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.
ford, and informed them that though the river was much swell by the rains they could easily converse with each other across the stream.
Four Masters - Annals of Ireland
Battles Munster and Death Norris-Sir Thomas Nor ris, abovementioned, president Munster, was brother John Norris, whose campaigns Ulster, against Hugh O'Neill, have been recorded the years 1595-96, the Annals. According Mac Geoghegan, Thomas Norris, the head 2,500 men, marched from Cork towards Kilmallock, but was attacked place
him, and nearly twenty Thomas’s people were slain that occasion, and many more would have been cut down, were not
alliance with O’Neill and the earl Desmond; the siege carried by the earl and his forces was avail them, until they brought some large
ordnance from Waterford against by which the
after which they were obliged surrender the town the earl Essex and the queen. the days which the earl Essex laid siege Ca hir, the president the two provinces Munster, namely, sir Thomas Norris, came from Cork
army, he marched from Dublin westward directly, Kilmallock wait on the earl, before he should
for he was informed that there was not in Ireland, come Limerick; resided nearly fortnight
of those who were plundering the queen, a party that town waiting for the earl come across the
which could be more easily attacked by him than Suir, and was the habit scouring the hills
the Geraldines, situated as they were on that oc the county Limerick every other day the casion. The earl and his forces did not halt until hope slaying taking prisoners some the
they arrived in the very centre of the province of queen’s enemies; one those days, which
that the president happened wounded, for was directly struck by the thrust pike, which
received between the jaw-bone and the upper part the neck; when his people saw him wound
that manner, they surrounded him, and con veyed him back Kilmallock, where was
confined for six weeks under the hands doctors, until died, the month July precisely".
called Bearrach Abharra by William Burke, who repulsed him, killed many his men, and took his baggage. Norris afterwards
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ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1599.
When Cahir was taken by the earl of Essex, he himself, along with the earl of Ormond and the officers of the army, proceeded to Limerick, and he
formed his camp outside of Limerick. The governor of the province of Connaught, namely, Conyers
Clifford, together with the earl Clanrickard, i. e. Ulick, the son Rickard Saxanach, and the earl Thomond, namely, Donogh, the son Conor O’Brien, joined him that town; when those no
bles concluded their consultation together, the go vernor and the earl of Clanrickard returned back
into Connaught, and the earl Essex, along
Munster on that occasion. On their return east ward the following day, being Monday, near
Baile-an-Eletraigh, they got strenuous hard fight,
and slaughtering dangerous conflict from the
Geraldines, and an immense number of the earl
Essex’s forces were slain that day, together with noble knight great fame and renown,
namely, sir Henry Norris; the earl Essex went after that Kilmallock, and, after having re
mained that town for three nights, directed his course southward Ceann-Feabhrat of Slieve
Caoin the son Dearg Dualach, mountain
Ormond and the earl Thomond,
the barony
the borders (Fermoy,
Cork, the direction proceeded was across Ath-Mainistrech-Fearmaighe (the Ford the monastery Fermoy), through Cona chail, through Moy-Ile, and Lioss-mor-Mochu
da, Lismore Waterford, where monas tery was founded the 7th century, by St. Car
thach Mochuda). The Geraldines continued following and shooting them, attacking, pursuing, slaughtering and wounding them along that dis tance. When the earl of Essex arrived in the
Desies (in Waterford), the Geraldine forces re turned with great joy and gladness their own countries and homes, and when the same earl came
Thomond departed
with the earl
prepared
obtaining
raldines; the first night after leaving Limerick,
the month June, they encamped the banks
the river Adare their march westward through Moin-Robhair, the following day, being
Saturday, the common soldiers and officers
the earl Desmond, and the Geraldine forces, showed them their faces, and fierce and grim was the welcome and reception they gave their sovereign's viceroy, his first visit them, for they shota cloud and smoke black powder, and shower balls from their sure-aiming guns, into their eyes; also
heard the loud shouts, cries, and clamour the
commanders and champions, instead the sub mission, honour, and the mild and bland expres
Coshlea, county Limerick, towards Cork), pass into Roche’s Country Cork); and when was supposed
march into Munster, the hope opportunity attacking the Ge
would
Dungarvan, the earl sions which should used towards him but, from him along the sea
Eochoill (Youghal) thence Limerick. mense numbers of the earl of Essex’s forces were The earl Essex proceeded from Dungarvan
however, the result that conflict was, that im Cork, and from
destroyed, and was not allowed make any progress note that day, and encamped
Waterford, from thence into the country
the Butlers, and into Leinster, and their march through every place they passed from Waterford Dublin, was not fortunate, for the Irish
short distance to the east of Askeaton. On the
following day, being Sunday, the resolution the
earl Essex, together with the earl Ormond Leinster were pursuing and attacking them, sur
and the earl Thomond, came was, send cavalry force put ammunition into Askeaton, and themselves proceed farther westward into
hers before they reached Kilmallock. Norris made another expe dition," with 2,400 foot and 300 horse, against the lord Roche Fermoy, who being joined Donal Mac Carthy Desmond, and Dermod and William O'Conor Kerry, their combined forces amounted 2,500 foot and about 100 horse; both armies continued skirmishing for days, but Norris, having length resolved return Cork, was pursued by the Irish, who killed 200 his men Monaster-na-Mona. Some time after this, Thomas Burke, brother the baron Castleconnell, having left the queen'sparty, joined the Irish, and got from Redmond Burke the command 200 men, with whom proceeded attack some places held by
rounding and circumventing them, that they
slew and destroyed immense numbers them every way and direction through which they
the English Muscry Cuirc, now Clanwilliam, Tipperary, and
having encountered Norris Killtilli, valiantly attacked him, and Norris,
the head 1,200 men, above-mentioned, being spear, young man
wounded the neck with the thrust
named John Burke, the English forces gave way when they saw
their leader fall, and many them were slain. Norris, being mortally wounded, died days after Kilmallock, not Mallow, mentioned Cox and Mac Geoghegan; the place where Norris was killed, called Killtili, Kilteely Listeeley, near Pallasgreen, the county Limerick.
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passed; and the Irish were in the habit of saying that it were better for him he had not gone on that expedition from Dublin to Hy-Conaill-Gaura (the
nogh, the son Cathal Oge, was along with the earl Essex that army, till their march from Munster, we have stated, and on their return eastward from the Connelloes, the county Limerick, was there O'Conor parted with them, and proceeded Connaught, the governor
ict
Siege of Cahir. —Essex next advanced into Kilkenny, and thence into Tipperary, and besieged Cahir castle, on the river Suir, which belonged to Thomas Butler, baron of Cahir, who was against the queen. The earl of Desmond, Redmond, and William Burke, to gether with James Butler, brother of the baron, according to Mac Geoghegan, came with their forces, and had several skirmishes with the troops of Essex, of whom many were slain; they thus retarded the siege, but the small garrison, having no artillery, and the cannon of Essex playing on them, the castle was surrendered, after a siege of ten days; this attack on the castle of Cahir is mentioned at p. 647 in these Annals. Essex placed a garrison in
but about two months after, according Cox, the castle was retaken by James Butler, who put the English garrison the Sword.
Battles Askeaton, &c. —These battles are mentioned
648 the Annals. The earl Essex next proceeded Lime rick, where his progress was opposed by the forces the Geral dines, commanded James Fitzgerald, earl Desmond, who was
s.
REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 649
baronies of Connello, in Limerick), as he was
obliged to return back after the first conflict which
was maintained against him, without receiving
obedience or submission from the Geraldines, and
without having accomplished, in his progress, any
achievement worth notice, except the taking of Ca that time, except one castle belonging the Mac hir-Dun-Iasgaidh. ” O’Conor Sligo, namely, Do Donoghs Tirerrill, which stood near the borders
2. Erpedition of the earl of Essea to Munster. —Robert Deve
reux, earl of Essex, earl marshal of England, cameto Ireland aslord
lieutenant, and landed at 1)ublin on the 15th of April, 1599, accom
panied, says Borlase, with many of the prime gentlemen of England. 2,500 men. Essex was joined the earls Thomond and Or He had, says Cox, “an army as great and as well furnished as
his heart could desire for that service, being at first 16,000 foot,
and 1300 horse, but afterwards increased to 20,000 men complete. ”
The annalists say that so great an army did not coine to Ireland Eletraigh, and by Mac Geoghegan Baile-en-Finitere, which pro
since the days of Strongbow. Essex sent part of his forces to different garrisons in Ulster, and, according to Mac Geoghegan, he dispatched 3000 men to assist sir Conyers Clifford, in Con naught, in his contests with Red Hugh O'Donnell, and he placed 3000 foot and 500 horse under the command of sir Henry Harring ton, to act against the O'Conors, O'Moores, O'Byrnes, O'Tooles, O'Cavenaghs, and other chiefs in Leinster. Some of the Irish chiefs joined Essex, and on these he conferred the honour of knights of the Golden Spur. According to Cox, Mac Geoghegan, and others, Essex himself, with the main body of his army, amounting to 7000 foot and 900 horse, and accompanied by 300 knights and gentlemen, set out from Dublin on the 20th of May, on his march to Munster; the cavalry was commanded by Henry Wriothesly, earl of Southampton.
brated chieftain Anthony O'Moore, of whom an account has been given at p. 632, not Owen O'Moore, as stated by several writers,
bably Ballinelety, near Askeaton. At this place, according Mac Geoghegan, the battle was very bloody, and lasted from
the morning 'till the evening, and great numbers the Eng lish were slain, together with sir Henry Norris, valiant com mander. Essex, after this engagement, encamped for few days
Croom, and then marched towards Waterford; but Mac Geoghe gan says, he was pursued and harrassed during six days by the
Catholic army. these battles, and several others alluded
the Annals, many hundreds the forces Essex were slain the Geraldines and the Irish chiefs.
Battles Leia, Offaley, &c. —Sir Henry Harrington marched with his forces into Leix, against the O'Moores, and, according Mac Geoghegan, the English were defeated great battle, and 1,200 them slain, with all their officers, and amongst the rest Adam Loftus, son the archbishop Dublin. Another great victory was gained over Harrington the O'Byrnes, the glens
Wicklow, after which, Essex, punish the English troops for
want courage, had them decimated. At this time, according Mac Geoghegan, Christopher Blanche was sent Ireland marshal, and marched with his forces into Offaley, King's coun ty; but was met the O'Conors, and fierce engagement ensued, which the English were defeated, and 500 their ca valry slain; the marshal himself escaped with difficulty, having his leg broken the battle.
The earl Essex continued some time Cork, deeply affected
Battle of the Pass of Plumes. —-Essex marched through Kil dare into Leix, on his way to Kilkenny and Tipperary. The cele
determined to oppose his progress, posted in a woody defile 500 of his clansmen, who suddenly attacked from their ambuscade the troops of Essex in the rear, and in a fierce conflict cut off about 500 of the English, and many officers. The place where this battle was fought was afterwards called Bearna-na-goleiteach, signifying the Pass of Plumes, from the great quantity of plumes collected, which had decorated the helmets of the English knights slain there. This conflict is considered to have taken place within a few miles of Maryborough, in the Queen's county. It is above stated in the Annals, at p. 647, that many attacks were made on the troops of Essex in their progress, and there were at least 700 of #. slain by the O'Moores, O'Conors, &c. , in those various con
success his arms. Mac Geoghegan says the English council, which was intercepted
sir Conyers Clifford. O'Conor had none his towns the county Sligo under his controul
alliance with O'Neill, and was commonly called the Sugan earl; Donal Mac Carthy More, Redmond Burke, and other chiefs, also joined Desmond and the Irish, according Mac Geoghegan, had
mond, and the first engagement above-mentioned the Annals, took place between Adare and Askeaton, and the second between Askeaton and Croom, place called the Annals Baile-an
the letter
and
where there an abundance warlike stores, but still unsuccessful; my undertakings have been attended with misfor tune, and not know what this can attributed, except
was the following passage: “I am confined
evil star that has led me here. ” Essex, seeing his forces
various engagements, set forward his his progress through Leinster, Wexford,
discomfited all sides
return Dublin, but
Carlow, and Kildare,
clans, under the Mac Murroghs, O'Cavenaghs, O'Tooles, O'Byrnes, and O'Moores, who, various conflicts, mentioned the An nals, cut off great numbers his men, and ultimately the earl effected his retreat Dublin, where arrived, towards the end
was pursued and harassed by the Irish
July, with shattered remnant his forces. Of the select
army 8000 men, with which Essex set out this expedition, to gether with the troops under Harrington, amounting more than
3000, about 5000 them were slain by the Irish, the various battles Leinster and Munster. Cox, his Hibernia Anglicana,
says that Essex, understanding the queen was angry less expedition into Munster, attributed the fault and his return found his army impaired, that council joined letter for the supply 1000 men.
his fruit the council,
and the
wrote the Irish,
Cork, have been
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650 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1599.
of the great river (Ballysadare river, near Sligo),
the name of which is Collooney. O'Conor having
remained a short time with the governor, he then
proceeded, by day and night, until he reached that period, the earl sent additional forces and soldiers town, in the month of July precisely; when O’Con with the governor, and commanded him, that, or arrived at Collooney, some cattle belonging to after his arrival the town Athlone, request O'Donnell's people which were throughout the Theobald the Ships, the son Richard the country at that time, were brought to O’Conor at Iron, son Edmond, son Ulick (Burke); Mur that town, unnoticed by their owners. When rogh-na-Maor, the son Donal the War, son O’Donnell was informed of that affair, he was glad
that O'Conor had come to the country, and he was
pleased with what he did, in order that he might
be revenged of him for his bad deeds before that
time. O’Donnell commanded his cavalry forces
not wait for their foot soldiers, until they reached
the castle, lest O'Conor might able leave the
town before the arrival the forces; this was ac rive Collooney, and torelieve and release O'Conor cordingly done for him, for truly his commands
danger being slain; but, however, reached
the earl, and they remained for two days and nights together consultation; the termination that
Gilladuff O'Flaherty, and the forces Galway, convey the provisions and drink, and their ma chinery for erecting castles, which had come from England Galway, round along the headlands and coasts northward, the harbour Sligo, and the
governor himself, with his forces, proceed land, the most direct roads, until should ar
durst not disobeyed; the horse forces then pro ceeded, expeditiously they possibly could,
until they arrived the town, and the main force followed quickly, and formed themselves into circle encompassment around the fortress. That castle was impregnable stronghold, and was
Sligo from the strait and predicament which was placed by O’Donnell; the earl also command the governor not return back until had erected strong impregnable castle Sligo, that
not easy watch the person who would inclined
leave for the place where was situated was Ships, Murrogh-na-Maor, and the people Gal
near intricate fastnesses. O'Donnell encamped the outskirts wood which lay the other
side the river, front the town; companies guards and sentinels were appointed by him,
way, that they should proceed by shipping along
the coast Ireland directly from the west Sligo; they did not neglect these instructions, for they prepared come, without delay cessation, and
both by day and night, watch every direction sailed with their fleet along the right hand side
about the fortress, and large troops cavalry were
kept always mounted on guard from the dusk the evening the following morning, order that
O'Conor might not escape from them. These re ports spread throughout Ireland, viz. , that O'Conor Sligo was placed that predicament by O’Donnell
Collooney, and when the earl Essex was in formed that affair, sent dispatches the go vernor the province Connaught (sir Conyers Clifford), and he commanded him come meet him certain day Fercall (O'Molloy's terri tory, the King'scounty). Thegovernorsustained great. loss and opposition his march through
Fercall meet the earl, for great number his common soldiers and officers were slain, and among
those was Richard, the son William, son Richard, son Oliver Burke, gentleman the
Burkes Tyrawley; and the governor himself was *
the land, until they entered the harbour Sligo, from the west, where they remained, they were
ordered, until they should receive information about the forces. The governor himself proceeded Roscommon, and mustered the English and Irish under his controul the adjoining districts, who were the service the queen; those were the sons the earl Clanrickard, namely, Rickard, baron Dunkellin, and Thomas; O'Conor Don,
Hugh, the son Dermod, son Carbry; Theobald Dillon, and Mac Sweeney the Tuatha, namely, Maolmurry, the son Murrogh Mall, son
Owen Oge, who was plundering and oppo sition O’Donnell, alliance with the governor
that time. They afterwards proceeded from Roscommon Tulsk, and they had twenty-eight
colours soldiers their departure from that town, the Sunday before Lammas (the Sunday
would always resist the Ultonians. The governor, having undertaken have these things executed, took his leave the earl, and proceeded the town Athlone, and enjoined Theobald the
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REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 651
before the 1st of August), precisely; the governor, for the salvation of their souls, in the first place, with his forces, arrived before noon of that day at and to deliver them from the great danger which the monastery of Boyle, where they remained to awaited them by the English. During the time the make preparations for the general march, which governor remained at the monastery of Boyle, he was they finally made. As to O’Donnell, when he preparing and threatening, declaring and boasting,
succeeded in establishing and confirming the siege
against the fortress in which O'Conor was to his
satisfaction, so that none would be suffered to go
into or come out of the castle, he left Niall Garv he had promised. When O’Donnell received in
O’Donnell in command of those who were carrying
on the siege, and having given him directions in
every thing necessary to be done, he himself
marched with his forcesto Coir-Shliabh-na-Seaghsa
(the Curlew mountains, on the borders of Sligo
and Roscommon), and he encamped there, in order
to prevent the foreign army from crossing it un ties (musketteers), on one side, with their loud-re
awares, for, from the first time he received intelli porting, sure-aiming guns, their forcible, smooth gence of the governor's intended march towards stringed arrows (the archers), their blood-drawing him, by command of the earl of Essex, he was in sharp spears, and other kinds missile weapons; wait, and on the look out for him, for the space of appointed fighting chieftains, and battle-main two months, till the 15th of August, on the borders taining warriors, command over the men,
of Bealach-Buidhe (the Yellow Pass), on the north closing, pressing, and leading them the con side of the Curlew mountain; but, however, his flict, and push them fight from the rear, forces were dispersed and separated from him, in whenever their weapons became relaxed; placed various places, viz. a party of them besieging the his chiefs, and champions, and steady soldiers (the castle in which O'Conor was, a portion of them galloglasses), the other side, with their strong, stationed before Theobald of the Ships, and the well-tempered, sharp swords, and well-shaped, forementioned fleet, and others of them guarding keen-edged battle-axes, and well-tried, large-headed the passes from Lough Kea, at the eastern extre spears, maintain the force battle; also con mity of Seghais (the Curlew mountain), to Loch verted his cavalry into foot soldiers, and distributed
every day, against the northerns, and promising he would cross the mountain northward, despite of them, and he marched on that day to perform what
telligence of that affair, he commanded his forces to be assembled in one place, to be reviewed, and put in order, and after they were inspected in ranks, he then divided his forces into two bodies. He
arranged his swift and active men, his nimble and expert soldiers (the kerns), and his shooting par
Teicheat (Lough O'Gara, in Sligo), at the western extremity of Seghais. His chiefs and counsellors
told O’Donnell that they had not a force sufficient to oppose the Englishin battle, as they had not their
troops collected together, but he considered their opinion of little weightorconsequence, and said, that
it is not by a host of men a battle is gained, but who
ever confides in the power of God, and has justice
on his side, it is he that must conquer and gain
the victory over his enemies. O’Donnell continued
in that manner till the 15th of August, as we have
stated, and that was the anniversary of the day on
which the Virgin Mary yielded her spirit, and he fast
ed with abstinence in honour of the blessed Virgin the foreign force might not pass unnoticed; Mary, as he was accustomed to do; a Mass was party them happened have been there that celebrated for him, and the forces in general, and day, who were reconnoitering distance the after making his confession, and rigidly repent monastery, and those who were it; while they ing of his sins, he received the Eucharist, and he were thus watching, they perceived the forces taking commanded his forces to pray to God fervently their arms, raising their standards, blowing their
them amongst his warriors, account the diffi culty the groundbefore them. O’Donnell having
disposed his men that manner, commanded the shooting party advance, before the others,
meet the foreign forces, fight and shoot them before they would come across the difficult part the mountain, and that he would be with the other party
certain place prepared give them battle, was sure overcoming them for was defeat them, after they had been first
where
easier
disabled
every day, number sentinels, who were con cealed on the brow the mountain, order that
that party. O’Donnell had watching,
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652 ANNALS OF THE FOUR MASTERS, A. D. 1599.
trumpets, and mustering for general battle; they were the English routed back the same place
sent speedy information of this to O’Donnell, who, as soon as he heard commanded the party had directed take the lead the pass proceed, with possible speed, onwards, engage with the English before they should come across the intricate parts the slopes the mountain; they then proceeded they were directed, with great ardour, and each man them having the courage
champion, they quickly reached the brow the mountain, before the English; O’Donnell fol
from whence they had come; their flight was pressing, that not one them looked back for friend relative, and did not know whether any those they had left behind them was dead alive, after
they once turned their backs their enemies; and not one them would have escaped tell the tale, were not that those who routed and pursued them were fewer number, for was impossible for them cut down those their power, account the greatness and vastness the num bers who were flying before them; but, however, they did not cease from pursuing them until they
lowed them steadily, with slow pace, attended
the steady warriors, and faithful and strong heroes
whom had selected about him, until they ar went within the walls the monastery from which rived the particular place which they were they had previously come. O'Rourke happened sure they would meet the English, where they have been at that time on the eastern side of the halted to encounter them. As the advanced Curlew mountain, separate camp, and had
force, which was commanded take the van, they promised O'Donnell that would ready at continued proceed the way meet the fo tack the English, conjunction with all others,
reign battalions, until they confronted them; when whenever the opportunity should offer. When they came close each other, the Irish cast heard the loud sounding the trumpets and forth at them destructive showers of well-for drums, the great reports, and the resounding along med, ash-handled darts, flights sharp-pointed the earth the powerful firing, prepared arrows, from their long and powerfully ef proceed from his camp with his warriors, and they fective bows, and thick volleys red flaming having put their battle-arms, they did not halt
flashes, and hot fiery balls lead, from their perfectly straight and sure-aiming guns. These
shooting vollies were answered the English sol diers, and their reports and echoes, and resounding
noise, were heard the woods and waters, and
weapons. The governor, sir Conyers Clifford, was districts; was wonder that the faint-hearted, slain, together with immense number English
the castles and stone buildings the neighbouring
and even the brave, did not fly from the attack and conflict, hearing the battle clangour, and the echoing and resounding the powerful firing. Champions were pierced, and heroes slain either side between them; their chieftains the fight, and their leaders the conflict, commanded O’Don nell’s people not remain standing before the fo– reigners, but circumvent and surround them on
and Irish, and was the beginning the en gagement was laid prostrate the mountain, mortally wounded, and the soldiers were ignorant
who first wounded him but, however, was by ball which passed through him, and none the soldiers recognised him until O’Rourke length came the place where was, and discovered that was the governor, and gave orders be head him; this was accordingly done, that
sides, which they closed around them
every side they were commanded, and they con was mangled trunk after his head was taken off.
tinued cut them down fiercely and actively, and without reserve, until they subdued their battle courage them directions, by the closeness and vehemence the conflict; but, however, the
English length turned their backs the power ful men the North, and the few number de feated the hosts hundreds, and precipitately
The person who was slain there was greatly mented, and was grievous have treated him ignominiously. The Irish the province Meva (Connaught), were not happy his death, for was bestower precious gifts and property
them, and stated falsehood them; was not one place that the governor was conveyed,
their quick progress until they arrived the place where O’Donnell’s forces were fighting the battle, and they commenced cutting and shooting the champions, conjunction with the others, un til the warriors lost vast number of heads and
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from the field of battle, for his body was brought to the road, with expedition, such them
be buried to the island of the Trinity on Lough Kea, vived, until they arrived their homees
in the barony of Moylurg (barony of Boyle), in and sorrow. O'Donnell’s people remained
the county of Roscommon, and his head was af tents that night, and they buried those that were terwards carried to Collooney, in the barony of slain their side; when they learned that the Tirerill, in the county of Sligo. After the defeated English had fled back, they proceeded the cas party had escaped to the monastery, O'Donnell's tle Collooney, where they had left the siege people returned back, carrying with them the heads carrying against O'Conor. When O'Conor was and military weapons of their enemies; and having informed the defeat and fall sir Conyers Clif retired to their encampments with great joy and ford, the battle the Curlew mountains, he gladness, they offered up thanksgivings to God did not believe until the head the governor and the Blessed Virgin Mary for their victory; and was shown him when he beheld the head he
the unanimous voice of the men was, that it was
not by the force of arms the English were defeated,
but through the miracles of God, and the supplica
tions of O’Donnell and his forces, after he had re his submission him that was good resolution ceived the pure essence of the body and blood of for him, for O’Donnell put him the possession Christ, in the beginning of that day, after the fast and government his country, and presented which he had kept the previous day, in honour of him with many gifts horses, cattle, and sorts the Blessed Virgin Mary. As to the English, property, that after that possessed his after O’Donnell’s people returned, they took to country”.
gave up hope being rescued from imprison ment, and what did was, come forth and sur render the mercy O’Donnell, and made
sur grief
their
3. Battle of the Curlew Mountains. —The Curlew mountains foot, with somesquadrons cavalry. above stated the An are situated on the borders of Roscominon and Sligo, about two nals that had colours, and each company, which usually miles north of the town of Boyle, in Moylurg, or Mac Dermott's consisted 100 men, bore colour, the entire the British Country. These mountains, called by the Irish Cor-Slieve, are forces, and their Irish auxiliaries, amounted about 2,800 men.
celebrated in Irish history, their passes being in ancient times the scene of many great battles, several of which have been recorded in the course of these Annals. This battle was fought on the 15th of August, 1599, and is described by the various Irish and Anglo Irish historians, from whom the following particulars have been collected. The Irish were commanded by Red Hugh O'Donnell, and by Bryan O'Rourke, lord of West Brefney, or Leitrim; this Bryan was son of the celebrated chief Bryan-na-Murtha O'Rourke, who, having gone to Scotland for some auxillaries, was treacher ously taken prisoner by King James VI. , afterwards James I. , of England, who sent him to London to queen Elizabeth by whose order he was confined in the Tower, afterwards tried, and hanged at Tyburn ; an account of his death has been given at the year 1591, in these Annals. Amongst the chiefs who commanded on the
side of O'Donnell were sir John O'Dogherty of Inisowen, Owen Mac
Sweeny, and O'Gallagher of Donegal, and Conor Mac Dermott,
chief of Moylurg. O'Donnell assembled his forces at Ballymote,
and sent, says Mac Geoghegan, a garrison of 400 foot, under Mac
Sweeny of Fanat and Mac William Burke, to Sligo, to secure that
The following were the officers under Clifford sir Alexander Rad cliffe, who led the van guard, and Arthur Savage, who brought up the rear; Richard Burke, baron Dunkellin, son the earl Clanrickard, commanded the centre; sir Griffin Markam, and captain John Jephson, commanded lord Southampton's cavalry; colonel Theobald Dillon, baron Kilkenny West, Westmeath; sir John Harrington, captains Lyster, Cosby, and Oliver Burke, were also commanders. Several the Irish chiefs, with their forces, also joined Clifford, Hugh O'Conor Don, and O'Conor Roe Roscommon; Maolmora Mac Sweeny, and sir John Mac Sweeny, who, consequence some quarrels, revolted from O'Donnell, though before that time the Mac Sweenys always fought his side. On the morning the battle, O'Donnell ad dressed his men the mountain animating harangue, the Irish language, the substance which given Taaffe, from O'Sullivan Beare, which are the following passages—“The great dispenser eternal justice has already doomed destruction
town against Theobald of the Ships, who was in alliance with the
those assassins, who have butchered our wives and our children, plundered our properties, set fire our habitations, demo lished our churches, and monasteries, and who have changed the face Ireland into wild uncultivated desert. On this day, more particularly,
English, and sailed towards it with a fleet from Galway ; he also
sent 200 horse, under Niall Garv O'Donnell, to blockade Donogh
trust heaven for protection, day dedicated all saints, whom these enemies religion en day which we have purified our consciences defend honestly the cause justice, against men whose hands are reeking with blood, and who, not content with driving from
O'Conor Sligo, who then held the castle of Collooney for the queen.
the greatest deavour vilify;
These detachments reduced O'Donnell's forces to about 1,500 men;
having possessed himself of the defiles of the Curlew mountains, he had many large trees felled, and placed on the passes to obstruct
the advance of the English. O'Donnell then encamped on the
adjoining plain ; his forces consisted, as usual, of Kerns and tains Dunaveeragh. But, brave Irishmen, you burn for revenge. 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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I. ,
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.
