we learn from a letter in the _State Papers_, under date 23rd April,
1590: "The acceptable service performed by Sir George Bingham in cutting
off M'Glanaghie, an arch-rebel ... M'Glanaghie's head brought in.
M'Glanaghie ran for a lough, and tried to save himself by swimming, but
a shot broke his arm, and a gallowglass brought him ashore. He was the
most barbarous creature in Ireland; his countrie extended from Grange
till you come to Ballishannon; he was O'Rourke's right hand; he had
fourteen Spaniards with him, some of whom were taken alive." The lough
above referred to is Lough Melvin. MacClancy was endeavouring to reach
his fortress when he met his end. O'Rourke, shortly after these events,
fled to Scotland, where he was arrested, brought to London, arraigned on
a charge of high treason, found guilty, and hanged. At the place of
execution he was met by the notorious _Myler M'Grath_, that many-sided
ecclesiastic, whose castle walls, near Pettigo, still keep his name in
remembrance. M'Grath endeavoured to make him abjure his faith, but
O'Rourke could not be shaken; he knew the sordid character of the man,
and bitterly reproached him for his own mercenary conduct.
When the siege was raised, MacClancy and his followers returned from the
mountains, and made much of Cuellar and his comrades, asking them to
remain and throw in their lot with them. To Cuellar he offered his
sister in marriage. This, however, the latter declined, saying he was
anxious to turn his face homewards. MacClancy would not hear of the
Spaniards leaving; and Cuellar, fearing he might be detained against his
will, determined to leave unobserved, which he did two days after
Christmas, when he and four Spanish soldiers left the castle before
dawn, and went "travelling by the mountains and desolate places," and at
the end of twenty days they came to _Dunluce_, where Alonzo de Leyva,
and the Count de Paredes, and many other Spanish nobles had been lost;
and there, he says, "they went to the huts of some 'savages,' who told
us of the great misfortunes of our people who were drowned."
Cuellar does not indicate the course he took in travelling on foot from
the castle in Lough Melvin to Dunluce; but it is evident, from the time
spent on the journey, that it was the circuitous route round the coast
of Donegal to Derry, and from thence to Dunluce. Their journey was one
of danger, as military scouts were searching the country everywhere for
Spaniards, and more than once he had narrow escapes. After some delay
and considerable difficulty, Cuellar, through the friendly assistance of
Sir James MacDonnell, of Dunluce, succeeded in crossing over to
Scotland, in company with seventeen Spanish sailors who had been rescued
by MacDonnell. He hoped to enjoy the protection of King James VI., who
was then reported to favour the Spaniards.
Cuellar did not find things much better there, and, after some delay, he
eventually took ship and arrived at Antwerp. His narrative is dated
October 4, 1589, and was evidently not written till his arrival on the
Continent. In forming an estimate of its value, it should be remembered
that the greater part, if not all, was written by him from memory. It is
highly improbable he would have made notes, or kept a diary in Ireland,
as the writing of his adventures never occurred to him (as his narrative
shows) till afterwards. This most probable supposition will account for
any inaccuracies in his statements as to places, distances, etc.; and
allowing for a natural tendency to exaggeration, Cuellar's narrative,
corroborated as it is in all essential points by contemporary history,
bears on its face the stamp of truth and authenticity.
The _State Papers_ (Ireland) at this year (1588) contain several
references to these wrecks on the Connaught coast.[6] Amongst them the
following occur: "After the Spanish fleet had doubled Scotland, and were
in their course homewards, they were by contrary weather driven upon the
several parts of this province [Connaught] and wrecked, as it were, by
even portions--three ships in every of the four several counties
bordering on the sea coasts, viz., in Sligo, Mayo, Galway, and
Thomond:--so that twelve ships perished on the rocks and sands of the
shore-side, and some three or four besides to seaboard of the out-isles,
which presently sunk, both men and ships, in the night-time. And so can
I say by good estimation that six or seven thousand men have been cast
away on these coasts, save some 1,000 of them which escaped to land in
several places where their ships fell, which sithence _were all put to
the sword_." Of all the ships which composed the Armada, none was a
greater object of interest than the _Rata_, a great galleon commanded by
Don Alonzo de Leyva. This officer was Knight of Santiago and Commendador
of Alcuesca: a remarkable man, of invincible courage and perseverance,
who was destined to meet a watery grave on this expedition. It is said
that King Philip felt more grief for his death than for the loss of the
whole fleet.
In the _Rata_ were hundreds of youths of the noblest families of
Castile, who had been committed to De Leyva's care. Having cleared the
northern coast of Scotland and gained the Atlantic, he kept well out to
sea, and in the early part of the month of September doubled Erris Head,
on the western coast of Mayo, after which he and another galleon came to
anchor in Blacksod Bay. Here he sent in a boat, with fourteen men, to
ascertain the disposition of the natives, whether friendly or the
reverse. Having landed, they soon encountered one of the petty
chiefs--Richard Burke by name, familiarly known as the "Devil's Son."
This man, true to his character, robbed and maltreated them. Immediately
after this a violent storm sprang up, which proved fatal to many of the
Spanish ships then off the Irish coast: the _Rata_ broke loose from her
anchors, and ran ashore; De Leyva and his men were only able to escape
with their lives, carrying with them their arms and any valuables they
could lay hold of. They set fire to the _Rata_; and perceiving hard by
an old castle, within it they took up their quarters. The "Devil's Son"
and his followers made their way to the wreck, plundering any of the
rich garments and stores which they could snatch from the flames. At
this juncture, _Bryan-na-Murtha O'Rourke_, Prince of Breffney, hearing
of the abject condition of the Spaniards, sent them immediate
assistance, and an invitation to their commander, De Leyva, to come to
his castle at Dromahair. There they were well entertained, comfortably
clothed, and provided with arms. This is referred to in the Irish _State
Papers_ thus: "Certain Spaniards being stript were relieved by Sir Brian
O'Rourke, apparelled, and new furnished with weapons."
O'Rourke, whose power and popularity were very great, was a dangerous
foe to the Governor of Connaught, who was unable to make him pay the
"Queen's Rent." His action in harbouring and succouring the Spaniards,
and for a short space enlisting them in his service, had, as shall be
seen further on, important results in his approaching downfall. De Leyva
resolved, after some time, to quit the country, and to embark his men in
the other galleon, the _San Martin_, which had been able to hold out in
the offing. Having made sail, and on their way fallen in with the
_Girona_ and another ship--a galliass--they endeavoured to clear _Rossan_
Point; but the sea being still very rough and the wind unpropitious,
they were obliged to make for Killybegs. Having reached the entrance to
that port, the two larger vessels went on the rocks, and became wrecks;
the galliass continued to float, though badly injured; the crews and
soldiers, numbering two thousand, were got ashore with their arms, but
no provisions were saved.
The _State Papers_ [September, 1588] say that "John Festigan, who came
out of the barony of Carbrie [of which Streedagh strand forms a part],
saw _three great ships_ coming from the south-west, and bearing towards
O'Donnell's country, and took their course right to the harbour of
Killybegs, the next haven to Donegal." And in the examination of a
Spanish sailor named Macharg,[7] the following reference appears: "After
the fight in the narrow sea, she fell upon the coast of Ireland in a
haven called 'Erris St. Donnell,' where, at their coming in, they found
a great ship called the _Rata_, of 1,000 tons or more, in which was Don
Alonzo de Leyva. After she perished, Don Alonzo and all his company were
received into the hulk of _St. Anna_, with all the goods they had in the
ships of any value; as plate, apparel, money, jewels, and armour,
leaving behind them victual, ordnance, and much other stuff, which the
hulk was not able to carry away." It will be seen from the above that it
is stated that it was in the _St. Anna_ De Leyva embarked, after the
loss of his own vessel; but it would appear from "_La Felicissima
Armada_" that it was in the _San Martin_ they took ship, and afterward
removed to the _Duquesa Santa Anna_.
The number of wrecks of the Spanish vessels on the Irish coast was
largely due to the insufficiency of their anchor-gear; and in
explanation of this, it may be observed that it was chiefly _hempen_
cables which were then in use; and even in the largest vessels
substantial chain cables had not been adopted.
It would seem that when De Leyva had reached "O'Donnell's country," he
found the _San Martin_ so much injured and in such a leaky condition,
that he abandoned her and placed his men and valuables in the _Duquesa
Santa Anna_, which, through the friendly aid of O'Neill and McSwine, he
was enabled to repair. After obtaining fresh stores of provisions from
the people of Tirconnell, De Leyva once more put to sea; but misfortune
still followed in his track, and the _Santa Anna_ ran on the rocks in
Glennageveny Bay, a few miles west of Inisowen Head. Still undaunted, De
Leyva, though now sorely wounded in escaping from the wreck, made
another effort. The _Girona_, which had also been patched up while at
Killybegs, lay at anchor in a creek in McSwine's territory, about twenty
miles distant from where he now was. In the _Girona_ he determined to
sail, and being unable to walk or ride had himself carried across
country, the remnant of his men following him--for many had been drowned.
Close to the shore, in sight of that relentless sea from which they had
already suffered so keenly, these belated men encamped for the space of
a week, using every effort to make the _Girona_--their last means of
escape--as tight and seaworthy as possible. They once more embarked,
hoping to be able at least to reach the coast of Scotland; but their
course was nearly run; and after a few days, while passing near to the
Giant's Causeway, they ran on a rock, and in a few minutes were dashed
to pieces. It is said every soul on board except five sailors--nobles,
mariners, soldiers, and slaves (who were kept as rowers)--were lost. The
actual spot of the wreck pointed to by tradition still bears the name of
"_Spaniard Rock_" the western head of Port-na-Spaniagh.
[Illustration:
WRECK OF A GALLEON AT PORT-NA-SPANIAGH,
NORTH COAST OF ANTRIM, SEPTEMBER, 1588.
]
The _State Papers_ (Ireland, 1588) contain the following reference to
this event: "The Spanish ship [the _Girona_] which arrived in Tirconnell
with the McSweeny, was on Friday, the 18th of this present month [_Oct.,
1588_], descried over against _Dunluce_, and by rough weather was
perished, so that there was driven to the land, being drowned, the
number of 260 persons, with certain butts of wine, which Sorely Boy
[MacDonnell] hath taken up for his use." There was another of the
Spanish ships wrecked near Dunluce, but the name of the vessel is
unknown. From this wreck the MacDonnells recovered three pieces of
cannon, which were subsequently claimed by Sir John Chichester for the
Government. These cannon were mounted on Dunluce Castle, and MacDonnell
refused to give them up. He had also rescued eleven sailors from this
wreck, as well as the five from the _Girona_. These he all took under
his protection, and eventually sent them over in a boat to Scotland,
from whence they made their way home. From the depositions of an Irish
sailor named _McGrath_, who was on board the _Girona_, it appears that
vessel went aground on a long, low reef of rock at the mouth of the
_Bush_ river, which reef was then known as the "Rock of Bunbois."
Of the authentic relics of the Armada, those which have attracted most
attention, and been the subject of most controversy, are the iron
chests. That there are a greater number of these chests still preserved
in Ireland than could reasonably be assumed to have belonged to the
Spanish vessels which perished on the Irish coast, cannot be denied;
nevertheless, it is a mistake which some writers on the subject have
fallen into, in supposing that no such chests were in the Spanish
vessels, and that they are a mere popular fiction, as their introduction
into Ireland must have been at least a century later than the Armada
period. The writer has been at pains to obtain from the most trustworthy
sources, both in this country and in England, all the information
possible, and the result is here summarized. Having examined specimens
of these treasure-chests in South Kensington and elsewhere, belonging to
the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, from the earliest chest downwards,
the same features are apparent in their construction and ornamentation.
They were by no means peculiar to Spain, but were the typical and
recognised receptacles for valuables all over the Continent of Europe
for many centuries.[8] In Ireland these chests were in use in the time
of the O'Donnells, and were doubtless brought over in the vessels which
were frequently trading between the ports of Tirconnell and the Brabant
Marts. Within the past half-century, while some clay was being turned up
and removed from the precincts of _O'Clery's Castle_, at Kilbarron, near
Ballyshannon, the lid of one was discovered with the intricate system of
bolts and levers attached. This is now in the custody of the writer,
having been kindly lent to him by the owner, General Tredennick,
Woodhill, Ardara. When brought to light, it was supposed to have been
the lock of the chief entrance to O'Clery's stronghold, and continued to
be so regarded till identified by the writer as a portion of a
fifteenth-century coffer. This discovery proves beyond question that
these chests _were_ in use in Ireland, whether brought over in Spanish
or other vessels, at a much earlier date than some have supposed. The
lid found at O'Clery's Castle, it is reasonable to infer, belonged to a
chest which was used by the historians of Tirconnell for the safe
keeping of their valuable manuscripts and other articles; and, looking
to the fact that their house and property were confiscated within a
period of twenty years or so after the Spanish wrecks, and that
Kilbarron was then plundered and dismantled, there can be no doubt that
the chest in question belonged to the period when the O'Clerys
flourished in their rock-bound fortress. The lid itself offers a curious
bit of evidence of its past history: a portion of one of the hinges
remains attached, showing that it had been wrenched off with violence,
and that the chest to which it belonged had been forced by some
plundering enemy who had not possession of the master-key, which
actuated all the bolts of the lock. A similar lid was found in the ruins
of O'Donnell's Castle at Donegal, and is still in existence in this
neighbourhood.
[Illustration: A SPANISH TREASURE-CHEST.]
There is in the possession of W. E. Kelly, Esq., St. Helen's, Westport,
Co. Mayo (to whom the writer is indebted for the information), a very
interesting treasure-chest, which bears satisfactory evidence of having
been recovered from one of the Armada ships wrecked on that coast in
1588. After "the flight of the Earls," a branch of the O'Donnells
migrated from Tirconnell to _Newport_, Co. Mayo, and one of the
family--Conel O'Donnell, brother of Sir Neal O'Donnell--obtained from a
peasant, who lived on the sea-shore at Clew Bay, the chest in question.
No particulars are forthcoming as to the exact spot where the peasant
found it; but it bears evidence, from its corrosion, of having been
subjected to the prolonged action of sea water, and it is not unlikely
that this relic was on board the _Rata_, which De Leyva set fire to in
Blacksod Bay. The size of the chest is 2 ft. 10½ ins. long, 1 ft. 9
ins. wide, and 1 ft. 7½ ins. high.
In the Armada Exhibition, at Drury Lane, held October, 1888, the
following amongst other relics were shown:
"No. 240.--Spanish treasure-chest, with two keys; the larger key is
emblematical, the bow being the ecclesiastical A.N., the wards being
'chevron' and 'cross.' Inside of chest has engraved face-plate to lock,
perforated with _Spanish eagles_ for design.
"No. 241.--Spanish treasure-chest, believed to have come out of the
_Santa Anna_, etc.
"No. 242.--Iron chest from Armada. This chest is of most remarkable
construction: there is an apparent keyhole, but the real one is
concealed in the lid, which is one large lock, the lock-plate of which
is of very fine workmanship of polished iron.
"No. 243.--Iron treasure-chest, taken from the Spanish war-ship during
the fight with the Armada.
"Spanish matchlock, taken from a Spaniard on the coast of Ireland.
"Spear head, from one of the Armada ships, wrecked off the coast of
Donegal.
"A spoon of curious floral design, found on the shore close to Dunluce
Castle, about 90 years ago [supposed to be from the wreck of the
_Girona_.]"[9]
Turning to Cuellar's narrative, in speaking of the wrecks at Streedagh,
Co. Sligo, of which he was an eye-witness, the following occurs:[10]
"And then [the Irish] betook themselves to the shore to plunder and
break open _money chests_." These are called in Spanish _Arcas_, _i.e._,
iron chests with flat lids to hold money, etc.
In the _State Papers_ (Ireland, 1588) several references to money chests
in the Spanish ships appear. "Plate and ducats" are spoken of as being
"rifled out of their chests." At 2nd Aug., 1588 [examination of Spanish
prisoners], from the "_Nuestra Señora del Rosario_," "a _chest of the
King's_ was taken wherein was 52,000 ducats, of which chest Don Pedro de
Valdez had one key and the King's treasurer or the Duke another. Besides
[it is added], many of the gentlemen had good store of money aboard the
said ship; also, there was wrought plate and a great store of precious
jewels and rich apparel."
In _State Papers_ [4th and 5th August, 1588], in describing the capture
of a Spanish "_Carrack_"--the _San Salvador_--it is said: "This very night
some inkling came unto us that _a chest_ of great weight should be found
in the fore-peak of the ship," etc. These and many other references to
both treasure and treasure-chests, taken from contemporary sources, show
that the Spanish treasure-chests _are not_ mythical, but formed a
necessary part of the outfit of an expedition, on which those who had
entered had staked all their riches and had brought their valuables with
them. A fine specimen of the treasure-chest is in the possession of
Major Hamilton, Brownhall. It has been in his family for such a period
that its history is lost. The ornamental open-work of polished steel,
which covers the inside of lid, is a very fine specimen of mediæval iron
work.
In Western Tirconnell is a cluster of islands which, collectively, are
called _The Rosses_. About four and a half miles north-west of
Mullaghderg are the "Spanish Stags" or "Enchanted Ships." On this wild
and rocky coast, abounding in shoals and sunken rocks, one of the
Spanish ships was cast away. Here lies buried in the sand the remains of
one of them. A little more than a century ago, an expedition of young
men, whose imagination was heated by the traditional accounts of buried
treasure, set out in a boat to the Spanish rock, and being good divers
and expert swimmers, they succeeded in reaching the wreck. They got on
the upper deck, and were able by great effort and perseverance to
recover a quantity of lead: they raised a number of brass guns, some of
which were 10 feet long. These were broken up and sold as scrap metal at
4½d. per lb. The iron guns, of which they found a number, were left
in the water. This vessel, tradition says, was a treasure ship; at all
events, a number of Spanish gold coins were found, and were in existence
some years ago. The brass cannon which were found bore the Spanish arms.
It is said some of the Spaniards from this vessel escaped to land, and
spent the rest of their lives amongst the Irish in The Rosses.
[Illustration: Anchor recovered from the wreck of one of the
SHIPS of the SPANISH.ARMADA off the coast of DONEGAL.
Presented by Cap'n Omma.]
In the spring of 1895, an attempt was made to search for the remains of
this ship. A small steamer, called the _Harbour Lights_, visited the
spot, and remained for a fortnight, but without being able to accomplish
anything. Owing to the accumulation of sand, which now covers the wreck,
there are great obstacles in the way of reaching it. At about a distance
of two miles to the south of the "Spanish Rock" another vessel was
wrecked, in the Bay of Castlefort, inside of the North Island of Aran.
In 1853, the coastguards at Rutland, under the superintendence of their
chief officer, Mr. Richard Heard, and at the instance of Admiral Sir
Erasmus Ommanney, C.B., who was on a tour of inspection in that year,
had their attention directed to the wreck. The search was rewarded by
the recovery of a fine anchor, which was forthwith transmitted to
London, and presented by the Admiral to the United Service Institution,
Whitehall Place. Through the kindness of Sir Erasmus Ommanney, an
engraving[11] of this interesting relic is presented, and the writer is
also indebted to him for the particulars of the discovery of the anchor.
A portion of one of the brass cannon recovered from the _Girona_ was in
Castlecaldwell Museum, till the collection was disposed of. The fine
figurehead of one of the ships wrecked off Streedagh, which is shown on
the first page, is the only existing specimen in Ireland. In the Parish
Church of Carndonagh is a bell, which tradition says was recovered from
an Armada vessel wrecked at Inishowen. It bears the following legend:
"Sancta: Maria: Ora: Pro: Nobis Ricardus Pottar [his sign or trade mark]
De Vruain Me Fecit Alla [Allelujah]."
The following are the names of the Spanish vessels lost on the coasts of
Ulster and Connacht, so far as they are known (several nameless vessels
were also cast away):
_Duquesa Santa Anna_ 900 tons.
_The Rata_ 820 "
_The San Martin_ --
_El Gran Grifon, Capitana_ 650 "
_The Girona_ --
_The San Juan_ 530 "
_La Trinidad Valencera_ 1,100 "
In the valuable work, entitled "State Papers relating to the Defeat of
the Spanish Armada, Anno 1588," by Professor Laughton (Navy Records
Society)--a work which throws much light on the history of the period,
and should be studied in connection with Captain Duro's book--the
following remarks are made as to the cause of the loss of so many
Spanish vessels: "The Spanish ships were lost partly from bad pilotage,
partly from bad seamanship, but chiefly because they were leaking like
sieves, had no anchors, their masts and rigging shattered, their water
casks smashed."
The actual numbers when the fleet sailed from the Tagus on the 20th May
were: 130 ships, 57,868 tons, 2,431 guns, 8,050 seamen, 18,973 soldiers,
1,382 volunteers, 2,088 slaves (as rowers).
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Amongst those drowned at the wrecks on Streedagh were the following
Irishmen: Brian Mac-in-Persium, Andrew Mac-in-Persium, and Cormac
O'Larit, all of whom had shipped as sailors in the Spanish vessels.
[2] See Translator's Preface for the sense in which the word "north" is
used in Spanish.
[3] See O'Donovan's Letters (Sligo, R.I.A.)
[4] _Santiago_, the Patron Saint of Spain; hence it became the war-cry
or watchword when going to battle.
[5] Sir Owen O'Gallagher was O'Donnell's Marshal, and lived in the
Castle of Ballyshannon at this period.
[6] Sir R. Bingham to Walsyngham, Oct. 1st, 1588.
[7] Duro, p. 98; 25, i.
[8] Chests of the same type, called _Arca_, were discovered in the
excavations at Pompeii, where they were used for keeping the public
money.
[9] From the Official Catalogue of Tercentenary Exhibition of Spanish
Armada.
[10] See Mr. Crawford's translation and relative note, Part II.
[11] From a photograph kindly taken by T. B. M'Dowell, Esq., London.
PART II.
CAPTAIN CUELLAR'S
_NARRATIVE_
OF
_THE SPANISH ARMADA_
AND OF
_His Wanderings and Adventures in Ireland_.
(_Dated October 4th, 1589_).
TRANSLATED BY
ROBERT CRAWFORD, M.A., M.R.I.A., &c.,
_From the Spanish Text_,
AS GIVEN IN
"_LA ARMADA INVENCIBLE_,"
BY CAPTAIN CESAREO FERNANDEZ DURO,