Wars of the Irish Kings (50 page)

The Spaniards then examined on oath, said, That there is in the Fleete with Siriago not above one thousand, divers of them taken out of the Gaoles, and very poore and naked, whereof one whole Companie of Portingals was taken out of prison … that a Regiment of three thousand Italians was to come for Ireland. That the whole Fleete was bound for Kinsale, and they thought the Queenes Fleete was their ships of Spaine. That all the shipping was to be gathered together at Lisbone, against the Spring, and foure thousand Italians were comming for England.

This sixth day of December: we were advertised, that Odonnel was joyned with those Spaniards which landed lately at Castle-Haven, and that hee, together with Tyrone, assisted by all the Rebels force in Ireland, were drawing up towards Kinsale to relieve it, and were come within few miles of the campe. Of all these newes the Spaniards in Kinsale had knowledge, and thereupon tooke heart againe, when they were otherwise ready to yeeld upon reasonable composition. For this respect, it was thought enough for us to keepe the ground we held, against all these enemies, till wee should be further supplied out of England, since upon the least defeate or disaster befalling us, the whole Kingdome would have been hazarded (if not lost), by reason of the peoples inclination to a generall revolt.

We fortified the foresaid campe on the West (or South-West) side, where the Earle of Thomond lay with foure Regiments, and it was resolved, that two smal forts should be cast up, and manned, betweene that campe and the water side Southward (the said forts and campes, each one flancking the other), thereby so to invest the Towne, as all succour from the countrie might be cut off from it. Further it was resolved, that the ditches of the Lord Deputies campe should bee deepned, and the trenches highthned, and that the backe part furthest from the Towne, lying open hitherto should now bee closed, and made defensable against Tyrones forces, as the side towards the Towne was made against the
Spaniards, if they both at one time should give upon us. And that all the Forts should be barracadoed, and by all possible art all the accesses to the towne betweene our two campes be stopped.

The seventh day: the Lord Deputy advertised Master Secretary in England, of all these particulars, adding that we daily heard very hot Alarums of Tyrones purpose, to relieve the Towne, who strengthened with the above named forces, was now lodged in Woods, and in accessable strengths, very neere to our campe, so as hee hindered us from forage for our horse, and from the helpes wee formerly had out of the country, for sustentation of our Army. And that his neighbourhood on the one side, and the Spaniards in Kinsale on the other, kept us at a bay, from proceeding in our aproches and battery. Besides that our last supplies were in this short time incredibly wasted, the new men dying by dozens each night, through the hardnes of the winter siege, whereunto they were not inured ….

The eight day: … In the evening the Rebels Horse were discovered, about two miles off, and after supper all our men were drawne into Armes, upon notice given us by the scouts, that the Rebels drew nigh, but after a small time, all saving the watch were dismissed to rest ….

The thirteenth day we drew three peeces of Artillery from the Lord Deputies campe, and planted them on the West side neere the other campe, to play upon an Abby, which flancked that part where wee intended to make a new breach. The same day the … Lord Deputy and the Counsell wrote this following Letter to the Lords in England:

“… Since the arrivall of the Queenes shippes, the forces, artillery, and other provisions out of England, we have so annoied this Towne with battery in all parts thereof, as the breach was almost assaultable, and the Houses in the Towne much beaten downe, to the great weakening of the defendants, in so much as we were not without hope to be offered it by composition, or within a little more time to have entered it by force, though that was held a course of much hazard and losse, in regard they within are very strong in bodies of men, which we know to be most certaine.

“The Spaniard finding how hardly he was laid to, importuned Tyrone and Odonnell with their forces to come to releeve him, they both are accordingly come, and encamped not farre from the Towne. And now one thousand more Spaniards are arrived at Castle Haven, with great store of munition & artillery, and report that a greater force is coming after, which doth so bewitch this people, as we make accompt all the Countrey will
now goe out, as most of them have done already, as in our former letters we signified that we feared.

“Odonnels forces are said to be foure thousand, and to be joined with the Spaniards that landed at Castle Haven, and Tyrones (as we heare generally) to be as many more, and since his passage through the Countrey hither, Tyrrell with many other Lemster Rebels, (as it is said) are joined with him, and comming also hither. By these meanes wee are induced to leave our battery for a time, and to strengthen our Campes, that we may be able to indure all their fury, as wee hope we shall, and keepe the Towne still besieged, and so invested, as wee are not out of hope in the end to carry it, notwithstanding all that they can doe. Yet since it is now most apparent, that the King of Spaine meanes to make this place the seate of the Warre, not onely for the gaining of this Kingdome, but from time to time to push for England, if he should get this, (for so some that we have taken and examined, doe confesse), and that the whole strength of the Irish are drawne and drawing hither, to set up their rest, to get that liberty (as they call it) that they have so long fought for ….

“Notwithstanding the severe courses we have taken, by executing some for a terrour to the rest, by making Proclamations upon paine of death, that none should depart the campe without licence, by giving direction to the Port Townes that they should be staied and apprehended: and lastly, by sending speciall men to Corke, Yoghall, Waterford, and Wexford, to see the same duly put in execution, for which purpose they have commission for martiall law, all which is well knowne to every private man in the campe, and yet they steale away daily in such numbers, as besides those that by devises doe get passages, there are at this present taken betweene this and Waterford, at the least two hundred ready to be returned; though we confesse the misery they indure is such, as justly deserveth some compassion, for divers times some are found dead, standing centinell, or being upon their guard, that when they went thither were very well and lusty, so grievous is a Winters siege, in such a Countrey: For the sicke and hurt men we have taken the best course we can devise, for at Corke we have provided a guesthouse for them, where they are most carefully looked unto, and have their lendings delivered in money, to buy them what the market doth affoord, with an increase of what is held fit for them, allowed out of the surplusage of the entertainement for the Preachers and Cannoneers, (which we conceave your Lordships have heretofore heard of).

“And for those that are sicke or sickely at the campe, because we much desire to keepe them well (if it were possible), we take this course. First their owne meanes is allowed them very duly, Sir Robert Gardner
being appointed a Commissioner for that purpose, that the souldier in all things may have his right, with proclamation that whosoever found him selfe in any want, should repaire to him; and secondly, out of a generall contribution from the Officers and Captaines of the Army, there is fifty pound a weeke collected for them, and bestowed in providing warme broth, meate, and lodging, so as a marvellous great number are thereby releeved. And yet all this doth not serve, but that a great many are still unserviceable which we have here noted at the greater length, that it might appeare unto your Lordships that it proceeds not from want of care or providence in us, but from keeping the field in such a season, where humane wit cannot prevent their decay.

“We must further earnestly intreat your Lordships, that the Fleete may remaine upon this Coast during the warre with the Spaniards, and to furnish us with victuals, munition and money, for Easterly winds are rare at this time of the yeere, and without every of these, this action cannot bee maintained, but that the Army will breake, and come to nothing. Neither will this Countrey now affoord us any thing, no not so much as meat for our Horses; and therefore wee must likewise bee humble suters, that two thousand quarters of Oates may speedily be sent us, without which undoubtedly our Horses will be starved ….

“Lastly, whereas the Enemies Fleet at Lysbone, under the conduct of Bretandona, is (by intelligence from Spaine) assuredly intended for these parts, to bring supplies to Kinsale within a moneth or sixe weekes: And whereas we find the great importance of this service depending on the countenance of her Majesties Fleet, to have the same with us as well to guard the Harbour and repell the enemies landing, as also to guard our Magazins of munition and victuals, which must be kept in ships, we having no other conveniency to keepe them: We have made humbly bold to stay the Fleet commanded by Sir Richard Levison, and doe in like sort beseech your Lordships to victuall them for three moneths longer, with all possible speed; for they are now victualled onely till the twentieth of January. And because so great a quantity of victuals as will serve them for that time, can hardly be soone provided; we humbly desire that this supply of their victuals may be sent unto them in parts, as it can be made ready: And because this Fleet, by the opinion of the best experienced in Sea services, (whom we for our parts doe beleeve), must necessarily be divided, and yet is too small to serve in two parts, we humbly pray that some such addition of ships, as in your wisdoms shal be thought meet, may be sent hither …

“By the same dispatch the Lord Deputy wrote this following letter to Master Secretary in England:

… We have taken above two hundred Spanish prisoners; there are (as wee are certainely enformed) above one thousand dead and killed of them in the Towne, the which we have now as throughly invested as may be: but on the other side the whole force of Tyrone and Odonnell, with all the strength of the Rebels of Ireland, do lie within sixe miles of us, and to their assistance they have the Spanish supplyes, and (that which is worst) their munition and provisions; the whole Province either is joyned with them, or stand neutrals; and what use soever the enemie maketh of them, I am sure wee receive by them no manner of assistance. Ending all this, I hope wee shall give a good account of the besieged; but wee have reason to proceede with great caution, having a desperate enemie before us, and so manie that are ingaged in the same fortune behind us. For Tyrone and O Donnell have quit their owne Countries, to them here, or else to loose all …. I beseech God to send mee the height of my ambition, which is, with the conscience of having done her Majestie the service I desire, to in joy a quiet, private life, and that her Majestie may never more have need of men of our profession.”

The foureteenth day was so rainy, and so tempestious in winds, as wee could not stirre out, to proceede any thing in our businesses. The fifteenth our Artillerie, planted by the Campe on the West-side, did play upon the toppes of the Castles in the Towne, where the enemies shot were placed, that from thence they might annoy our men, working in the trenches, and in the platforme, and attending our Artillerie. Our pieces brake downe many of these Castles, and killed many of their shot lodged in them. Likewise in the night, while our men were making new approches, our Ordinance plaied upon the Towne, and many volleys of small shot were exchanged betweene us and the enemy.

The sixteenth day: the same Ordinance plaied in like sort upon the Castles in the Towne, and did much hurt to the men there lodged. The seventeenth day was very tempestious with raine, and especially wind, and so continued all night, for which cause our Artillery plaied but seldom upon the towne. And this night the Spaniards sallyed, and brake downe a plat-forme, which we had begun the day before, with purpose to plant our Artillery there; whereupon a slight skirmish fell betweene us and them, but with little or no hurt on either side. The eighteenth day our Artillerie continued to play upon the Towne.

And this day his Lordship intercepted the following letter, which he commanded me to translate out of Spanish into English.

To the Prince O Neale, and Lord O Donnell:

… I beseech you now you will doe it, and come as speedily and well appointed as may bee. For I assure you, that the enemies are tired, and are very few, and they cannot guard the third part of their trenches, which shall not availe them, for resisting their first furie, all is ended. The manner of your comming, your Excellencies know better to take there, then I to give it here ….

Though you be not well fitted, I beseech your Excellencies to dislodge, and come toward the enemy, for expedition imports. It is needfull that we all be on horsebacke at once, and the greater haste the better.

Signed by Don Jean del Aguyla.

The night was stormy, with great lightning and terrible thunder, to the wonder of all, considering the season of the yeere, and this night came certaine intelligence, that Tyrone, drawne on by Don Jeans importunity, determined presently to set up his rest for the reliefe of the Towne, and that the next night he would lodge within a mile and halfe of our Campe.

The one and twentieth: our scouts confirmed the same, and towards night Tyrone shewed himselfe with all his horse and foote, upon a hill within a mile of us, in the way to Corke. Whereupon two Regiments of our foote, and most of our horse being drawne out of the Campe, made towards them: but when they saw our men resolutely come forward, they fell back to a Fastnesse of wood and water, where they encamped.

This night being light with continuall flashings of lightning, the Spaniards sallied againe, and gave upon a trench, newly made beneath our Canon, but were the sooner repelled, because we kept very strong Guards, and every man was ready to be in Armes, by reason of Tyrones being so neere unto us.