2-10 



IRELAND. 



That it should remain e, was a matter of serious 

 moment to Elizabeth, for the Spanish armada was at 

 this time at sea, and the Irish, it might justly be ap- 

 prehended, would rise up in arms, unless prudently 

 managed, if the Spaniards were even reported to have 

 succeeded in their object. These considerations, how- 

 ever, did not weigh with Fitzwilliam ; on the contrary, 

 by hij conduct he exasperated even those Irish chief- 

 tains who were well disposed to the English. 



The disaffected chieftains gladly seized the opportu- 

 nity which this mal-administration presented,- of for- 

 warding their views. At the head of them, in the 

 north, was Hugh O'Neil, than whom, few persons were 

 better qualified at once to rouse and direct the Irish, 

 and to offer a steady and dangerous opposition to the 

 English. But though his designs had been 'long form- 

 ed, yet he contrived, by his caution, and apparent de- 

 votion to the English cause, to elude their suspicions; 

 and when they were raised, to remote them, more than 

 once, before circumstances in a manner forced him to 

 undisguised rebellion. Before this event took place, 

 disturbances broke out in Connatight, headed by one 

 O'Donnel, a Scotch adventurer, which distracted the 

 attention, and divided the forces of the English. O'Neil 

 carried his dissimulation so far as even to attack O'Don- 

 nel ; and though he relied greatly on some Spanish 

 forces which he knew were to be sent into Ireland, yet 

 he also sent the letter announcing the promise of these 

 forces from the Spanish king, to the Lord Deputy and 

 Bebellion of council. But while he was thus, to all appearance, act- 

 O'Neil j n g the part of a loyal subject, he was exerting all his 

 A. D. 1595. endeavours to render his rebellion, when he should 

 deem it prudent, or be forced to engage in it, more 

 formidable and general 



As his character and schemes were known, though the 

 behaviour of the English government towards him was 

 not so decided and firm as it ought to have been with 

 this knowledge, it was deemed proper to send a new de- 

 puty. Thomas Lord Burgh was appointed to this situa- 

 tion. His actions displayed immediately his just sense 

 of the state of Ireland, and of the real views of O'Neil ; 

 without loss of time, he attacked him in his strong 

 camp near Armagh,' drove him from it, and afterwards 

 defeated him a second time. Unfortunately De Burgh 

 died in the midst of his victories, and O'Neil took ad- 

 vantage of this and other circumstances, and managed 

 with so much adroitness, as to obtain from the queen a 

 pardon under the great seal. 



He sought, however, only a breathing time; and 

 having, during this, recruited his forces, he again took 

 up arms. His first engagement being successful, the 

 royal army being routed, and the fort of Blackwater 

 having surrendered, nearly the whole of Ireland, en- 

 couraged by these events, burst into open rebellion. 

 Elizabeth was at last alarmed ; but unfortunately, her 

 partiality for Essex induced her to send him over as 

 lord lieutenant. But he was not equal to his situation ; 

 so that while the royal forces in different parts were 

 defeated by the rebels, Essex himself was so complete- 

 ly deceived by O'Neil, as to grant him a truce for six 

 weeks. Soon afterwards, Essex let'- Ireland, and O'Neil 

 renewed the war, having called in the powerful aid of 

 religion to extend and support his cuus. . 



Blunt, Lord Mountjoy, was next appointed to cope 

 with O'Neil, who at first affected to despise him on ac- 

 count of his character for literature ; but Blunt soon 

 convinced him, that sagacity was more thaii a match 

 for cunning ; and by his rapid and successful move- 

 ments s disconcerted O'Neil, and lowered him in the 



. opinion of his confederates, that they began to exhibit History. 

 symptoms of declining zeal and confidence. "- "y"' 



The south of Ireland was, at the same time, the scene 

 of nearly equally judiciou? and successful measures, 

 adopted and pursued by Sir George Sarew, who com- 

 manded the Queen's forces there. Sensible that he 

 could not act with any prospect of success against the 

 united Irish chieftains, and well acquainted with their 

 jealousies and suspicions of one another, he turned these 

 jealousies and suspicions to his own advantage; and ha- 

 ving thus disunited the enemy, he carried on his mili- 

 tary operations with vigour and success. 



Hitherto the King of Spain had withheld the assist- Spaniard 

 ance which he had promised; but at length, in Septem- ^nd at Ki 

 ber 1601, about 6'000 men landed at Kinsale. Against *f le M 

 these Blunt marched, and blocked them up in that 

 town. As soon as the landing of the Spaniards was 

 known to the rebel chiefs, O'Donnel moved to join 

 them from Connaught and Leinster, and O'Neil from 

 the north. Thus the fate of Ireland seemed to be 

 brought to a point : On the one hand were the forces 

 of the Spaniards, which had been augmented by 2000 

 men, and the armies of O'Donnel and O'Neil ; on the 

 other were the forces of the Queen, under the Deputy. 

 O'Donnel, with the Spaniards that had last landed, 

 and O'Neil with his troops, took up such a position as 

 to cut off the Deputy's forces on the land side, while - 

 by sea their supplies were very irregular and insuffi- 

 cient. The consequence was, that the royal army was 

 gradually reduced in numbers and spirit, and must have 

 fallen before the continued blockade of its enemies; 

 but they were divided in opinion, and O'Niel reluct- 

 antly gave way to the opinion of those who advised an 

 attack. As soon as Blunt saw them advance, he also 

 left his entrenchments ; and while Carew, with part of 

 the forces, continued the siege, he himself, with only 

 1200 infantry and 400 cavalry, resolved to meet the 

 enemy, who were very far superior in numbers. On 

 this occasion, the advantage of talent over mere person- 

 al bravery was evident. The Irish, first intimidated 

 by the boldness of the measure adopted by Blunt, and 

 afterwards perplexed by his judicious disposition of his 

 forces, displayed symptoms of indecision. Of these 

 Blunt immediately took advantage, and the enemy 

 were defeated in a very short time, and with very little 

 loss on the part of Blunt. The effects ot this victory 

 were most important : Kinsale surrendered ; O'Neil O'Neil sub- 

 was deserted by his allies and troops, and he himself mits - 

 submitted, almost at the very moment of the Queen's 

 death. Thus Elizabeth lived just long enough to ef- 

 fect the subjugation of Ireland, a measure which had 

 been attempted in vain by her predecessors. 



In the reign of James I. there were some disturb- 

 ances in Ireland, partly of a political and partly of a 

 religious nature ; but they were so uninteresting, and 

 so unimportant in their consequences, ,that we shall pass 

 them by, and advert only to such measures and trans- 

 actions as relate to the internal policy of this country. 

 Before Blunt left Ireland, he freed the Irish peasantry 

 from the tyranny of their chiefs, and ordered them to 

 be considered and treated as the immediate vassals of 

 the crown. His successors seem to have been animated 

 with the same spirit of conciliation, and to have imbibed 

 his views ; and, fortunately, James either approved, or 

 at least did not oppose their measures : circuit judges 

 were appointed ; the law was administered with impar- 

 tiality ; the right to landed property was rendered more 

 secure, and more conformable to justice ; such lands as 

 were held under the great lords had a fixed rent put 



