The Desmond Rebellion (Notes)

[1] Thomas Russell, “Relation of the FitzGeralds” (1638), in Unpublished Geraldine Documents, ed. S. Hayman and J. Graves, p. 21.

[2] Russell, op. cit., p. 22.

[3] Sidney’s report to the Queen, April 20, 1567, in Collins’s Letters and Memorials of State, i, 24 , Cal. S.P.I., Eliz., vol. xx. No., 66 at same date.

[4] Annals of the Four Masters, 1571 (vol. v, pp. 1633-1655).

[5] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 227, pp. 189-190 (December 26 1579).

[6] “Observations of the Earl of Ormonde’s Government, as Lord General of Munster,” Carew, Cal., ii, No. 494, pp. 325-327 (March 1582).

[7] Ibid., ii, No. 593, p. 415.

[8] Cal. S.P.I., Eliz., lxxx, Nos. 82, 87, pp. 289, 290 (1581).

[9] Desmond’s first wife, Joan, had died in 1565. It was singular that he should again marry into the family of the Butlers.

[10] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 36, p. 42.

[11] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 59, pp. 84-85.

[12] Ibid., ii, No. 83, p. 127.

[13] Ibid., ii, No. 70, p. 110.

[14] “Examination of James O’Hale, Friar,” Carew, Cal., ii, No. 474 (XII), p. 308, and cf. No. 307, p. 217.

[15] Ibid., i, No. 268, p. 400.

[16] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 443, p. 289.

[17] Ibid., ii, No. 304, p. 215.

[18] Ibid., ii, No. 172, p. 172.

[19] Pelham to the Earl of Leicester, Ibid., ii, No 316, p. 221.

[20] This poor child, later to be known as “the Tower Earl,” was born in the house of Sir Wareham St Leger, in London, of Desmond’s second wife.

[21] Russell, “Relation of the FitzGeralds,” op. cit., p. 31.

[22] The proclamation is given in Carew, Cal., ii, No. 146, pp. 162-163.

[23] Ibid., ii, No. 96, p. 135.

[24] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 140, p. 160.

[25] Ibid., ii, Nos. 142, 145, pp. 161, 162. The Lord Justice went down to Munster on the death of Sir William Drury (ibid., ii, No. 130, p. 157).

[26] Ibid., ii, No. 452, p. 293.

[27] Ibid., ii, No. 453, p. 293; No. 441, p. 287; No. 449, pp. 291-292; etc.

[28] Even so early as January 1568 the then Countess of Desmond writes that the country “is in such disorder that few men can trust a father, son, or brother” (Cal. S.P.I., Eliz., vol. xxiii, No. 16.11).

[29] Cf. Tadhg Dall O’Higgin’s address to Brian O’Rorke in O’Grady’s Catalogue of Manuscripts in the British Museum, p. 418, and Hull, Poem-book of the Gael, pp. 169-171; E. Knott, Poems of Tadhg Dall, ii, 72-79.

[30] Malbie to Leicester, Carew, Cal., ii, No. 460, p. 298.

[31] Ibid., ii, No. 184, p. 176.

[32] Ibid., ii, No. 214, p. 186.

[33] Ibid., ii, No. 224, p. 188; No. 226, p. 189.

[34] Pelham’s report, in Carew, Cal., ii, No. 410, p. 267.

[35] Pelham’s report, in Carew, Cal., ii, No. 349, pp. 237-238.

[36] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 482, pp. 314-316.

[37] W. Camden, Ann. Rerum Angl. et Hib. (ed. Hearne, 1717), ii, 342-343.

[38] Grey to Walsingham, S.P.I., Eliz., vol. lxxviii, No. 27 (November 11, 1580).

[39] S.P.I., Eliz., vol. lxxviii, No. 29 (November 12, 1580); see also Hooker, in supplement to Holinshed’s Chronicles, at date 1580. Grey’s report does not agree with that made to Captain Bingham, in which it is stated that the best of the troops were reserved.

[40] Captain Mackworth was later murdered by the O’Connors. See Carew, Cal., ii, No. 495, p. 328 (March 1582).

[41] Russell, “Relation of the FitzGeralds,” op. cit. (1638).

[42] The Queen to Lord Deputy Grey, December 12, 1580; Pope-Hennesey, Raleigh in Ireland, Appendix ii, pp. 212-214.

[43] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 422, p. 277 (July 15, 1580).

[44] S.P.I., Eliz., lxxxviii, Nos. 14, 15 (January 12, 13, 1582).

[45] The Earl of Ormonde received 2109 gentlemen into protection in 1583 (ibid., cii, No. 123).

[46] Russell, “Relation of the FitzGeralds,” op. cit., p. 39.

[47] Carew, Cal., ii, No. 457, p. 296.

[48] Ellis, Original Letters (1824), i, 191-194; Harl. MSS., No. 6250, fol. 20-24 (1603).

[49] Spenser, View of the State of Ireland (ed. Morley, 1890), pp. 143, 163.