204 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



as we are we came along seeking some land of Christians, when on the 

 road we came upon a troop of enemies who killed eight of us, and the 

 the three that remained took to flight through a wood so thick that 

 they could not find us. God guided us in the evening to these huts, 

 where we have sought rest, though they are uninhabited, and offer us 

 nothing to eat. I said to them, therefore, that they be of good 

 courage, that they should recommend themselves always to our Lord, 

 that near to this place' we would come on a country of friends and 

 Christians, that I had information of a village some three or four 

 leagues off, belonging to the Lord de Ruerque (Lord O'Eourke ?)* where 

 were being sheltered many of our shipwrecked Spaniards, and that 

 badly treated and wounded as I was, on the morrow we would make 

 our way there. The poor fellows were greatly rejoiced, and asked 

 me who I was. I told them I was Captain Cuellar. They could 

 hardly believe it, having taken for granted that I was drowned, and 

 came up to me almost smothering me in their embraces. One of them 

 was an Enseign (Alferez), and the other two soldiers, and, laughable 

 as the story may be, it is as true as I am a Christian. I must, however, 

 finish it in order that you may enjoy your laugh at us. I got well 

 into the pile of sheaves, cautioning the others not to spoil the straw 

 nor to disturb it, from the state in which it was, settling by agreement 

 that we should rise in the morning for our journey. We slept, having 



1 See note 7, p. 180. 



2 Declaration made by William Car and John Brun, natives of Dublin, from 

 which place they sailed with their ships, named the Margaret, the 20th December, 

 1588. 



" Declare that there -n'ere lost on the coasts of Ireland 7 or 8 ships of the 

 Armada of His Majesty, the names of which they do not know, and of them one, 

 in the port of Lough Foyle (Logfuile), that the people on land saved nearly all 

 the crews, in boats, that some of these were beheaded by the soldiers of the Queen ; 

 that on board that ship much wealth was found, that ten principal persons were 

 brought to Dudat, where they move freely about the streets, amongst them being 

 one chief personage whom some call D. Alonzo, Chevalier of the Order of iSantiago, 

 pointed beard, great mustache. They relate, likewise, that there were in Dublin 

 two Spaniards in hiding, and who were seen by one of these merchants, but who 

 does not know their names : — Declare that the Governor of that province collected 

 forces in order to go against two leading gentlemen called Oroierk and MacKesuene, 

 who fmnished provisions to certain Spanish ships, and who keep in their country 

 some Spaniards who escaped from the wreck, and whom they refuse to give up, 

 for which it is sought to destroy them and take their property, a proceeding which 

 other Governors have tried and have not been able to succeed in owing to the 

 strength of the position which that county (Condado) possesses." — Coll. Sans de 

 Earutell Artie. 6, num. in.). La Armada Invencible, C. T. Dui-o, vol. ii. p. 467. 



