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some signal service on their own people; which, in reality, was nothing less, than that they should basely betray, or perfidiously murder, some of their nearest kindred, or former friends. Mr. Morrisson acquaints us," that lord Mountjoy never received any to mercy, but such as had so drawn blood on their fellow rebels. Thus," says he, "M'Mahon and M'Artmoyle offered to submit; but neither could be received without the other's head." But barbarous as these terms of acceptance were, they were sometimes reluctantly complied with. I have it seems made," says lord Mountjoy, “some of the subjects, already reclaimed, and in these times suspected, put themselves in blood already; for even now I hear, that lord Mountgarret's sons have killed some of Cloncare's and some of Tyrrill's followers, since I contested with their father about somewhat I heard suspicious of them." I shall mention one notable instance of this kind of service, contrived and related by the lord president of Munster himself.

"About this time," says he, « Nugent came to make his submission to the president; by whom he was told, that as his crimes and offences were extraordinary, he could not hope for pardon, unless he would deserve it by some extraordinary service; which, said the president, if you will perform, you may deserve not only pardon for your faults committed heretofore, but also some store of crowns to relieve your wants hereafter. Nugent, who was valiant and daring, and in whom the rebels. reposed great confidence, presently promised not to be wanting in any thing that one man could accomplish; and, in private, made offer to the president, that if he might be well recompensed, he would ruin, within a short time, James Fitzthomas, the then reputed earl of Desmond, or his brother John. But the president, having before contrived a plot for James, gave him in charge to undertake his brother John. Accordingly some few days after this, Nugent riding in company with John Fitzthomas and one Mr. Copinger, permitted this great captain to ride a little before him, minding, his back being turned, to shoot him through with his pistol, which, for the purpose, was well charged with two balls. The opportunity offered, the pistol bent, both heart and hand ready to do

5 Morriss. Hist. fol. 43.

7 Morriss. Hist. fol. 132.

6 Ib. fol. 77.

8 Pacata Hibernia, fol. 37-8.

the deed, when Copinger, at that instant, snatched the pistol from him, crying treason! wherewith John Fitzthomas turning himself about, perceived his intent. Nugent thinking to escape by the goodness of his horse, spurred hard, the horse stumbled, and he was taken; and the next day, after examination and confession of his intent, hanged. In his examination, he freely confessed the whole intent, which was to have dispatched John Fitzthomas, and immediately after to have posted to his brother James, to carry the first news thereof; intending to call him aside in a secret manner, to relate the particulars of his brother's murder, and then to execute as much upon him also; adding, that although they should take away his life, which he would not intreat them to spare, yet was their own safety never the more assured; for that there were many others, whom himself perfectly knew to have sworn unto the president, to effect as much as he intended: this confession, being sealed with his death, did strike fearful terror into the two brethren; and although the plot attained not fully the desired success, yet it proved to be of great consequence." Yet these submitting Irish, who, upon every light suspicion, were obliged to comply with such cruel injunctions, were eminently serviceable to lord Mountjoy in the prosecution of this war. His lordship acknowledges, in several letters to the English council, the great assistance they had given him; and in one of them expressly says, "That if these submittees had not furnished his army with beeves, it would have been in great distress." "Yet the commanders of that army often took their cattle without payment in ready money; which," says Morrisson, "grieved them :" or, if they meant to shew them particular favor, "they paid them in the new base coin, then made current by proclamation, in a shilling of which there was not more than two-pence value in silver."

9 Morriss. Hist. fol. 115.

10 Id. ib.

11 Id. ib. fol. 23.

CHAP. XIII.

Tirone sues for pardon and obtains it.

LORD Mountjoy was highly ambitious of putting an end to this war; an honor which his predecessors in the government, had in vain endeavored to attain. For this purpose he had received the submissions of many of the well-disposed Irish chiefs; and, by fire, famine, and the sword, had weakened or ruined most of those who still continued obstinate. He had reduced Tirone himself to great extremity, having taken or destroyed most of his fortresses; and (what perhaps was more mortifying to him) having broken in pieces the chair of stone, wherein, for many centuries, the O'Nials of his family had been invested with more than kingly authority. His lordship had narrowly enquired into the conduct of former chief governors; and finding that the principal causes of their ill-success in the reduction of this people, were their incessant cruelties and frequent breaches of the public faith, he abstained in some measure from the former ;* and, with respect to the latter, although he was not very punctual to his word in his private dealings, yet he found it absolutely necessary, for ob. taining this great end, to observe it strictly in his promises of pardon, and in all public matters wherein the honor of the state was concerned.? "He kept his word inviolably in pub-.

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The friendly and honorable manner of his receiving, and entertaining some of the submitting chieftains of the Irish, may be seen in the following passage related by his secretary Morrisson. "The 23d of April, his lordship," says he, "kept St. George's feast at Dublin, with solemn pomp, the captains bringing up his meat, and some of the colonels attending on his person at the table; to which feast the rebels were invited whom his lordship had lately received to mercy, under her majesty's protection, till their pardons might be signed; namely, Tirlogh M'Henry, captain of the Fews, Ever M'Coll Mac Mahon, chief of Fearney, O'Hanlon, a lord of Ulster, Phelim M'Feagh, chief of the O'Byrnes, and Donell Spaniagh, chief of the Cavanaghs in Leinster. These,” adds my author, "were entertained with plenty of wine, and all kindness; his lordship assuring them, that as he had been a scourge to them in rebellion, so he would now be a mediator for them to her majesty, in their state of subjects, they standing firm and constant to their obedience."-Hist. of Irel. P. 99.

lic affairs," says his secretary Morrisson," without which he never could have been intrusted by the Irish; but, otherwise, in his promises he was dilatory and doubtful; so as in all events, he was not without his evasion."

By these means the tranquillity of Ulster was so far restored in August 1602, that the deputy told Cecil in a letter of that date,3« That, except things fell out much contrary to what he had good reason to expect, he presumed, if the queen kept the Irish garrisons strong, and well provided for all the ensuing winter, she might before the next spring, send into Ireland proper persons, with her pleasure how much and in what manner every man should hold his land; and what laws she would have current there; and he was confident they would be obeyed. And after this winter," adds his lordship, " I think she may withdraw her garrisons, only leaving wards in their places; and if I be not much deceived, you shall find that these men will be the last of all Ireland that will forsake the queen's party; and I presume, after this winter, they will do the queen good service against the Spaniards, if they come."

4

On the 30th of March following, Tirone came to Mellifont, where being admitted to the lord deputy's chamber,* he kneeled at the door humbly, for a long space, making his penitent submission to her majesty. And the next day he made a most humble submission in writing, signed with his own hand; wherein, after absolutely casting himself on her majesty's mercy, without presuming to justify his disloyal proceedings, he among other things, most sorrowfully and earnestly desired, that it might please her majesty, rather in some measure to mitigate her just indignation against him, in that he

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"Lord deputy Mountjoy persuaded Tirone and his confederates, to accept of a general amnesty, with a free and open exercise of the Romish religion, and the full possession of their estates, an. Dom. 1602-3.”—Dr. Anderson's Royal Genealogies, p. 786.

"This amnesty was confirmed the next summer by king James I. when Tirone submitted to him in person, and was honorably received at court: And the native Irish believing king James loved them, (having in queen Elizabeth's time privately assisted them, more than Spain did publicly) never disturbed his reign, though they were much provoked."-Id. ib.

did religiously vow, that the first motives of his rebellion were neither practice, malice, nor ambition; but that he was induced first by fear of his life, which, he conceived, was sought by his enemies practice, to stand upon his guard." This submission in writing (adds Mr. Morrisson) was presented by the earl of Tirone, kneeling before the lord deputy and council, and in the presence of a great assembly, whereupon the lord deputy, in the queen's name, promised to the earl, for himself and his followers, her majesty's gracious pardon. And to himself the restoring of his dignity of the earldom of Tirone, and of his blood; and likewise new letters patent for all his lands, which, in his former letters patent had been granted to him, before his rebellion." Thus had the queen's army under lord Mountjoy, broken and absolutely subdued all the lords and chieftains of the Irishry. Whereupon the multitude being brayed, as it were, in a mortar, says sir John Davis, with sword, famine and pestilence together, submitted themselves to the English government, received the laws and magistrates, and most gladly embraced the king's pardon and peace in all parts of the realm, with demonstrations of joy and comfort."

5 Hist. Relations.

*JAMES L

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