L 



THE EARL OF CUMBERLAND a.d. 



1589. 



remaining in a pot, in the night it was broken, and the 

 water drunke and dried up. Soone after the sicke and 

 wounded men were carried to the next principall Towne, 

 called Dingenacush, being about three miles distant 

 from the foresaide haven, where our shippe roade, to 

 the Eastwards, that there they might be the better re- 

 freshed, and had the Chirurgians dayly to attend upon 

 them. Here we wel refreshed our selves whilest the 

 Irish harpe sounded sweetely in our eares, and here 

 we, who for the former extremities were in maner halfe 

 dead, had our lives (as it were) restored unto us 

 againe. 



This Dingenacush is the chiefe Towne in al that part 

 of Ireland, it consisteth but of one maine streete, from 

 whence some smaller doe proceede on either side. It 

 hath had gates (as it seemeth) in times past at either 

 ende to open and shut as a Towne of warre, and a 

 Castle also. The houses are very strongly built with 

 thicke stone walles, and narrow windowes like unto 

 Castles : for as they confessed, in time of trouble, by 

 reason of the wilde Irish or otherwise, they used their 

 houses for their defence as Castles. The castle and all 

 the houses in the Towne, save foure, were won, burnt, 

 and ruinated by the Erie of Desmond. These foure 

 houses fortified themselves against him, and withstood 

 him and all his power perforce, so as he could not 

 winne them. 



There remaineth yet a thicke stone wall that passeth 

 overthwart the midst of the streete which was a part 

 of their fortification. Notwithstanding whilest they thus 

 defended themselves, as some of them yet alive con- 

 fessed, they were driven to as great extremities as the 

 Jewes, besieged by Titus the Romane Emperour, inso- 

 much that they were constrained to eat dead mens 

 carcases for hunger. The Towne is nowe againe some- 

 what repaired, but in effect there remaine but the ruines 

 of the former Towne. Commonly they have no chim- 

 neis in their houses, excepting them of the better sort,. 



27 



