FROM 1568 TO 1570.
[Sidenote: Sidney's plans for Ulster.]
Sidney lost no time in trying to realise his idea of bridling the North
with forts and bridges. He surveyed Clandeboye and Ards, and declared
them the shire of Carrickfergus--an arrangement afterwards departed from.
He met Tirlogh Luineach at the Bann, and thought him inclined to obey.
The various castles already garrisoned he found in good order, the people
readily selling the soldiers a fat cow for 6_s._ 8_d._ and twenty-four
eggs for 1_d._ In Carrickfergus a good market was kept twice a week, to
which commodities were brought from the Pale, from Scotland and Man, and
even from France. Three 40-ton cargoes of claret were sold at nine
cowskins a hogshead. 'The Archbishop of Armagh and the Bishop of Meath,
with divers noblemen and gentlemen as well of England as the English
Pale, lawyers, merchants, and others came from Dublin to Carrickfergus,
only for visitation sake, the Bishops riding in their rochets, and the
rest unarmed.' A treaty was made with Sir Brian MacPhelim to build a
proper carriage bridge over the Laggan at Belfast, to cut passes through
the woods, to supply fuel for making bricks, and to protect men building
or repairing ships in the Lough. On his road to Dublin most of the chiefs
and gentlemen came to pay their respects to the Lord Deputy.[156]
[Sidenote: The Scots.]
Sidney believed that all Ulster difficulties originated in Scotland.
Argyle did not pretend to be guided by any rule but the good of his own
country, and he had 5,000 men always ready to invade Ireland if he did
not approve of Elizabeth's policy. He loved Sidney, he said, better than
any other Viceroy, and for that reason would rather see him anywhere than
in Ulster. Sir Francis Knollys was Scotland's bitterest enemy, but he
would willingly put him in Sidney's place, where he could do far less
harm than at Court. Lord Herries was not even careful to use civil
language. James MacDonnell's widow professed herself friendly, but said
the clan would never forego its Irish claims until it was quite extinct.
Donnell Gorm, born in Ireland and friendly to England, claimed the
lordship of the Isles, and was in alliance with the Campbells--a
reluctant tie which might easily be cut. His ancestors had a pension of
200_l._ from England, and its renewal would be money well spent. Rathlin
Island, which was full of cattle--the very stable and baiting-place of
the Scots--should be fortified and held, and this might be done for
300_l._ a year. A regular military occupation of the whole province would
be intolerably costly, but half a dozen strong places on the coast might
be provided for 2,000_l._ yearly. A town at Armagh and a bridge at
Blackwater were quite necessary. In the meantime Dundalk Bridge might be
repaired, and Bagenal's unfurnished castles at Newry, Carlingford, and
Greencastle might be made tenable for 2,000_l._ If the Scots were once
disposed of, it would be easy to govern Ireland; the O'Neills would then
be shut up in their own province, and would have to work or to
starve.[157]
[Sidenote: James Fitzmaurice. The Butlers.]
When James Fitzmaurice found that Sidney had not brought either the Earl
or Sir John of Desmond with him, he called a meeting of Geraldines, and
informed them that their chief and his brother were condemned to death,
or at least to perpetual imprisonment. He reminded them that when the
good Earl Thomas had been murdered by the tyrant Earl of Worcester his
followers had chosen a captain for themselves, and he advised a like
course. He was immediately chosen by acclamation, and unhesitatingly
accepted the position in spite of Sidney's threats. He was soon
afterwards proclaimed a traitor. The wise Earl of Clancare, as Shane
O'Neill had in derision called him, placed himself about the same time at
the head of a Celtic confederacy, plundered Lord Roche's country, drove
off the cattle, burned the sheep and the corn, and killed men, women, and
children. Neither wheat nor oats were to be had for love or money west of
Youghal: the combined result of drought from heaven and heat from the
Earl of Clancare. Spanish ships supplied the MacCarthies with arms.
Edward Butler told Sidney's messenger, who found him at Thurles with
1,000 men, that no man of Irish birth could be safe since Sir John of
Desmond had been sent to the Tower for little or nothing. He knew that he
himself had deeply offended his brother the Earl, and was therefore
afraid of Sir Edmund, who had also 1,000 men with him. 'Your secret
conference, brother,' he said in the messenger's presence, 'hath brought
me to this mischief.' To Dublin he refused to go without pardon or
protection, and Shane O'Neill hardly claimed more, even in his proudest
days.
[Sidenote: Ormonde's presence declared indispensable.]
The presence of Ormonde alone could settle his country, and he, in
Sidney's opinion, 'politicly kept himself in England, as well for duty's
sake to the Queen as ancient and innate malice to the Earl of Desmond and
all Desmondians.' Sir Edmund could not brook the notion of dismissing his
armed followers, and, as he himself expressed it, 'riding up and down the
country like a priest.' No brother or lieutenant was of any use, and if
Ormonde would not come Sidney would have to go himself; and he begged for
a strongly-worded letter to show to the people. The report was that he
was not allowed to interfere with the Butler districts, and indeed he was
loth to do so, knowing that the Earl bore him little goodwill, and that
he had the Queen's ear. 'Though never so upright,' he said, 'I shall not
escape slander.'[158]
[Sidenote: Lawless conduct of Ormonde's brethren.]
Both Butlers continued their lawless practices; indeed, Lady Dunboyne,
who was a chief sufferer, declared that Edward was 'but a patch to Sir
Edmund in extortion and spoil.' He threatened her with yet worse things
for having brought Sidney's letters to him; and in the meantime seized
her cattle, nominally for the purpose of maintaining himself against the
White Knight, with whom he had picked a quarrel to give an excuse for
keeping his ragged battalion together. Ormonde still lingering in
England, the Lord Deputy was obliged to go to Kilkenny himself, where he
hanged several of Edward Butler's men, not by martial law, as Sir Peter
Carew proudly pointed out, but 'by the verdict of twelve men orderly.' A
similar example was made at Waterford, and Sidney returned to Dublin to
make preparations for holding a Parliament, in which he secured a
majority by interfering in elections.[159]
[Sidenote: Parliament of 1569. Opposition to Government.]
No list has been preserved of the members who sat in either House of
Elizabeth's second Irish Parliament. Many Englishmen had, by Government
influence, been returned for remote places. Sidney, who had a taste for
heraldic pomp, was in some anxiety as to what dress he ought to wear. He
was told to do as St. Leger had done. If he could not find whether St.
Leger had used a garter or a Parliament robe, he might do as he pleased.
Princely robes of crimson velvet lined with ermine were provided in due
course, and the Lord Deputy took his seat under the cloth of estate. Lord
Chancellor Weston made an eloquent speech on the advantages of law and
order. The House then separated, and James Stanihurst, Recorder of
Dublin, was again chosen Speaker of the House of Commons by a large
majority over Sir Christopher Barnewall, who was also a lawyer and the
candidate favoured by the gentlemen of the Pale. After the usual
protestations of unfitness, Stanihurst was accepted by Sidney, and made a
speech in which he claimed personal inviolability for the members,
freedom of speech, and power for the House to punish breaches of its own
orders. The Lord Deputy, having granted these suits, addressed the whole
Parliament at great length. None knew better, he said, than those in
Ireland the advantages of law and order; let them act according to that
knowledge, and be careful lest in defending their own privileges they
should tread upon her Majesty's prerogative. On the following day
business began, and it soon appeared that the House of Commons was
divided into two parties bitterly hostile to each other. The Court, or
English party, consisted chiefly of officials and of the Lord Deputy's
nominees, men who might be trusted not to exhibit too much independence.
On the other side were the gentry of the Pale, the burgesses returned by
the old corporate towns, and the common lawyers generally, who had been
roughly handled by Sidney in Sir Peter Carew's case, and who asserted
that some of the English members were returned for towns not
incorporated, that sheriffs and mayors had returned themselves, and that
others were ignorant of their constituencies and non-resident. The Judges
held that the first and second objections were good, but that there was
nothing in the third. The Attorney-General having reported this decision,
which still left the Government a majority, the Irish party professed not
to believe him, and demanded that the Judges themselves should come down.
The Speaker called for the orders of the day, but the malcontents refused
to listen to the first readings of any bills. Next day the Judges came
and confirmed their former decision, but the Irish party, headed by Sir
Edmund Butler, still obstructed the business, and opposed the
introduction of a Bill for suspending Poyning's Law and allowing Bills to
proceed without being first certified under the Great Seal of England.
This Bill was obviously for the enlargement of their own jurisdiction,
and passed in the end, as did another which provided that the Great Seal
of Ireland should not be affixed to any further Suspension Bill until it
had been passed by the majority of both Irish Houses. After some days
spent in these bickerings, Hooker, who sat for Athenry--an ancient
borough certainly, but at this time containing only four
freeholders--made a long prerogative speech. He had formerly represented
Exeter and had a taste for antiquities, and he proved to his own entire
satisfaction that Moses and Pythagoras, Camillus and Mithridates, had
created precedents on his side of the question. 'The minority,' he says,
'did not hear the same so attentively as they did digest it most
unquietly.' The debate was adjourned, and Hooker had to be escorted by
his friends to Sir Peter Carew's house. The next day Sir Christopher
Barnewall and other lawyers inveighed against Hooker, but the Speaker
silenced them, and desired them to put their complaints into writing.
Hooker, who says that the proceedings were more like bear-baiting than
the deliberations of a Senate, then presented a treatise on the Order of
Parliament, which closely followed English precedents, and asserted the
power of the Speaker to hold members to the question, and to reform,
correct, and punish disorder with the advice of the House. The contest
was not renewed, and after the first fortnight matters settled down
considerably.[160]
[Sidenote: Legislation. Attainder of Shane O'Neill.]
Sir Edmund Butler was openly censured by Sidney in the Council Chamber,
and withdrew in high dudgeon to his own country. The House of Lords
showed a mutinous spirit as well as the Commons. The Gentleman Usher
seems to have occupied a position within the bar, and this being objected
to, Sidney withdrew the cloth of State, but it does not appear that the
punishment weighed very heavily on the delinquents. Several Acts of great
political importance were passed. A subsidy of 13_s._ 4_d._ on every
plough land was granted for ten years in consideration of the abolition
of coyne and livery. This was for the public benefit, but was very
unpleasing to many noblemen. The five principal men of each shire were
made responsible for the rest, Shane O'Neill was attainted, the name of
O'Neill extinguished, and the Queen entitled to Tyrone. Irish captainries
were abolished unless established by patent. For the infringement of this
law death without benefit of clergy was provided by the draftsman in
England, but the House of Lords substituted a fine of 100 _l._ for each
offence by a peer, and 100 marks for men of lesser degree. Even after
this amendment there was much opposition, which, as the Chancellor
observed, argued that 'the matter misliked them more than the pain.' An
Act was also passed to enable the chief Governor, on certain conditions,
to make the remaining Irish countries into shire ground.[161]
[Sidenote: Wine duties.]
A Bill for imposing a heavy import duty on wines borne in foreign bottoms
was thrown out by the Commons, the members for the port towns declaring
that it would beggar them utterly. The Bill was afterwards passed in a
modified form for ten years, Sidney having refused the enormous bribe of
2,000_l._ in gold offered him to procure its withdrawal.
[Sidenote: Schools.]
A Bill for the erection and maintenance of schools with English masters
by a charge on ecclesiastical property was thrown out by the Bishops, who
thought that they and not the Lord Deputy should have the patronage in
their own hands, and with better reason demurred to the exemption of
impropriated lands, which were often the richest part of what had
belonged to the Church. A Bill for repairing churches was thrown out by
the Commons, the Catholics not caring to provide for the Establishment,
and no one wishing to bear taxation. 'Churches and schools,' said Weston,
'still find no favour among us, yet, in my opinion, the reformation of
Ireland must come from churches and schools.'[162]
[Sidenote: The Queen decides to erect a Presidency in Munster.]
The Queen's consent for Ormonde's departure had been some time obtained
before he actually started. He had to raise money to pay his debts, but
it is plain that Cecil thought he delayed unnecessarily. He shone at
Court, and was perhaps in no haste to leave while the Queen's manner
encouraged him to stay. In the meantime the state of the South became
daily worse, Sidney complaining bitterly that Sir Warham St. Leger would
have prevented all these troubles had not Ormonde's influence prevented
him from being armed with the necessary powers. The Queen selected Sir
John Pollard for the office of President of Munster, and Mr. Peryam,
Carew's counsel, for his Chief Justice. The establishment was fixed at
13_s._ 4_d._ a day for the President, with one Justice at 100_l._ a year
and another at 40_l._, and a clerk at 20_l._ The whole expense with petty
officers and soldiers was estimated at 1,400_l._ Bacon and Winchester
then suggested that there need be no surgeon, and that fewer soldiers
would do; which cut down the estimate by one half. The Queen was
delighted, but Cecil, who had persuaded Pollard to accept the
appointment, was disgusted at the proposed breach of faith. In the end he
had his way, and Elizabeth sanctioned the higher scale. Neither Pollard
nor Peryam liked the work, and the latter, who had had enough of Ireland,
bitterly complained that he would lose his practice at the bar, and that
his family would starve. His own stomach too was delicate, and 'not to be
forced to any ordinary diet.' The Queen was inexorable, but promised him
leave to retire after two years' service. He accompanied Pollard to
Ilfracombe, where the Lord President had a bad attack of gout. Peryam was
glad of an excuse to stay on the right side of the Channel. In the end
both escaped the dreaded duty, and another Devonshire gentleman, Edmund
Tremayne, went over to explain matters to Sidney. Tremayne, to use his
own language, had forsaken a quiet life, and cared little for peace so he
might fight in the good quarrel. His voyage was dangerous enough to
satisfy the most adventurous man in Devon. The ship was first driven into
Milford Haven, and afterwards blown on to the Wexford coast; and Tremayne
and his party were attacked by the armed natives, who were prepared to
resist Sir Edmund Butler, now in open rebellion. Finding that the
castaways were Englishmen they received them joyfully, and forwarded them
to Ferns, where Bishop Devereux gave them a most hospitable reception.
Tremayne reached Waterford safely, where he found it generally reported
that Ormonde was dead.[163]
[Sidenote: The rebellion of James Fitzmaurice continues, 1569.]
Fifteen months elapsed between the date of Pollard's abortive commission
and the appointment of Sir John Perrott; and for a long time the southern
rebels met with no effectual resistance. A cloud might at any time gather
abroad; for the papal Archbishop of Cashel and the papal Archbishop of
Ross were already in Spain with full powers to treat on behalf of the
confederated Catholics of Ireland, consisting of three archbishops,
eight bishops, and most of the lords and chieftains outside the Pale. The
sheriff of Cork at this time was the renowned Richard Grenville, who had
made a practical beginning of colonisation by seizing lands to the west
of Cork Harbour. His martial prowess was no doubt feared, but no sooner
was his back turned than the country was in a flame. On the very day
after he sailed for England, Clancare and Fitzmaurice appeared at Tracton
with the seneschal of Imokilly, the White Knight, and other chiefs. The
garrison appears to have been small, for the assailants were able to
undermine the walls with pickaxes, and to kill all the inmates except
three or four English soldiers, who were hanged next day. James
Fitzmaurice declared that help was coming from Spain, swore on a book
that Sir Edmund Butler was heartily on his side, and boasted that he
could take the artillery at Kinsale when he pleased. The citizens of Cork
were robbed whenever they ventured out, and all the lords of the county
were either overawed or in sympathy with Fitzmaurice, who vowed to give
no peace to Cork until all the English, including Lady St. Leger and Lady
Grenville, were given up, as well as some Irish prisoners. The city was
in want both of provisions and powder, and the town of Youghal hourly
expected an attack. English farmers in the immediate neighbourhood had
been already put to the sword.[164]
[Sidenote: Sidney and the Butlers. Sir P. Carew.]
The unnatural alliance between Butlers and Geraldines which made the
insurrection formidable was in part at least caused by Sidney's harsh
treatment of Sir Edmund Butler. Not only did he use strong language
himself, but he allowed Sir Barnaby Fitzpatrick to do the like. Sir
Edmund withdrew from Dublin vowing vengeance against Fitzpatrick and
against Sir Henry Sidney personally; though he was at all times careful
to respect him in his official capacity. Sir Edmund was driven to
desperation by the success of Sir Peter Carew and by the countenance
which he received from the Lord Deputy; for his own castle of Clogrennan
and the lands attached formed part of Idrone, and having been originally
conquered from the Kavanaghs were included in the decision of the Privy
Council, which ousted their title to the whole barony. Seeing that Sir
Edmund would rebel, Sidney sent to him Lord Baltinglass and Richard Shee,
the latter a devoted adherent of the House of Ormonde, with instructions
to talk him over if possible. They went from place to place looking for
him while he plundered the country, and when they at last came up with
him his conduct was not particularly edifying. He bade them give over
their flattery, bragging, and dissimulation, and declared that neither he
nor his brethren would come near the Lord Deputy without pardon or
protection for all concerned, that the Deputy's object was to chop off
their heads, and that all the mischief had been caused by the
machinations of Carew and of Sir Barnaby Fitzpatrick. The Queen herself,
said Sir Edmund, was the only judge by whom he would submit to be tried;
to her he was more loyal than they who accused him, and if he were
proclaimed rebel he would make the heads of those who caused it fly from
their bodies. If he and his men had pardon and protection he would be
ready to attend the Lord Deputy in all wars; but if any of the Queen's
men helped Sir Barnaby or his other enemies, so her Highness or her
Governor were not personally in the field, then he would do them all the
mischief he could. Similar offers were made through a private messenger,
and Sidney's answer was to send Carew and Humphrey Gilbert, who now makes
his first appearance in Irish history, with orders to apprehend Sir
Edmund. A country neighbour afterwards tried to bring him into a more
prudent frame of mind, but again the answer was, 'I do not make war
against the Queen, but against those that banish Ireland, and mean
conquest.... If my lord my brother come to apprehend me, I will not in
this quarrel be ruled by him nor come in his hands.' If anything would
have persuaded him it was Mr. Sweetman's taunt that he was more a Desmond
than a Butler; but he was past caring for this, and boasted that if
Sidney invaded the South, Tirlogh Luineach would invade the Pale. He was
already proclaimed rebel, and as if to prove the justice of that measure
he exhibited letters from O'Neill and Fitzmaurice.[165]
[Sidenote: The Geraldines are unchecked.]
The Queen chided Sidney for coupling Sir Edmund's name with Fitzmaurice's
and MacCarthymore's, for which, however, there was abundant
justification, and she let Ormonde go as the only chance of restoring
peace. Before he could leave London, his brothers Edmund, Piers, and
Edward had joined Fitzmaurice, with whom MacCarthy had made plans for
concerted action. The Butlers had done their own part by devastating the
eastern part of the Queen's County, and killing the warders of
Balliknockane. Fitzmaurice followed up the blow by attacking Kilmallock
and extorting a ransom of 160_l._, the townsmen fearing that they would
after all have to receive a Geraldine garrison. He met the Earl of
Thomond and John Burke close to Limerick, and the citizens, who feared to
lose all their cattle, were in some doubt as to the proper course. The
men of Waterford, as became the city's ancient reputation, did not wait
for orders, but worked hard at their fortifications, sent provisions to
Cork and Youghal, and gave shelter to the miserable inhabitants of the
country. They reported that the Geraldine rebels burned and slew where
they listed, stripping honest men and women naked and using more cruel
tortures 'than either Phalaris or any of the old tyrants could invent.'
Even before the open rebellion great disorders had been caused by the
general poverty. On Good Friday the city, according to ancient custom,
opened its gates to 1,100 poor men, who, when they had eaten, fell to
plundering and housebreaking; and it took three weeks to get rid of them
by beating out the sturdy beggars, and coaxing out those of a weaker
sort. Corn was daily growing dearer, and 'the caterpillars' boasted that
they would reap the next harvest. The kine, 'which by milk used to keep
the poor wretches alive,' were killed or driven away. Edward Butler had
devastated Waterford County, but the citizens feared nothing. To attack
them without the aid of a foreign prince would be to 'spurn against a
wall,' and Spain was of no such force in Ireland as their own sovereign
liege.[166]
[Sidenote: Waterford and Cork.]
Waterford was a stronghold for its own people, and a city of refuge for
many others, but the rebels had complete possession of the open country.
English settlers were plundered and killed, or led about with halters
round their necks. Sir Edmund Butler and his brother Piers devoted
themselves to the district between Waterford and the Pale, of which the
northern boundary was threatened by Tirlogh Luineach. Edward Butler was
busy south-west of Waterford, and Fitzmaurice preached a crusade in the
Desmond country, calling upon the citizens of Cork and the clergy of the
diocese to send away all Protestants by the next wind. 'The Queen,' he
said, 'is not satisfied with our worldly goods, bellies, and lives, but
must also counsel us to forsake the Catholic faith by God unto His Church
given, and by the See of Rome hitherto prescribed to all Christian
men.... If you follow not this Catholic and wholesome exhortation, I will
not nor may not be your friend.'[167]
[Sidenote: Carew and the Butlers.]
Unable for the moment to visit the South, Sidney sent Carew and Gilbert
to Kilkenny, in a sally from which town they inflicted a severe defeat on
Sir Edmund Butler. In a second encounter Carew was less successful, but
was able, within a few days, to lay siege to Clogrennan, which the
garrison had orders to defend against all but the Lord Deputy himself.
Hooker represents the capture of this castle as a great feat of arms, but
Ormonde says that it contained only eight armed men. Being hard pressed,
the commandant asked if Sidney was present, and being told that he was,
went out on safe-conduct. Finding himself deceived, he returned into the
house, but a soldier named Baker followed, shot or stabbed him in the
back, and threw a log of wood between the doors, so that they could not
be shut. Carew's men then poured in, and killed not only the garrison
but the women and children, including 'an honest gentleman's son, not
three years old.' This rascally breach of faith is represented by Hooker
as fair stratagem of war.[168]
[Sidenote: Atrocities on both sides.]
It is needless to recapitulate all the outrages committed on either side,
or to inquire whether certain attempts on Carew's life were instigated by
Sir Edmund Butler or not; but Enniscorthy was remarkable for the rapes
and murders committed on the merchants and their families frequenting the
great annual fair on August 15. Agriculture was quite neglected, and few
houses were inhabited except those belonging to Ormonde. Carew laid all
the blame on Irish ferocity, but Ormonde declared that the mischief was
caused by rash attacks on landed property, which were shaking the loyalty
of the highest and noblest. Sir Edmund had been a good subject, and was
rewarded by losing his estate. He tried to defend his property, and was
proclaimed a traitor. 'A wiser man than he,' said his brother, 'might be
brought beside himself thus.' The following is too interesting to omit:--
[Sidenote: Sinister rumours.]
'Old Grace, my man,' the Earl wrote, 'landed three weeks ago in Waterford
sore handled with gout; my brother hearing of his being there came to the
waterside to talk with him. Grace was carried between men to his boat,
and in the boat talked with my brother, who asked very earnestly of the
Queen's Majesty. The other told him she was in health and very well. "No,
no," says he, "I know well enough she is poisoned, and my brother put
into the Tower and there put to death." My man told him he might know my
handwriting: he answered my letter bore an old date. He asked again twice
if the Queen were alive. The other sware she was alive and in as good
health as ever she was. "Well," said my brother, "if my lord is alive and
that I may see him, I will believe his word, and then will I go into
England and let her Highness know how I am dealt withal by my Lord Deputy
and Sir Peter Carew."'
Fitzmaurice, Clancare, and the Butlers between them had near 4,500 men,
with whom they laid siege to Kilkenny. The townsmen had been reinforced
by Captain Collyer's company, but they gave hostages to prevent the
suburbs from being burned. Without artillery the rebels could hardly take
a well-defended walled town, and they could not keep the field long
enough to starve out such a good soldier as Collyer. Piers Butler burned
all the houses at Leighlin, and killed even children, but he did not
attack the castle, which contained twelve able men. The roads were so
closely beset that communication with Dublin was almost impossible. But
Sir Edmund's heart was not entirely in the business. He told Fitzwilliam
that he would oppose neither the Queen nor her Deputy if they appeared in
person, that he would not meddle in matters of religion, and that he
would have nothing to do with the introduction of Spaniards.[169]
[Sidenote: Return of Ormonde.]
'It was never seen,' wrote Ormonde proudly, 'that any traitor remained
one night in camp in my country while I served in Ireland. I lament to
hear of this wicked time. I would God I had 1,000 men at my landing in
Waterford, to try my fortune among these caterpillars.' At last he
sailed, and was driven to Roslare in Wexford, where he landed. He wrote
to ask Sidney, who was by this time at Cork, for an escort. His horses,
he said, had all been taken, and he did not yet know whom to trust; but
Sidney doubted this too powerful subject, and told him that he could
easily go to Castlemartyr, Kilmallock, or Limerick without help. A
fortnight was wasted at Waterford, no one joining the Earl but a few
chance Wexford men, and he then made his way to Kilkenny, where his three
brothers came to him. Sir Edmund at once asked after the Queen, and on
being told that she was well, doffed his morion and thanked God. The
other two followed suit. Sir Edmund recapitulated with much energy his
charges against Carew and Sidney, took God to witness, and prayed he
might be damned body and soul if ever he meant to rebel. He was ready to
serve in France or anywhere in Ireland, so that he was not bound to come
to my Lord Deputy's presence, or to serve in his company. Ormonde tried
to persuade him to go to Sidney, but he wept like a child, saying he
would rather go to England unprotected than to Dublin on the best
safe-conduct. He was ready to be tried by the Queen, but not by his
declared enemy. At length the three Butlers surrendered to the Earl on
safe-conduct, the further consideration of their case being reserved
until the Lord Deputy's pleasure should be known.[170]
[Sidenote: Sidney goes to the South. Position of Ormonde in Tipperary.]
Sidney left Dublin late in July with 600 men, Sir Barnaby Fitzpatrick,
'the most sufficient man in counsel and action for the war that ever I
found of that country birth,' being left to guard the southern frontier
of the Pale, while Fitzwilliam and Kildare held the O'Neills in check as
best they might. After visiting and rebuking Kilkenny, the Lord Deputy
entered Tipperary, the rebels burning their houses in front of him. His
first intention was to go straight to Cork, where the citizens
entertained the notion of giving Lady St. Leger up to Fitzmaurice, but
hearing that a relieving force of 400 men had arrived by sea from
England, he encamped near Clonmel, where he found the people good and
loyal. Written challenges were thrown into the camp, promising that the
rebels would fight him, and he sent for reinforcements to Waterford. The
citizens answered that they had no spare men, and that besides they were
exempted by their charter; but they had afterwards to pay a fine for
their stiff-necked conduct. Proclamation of pardon had no effect, and the
palatinate jurisdiction of the House of Ormonde was advanced by the
principal gentlemen of Tipperary as a reason for not exerting themselves
to restore order. 'We are,' they said, 'of this county more ancient
inhabiters and freeholders than any Butler is, and were the first
conquerors of this soil from the Irishry.... England gave us away to a
Butler.... We and our ancestors acknowledged him as our lord and captain,
and indeed we know no other sovereign but him, whose lieutenant, Sir
Edmund Butler, his brother and heir-apparent, is him we follow, and him
we will follow and do as he commandeth us.' Messengers to the chief
rebels failed. They reported, not quite truly, perhaps, Sir Edmund
Butler's opinion that Leicester, Ormonde's mortal foe, was about to marry
the Queen and be King, and that Sidney was to be King of Ireland under
him, 'as might appear,' the Lord Deputy said, 'by bearing the ragged
staff continually in my pensile before me, as indeed I did.' 'That
blessed babe, Edward Butler,' who had been Sidney's page, professed great
affection for his old master, and hoped that he would not go on to meet
certain disaster. He had done all, he said, by Ormonde's orders. Sir
Theobald Butler of Cahir, who was always trying to assert his
independence of Ormonde, was the only one of the family who voluntarily
came to Sidney, by whom he was recommended for a peerage.[171]
[Sidenote: Sidney persuades his men to advance.]
Negotiations having failed, Sidney's drum beat to quarters, but the men
showed a great disinclination to advance. He was a fluent and persuasive
speaker, and he addressed the troops, serving out wine plentifully at the
same time. By the time the speech and the wine were finished, the
soldiers began to cry 'Forward,' and to declare that they would follow to
the land's end or die on the road. They demanded to be led out at once.
'"Nay, fast, sirs," quoth I, "it is Sunday, and it is afternoon; we will
go hear evening prayer, sup and rest; and you shall be called, I warrant
you, betimes in the morning, and so, in the name of God, we will advance
forwards." That evening and all the night there was nothing but singing,
casting of bullets, drying of powder, filing of pike-heads, sharpening of
swords, and everyone thinking himself good enough for five rebels.'
[Sidenote: Sidney meets with little resistance. Fitzmaurice burns
Kilmallock.]
Sidney marched next morning by Cahir into the White Knight's country, and
laid siege to a castle, which was perhaps Mitchelstown. The garrison said
they held the place for God and James Fitzmaurice and the White Knight,
and that they would yield to only one of them in person, or to St. Peter
or St. Paul. Sidney had no artillery heavy enough to breach the main
walls, but shattered the upper works, and ultimately won the courtyard
and barbican by assault. The garrison retired into the vaulted chamber of
the keep; but this also was assaulted, and they were pursued to the top
story, and then thrown over the battlements. Lord Roche's son was left in
possession. Sidney pushed on to Cork, where Lady St. Leger was fully
relieved, and the wavering citizens confirmed in their allegiance.
Carrigaline was taken and garrisoned, and Castlemartyr, which the
seneschal of Imokilly held against the Crown, was summoned. The seneschal
himself answered that he would defend it to the last. A day or two having
been spent in preparing gabions, a small breach was effected, and the
garrison escaped by night into a neighbouring bog. The castle was
entrusted to Captain Jasper Horsey, and Sidney then visited the Mallow
district. After some pulling down of castles and wasting of country, the
chiefs submitted without protection, and took the oath of allegiance.
Buttevant, which Lord Barrymore had mortgaged to Desmond, was taken, and
the Queen, as Sidney grimly said, was made mortgagee. Passing on to
Limerick, Sidney found that Fitzmaurice had been before him at
Kilmallock, which he had carried by escalade with the help of
sympathisers inside. Some houses were sacked, others burned, others
ransomed, and others spared altogether. Here Sidney heard from Ormonde,
who could not join for want of convoy. Lord Power and the Earl's friend
Lord Decies were sent to Kilkenny, and they brought him safe to the Lord
Deputy at Limerick.[172]
[Sidenote: Sidney Limerick.]
Thomas Roe Fitzgerald, Desmond's half-brother by Catherine Roche, was
induced by Sidney to serve the Queen--a stroke of policy which greatly
weakened Fitzmaurice, since many Geraldines thought his title better than
that of the acknowledged Earl, and of course far better than his
cousin's. 'During my abode in Limerick,' says Sidney, 'there came to me
divers principal personages of the county of Kerry and of Connello, as
the Lord Fitzmaurice, William Burke, captain or owner of Clanwilliam,
whose eldest son after (being my man) with his own hand killed James
Fitzmaurice, and James him at one only encounter, Lacy, Purcell, and
Suppell, with many more whose names I have forgotten, being all descended
of English race; all sware allegiance to her Majesty and faithful service
in that action against James. There came to me also Rory MacSheehy,
captain-general of the Earl of Desmond's gallowglasses, surnamed
Clansheehy; he likewise submitted, sware allegiance, and delivered
pledges as before. This man was counted one of much might among them; he
procured to come to me a great many more of the Irishry.'[173]
[Sidenote: Submission of the Butlers.]
[Sidenote: Sir Edmund escapes from Dublin Castle.]
No doubt by his brother's advice, Sir Edmund Butler wrote to Cecil,
throwing himself on the Queen's mercy; and it seems that he set out to
join the Lord Deputy, but thought better of it on the road. Piers lay in
pleurisy at Kilkenny, but Edward accompanied the Earl to Limerick, and
made his unconditional submission. Sidney seems still to have called him
traitor, but he declared himself willing to serve the Queen anywhere.
Afterwards Ormonde gave his parole for him, and he executed a bond
binding himself to appear at Dublin when sent for, and if possible to
bring Piers and Edmund with him. 'I granted his requests,' said Sidney,
'but since that time I could never set eye on my old servant Edward.'
Some weeks later Ormonde brought Sir Edmund and Piers to the Lord Deputy
at Dublin, Edward being this time the defaulter. When the brothers were
brought before the Council Sir Edmund accused Sidney of having threatened
him, but this the Lord Deputy denied, and we have the testimony of an
eye-witness to his gravity and dignity. But it seems that faith was not
strictly kept, for Sir Edmund had come in upon safe-conduct granted by
Ormonde to 'come safe, remain, and go safe,' that Ormonde had full power
to grant such safe-conduct, but that nevertheless Sir Edmund was
imprisoned in the castle. After a short and very indulgent confinement,
he managed to obtain a rope and slipped down the wall, but hurt himself,
and fell into the ditch. He lay all night in the water--it was
November--and those who found him in the morning were friends. The young
O'Byrnes, the afterwards renowned Feagh MacHugh being one of them, led
him through the Wicklow Mountains, and he made his way once more to the
neighbourhood of Leighlin. He soon afterwards visited Holy Cross, and
offered a thank-offering for his escape. Sidney was highly indignant, but
if he really broke Ormonde's safe-conduct he had nothing better to
expect. He insinuated doubts as to the sincerity of the Earl's
professions, but he had not gone the right way to confirm his loyalty.
Ormonde, on the other hand, reported that Sidney was too jealous of him
to avail himself of his services against the Munster rebels.[174]
[Sidenote: Humphrey Gilbert in Munster.]
The rank of colonel was given to Humphrey Gilbert, and he was told to
pacify Munster. He showed all those qualities which have given him an
enduring place in English story. Kilmallock was again threatened, and
Gilbert occupied it with little more than two companies. Fitzmaurice and
Clancare brought 1,500 foot and 60 horse, intending to starve out the
garrison; but Gilbert sallied forth with about 100 men, and put the Irish
to flight, exhibiting the Quixotic courage for which he is famous. He had
a horse shot under him. His buckler was transfixed by a spear. He
advanced to the attack across a river, and had twenty mounted men upon
him at once, of which he slew one, unhorsed two, and wounded six. No
wonder that he had a fever after this. Gilbert's energy seems to have
paralysed the enemy, for he marched almost unopposed through the wilds of
Kerry and Connello, and took thirty or forty castles without artillery.
The policy pursued was like that of Samuel to the subjects of Agag. At
Garrystown Gilbert ordered Captain Warde to put all to the sword on pain
of death. No capitulation was admitted, but all strongholds were stormed
at any cost, and men, women, and children killed. 'They are now,' wrote
Warde, after three weeks of this horrid work, 'so well acquainted with
his conditions that I think they will defend no castle.' And the worthy
captain adds that all were astonished at Gilbert's sufficiency, and that
in his opinion he was fit for any place, civil or military.[175]
[Sidenote: Fitzmaurice is hard pressed.]
James Fitzmaurice himself found the battle so hot about him that he
withdrew, closely pursued, into the glen of Aherlow in Tipperary, and
Sidney complained that Ormonde was slack in his service, and that they
were afraid of the Queen's displeasure if they entered his country to do
the work which he neglected. Sidney called Fitzmaurice an Irish beggar,
Gilbert called him a silly wood-kerne, and both wondered that an Earl of
Ormonde should find any difficulty in dealing with him. The Butlers were
an ungrateful crew, and Gilbert would teach them, if he might, that they
had more need of the Queen's mercy than she had of their service. The
Queen's partiality made it necessary to keep some terms with Ormonde, but
Gilbert did not hesitate 'to infringe the pretended liberties of any city
or town corporate not knowing their charters to further the Queen's
Majesty's service, answering them that the prince had a regular and
absolute power, and that which might not be done by the one, I would do
it by the other in case of necessity.' Gilbert was satisfied that
Ireland, being a conquered nation, would never obey for love, but for
fear only; and he acted fully up to this opinion. Under his drastic
treatment all the Geraldines except James Fitzmaurice submitted. Captain
Apsley was sent into Kerry, and such was the terror inspired by his
colonel, that the whole district was reduced with little difficulty.
Clancare and MacDonough MacCarthy acknowledged their treasons on their
knees. Gilbert would promise no pardons, and every rebel taken in arms
was executed at once. After his service in Munster, Gilbert repaired to
the Lord Deputy, who knighted him, having nothing but honour to give. In
his despatches he praised him to the skies, and seems not to have had the
slightest misgiving about the wisdom or morality of his conduct. The ways
were safe. City gates lay open. The English name was never so much feared
in Ireland. It needed now only a good sour lawyer to manage the escheats
of forfeited lands. 'If her Majesty will provide, that which is spent is
not lost. Persuade her to address into Munster further a council with a
President. The iron is now hot to receive what print shall be stricken in
it, but if it be suffered to grow cold, I fear where before it was iron
it will then be found steel. These people are headstrong, and if they
feel the curb loosed but one link, they will, with bit in the teeth, in
one month run further out of the career of good order than they will be
brought back in three months.' Without money, thwarted at home, and in
bad health, the Lord Deputy begged earnestly for his recall. All classes
were against him, and he felt as if he could not live another six months
in Ireland.[176]
[Sidenote: Ulster is quiet.]
While Geraldines and Butlers, for once united by the fear of losing their
lands, kept the South of Ireland in a turmoil, Ulster, for Ulster, was
rather unusually quiet. The O'Neills feared to provoke Sidney while he
had the power to punish, and minor chiefs professed themselves ready to
obey his call. James MacDonnell's widow took advantage of the lull to
come to Rathlin and give her hand to Tirlogh Luineach, who had now from
3,000 to 5,000 men under his orders, his wife having brought at least
1,200 Scots with her. Newry was threatened, but the arrival of Ormonde
left Kildare free, and the forces of the Pale were drawn northwards.
Sidney followed as soon as he could, and found that the Scots had
weakened rather than strengthened Tirlogh Luineach, who had 'eaten
himself out' by supporting them. The fact that he had been accidentally
shot by a jester while sitting at supper with his new wife, may have had
a good deal to do with Tirlogh Luineach's inactivity. In any case, he
gave Fitzmaurice no help; and, the Butlers having submitted, the
confederacy from which so much had been expected and feared fell to
pieces of itself.[177]
FOOTNOTES:
[156] Articles with Sir Brian MacPhelim O'Neill, Oct. 8, 1568; Sidney to
Cecil, Nov. 12; Sidney's Summary Relation, 1583, in _Carew_.
[157] Sidney to Cecil, Nov. 12, 1568; same to same, Nov. 8 (in the
_Sidney Papers_); Argyle to Queen Elizabeth, Aug. 24 (in the _Sidney
Papers_).
[158] Lord Roche to the Lords Justices, Sept. 14; Wingfield to Cecil,
Nov. 12; Sidney to Cecil, Nov. 8 and 12; Hamlet's warning to Ophelia is
applicable to all Irish Governors.
[159] Lady Dunboyne to Luke Dillon, A.G., Nov. 22; Carew to Cecil, Dec.
26.
[160] Hooker, in _Holinshed_; for the state of Athenry, see Sidney to the
Queen, April 20, 1567.
[161] Hooker, in _Holinshed_; Weston to Cecil, Feb. 17 and March 18,
1569. The Parliament 11 Eliz. sat almost continuously from Jan. 17 to
March 11, 1569, but three sessions are counted within this period. On
March 11, a prorogation took place till Oct. 10.
[162] Hooker, in _Holinshed_; two letters of Weston to Cecil already
quoted; Sir N. White to Cecil, March 10; and Sidney's Summary Relation in
_Carew_, 1583.
[163] Cecil to Sidney, Nov. 5, 1568; Queen to Sidney, Feb. 10, 1569;
Peryam's Petition, Feb. 19; Tremayne to Pollard and to Cecil, July 7.
[164] Letters to the Lord Deputy, June 17 to 20, from Lady St. Leger, J.
Horsey, the Mayors of Cork, Waterford, and Youghal, and Andrew Skiddy.
St. Leger to Sidney, February 14; see _Froude_, vol. x. p. 495, from
Simancas.
[165] Depositions of Lord Baltinglass and Richard Shee, June 19;
Information of William Sweetman, July 27.
[166] N. White to Cecil, April 18; Mayor and Corporation of Waterford to
Cecil, July 8; Corporation of Kilmallock and Limerick to Sidney, July 2
and 10; the Queen to Sidney, July 9.
[167] James Fitzmaurice to the Corporation of Cork, July 12. He calls the
Protestants 'Hugnettes.'
[168] _Life of Carew_; Ormonde to Cecil, July 24; Sir Edmund Butler to
Ormonde, Aug. 23.
[169] Ormonde to Cecil, July 24; Corporation of Kilkenny to Sidney, July
2 and 29; Roger Hooker (Richard Hooker's father) to Weston, Aug. 10.
[170] Ormonde to Cecil, July 24 and Sept. 7; Words uttered, &c. Sept. 1;
N. White to Cecil, Sept. 3.
[171] George Wyse to Cecil, Oct. 29; Lord Deputy and Council to Cecil,
Oct. 26; Sidney's Brief Relation in _Carew_, 1583.
[172] Fitzmaurice took Kilmallock early in Sept. 1569; Lord Deputy and
Council to the Privy Council, Oct. 20; Sidney's Summary Relation, in
_Carew_, 1583.
[173] Brief Relation, in _Carew_, 1583; Sidney to Cecil, Oct. 17, 1569,
in _Sidney Papers_.
[174] Fitzwilliam to Cecil, Sept. 12; Geo. Wyse to same, Oct. 29; Sidney
to same, Nov. 29; also Sidney's Summary Relation, as above.
[175] Warde to Cecil, Sept. 26 and Oct. 18; Gilbert to same, Oct. 18.
[176] Gilbert to Sidney, Nov. 13 and Dec. 6; Sidney to Cecil, Nov. 25 and
Jan. 4, 1570.
[177] MacMahon to the Commissioners for the North, Aug. 23; Fitzwilliam
to Cecil, Sept. 12.