The weather in Bristol was appalling. The food was worse, the wrenches, sallow and old.
Tomorrow he would be in a leaky cabin, with half the company sea sick. A month later, he would be chasing kernes, into the forests and then across the stinking bogs. He may as well have been in the Gaol. Than he would be spared the pretence. The rogue, who knew, his sentance, could spend his time, in repentence, or in revelry. They had flattered him, the night before he left London. He would be the English Hercules, cleansing the Irish stables. He would be the New Aenas, they whispered. The hero who would found an Empire, and this time, he would marry his Dido. The Wine and Brandy had blinded his guests to the fact that Aenas had shared his burden and adventures with loyal countrymen and friends by his side.
While he a true English hero was surrounded by sycophants and double dealers. Cut throats and knaves ate his meat and drank his wine, while the roof leaked on him, and the servants broke wind, which the company assembled found hilarious, and then blundered as he dealt with the most difficult task of getting wood, to make flame
That it had come to this?
Essex knew he should be King. In the same way, he knew the sun would rise tomorrow, that winter would follow the fall, and that the night prededed the day It was his natural station, the Realm demanded it. He saw it in the eyes, of the honests fellows, working in the fields, as he rode, he. He saw it in the eyes, of the Boatmen, in London, and in the
When he was King he could hang the traitors!The Kingdom would be restored to rights!Even the wild Irish understood that. Those beasts had a saying that ``herd had to be lead by a stallion''
A Woman needed to be Wed. For her own sake, and comfort if nothing else.
His eyes paced about the room again he cursed bitterly, in his heart...
Oh had not heard what the rogue in front of him said. would wager, it was bad news. Probably more charges, or that there was plague spreading amongst the ranks
``Say again?’’
``My lord, The Lord Cecil is dead. Died in his bed, he will not rise till doomsday’’
Robert Deverueux the Earl of Essex, looked to the heavens, and proclaimed
``This is Lords doing and it is glorious in our eyes’’
Than called for more wine, and tossed the knave a good gold coin. There was much to do. So much
*********************
The letters of the Venetian ambassador
``With the Death of the Lord Cecil. His great young rival the Lord Essex, made his way back to London. Essex had been despatched to Ireland, to bring the country, to order Enough of his army followed him, either as an excuse to desert, or they honestlty believed that the young lord was going to rid the country of traitors. They were joined back along the road to London, by the meanest sort. Those same sturdy beggars, the English are always afraid will cause mischief That little piece of fortune telling came true.
When Essex did reach London, the mechanics had already begun to riot. Essex, did make some attempts to keep order. He hanged some looters on Chiswick green on the way to London.
From then on reports are confused. Essex forces clashed with the Queen at some point. The city having been barricaded and the militia called out. It seems Essex moved south, either to get to the river Thames and perhaps seeking a ship to escape. Or manoeuvre to reach a weaker point in the cities defences. To draw away the Queens forces from the city, to let him strike
The Earl of Essex corpse was discovered a day later. It had been stripped, in the confusion. The whisper is that it was Elizabeth herself that confirmed it was Essex. It now adorns, Traitors gate.
I have never seen the English in such a state of excitement’’
Father Tamariz Chaplain of the Santa Fe
``Our ships landed at Teeylin on the North West Coast of Ireland. The crew sang the Salva Regina, as we sighted land. The harbour at Teeylin was large enough for a three ships. A few leagues away, at Senglen. Two more Ships landed. The main part of the squadron made its anchor at Killbegga.
There was ample fresh water, in the vicinity.
A company of Irish horse met us on the beach. There were about 4 score of Irish foot. They had long knives like the Bernese. We made our way inland to join the forces of the Great O’Neill’’
Many of the common people came out to greet us, they asked for wine.
From the Governor of CarrickFergus Castle to the Viceroy in Dublin
``Our stores are low, and our shot nearly spent. The Spanish harass us by sea, and the Wild Irishe, by land. If we are not relieved soon, we shall be lost. The Spanish, have been gathering up all the boats they can find, we fear they will try and cross the sea’’
From the letter of the Great O Neill to the men of Alba.
``In the name of the holy Church, we ask you to join us. His most Catholic Majesty and I will support you, in all your efforts. Take up arms, against the despoiler James. Take up arms against the English, Take up arms, against the Heretics. Let Scotland and Ireland, free themselves as the Israelites were lead out of Egypt’’
From the letters of Venetian ambassador
`A few Spanish ships, managed to slip down the Irish sea, where they attacked the port of Bristol. The cessation of trade since the Spanish landed in Ireland. The taxes and the cost of loans, have created great Than came the news Scotland. King James was dead, and his son a hostage of the wilde Irish and Spanish. There were stirrings in the Northumberland. The mob in London is excited.
The Queen is very sick. She has fallen under the spell of a new favourite’’
The Treaty of Dover 1600 between the Queen of England, Ireland and France, and the Stadtholder of Orange
``Her Majesty is pleased to accept the crown of the Netherlanders. She guarantees to uphold and defend the ancient liberties of the Netherlands, to rule justly, and to defend the Netherlands with even her life’s blood...
The Stadtholder will muster a force of a 1000 foot for the most immediate despatch to England’’
The Journal of Father Tamariz of the Santa Fe’’
``We wintered in Ireland. The Great O’Neill, received the surrender of the lords of the Pale. The o Neil endeavoured to keep his followers, the rude and wilde Irish under some semblance of discipline. The summers fighting had left the land denuded. The land was plagued by wolves
The young prince Henry, remained a hostage in the court of the O Neill. There was a rumour that he has converted to the true faith. That the principle lords of Scotland, would come over to our side.
The Irishry in Scotland returned to their hills, and islands, for the winter’’
Order in council from the Regent of England sent to the council of the North. Winter 1599
``My lords, in the name of the Queen, I bid thee, to muster as many foot and horse, as you are able, and to converge on Whitehaven, under my Lord the Earl of Sussex.
Letter from the Venetian ambassador
``The Regent commanding the Army himself, sailed from Whitehaven, rather than Bristol. Landing In Ireland, he surprised the Spanish and there Irish allies. The Spanish fleet having been drawn out from the safety of the Irish ports to fight the Netherlanders. The Netherlanders in alliance with the Regent had sent their ships into the waters around England.’’
The Annals of the four masters 1602
``The coast of Ireland were ravished by the Saxon, and the Frisans. Never since the coming of the Danes, did the Irish suffer like this
The Lords of Ross, Uist and Jura were killed by the Saxon . The Lord of Harris, was killed by the Saxon
The Island of Iona, was sacked by the Saxon.
A great morta..’’
Manuscript ends at that point
The Treaty of Sligo.
The Regent will allow the Irish rebels a fortnight to make safe passage to Spayne. Any wildeman Irish caught bearing Arms, outside the parish of Slego, will be executed.
The Wilde Irish, are to disarm.
Letter to Philip 3rd of Spain, from the O Neill Prince of the Irish 1604
``To His most Catholic Majesty,
``Sir I humbly beseech you, give us arms, and supplies, and we will face your enemies, always and everywhere. I have borne arms for you, I implore you not to forget us’’
Letter from the Venetian Ambassador to London
``The Army of the Irish, even after all this time, enrages the English. The Spanish had deployed them, against the Moors. Far away from the fighting in the Netherlands The English still raged, and with the English Armies marching across Holland...
Letter from his Most Catholic Majesty to the Army of the Irish. 1610
His most Catholic majesty remembering the great service, and many hardships done in both the service of Himself and the Holy Church, and acknowledging the inability of the Kingdom of Spain to repay the debt, informs his loyal servants, that he offers them a grant of land, in Buenos Aires.
