No More Learning

The constable of Cathal Oge.
the Scots was Alexander, the son of Donal Ballach, The sons of the earl of Clanrickard concluded son of Mac Donnell; and there were not in Ireland peace with the English, the summer this year, at that time two who bore a higher reputation, one after their towns had been demolished, and their as a gentleman, and the other as a constable, than kinsman hanged; they were granted peace without
Cathal Oge and Maolmora. On the same day the
son of O'Conor Don, namely Hugh, the son of Dermod, son of Carbry, was taken prisoner by
the Scots; but they refused to deliver him to the should pay the queen's rent twice year; Mahon captain, and they afterwards proceeded with him O’Brien was concerned the peace the sons
to O'Rourke, and O'Rourke redeemed Hugh from the earl. Two companies soldiers were quartered
they attacked them their beds, and sleeping places, and slew Alexander, together with vast
number his people; and that slaughter was due
O'Conor,
tax, cess bondage, and without injury being done
their estate military forces, while they should peaceable, condition, however, that they
revenge the death his brother
the Scots, and O’Rourke and Hugh were after that in alliance. Alexander, before mentioned, left O’Rourke in the harvest of this year, and went to
Nicholas (Malby), who received him with great welcome; and November he was retained throughout Hy Fiachra the Moy. When
Thomond, with captain Diring, from November the festival of St. Patrick.
A. D. 1582.
Margaret, the daughter Hugh Duv, son
the abbot Derry (Cuchonacht O'Firgil O'Freel); and the Corcomroe Clare; the O'Conors, lords Offaley; and the
dean Derry. The year our Lord when this indentnre was written, the monastery Donegal, was 1539, the 23d day
the month June, the Vigil St. John the Baptist. ” The fol lowing are the signatures the ecclesiastics who witnessed this document, written Latin: “Nos Edmundus, Episcopus Ra potensis interfui tempore premissorum; Ego Abbas 1}erensis,tes tis sum omnium premissorum; Ego Frater Rogerus Mac Cormac,
Guardianus Donegal, cum meo conventu fuimus testes premis sorum omnium Ego Shane O'Donnell sum testium premissorum unus; Ego Frater Terrentius O'Conor, testis interfui premis; Ego Decanus Derensisinterfui tempore premiss. ” The professional men signed
O'Conors, chiefs Derry; accounts all these different chiefs have been given the course the Annals.
the crown the lands over that county.
Sligo, and was equal power earl
Connaught, there were several other
follows Irish “I Conor Roe, am these sureties;
O'Clery, Sureties. ”
stated, “that
1585, the government the lord deputy sir John Perrott, O'Conor Sligo, who had formerly taken Patent for the county
Sligo, the yearly rent £100, did covenant that lieu this cess would pay per annum fine horse, and 100 large fat beeves for three years, and afterwards 130 beeves annually Michaelmas, the castle Athlone; and also that would
all Hostings bring 20 horse and 60 foot, and maintain them days, and would pay money £25 per annum, and that cases
necessity, should assist the queen with all his forces, and that should make legal estates the freeholders, they paying their proportion the aforesaid contribution; and the queen granted O'Conor all forfeitures for felony outlawry, re cognizance, and all waifs, strays, and penalties for bloodshed. ” Thus appears that that period, the reign Elizabeth, the O'Conor Sligo had the chief authority Sligo, and possessedunder
am these sureties;
Fergal Mac Ward,
am these
Cox's Hibernia Anglicana,
the year
Besides the O'Conors
great families the O'Conors, all different descent, and dis tinct tribes, the O'Conors, lords Kerry; the O'Conors, lords
The O'Conors of Offaley. —An account this great family, who were princes and lords Offaley Kildare and King's coun ty, and the head whom was styled the O'Conor Faily, has been given the notes Offaley, and other parts
Cox, his Hibernia Anglicana, gives account
which arose between two chiefs the O'Conors
was decided remarkable single combat, trial by wager battle, the month September, 1583. Teige Mac Gillpatrick O'Conor was accused Conor Mac Cormac O'Conor, before the lords justices and council, killing and murdering his men, being under protection; Teige answered, that they had, since the pro tection, confederated with the rebel Cathal O'Conor, and there fore were also rebels, and that was ready justify his assertion by combat. Conor accepted the challenge, and the weapons, which were sword and target, being chosen by the defendant, the next day was appointed for the battle, and Patrons were assigned
each them introduce them into the Lists; the day being come and the court sitting, the combatantswere likewise seated on two stools, one each end the inner court the Castle Dublin. Most the military officers were present render this action the more solemn, and the pleadings being read, the comba
lords justices, sir Henry Wallop, and Adam Loftus, archbishop Dublin.
their shirts and searched by secretary Fen them took corporal oath that his quarrel would justify the same with his blood; then the sound the trumpets they began fight with great reso lution, but length Conor Mac Cormac was twice wounded his leg, and once his eye, and therefore designed close with his adversary, but Teige being too strong for him, pummelled him till loosened his murrion, and then easily stunned him, and with Conor's own sword cut off his head and presented the
tants were stripped ton, and then each was true, and that
these Annals. contention Offaley, and
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 523
Hugh Roe, son of Niall Garv, son of Torlogh of and from that time forth their lands, towns, and the Wine O’Donnell, the wife of O’Reilly (of church livings, were allotted each, that they Cavan), i. e. of Maolmora, the son of John, son of were publicly friends, but privately discontented. Cathal, died in the spring of this year; and it is Teige, the son Conor, son Torlogh, son doubtful if there lived in Ireland at that time, of Teige, son Bryan the Battle Nenagh the women of the Gadelian race, a more bountiful O’Brien, died the month August, and like woman than that Margaret. wise the same week the earl; the deceased
The earl of Clanrickard, i. e. Rickard Saxanach, was champion bravery, and hero military
the son of Ulick of the heads, son of Rickard, son achievements; of Ulick of Knock Tuagh, son of Ulick Meadhan Thomond, until
ach, son of Ulick of the Wine, who had been brother Donal;
taken prisoner by the lord justice, sir Henry and France, and from thence England, where
Sydney, in the year of the Christian era 1576, and
had been confined for a year in Dublin after his
capture, and had been the remainder of the time
till this year imprisoned in London, was seized
in the summer of this year with a continued con son Teige, son Torlogh, son
was for some time tanist was expelled along with his
afterwards went Spain
obtained pardon, and his landed property, except the tanistship alone; died the fulness
age, and was buried the monastery Ennis.
Donogh, the son Murrogh, son
Torlogh, Bryan the ignomini ous death, viz. , was hanged Thomond cap
tain Mordant, who was marshal the country, and by the sheriff, sir George, the son Thomas Cusack; had, the previous year, joined the sons the earl Clanrickard, but having repent ed, returned protection; those having found
sumptive disease, and his physicians and medical
attendants informed him that he was more likely
to die than recover from that sickness, and if he
had any chance of recovering his health it would be by visiting his native place, and living in the air
Battle Nenagh O’Brien, came by
of his own country; the earl was therefore allowed
to return to Ireland on account of his health, by
permission the sovereign and council, and par fault and deficiency the protection, took Donogh
don was granted him for his sons, and forgiveness
the depredations they had hitherto com He first landed Dublin, and then pro Athlone, and from thence the town
prisoner, and hanged him, we have before stated, the 29th September, Friday precisely,
for
mitted.
ceeded
Galway, where was welcomed with great glad Donogh, the son Torlogh, son Murtogh, son ness;
remained there rest and recruit him self, and his friends and relatives from among the English and Irish came visit him. When
Mac I-Brien Ara (in Tipperary), after having been for long time opposition his father, and league with the earl Desmond, returned
wished visit his people, his territory, and under protection; but was attacked un sons, his malady and sickness increased, which friendly manner, and slain by his brother Torlogh.
finally died, the month August precisely. O'Carroll, John-an-Bhealaigh, the son His Cluiche Caointeach (the ceremony funeral William Odhar, son Firganainm, son Mul
roona, son John, was, with abominable and unprofitable treachery, slain Mulroona, the son Teige Caoch, son Ferganainm; but Mul roona, however, did not long survive that murder, for himself came by his death three months dispute and controversy, went before Nicholas after, having been slain by relative, namely,
cry practised the ancient Irish), was performd his merchant friends that town, and his corpse
was conveyed interred with due solemnity the town Loughrea. His sons, who were peace with each other till then, having entered into
Malby, the governor the province Connaught, and both having proceeded Dublin,to appear be fore the high council, peace was made between them
that occasion, the following terms, viz. , Ulick
was appointed lord and earl his father's place, and the barony Leitrim was conferred John,
Calvach, the son William Odhar, and Calvach himself was nominated succeed his brother.
The four sons Roche (of Fermoy, Cork), namely, the sons David, son Maurice, son David, son Maurice, were slain by traitors the month April; and although they were slain
the gate Limerick; his corpse was conveyed his native place, and was interred Ennis.
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524 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1582.
by the same party, it was not on the same day country, were slain there; the constables the they were killed, for Redmond and Theobald, with Mac Sweeneys were also slain there, that not a great many of the gentlemen of their people, and more than fourteen men the people the of their chief constables, were slain while in pur country, who bore arms, survived that conflict, suit of a prey, which was carried off by the sen and Roche and Maurice were obliged bring eschal ofImokilly, and Gillpatrick Condon, in a
part of the country where they came in contact
with the traitors (Fitzgerald, seneschal of Imokilly,
killed twenty-five of the garrison of Lismore). Donal, the son Theobald, was slain, and his
The son O'Mulloy (of King's county), Theobald’s wife at that time was Grace, the death was the less lamented, account his hav
daughter of Torlogh, son of Murtogh, i. e. the daughter of Mac I-Brien of Ara, and when she
beheld her husband with his bones broken in pieces, and in a disfigured condition, while being conveyed
and both were buried together.
The Barry, i. e. David, (Barry, of Barrymore,
in Cork), defeated Maurice, the oldest son of
Roche, in an engagement; and Maurice made
his escape from that conflict after he had lost many of his men and horses.
The seneschal before mentioned (Fitzgerald of
Imokilly), and Patrick Condon, about the follow force, without either being quest the other; ing November, entered the western part of Roche’s John was wounded and taken prisoner the spot, country, (Fermoy, in Cork). John and Ulick, and had not gone mile beyond that place
ing endeavoured supplant and expel his father, order that himself might assume his place.
The son the earl Desmond, that say, John, the son James, son John, son
Thomas, the earl, fell unfortunately his ene and died the same night alongside of her husband, mies, which happened exactly after the following
towards her, she screamed in a wild frantic manner,
population from other districts inhabit the country afterwards.
manner: John having proceeded with four horse men the woods Aharlo, hold conference
with Barry More, who was leagued with him carrying depredations, crossed Avonmore (the river Blackwater), southward, the noon
the young sons of Roche, and the entire country,
rose up against the depredators, and defeated the
traitors in the first conflict; they continued to
pursue them beyond the boundary of the country,
to the vicinity of their strongholds in the forests
and woods, where the depredators turned on the
two sons of Roche, and slew them, together with would have been lamentable, on account his
those that were along with them and though seldom happens that slaughter takes place with out some one escaping, very few escaped those who had taken part that pursuit; nobles, land holders, chiefs Pobals (people, clans
tricts), and men worth and consequence
A. D. 1582.
Death Sir John Desmond. —In 1581 David Barry, baron Buttevant and Barrymore Cork, having opposed the
government, captain Walter Raleigh obtained warrant seize on Barry's court, and having set forward with his forces, lord Barry set fire his castle sooner than let fall into the hands the English, and the same time Fitzgerald, seneschal Imo killy, having attacked Raleigh, defeated his troops and forced him
fly Cork. David Barry and Fitzgerald Imokilly having afterwards entered into contention, sir John Desmond, the
month August, proceeded with force near the Blackwater reconcile them, but captain Zouch, then governor Munster, and
captain Dowdall, having learned where Desmond was cross the Blackwater, set out the night with strong force from Cork,
liberality bestowing valuable presents and much
wealth, and his feats arms leading forces. James, the son John, son Gerald, son
Thomas, the earl, who was taken prisoner along with John, the son the earl, was hanged shortly after, together with his two sons. "
and having arrived break day Castlelyons, they posted
themselves wood through which Desmond was pass, who being thus taken surprise, fought valiantly, but fell mortally wounded, and died the way they carried him Cork, along with many his followers who were made prisoners. Desmond's head was cut off and sent Dublin, where was fastened pole, and put the top the castle, and, according Mac Geoghegan, his body was tied gibbet the gates Cork, where remained for three four years, till was length car ried into the sea the wind. This sir John Fitzgerald, called John Desmond, was valiant commander, and was brother the earl Desmond, and sir James Desmond, whose death has been recorded the Annals the year 1580.
dis the
dark gloomy day, and was met front front, and face face, captain Zouch, with armed
when died. They conveyed him with his face under, across his own horse, Cork, and on arriving that town, they cut him into quarters,
and his head was sent Dublin, victory; and were not that the crown England, the loss
trophy was opposed
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 5 25
Catheleen, the daughter of Teige, son of Donal, Kerry), and afterwards joined his sons. He was son of Cormac Ladhrach Mac Carthy, the wife of not joined in that insurrection by the inhabitants Fitzmaurice of Kerry, died; her funeral proceeded of Baile-Mac-an-Chaim, or Baile-ui-Chaolaidh, or on Loch Lein Linfhiaclaigh, and her remains were by the Mac Pierces. Fitzmaurice took his sons with conveyed from one island to another, through him from the town, and both parties returned back to fear of the plunderers, and were interred in the their woods; but they had scarcely gone when
monastery of Airbealach (Irrelagh, or Mucruss Abbey, at the Lakes of Killarney).
Captain Zouch came to the country, on report of the death of Captain Hatsin, and to relieve his people; when he did not succeed in overtaking them about the town, he hanged the young hostages who were in the hands of his people from the coun try; he then scoured the woods in search of Fitzmaurice and his sons, and on that occasion he
Great wind, with constant rain, and excessive dearth, prevailed in successively; this year also was large nuts.
stormy weather, those two years remarkable for
A company of foot soldiers, and half a company
of cavalry, of captain Zouch’s force, were took much prey and booty, and slew many per quartered at Ardfert (in Kerry), from the begin sons; he put the inhabitants who had been along ning of harvest of the present year; and although
they had plenty of provisions and stores from the
queen, they did not cease from consuming and
wasting the country about them; and the son of
the chief of each Pobal (clan), in the country was
obliged to be sent to them as a hostage.
with the captain in that insurrection in possesion of Leac-Bebion, which had been vacated by Fitz maurice and his people. In some time after that, Fitzmaurice brought the earl of Desmond to the country, and having given battle to the people of Ardfert, they slew their captain, lieutenant, and
Patrick, Edmond, and Robert, the sons of Fitz ensign, and a great number along with them. Fitz Maurice (of Kerry), were joined with the Geral maurice suffered much above all others in that war, dines in the war, since they had left their imprison for his people were exterminated, and his corn,
ment in Limerick till then. On a certain night buildings, and dwellings, were destroyed; he had those proceeded to Ardfert, and on the following no security in taking refuge in the hollows of trees, morning seized on the booty of the town; Captain or of rocks, or caves of the earth, or in under Haitsein, the captain of the cavalry, rushed sud woods, for in those recesses he dreaded his ene denly upon them, without waiting for his soldiers, mies might find him. Captain Zouch went to but he was quickly encountered, and in the first on England in the month of August in this year, set was dismounted and dispatched by the sword. having left another captain in his place as The sons of Fitzmaurice returned with their prey, governor over the people of Munster; this captain
took with him all the soldiers that then were in gentleman of the Clan Sheehy, who was at that Ardfert to Cork, and from that time there was not time along with the sons of Fitzmaurice, namely, a company, or half a company of soldiers to overrun Murtogh, the son of Edmond, son of Manus, son of the country, or harass the Geraldines, to the end of
Edmond Mac Sheehy, was slain before the door of this year. Captain Zouch was killed in a conflict
and encamped at the town despite of the soldiers; a
the monastery of O’Torna (Odorney, in Kerry), by
the sons of the bishop of Kerry (James Fitzmaurice,
bishop of Ardfert), who were aiding the queen's
people on that occasion. Fitzmaurice, (Thomas end of the year, between Druim Fingin, Aharlo, Fitzmaurice, baron of Lixnaw, and ancestor of the and Coill-an-Chuigidh, and his sole study and earls of Kerry), who was till then with the greater occupation during that time was to harass the portion of his estate under law, when he saw his Butlers by day and night, in retaliation for the country being completely plundered, and having injury the earl Ormond had committed the
| been informed of the death of the captain by his Geraldines till them. was the more easy sons, he at once demolished Leacsnamha, Listua harass the Butlers, that the earl Ormond was thail, Biaille and Baile-an-Bhundenaigh (the castles England this year, and that occasion
of Lixnaw, Listowel, Beaulieu, and Ballybunnion, in (Desmond), had his full satisfaction over the estate,
in England before he could return to Ireland.
The earl of Desmond was located, from the middle month of harvest of the present year to the
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526 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1582.
for he left the entire country in weeds and waste, The earl of Desmond made an incursion into from Waterford to Lothra (Lorrha, in Tipperary), Kerry the harvest this year, and remained and from Cnamhchoill to the county of Kilkenny; encamped for nearly week the upper part this was no wonder for those lands to be waste, Clanmaurice; his foot soldiers proceeded from on account of the frequent depredations committed that place seize prey Pobal O'Keeffe (in by the earl in the two Ormonds, the territory of Cork), but O’Keeffe, with the neighbouring Ara, Ikerrin, and South Ely (all in Tipperary), people the vicinity, pursued the depredators with tributary districts, Middlethird, the Third during great part the day through the Largs
Clonmel, and both sides the river Suir, Luachair Deadhaidh (the Largs Slopes,
far the gates Waterford. impossible Kerry, the borders Cork), until they came to relate or enumerate half or one third of the des near the earl’s camp. When the earl heard the
perate encounters, hard contested conflicts, and in conflict the Kerns, and the loud report the trepidonsets, that were carried the Geraldines ordnance, quickly advanced, and defeated that time, and was then was said that O’Keeffe, the same place; and there were very the lowing cow, the voice ploughman, few those who came the pursuit but were
was not heard from Dunkeen (in Kerry), Cashel of Munster. ”
slain. O’Keeffe himself, Art, the son
Donal, son Art, and his son Art Oge, were taken prisoners, and another son his, namely,
The earl Desmond proceeded, the summer
this year, the east Munster, and the west Hugh, was slain; the son the vicar O'Scully
part the country the Butlers. There hap was also taken prisoner there, and was afterwards
pened have been that time before him hanged.
Fiodh-Ard (Fethard, Tipperary), the two young David (Barry) the Combat, the son John sons the earl Ormond, namely, Edmond-an Oge, son John, lord Coillmore, died.
Chaladh, and Edward, who were the sons
son Pierce Roe, son James, son
and they were brothers the then earl
namely, Thomas, and those the earl had left over
the country
England.
that time
and well-appointed company galloglasses, and giomanachs (light soldiers); they resolutely pre pared attack the insurgents, and advanced the same field where the earl was; they watched each other without engaging from Fethard Knock Graffan (in Tipperary, between Cahir and Cashel), where the earl encountered his adversaries, and defeated the Butlers. They left great number
their cavalry, and their foot soldiers, the mercy their enemies, and disposal their op ponents, that the hill which they fought that battle was strewed over with dead bodies
the Geraldines. lamentable death took place there, namely, Colla, the son Maolmurry, son
Donal Oge Mac Sweeney, the chief constable the Butlers. On the other side there fell only Gerald, the son John Oge, son Thomas the earl (of Desmond), and his death was much
lamented his own country.
protect when was going
They had with them the town active body cavalry, and select
James, Edmond, Ormond,
the bishop Ardfert), that
venge their brother Murtogh, who had been formerly slain by the sons the bishop.
Thomas, Gerald, and John Oge (Fitzgerald) the sons John, son Edmond, son Thomas
Claonglass (in Limerick), died this year na tural death.
Owen, the son Maolmurry, son Donogh, son Torlogh Mac Sweeney, constable Des mond, meek, mild man, company and council, but resolute and determined conflict and battle, died.
Torlogh Oge, the son Torlogh, son Maol
murry, son Donogh, son Torlogh Mac Swee
ney, died, and there was none his tribe his
time who had less fear meeting any man than he.
Sir Nicholas Malby went England this year, and returned the winter the following year;
and during his absence captain Brabazon acted governor over the province Connaught. That captain proceeded into Tyrawley, the spring
this year, and laid waste and plundered the entire
James and Gerald, the sons Kerry (James Fitzmaurice, bishop
say, the sons James, son
slain the sons Edmond Mac Sheehy, re
Richard, were
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Mac Sweeny, and Donal, the son of Murrogh, son of Roderick More, son of Donal of the Victories
Ulick Burke, went pursuit rawley, the instigation
prey into Ty
REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 527
Mary, the daughter Con O’Neill, the wife Sorley Buighe Mac Donnell, died.
country, from one end to the other, marching
amongst them from one camp to another; neither
the sanctuary of saint or poet, nor wood or seques
tered glen, nor town or fortress, were a security (O’Donnell), was slain the 5th September.
against that captain or his people, and he devas tated the entire country.
Mac Sweeney of Banagh, i. e. Maolmurry Oge,
the son of Maolmurry, son of Hugh, son of Niall (the Tall), son David, son
Mac Sweeney, were slain on the 4th day of the
month of June, on the banks of Lough Foyle,
while engaged in carrying on a correspondence and
conference between O’Neill and O’Donnell, who took the depredators, and having attacked their then had two extensive encampments, with great forces, fierce and desperate conflict ensued be forces, on either side of the lake; the manner in tween them, and Rickard, and the most those which those lamentable deaths occurred was as
who accompanied him, were slain that encoun follows: A number of strange Scots came from ter, and the sons Walter Fada carried off the
Naghtan, the son Con, son Calvach
Mac Clancy Dartry, i. e. Cathal Oge”, was slain by his own kinsman, Teige Oge.
Theobald and Myler, the sons
Walter Fada Edmond, son
father's brother, i. e. Richard the Iron, and they seized some cows; Rickard Burke, the son Ed mond, son Ulick Castlebar (in Mayo), over
Mac William, their
O'Neill's camp, in a boat which was used for fer
rying across the narrow strait of Lough Foyle, and
being supposed to have come on some other errand,
until they arrived at the landing place, to the was slain the winter this year by Thomas forepart of the boat in which these two worthy Wideos, gentleman the queen’s party, and all constables were, with a few attendants, who were persons state that that killing was not fair.
patiently waiting there to have their conference concluded, they were immediately put to the sword by them (the Scots), who, however, fled themselves, without a wound, or losing a drop of blood.
try was much plundered in crops, corn, dwel lings, and cattle.
The dean O’Grady, i. e. Donogh Oge, the son Donogh, son Donogh, son Nicholas, man great power church and country, died.
Mac Brody, i. e. Maoilin, the son Conor, son Dermod, son John, chief professor history O’Brien (of Thomond), died, and his brother,
O’Dogherty, i. e. John, son of Phelim, son of
Conor Carrach, lord of Imisowen (in Donegal),
died on the 26th of May; had the deceased been
a hostage to be ransomed, horses and flocks would
have been given for his ransom; his son, John son John, died.
Oge, was appointed in his place, in opposition to Mac Conway, Bryan Dorcha, died the Cahir O’Dogherty, and on that account the coun 13th of June.
The Mac Clancys Leitrim and Clare. —The Mac one the sons king Niall the Nine Hostages, who had
fortress there the fifth century, and he gave its name the ad joining territory Carbury Sligo. There are still remaining someruins the castle Duncarberry, situated hill near Bundrowes Leitrim, not far from Lough Melvin one side, the Mac Clancys Thomond are mentioned the course and the Atlantic on the other. Mac Parlan's Survey Lei
Clancys Leitrim were the Ithian race, branch the Milesians Munster, and there was another clan the Mac Clancys Clare who were hereditary Brehons Tho mond under the O'Briens, princes that territory; many chiefs
these Annals, but they were the race the Dalcassians, and therefore different descent from the Mac Clancys Leitrim. The Mac Clancys, lords Dartry and Rossclogher West Bref
ney, possessed the extensive territory which now forms the barony
trim stated, that this castle was built Lady Isabel Clancy, the reign Elizabeth. The Mac Clancys also had fortresses several other places, Rossclogher, and the islands
Rossclogher, the county
Clancy's country; they were
they are designated O’Dugan
and many their chiefs are recorded the course these Annals.
Lough Melvin, &c. ; they formed alliances marriage with the O'Rourkes, princes West Brefney, and the O'Conors, lords Sligo, but they and those powerful chieftains were also often variance and war. The estates the Mac Clancys were confis
Their chief castle was called Duncarberry, Irish Dun-Cairbre, –signifying the Fortress Cairbre, and was named from Cairbre,
Leitrim, and was called Mac former times chiefs note, and “the mighty Mac Clancys,”
cated after the Cromwellian wars, but there are still some re spectable families the name Rossclogher, and other parts Leitrim.
prey triumphantly.
The son Mac William Burke, Rickard Roe, the son John, son Oliver, son John,
Giollabrighde, was appointed his successor. Dermod Ulltach (O’Donlevey Donegal), the
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528 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1583.
A. D. 1583. (in the county of Kerry), of the tribe of Hugh Con, the son of Calvach, son of Manus, son of Beandain, got an opportunity of surprising the Hugh Duv, son of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, died on earl of Desmond, who was in a Fianbhoth (a hut),
the 13th of March; he was a man highly accom concealed in the cavern of a rock, in Glen-an
plished, and ofgreat hospitality, a man of mildness and affability, a supporting pillar to the clergy and kerns, a purchaser of poetical compositions, and of laudatory poems, by his own great wealth, a man to whom least evil was ascribed, by fame or by word, of any of the descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, so that the Tirconnallians were, on the occasion of the death of Con, like unto a harp without a sound, a ship without a sailor, or a field of corn devoid of produce.
Ginntigh ; this party were reconnoitering and
surrounding that habitation, in which the earl was,
from the beginning of the night 'till towards
morning, when they rushed in on him in the cold hut, by the break of day, being on a Tuesday, and
the festival day of St. Martin, (11th of November), precisely; the earl was wounded and taken prisoner by them, for he had no persons to fight or make
resistance along with him, except one woman and two boys; they had not, however, gone far from
The earl of Ormond, i. e. Thomas, the son of the wood, when they instantly beheaded the earl, James, son of Pierce Roe, was governor of the two and had he not been engaged in plundering and
provinces of Munster this year; and the earl of Desmond became more confirmed in his treason
and rebellion, so that he commenced to devastate the country in his neighbourhood, during the
rebelling as he was, that earl of Desmond would have been one of the greatest losses in Ireland, namely, Gerald, the son of James, son of John,
son of Thomas of Drogheda, son of James, son of winter and spring of this year; his people, how Gerald-an-Dana (of the Poetry), son of Maurice,
ever, were so much in dread and fear of the law,
and of the sovereign of England, that they began
to withdraw from him, even his married wife,
children, and friends, so that he had only four
persons to attend him in his movements from one
cavern of a rock, or the hollow of a tree, to another,
throughout the two provinces of Munster, during
the summer and harvest of this year. When the
beginning of the winter and the long nights came
i. e. the first earl of Desmond, son of Thomas-na nApadh (of the Apes), son of John Caille, son of
Thomas, in whom the Geraldines of Kildare and of Desmond concentrate, who was the son of Maurice, namely, the Friar Minor, son of Gerald, son of Maurice, son of Gerald. The retribution of God in the extermination of the Geraldines was
not to be wondered at, as an act of justice on behalf of their sovereign, for to their ancestors had
on him, the lawless and rebellious of Munster been given, as a land of inheritance, the country
began to collect about him, and to renew the war, from Dun-Caoin (Dunqueen, in Kerry), to the
so that it was the will of God that the time had
arrived when an end and termination should be put to the war of the Geraldines, which was accom plished in the following manner:—A party of Uibh Muirceartaigh (O’Moriartys), along the river Mang
A. D. 1583.
1. The Earls of Kildare and Desmond—The following account of the earls of Kildare and Desmond has been collected from
Lodge's Peerage, Cox's Hibernia Anglicana, Borlase's Reduction of Ireland, Ware, Wills's Illustrious Irishmen, Campion and Han mer's Chronicles, Mac Geoghegan's Ireland, Smith's Histories of Cork, Kerry, and Waterford, and other sources, and many of these earls are mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters. The Fitzgeralds derive their origin from the Normans of France, and some of their ancestors, from Normandy, settled in Florence, and became dukes of Tuscany. Otho, a descendant of those dukes of Tuscany, came either from Florence or Normandy to England, and was a great baron in the reign of Edward the Confessor, and afterwards appointed Castellan of Windsor, and Warden of the Forests in Berkshire, by William the Conqueror, hence some of the descendants of Otho took the surname de Windsor, and were
Meeting of the Three Waters (at Waterford), and from Oilen-More-Arda-Neimhead, in Hy Liathain,
(Great Island, or Barrymore Island, in the harbour
of Cork), to Limerick. " -
Murrogh Bacach, the son of Edmond, son of
powerful barons, and from them were descended the de Windsors, earls of Plymouth. Otho, above-mentioned, had a son named
Walter, who had a son Gerald, and from him his descendants took the name of Fitzgerald. Gerald got grants of land in Berkshire,
from king Henry and being valiant leader,
Wales, and having reduced the Welsh princes
was appointed constable the castle and governor
Pembroke; got great grants lands Wales, and was married Nesta, daughter Rees Griffith, prince South
Wales, whom had three sons, Maurice, William, and David. From William Fitzgerald and his sons were descended the family Gerard, earls Macclesfield, and the Carews Wales and
Devonshire, some whom were earls Cork, and there were
other families note the name the celebrated warrior who came one the sons William Fitzgerald
Ireland. Raymond Gros, Ireland with Strongbow, was and from Maurice, son
was sent obedience,
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Geoffrey Carrach, the son of Donogh Bacach,
time. Gerald, his son, the 9th earl, was high treasurer, lord jus tice, and lord deputy Ireland some years the reign Henry
VIII. was one the most powerful and popular men Ire land, but having given his daughters marriage O'Conor, lord
E.
England, and, various charges disaffection, imprisoned the Tower London, where died the year 1534; and his five brothers, together with his son, lord Thomas Fitzgerald, were sent prisoners the tower, charges high treason, and all hanged
Desmond, was through grief for him he died.
Maolmurry,
Mac Sweeny, was slain by the Kerns of Inis-Caoin
the death of the earl of
and some
say
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son of
son of Donogh, son of Torlogh
Raymond, were descended the great family of the Fitzmaurices, barons of Lixnaw and earls of Kerry; from Hamon le Gros, or le Gras, were descended the Graces of Kilkenny, a family of great note, who were barons of Courtstown, and gave name to Grace's Country in Kilkenny. Maurice Fitzgerald, son of Gerald above
REIGN OF ELIZABETH.
Offaly, and O'Carroll, lord Ely, and formed some other al mentioned, came to Ireland with Strongbow, and an account of liances with the Irish chiefs, with whom was friendly terms,
him has been given at p. 42, in these notes; he was a very va contrary the statute Kilkenny, was commanded go
liant commander, and fought many battles with the Irish chiefs,
and was for some time one of the chief governors of Ireland, along
with Hugh de Lacy, lord of Meath; king Henry II. and Strong
bow, conferred on him large grants of lands in Leinster, namely,
in Offaly, in Kildare, and in Wexford and Wicklow. Maurice and beheaded Tyburn, the 3d February, 1536, which died at Wexford, A. D. 1177, and William, one of his sons, became
baron of Naas ; his eldest son, Gerald, became baron of Offaly in the reign of king John, and was also chief justice of Ireland;
he also got grants of lands in Sligo, and he died at Sligo in A. D. 1205. Gerald was succeeded as baron of Offaly by his son Mau rice, who got the lands of Maynooth in the reign of Henry III. ;
he founded a Dominican monastery at Sligo, and erected a castle there; he also got lands at Youghal, where he founded a Francis can monastery, in which he died, and was buried, A. D. 1257, having in the latter years of his life taken on him the habit of a Friar Minor, or Franciscan ; this Maurice was a valiant con mander in the various battles with the Irish chiefs, and also in the wars of Henry III. with the Welsh. His son, Thomas Fitz maurice Fitzgerald, baron of Offaly, got great estates in Kerry, and was ancestor of the Fitzgeralds of Munster; he died at Youghal in 1260. Maurice, brother of this Thomas, was some time lord justice of Ireland in the reign of Edward I. Thomas Fitz gerald, a grandson of the above-mentioned Thomas, became baron ofOffaly, and was appointed captain of Desmond, and powerful that was styled prince and ruler Munster;
was surnamed Nappagh, signifying the Apes, from re markable incident that occurred him when only nine months old, and nurse Tralee, the following manner:—On the news
events account has been given 404, these Annals, and the notes annexed on the rebellion of Silken Thomas. few
f
Carthys Desmond, his nurses being much alarmed, ran out the house, and leaving the child the cradle, was seized large monkey kept the house, which, apparently protect him, carried the child up the top the castle, and some time after brought him down safe, and laid him the cradle from this curious circumstance monkeys have been ever since borne the armorial ensigns the earls Kildare. This Thomas was the 7th baron Offaly, and his son John Fitz-Thomas Fitzgerald, was created earl Kildare 1316, king Edward II. , and his second son, Maurice Fitz-Thomas Fitzgerald, was created earl Desmond 1329, king Edward III. The Fitzgeralds, earls
Desmond, be held the crown by the service one knight's fee.
The ancient territory Desmond, South Munster, ex plained the notes Desmond pp. 170, 179, comprised the greater part the counties Cork and Kerry, with parts Tipperary, Limerick, and Waterford. Several the earls Desmond were eminent military commanders, and lords deputies Ireland; Maurice, the 1st earl, attended king Edward III.
his wars with France, and was some time lord justice Ireland; he died 1355, and was buried the Dominican abbey Tralee. Colin Fitzgerald, chieftain the house Kildare, ac cording the Scotch Peerage, but the house Desmond ac cording Lodge, went Scotland the thirteenth century, and having fought the army king Alexander III. with great bra
was some time lord justice Ireland, the reign Edward I. , and died A. D. 1296, and was buried the monastery Youghal;
years after the execution lord Thomas, who was the 10th earl Kildare, his brother Gerald became the 11th earl, and his suc cessors hold the title and honours the present day. James, the
20th earl Kildare, was created duke Leinster 1766, the reign George III; Augustus Frederick Fitzgerald, the present and 3d duke Leinster, the 22d earl Kildare, and 29th baron Offaly. Thus appears their high honours and pos sessions have been maintained the great family the Fitz geralds Kildare, for more than 600 years, and this noble house may applied the remark Lord Bacon—“It reve rend thing see ancient castle building not decay,
see fair timber tree sound and perfect; how much more be hold ancient noble family, which hath stood against the waves and weathers of time. ” The earls of Kildare had their chief castle and residence, ancient times, Maynooth, but they also had several other castles many parts Kildare, and they founded and endowed many monasteries that county, those Kil dare, Clane, Castledermot, Athy, &c.
The House of Desmond. —As above explained, Maurice Fitz Thomas Fitzgerald, son Thomas, baron Offaly, was, the year 1329, the reign Edward III. created earl Desmond, and he and his descendants got very extensive possessions the counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Waterford Kerry was
the death his father Maurice, who was slain the Mac erected into County Palatine, and confirmed the earls
Kildare, became one the most powerful families the king
dom, and many them were lords justices, deputies, and chief
governors Ireland, and were eminent military commanders very the battle Largs, against the Norwegians, got grant
Ireland, and the wars the English kings with the Welsh and
Scots, and the wars the English France several the
family were also knights Rhodes, and St. John Jerusalem.
Thomas, the earl Kildare, was lord justice Ireland the
reign Edward II. , and Maurice, the 4th earl, was lord justice
and custos Ireland several years the reign Edward III. Desmond. The families the Fitzgibbons Cork, Limerick, Gerald, the 5th earl, was lord justice the reign Henry IV. ,
and Thomas, the 7th earl, was lord deputy several years the reigns Henry VI. and Edward IV. ; was also lord chancellor Ireland, and his son, Thomas Fitzgerald, was lord chancellor the reign Henry VII. Gerald the 8th earl, was lord deputy Ireland many years the reigns Edward IV. , Richard III. , and Henry VII. , being under these different kings the chief
governor Ireland for period about twenty-five years; was one the most distinguished military commanders his
the Fitzgeralds Desmond; Desmond became barons
the barony Kintail, Rosshire, and the descendants his son Kenneth took the name Mac Kenneth, afterwards Mac Kenzie, and became earls Seaforth, and earls Cromarty, Scotland. The great families the Adairs Scotland and Ire land, are also, according Lodge, branch the Fitzgeralds
and Clare, were also branches
other branches the Fitzgeralds
Decies, Waterford, seneschals
Kerry and knights Glynn,
Desmond had numerous strong castles and fortified towns Mun ster, particularly Youghal, Cork, Askeaton and Kilmal lock, Limerick, Castlemain and Tralee, Kerry, &c. , and some Tipperary and Waterford; they founded and endowed many monasterries, those Askeaton, Adare, Kilmallock,
Imokilly, Cork, knights Limerick. The Fitzgeralds
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- 530 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1583.
(Iniskeen, a village in the barony of Carberry, county of Cork), of the Tanistship of Hy Carberry, a week before the death of the earl of Desmond,
and it was said that the killing of Geoffrey was a forewarning of the death of the earl.
John Oge, the son of John, son of Thomas, the
Tralee, Youghal, Dungarvan, &c. Gerald, the 4th earl of Des they became the chief military commanders of the Irish in Mun mond, was governor of the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and ster, in the war against Elizabeth, and for a period of about 15 Waterford, and lord justice and lord deputy of Ireland, in the years of incessant contests and sanguinary conflicts, they main reigns of Edward III. and Richard II. James, the 7th earl, be tained their position, but the earl with his brothers and cousins
came very powerful, and was custos of the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Waterford, in the reign of Henry VI. Thomas,
the 8th earl, was lord deputy of Ireland in the reign of Edward IV. , but being accused of high treason for alliances and fosterage with the Irish, and other charges, he was attainted in a parlia ment held at Drogheda, and beheaded in that town on the 15th of February, 1467, by order of the lord deputy, John Tiptoft, earl of Worcester, of which an account has been given at p. 280 in these Annals. James, Maurice, and James, the 9th, 10th, and 11th earls of Desmond, were very powerful noblemen, sometimes in high honour with the kings of England, and sometimes in alliance with the Irish chiefs, against the English government, Thomas, James, and John, were the 12th, 13th, and 14th earls, and men of great note. James was the 15th earl, and made some resistance to the government in the reign of Henry VIII. , but was afterwards appointed to the office of high treasurer of Ireland, which he held during the reigns of Edward VI. and queen Mary.
being slain, and many other leaders of the Fitzgeralds imprisoned and exiled, and all their forces dispersed and vanquished, the great Fitzgeralds of Desmond, after having maintained their pos sessions and power in prosperity and splendour for a period of more than three hundred years, were reduced to utter ruin, and their vast estates being confiscated by the crown, were transferred to new English settlers. Amongst the chiefs of the house of Des mond who were slain in these contests, the following were the most distinguished leaders, sir Maurice Fitzgerald, called Maurice Duv or Black Maurice, brother of James the 15th earl, was killed in the year 1565, in a conflict with the Mac Carthys; his son James, called Mac Maurice or Fitzmaurice, was a noted commander for many years in Munster, and brought over the Italians and Spaniards to Smerwick; he was slain A. D. 1579, as recorded in these Annals at that year, and his body was hanged by the Eng lish at Kilmallock. Sir James Fitzgerald, brother of Gerald, earl of Desmond, was in the year 1580 taken prisoner, hanged and quartered by the English at Cork; sir John Fitzgerald, called John of Desmond, brother of sir James, was hanged, quartered, and gibbetted by the English at Cork, in 1581 ; both these brothers were celebrated commanders for many years in Munster, and an account of them is given in the Annals at the above mentioned years. Gerald, the earl, was himself slain in the year. 1583, as
The Geraldines of Kildare and Desmond were by far the most
powerful and illustrious of the Anglo-Norman families in Ireland,
and produced many men eminent for valour and patriotism ; they
were often in alliance with the Irish chiefs, against the English
government, and having adopted the Irish language, manners, and
customs, they were charged by the English of having become
“Hibernicis ipsis Hiberniores,” or more Irish than the Irish them above recorded in the Annals. James Fitzgerald, the 17th earl selves. The earls of Kildare formed marriage alliances with the of Desmond, was taken prisoner in 1601, and sent to the Tower of O'Neills, princes of Tyrone, the O'Donnells, princes of Tyrconnell, London, where he died in A. D. 1608, as hereafter mentioned. the O'Conors, lords of Offaly, the O'Moores, lords of Leix, and Mac Geoghegan, in his History of Ireland, says—“Such was the the O'Carrolls, lords of Ely O'Carroll ; and the earls of Desmond end of the illustrious house of the Fitzgeralds of Desmond, the became allied by intermarriages with the Mac Carthys, princes of Maccabees of our day, who sacrificed their lives and properties in Desmond, and earls of Clancare; the O'Briens, princes and earls defence of the Catholic cause. ” The particulars of the death of of Thomond; the O'Carrolls, lords of Ely O'Carroll; the O'Sul the earl Gerald, above mentioned by the Four Masters, were as livans, lords of Beara, in Cork; the O'Conors, lords of Kerry, and
the O'Conors, lords of Sligo. As by the Act of the Anglo-Irish Parliament, called the Statute of Kilkenny, it was prohibited, under penalties of treason or felony, for any families of English descent to form alliances by marriage or fosterage with the Mile sian Irish, these alliances were brought as charges against the houses of Kildare and Desmond, in consequence of which many of them, as above explained, suffered confiscation of their estates, persecution and death. The earls of Desmond were sometimes in alliance, but more frequently at war with their great rivals, the
Butlers, earls of Ormond. In A. D. 1565, as related at p. 456, in these Annals, a great battle was fought in Waterford, between Gerald, earl of Desmond, and Thomas, earl of Ormond, in which Desmond, being defeated and taken prisoner, was, as mentioned by Cox, carried on a bier from the field of battle on men's shoulders, and one of the Butlers having insultingly asked him, “Where is the great earl of Desmond now? ” he replied with great spirit, “Where should he be but on the necks of the Butlers. ” Gerald, the 16th earl of Desmond, son of James, the 15th earl, was one of the most powerful subjects in Europe, held the rank of a Prince Palatine, with all the authority of a provincial king, had many strong castles and towns, and his vast possessions extended about one hundred and fifty miles over the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford, comprising about six hundred thousand acres of profitable land, independent of immense tracts of waste lands, so that his entire estates amounted to about one million of acres. He had a vast number of vassals, and could raise at a call a force of 2000 foot and 600 horse, and had besides in his retinue of his own kindred 500 gentle men of the Fitzgeralds. The earl of Desmond having resisted the Reformation in the reign of Elizabeth, waged war against the English government, and being joined by his brothers and relatives,
follows; his forces being defeated and dispersed, and his brothers and kindred slain, he was reduced to the greatest distress, and became a fugitive, with only a few followers, wandering through
the woods and wilds of Kerry, concealed in glens and caves to evade his pursuers, being outlawed, and a large reward offered for
him dead or alive. The earl in his misfortunes was chiefly sup ported by one of his faithful followers, Geoffrey Mac Sweeney, a captain of galloglasses, who being slain, the earl was greatly dis tressed for provisions, and some of his servants took a prey of cat tle between Tralee and Castlemaine, from one of the O'Moriartys, on which Owen O'Moriarty applied to the English governor of Castlemaine, from whom he obtained a party of 7 musketeers and 12 kerns, who pursued the cattle; this party about midnight having discovered a fire in a wood within a few miles of Tralee, they reconnoitred the place, and discovered 5 or 6 persons in a ruined house, and entering all the inmates fled except aged man venerable appearance, who sat by the fire; one Daniel Kelly, an Irish soldier, attacked the old man, and almost cut off his arm with blow his sword, which he cried out—“Spare me for am the earl Desmond,” but the base kern, regardless
his entreaties, killed him and cut off his head, which carried Cork, Thomas Butler, earl Ormond, who had
sent England present the queen, who caused
fixed pole London Bridge. This Daniel Kelly who killed the earl, was, says Cox, “a native Irishman who had been bred by the English had for that service pension £20 year
from queen Elizabeth, but going some misdeeds, hanged Tyburn.
November, 1583, mentioned glen called Glenagintigh, situated
London, was soon after, for
The earl was slain the 11th the Annals, sequestered the parish Ballymac Elli
gott, between Tralee and Castleisland; his body was concealed the people prevent from falling into the hands his enemies,
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earl (of Desmond), died at an advanced age while imprisoned in Limerick, on account of his sons being joined with the earl of Desmond.
The Roche,” i. e. David, the son of Maurice, son
of David, son of Maurice, and his wife Oilen (Ellen), the daughter of James, son of Edmond
stored to the earldom by queen Elizabeth for a political object, and, according to Cox and Lodge, he was in the year 1600 sent over to Ireland by the advice of sir Robert Cecil, in hopes he might regain the followers of his family, and bring them under obedience to the crown. When he came to Cork, says Cox, the inhabitants, finding he was a Protestant, refused to entertain him, so that he was fain to intrude himself on the mayor; he then went to Kilmallock, where multitudes flocked to see him and do him duty, but as soon as they saw him go to church on Sunday, they all forsook him and treated him with great contumely ; he was the 17th earl, and commonly called the queen's earl of Desmond ; he returned to London, where he soon after died in 1601, under sus picion of being poisoned. James Fitz-Thomas Fitzgerald, the son of sir Thomas, and grandson of James, the 15th earl of Desmond, attempting to recover the estates and honours of his ancestors, joined the standard of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, against the queen, and in 1598 was appointed earl of Desmond by O'Neill, and hence he was called O'Neill's earl of Desmond, in opposition to the queen's earl of Desmond, but as his title was not recognised by the crown, he was designated the Sugan Earl, signifying the Earl of Straw. Cox says the Sugan Earl was the handsomest man of his time, and one of the most potent of the earls of Desmond ; he was a valiant commander, and headed a great force for some years in Munster, but being at length defeated, he became a fugitive and outlaw, and a great reward being offered for him dead or alive, he was taken on the 29th of May, 1601, by Fitzgibbon, called the White Knight, while concealed in a cave in the mountain of Slieve Grot in Tipperary, and delivered to Carew, the president of Mun ster, at Shandon castle, for which service Fitzgibbon received a reward of one thousand pounds. Desmond was secured in irons and sent to Cork, where he was tried and convicted of
treason, and in August 1601, transmitted prisoner to London, to
gether with the celebrated chief Florence Mac Carthy, who, says Cox, was the greatest man of the Mac Carthy's since the conquest.
Desmond and Mac Carthy were both confined in the Tower, where
the earl died, A. D. 1608, after an imprisonment of seven years,
and was buried in the chapel of the Tower. John Fitz-Thomas,
brother of this earl, was also a commander of note in Munster for
some years, but fled to Spain in 1603; he was styled earl of
Desmond, and died at Barcelona ; his son Gerald, also styled
count and earl of Desmond, was in the military service of Spain
and Austria, and having died in Germany in 1632, thus terminated the illustrious house of Desmond.
Confiscated Lands-In 1583 an Act of attainder was passed against Gerald, the great earl of Desmond, and his vast estates
were confiscated, and no less than 574,628 acres were seized by the crown, together with his many strong castles, and transferred
1,600, and Edmond Spenser, the poet, 3,000 acres.
In Kerry. Sir William Herbert 13,000acres; Charles Herbert 4,000; sir Valentine Brown, ancestor to the earls of Kenmare,
to various new English settlers, who were called Undertakers and Planters. An account of this plantation is given by Cox, and in Smith's Histories of Cork, Kerry, and Waterford. Amongst the conditions on which these grants of lands were given, the Under takers were not permitted to convey any part of the lands to the
the family
Jane, daughter
maurice, baron
viscount Fermoy, lived the reigns Charles 1. . . and II. , and was distinguished nobleman supporting the interests king Charles Ireland during the civil wars, and consequence his
mere Irish, and the English settlers were also prohibited to inter marry with the Irish, and none of the Irish were to be maintained
steady adherent the tlelough, and some them were barons Tarbert Limerick.
REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 531
and, after a considerable time, privately buried in the small church
of Kilnamanagh, at Ardnegrath, near Castleisland. The great earl
of Desmond was long remembered in the tales and traditions of
the people under the name of Gioroid Iarla, or Gerald the Earl,
and in their wild legends represented as not dead, but that he and
his warriors were sleeping in a cave in the mountains of Kerry in
complete armour, and their steeds standing beside them ready
saddled, and that the earl and his champions would sometime arise
from their enchanted slumber, and war with the English, as the
ancient Welsh believed for ages, that their renowned hero, Arthur,
king of Britain, was not dead, but gone with his warriors to
Fairy-land, from whence they would one day return to liberate the
Kymri from Saxon bondage. James, only son of Gerald the earl,
was kept some years a prisoner in the Tower of London, but re Thomas Norris 6,000; Thomas Say 5,800; sir Richard Beacon
in any family. Cox says letters were written to every county in England to encourage younger brothers to become Undertakers in Ireland; the conditions were that the queen was to grant these confiscated lands in fee at 3d. per acre in Limerick and Kerry, and 2d. per acre in Cork and Waterford; to be rent free till March 1590; and to pay but half rent for three years from thence, and no Irish to be permitted to reside on the lands. Of the Desmond estates in Cork and Waterford, sir Walter Raleigh got 40,000 acres, which afterwards passed to the family of Boyle, earls of Cork. The other English Undertakers who got grants of the Des mond estates were the following. In Cork, Arthur Robins 18,000 acres; Fane Beecher I2,000; Hugh Worth 12,000; Arthur Hyde 12,000; sir Warham St. Leger 6,000; Hugh Cuffe 6,000 : sir
6,000; sir Edward Denny 6,000; John Hally 4,000; captain Conway and John Campion 2,000 acres.
In Limerick. Sir George Bourchier 13,000 acres ; William Trenchard 12,000; Henry Billingsly 12,000; William Cour tenay 10,500; Francis Barkly 7,000; Edward Manwaring 3,750; Richard Fitton 3,000; Robert Anslow 2,600; and George Thorn ton 1,500 acres. Limerick, Waterford, and Tipperary, sir Edward Fitton got 11,500 acres. Waterford, sir Christopher Hatton got 10,900 acres, and Tipperary Thomas Butler, earl Ormond, got 3,000 acres.
The Roches Fermoy. —The family Rupe Roche,
according the Irish Peerage and Rudiments Honour, Fran cis Nicholls, published 1727, were maternally descended from Charlemagne, king France and emperor the West, and the remarkable pedigree the ancestors this family, shewn that they derive their descent from the most illustrious sources,
their progenitors being allied,
earls Flanders, the counts
kings England, the house
queror, and other Anglo-Norman kings. The Roches came Ireland the reign Henry II. along with the other Anglo-Nor man chiefs, Strongbow's time; and the reigns Richard and king John, they got large grants lands Cork, the ter ritory Fermoy, which from them was called Roche's Country, and they erected castle, and founded Cistercian monastery Fermoy, and they had seats Castletown Roche, and other places. Alexander, David, John, and Maurice Fitz-John Roche, were succession barons Fermoy tenure, and about
1300 the lords George and John Roche are mentioned Lodge's Peerage the Fitzinaurices, earls Kerry, connected in termarriage with that family. the reign Edward IV. , about
1470, the most noble, potent, and honorable Ulick Roche was created viscount Rupe and Fermoy and Lodge's Peer age, the Courcys, barons Kinsale, David More Roche, viscount Fermoy, mentioned about the year 1490. According
the passage above the Annals, David Roche was, 1583,
viscount Fermoy, and his pedigree given son Maurice,
tired with regiment France, and died ther David Roche, viscount Fermoy, sat
the Continent. Ano the parliament King
intermarriages, with the great Bavaria, Alfred, and other Saxon Capet France, William the Con
son David, son Maurice, and his wife was Ellen Mac Pierce,
the Fitzmaurices, afterwards earls Kerry; and this David Roche, was married Patrick Fitz Lixnaw, Kerry. Another David Roche,
loyalty his extensive estates, estimated worth fifty thousand pounds per annum, were confiscated by Cromwell; lord Roche re
James II. Dublin, 1689, and was
House of Stuart. The Roches had also the title of baronsof Cas
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532 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1583.
Mac Pierce, died in the same month, at the end of this year; and there was not of the Fionn-Ghalla
O’Mulloy (of King’s county), i. e. Theobald, died.
(Normans), of Ireland, who ruled over a Triochad
Cead (barony), of an estate, a couple more noble Mac Carthy, lord of Muskerry, a man of good
than they were.
After the confiscation of their estates in the Cromwellian and Wil liamite wars, the Roches of Fermoy retired to the Continent, and
Cormac, the son of Teige, son of Cormac Oge personal figure, and of fair complexion, who pos
O'Dunn, lord of Bregia, prisoner, and carried him beyond the sea, to the east. In A. D. 1024, the men of Ossory and Leinster led their forces to Talcande, and carried off valuable articles and hostages from the Danes, and they were also defeated at Erlant. In A. D 1025, Flaherty O’Neill, king of Ulster, led his forces to Bregia, and carried off the hostages of the Irish from the Danes, and in the following year O'Neill came to Meath, with his ally, Malachy, and having attacked the Danes, they carried off hos tages from them, and having proceeded on the ice, they laid waste against the Danes Inis Mochta, now Inismott, on the lake of Ballyhoe, in Meath, on the borders of Louth and Monaghan. In this year, also, Raon, heir presumptive to the throne of Tara, de feated the Damesof Dublin in several battles in Meath.
The Battle of Lickblagh. -In A. D. 1027, Sitric, son of Aulaf,
Danish king of Dublin, joined by Donogh O’Dunn, prince of Bre
gia, led a great force to Meath, and proceeded as far as Leic Bladhma, or Leic Blagha, and to Monaigh Iomshlain, where they
were attacked by the men of Meath, commanded by Roen O'Me laghlin, prince of Westmeath, and a fierce battle being fought
between them, the victory was gained over the Danes and Bre gians, and an immense number were slain, together with Donogh O'Dunn, prince of Bregia, and Giolla Uasaill, son of Giolla Kevin, lord of Cualann, in Wicklow. The place where this battle was fought called Leic Bladhma, is now known as Licblagh, in West meath, between Castlepollard and Lough Sheelin. In another engagement the Danes defeated and slew Roen, prince of Meath, with many of his men.
Aulaf, king of the Danes of Dublin, went on a pilgrimage to Rome.
In A. D. 1029, Aulaf, son of Sitric, king of the Danes was taken prisoner by Mahon O’Regan, prince of Bregia, who compelled him
to pay as a ransom for his liberation 1200 cows, and seven score (140) British horses, together with sixty ounces of gold, and the
sword of Carolus, and sixty ounces of silver for throwing off his fetters, and eighty cows as the price of intercession, and four hos tages to O'Regan himself, for making peace; and Aulaf was also compelled to give up the hostages of Ireland, both of Leinster and Leath Cuinn, with a full redemption of all hostages. Several of the O’Regans and O'Kellys, princes of Bregia, are mentioned at this time, and they were in contention with each other for that prin cipality. In A. D. 1031, Ardbraccan, in Meath, was plundered by Sitric and the Danes of Dublin, 200 persons were burned in the stone church, and 200 more were carried off captives, together with much cattle. Gluniarn, the son of Sitric, was slain by the people of South Bregia,
Battle of the Boyne, &c. —In A. D. 1032, a victory was gained by Sitric, son of Aulaf, over the Conallians, or men of Louth, and other adjoining parts of Ulster, and 300 of them were slain or
made captives; this battle was fought near the mouth of the river Boyne. In 1034, Aulaf, son of Sitric, was slain by the Saxons, in England, while on his way to Rome. In 1035, Regi nald, grandson of Ivar, lord of the Danes of Waterford, was trea cherously slain in Dublin by Sitric ; he was succeeded by Com manus, son of Raban, who was slain in 1038, and in the same year Waterford was plundered by Dermod Mac Maolnambo, king of
some of them were distinguished commanders in the Irish Brigade
in France, and also in the service of Spain and Sardinia. There are
still many highly respectable families of the Roches in the coun
ties of Cork and Limerick, and accounts of them are given in
Smith's History of Cork, in Windele's learned work on Cork, and in Burke's Commoners.
IX. Danish Wars in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. —In the preceding articles, an account has been given of the Danish wars in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries, concluding with
the battle of Clontarf, and in this is continued, from p. 516, an account of those wars in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, down to the termination of the Danish power, and the invasion of the Anglo-Normans. On the death of Brian Boru, at Clontarf, A. D. 1014, Malachy II. who had been deposed by Brian, and reigned only as king of Meath, resumed the crown, and became again monarch of Ireland, and reigned to his death, A. D. 1022, and during this period he fought several battles with the Danes. In A. D. 1015, king Malachy, with the Hy Niall, and O'Muldory, prince of Tyrconnell, led their forces to Dublin, and burned the fortress and the houses outside the fortress, and afterwards went into Hy Kinsellagh, laid waste the country, and carried off more than 1000 captives, with flocks of cattle, but they were attacked, and a great number of them slain.
Battle of Odbha, &c. —In A. D. 1016, king Malachy defeated the Danish forces, and their allies, the Lagenians, with immense slaughter, at a place called Odbha, in Meath, where several other great battles were fought in ancient times, and is now named Dowth, and situated between Drogheda and Siane. In the same year, according to Inisfallen, Kildare, Glendalough, Clonard, Swords of Columkill, and Armagh, were burned by Sitric, son of Aulaf, and the Danes of Dublin, but they were attacked by Ma lachy and O'Neill, and great numbers of them were slain. In A. D. 1017, Brann, son of Maolmora Mac Murrogh, king of Leinster, was treacherously taken by Sitric, Danish king of Dub lin, who had his eyes put out, of which punishment he soon after died. In A. D. 1018, Kells was plundered by Sitric and the Danes of Dublin, and they carried off immense booty, and many captives, and slew a great number of people, in the midst of the church, In A. D. 1020, the shrine of St. Patrick and his relics, called Finn foideach, were plundered at Armagh or Downpatrick, by the Danes, and O'Aidith and the people of Lower Iveagh, who also carried off 700 cows.
Battle of Delgany. —In A. D. 1021, Ughaire, king of Leinster, defeated the Danes of Dublin, under Sitric, in a great battle, at Delgne Mogarog, in Hy Briuin Cualann ; this battle was fought at Delgany, in Wicklow, and the Danish forces were defeated with great slaughter, and several thousands of them were slain.
South Bregia, and as far as Duleek, and they slew Ainbith Rome in A. D. 1030, died on his way, and was succeededby his son O'Casey, lord of Saitne, and they treacherously took Donogh Aulaf VI. , who going on a pilgrimage to Rome, A. D. 1034, was
Battle of Athboy, &c. —In A. D. 1022, king Malachy gained a
great victory over the Danes of Dublin, near Ath Buidhe of
Tlachtga, now Athboy, in Meath, in which the Four Masters state
that a vast number of them were slain in the evening, at the Yel
low-ford. This battle was fought in the beginning of July, and
king Malachy died two months after, namely the 4th of the
Nones of September, on a Sunday, in the 73d year of his age, at
Cro-inis; an island in Lough Annin, now Lough Ennell, near Mul
lingar. In this year a great naval battle was fought between the
Danes of Dublin and Niall Mac Eochada, prince of Ulidia, in
which the Danes were defeated with immense slaughter, and
great numbers of them made captives and their ships taken from
them. In A.