Pacata Hibernia Ireland appeased and reduced· Or, an historie of the late vvarres of Ireland, especially within the province of Mounster, vnder the government of Sir George Carew, Knight, then Lord President of that province, and afterwards Lord Carevv of Clopton, and Earle of Totnes, &c. VVherein the siedge of Kinsale, the defeat of the Earle of Tyrone, and his armie; the expulsion and sending home of Don Iuan de Aguila, the Spanish generall, with his forces; and many other remarkeable passages of that time are related. Illustrated with seventeene severall mappes, for the better understanding of the storie.

CHAP. XIX.

The Maior of Limerick fined and imprisoned, and a new Maior elected. A Letter from the Spanish Archbishop of Dublin to Iames fits Thomas. The S••eriffes men slaine by Florence Mac Cartie. The Lord President perswadeth Florence to goe into England. Florence seemeth to like of the motion, and the use he made of it.

THE Countrey being now reduced to that outward o∣bedience and conformitie (as you haue heard) the Pre∣sident and Councell returned unto Moyallo the thir∣teenth of December, where they had some leasure to looke in the Corporate Townes, whom they found to be principall ayders, abettors, and upholders of this unnaturall Re∣bellion, which proceeded partly out of malice to the State for mat∣ters of Religion, but principally for their owne benefit; for in these turbulent times, the greatest part of the Queenes Treasure sent over into this Kingdome, is expended by the Captaines and Souldiers a∣mongst them: Againe, they issue their Marchandise to the Rebells (underhand) at very excessiue rates, and buy the Countrey Com∣modities at their owne prizes; by reason whereof it was probably conjectured upon good grounds, that the Townes of Mounster were more inritched within these three yeares of Warre, then they were before almost in twentie yeares of peace. Another thing also at this time was noted in the Townes, namely, that all the chiefe Cities made choyse of professed Lawyers to be their Ma••ors, Magistrates, and chiefe Officers, and such as before were Ring leaders of their Corporations. These prepensed Elections, whether they vvere made for feare, left they should bee called to account for their for∣mer faults, both in assisting the Rebells, and resisting the Souldi∣ers, or to maintaine the Townes in obstinate superstition, which before was much a••gmented by these Instruments, or for some o∣ther hidden cause, knowen onely to themselues, I cannot certainely determine, but sure I am it proceedeth not from any loyall or duti∣full disposition. Amongst these lawlesse Lawyers thus elected, there

was one Geoffrey Gallway, Major of Limerick, a man that had spent many yeares in England, in studying of the Common Lawes, and returning into Ireland about three yeares since, did so pervert that Citie by his malicious counsell, and perjurious example, that hee withdrew the Major, Aldermen, and generally the whole Citie from comming to the Church, which before they sometimes fre∣quented. Moreover, about a yeare since there happened an affray in Limricke, betweene the Souldiers and some of the Towne, at what time this Gallway came to the then Major, advising him to dis-arme all the Souldiers, and told him, that all their liues were in the Majors hands, and at his mercy, whereby a gapp was most apparantly o∣pened by him, to haue induced a wicked and barbarous massacre upon her Majesties Forces. With this man therefore did the Presi∣dent take occasion to enter into the Lists, upon a manifest contempt offered unto his Office and Government, as followeth: It came to passe, that a Souldier of the Earle of Thomonds Company, was im∣prisoned by the said Major, for a supposed Pettie Larceny of a Hatchet. The President (being upon his journey against the Re∣bells, that were now reported to haue invaded the Province) requi∣red to haue the said Souldier delivered unto him, that hee might re∣ceiue a present tryall, and punishment for his default, if hee were found guiltie, or else to repayre to his Colours, and to goe the journey. The Major before hee would deliver the Prisoner, desired that hee might conferre with his Brethren; This being graunted, hee returned answer, that it was not thought fit by the Corpora∣tion to release the prisoner, except his Lordshipp would make a Warrant, enjoyning and commaunding them so to doe. The Pre∣sident and Councell being assembled, a Warrant was framed, signed, and directed to the Major: but this Warrant was deemed unsuffi∣cient, and therefore desired to haue the same amended in certaine particulars, which without difficultie was yeelded unto, and a se∣cond and a third framed according to the Majors owne directions; and thus did hee dally untill hee saw the President ready to leaue the Towne, some part of the Armie being already upon their March, at which time the Major came to the President, and utterly re∣jected all those Warrants, affirming that the Authoritie given them by the Charter, did sufficiently exempt them from the Iurisdiction and Commaund of the President and Councell: The President much scorning to bee thus deluded and dallyed withall, told the Major, that hee would shortly find a time to call him to an account for his contempt offered, not against his Person, but against her Ma∣jestie and her Government established in the Province: Who be∣ing now returned from the Service, (as you haue heard) and abiding

at Moyallo, directed his Warrant to the said Gallway, commaunding him upon his Alleageance, that hee should immediately appeare before him and the Councell at a day assigned at Moyallo, to an∣swer unto such things as should bee objected against him on her Majesties behalfe; where making his appearance, hee was censured to liue as a prisoner in a Castle in the Countrey,* 1.1 and not to come in∣to the Citie of Limricke, untill hee had payed a fine to her Majestie of foure hundred pound sterling, which was designed for the repa∣ration of Her Majesties Castle there; which summe was imployed afterward to that use; and lastly, that a new Major should be placed in his roome. The Townsemen presently sent an Agent (as their manner is) to make suite unto the Councell of England, seeking to abuse their Lordships with counterfeit humility and false suggesti∣ons, to get abatement either in whole or in part of this fine afore∣said; but therein they failed of their expectation, and having recei∣ved a check for their proud contumacie against the President, they were commanded from the Court.

The one and twentieth of this Moneth of December,* 1.2 Sir Richard Percy* 1.3 sent sixty of his Garison at Kinsale into Kinalmekaghe, Omag∣hons Countrie, to get the prey of the same, whereunto he was en∣couraged by one who promised to guide them, so as they should not misse of all the Cowes in the same; Dermond Moyle Mac Cart••e Flo∣rence his Brother, and Moylmo Omaghon the chiefe of his Sept, having some intelligence of their comming, with three hundred Foote and some Horse, assailed them, not doubting but to haue cut all their throats; for the space of two houres a good skirmish was maintai∣ned; but the Rebels not finding the Defendants to be Chikins, to be afraid at the sight of every cloud or kite, with some losse (of slaine and hurt men) soberly retreated: of the Garison of Kinsaile onely two private men were hurt, yet they returned ill pleased for that they missed of the booty expected. About this time the Spanish Archbishop of Dublin wrote unto the lurking ritulary Earle of Desmond, the Copie whereof I doe here verbatim relate, translated out of Latine.

A Letter from the Spanish Archbishop of Dublin to Iames fits Thomas.

MY most Honourable good Lord, having long desired a fit oportunity to write unto you, the same i•• now offered by M^•. Iohn, whereof I am very glad, that by such a most sure and faithfull Messenger I might open my mind to your Lordship; as also to shew that most certaine and undoub∣ted hope of aide is shortly to come. I would most willingly haue come unto

your Lordships presence, which lately I haue assayed, and doubtlesse would haue done, unlesse I had beene hindred by these Lords, which told mee that present and imminent dangers were to be feared in my Iourney, unlesse I had an Armie of souldiers to conduct me; and now (but that there is a necessi∣tie of my returning into Spaine) I would haue come to you in the company of Master Iohn;* 2.1 But I hope that most speedily and most fortunately I shall re∣turne unto you againe: In the meane time I haue pretermitted nothing which might tend to your profit, aswell to our Catholike Master, as any other whosoever, which now also in Spaine I will performe; I would therefore intreate your excellencie, that you would be of a good courage together with all other of your faction; and that you would fight constantly and valiantly for the faith and the libertie of your Countrey, knowing and firmely hoping, that the helpe of my Lord the Catholike King, is now comming, which when it cometh, all things shall bee prosperous, and will place you in your former liber∣ty and securitie, that ye may possesse your desired peace and tranquillity: The Almighty conserue your Lordship in safety long to continue. From Done∣gall the thirteenth of Ianuary, 1601.

The Province of Mounster standing now in these good tearmes of Obedience and Conformitie (as you haue heard) the President thought good for the diminution of Her Majesties charge to spare some part of those Forces, which at first were allotted unto him for this service; and therefore besides those fiue hundred which were of late cashiered by direction from the Lord Deputie; he was conten∣ted to spare one thousand more to bee disposed for the warres of Linster, or other places neere adjoyning, conditionally that they might remaine upon the List of Mounster, aswell to countenance his proceedings, as also that he might call them backe upon any occa∣sion, if new broyles should bee raised; and so in effect reduced the Armie of that Province to fifteene hundred Foote and two hundred Horse.

You heare before, that the Earle of Ormond upon conference with the President, undertooke to driue Redmond Burke, and the other Rebels his associats out of his libertie of Ormond, within the liberty of Tipperary, which although he oftentimes assaied to effect, yet it sorted not to his desired end, untill the beginning of this Moneth of Ianuary,* 2.2 at which time he employed the Lord of Dun∣boyne, Sir Walter Butler his Nephew, and Captaine Marberry, with such forces as he had (of Her Majesties and the Countrey) to so good purpose, that besides fourty fighting men that were presently slaine, and amongst them Thomas Burke, brother to the said Redmond, and the Armes of thirtie more gotten, they forced Redmond and all his Company into the river of Nore, being at that time very high, and

there drowned seventie of his men with their armes, besides divers Churles and all their baggage; certaine persons were also taken in this service, amongst whom was Iohn Burke, brother to the said Redmond, who was shortly after executed in Kilkenny, and William Burke an other of his brethren, grievously wounded. But to returne to the Presidents actions, who desirous that the Countrey might grow acquainted with the civill governement, whereunto of late it had beene a stranger, thought it convenient, that the Sherifes being necessary officers for the State, should looke into the Countrey, as∣well to finde out such ill disposed Malefactors, and idle Vagabonds, as were pernitious to the government, as also to levie at reasonable rates, such provisions as the Countrey yeeldeth, and the Garisons wanted: for this cause Iohn Barry, the Sheriffe of the County of Corke, made a Iourney unto some of Florence Mac Cartie* 2.3 his lands, who no sooner entered into his Countrie (as hee termed it) but pre∣sently he was resisted; and before he could make his retreate, some of his men were murthered; the like measure was also offered to some of the Garison of Kerry, who had no sooner set foote beyond the Mang, a River that parteth Kerry and Desmond; but they were instantly assaulted by Florence his Followers, and two of his souldi∣ers slaine.

The President receiving Advertisement of these malicious and traytourly practises of Florence (still continued) was exceeding de∣sirous (according unto directions sent him out of England) to get him into his hands, if it might bee effected, without putting the Queene to a further charge, which without some temporizing could not as yet conveniently be performed: For Florence* 2.4 finding himselfe to haue notoriously incurred ••everall breaches of his for∣mer protection, wrote divers Letters unto the President, in excuse of these facts, the same being stuffed (as his phrase was) with dam∣nable oathes, and execrable blasphemies, that himselfe was never acquainted with the former slaughters, and that his people were strangely overseene therein, who mistaking the Souldiers for the Sheriffes men, and the Sheriffes men for Traytors, committed those offences at unawares. Answere was remissed by the President, that the State was well perswaded of his loyaltie and innocencie, touch∣ing these disorders, and therefore requested him very earnestly to make his repaire unto him, that hee might by his presence and ad∣vice, the better finde out and punish those malefactors; but by no meanes or wayes could he be drawen foorth of his strong Countrey of Desmond, before hee had gotten his protection to be renewed; a plaine demonstration of his guiltie conscience.

Not long after, upon his repaire to the President, he mooved him

to goe for England,* 2.5 laying before his Iudgement divers commo∣dities that might thereby accrew unto him: First, he should prooue these suggestions to be untrue, which some of his Enemies had buz∣zed into the eares of the Councell of England, That hee was a vowed enemy to the English Government, and a devoted friend in his heart to the Spanish King. Secondly, that by his owne pre∣sence (with the Councell) he might get that Countrey of Desmond confirmed unto him, which hee now held rather by courtesie then by right. And lastly, that the Queenes Majestie might understand (out of his mouth) the present estate of that Province, to whose re∣lation (as he verily thought) shee would giue attentiue eare and cre∣dit: All this was urged, to the end, that the Province might be rid of so dangerous a member, who vvas most likely to breed nevv commotions: This Gentleman smelling the Presidents drift, pre∣tended himselfe to bee most willing,* 2.6 and for that purpose would returne into Desmond, and when his necessaries were provided hee would speedily proceed in his Iourney for England. Within certaine dayes after, he sent Messengers to the President, signifying unto him, that the Countrey of Desmond was so poore and begger∣ly, as it could not possibly affoord him meanes for such necessaries as hee needed for his Iourney, and therefore requested his Lord∣ships Letters unto the chiefe Gentlemen of Carbery, that they would bee contributors unto him in a businesse that did so neerely con∣cerne him: All this being graunted and effected, hee neither went forward, nor did he purpose at all to goe, as the sequell of his doings manifestly declared.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Major of Limerick fined and im∣prisoned, and a new Major elected.
• * 1.2

  21. Decem.
• * 1.3

  Kinalm••∣kaghe preyed by Sir Ri∣chard Percy.
• * 2.1

  He m••aneth Iohn fits Thomas bro∣ther to the titulary Earle.
• * 2.2

  Ianuary.
• * 2.3

  The Sheriffs men slaine by Flor. Mac Gartie.
• * 2.4

  Florence his excuses re∣ceived for truths.
• * 2.5

  The L. Presi∣dent perswa∣deth Florence to goe into England.
• * 2.6

  Florence seemeth to like of the motion, but meaneth no∣thing lesse, and the use he made of it.