No More Learning

galloglasses, with some bodies of musketeers and archers, whose Scorning the advantage this impregnable situation, let rush weapons are well described in the Annals. He had some troops of down, and show the world, that, guided by the Lord life and cavalry, which he dismounted and ordered to fight on foot, as they | death, we exterminated those oppressors the human race. He
could not otherwise act with advantage on the slopes of the moun tain. Sir Conyers Clifford, governor of Connaught, marched with
the British forces from Athlone to Tulsk, and thence to Boyle, where he was joined by the garrison of that town, and deter mined to attack O'Donnell, and assist his ally O'Conor Sligo. His army, according to Mac Geoghegan and others, amounted to 2,500
who falls will fall gloriously, fighting for justice, for liberty, and for his native land; his name will remembered, while there
Irishman the face the earth; and who survives will pointed at, the companion O'Donnell, and the defender his country. The congregation shall make way for him the altar, saying, that hero fought the battle Dunaveeragh. ” The
our native plains, come hunt like wild beasts into the moun
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654 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1599.
When Theobald of the Ships received intelli roll, Tipperary, and King's county), namely,
gence of the defeat of the English, and of the fall of the governor, and that O'Conor had been released from the castle as we have stated, the resolution he
Calvach, the son William Odhar, son Fear ganainm, the spring this year; and when the
time paying their stipend arrived, O'Carroll and
came to was, not to fight against O’Donnell any his people went them by night, and slew them
longer, and he afterwards confirmed his friendship with him, and O’Donnell permitted the fore-men tioned ships to return back again to Galway.
Some gentlemen of the Mac Mahons of Oirgiall
(in Monaghan), together with a hundred soldiers,
were employed for pay by O'Carroll (of Ely Car ster and the governor the province Connaught,
British forces advanced from Boyle towards the mountain, in the Collooney, O'Conor Sligo, the Roman general, dismay morning, and, about 1 o'clock, the conflict commenced, and con the Carthaginians, had cast before their advanced guards the head tinued for a considerable time very fiercely on both sides. Sir Asdrubal. O'Conor, dismayed the death Clifford, sur
Alexander Radcliffe, at the head of his men, made some advance up the hill, towards a bog and wood, from which he was attacked by the Irish, and, after fighting about an hour and a half, it is said Radcliffe's men had expended their powder and shot, and the van guard, pressed on by the Irish, wavered, wheeled about, and were routed on all sides. Radcliffe received a wound in the face, and another in the leg, and was soon after slain. The van guard being routed, sir Conyers Clifford himself endeavoured to animate his men to the contest, and laboured to rally them by his voice and example, but in vain, and the brave veteran, rushing onward, was shot through the body with a ball, and slain in the thick of battle. Sir Griffin Markham was shot through the arm and nearly killed. Sir John Harrington (the translator of Ariosto), who was a captain in the queen's service, gives an account of this battle in his Nugae Antiquae, and he and Morrison state, that the cavalry under Jeph son gave a desperate charge up the hill, among rocks and bogs, but they were mostly cut to pieces by the fierce onsets of the Irish Kerns and galloglasses, and all their colours were taken. The valiant O'Rourke, being posted at a distant part of the mountain, to guard a pass to Sligo, did not arrive on the field till about the middle of the battle, but he then fell on with great fury, animated with the recollection of old wrongs, and revenge for the death of his father; he led on his kerns and galloglasses, and they rushed impetuously down the hill, with terrific shouts and clashing of arms, pouring on the English ranks like a torrent, and they piked and hewed their way through them on all sides, with unrelenting rage, and pursued them with great slaughter. The English were pur sued as far as Boyle, where the remnant of their forces found refuge that night, but fearing O’Donnell, they, early the next morning, retreated to Athlone. Morrison says, “but the lord of Dunkellin, sir Arthur Savage, captain John Jephson, and many of the best judgement, considering that, as the governor was lost, our troops utterly dismayed, and O'Donnell come down with all his forces into these parts, they thought our men should retire their gar risons. So captain Jephson all that night kept the ford (at Boyle), while our foot, the silent night, retired, and the morning, when they were safety, he, with the horse under his command, went softly after them the castle Athlone. ” Mac Geoghegan states, that the English forces 1,400 were slain, but least
1,500 fell the battle and pursuit; and the Four Masters say, that the pursuers had not been few number, compared those who fled, that few the English would have escaped
rendered the castle O'Donnell, and sued for pardon.
stated Taaffe, that the day after the battle O'Donnell ordered O'Rourke pursue O'Conor Don, but O'Rourke refused, saying, “O'Conor Don my brother-in-law, and have enemies but those foreigners and Saxons who murdered my father. ” O’Don mell himself marched Ballintobber, and O'Conor's clans, awed
his name, forsook their own chief, who had joined Elizabeth. O'Donnell had, said, but one piece artillery, brass cannon which was sent present him from Spain, and, assisted by O'Conor's men, this gun was placed the heights Bally finne gan, batter the castle Ballintobber, when O'Conor surrender
discretion. O'Donnell generously forgave O'Conor Sligo, and restored him his possessions, and and O'Conor Roe gave up the queen's cause, and joined their countrymen; but O'Conor
Don took active part against the English. D'Alton's An nals Boyle some interesting particulars are given about this battle, and, amongst other matters, the following letter, which was sent Mac Dermott the constable Boyle, with the body
sir Conyers Clifford, giving permission have buried the monastery the Holy Trinity Boyle. Sir John Harrington condemns the Latin bad, but says the sense was civil. “Con stabulario Boyle salutem. Scias quod ego traduxi corpus Gubernatoris ad Monasterium Sanctae Trinitatis propter ejus di lectionem alia causa; velitis Inihi redire meos captivos ex predicto corpore, quod paratus sum conferendum vobis ipsum, alias sepultus erit honeste predicto Monasterio, sic vale. Scriptum apud Gaywash 15th August, 1599. Interim pone bonum linteamen ad predictum corpus, velitis sepelire omnes alios
nobiles non impediam vos erga eos. ” The Latin not good, but may excused, written hurry the day battle, and probably dictionary hand, but the purport appears
follows: “To the constable Boyle, health. Know that have
their sleeping places, and their inns; some
them were hanged but, however, party
the nearest trees him, town them escaped,
despite O'Carroll. After the president
the two provinces Mun
the Mac Dermotts, lords Moylurg, and the venerable ruins tell the tale. As Morrison, Cox, Leland, and other Anglo which still remain show its former magnificence. appears that, Irish writers, they give most absurd and confused accounts this time, this ancient abbey was converted into military de this battle, and appear have had no accurate information pot, and was one the chief garrisons the English Connaught. May, 1601, according Fynes Morrison, the lord deputy
the subject, and they did not even know that O’Donnell was the commander. this battle O'Donnell lost only about 150 200 men killed and wounded. The Irish obtained immense booty, amunition, arms, armour, colours, horses, &c. Mac Geoghe gan says that O'Neill was advancing assist O'Donnell, but
arrived too late by two days share the glory the victory. The body sir Conyers Clifford being recognized amidst the slain,
O'Rourke had his head cut off, and O’Donnell sent the castle
Mountjoy, and the council, appointed that 1000 foot and horse should left the abbey Boyle, under the command the earl Clanrickard, with instructions infest O'Conor Sligo, and prevent O'Rourke from joining O'Donnell, which served, says,
further their new plantation Ballyshannon, where garrison was placed, and Henry Folliott appointed governor.
sent the body
out respect
my prisoners,
confer with you honourably buried
Written Gaywash, &c. ;
the aforesaid body, and will not prevent you doing
the meantime put good burial clothes you wish bury all the other nobles, towards them. ” The celebrated
the governor the monastery the Holy Trinity,
him, and other reasons; you wish restore exchange for the aforesaid body, am ready the subject; all events, the body will
the aforesaid monastery, and farewell.
Cistercian abbey Boyle was founded, and amply endowed, by
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 655
were slain, as we have stated, in their proper son of Awlave, son of Donogh O'Neillan, a man
places, the earl of Essex, and O’Neill, i. e. Hugh,
the son of Feardorcha, son of Con Bacach, went
to meet each other, to hold a conference, on the
first days of the month of September, and the re Bunratty), in the county of Clare.
sult of their conference was, that peace was ratified Castlemaine (in Kerry), was taken by the earl between them for the space of two months, and of Desmond, about the November of this year, that the English and Irish should hold their own from the queen's people, on account of the guards places respectively during that period. " When being in want of the necessaries of life.
the earl of Essex made peace with O’Neill, on that Loch Gair (in the barony of Small County, in occasion he proceeded to Dublin, but did not stop Limerick), was also taken by the same earl from long there until he went to England, after having the queen's people.
displayed the most splendid regal state ever exhi O'Conor Sligo, namely Donogh, the son of Ca
bited by the Saxons in Ireland; he left Ireland thal Oge, remained in the friendship and alliance without peace, tranquility, lord justice, governor, . . of O’Donnell, from the time in which the governor
or president, except alone that he left the care of was slain to the end of this year; that was a the sword of state with the chancellor and sir Ro beneficial change and an advantageous protection bert Gardiner. (According to Cox, the lords jus against adversity for him to join in that friendship, tices were Adam Loftus, lord chancellor, and sir and abandon the slow, unprofitable promises made George Cary, treasurer-at-war). It was not known to him (by the English) from year to year till then; to any of the Irish whether the earl had left Ireland when O'Conor became obedient to O’Donnell, he with the intention of returning back again, or to gave O'Conor an immense deal of cows, horses, remain beyond (in England).
O'Kennedy Fionn, namely, Anthony, the son of
Donogh Oge, son of Hugh, son of Awlave of Baile ui-Eachdach, in Lower Ormond, in the county of
Tipperary, died in the month of November, and
Giolla Duv O'Kennedy was nominated the O’Ken nedy.
Master Neillan, i. e. James, the son of Donal,
Devereux, earl Essex, marched towards Ulster, by Kells and the Henry Ovington advanced the ford. The earl Essex came borders Cavan, with 2700 horse and 300 foot, against Hugh down meet them, attended by the earl Southampton, sir O'Neill, earl Tyrone. O'Neill was posted with his forces for several George Bourchier, sir Warham St. Leger, sir Henry Danvers, sir
cultivate and inhabit the country, after had been waste, without dwellings habitations, for
long time till then.
O’Donnell went, the month December,
make peace between the Clan William (Burkes Connaught), their dissensions, viz. , between
to, provided the chiefs who came did not exceed six. The earl count of this conference given by Camden, Cox, Fynes Morrison, O'Neill, with his brother Cormac, accompanied by Magennis, and MacGeoghegan. the beginning September, 1599, Robert Hugh Maguire, Evir Mac Colla Mac Mahon, Niall O'Quinn, and
Conference between O'Neill and the earl of Esser. —An ac
days the hills Monaghan, the borders Louth and Armagh, Edward Wingfield, and sir William Constable. The earls saluted and said he sent one his officers, named O'Hagan, the earl each other with great respect, and, after some conversation, was Essex, requesting conference the next day ford called agreed that certain deputies should next day treat about peace. was finally concluded between them, that truce for six weeks
Ballaclinch, not far from the town Louth, and near the castle Gerald Fleming. Leland says that captain Thomas Lee, Eng lish officer under Essex, acted internuncio between him and O'Neill; this Lee was author the celebrated memorial the state Ireland addressed queen Elizabeth, and given Curry's Civil Wars. Essex having agreed the interview, sent persons before him examine the place, and they met O’Neill near the
ford, and informed them that though the river was much swell by the rains they could easily converse with each other across the stream. Essex came down the banks the river alone,
should take place from that day, renewed every six weeks’till the 1st May, yet that both sides should liberty, upon
days' notice, renew the war, and any O'Neill's confede rates refused consent this, should leave him pursued the lord deputy. This conference took place the river La gan, which separates Monaghan from Louth, and Garrett Fleming's
having planted troop horse the next hill. O'Neill was the opposite bank, and boldly rode his horse up his middle into the river; much conversation passed between himself and
Farney
naghclint, and that was here the interview took place, though,
Essex Ford, the parish Killany, the river Glyde, near the Lagan. Essex was the Louth side, and Essex for about hour, but there were persons within O'Neill advanced the Monaghan side the Lagan, Farney.
hearing them. This interview took place about the 7th
8th of September, according various accounts; each the earls returned their troops, and Con O'Neill, Tyrone's son, following Essex, requested further conference,which agreed
The conference between O’Neill and Essex forms the subject an excellent historical painting by Doyle, Irish artist, and was exhibited during the present summer (1846), the Royal
Hibernian Academy.
who kept a house of general hospitality, and who was skilled in the arts, died in the month of Octo ber at Baile-Ui-Aille, in the barony of Quinn (now
and of every sort of cattle and flocks, also of corn, and of other necessary things required
castle was situated near the Ardee road. Shirely’s History
according others, and supposed some
stated that the ford Ballaclinch now called An
was appears that the earl
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656 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1599.
Mac William, i. e. Theobald, the son of Walter dread of him were generally felt from that place to Ciotach, and Theobald of the Ships, the son of Leim-Cuculain (or the Leap of Cuculin, now Loop
Head, in Clare), he did nothing more on that oc casion, but returned back into Ulster.
however, he did not go beyond Oranmore on that
occasion, and he encamped for three nights in the ready to overflow, or an unruffled wave, in this vicinity of Machaire Riavach and of Galway; a year, without danger of battle, preying, fighting, prey was brought to him from the Spaire of the or capture, from any quarter of Ireland, while, in great town (Galway), and although the fear and truth, their terror was over every country.
Thomas Norris, in the campaigns in Ulster against Hugh O'Neill,
had always a force of from 3000 to 5000 men; and sir Richard Bingham, governor of Connaught, and his brother George, had
great forces in their battles with O'Donnell, O'Rourke, &c. In 1596, when O'Neill, O'Donnell, and the other Irish chiefs, at the
great convention held at Foghart, near Dundalk, refused to ratify any peace with the English, except on conditions of being allowed their full rights, and the free exercise of the Catholic religion, ac cording to Mac Geoghegan, with a restoration of the greater part of their ancient territories, it is stated at p. 610, in these Annals, that an immense army of no less than twenty thousand men was sent to Ireland by the queen. In 1598 and—99, the marshal sir Henry Bagnall, in Ulster, and sir Conyers Clifford, governor of Con naught, had each an army of 5,000 men, but their forces were cut to pieces by O'Neill and O’Donnell, in the great battles of the Yel low Ford, and of the Curlew mountains. During this war, there were marshals or military governors, called presidents, in the four provinces, and each of them always had an army of about 3,000 men under their command. In the year 1599, at p. 642 in these Annals, it is mentioned that sir Richard Bingham, who had been governor of Connaught, returned to Ireland with a force of 8000 men from England. In 1599, on the 15th of April, Robert Deve reux, earl of Essex, came to Ireland as lord lieutenant, and landed at Dublin with a great army; Cox says he had “an army as great and as well furnished as his heart could desire for that service, being at first 1,300 horse and 16,000 foot, which was afterwards in creased to 20,000 men complete. ” About 5,000 of these forces, as before stated, were cut off by the Irish chiefs, during the expedition of Essex into Leinster and Munster. From 1600 to 1602, the lord deputy Mountjoy got about 20,000 men from England; he had about 3000 men under his own command, and from 1000 to 2000 men each were commanded by sir Warham St. Leger, and sir George Carew, the presidents of Munster. Sir Arthur Savage, president of Connaught, had about 2000 men, and the earls of Clamrickard and Thomond had each a force of about 1000. In 1600, it is stated by Morrison, that sir Henry Docwra brought more than 3000 men from England, and that he had afterwards 4000 foot and 200 horse at Lough Foyle and Derry; but the Four Masters state that he had 6000. In 1601, according to Cox, a force of 2000 men from England landed at Waterford and Cork, and in the same year 2000 foot and some horse came from England, and landed at Waterford. In the same year the admirals Levison and Preston came, with ten ships of war, and 2000 foot, to Cork, and also a large supply of artillery, arms, ammunition, &c. The combined
British forces, under lord Mountjoy, sir George Carew, and other commanders, in 1601, amounted to 16,950 foot, and 1487 horse.
The entire of the forces that came from England, in the reign of Elizabeth, for a period of more than 40 years, from 1560 to 1600,
Richard of the Iron, and after having established
peace, he proceeded to march into Clanrickard, but,
The province of Ulster was as a full pool, a well
I. The English Forces in War of Elizabeth-The kings of Eng land sent immense forces to Ireland, at various times, under different lords-lieutenant, deputies, and marshals, of which accounts have been given in the course of these notes. In 1171, King Henry II. , landed at Waterford, with a fleet of 240 ships, and a force of 4,000 cavalry, or men-at-arms, and archers, with 500 Knights. In 1185,
prince John, son of king Henry II. , came to Ireland with a fleet of 60 ships, and great forces, and landed at Waterford ; and again, in A. D. 1209, the same John, being king of England, landed at
Waterford, with a great fleet and army, for the reduction of Ire land. In 1394, king Richard II. , having resolved on the conquest of Ireland, collected an immense army, and landed at Waterford, with a fleet of 200 sail, and a force of thirty-four thousand soldiers, consisting of 4,000 cavalry, or men-at-arms, and 30,000 archers, besides a great number of Knights and noblemen. King Richard returned to England the following year, after having obtained the submission of some of the Irish princes and chiefs. In 1399, king Richard again invaded Ireland, and landed at Waterford, with a great fleet and an immensearmy, amounting to between thirty and forty thousand men, but great numbers of his forces were cut off in various conflicts with the Irish chiefs of Leinster, under Art Mac Murrogh, king of that province; Richard returned to England in the same year, without effecting the conquest of the country. These were the greatest armies that had ever before invaded Ireland, and accounts of these expeditions have been given at p. 191 in these notes. The various lords’-lieutenant and deputies who came to Ire land from the time of Henry II. , to the reign of Elizabeth, were all generally accompanied with forces from England, varying from 500 to 1000, or 2000 men; but, during the reign of Elizabeth, more numerous forces were sent for the reduction of Ireland than at any other period. An account of the forces which came to Ireland in the reign of Elizabeth is given in Cox's Hibernia Anglicana, in Mac Geoghegan's Ireland, and other histories, but of the last six years of the war, from 1596 to 1602, a more particular account is given in Fynes Morrison's Ireland. O'Sullivan Beare also gives a full account of the war, for the last fifteen years of the reign of Elizabeth ; and of the two last years an account is given in Ca rew's Pacata Hibernia. Borlase, in his Reduction of Ireland, also gives an account of the forces which came to Ireland in the reign of Elizabeth. In 1559, Thomas Radcliffe, earl of Sussex, lord deputy, had, according to Cox, a force of 1360 foot, 320 horse, and 300 Kerns. In 1565, sir Nicholas Arnold, lord justice, had a force of 1596 soldiers; and in 1566, colonel Randolph came from Eng land to Derry with 700 men. The lords deputies, sir Henry Syd ney, sir Willian Fitzwilliam, sir William Pelham, and sir William Drury, between the years 1570 and 1580, had each of them gene rally a force of from 2,000 to 3,000, horse and foot. In 1573, Walter Devereux, earl of Essex, came from England with a force of 400 foot and 200 horse, to plant an English colony in Clannaboy. In 1579, captains Bourchier and Carew came to Waterford with 600 men, and sir John Perrott with six ships and forces to Cork; and admiral Winter came with a fleet to the coast of Kerry. The lords deputies Arthur Grey, sir John Perrott, and sir William Fitzwilliam, had each generally a force of about 3,000 men under their command in the war with the Geraldines; and captain Zouch,
amounted to at least 80;000 men.
Anglo-Irish Forces. —Independent of the armies from England,
president of Munster, had also great forces. From 1578 to 1583,
vast numbers of the English forces were slain in the war with the 50 Kerne. Sir Donogh Mac Teige Mac Carthy of Muskerry, 6 Geraldines of Munster. From 1594 to 1597 the lords' deputies sir horse, 10 shot, 20 galloglasses, and 40 Kerne. Mac Donogh, chief William Russell, and lord Borough, with generals sir John and sir of Kanturk, 4 horse, 8 shot, 20 galloglasses, and 80 Kerne. The
there were also great forces raised in Ireland, consisting of Anglo Irish, that is Irish of English descent, and of native Irish. In A. D. 1571, Cox gives the following account of some Irish and Anglo-Irish forces in the service of the queen, in the county of Cork. Mac Carthy More had 6 horse, 24 shot, 126 galloglasses, and 100 Kerne. Mac Carthy Riagh, 8 horse, 10 shot, 40 galloglasses, and
\ o
\
A. D. 1600.
Robert, earl of Essex, whom we stated to have
come to Ireland in the May of the foregoing year,
the same year, met with repulsive, reproachful, sharp, and uncourteous reception from the council
Leinster, from the year 1580 1600, Thomas Butler, earl Or
The city of Cork -
Cashel - - -
Clonmel - - -
Kilmallock - - -
Fethard - - -
Rinsale - - - - Carrick - - - - - The barony of Muskerry in Cork -
- 100 300
-
-- - 20 - - - 50
Total - - 918
do. - do. - do. - do. -
40
400 200
400
4,520
- - - - - -
REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 657 and have gone England the November
lord Barry, 6 horse, 10 shot, 30 galloglasses, and 20 Kerne. The
lord Courcy, 2 horse, 4 shot, 6 galloglasses, and 8 Kerne. Total 32 mond, according Cox, Lodge, and others, maintained 200 horse
horse, 66 shot, 242 galloglasses, and 248 Kerne. In 1584, Cox gives the following account of the Militia in Munster in the queen's
and 500 foot, all expeditions made by the lords deputies, and fought almost every battle. Cox says that “in Desmond's re bellion, Ormond and his forces slew 46 captains, 800 traitors, and 4,000 common soldiers.
Garrisons. —From 1597 1602, there were powerful English
garrisons various parts Ireland, but they were chiefly estab
lished by the lord deputy Mountjoy, the year 1600. the
first and second volumes Fynes Morrison, full account given these garrisons, and their commanders, and partly also Cox and Mac Geoghegan. Ulster, and the parts the Pale bor
dering that province, the following garrisons were placed.
May, 1600, according Morrison, Cox, and others, sir Henry Docwra came from England with fleet 67 ships, and force 3,000 foot and 200 horse, besides seamen, afterwards increased 1000 men more from Dublin Mac Geoghegan states that he had 5000 foot and 300 horse, and the Four Masters say had 6000 men. Docwra first came Carrickfergus, and sailed from thence
Lough Foyle, where arrived the 14th May, and accor ding Morrison, had under him 25 captains. He formed the following garrisons: Derry, 850 foot; Dunalong, 650 Lifford, 800; there was also force 1000 foot and 50 horse sent form garrison Ballyshannon, under sir Matthew Mor gan, and afterwards commanded by sir Henry Folliott. Sir Arthur Savage, the governor Connaught, placed garrison 1000 foot and 60 horse the abbey Boyle, Roscommon, act against
125 horse, under sir Arthur Chichester and others, and Chichester also had 850 foot and 100 horse Mountjoy Tyrone. Newry, 1000 foot and 50 horse, under sir Samuel Bagnall, and several cap tains. At Lecale and Downpatrick, 500 foot and 100 horse, under sir Richard Morrison. At Carlingford, 100 foot. Dundalk, 650 foot and 100 horse, under sir Richard Morrison, and others. At the abbey Armagh, 800 foot and 125 horse, under sir Henry Davers, &c. At Mountnorris, Armagh, 600 foot and horse,
service :
do. Carberry do. Imokilly do. Condons
Lord Barry's Country
Mac Carthy More Decies in Waterford The county of Tipperary
- - - - - - -
shot. Billmen. - - 300 :300
The city of Waterford - The city of Limerick -
- - 200 600
- 20
- 40
- 20
- 20
-20
- 20 -20300 -30 1000 -1280 -8
140 200 100 100 100
–30 do. and part of Kerry 8
60 200
The Billmen, above mentioned, were a sort of battle-axe men,
armed with halberds, or pole-axes; those mentioned as shot were
musketeers. In 1585, the lord deputy, sir John Perrott, ac O'Rourke and O'Conor Sligo, and prevent their co-operation with cording to Cox, issued a commission to sir Richard Bingham, go O'Donnell. Carrickfergus, there was garrison 850 foot and vernor of Connaught, and others, authorising then to compound
between the queen and the subject, and between the lord and the
tenant, for cesses, rents &c. , and to bring the inhabitants of Con
naught, and of Thomond, or the county of Clare, to a composition
of paying ten shillings per annum for every quarter of land contain
ing 120 acres, besides a certain number of soldiers amongst them
on every Hising out; and having proceeded, by Inquisition of a
jury, they allotted certain payments mentioned by Cox, and the
following numbers of soldiers were to be levied: The county of under sir Samuel Bagnall, and captain Edward Blaney. At
Mayo was to contribute 200 foot and 40 horse, at their own charge, when required, and 50 foot and 15 horse in such manner as the peers and English bishops ought to do; the entire province of Con naught was to contribute 1054 foot and 224 horse, to the general Hostings in Connaught, and 332 foot and 88 horse at every time,
Portmore, Williams.
the Blackwater, 350 foot and horse, under captain At Lisgannon, the county Cavan, towards the Monaghan, 500 foot and 50 horse, under Plunkett, lord
for 40 days, any where in Ireland. Thomond was to furnish 200
foot and 40 horse armed, at Hostings Thomond, and horse
and 50 foot, all general Hostings. 1585, according Cox, Mahons. Several places the borders Ulster were strongly
the lord deputy Perrott had instructions that the regular army, being then 1,900 strong, the deputy should certify “whether were better give the soldiers sterling pay, and victuals, continue victuals, and the old Irish pay, for the queen will longer allow both victuals and the increased pay. ”
garrisoned. Annaly Longford, 800 foot and horse, under
sir John Barkley. At Kells, 400 foot and 50 horse, under the earl Kildare, lord Dunsany, sir Henry Harrington, and Hugh O'Reilly. At Ardee, 700 foot and 50 horse, under sir Garrett Moore, and sir Charles Percy. Drogheda, 500 foot and some horse, under captain Billing. Cox and Morrison say, that Mount joy made war the Irish, small flying army and numerous garrisons, and appears, from the above accounts, that there were more than 12,000 horse and foot appointed act against O’Neill and O'Donnell, Ulster. There were also garrisons varying from 200 500, and
rious strong towns and Connaught,
The Hostings here mentioned were great meetings the mili
tary province, county, district, convened prepare for
service the field, and show their strength, equipment, &c.
An account the Hostings, and other modes military manage
ment and discipline the forces the English Pale, their pay,
arms, &c. , given Baron Finglas's Breviate, Harris's Hiber
nica. Spenser's View Ireland, and the Tracts sir John
Davis, accounts are also given the forces and military manage
ment the Pale. A. D. 1601, Cox and Morrison give an
account general Hosting the Pale, assenbled the Hill
Tara Meath, the last day June, which attended the Philipstown, Maryborough, Rheban, Athy, Kildare, Naas, Dublin, following forces For the county Dublin, horse, 95 archers, Newcastle, Wicklow, Wexford, Enniseorthy, Carlow, Kilkenny, and 16 kerne. For Meath, horse, 173 archers and 100 kerne. Waterford, Cork, Kilmallock, Limerick, Galway and Athlone. For Westmeath, 60 horse and archers. For Kildare, horse Anglo-Irish for the Queen.
—The following were the old fami and 57 archers. For Louth, 36 horse and archers, making lies English descent who supported the queen's cause:
all 207 horse, 378 archers, and 116 kerne, The Irish forces which Meath and Leinster, Henry, William, and Gerald Fitzgerald, attended along with these were 182 horse and 307 kerne. earls Kildare; the Plunkets, barons Killeen, Dunsany, and
borders
Dunsany, captain Esmond, sir William Warren, and sir Henry Harrington. There were also garrisons some time the towns Cavan, Enniskillen, and Monaghan, about the years 1595-96, but these towns were retaken the O'Reillys, Maguires and Mac
someplaces from 700 1000 men, placed va the Pale, and throughout Leinster, Munster,
which accounts are given Morrison, and these
various garrisons amounted least 10,000 men. The chief garrison towns were Athboy, Trim, Navan, Mullingar, Bally more,
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658 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1600.
of England, when he appeared before them; he lanimity and cowardice, while in the service of the was, in the first place, reprimanded for his pusil queen in Ireland, and that he wanted nothing which
Louth ; the Prestons, viscounts of Gormanstown; Fleming, baron Cox again says, at p. 424, in the reign of Elizabeth, “before the
of Slane; Taaffe of Louth ; St. Laurence, baron of Howth ; Barn
wall, baron of Trimlestown; Butler, baron of Dunboyne; Nugent,
baron of Delvin; Dillon, baron of Kilkenny West. In Munster,
Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond; Barry, lord Barrymore and But English for ever. ” Morrison makes some curious remarks, show tevant; de Courcy, baron of Kinsale; Burke, baron of Castlecon
nell. In Connaught, Ulick, and Richard Burke, earls of Clan rickard and barons of Dunkellin ; Theobald Burke of the Ships in Mayo; Bermingham, baron of Athenry.
ing the estimation in which the lives of the mere Irish were held, and it appears it was considered that the more of these miserable mercenaries fell the better. In giving an account of some Irish soldiers who were killed in Mountjoy's expedition to Ulster, in 1600, he says, “the death of these unpeaceableswordsmen, though falling on our side, yet was rather a gain than loss to the com monwealth ;” and again, in reference to 50 of the Irish kerns, in the queen's service, who were killed in a conflict at the fort of Lis gannon, in the county of Cavan, in 1600, he says, “ and 50 of our side were slain, but we cannot learn that any English were among
Anglo-Irish against the Queen. —In Munster, Gerald and
James Fitzgerald, earls of Desmond, with the other great families
of the Geraldines of Munster. Patrick and Thomas Fitzmaurice,
barons of Lixnaw and lords of Kerry; and Patrick Condon of
Condons, in Cork ; David Roche, viscount of Fermoy ; Thomas
Butler, baron of Cahir ; and Richard Butler, viscount Mount
garrett; Richard Purcell, baron of Loughmoe, in Tipperary; and them, so we account our loss to be no more than the taking of
sir Pierce de Lacy of Bruff, in Limerick. In Meath and Leinster, James Fitz-Eustace, viscount of Baltinglass; captain Richard Tyrrell, of Fartullagh, in Westmeath, and some of the Nugents, Plunketts and Fitzgeralds. In Connaught, Theobald Mac Wil liam Burke of Mayo, and Redmond Burke, baron of Leitrim, in Galway.
Milesian Irish for the Queen. —In Munster, Donogh O'Brien, earl of Thomond, and Murrogh O'Brien, baron of Inchiquin, with
their forces in Clare and Limerick, fought on the side of the queen.
Cormac, Donogh, and Teige Mac Carthy, in Desmond, Carberry
and Muskerry, in the counties of Cork and Kerry, with some of
the Mac Donoghs, O'Sullivans, O’Donevans, and others, joined son says, all the mountaineers were actual rebellion, and only two the queen. In Leinster, Bryan and Florence Fitzpatrick, barons castles, namely, Newcastle and Wicklow, were held for the queen. of Ossory, in the Queen's county; Mulroona O'Carroll, lord of The insurgent forces, under Felim, and his brother, Redmond Ely, in King's county; sir Terence O'Dempsey, and sir Teige
battle of Kinsale, the papists in the queen's army had promised to revolt, and many did so, by two, or three, and ten at a time, and that, if they had all done so then, there had been an end of the
captain Esmond, who was with them, and was made prisoner. ” Irish forces against the Queen. —Fynes Morrison gives an ac count of the forces of the Irish under O'Neill, O'Donnell, and other chiefs, from 1598 to 1601, collected in the time of the earl of Essex, and of the lord deputy Mountjoy, from the documents of the council at Dublin Castle; accounts of the Irish forces are also
O'Dunn, in Queen's county; and two chiefs of the O'Ferralls in
Longford, with O’Melaghlin in Westmeath. In Connaught, Hugh
O'Conor Don, and O'Conor Roe, in Roscommon; and Donogh O'Con
or Sligo. In Ulster, Niall Garv O’Donnell, a chief of Donegal, join Carlow, Leighlin, and Ferns, were held for the queen, and castles ed the queen, being set up by the English in opposition to Red
Hugh O'Donnell, prince of Tirconnell. Morrison says, that the lord deputy, Mountjoy, in 1600, desired to have authority out of England to passTirconnell, or the county of Donegal, to Niall Garv, reserving only 800 acres about Ballyshannon, and the fishing of the Erne, to her majesty; and, says Morrison, “such was the opinion of the service this turbulent spirit could do the state, that
he got the command of 300 foot and 100 horse in her majesty's
pay. ” In Fermanagh, Conor Roe Maguire joined the English, Hugh O'Neill, earl Tyrone, who was his father-in-law and
with his sons and forces, being set up in opposition to Hugh, the legitimate lord. In Cavan, Miles O'Reilly, in opposition to Ed mond O'Reilly, prince of Brefney, got a grant of the county of Cavan, by letters patent from the queen, and commanded as colo nel, a regiment in her service. In Tyrone, Art, the son of Torlogh Luineach O'Neill, former prince of Tyrone, also joined the English, and was called sir Arthur O'Neill. Many others of the Irish chiefs joined the queen, being set up and supported by the English, in opposition to the legitimate lords of the various territories, hence these chiefs are frequently mentioned by different writers, at this time, as the queen's O'Donnell, the queen's Maguire, the queen's O'Conor, the queen's O'Reilly, the queen's O'Neill, &c. Cox, giving an account of the lord deputy Russell's progress in Ulster, in 1595, says, that O'Molloy of the King's county carried the English standard one day, and O'Hanlon of Armagh on the next. According to the accounts of Cox and Morrison, one-third
of the queen's army in Ireland, or about 5000 men, consisted of Irish kerns, galloglasses, and cavalry, and these writers condemn, as dangerous to the state, the practice of taking Irish into the queen's service; they state that the lord deputy, sir John Perrott, first introduced the practice to save charges, and “he armed the Irish in Ulster against the incursions of the Islander Scots, and so taught them the use of arms, to the ruin of Ireland;” and Cox says, that “the lord deputy Fitzwilliam took many Irish into the army, and improvidently sent others of them to the Low countries, where they became excellent soldiers, and returned to be stout rebels. ”
also Thomas Butler, baron Cahir, Tipperary, joined the Irish these Butlers, joined by some the Irish, had 130 foot and 20 horse, with two castles. Kildare, James Fitz-Pierce Fitzger ald, and two other Geraldines, basebrothers, says Morrison, the late earl Kildare, with some the Delahoydes, Eustaces, and O'Dempseys, had against the queen 220 foot and 30 horse, after wards increased 500, by the going out the Birminghams, Lynaghs, and other septs. Leix, Queen’s county, Anthony and Bryan O'Moore, with their clans, and the chief the gallo glasses that country, the sept Mac Donnell, with the O'Dempseys, O'Doynes, Dunns, and the base son the earl Kildare, had 570 foot and 30 horse. Sir Terence O’Dempsey, and Teige O’Doyne, joined the queen, and captains Hartpole, Bowen, and Pigott, held Maryborough, and other castles for her majesty.
Offaly, King's county, the fort Philipstown was kept by
English garrison, and sir George Colley, sir Henry Warren, and John Moore, held castles for the queen; but the O'Conors, O'Molloys, and O'Dunns, had 468 foot and 12 horse against the queen, and Mac Coghlan afterwards joined them with 200 more, and the O’Dunns with 100. Meath, the son and heir sir William Nugent joined the Irish, and the county, says Morrison,
lying the heart the Pale, was greatly wasted the Ulster rebels, and many castles lay waste without inhabitants. ” The Irish forces were 150 under the Delahoydes, Darcys, Husseys, and Rochfords, and, says Morrison, “beyond the river (the Boyne
Blackwater), captain John O'Reilly, having then 100 foot
given in Cox's Hibernia Anglicana, and in Carew's Pacata Hiber nia. The following accounts are mostly collected from Morrison, vol. pp. 71, 117, 277, also from Mac Geoghegan, and the Four
Masters
In Leinster. —In the counties Dublin and Wicklow, Morri
O'Byrne, sons Fiacha Mac Hugh, with the O'Tooles, Walter O'Byrne, chief the galloglasses, and the Mac Donnells, were
480 foot and 20 horse, and 100 more afterwards came with the Walshes and Harolds. Wexford and Carlow, the castles
belonging Thomas Butler, earl Ormond, with some castles held sir Thomas Colclough, sir Richard Masterson, and sir Dudley Loftus. The Irish forces against the queen, under Donal Spainagh and others, the O'Cavenaghs, the O'Murroghs, Murphys; the O’Kinsellaghs, the Keatings, and others, were 750 foot and 50 horse, afterwards increased 900. Kilkenny, the earl Ormond had almost the entire country and its castles, for the queen; but Richard Butler, viscount Mountgarrett, joined
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 659
he required for war or battle; he was also blamed or asking leave of the council there or here, on that for having gone to England without permission, occasion; after these things were stated to him,
the queen's pay, well armed, revolted and joined the rebels. ” In Westmeath, Richard Mac Geoghegan, and others of his sept, with some of the Nugents and Fitzgeralds, had against the queen 140 foot and 20 horse; besides, captain Richard Tyrrell of Fartullagh, whom Morrison calls “a rebel of English race,” had of Ulster-men and strangers 200 foot, and the Irish of Westmeath were increased 100 at least, says Morrison, by the revolt of the eldest son of William Nugent, brother to lord Delvin, with many of the Pettits and Daltons. In Longford, two chiefs of the O'Ferralls joined the queen, and the castle of Longford was held by an English gar
the English, and was called the queen's O'Reilly. The Irish forces in Ulster were 7,220 foot, and 1,702 horse making in all 8,922 men. -
Forces of O'Neill in 1600. -Morrison gives the following state ment of O'Neill's own forces in Tyrone, in the year 1600, exclusive of those of the other Irish chiefs in Ulster; the account was ob tained from the information of Shane Mac Donnell, who had been O'Neill's marshal, but made his submission to the English. Of horse, O'Neill's own guard, 100; his son, Hugh 100; Con, another son, 20; his brother Cormac, 100; his brother Art,
rison: the other O'Ferralls joined the Irish, and had 180 foot. In 20; Felim O'Hanlon's son, 10; Torlogh Brasilagh O'Neill's son, Louth, sir Edward Moore, sir Francis Stafford, and Plunkett, 50, making in 400 horse. Of foot, O'Neill's guard, led James lord Louth, whom Morrison calls an English-Irish baron, held all O'Shiel, Leinster man, 200; Jenkin Fitzsimon Lecale the towns and castles for the queen, but the lands were wasted by the county Down, 200; making all 400. The other foot the Ulster Irish. The entire of the Irish forces in Leinster were forces were follows: Hugh Mac Caghwell, and two other cap
3048 foot, 182 horse, afterwards increased 1280 horse and foot, making in all 4510 horse and foot.
tains under Cormac O'Neill, the earl's brother, 600; Con son Art O'Neill, 100; Bryan Mac Art O'Neill, 200; Con O'Neill, the earl's son, 100; Donal O'Neill, 100; Felim O'Neill, 60; Torlogh Brasilagh's sons, 200; Henry Oge, and Torlogh O'Neill, 200; Mac Cann Armagh, and Owen Mac Cann, 200; Kedagh and Gilladuff Mac Donnell, 200; three brothers, Gillaspic, Rory, and
In Ulster. —In the province of Ulster, says Morrison, consisting
all of Irish septs, except the Scots possessing the Routes and
Glynns (in Antrim), “those of Lecale and the little Ardes alone
(in the eounty of Down), held for the queen, but were overawed
by Tyrone (Hugh O'Neill), and forced to give way. Dundalk, the Randal Mac Owen (probably Scots), 300; Donal and Patrick
frontier town between the Pale and Ulster, and Knockfergus
(Carrickfergus), a frontier town, were kept by English garrisons,
as likewise Newry, Carlingford, Greencastle, and Narrow Water
(all on the borders of Down and Louth), and the castle of Ballyna O'Neill, was 4060. Morrison says that all those troops, except cargy, in the Brenny” (county of Cavan). Many of the other strong
holds in Ulster were at that time in possession of O'Neill, and the other Irish chiefs; the following were the forces of the Irish chiefs
of Ulster in alliance with O'Neill : In Tyrone. —The earl O’Neill himself had, in 1599, according to Morrison,700 foot and 200 horse,
300, had means support themselves Tyrone, and many the chiefs had great forces besides their own countries; also says that the earl Essex, 1599, dispatched letters the lords England, stating that O'Neill had made his forces into two great divisions, one consisting 6,000 horse and foot, under his own command, Ulster; the other 4,000 men under O'Donnell, who acted chiefly Connaught.
and the other O'Neills in Tyrone had the following forces: Cor
mac Mac, Baron O'Neill, the earl's brother, 300 foot and 60 horse.
Sir Art O’Neill, another brother, 300 foot and 60 horse. Henry
Oge O'Neill, 200 foot and 40 horse. O'Hagan, 100 foot and 30
horse. The O'Donnellys, 100foot and 60 horse. O'Quinn, 80 foot but the Irish various septs alliance with O'Neill and O'Don and 20 horse. In Armagh. —Torlogh Mac Henry O'Neill of the nell, the O'Conors, O'Kellys, Mac Dermotts, O'Hanleys, Fews, 300 foot and 60 horse. Mac Cann of Clan Cann, 100 foot and O'Flanagans, &c. , had 500 foot and 60 horse. Hugh O'Conor 12 horse. In Down. —Bryan Fertough O'Neill, in Upper Clan
naboy, 80 foot and 30 horse. Mac Cartan and Mac Neill, 100foot
and 20 horse. Mae Rory, captain of Kilwarlin, 60 foot and 10 horse.
The Whites of Dufferin, 20 foot. Felim Mac Gennis, lord of this time, and an account him given these Annals; Iveagh with Con, Art, and Rory Mac Gennis, had 200 foot and 40 went Munster, and entered the earl Desmond's service, with horse, against the queen. In Antrim. —Sir James Mac Sorley body 1,500men, kerns,galloglasses, and cavalry, but betrayed Boy Mac Donnell, and his Scots, possessed the Route and the
seven Glynnes, and had 400 foot and 100 horse against the queen.
Shane Mac Bryan Carrach Mac Donnell, upon the Bann side, 50
foot and 10 horse. Hugh Mac Murtogh, beyond the Minn Water,
40 foot. Cormac Mac Neill, captain of Kilultagh, 60 foot and 10 Sligo. —The Irish septs, O'Conors, O'Dowds, O'Haras, O'Garas, horse. Shane Mac Bryan O'Neill, in Lower Clannaboy, 80 foot Mac Donoghs, O'Harts, &c. , had 300 foot and 30 horse, and only and 50 horse. Island Magee belonged to the earl of Essex, but the castle Collooney was held for the queen. Donogh O'Conor, was altogether waste, says Morrison. In Derry. —OKane chief Sligo, joined the queen, but was compelled co-operate had 500 foot and 20 horse. In Donegal. —Red Hugh O'Don with O'Donnell after the battle the Curlew mountains, and Mor
nell had 200 foot and 60 horse, and his brother Rory 150 rison says, the revolt O'Conor, the Irish forces were increased
foot and 50 horse; Niall Garv O'Donnell was for some time on the
side of the Irish, but afterwards joined the English, and was called
the queen's O'Donnell. The Three Mac Sweeneys had 500 foot
and 40 horse. Sir John O'Dogherty, 300 foot and 40 horse. Mayo. —Some castles were held for the queen, but they were O'Gallagher of Ballyshannon, 200 foot and 40 horse. O'Boyle 100 taken Theobald Mac William Burke, and the various Irish septs foot and 20 horse. 'Sliocht Rorie, 100 foot and 50 horse. All had 600 foot and 60 horse. Theobald Burke the Ships, son these forces in Donegal amounted to 1550 foot and 300 horse, and the celebrated Granu Weal, Grace O'Malley, joined the queen, were under the command of Red Hugh O'Donnell. In Ferma but sometimes wavered towards the Irish. Galway. —The
nagh. -Hugh Maguire had 600 foot and 100 horse, on the side of towns Galway and Athenry, and the castle Meelick, were
O'Neill, but Conor Roe Maguire, another chief, joined the English, and was called the queen's Maguire. In Monaghan. —Bryan Mac Mahon, the chief, Evir Mac Colla Mac Mahon, in Farney, with
Rossa Mac Mahon, and others of the name in Clan Carvil, had 500 foot and 160 horse. In Cavan. —Philip, John, Edmond, Conor,
and Owen O'Reilly, chiefs of Brefney, joined O'Neill with 800 foot and 100 horse, but colonel Miles O'Reilly, before mentioned, joined
held for the queen by the earl Clanrickard, but Redmond Burke, and some others the name, joined the Irish, and the various septs the O'Kellys, O'Maddens, &c. , had 490 foot. The whole the
Irish forces Connaught were 3,000 horse and foot.
In Munster. —In Clare, Donogh O'Brien, earl Thomond, and
Murrogh O'Brien, baron Inchiquin, who was slain battle with O'Donnell Ballyshannon, joined the English; but Teige O’Brien,
Mac Phelim, 200; Henry Wragton, 200; Donogh, Owen, James, Art, and Hugh O'Hagan, 100 men each, making 500; Owen and Niall O'Quinn, 100. The total horse and foot troops, under
In Connaught. —In Roscommon, the castles Athlone, Ros common, Tulsk, Boyle, and Ballinasloe, were held for the queen,
Don and O'Conor Roe, were sometimes the side the Irish, but mostly for the queen. Dermod O'Conor Don, mentioned Morrison, Cox, and Mac Geoghegan, was very valiant commander
Desmond, and made him prisoner; the earl was soon after released his own men, and O'Conor, and his Connaughtmen, were expel led from Munster; O'Conor himself was soon after slain, the
year 1600, Galway, Theobald Burke the Ships.
300. Leitrim. —The Irish under Bryan O'Rourke, and his brother Teige, chiefs Brefney O'Rourke, were 600 foot and 60 horse, and castle that country was held for the queen.
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660 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1600.
and having been accused of many other affairs, he mand, and honour he had received from the queen, was ordered to relinquish every preferment, com and the keepers of the hostages and sureties of the
brother of the earl, was on the side of O'Neill, and others of the O'Briens, with the Mac Namaras, and some of the Mac Mahons,
rebels, you must have garrisons brought into them, able to com mand, and make it a capital offence for any merchant in Ireland to
trade with the rebels, or buy or sell any arms or munition what soever. Your majesty victualling your army out of England, and with your garrisons burning and spoiling the country in all places, shall starve the rebels in one year, becauseno place else can supply them. Now, if it please your majesty to compare your advantages and disadvantages together, you shall find, that though these rebels are more in number than your majesty's army, and have, though I do unwillingly confess better bodies, and perfecter use their arms, than those men which your majesty sends over, yet commanding the walled towns, holds, and champaign countries, and having brave nobility and gentry, better discipline, and stronger order than they, and such means keep from them the maintain ance life, and waste the country which should nourish them, your majesty may promise yourself that this action will, the end,
successful though costly, and that your victory will certain, though many us, your honest servants, must sacrifice ourselves
the quarrel, and that this kingdom will reduced, though will ask, besides cost, great deal care, industry and time. ”
The Irish Forces were composed Kerns, Galloglasses, and 400 foot and 30 horse. Richard Purcell, baron of Loughmoe, 200 cavalry; the word kern, Irish Ceithearmach, Ceatharnach,
and O'Loghlins, had against the queen600 foot and 50 horse. In Limerick. -Pierce Lacy of Bruff, joined by various Irish septs,
had against the queen 300 foot and 15 horse. In Kerry. —Fitz maurice, lord of Kerry, O'Conor Kerry, O'Donoghoe of the Glens,
John Delahoyde, and others, had 500 foot and 30 horse against the queen. In Cork. -James Fitzgerald, earl of Desmond, had 300 foot and 300 horse; and Mac Donogh, lord of Duhallow, 200
foot and 8 horse against the queen; Barry Oge and the lord Barry's brother, in Muskerry, 120 foot and 3 horse, but lord Barry himself joined the queen. David Roche, lord of Fermoy, with some of the O'Mahonys and O'Donovans of Carberry, had 500 foot. In Desmond, or part of Cork and Kerry, Donal O'Sullivan Beare, and Dermod O'Sullivan More, Dermod Mac Carthy More, Donal and Florence Mac Carthy, Teige O'Mahony, Con, Donogh, and Dermod O'Driscoll, had 500 foot and 6 horse, against the queen. In Waterford, the Irish had 200 foot and 10 horse. In Tipperary, the following were the Irish forces against the queen: Butler, baron of Cahir, with his brother and followers, had 300
foot and 12 horse. Edmond Fitzgibbon, called the White Knight,
footand6horse. TheO'Mulrians, orO'Ryans, ofOwney,300 foot and 6 horse. The O'Kennedys of Ormond, 500 foot and 30 horse. O'Meaghers, 60 foot and 3 horse. The Burkes of Clan william, 200 foot and 4 horse. Morrison says, that all the cities, seaport towns, and castles in Munster, and many great lords and gentlemen, held for the queen. The forces in Munster were 5,680 foot and 292 horse. The entire of the Irish forces against the queen were as follows:
pronouncedKehermagh,signifies battler,beingderivedfromCath,
battle; the name made kerne the plural, some writers, and others, kerns. The term Galloglass, Irish Gall-og laoch, Gall-oglach, signifies foreign warrior, being derived from Gall, foreigner, and oglach, which signifies youthful man,
champion, soldier, and may derived from the words og, young, and laoch, champion. Various opinions have beengiven the origin the term, but considered was first applied soldiers resembling those the Gaill Danes, whose champions
were clad armour, and whose chief weapon was the battle-axe; besides, observed that Giraldus Cambrensis says the
Irish adopted the use the battle-axe from the Danes. The Scots, who were Irish descent, had likewise, an early period, their kerns and galloglasses, and Shakespear's Macbeth mentioned, “the merciless Mac Donald, from the Western Isles, with his kerns and galloglasses. ” The Mac Donnells Antrim, who came from the Highlands and Hebrides, were celebrated commanders gal loglasses Ireland; many other clans, famous galloglasses, have been already mentioned these notes, the Mac Sweeneys
Donegal, the Mac Cabes Brefney and Monaghan, the Mac
InUlster - - -
Foot. Horse. 7220 1702 4240 270 568() 292 2770 2:30
19,910 2494
In Leinster - In Munster - In Connaught -
-- - - - -
Total -
The earl of Essex, soon after his arrival in Ireland, in 1599, wrote a letter to the queen, which is given by Cox, and in it are the fol lowing passages: “I humbly beseech your majesty to tell you, that now having passed through the provinces of Leinster and Munster,
and been upon the frontier of Connaught, I dare begin to give Sheeheys Munster, &c. The kerns were the light foot the
Irish, armed with long spears pikes, javelins, darts, skians, daggers, bows and arrows, and also with slings, the early ages; and when deficient other weapons, they often flung with their hands showers stones the enemy they had no defensive ar mour, except sometimes wooden leather shields. These active
your majesty some advertisement of the state of this kingdom, not
as before by hearsay, but as I beheld it with mine own eyes. The
people in general have able bodies by nature, and have gotten, by
custom, ready use of arms; and by their late successes, boldness
to fight your majesty's troops. In their rebellion they have no
other end but to shake off the yoke of obedience to your majesty,
and to root out all remembrance of the English nation in this king
dom. The wealth of the kingdom, which consisteth in cattle, oat then rapidly retreating, and coming again advantageous
meal, and other victuals, is almost all in the rebels hands, who, in every province 'till my coming, have been masters of the field. The expectation of these rebels is very present, and very confident,
that Spain will either so invade your majesty, that you shall have no leisure to prosecute them here, or so succour them that they will get most of the towns into their hands, ere your majesty shall relieve and reinforce your army, so that now, if your majesty re solve to subdue these rebels by force, they are so many, and so framed to be soldiers, that the war will certainly be great, costly, and long. Ifyour majesty will seek to break them, by factions amongst themselves, they are covetous and mercenary, and must be purchased, and their Jesuists, and practising priests, must be hunted out, and taken from them, which now do sodder so fast, and so close together. If your majesty will have a strong party in the Irish nobility, and make use of them, you must hide from them all purpose of establishing English government till the strength of the Irish be so broken, that they shall seeno safety but in your majes ty's protection. If your majesty will be assured of the possession of your towns, and keep them from supplying the wants of the
opportunity. The Irish were famous forming ambuscades their mountain passes, defiles, woods, and bogs, by which they advantageously cut off great numbers their opponents. The ja velins, short spears, and darts the kerns, were favourite wea pons; the handles were generally ash, which was fitted long, sharp-pointed, iron steel head; this javelin was tied the arm shoulder thong cord great length, that they could hurl the enemy several yards distance, and recover the weapon again. These darts and javelins were whirled rapidly round the head, and then cast with such force that they penetrated the bodies men, even through their armour, and killed their horses great distance. the account the expedition king Richard II. Ireland, 191 these annals, French knight who was the king's army, describing their conflicts with the Irish, says, that “their soldiers rushed with fearful cries and clamours, which might heard good league off, and cast their darts with such might, that Haubergeon, coat mail, was
sufficient proof resist their force, their darts piercing them through both sides;” and further says, that the kerus “were
soldiers made rapid and irregular onsets into the ranks the enemy, not fighting exact order, but rushing and attacking on all sides,
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 00 l court were ordered to retain him with them should be allayed. They then came to the resolu
selves, until the anger of the sovereign against him
nimble and swift of foot, that, like unto stags, they ran over moun tains and vallies. ” Froissart in his Chronicle, giving an account of king Richard's expedition, says “the Irish soldiers were so re markably strong and active, that on foot they could overtake an English horseman at full speed, leap up behind the rider, and pull him off his horse. ” The kerns were divided into bodies of spear men, dart-men, slingers, and archers, and in after times, musket eers; the archers were very expert, and their hows were made chiefly of ash and yew. The galloglasses were the heavy infantry of the Irish, a sort of grenadiers, being select men of great strength
and stature, armed with swords and battle-axes, and also generally wore armour, as helmets and breast plates of iron, coats of mail,
composed of a network of small iron rings, and sometimes armour made of strong leather; shields or bucklers, made of wood, some
times covered with skins of animals. Their chief weapon was the battle-axe, and, in remote times, their warriors used a formidable weapon called a battle-hammer, which was a wooden club studded with short spikes and knobs of iron. Giraldus Cambrensis, in the 12th century, described the battle-axes of the Irish as large, heavy, well-tempered, and extremely keen-edged; the weapon was wielded by one hand, the thumb being placed on the handle to guide the stroke, and they struck with such force, that they often clove the skull of a warrior through his iron or brazen helmet with a single
tion of sending other officers and arms to Ireland,
Butler Aboo, and the Burkes had Clanrickard Aboo, and Mac Wil liam Aboo, and various other families had similar cries. The Irish chiefs had each their own banner and battle cry; the O'Neills had for their battle cry, Lamh-dearg n-uachtar, that the Red Hand uppermost, red bloody hand being their crest, and borne on their banners; the battle cry the O'Briens Thomond was, Lamh laidir n-uachtar, that the strong hand uppermost. Spenser, his View Ireland, thus speaks the kerns and gal loglasses, “yet sure they are very valiant ard hardy, great endurers cold, labour, hunger, and all hardness, very active and strong hand, very swift foot, very vigilant and circumspect their enterprises, very present perils, very great scorners death. ”
have had them large numbers, their chief forces being the kerns blow ; and Cambrensis says, that sometimes, with one stroke, they and galloglasses. The term Marcach was applied horseman,
cut off the thigh of a horseman, the limb falling on one side and the dead body on the other. The galloglasses were divided into bodies of swords-men and battle-axe-men, and being the strongest, steadiest, and best disciplined forces of the Irish, generally bore the
cavalry soldier, and Marc-Shluagh signified host, army, troop cavalry. Ridire signified knight, and was the name ap plied English chief armour. The Irish knights, according
Ware and others, were attended young man, page, some brunt of battle: the Irish commanders all wore armour, helmets, times called knave, by the old writers; according Ware, this
coats of mail, shields, &c.
Warriors, Weapons, Banners, Battle-cries, &c. —The terms
Taoiseach, and Taoiseach-Buidhne, Flaith, Ceann-Feadhna, or head of a force, and Ceann-Sloigh, that the head leader host, were all names applied military commanders; and the terms Laoch, Curraidh, Gaisgidh, Gaisgidheach, and Urradh, were ap plied champions, chieftains and heroes. The chief terms for weapons were Claidheamh, pronounced like cliav, sword; Tuagh,
Tuagh-catha, battle-axe Laighean, spear; Lam, lance javelin; Craoiseagh, lance, javelin, halberd; Ga, Gath,
Gai, dart; Saighead, arrow dart Bolg-Saighead, bag pouch for arrows, quiver; Sgian, Skian, dagger, but properly signifies knife, being sort large knife; this weapon was carried by all the Irish soldiers, and also by the chiefs, and
used close combat; the ancient sling was called Crann-tabhuil. The armour consisted the Luireach, Lorica, coat mail the shield, buckler and target were termed Sciath, and the helmet Cath-Bharr, derived from Cath, battle, and Barr, the head top. The banners the ancient Irish have been described
attendant was called Daltin, Irish Dailtin, which signifies fostered adopted person. The predatory troops the Irish are
often mentioned under the name Creach-Sluagh, derived from Creach, plunder, and Sluagh, host; the term Caoraighecht was applied body who attended the army predatory troops, and they are called by the English writers Creaghts. The hired troops the Irish chiefs were called Buanaighe, from Buan, which signifies hound, continued, and these mercenaries are mentioned
English writers under the name Bonnoghs Bonnoghts. The terms Sluagh ard Sochraide were applied army host.
The English forces were general better armed, accoutred, and disciplined, than the Irish, though not superior them valour, equal strength body, activity hardiness, stated by the earl Essex. The British cavalry was superior that the Irish, much better armed, accoutred, and disciplined, and their
cuirassiers, men-at-arms, were covered with coats mail plate-armour, and wore iron brazen helmets; they were armed with spears lances, swords, pistols, &c. Their archers were
also very powerful, and they had mounted archers amongst their cavalry. Their infantry were armed with swords, spears, and hal berds, pole-axes, and amongst them were also bodies archers; they always had far greater number musketteers
512, on the Battle Clontarf; the banner was termed Bratach,
and the standard Meirge; the standard-bearer was called Meirg
each, and banner-bearer Fear-Brataighe. The Bards attended
battle fields, and raised the Iłosg-catha, war-song. The Irish than the Irish, and they had several pieces artillery, all their rushed into battle with fierce shouts defiance, and loud battle
cries; their chief cry, according Ware, was Farrah, Farrah, the origin which word various opinions have beengiven an tiquaries, but may the same the word Fearadh O'Brien's Dictionary, which signifies fight valiantly, like man, or, ac
cording others, the Irish used the word Faire, Faire, pronounced Farray, which signifies watch, watch, your guard and the word Hurrah supposed have come from the same source. The war-cry Aboo, according various writers was used the Irish, and different opinions have been given its origin, but was de
battles the war Elizabeth, while appears the Irish scarcely ever had any cannon these engagements.
rived from the Irish word Buaidh, pronounced like bo-ee, which
signifies victory; this word was anglicised Aboo, and hence the
various chieftains are said have had their war-cries, O'Neill
Aboo, O'Donnell Aboo, O’Brien Aboo, that victory O'Neill, years' War.