A scourge for rebels wherin are many notable seruices truly set out, and thorowly discoursed of, with euerie particular point touching the troubles of Ireland, as farre as the painfull and dutiful seruice of the Earle of Ormound in sundrie sortes is manifestfestly [sic] knowen. Written by Thomas Churchyard Gentleman.

The Examination of Owen mac Donill, Omorihertegh, taken the xxvj. of Nouember, 1583. before those whose names are heereunto sub∣scribed, of the manner and discourse how the Earle of Desmound was pursued and slayne.

THe said Owen being duely sworne and examined vppon the holie Euangelist, by vertue of his othe, deposeth, that on Saterday (beeing the ix. of this present Nouember) the Earle of Desmound departed, the woods lying neere the I∣land of Rierye, and went Westward beyond Tramore to the wood called Dorremore neere Bongoinder, from whence he sent ii. of his Horsmen (called Conoghore Nescolly & Shane Deleo) with xviii. kearns to bring him a pray (hauing himself and Iohn mac Ullug, and two or three footmen stayed there at Dorremore for them) which company (by the said Earles di∣rection) went to Cahir nefahye (lying by west Gregories Ca∣stle by the Sea side) and there tooke the pray of Maurice mac Owen brother in law to this Deponent, and the pray of Ro∣bert mac Edmound being Tenauntes to this deponent and to his eldest brother, called Donil mac Donil Omoriherteighe in that town: that is to say, forcie Cowes, niene capples with great store of other goods and houshold stuffe, and stripped na∣ked the said Maurice his wife, and children. At the takinge of whiche praye (to terrefie the people from making pursuit) the said traytors published and saide that the Earle of Desmound lay neere them with the rest of his companie, to ayde them, if pursuite had beene made after them. Whereuppon the saide Maurice sent worde to Liuetenant Stanley (then beeing in the Dungle) and also to this deponent and to his sayd brother Douil mac Donil (being then at Castle dromin neere Castle Maing) of the taking of his pray.

Whereuppon this Deponent and his said brother Donill mac Donil (hauing also word sent them from Lieuetenaunt Stanley, to pursue and tract out that pray, and to call to their

ayde, the ward of Castlemaing, and that he and the countrey were making ready to followe them to rescue the same) ha∣uing respect chiefely to their othes, assuraunce, and promise giuen and made to the Lorde General, to doe seruice, set for∣warde, being xiiii. proper Kearnes in companie whereof two were shot. And this Examinate went to Castlemaing, and tolde the Cunstable Cheston of the whole matter, and be∣sought him to rise out (according to the Lieuetenaunts direc∣tion) to followe the praye in the companie of him and his bro∣ther Daniel, to which Cheston aunsweared, that he could not himselfe depart his charge, and saide, he woulde let him haue some of his companie, to go with this Examinate, and so sent away fiue Souldiers with him. This Examinate, and those fiue Souldiers came together to the Mountayne of Slea∣uemisse, where his Brother Daniell mac Daniell wayted for them, and from thence they came altogether toward Tra∣lye in the Euening a Sunday (beeing the tenth of Nouem∣ber) in hope that they shoulde ouertake the praye, before the same, shoulde passe the straight of Tramore, where they were sure (as they thought) to rescue the same praye from the tray∣tours if they had ouertaken them there. At their comminge to Traley, they found the tracte of the pray, going Eastwarde to Sleaueloghra.

Whereuppon, the Souldiers whiche came from Castle∣maing beganne to stay, and sayde they woulde traueyle no far∣ther after the praye, but turne backe to theyr charge, till at length this Deponente perswaded them to staye, and keepe him company to pursue the pray, promising them two biefes of the pray if it had beene theyr lucke to rescue the same from the Traytours, if not, that he woulde giue them a Biefe of his owne in respecte of their trauayle. Uppon whiche pro∣mise, the Souldiers agreed to goe forwarde: the tracte was followed by daye light to Balleore, and by mooneshyne tow∣arde Glamagnitie at Sleaueloghra, where then the Elder Brother Daniell, and this Examinate tooke aduice to gette vppe aboue the Glinne to viewe whether they might see anie

in the Woode, or heare anye stirre, and hauing come to the heyghte ouer the Glinne, they sawe the fire vnderneath them.

Whereuppon Daniell sayde that he woulde goe to spy, whether the Traytours had the praye there with them, whi∣che hee did, and came backe to the companye, and tolde there were some of the Traytours there, whiche hadde no Cattell with them, and sayde it were beste not to assaulte them bee∣fore the praye and them selues coulde bee founde toge∣ther.

Whereunto this Examinate agreed. In the dawninge of the daye, on mundaye the eleuenth of Nouember, they put themselues in order to set vppon the Traytours in their Cabbins. This Examinate and his Brother Donill with theyr Kearne, tooke the forewarde, and appoynted the soul∣diers to keepe the rewarde (sauinge that one Daniell O∣kelleye a Souldier whiche hadde but his Sworde and Tar∣get, stoode in the forewarde with them) they all makinge a greate crye entered the Cabbin where the Earle laye, and this Examinate ranne thorowe the Cabbin after the Earles companye, whiche fledde to the Wood, and at his retourne backe to the Cabbin doore, the Earle beeynge stroken by one of the companye (by whome certayne hee knoweth not, but that all the Footemenne and Souldiours were toge∣ther within the Cabbin) hee discouered him selfe, sayinge: I am the Earle of Desmounde, saue my life. To whome this Examinate annsweared, thou hast killed thy selfe longe agone, and nowe thou shalte bee Prisoner to the Queenes Maiestye, and to the Earle of Ormounde Lorde Generall of Mounster. Wheruppon hee tooke him by his arme (beeing cutte,) and willed the Earle (who was slowe in going) to make speede, else they woulde carrye awaye his Heade, seeynge the Traytours drewe verye neere to haue him rescu∣ed.

Whereunto Daniel mac Daniel sayde, I will carry him

on my backe a while, and so shall euery one of you. Daniel ca∣ried a good while, and being weary he put him off: the Trai∣tours being at hand, al the companie refused to carry him any further, considering the eminent danger they stood in the trai∣tours drawing neere.

Where at this deponent Owen mac Donil willed the soul∣dier Daniel O kelleye, to cut off the Earles head, for that they could not apply to fight and carry him away, to whose directi∣on Kelley obeyed, saying: he would so doe, drawing out his sworde, and striking off the Earles head, whiche they brought to Castle maing, where this Examinate and his brother Da∣niel mac Daniel deliuered the same to be kept (as in her Ma∣iesties Castle) til they had made themselues ready to bring the same to the Lord General, and haue sent woorde to Lieuete∣naunt Stanley (who followed them in armes with the force of the countrey, hauing the charge of the seruice in those parts by the L. Generals appointment) of their happye successe, & willed him to take his waye to Castle maing, to meete them who came thither with his companie.

And the forenamed Daniel O kelley (being likewise exami∣ned before these, testified that the Earle of Desmounde was pursued in the order and maner afore written, and that he him selfe wounded the said Desmound within his Cabbin, and af∣ter cut off his head (least he should be rescued) and that hee the sayd Daniel mac Daniel layd vp the same head to be kepte at Castlemaing, til it had beene brought by them to the Lorde General.

These thinges beeyng saide by othe before the right Honorable the Earle of Ormound, the Bishop of Oshry, and the Soueraigne of Kilkenny.

NOw may you that wishe wel to the worthye sort of men, behold how manfully good minds goes forward in scour∣ging of rebels. And so may you note, how by Gods ordinance, al naughty practises are supplanted, the wicked rooted vp &

the worthie preserued, and briefly to rehearse the noble explo∣ites brought to good passe by the Earle of Ormound, it shall make thousandes thinke, that a secrete deuine grace vpholds the true subiect, and a prepared plague (from aboue) plucketh downe the pryde of false people, that delights in paltry rebel∣lion: for the good and sound quarrel, alwayes ouerthrowes the ficke and charged conscience, as is seene by this seruice.

First marke, this Earle serued against his owne nation, a∣gainst his owne blood, against his familiars, and against all forreyne power and deuises, against whom often he obtained victories, and neuer tooke foyle, where his Aduersaries were conquered, and broughte to vtter subuersion. Truely a matter to be maruelled at, and a terrible example to all those that foo∣lishely committe offence. For trueth is so watchful, so stoute in right, and strong in battaile, that falshood can finde neyther force nor cunning to auoyde and resist. This Irishe action & scourge of Rebelles, may warne the busie wittes and wanton heades to beware of punishment, and make retchlesse children feare the rodde. Which rodde and scourge, euery noble mind beares openly and awfully, to make the miserable offender quake and tremble, not onely at his owne treacherie, but also at the view of a true mans face, which forceth a Rebel to blush and turne backe vnto, and either mainely to run away or fee∣bly to fight. Yea, and though a while the rebel waxeth wilde & wanders at pleasure. Yet sodainly he is made tame, and ta∣ken in a net like a wyld goose, that knowes of no danger, till the fowler hath him in his fingers.

Nowe by this notorious seruice of the Earle of Ormounde (and forwardnesse of good souldiers) the whole realme of Ire∣land may see that trueth hath euer the victorie, and treason is put to shame and dishonour, which iustice of God and fidelitye of man shalbe I trust, a myrrour for al kind of nations to look into, and shal cause to be made cleane al infected consciences, and blottes of the browe that defiles the faces of many wicked people.

So thus farre I haue gone in the rehearsal of a portion of the Earle of Ormoundes seruices, meaning to write more as time permitteth me. And thus was the rather taken in hand & finished in haste, because your good Lordship shall see howe I imploy mine aged yeeres. For the exercises of pen, and trauell of body, makes me looke so young: And now to knit vppe my careful pilgrimage, I frame my selfe daily to purchace noble friends, whose power may further my good fortune here, and yeeld some sparke of good reporte, when I am gone, and my candle is cleane burned out, for which intent only I haue pre∣sented your honourable Lordship this litle booke.

A peece of forgetfulnes hath hindered my memorie, & left out a great matter which shold haue bin mentioned in order, amōg the rest of this seuere Earles seruices, who as I haue sayd be∣fore, took no regard of blood, birth, friendship, familiarity, nor personage whatsoeuer, when it came to y^e point of iustice. For in execution therof, all people were alike vnto him, were they neuer so neere of his kin or consanguinity, as appeareth plain∣ly by the hanging of his owne base sonne, (and his Brothers sonne) of late: with a number hanged likewise of their folow∣ers, which noble and seuere deede of his, as it is rare and most to be marueiled at, so is it an act cōparable to kinges, that spa∣red not their owne children in causes of punishment, and shew∣ing good example. And as the other his worthie doinges, me∣rites an euerlasting same: so this deserues a perpetuall re∣nowne and praise, as all iust men I knowe wil confesse. Fur∣ther as I saide, I forgate some matter, so the taking and bee∣heading of Syr Iames of Desmound (which was when the Earle of Ormound was Gouernour of Mounster) must be re∣membred, for I mind at the length to bring most of al his good actions to light.

Your L. humbly and loyally in al at commandement. Thomas Churchyard.