope, and Cæsar, and of the hatred of all the devils in hell. Why then should it be sufficient to say, "Mr. Martin Luther wrote this will, God Almighty's notary, and the witness of his gospel ?"—Life of Charles V. vol. ii. p. 68, note. * It's a great wonder," says the same Mr. Spencer, “ to see the odds,which is between the zeal of popish priests and the ministers of the gospel. For they spare not to come out of Spain, from Rome, and from Rheims, by a long toil and dangerous travelling hither; where they know peril of death awaiteth them, and no reward, or riches to be found, only to draw the people to the church of Rome. Whereas, some of our idle ministers, having a way for credit and estimation thereby offered, and having livings of the country offered to them, without pains, and without peril, will neither for any love of God, or zeal of religion, be drawn forth from their warm nests, to look out into God's harvest.-State of Ireland, p. 114,

In this reign, among many other Roman catholic priests and bishops were put to death for the exercise of their function in Ireland, “ Glaby O'Boyle, abbot of Boyle of the diocese of Elphin, and Qwen O'Mulkeren, abbot of the monastery of the Holy Trinity in that diocese, hanged and quartered by Lord Gray, in 1580; John Stephens, priest, for that he said mass to Teague M'Hugh, was hanged and quartered by the Lord Burroughs,

standing that in the same there was a Romish priest," (to which order of men they never gave quarter,) " having also in their hands, the brother of the constable, who had the charge of the castle, the commanding-officer sent him word, that if he did not presently surrender the castle to him, he would hang his brother in their sight. But to save the priest, whose life they tendered, they persevered obstinately not to yield: whereupon the officer, in their sight, hanged the constable's brother. Nevertheless, within four days afterwards, the priest being shifted away in safety, the constable sued for a protection, and surrendered the castle. I do relate this accident,” adds my author, "to the end that the reader may the more clearly see, in what reverence, and estimation these ignorant and superstitious Irish do hold a popish priest; in regard to whose safety the constable was content to suffer his brother to perish."

CHAP. III.

The conduct of the English chief governors of Ireland, towards

the natives.

MR. Osburne informs us', that in England, during queen Elizabeth's reign, to be a catholic was thought to signify nothing else, but an enemy to God, and the prince. The like

1 Osburne's Works.

in 1597; Thady O'Boyle, guardian of the monastery of Donegal, was slain by the English in his own monastery; six friars were slain in the monastery of Mognihigan; John O'Calyhor and Bryan O'Trevor, of the order of St. Bernard, were slain in their own monastery, de Santa Maria, in Ulster; as also Felimy O'Hara, a lay brother; so was Eneas Penny, parish priest of Killagh, slain at the altar in his parish church there; Cahall M'Goran, Rory O'Donnellan, Peter O'Quillan, Patrick O'Kenna, George Power, vicargeneral of the diocese of Ossory, Andrew Stretch, of Limeric, Bryan O'Murihirtagh, vicar-general of the diocese of Clonfert, Doroghow O'Molowny, of Thomond, John Kelly, of Louth, Ste. Patrick, of Annaly, John Pillis, friar, Rory M'Henlea, Tirrilagh M'Inisky, a lay brother. All those that come after Eneas Penny, together with Walter Fernan, priest, died in the castle of Dublin, either through hard usage and restraint, or the violence of torture.”—Theatre of Catholic and Protestant Religion, p. 582.

• One of the crimes, of which the unfortunate carl of Essex was accused, was that he promised, when he was in favor, a toleration to a papist, Sir Christopher Blunt; to which accusation Essex at his trial answered," that he knew Blunt was a papist, and never, indeed, liked that any christian

prejudice prevailed also, at the same time, in Ireland; and the name of Irishman, or papist, was deemed a sufficient justifica tion of any act of cruelty, or injustice, committed on the person who bore it. I say not this, merely on the testimony of Irishmen, and papists, but on that also of Englishmen, and protestants; some of them eye-witnesses of the facts they relate, who had the virtue to publish their detestation of them.

In a memorial presented to her majesty and council, by an officer, who had served several years in her army in Ireland ș some of those unconscionable courses of her ministers are set forth, particularly those frequent breaches of public faith, and the insecurity of any pardon granted to these people, on their submitting to the government; who, says the memorialist,

* Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin. See append. No. 1.

should be tormented on account of his religion.”—Cambd. Eliz. 318.—But this apology did not lessen the enormity of his crime in the opinion of his judges.

Yet the loyalty of the generality of their clergy and people there, was at the same time known, and confessed, even by their enemies. Holyshead testifies that there were many such subjects then known in the realm, that did not forbear to profess their religion, and also did profess loyalty and obedience to her majesty; and offered readily to her majesty's defence, to impugn and resist any foreign force, though it should come from the pope. Among the rest Dr. Heath, archbishop of York, a faithful and quiet subject, also, Dr. Poole, bishop of Petersborough; Dr. Tonstal, bishop of Durham, a man of great reputation; Dr. White and Dr. Oglethorpe, the one of Winchester, the other of Carlisle, bishops; and he of Carlisle so inclined to dutifulness to her majesty, as he did the office at the consecration and coronation of her majesty: to these are added Dr. Thurlby and Dr. Watson, the one of Ely, and the other of Lincoln, bishops; besides some abbots and deans, and a great number of laymen of good possessions and credit in the country. Vol. 3. anno Eliz. 26. 1358, &c.

"The catholic lords and bishops with all speed repaired to London to proclaim her majesty (queen Elizabeth); the archbishop and chancellor of England made a public oration to persuade the people to acknowlege her majesty."-Id. ib. p. 1170.

The author, in the body of his memorial, offers the following trial and proof of his veracity. "I desire not that your majesty should either simply credit me, in this my plain dealing, in detecting them," (her ministers in Ireland,) "nor them in excusing themselves. But, if it please your highness to appoint commissioners in that realm for the trial; if I prove not directly all that ever I have declared, let me lose your gracious favor for ever."

"without being guilty of any new crime, and without a legal trial were afterwards condemned and executed, to the great dishonor 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.

66

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 Oilean 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, earl 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 com clusion 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 committed."-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. 136.

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 in, and to cry out they were undone." Ib. fol. 355.-He adds, "that Fitzmorris 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.

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