The Earl of Sussex's commendation.

The Earl of Sussex complain [ed] on.

f. 124.

The complaint of the poor and nothing redressed.

The nobility called to Council.

that he had not comen into Ireland so soon, unless the Earl of Sussex had been his friend, and so after gave him his commendations.

In like manner was the Earl of Sussex and the Earl of Kyldare often and divers times warred* together. The Earl of Kildare did report openly before part of the Council that he knew not whether the Earl of Sussex loved O'Neile more than he hated himself. Notwithstanding the Earl of Kildare being in England not well liked of with the Prince, by reason he was accused of sundry and divers matters, not well able to answer thereunto, was by the Earl of Sussex so well used, that, at the return of the Earl of Kyldare into Ireland, reported openly that the Earl of Sussex was the curtest† companion, the faithfullest gentleman, the friendliest friend and wisest counsellor that he had in England or knew to any.† Therefore it is an old saying, "A friend tried in time of necessity is gold worth."

This Earl of Sussex so charged the country that these gentlemen which was at the Inns of Court made a book to the Queen, of him, and there long was debated and nothing relieved nor redressed for his cating and purveying and other char[ge]able cesses. This Earl was not beloved with the most number in the realm. There was in his time much store of money. Little was paid to the poor, so that they cried and lamented their undoing, but small recompense or reward was obtained for all that was taken, for as the report went he loved few of the country, and as few loved him. This was commonly spoken. Certain songs and makings† was made of his doings in the country; but, to tell true, he was better beloved 3 years after his departure than he was at his being there. Yet he was one that never sought to be revenged of any that ever offended him, but always showed mercy to his adversaries; but he would rail on them as though he would do much. No evil did he never commit to none that under his power was. He had many evil-disposed doers under him and of his Council, which was the cause of such rumour as was on him made, which they did little rue or pause on.§

This O'Neile made very good cheer upon the Queen's charges all the while that he was in England, and after sent to Ireland, leaving behind him certain hostages for certain covenants, which after he would not perform once he was in his country come; and his pledges, being in the castle of Dublinge, stale over the castle walls. By reason of his untruth and evil doings the Lord Lieutenant called all the nobility and Council at Kyllmaynam, and there a long time debated certain articles

L. of Howthe and others sent to England in message.

O'Neyll proclaimed traitor.

The captains of the field.

f. 125.

This was kept by Andrew Golding, a stalworth gentleman.

which the Council thought good to certify the Queen and Council into England. This was almost asew'inght* in question, for these matters was of so great importance; and also was to be chosen who of the Council was thought meet to go in this message to the Queen. Some excused themselves; some one thing, some another, in disabling themselves.

At length Christopher Lord of Houthe, Sir William FitzWilliams, Treasurer, John Plunket, Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, was chosen, and was sent over with these matters to the Queen, which herself and her Council often did hear, and debated the matter with these gentlemen; and at length it was determined, and sent over again. At which time the Queen asked the Lord of Houthe whether he could speak the English tongue. Belike, such was the report of the country made to the Queen. After which Shane O'Neile was proclaimed traitor; many preys was taken from him, and some he took of the English Pale, and also took Sir James Gernone, knight, which after died in prison.

On a time there, the Lord Lieutenant sent all the footmen to fetch a prey from the borders of Dongennon toward Lough Nay; and so circumspect and world-like did place soldiers, as his bowmen, hargabusses, billmen, and pikemen, and a few horsemen under the guiding of a gentlemen called young Harwye, which valiantly did use himself both there and elsewhere,† as followeth. This Lord divided these footmen in their companies egally; one part appointed under Thomas Earl of Wormonde, another part under Christopher Lord of Houthe, the third under Sir George Stanlie, Marshal of the field. As these companies marched through the woods at eight of the clock in the morning till 7 afternoon, O'Neile never gave over to skirmish with them. All that while the woods so rang with the shot that it was strange to hear, and also the noise of the Scots that O'Neile bad, crying all that day till a little afore night. A prey was won by these few horsemen that ran afore, and kept in a plain all night, being raining and foul weather; and in the morning took their journey by Lough Nay side, where as there was afore skirmish, and such rain that the hargabus could not well shoot off. This skirmish was sore and troublous by reason of the weather and long travail. The skirmish continued above 10 hours, and so this prey, being above 2 thousand kine, was brought to the camp with great trouble, and with great thanks of the Lord Lieutenant. It was reported by a captain of the Scots that then was with O'Neyle in this skirmish, that there was above 2 hundred of O'Neile's men wounded and killed; and there was a few of the soldiers wounded and killed. Amongst all were 5 soldiers wounded with one shot of hargabus.

*Sic; qu.

† "also where," MS.

L. Lieutenant departed into England.

Sir William Fitz-
Williams made L.
Justice.

Sir Nicholas Arnall made L. Justice.

This same O'Neyle was that man that no stedfastness could be found in him in anything that he promised; for after the Queen's Majesty sent to him his pardon, and other her goodness and her benevolence, by the L. of Houthe, the L. of Louthe, Sir Thomas Cusake, the Justice Doudall, the Baron Cusake; in presence of these, sware himself and all his men for to keep the Prince's peace, and within a while after did break the same, at length, to his utter confusion, [as hereafter shall appear.

So that within a little time after, this Earl of Sussex, L. Lieutenant, departed into England not fully contented with the country, nor they well pleased with his abidal, so that more friends he had by his departure then he had in Ireland whiles he was with them. This man was a wise, a valiant, a painful servitor; no weather, cold, hunger, nor sickness could keep him from serving his Prince to his uttermost. Though that he so toiled and tossed himself worshiply, his luck was not to win that that was his desired purpose, by reason he was so evil beloved with these of the realm, as it was said, by reason he so used them without pay, for there was such cesses of all kind of things to the fort of Lex, Afaly, and other wheres, with other great charges, impositions, which sore charged the country. I believe the great cause that the Earl of Sussex was not so careful of the Pale was by reason the gentlemen made such books against him; and also one William Bremygam made books against the said Earl and other captains, which impaled his good will to the realm; but he was a dear friend to his friends, whether he was English, or Irish, or French.

Sir William Fitz Williams, Treasurer, was L. Justice after, as he was many times afore. He was a great ridder of causes, a man that loved quietness; and in his time there was much rest and peace. He was not clean handed from cesses and other impositions, which was his greatest fault; and that was pity, for he was a good man, saving for that the Earl of Sussex was L. Lieutenant after, and was this same man to all purposes as he was afore.

Sir Nicolas Arnall was after him made L. Justice, and in his time was rest and peace, and he was very well beloved of all the country, for he used not nor put any imposition upon the country, nor cesse, cating, nor horses; so in his time the country was like to prove very well, if he had continued but 5 years L. Justice. He was valiant, of a little stature, but stout as Gawayne, wise, and very charitable to the poor. He was somewhat extreme to the soldiers, that extremely did use themselves to the poor commons, by reason whereof he was exceedingly beloved with all the realm, both high and low,

* Sic.
† "but," MS.

f. 126.

A fray like to be.

Desmonde.

The Earl of Desmond taken.

The Earl delivered again.

Another adventure befell the Earl of Desmond.

rich and poor. As some said, he was blinded in his friend's cause; and much he was lamented his departure out of the realm. God reward his soul. Amen! He was disdained of some magistrates, by reason he did not follow their trade in cesses and other charges that went before him, by reason whereof he wanted things that did and might have served his turn, during his abiding in Ireland, which was great pity, for he loved the country well and those good people that therein was, and often would say that he could find in his heart to live and die amongst them, as in any company that ever he was among, he found them so faithful to him.

On a time there was in the camp Sir Nicholas Arnall, L. Justice, the Earl of Kyldare, and others the nobility. Such variance was between those of the Pale and Sir George Stanlye, Marshal of the field, and part of the English soldiers, that almost there had been such work that the like was not seen afore time; but the L. Justice saw the fault in the Marshal, misusing one of the Plunketes called John, which then was stroken by the said Marshal, that his L. and the Earl of Kildare was enforced to appease the matter, other it would have been a foul work between them.

This Arnall, L. Justice, was so good a payer for all things he took, that at his gates wheresoever he went he had the market that served his turn.

Also in the said L. Justice's time the Earl of Desmonde having some occasion to one of his own sept called Morishe FitzGerald, came in his country; the which the Earl of Wormonde having knowledge, came where as the said Earl of Desmonde was with a great number of footmen and 200 horsemen, and gave the charge upon the Earl of Desmonde, being but fifty horsemen, as he said himself, and a hundred of footmen, and slew all his footmen; but the Earl of Desmonde gave such a charge upon the Earl of Wormonde's horsemen, that he thrust his horses through them twice, and drew them to their footmen, where as the Earl of Wormonde was; and at length the Earl of Desmonde was overthrown by the horsemen and taken. The captain of the horsemen was Sir Edmond Butler. After the said Earl of Desmonde was with great difficulty delivered to the L. Justice, which after was kept a long time. in ward, and sent to England, and after delivered to his country with his Prince's favour.

This Earl of Desmonde another time went for safeguard of a friend of his, being besieged within a castle by the Earl of Towmone and the Earl of Clanricard, having with them a great number of galiglas and foot men, and eight score horsemen; came to the castle, and was not ware of so great number of men till be came within a mile of them, they being by chance between the Earl of Desmonde and his country, having

*"after" omitted?

The Earl of Desmond chased the Earl [s] of Toman and Clanreckert.

f. 127. What the Earl of Dessmond was,

O'Donell taken, and his wife.

a few more than three score horsemen. Those Earls seeing he had but so few men, and had also the advantage of the ground, they sent to his Lordship to yield himself to them. He answered that he would not, and said that be was ashamed so to do. They said it was no shame for one Earl to yield to two; and to that he said he was an ancient Earl, and they were not but of late made Earls, and that it was not their kind never to have the upper hand upon any of his blood, and before they should take him he did determine to die in battle.

In the meantime, those Earls sent their footmen to a pass or evil way which the Earl must have passed. He was by these means compassed about. Their footmen was then from their horsemen a 2 miles off, or thereabouts. The Earl of Desmonde seeing all this provision made for him, thought good to begin betime, and so upon the sudden gave the charge upon both the Earls and their horsemen, and brake upon them, and slew part of the horsemen, and chased them a long way, and after returned upon their footmen, and charged upon them, and slew them all. The cause hereof was that these Earls' horsemen and footmen were separated asunder so far, that neither of them could come at other.

This, with other worthy onsets and good fortune, chanced to this Earl, for he was half an innocent* in all his doings. He was stout as any gentleman. He was furious and angry without measure, and rash in his words, the time of his anger. He was at other times as gentle, as courteous, as humble, without pride or envy. He was a man of little stature and less strength of person, but no man valianter than he, and true of his promise. His country in his time much decayed, by reason of the wars that was between the Earl of Wormonde and him. It was not heard but he was always true to his Prince as any nobleman.

In this time Shane O'Neile, otherwise called O'Neile, being a warlike gentleman, and having wars with O'Donell, by chance took a messenger of O'Donell's, which was so used by wresting and other doings that he was constrained to show O'Neile where as O'Donell was, three and twenty miles within his country. O'Neile upon the sudden took his journey in the night thither, and meeting a far greater number of O'Donell's than he was, declared to these, that they were part of O'Donell's men that was going to O'Donell in post, and so was let pass, till he came where O'Donell was, and so set about his house and took him, and killed many Scots that therein was, and also took his wife, called McKinlay's† daughter of the Out Isles of Scotland, and brought them to his country, and kept them a long time. And at length he let O'Donell out, and