A Letter from DERMOND MAC CONNOR, one of the Chiefetaines of the Irish Rebels, unto the King of Spaine.
I Humbly Salute Your Imperiall Majestie, Giving Your Highnesse to understand of our great misery, and violent order, wherewith we have beene of long time opprest by the English Nation. Their government hath been such, as Pharach himselfe never used the like; for they contented not themselues with all temporall Superiority, but by crueltie desired our blood, and perpetuall destruction, to blot out the whole remembrance of our Progeny, as also our old Catholick Religion, and to sweare that the King of England is Supreame of the Church. I referre the consideration hereof to your Majesties high judgement, for that Nero in his time never used that kind of cruelty. Wherefore, and for the respects thereof, high and mighty Potentate, my self with my followers and retainers, And being also requested by the Prelates, Priests, and Religious men of my Countrey, have drawn my sword, and proclaimed warres against them, for the recovery, first, of Christs Catholicke Religion, and next for the mainetenance of mine owne right, which of long time, hath beene wrongfully detained from me, and my Father; who by right Succession was lawfull heire to the Earledome of Cormock, for he was eldest Sonne to Lames my Grandfather, who was [Page 2] Earle of Cormock. And for that my Vncle Gerald (being the younger brother) tooke part with the wicked proceedings of the late Queene of England, to further the unlawfull claime of Supremacie, usurped the named of Earle of Cormock, being my Fathers true Title: Yet notwithstanding, he had not long enjoyed his name of Earle, when the wicked English annoyed him, and prosecuted warres; insomuch that he with the most part that held of his side were slaine, and his Countrey thereby planted with Englishmen. And now by the just judgement, and providence of God, I have utterly rooted those mallepert weedes out of the Orchard of my Countrey, and have profited so much in my proceedings, that my dastardly enemies dare not shew their faces in any part of my Countrey, but having taken my Townes and Cities for their refuge and strength, where they doe remaine (as it were Prisoners) for want of meanes to assaile them, as Canon and Powder, which my Countrey doth not yeeld
Having these wants (Most noble Potentate) I have presumed, with all humility, to addresse these my Letters to your high Majestie, Craving the same of your gracious Clemencie and goodnesse, to assist me in this godly enterprise, with some helpe of such necessaries for the warres, as your Majesty shall thinke requisite: And (after the quiet of my Countrey) Satisfaction shall bee made for the same, and my selfe in person, with all my Forces, shall be ready to serve your Highnesse in any Countrey your Majestie shall command mee.
And if your Majestie will vouchase to send mee a competent number of Souldiers, I will place them in some of my Townes and Cities, to remaine in your Gracious disposition, till such time as my ability shall make good, what your Majestie shall lend me in Money and Munition; And also your [Page 3] Majesties high Commission under your broad Seale, for leading and conducting of these Souldiers, according to the prescript order and articles of Martiall discipline, as your Majesty shall appoint mee, and as the service of the Land shall require: I praise the Almighty God, I have done, by his goodnesse, more then all my predecessours; for I have reclaimed all the Nobility of this part under the dutifull obedience of Christs Church, and mine own authority, and accordingly have taken pledges and corporall oaths never to swerve from the same; And would have sent them to your Majesty by this bearer, but that the ship was not of sufficiency and strength to carry so noble personages, and will send them whensoever your highnesse please: So there resteth nothing to quiet this part of the World, but your Majesties assistance, which I dayly expect: Thus most mighty Monarch, I humbly take my leave, and doe kisse your Royall hand, beseeching the Almighty for your Majesties health and happinesse: From my campe, the 24. day of December 1641.
COnsider I beseech thee (Gentle Reader) into what proud arrogancy, and audations insolency, this Arch-Traytor is elevated (like a vapour in a Sunshine day) now that blind Fortune laughs upon him; (Our King, the most gratious Prince in the World) is with him a Tyrant, the English all cowards, the Cities and walled Townes all his, and the Connaght Nobility subdued under his authority. Was there ever Rebell so farre transported with ambitious presumption, beyond the limits of reason? is it not sufficient for him like cursed Shimei, or black mouth'd railing Rabshakch, to revile the Lords annointed, but hee must challenge his territories, [Page 4] his Cities, his people, and his Nobility, (whom hee and his Ancestours had created) to be his owne, who hath no portion, nor inheritance in any part thereof, being the Impe of a born Bastard? But surely, I must perswade my selfe all this is permitted by the unsearchable Sapience of the All-seeing Deity, that hee may for ever be pointed at, as an exemplary mirrour of all insolent Traytours.
And as for the King of Spaine, whom hee calleth to assist and support him in this his current of Murders, Rapines, and Rebellion; We conceive hee will not so farre forget himselfe, and his league with us, as to regard their wicked inticements, of whose little trust, and lesse worth, his Predecessours have had sufficient experience; especially at this time, when as hee hath such store of employment, for both his hands, in other places; but if hee thinke fit to beginne the breach, and to thrust his Iron into this fire also; let him not doubt to find that England hath hearts and hands to repell all injuries, and to vindicate her right, and honour, as well now, as heretofore.
A Coppy of another Letter written from LISBON in PORTVGALL.
THere have bin brought unto the Place of Execution, the Marquesse de Villa Reall, and his Sonne, the Duke de Camucha; together with the Earle de Armamar, and Don Augustino Manuel; they were lodged that night at the house of Diego Duarta. Presently after, there was in the same night set up a Scaffold in the middest of the Place of Execution; made with steps or degrees of Assent; upon the highest step there were set two Chaires, and made fast, one for the Duke, and the other for his Father: and on another step lower there was set a chaire for the Earle of Armamar; and upon the boards lower there was set another chaire for Don Augustino Manuel: so [Page 5] that they all did sit upon chaires, or stooles, but one higher than the other. And there was made a Gallery from the house, (wherein they were) unto the Scaffold all hung with Baies. After that, there were two high gallowes set up, one at the side of S. Antonies gate, and the other in the Street named Escudeiros; so that the Scaffold was in the midst. The next day betweene eleven and twelve of the clock there came unto the windowes of the House foure Corrigidours of the Court, and some authorised Officers Thereupon came the Marquesse de Villa Real with a Monteere upon his head, a little stick in his hand, and with a Cloake about him. After that he had made the first Step, hee fell upon his Knees, and made an elegant Speech, or lamentation, with great constancy, more than was thought; Then the Herauld at Armes began presently to cry, The King our Lord desireth, that Right be done: Don Lonys, late Marques de Villa Reall, Traitour against the person of the King, and for the good of the Kingdome, and of the Common People; shall be beheaded, his Goods confiscated for the Royall Exchequer, and his memory banished out of the world. The Marquesse came, as I mentioned before, upon the Scaffold, with great courage, and sate downe upon the chaire: then came the executioner, made his body and armes fast, and cut off his head; and presently the Marquesse was covered with a garment of Bayes. This being done, the Duke his sonne, came forth, accompanied as the Father; and the Herauld cryed, as before, untill the Duke, came unto the Chaire, upon which his Fathers body was, before whose feet he kneeled downe (kissing the same a thousand times & craved time, To say one Pater noster for his Fathers Soule. Which being done, hee went unto his seat, but more fainthearted, and so was beheaded, and covered. Then came the Earle of Armamar (with a common Doore-keeper,) and Don Augustino Manuel, which were executed likewise. Besides Pero de Baessa and Belchior Correnda Franca, were hanged up at [Page 6] the side of Saint Anthonies-gate; And in the Street, named Esondeiros, there hung Manuel Valente, and a Clerke; Whereupon all the people began to part, and to Cry, God save Don Iohn the Fourth.
Two houres after, the foure hanged were quartered, and their quarters carryed away. But (beleeve me) this relation, and spectacle following doth change my blood, viz: The two Bishops, and with them, the Bishop de Braga, and the Inquisitor Mor, for the same Treason, are cast into the Towre of Belem, into deep Pits, which runne under the water, wherein there is no light, to end their lives there. The Bishop de Braga recanted not, but said to his last, that King Philip was his Lord, and that he did lose his life for him. The rest confessed their crimes, and alwaies cried for the mercy of the King, Don Iohn the Fouth; and especially, the Marquesse de Villa Real, who had written 3. or 4. sheers of paper, craving his mercy; but the King had committed it unto Justice, and therefore would not intermeddle in pardoning any one of them. Beassa would confesse nothing, and dyed resolutely.
Since that time, the Dutch Printed Coranto relates, A Discovery of a great Treason and cruell Massacre, plotted by 25. persons, wherein there are many of the Grandees of the Land, some of those 25. are taken. Their intent was to kill the King of Portugall, his Queene, his Sonne, and two Daughters, and to burne the Pallace and City upon one day. The Bishop of Lamego in Portugall hath beene since hanged at Lisbon being found guilty of this conspiracy: This was hee, that had put the Crowne upon his Majesties head. And besides, 8. others have beene han'gd.