trary to my first article of agreement, which was to passe between me and the lord of Ormond, the general of all the queen's forces in Ireland; though very craftilie the same, as I was given to understand long after, was suppressed by them.

But some no doubt maliciously given are not contented to admit my warres to be lawfull, affirming that the same were begun upon some particular causes: which I admit as a thing impertinent, seeing the continuance thereof, as plainly to all men appeareth, is for the chiefest motive, or at least was a principal part thereof. Albeit the same was not then manifest, because so good a cause should not be committed to so doubtfull an entertainment as my power was then like to afford; and least a catholick cause should receive any disgrace, or should be scandalized by hereticks, I refrained myself from giving others to understand my intentions.

"Which, notwithstanding many catholicks understanding, doe think themselves bound to obey the queen as their lawful prince: which is denyed; in respect that she was deprived of all such kingdoms, dominions, and possessions, which otherwise perhaps should have been due unto her, and consequently of all subjection, insomuch as she is left a private person, and no man bound to give her obedience; and beyond all this, such as were sworne to be faithful unto her, were by his holyness absolved from performance thereof, seeing she is, by a declaration of excommunication, pronounced a heretic; nei

ther is there any revocation of the excommunication, as some catholicks do most falsely, for particular affection, surmise: for the sentence was in the beginning given for heresie, and for continued heresie the same was continued. It is a thing void of all reason, that his holyness should revoke the sentence, she persevering in heresie, yea, in mischiefing and persecuting the catholicks.

"But it may be, there was a mitigation made in favour of catholicks, by which they might be licensed in civil matters precisely to give her, during their unability, obedience; but not in any matter tending to the promotion of heresie. Wherefore, I earnestly beseech you all catholicks, and good loving countrymen, as you tender the exaltation of the catholic faith, and the utter extirpation of heresie, in this our poor distressed country, to consider the lamentable and most miserable state thereof. And now let us join altogether, to deliver this poor kingdom from that infection of heresie, with which it is, and shall be, if God do not specially favour us, most miserably infected: taking example by that most christian and catholick country of France; whose subjects, for defence of the catholic faith, yea, against their most natural king maintained warres so long, as by their means he was constrained to profess the catholick religion, duely submitting himself to the apostolick see of Rome; to which doubtless we may bring our country, you putting your helping hands to the

same.

As for myself, I protest before God, and upon my salvation, I have been proferred oftentimes such conditions, as no man seeking his own private commodity, could refuse. But I, seeking the publick utilitie of my native country, and means for your salvation, will prosecute these warres, until that generally religion be planted throughout all Ireland.

"So I rest, praying the Almighty to move your flinted hearts, to prefer the commodity and profit of our country before your own private

ease.

Dunaveag, the fifteenth day of Nov. 1599.

O'NEALE."*

He went afterwards on a pilgrimage to the holy cross, county of Tipperary, as well to impress an idea of his devotion, as to concert measures with his associates. The earl of Desmond addressed a letter to the king of Spain, inveighing against the tyranny of the English queen, exceeding that of Pharaoh or Nero, praying to be supplied with men and ammunition, that he might follow up his successes, and reduce those towns, to which his enemies had been driven for shelter. Another letter, signed by O'Nial, Desmond, Mac Carty More, and Dermod Mac Carty, was addressed to the pope, Clement, earnestly soliciting his holiness to make a provision of pious and learned pastors, for their

* E. MSS. Epis. Sterne. Bibl. Trin. Coll. Dub.

afflicted church, which they profess to cherish

and protect.

While the leaders of the Irish confederates were thus busied in negotiations and foreign correspondence, Ormond labored to allay the terror of the English party. Indefatigable in strengthening and supplying the forts and garrisons, collecting and training the forces of the Pale, he earnestly importuned the English ministry, to provide speedily some effectual protection for their colony, before the Irish enemy would break into the Pale, and overwhelm them. At the expiration of the truce, he marched into Munster, to watch the measures and motions of Tyrone and his confederates.

During this stagnation of the confederates, Elizabeth made every possible exertion, and strained every nerve, to repair her losses in Ireland. Great reinforcements were sent to Charles Blount, lord Mountjoy, who was sent as commander in chief and lord deputy, accompanied by Sir George Carew, as president of Munster. They landed at Hoath, and arrived in Dublin, February, an. 1599.

Kind reader, if you have a heart to feel, a scene now opens, that must afflict you; a scene of desolation and carnage. War, carried on, not after the manner of men, not even of the most barbarous nations, but after the practice of demons, if demons go to war. To exterminate a nation, by famine, forgery, treachery, unbounded cruelty, was the plan, contrived and commanded by a bloody tyrant and her council.

Fit instruments were chosen for the execution; white-livered Charles Blount, of effeminate appearance, and treacherous Carew, of cold-blooded cruelty, whose callous hearts were never appalled, by the scenes of desolation and misery they produced; and shrunk from no means, however dishonorable or infamous, to accomplish the destruction of the Irish. Yet these were, the restorers and followers of the gospel, reformers of religion, civilizers of nations!!!

The scenes that open to us now, are shocking to humanity, in the narration; painful surely to me in the writing. However, we must sacrifice our feelings to truth. However distressing the rehearsal, we must discharge our duty, as well as we are able, in the arduous task of giving a faithful picture of those dismal times of ruin and sorrow, the extremes of human wickedness and human wretchedness. Oh, ye unbelievers, who question the severity of divine justice, in sentencing the wicked to future torments, read the following, and your doubts must be silenced.

Mountjoy followed up the plan, neglected by Norris, of cooping the northerns in their own territory, surrounding them by forts, and destroying their provisions and tillage. The day after his arrival, he received intelligence from Ormond, that Tyrone lay with some force in the western part of Munster. That he was so surrounded, by the troops of Clanrickard, Thomond, the vice-presidents of Munster, and his own, that he had no escape, but by the western