THE SPANIARDS IN MUNSTER, 1601-1602.
[Sidenote: Rumours of invasion.]
Cecil had been right in saying that no Spaniards would come in 1600,
and he was equally well informed about their intentions in the next
year. In the autumn he inclined to think that they would go to Galway
rather than to any part of Munster, where the strength of the rebels
had been so lately and so thoroughly broken. Limerick and Waterford
were mentioned as probable objects of attack, but Carew thought an
invader would avoid the former as giving no means of retreat, and the
latter as being too easily reached from England. Cork he thought the
most likely to attract them, especially as Florence MacCarthy had
recommended it, and he set to work to remedy its natural weakness as
far as possible. 'The other towns', he said, 'are neither worth their
labours to gain, nor her Majesty's charges to defend.' The Spaniards
did, in fact, aim at Cork, and may have been more easily turned aside
by hearing that a warm reception awaited them there. Carew had in the
meantime taken the precaution of arresting Florence and sending him
to England. It may be doubted whether faith was not broken with him;
but there can be no doubt of his dealings with Tyrone or with the
Spaniards, and both the Queen and Cecil approved of his detention.[379]
[Sidenote: The Spaniards disembark at Kinsale (September).]
Cecil warned Carew that the danger of invasion would not be over till
the middle of October, and at the beginning of September Mountjoy
thought it prudent to be ready for an immediate journey into Munster.
On the 21st both Deputy and President were Ormonde's guests at
Kilkenny, and on the next day an express came to say that the Spaniards
had been sighted off the Old Head of Kinsale. Captain Love, in a small
pinnace, had descried them at sea off Cape Finisterre a fortnight
before, had noted that they were full of soldiers, and had made sail
for Cork harbour, to give the alarm. This says much for the superior
sailing power of the English, but it is possible that the ships seen by
Love were those which were driven into Corunna by bad weather. Lisbon
had been the original point of departure. The main fleet, with Don Juan
D'Aguila on board, arrived off Cork, but found the wind blowing out of
the harbour's mouth and did not attempt an entrance. They had already
passed Kinsale, to which port they returned, and on September 23 Don
Juan disembarked all his men, without opposition. The garrison, which
was less than 100 strong, evacuated the town, most of the substantial
inhabitants accompanying them with their goods, and the Spaniards
marched in with twenty-five colours. The 'sovereign,' with his white
staff, saw them properly billeted, and it was noticed that he did it
with more alacrity than if he had been providing quarters for the
Queen's troops.[380]
[Sidenote: Mountjoy goes to Munster.]
On the news reaching Kilkenny, a council was held. Ormonde and
Wingfield advised the Lord Deputy to return to Dublin and prepare his
forces, while the Lord President went to prepare supplies at Cork.
But Carew urged Mountjoy to start at once for Munster, though with
his page only. If the provincials, he said, saw the chief governor's
back turned they would think he lacked forces, and there would be a
general revolt. The army too would make more haste when the general
had gone before. These arguments prevailed, and when Mountjoy heard
that Carew had provided supplies enough to support the whole army for
two or three months, he rose from his chair and embraced him with many
cordial words. Carew had 100 horse with him, and, thus escorted, the
two set out together next day. A night was passed with Lord Dunboyne
at Kiltinan, another at Clonmel, and a third at Lord Roche's castle
of Glanworth. After spending one day at Cork, Mountjoy went with some
horse to a point overlooking Kinsale, and found that most of the
Spanish ships were gone. There had already been a little skirmish in
the neighbourhood of the town, but no serious attempt could be made
to disturb the strangers for nearly three weeks. Don Juan spent the
interval in strengthening his position, and in trying to make friends
with the country people. In this he had very little success, for the
weight of Carew's hand was still felt, and it was evident that the
cloud which was gathering at Cork would soon burst.[381]
[Sidenote: The Spaniards come in the Pope's name.]
The Spaniards brought arms for the country people, but very few of them
came in, and they were ordered by Mountjoy to drive all their cattle to
the eastward of the Carrigaline river. The corn for five miles round
Kinsale was burned, and the inhabitants were warned by proclamation not
to take part with the Pope and the King of Spain, who were unjustly
maintaining rebels against their anointed sovereign. Among those who
accompanied Don Juan was Matthew de Oviedo, a Spanish Franciscan who
had been papal commissary with Desmond twenty years before, and who
was now titular Archbishop of Dublin; and he was probably the author
of the Latin counter-proclamation. In this document the deposing power
is claimed for the Pope, and its exercise by Pius V., Gregory XIII.,
and Clement VIII. is treated as conclusive. Elizabeth being thus made
a mere usurping heretic, the Irish are absolved from all allegiance to
her and are ordered to support the Catholic cause, on pain of being
considered heretics themselves. In his own name the Archbishop wrote
to O'Neill and O'Donnell, and Don Juan sent more than one messenger to
hasten their coming. The Spaniards were without cavalry, having been
given to understand that horses would be provided for the 1,600 saddles
which they brought with them. Finding no allies, they had thus no means
of acting on the offensive, and the English horse rode up to the very
gates of Kinsale. The townsfolk were encouraged to withdraw their
families and property, and were allowed to come and go until October 8,
'without any imputation of treason.' Don Juan gave them equal liberty;
and this increased his chance of a successful defence, for he had about
4,000 men, and there were only about 200 houses in the town. Lord Barry
went to Galbally with such forces as he could collect, in the hope of
intercepting Tyrone on his march southwards, and Mountjoy made such
haste as was possible to be at Kinsale before him.[382]
[Sidenote: Kinsale besieged (October).]
[Sidenote: Rincurren taken.]
On October 16 Mountjoy marched out of Cork, encamping on the first
night at the Carrigaline river, and on the second under Knock Robin, a
hill close to Kinsale. Ten days were spent in the wet fields without
the means to entrench, for it was thought that longer delay would
have a bad moral effect. At last the ships, with guns and tools,
came to Cork, and were sent round to Oyster Haven, where there was
no difficulty in unlading them. Don Juan had garrisoned Castle Park,
on the west side of Kinsale Harbour, probably in the vain hope of
preventing the entry of English vessels. He had another outpost at
Rincurren on the east side, but neither work gave serious annoyance to
the army, which was now entrenched on the Spittle hill, to the north
side of the town. Carew found the artillery in very bad order; but the
delay was of no service to the Spaniards, whose boats were effectually
kept off by Captain Button in his pinnace. At last two pieces opened
on Rincurren, 'but within two or three shot the carriage of the better
culverin brake, and, about two of the clock in the afternoon, the
other received a flaw.' The rest of the day was occupied in mending
the carriage of the sound gun, and Don Juan tried to make a diversion
by dragging artillery out of the town and firing into the camp. Two
men were killed near the Lord Deputy's tent, and two hogsheads of
his beer broached, but no serious harm was done. In the morning 'the
culverin began to play, and about nine of the clock the demi-culverin
was mounted, which after a few shot brake her axletree; before three
she was remounted, and by that time a cannon likewise planted, and all
three pieces without intermission played.' But Carew thought the fire
too vague, and, having obtained Mountjoy's leave, he laid the guns
himself, so that the fire might converge on one spot. The true range
was got with a quadrant, and the cannonade was thus continued after
sunset. Another attempt was made to relieve the post by land, but this
was frustrated, with loss to the besieged, and by six o'clock the
Spaniards in the castle called for a parley. They offered to surrender
the fort on condition of being allowed to depart with arms and baggage.
This was refused, a further parley declined, and the battery continued
until two in the morning, when many of the besieged attempted to escape
by the waterside. Twenty-three Spaniards were taken and thirty killed.
Of the Irish all the fighting men escaped, but churls, women, and
children were taken. The captain in command had his leg broken, and his
subaltern, Don Bartholomeo Paez de Clavijo, was forced to surrender
next morning, being allowed to carry out his own sword and give it
up to Carew in person. He was quite ready to blow up the fort, with
himself and all his men in it, but the eighty-six surviving soldiers
threatened to throw him over the walls. The lives of the Spaniards were
spared, and they were sent to Cork, but no terms had been granted to
the Irish, of whom Dermot MacCarthy, called Don Dermutio, was the only
person of note. He had been in Florence's service, had lived in Spain
as a pensioner, and was able to disclose many important secrets. He
was, however, afterwards hanged at Cork.[383]
[Sidenote: Progress of the siege (November).]
[Sidenote: Castle Park taken.]
A few days after the first success Thomond arrived from England with
1,000 foot and 100 horse, after having been blown far to the westward
and forced to take refuge in Castle Haven. Both men and horses were
worn out by the long confinement on board, and had to be sent to Cork
to recruit. About the same time Sir Richard Leveson arrived with his
squadron and 2,000 soldiers, and the ships were warped into harbour
in spite of the wind. Neither guns nor men were now wanting, and the
siege began in earnest. The camp had already been fortified on the
north side, so as to prevent an attack by Tyrone's forces, which were
daily expected, and Castle Park, on the south side of the harbour,
was taken, after two ineffectual attempts. After a long cannonade the
Spaniards, who were but seventeen in number, surrendered, and it is
hard to see how so small a garrison could ever have been expected to
maintain itself. The fact probably was that Don Juan expected to find
an Irish army to help him, and that he found an English one instead.
Mountjoy's camp was thoroughly fortified, and his approaches almost
completed before any relieving force appeared. O'Donnell had, however,
been long on his way. On hearing of the Spanish descent he at once
raised the siege of Donegal, and, accompanied by Brian Oge O'Rourke,
MacDermot, and others, including some Munster exiles, marched from
Ballymote through Roscommon and Galway to Shannon Harbour, where he was
ferried across, and through Westmeath and King's County into Tipperary.
At Moydrum, in O'Meagher's country, between Roscrea and Templemore, he
lay for three weeks waiting for Tyrone, and the annalists observe, with
apparent pride, that his people 'continued plundering, burning, and
ravaging the country around them, so that there was no want of anything
necessary for an army in his camp, for any period, short or long.' The
Irish and Catholic hero knew no better way to advance the cause than by
harrying people who were as Irish and as Catholic as himself.[384]
[Sidenote: O'Donnell joins Tyrone (November).]
A council of war decided to send Carew to Tipperary, in the hope of
intercepting O'Donnell before his junction with Tyrone. Carew obeyed,
though he considered the expedition useless. Having the goodwill of
the country O'Donnell was sure to have news of his coming, and against
such a light-footed enemy he expected to have no better success than
Ormonde had with Tyrone. He left the camp on November 7, with 1,000
foot and 250 horse, and was afterwards joined by Sir Christopher St.
Laurence's regiment and by the irregular forces under Lord Barry's
command. On arriving at Ardmayle on the Suir, he found that there
was no possibility of attacking O'Donnell among the bogs and woods,
but supposed that the latter would hardly be able to go by without
fighting, for the mountains of Slieve Phelim, which in summer offered a
road into Limerick, were impassable from the rain. A great and sudden
frost disconcerted these plans, and O'Donnell made a night march of
over twenty Irish miles on hard ground. More than 200 years later Lord
Anglesea had personal experience of a winter's ride over these hills,
and his sufferings resulted in the road which still bears his name.
Carew hastened to intercept O'Donnell on his descent into Limerick,
but found that he had already passed. To follow him into the wilds of
Connello would be to court disaster, and there was nothing for it but
to return to Kinsale.[385]
[Sidenote: Spanish ships come to Castle Haven (December);]
[Sidenote: but are destroyed by the English fleet.]
Meanwhile the siege went slowly on, Mountjoy having an excellent
engineer officer in Captain Josiah Bodley, whose elder brother founded
the great Oxford library. Six guns were mounted in the trenches, and
Sir Richard Leveson's ships directed their fire upon the lower town.
The Spaniards made frequent sallies, which were always repulsed, and
they were unable to prevent the erection of more batteries. About
twenty guns altogether were placed in position, and great execution was
done both upon the Spaniards and upon their works. Being summoned to
surrender, Don Juan said he would hold it against all enemies, first
for Christ and then for the King of Spain, and on December 2 he made
his great effort. 2,000 men sallied forth about 8 o'clock at night, and
attacked the trenches with great determination. In the darkness and
rain they succeeded at first, but reinforcements came up fast, and they
were beaten back with a loss of 200 men killed and as many wounded.
They spiked one gun, but this was afterwards made serviceable, and it
was now evident that the garrison could do nothing unless they were
relieved by Tyrone or by reinforcements from Spain. Next day there was
a report, which turned out to be true, that more Spaniards had come to
Castle Haven. Twelve ships had sailed from Corunna, but of these only
six reached Ireland, and finding the Queen's ships in Kinsale harbour,
they did not venture to put in there. About 700 men were landed, and
with these O'Donnell effected a junction. Sir Richard Leveson went
round, with four men of war and two tenders, and the roar of his guns
was heard in Mountjoy's camp. The result was that only one Spanish ship
escaped; the rest were sunk or driven ashore. Five guns had, however,
been landed, and some 300 rounds were fired at the admiral, who was
windbound for twenty-four hours. At last he warped his ship out with
boats, and returned to Kinsale.[386]
[Sidenote: Tyrone arrives in the neighbourhood (December).]
Early in November Tyrone began his southward march. He plundered the
western part of the Pale, and made his way slowly to the Bandon river,
which then flowed through dense woods. 'O'Donnell,' said Fenton, 'and
Tyrone following after, used all the means they could to work the
Irish royalists to their side, but have reduced none of reckoning, for
anything yet discovered: only they both made havoc of some countries,
as a revenge to the loyalists that refused to rise with them.' At
the news of Tyrone's approach Mountjoy completed the investment of
Kinsale, by erecting a small work to the west side of the town. Next
day the Irish horse showed themselves within two miles, and on the day
after that Leveson's squadron again entered the harbour. The camp was
strengthened against an attack from the land side, and the Spaniards
made several fruitless attempts to interrupt the work by sallies.
Cooped up within narrow limits and subsisting wholly on biscuit, the
invaders suffered terribly by the almost incessant cannonade, and Don
Juan grew anxious. In a letter which was intercepted he besought Tyrone
and O'Donnell to relieve him. The besiegers, he said, were wearied by
their labours in the wet fields, and were unable to man a third part of
the trenches. The assailants, who should be well seconded on his side,
were sure to succeed, 'and being once mingled with the enemies their
forts will do them as much harm as us.'[387]
[Sidenote: Irish auxiliaries.]
The only allies gained by Tyrone in Munster were in West Cork
and Kerry, and they did not declare themselves until the Spanish
reinforcements arrived at Castle Haven. Castlemaine held out for the
Queen, but Thomas Fitzmaurice Baron of Lixnaw came with O'Donnell from
the north, and recovered the castle which gave him his title and two
others. O'Connor Kerry surprised his own castle of Carrigafoyle and
killed the guard, which consisted only of a sergeant and twelve men.
Sir Fineen O'Driscoll, 'who never in the course of his whole life had
been tainted with the least spot of disloyalty,' gave up his castles
at Baltimore to the Spaniards, and O'Sullivan Bere did the same with
Dunboy. Most of the O'Sullivans and MacCarthies were engaged, but
Sir Cormac MacDermot, lord of Muskerry, remained with Mountjoy, who
took care so to employ him as to attract Don Juan's attention. Sir
Cormac had, however, an understanding with the Spanish general, and
promised him to deliver up the Lord President alive or dead. Carew
knew all about it, but ate, drank, rode, and conferred privately with
this dangerous ally, whose design perhaps was only to make himself
safe in case the Spaniards should triumph in the end, or in case he
should fall into their hands. Tyrone had with him MacMahon, Maguire,
Randal MacSorley, MacDonnell, and some of the O'Connors and Burkes,
but his chief dependence was upon Captain Richard Tyrrell and his
mercenaries.[388]
[Sidenote: Dangerous position of the besiegers.]
Placed between two fires, Mountjoy's position was critical enough,
and Tyrone's plan was to blockade him. On December 21 the Irish, with
whom were a small body of Spaniards, showed themselves in force to
the east of the camp, and they had complete possession of the country
between the Bandon and Carrigaline rivers. The line of communication
for supplies was thus cut off, no forage could be obtained, and it was
decided by a council of war on December 23 that the horse should be
sent away to Cork.
The situation was indeed not unlike that of Cromwell before Dunbar, the
English having the command of the sea, and the enemy that of the land.
If no battle had been offered him, Mountjoy might have been forced to
abandon the siege. The Spaniards made sallies every night, and Don
Juan, some of whose letters were intercepted, urged Tyrone to attack
the camp. According to the annalists, he wished to pursue the Fabian
tactics which had so often succeeded, but was overruled by O'Donnell,
who was 'oppressed at heart and ashamed to hear the complaint and
distress of the Spaniards without relieving them.' The attack might
have been successful had there not been treachery in the Irish camp.
Brian MacHugh Oge MacMahon, who was one of Tyrone's chief officers,
had a son who had been Carew's page, and this gave an excuse for some
friendly intercourse. A bottle of whiskey was sought and given for old
acquaintance' sake, and when thanking Carew for his civility, MacMahon
found means to disclose Tyrone's plans. Thus warned, Mountjoy doubled
the guards and had all the soldiers ready to fall in at short notice. A
flying column of about 1,000 men was kept under arms, and at daybreak
on December 24, the enemy's lighted matches were seen in great numbers
towards the north-west.[389]
[Sidenote: Tyrone attacks Mountjoy,]
[Sidenote: and is completely defeated.]
It had been arranged that the camp should be attacked at midnight,
and that the besieged should make a sally upon the trenches at the
same time. Forewarned as he was, Mountjoy might have found it hard to
resist such a combined onset, but there were other reasons for the
failure of his assailants. 'The chiefs,' say the Irish annalists,
'were at variance, each of them contending that he himself should go
foremost in the night's attack, so that they set out from their camp
in three strong battalions, shoulder to shoulder, and elbow to elbow.
O'Neill with the Kinel-Owen and others were in a strong battalion
apart; O'Donnell, with the Kinel-Connell, his sub-chieftains, and
the Connaught men in general, formed the second battalion; those
gentlemen of Munster, Leinster, and Meath, with their forces, who had
risen up in the confederacy of the Irish war, and who had been in
banishment in Ulster during the preceding part of this year, were in
the third.' Misled by his guides, O'Donnell wandered about all night,
and when morning broke, Tyrone with O'Sullivan and the Spaniards found
themselves close to the English lines and unsupported. It is very
difficult to understand the plan of attack. Mountjoy's information
was to the effect that the Castle Haven Spaniards, with 800 Irish
under Tyrrell, intended to throw themselves into the town, join the
garrison, and renew the combined attack on the following night with
every chance of success. What really happened was that the Irish fell
into confusion on finding themselves suddenly faced by a well-prepared
enemy. Intending a surprise, they were surprised themselves. Tyrone
drew off his horse to re-form them, and the foot, supposing him to be
flying, began to waver on all sides. O'Donnell came up at this time,
but all the endeavours of the chiefs were vain, for the ground was
flat and open, and there was no scope for O'Neill's tactics. Seeing
the enemy in disarray, though still unbroken, Wingfield obtained leave
to act on the offensive, and Clanricarde importuned him not to lose
this chance. Tyrrell and the Spaniards stood firm, and the English
horse passed between them and Tyrone's main body. A small bog had
to be passed, but the troopers struggled through it, and but little
resistance was offered. 'All,' says O'Sullivan, 'were seized with panic
terror, or rather routed by divine vengeance.' The Spaniards, who were
less fleet of foot than their allies, made a stand about the ruins of
an old castle, but were cut to pieces. Their leader, Alonso del Campo,
was taken and five other officers killed. The Irish lost something
like 2,000 men, while on the English side there was but one fatal
casualty.[390]
[Sidenote: Utter rout of the Irish.]
[Sidenote: O'Donnell flies to Spain.]
[Sidenote: Disastrous retreat.]
'The Earl of Clanricarde,' says Mountjoy, 'had many fair escapes,
being shot through his garments, and no man did bloody his sword more
than his lordship that day, and would not suffer any man to take any
of the Irish prisoners, but bid them kill the rebels.' He despatched
a score at least with his own hand, and the Lord-Deputy knighted him
on the field among the dead bodies, some of which were probably those
of his kinsmen. The pursuit continued for two miles, and the slaughter
must have been much greater but that the half-starved horses could
go no farther. The whole army was paraded, and public thanksgiving
was offered for the victory. Indeed, both sides spoke of a special
interposition of Providence, and old prophecies were remembered or
invented to suit the occasion. Greatly dejected, Tyrone withdrew to
Innishannon, and no further attempt was made to relieve Kinsale. 'There
prevailed,' say the annalists, 'much reproach on reproach, moaning
and dejection, melancholy and anguish, in every quarter throughout
the camp. They slept not soundly, and scarcely did they take any
refreshment.' Next day it was decided that O'Donnell and others should
go to Spain, and that his brother Rory with the rest of the Ulster
chiefs should go home, Tyrrell and some of the Burkes remaining in
Munster under the general command of O'Sullivan Bere. With a shrewd
knowledge of Irish politics O'Donnell urged that the whole army should
remain in the south until he could bring fresh reinforcements from
Spain, for that those who had been affectionate and kind to them when
advancing, would plunder and mock them on their return. Tyrone was
perhaps ready to renew the conflict in Munster, but the Celtic army
broke up into its component parts, and each clan struggled northwards
separately under its own chief. Their road was by Mallow, Croom, and
Abington, and O'Donnell's words came true, for 'they which did kiss
them in their going forward, did both strip them, and shoot bullets
at them on their return, and for their arms they did drown them and
tread them down in every bog and soft place.' 200 perished in crossing
the Blackwater, the Maigue, and the Mulkear. Horseflesh was their only
food, the wearied animals sinking with the wounded, who were left to
their fate, or being killed by riders whom they could no longer carry.
The principal chiefs were borne in litters, and Tyrone arrived quite
unexpectedly in Cavan, where he killed a few cows for his exhausted
followers. Not less than 3,000 men and 500 horses were believed to
have been lost, besides all baggage, and the survivors were utterly
demoralised. 'A troop of women,' said Carew, 'might have beaten
Tyrone's army.'[391]
[Sidenote: Spaniards and Irish.]
[Sidenote: Kinsale capitulates.]
Bagenal's death was avenged, and his brother-in-law's military
reputation destroyed. Irish writers lay the chief blame on Don Juan
d'Aguila, and yet he does not seem to have been the real cause of
failure. His constant sallies certainly betray no inactivity, and the
failure of Tyrone to keep the appointed time is quite enough to account
for his not making one at the critical moment. His was the common fate
of every Spaniard who had attempted to attack Elizabeth within the
bounds of her hereditary possessions. Spanish organisation had become
thoroughly bad, while that of the English improved daily. Mountjoy
and Carew were good managers, but they were well seconded from home,
and sometimes the Queen even anticipated their wants. She felt that
her work would be incomplete if she left Ireland unsubdued, and the
strength of her last years was ungrudgingly spent in that work. Don
Juan saw that nothing could be made of an Irish alliance against such
a Queen and such devoted servants. It was clear that Kinsale could
never be relieved but by fresh efforts in Spain, and he had seen what
Irish storms and English sailors could do. The town would be taken by
assault, and the accompanying carnage would be of no service either
to King or Pope. For six days after the battle the siege operations
were resumed and the approaches brought very near the walls, and on
the seventh Don Juan sent out his drum-major and an officer bearing a
letter. He asked that a confidential messenger might be sent into the
town to confer with him, an officer of like rank being given as surety
for his safe return. Sir William Godolphin was accordingly sent in,
and Don Pedro Enriquez came out into the camp. Don Juan told Godolphin
that he had found the Irish weak and barbarous, and he could not be
sure that they were not perfidious. Mountjoy, on the contrary, he had
found a sharp and powerful enemy, and, on the whole, he was ready to
capitulate. If fair conditions were not accorded, he would bury himself
alive rather than yield. He professed not to be urged by necessity, but
by a just disdain and spleen conceived against the Irish. Godolphin
returned with his message, and on his second visit he was authorised
to hold out hope of fair terms. Mountjoy took care to say that he had
the game in his own hands, as indeed he had, but he was anxious to
save blood and to show her Majesty's clemency. Where both sides wished
for peace there could be little difficulty about arranging the terms.
Don Juan declared that he felt himself absolved from all engagements
to the Irish. His master had sent him to co-operate with the Condees
O'Neill and O'Donnell, who had long delayed their coming; and when
they did come they were shamefully defeated by a handful of men, and
'blown asunder into divers parts of the world.' O'Neill had fled to
Ulster, and O'Donnell to Spain, 'so as now,' he said, 'I find no such
Condees _in rerum naturâ_ (for those were the very words he used) as I
came to join withal, and therefore have moved this accord the rather
to disengage the King, my master, from assisting a people so unable in
themselves that the whole burden of the war must lie upon him, and so
perfidious as perhaps might be induced in requital of his favour at
last to betray him.'[392]
[Sidenote: Terms granted to the Spaniards.]
Both parties were eager for a settlement, for the loss by sickness had
been great on the Queen's side; and the negotiations were short. Don
Juan undertook to surrender not only Kinsale, but also Castle Haven,
Baltimore, and Dunboy. Mountjoy contracted for the safe conveyance
of all the Spaniards and their allies into Spain, and for their
victualling and good treatment during the necessary interval. The
Spaniards were bound not to serve again against Queen Elizabeth until
after they had been actually landed in Spain. More than 3,000 officers
and soldiers were embarked under the terms of this convention, besides
many priests and monks, 'and a great company of Irish.' The articles
were signed on the 2nd of January, on the 3rd Don Juan dined with
Mountjoy, and on the 4th a Spanish ship appeared off Kinsale. A boat
was sent out to say that the stranger might enter safely, for that
Don John and the Lord Deputy were now very good friends. The Spanish
captain hauled the boat's crew on board and at once made sail, and thus
the first news of the surrender of Kinsale was carried to Spain about
five weeks later. Another vessel with letters put into Berehaven, and
the packet was sent up by land to Don Juan, who, with his principal
officer, had accompanied Mountjoy to Cork. Carew, with the latter's
consent, had the messenger robbed on the road, but without hurting him.
Don Juan's suspicions were aroused, and he was not satisfied with the
explanation given, but a proclamation was issued offering a reward for
the discovery of the thieves. Spanish dignity was saved and Mountjoy
kept the letters, which were of great importance. Large reinforcements
were preparing in Spain, and the King wrote to say that he had heard of
the defeat of Tyrone and O'Donnell, and that he nevertheless depended
on Don Juan to maintain himself until help arrived. Details of the
intended aid were given in other letters, and it was probable that had
the news come earlier Kinsale would not have fallen, or at least would
have had to be taken by storm. Carew had strongly urged that a golden
bridge should be provided for a still formidable enemy, and the wisdom
of this advice cannot be doubted.[393]
[Sidenote: O'Sullivan determines to defend Dunboy.]
Baltimore and Castle Haven were soon taken. The Spaniards gave no
trouble, but the O'Driscolls made some futile attempts at resistance.
At Berehaven the task was more serious. The Spaniards had increased the
natural strength of Dunboy Castle by throwing up earthworks, on which
they had mounted three small cannon. On hearing of the capitulation
they were ready to surrender, but Donnell O'Sullivan refused to be
bound by the articles. Bringing 1,000 men quietly under the walls, he
mastered the castle by surprise and forced the Spanish captain and some
gunners to remain. The other Spaniards were sent to Baltimore, and
preparations were made for a desperate resistance. O'Sullivan wrote an
eloquent letter to Philip III., as to his sovereign lord, in which he
denied Don Juan's right to surrender his castle, which alone protected
his property and the people living along twenty leagues of coast. He
begged for help, and if help could not be given, then he asked that
means might at least be provided to carry himself and his family to
Spain.[394]
[Sidenote: Spanish ideas about Irish politics.]
Don Juan sailed on March 16. At Cork he lived familiarly with Carew,
and presented him with a book on fortification as a keepsake. The
Irish in Spain brought so many charges against Don Juan that he was
imprisoned, and he died soon afterwards under restraint. He lived long
enough to bring many counter-charges, and as late as 1618 there was a
wretched Spanish sergeant in prison at Ghent, who believed that he owed
his miseries to complaints made by Don Juan d'Aguila of his conduct
at Kinsale. The Spaniards were getting tired of war with England, in
which they were nearly always worsted, and of alliances with the Irish,
which had brought them nothing but loss. Don Juan made direct advances
to Mountjoy, and Captain Roger Harvey, Carew's nephew, had a curious
conversation at Baltimore with Don Pedro de Soto, an officer of high
rank, who thought there was no real reason why England and Spain should
be at war. King Philip, said this candid Spaniard, had indeed a great
revenue, 'but the infinite number of garrisons which he is daily forced
to maintain, would devour another such Indies, if he had them.' If the
Queen would only stand neutral in the Netherland quarrel, there might
easily be peace between two great nations. This conversation afterwards
induced Carew to intrigue a little in Spain. Nothing came directly
of it, but Don Pedro's feelings were perhaps those of many in the
peninsula, and the way was paved for a change as soon as Elizabeth was
gone.[395]
[Sidenote: Importance of this siege.]
Excepting that of Londonderry, the siege of Kinsale is the most
important in Irish history. Spain was to Elizabeth what the French
monarchy was to William III. In both cases England headed the
Protestant world against what threatened to become a European
despotism. In both cases Ireland was used by the dominant Catholic
power to create a diversion, and not for her own sake. The defeat of
Tyrone and the subsequent surrender of Kinsale put an end to Spanish
attempts on Ireland, as the breaking of the boom across the Foyle made
French attempts virtually hopeless. In both cases it became evident
that whoever ruled in London must necessarily be supreme upon both
sides of St. George's Channel. D'Avaux, and even James II. himself, had
as little sympathy with the Irish as Juan d'Aguila.
[Sidenote: Reception of the news by Queen Elizabeth.]
The official account of the battle of Kinsale was sent over by Henry
Danvers, and the Queen gave most gracious thanks to Mountjoy, as well
as to Thomond and Clanricarde. But Carew contrived that the first
news should be brought to London by his friend Boyle, whose activity
and good fortune were shown in a remarkable way. 'I left my Lord
President,' he said, 'at Shandon Castle, near Cork, on Monday morning
about two of the clock, and the next day delivered my packet, and
supped with Sir Robert Cecil, being then principal Secretary, at his
house in the Strand; who, after supper, held me in discourse till two
of the clock in the morning, and by seven that morning called upon me
to attend him to the court, where he presented me to her Majesty in her
bedchamber; who remembered me, calling me by name, and giving me her
hand to kiss, telling me that she was glad that I was the happy man to
bring the first news of the glorious victory. And after her Majesty
had interrogated with me upon sundry questions very punctually, and
that therein I gave her full satisfaction in every particular, she
gave me again her hand to kiss, and commanded my despatch for Ireland,
and so dismissed me with grace and favour.' Boyle does not say by what
route he made the journey from Cork to London in such a wonderfully
short time; but the place of landing was probably Bristol. With a
south-west wind and a flood tide in the Avon the feat is possible;
but it is probably without a parallel. And great must have been the
endurance of the man who, after galloping from Bristol to London, sat
up talking till two in the morning, and was on his feet again at seven.
The picture is a curious one, and it is interesting to note how this
brilliant and successful man, writing more than thirty years afterwards
and in the fulness of wealth and honours, is careful to record that he
twice kissed Queen Elizabeth's hand.[396]
[Sidenote: Great cost of the war.]
The Queen was at first inclined to think the Spaniards had too easy
terms, but declared herself satisfied when she had heard the whole
story. The expense of the war and the waste of English blood was
terrible, and she would not deprive even Tyrone of hope. He found means
to make overtures very soon after the siege of Kinsale, and Cecil told
Mountjoy privately that he did not think her inexorable, though the
fear of being cajoled did not, as she wrote, 'permit her to hold any
other way with the arch-traitor than the plain way of perdition.' But
the capitulation had been granted 'to save the blood of her subjects,
dearer to her than revenge or glory,' and the same consideration
prevented her from driving Tyrone to desperation. In the meantime the
army was to be reduced, and the rebellion extinguished in detail. Carew
accompanied Mountjoy to Waterford and Kilkenny, whence he returned
into Munster. The Lord Deputy went on to Dublin, where he lay inactive
for some weeks, completely disabled by the hardships of the late
siege.[397]
FOOTNOTES:
[379] Carew to the Privy Council, Aug. 6, 1601; Cecil to Carew, Sept.
5--both in _Carew_. 'For Desmond (James Fitzthomas),' says Cecil, 'I
find him more discreet than I have heard of him, and for Florence the
same which I ever expected, which is a malicious, vain fool.'--_Pacata
Hibernia_, lib. ii. cap. 6.
[380] Journal in _Carew_, No. 198; _Pacata Hibernia_, cap. 10; Carew to
the Privy Council, Sept. 14.
[381] _Pacata Hibernia_, caps. 9, 10, and 11. The Spanish ships are
described as fifty, forty-five, and thirty-five. The latter number
probably came to Kinsale with Don Juan. Storms and accidents account
for the rest. Small vessels had been purposely chosen, with a view to
the Irish harbours.
[382] _Pacata Hibernia_, caps. 10 and 11; Warrants in _Carew_, Sept. 28.
[383] _Pacata Hibernia_, cap. 13; Fynes Moryson, part ii. book ii.
chap. ii.; Journal in _Carew_ (No. 199) Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.
[384] Journal in _Carew_, Nos. 199 and 200; _Four Masters_, 1601;
Docwra's _Narration_, p. 257. Castle Park fell on Nov. 20.
[385] _Four Masters_, 1601; _Pacata Hibernia_, cap. 14; Journal in
_Carew_, No. 200; Carew to Mountjoy, Nov. 22. Carew returned to the
camp on Nov. 26.
[386] Journal in _Carew_ (No. 200) Nov. 29 to Dec. 9 _Pacata Hibernia_
caps. 17, 18, and 19; Cecil to Carew, Feb. 9, 1602.
[387] Journal in _Carew_ (Nos. 200 and 201) Dec. 7-20; Letters of Don
Juan d'Aguila, Dec. 10/28, in _Pacata Hibernia_; Fenton to the Queen,
Dec. 4, printed in the _Ulster Journal of Archæology_, vi. p. 64.
[388] _Pacata Hibernia_, caps. 15 and 18; _Four Masters_, 1601.
[389] Journal in _Carew_ (No. 201) Dec. 21-3; _Pacata Hibernia_, cap.
21; Moryson. The _Four Masters_ and O'Sullivan both say the English
were on their guard, and the former note the report of treachery, but
without giving MacMahon's name.
[390] Mountjoy's report is in _Carew_ (No. 201). His private secretary,
Fynes Moryson, the historian, was present. Carew's account is in
_Pacata Hibernia_. The _Four Masters_ and O'Sullivan Bere are to be
preferred for the movements of the Irish, and the latter may have
learned some particulars from his uncle. See also Sir H. Power (who
commanded the flying column) to Cecil, Dec. 27.
[391] _Four Masters_, 1602; Lord Deputy and Council to the Privy
Council, Jan. 14; Carew to same, Jan.; Sir F. Stafford to Cecil (from
Newry) Jan. 14; Clanricarde to Cecil (from Cork) Jan. 15. 'The rebels
are utterly forsaken of all aid from the Spaniards, and not able to
make any head. O'Donnell is made away for Spain, as we think. I do not
think we have lost fewer than 3,000 men; by fights and hurts not above
300, all the rest by sickness.' Captain A. Enfield, R.N., to Fulke
Greville, Jan. 6, in 12th Report of Historical MSS. Commission--_Coke
MSS._
[392] A short relation of the siege of Kinsale in _Carew_ (No. 202)
signed by Mountjoy, Carew, and others. O'Sullivan and others say the
English outnumbered Tyrone's forces. It is true that the Irish made no
general or united effort, but only a small section of Mountjoy's army
was actually engaged. Moryson, who was present, says the former were
6,000 foot and 500 horse, the latter barely 1,200 and 400.
[393] Translations of the letters from the Duke of Lerma and others are
in _Pacata Hibernia_, ii. chap. xxvi., the terms of capitulation (Jan.
2, 1602) in chap. xxiii. See Carew to the Privy Council, Jan.
[394] Letters to the King of Spain and the Governor of Galicia in
_Pacata Hibernia_, ii. chap. xxviii.
[395] _Pacata Hibernia_, ii. chap. xxix. and iii. chap. xiii. Don Pedro
de Heredia to Lord Carew, April 1, 1618, and the answer, Oct. 21, both
in _Carew_. Don Juan's peaceful proposals are mentioned by Moryson.
[396] The Queen to Mountjoy, Jan. 12, in Moryson; the Earl of Cork's
_True Remembrances_.
[397] The Queen to Mountjoy, Feb. 8 1601; Cecil to Mountjoy, received
July 8, both in _Moryson_.