surrendered at discretion. The Italian general, and some officers, were made prisoners of war, but the chief part of the garrison was put to the sword by Lord Grey's order; a cruelty which greatly displeased Queen Elizabeth, and in the execution of which Ralegh was obliged to hold a principal share, having with captain Mackworth the ward of that day.'

Upon his advancement to Ireland, Lord Grey had shewn his regard for genius and learning, by. the choice he made of Spenser the poet for his secretary. It was probably at this time that the author of the Fairy Queen contracted that friendship with Ralegh, which proved so beneficial to him in the Knight's more advanced fortunes, for after Sir Philip Sidney's death, Ralegh was his chief patron and friend at court. In his View of the state of Ireland, in dialogue between Eudoxus and Ireneus, the poet has left us the following illustration of these transactions, which, as the conduct of the actors in this scene has been severely censured, it may not be improper to quote here in his own words.

EUDOX: For he (Grey) was always known to be a most just, sincere, godly, and right noble man, far from such sternness, far from such unrighteousness. But in that sharp execution of the Spaniards at the fort of Smerwick, I heard it specially noted, that if it were true, as some report

See Holinshed, Ireland, p. 171; and Camden's Elizab.

an. 1580.

ed, surely it was a great touch to him in honour ; for some say that he promised them life; others, at least he did put them in hope thereof.

IREN: Both the one and the other is most untrue. For this I can assure you, myself being as near them as any, that he was so far either from promising or putting them in hope, that when first their secretary (called, as I remember, Signior Jeffrey), an Italian, being sent to treat with the Lord Deputy for grace, was flatly refused; and afterward their colonel, named Don Sebastian, came forth to entreat, that they might part with their arms like soldiers, at least with their lives according to the custom of war and law of nations; it was strongly denied him, and told him by the Lord Deputy himself, that they could not justly plead either custom of war or law of nations, for that they were not any lawful enemies; and if they were, he willed them to shew by what commission they came thither into another prince's dominions to war, whether from the Pope or the King of Spain, or any other. The which when they said they had not, but were only adventurers, that came to seek fortune abroad, and to serve in wars among the Irish, who desired to entertain them; it was then told them, that the Irish themselves, as the Earl and John of Desmond with the rest, were no lawful enemies, but rebels and traitors; and therefore they that came to succour them, no better than rogues and runnagates, specially coming with no licence nor commission from their

own king; so as it should be dishonourable to him in the name of his queen, to condition or make any terms with such rascals; but left them to their choice, to yield and submit themselves or no. Whereupon the said colonel did absolutely yield himself and the fort, with all therein, and craved only mercy. Which it being not thought good to shew them, for danger of them, if, being saved, they should afterward join with the Irish; and also for terror to the Irish, who are much emboldened by those foreign succours, and also put in hope of more ere long; there was no other way but to make that short end of them as was made. Therefore most untruly and maliciously do these evil tongues back-bite and slander the sacred ashes of that most just and honourable personage, whose least virtue of many most excellent that abounded in his heroic spirit, they were never able to aspire unto.'

t

The Chronicle already quoted, proceeds to relate the following adventures of Ralegh during his stay in Ireland.

Lying in garrison at Cork, and finding that the complaints which had been made of the outrages daily practised by Barry, Condon, and others, met with little or no redress, he rode to Dublin himself, and informed the Lord Deputy, that unless these persons were proclaimed traitors, and pursued with all diligence, the greatest grievances to the good

'See Hughes' edition of Spenser, vol. VI, p. 1611. VOL. I.

C

subjects in the neighbourhood were to be apprehended. The Lord Deputy and council accordingly granted him an additional force, with a commission to seize the person, lands, and castle of Barry, who in the meantime set fire to his castle, and laid waste his lands. The seneschall of Imokelly laid in ambush at a ford between Youghall and Cork, which Ralegh must pass, to cut-off his return. Fortunately, however, his company happened to be dispersed at the time when Ralegh first reached the ford with only six attendants; and the latter, though pursued by the seneschall, gained the opposite bank of the river. Here Ralegh had an opportunity of twice saving the life of Henry Moile, one of his company; first, when his horse threw him into the river, and again when he fell into a deep mire. With a staff in one hand, and a pistol in the other, Ralegh stood his ground with the most valiant resolution, until the whole of his company had crossed the river; and, to use Hooker's words, neither the seneschal, nor any of them, being twenty to one,. durst to give the onset upon him, but only railed and used hard speeches unto him, until his men behind had recovered, and were come unto him, and then, without any farther harm, departed."

It happened, that not long after,' continues Hooker, there was a parley appointed between the Lord Governor and the rebels, at which the seneschall was present, and stood much upon his reputa

"Holinshed, Ireland, p. 172, 173..

answer.

tion. Captain Ralegh being present, began to charge
him of his cowardness before the earl of Ormond,
that he, being twenty of his side to him alone, durst
not to encounter with him; whereunto he gave no
But one of his men standing by said, that
his master was that day a coward, but he would
never be so forgetful again if the like service were
to be done; and in many great terms exalted his
master, the seneschall, for his valiantness and ser-
vice. The earl of Ormond hearing those great
speeches, took the matter in hand, and offered unto
the seneschall, that if he and Sir John of Desmond,
there present, and three or four others, the best
they could chuse, would appoint to meet him, Cap
tain Ralegh, and such four others as they would
bring with them, they would come to the same place,
and
pass over the great river unto them, and would
there two for two, four for four, or six for six, fight
and try
the matter between them. But no answer
was then given; whereupon the white knight was
afterward sent unto him with this challenge, but the
rebels refused it."

Upon the earl of Ormond leaving Ireland in the spring of 1581, Sir William Morgan, Captain Ra- 1581. legh, and Captain Piers, received a commission to succeed him for the present in his government in Munster. Here they spent the summer of that year, chiefly at Lismore and the adjacent country, in con* Holinshed, Ireland, p. 173.