CHAPTER XXIX.

"The rebels they are up,

And put the Englishmen unto the sword."

SHAKSPEARE.

THE state of the Province, which the Lord President of Munster,—whom we must now follow with our hero to the County Cork,-had to govern, or I should rather say subdue, and pacify,—before he could write his "Pacata Hibernia," or have these two words inscribed on her Majesty's tomb,-is thus described by Sir Henry Power, who was sole Commissioner of the Province after the death of Sir Warham St. Leger :

"I know not how more fitly to describe unto your honor the estate of this Province, than by comparing the same to a man that is diseased of a languishing, and almost incurable sicknesse, the head so sore, and the heart so sicke, that every member refuseth his natural office; in so much that I dare boldly affirme, that since the conquest of Ireland, this Province of Mounter was never more distempered then now it is; for all the inhabitants of the country are in open and actual rebellion,

except some few of the better sort; who, though themselves, in their owne persons, attend the state, yet all their tenants, friends, and followers, yea and for the most part, either their sonnes or brothers publickely professed in the devilish action; as for example the Lord of Cahir, Cormocke, Mac Dermond, Lord of Muskry, Gerald Fitz-James, Lord of the Decies, Mac Cartie Keugh. The computation and number of the rebels, how many they are, enpecially of the Province-by reason that they are dispersed in so many severall countries, and commanded by so many heads—we can gieu no certaine iudgement; but for strangers, (meaning Connaght men that reciue bonnaght amongst them,) we are certainly advertised from divers, that are well acquainted with their affaires, that they are enlist fiue thousand men; which strength, added to the rebels of that Province, doeth make them absolutely masters of the field. And Her Majesty's Forces heere garrisoned in the cities and walled townes for their safetie, (by reason of their weaknesse before your coming,) were in condition little better than besieged. Furthermore, all this might seem more tollerable, if the cities and walled townes were (in these times of extremitie) a safe and well assured retreat for them: but all of them are so besotted and bewitched with the Popish Priests,

Jesuiets, and Seminaries, that for fear of their cursings and excommunications, they are ready, upon everie small occasion, to rise in armes against them, and minister all under-hand ayde and succour unto the rebels: so that considering the generaltaie of the inhabitants that are in open rebellion, the infidelitie of those that pretend subjection, the multitude of Connaght men, that defend the action, and the little confidence that may be reposed in cities, (by reason of their contrary religion,) wee may very well conclude, that the estate of this Province is like a man sicke of a most dangerous and desperate disease.”

The daily experience of the President fully realized the foregoing description. The intelligence which he almost hourly received, of some new act of violence and rebellion, was almost enough to distract or madden a man who came to the country with peaceable propensities, and who hoped to arrange everything by conciliation or intrigue. He needed the patience of Job, to bear with equanimity the sad tidings which every new messenger brought in.

The 25th of April he heard that "John FitzThomas, the Earl's brother, accompanied with one hundred kerne, or thereabouts, came into the Lord Barry his countrie, near Castle Lyons, and there

tooke from him, and his tenants, a prey of three hundred cowes and ten horses.

"The morrow following, being the twentie-sixth, intelligence was brought from Cormocke Oge Carty, called by the English Charles Carty, sonne to Sir Cormocke Mac Teg, that the arch-traitor Tyrone had sent letters to Florence Mac Carthy, to encourage both him and his adherents to persist in the action; assuring them that within one moneth, namely, in May next, he would be with them again in Munster, and for that journey his munition victuals were already prepared.

"The twenty-seventh, (as Dermond Odwire informed the President by his letters,) Redmond Burke, with six hundred men, entred into his countrie, to burne and prey the same, which to effect, he divided his forces into three sundry parts. Odwire having assembled as many men as that short warning would permit, fell upon one of the divisions afore mentioned, which consisted of two hundred foot; of them he slew one hundred and twenty, and many hurt; in revenge whereof Redmond Burke, upon the sixth of May following, having gotten as many men as he could assemble, entred the second time into the aforesaid countrie, where he slew man, woman, and child, burnt all the houses (castles ex

VA

my forces, I am resolved to try to the my wit and cunning, before I commit to the hazard of war."

m, resolute language, in the face and ch reports of daily risings, burnings, and reys, was well calculated to inspire men ence in the new Lord President of Munsearing daily such reports as this, that had ned the poor Earl of Essex, and caused out of Ireland, as from a burning house. d that a certain gentleman, whom we mention, should get his due meed of ame, as well as every other gentleman. his fair-play principle, we cannot but r George Carew his due meed of praise, e, resolve, and calm determination ;

George, there is a "but "-the but exfor I cannot allow you to flaunt these e a noble knight, to which title you can