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ITOTBE DAUE AMU ST. rB\KOIS XAYIEB ST8> Ps^^37 "•■p^ppi NS Entered according to Act of CongreBS, in thi year 1868, bj D. & J. SADLIER & CO., In the (Jlerk'B Office of the District Court of the United States for tiM Southern District of New York. *K by VINCENT DILL, tSilVI N«w ChMiiMn 8t , N. T. '' ft PREFACE. >' In presenting this historical sketch to the reader, the author has a full consciousness of the objections that may bo raised against it. No work less artistic was ever offered to a criticising public. It is neither story, nor bi- ography, neither all truth, nor all fiction, but a mixture of all. It will be seen that the commencement has more of the character of an ordinary tale, and that is because the earlier life of Florence MacCarthy and his wife pre- sents more of the romantic element than the long, weary years of care and turmoil and ceaseless disquietude that came after. The subject may seem badly chosen for a tale, but such as it is, I would not willingly have changed it for another, were it even of a more dramatic character. This was chosen with due deliberation, for the purpose of bringing before the new generation the half-forgotten name and fame of one of the most remarkable i7 PREFACE. Irishmen of the troubled sixteenth century. A literary friend, over whom the grave has since closed, wrote to me at an early stage of this sketch — "I foresee that the absence of the moral element in the character of Florence Mac Car thy will be your greatest difficulty"; and so I have found it. Nevertheless, taken with all his faults, Florence was a man of many gifts, more sinned against than sinning, — a man whose good and even noble qualities were all his own, whose bad qualities were engrafted on his nature by the continued injustice of which he was most of his long life the victim. Perhaps, in all history there is no other instance of such a career as his. Noble, even princely, by birth, the inheritor of vast estates, both from his father and father-in-law, Tanist or heir apparent to the territory and the dignity of MacCarthy Reagh, and, finally, elect- ed by chiefs and people to the style and title of MacCarthy More, or head of his sept, — he was engaged in a constant struggle with the all- grasping powers that were, and the rapacious adventurers of that day in Ireland, for the pos- session of his own rightful inheritance. Little benefit did he derive from the vast possessions that were his only in name, and the great power that would have enabled him, if a free agent, to render effective aid to the national party with . I " \ # •* "w^,«i« PREFACE. "► * whom all his sympathies were entertained, was BO trammeled by the jealous policy of Elizabeth and her ministers that he was unable to turn it to account. That he carried on for many years extensive negotiations with Catholic princes abroad there can be no doubt, and that he stood high in the estimation of the King of Spain and other powerful friends of the persecuted Catho- lics of Ireland is equally certain. Perhaps his great error was excessive caution, and a too great fondness for temporizing. Had he lived in our day he would probably be called " a trimmer," and there is no doubt that he was entitled to the name of "The Munster Machia" velli," given him by our friend already referred to ; yet, we think, the diflBculties of his position were net sufficiently considered by O'Neil and Desmond and the other Catholic leaders of his own day, — and we, of modern times, have been, and are, too apt to take the characters of historic men and women as their enemies represent them. We are of opinion that, as time rolls on, and Irish history becomes more known, through the labors of Irish scholars, the character of Florence Mac- Carthy More will be seen in a more favorable light. Much has been done to justify his charac- ter by the admirable work of Daniel Mac Car thy, BO often quoted in this volume — " Life and Letters ▼i •PRE FAC E. of Florence MacCarthy More." We know of no work wo would sooner recommend to the student of Irish history, not even Father Mechan's "Flight of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell." Taken together, they are two of the best works on Irish subjects that these latter years have produced. Hoping that the singular phase of Irish history here given to the public may in- duce some readers to penetrate farther into that comparatively unworked mine of ancient lore, I send it forth with all its imperfections on its head. New York, June, 1868. »^ "^iik^drii MacCARTHY MORE; on, THE FORTUNES OF AN miSII CHIEF IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZA.BETH. )l CHAPTER I. Is the year 1588 the fair province of Munster pre- sented, for the most part, one wide scene of desola- tion ; the eighv'. ydars' rebellion of Gerald, sixteenth Earl of Desmond, had been at length suppressed, at enormous cost to the Government, and the gory head of the aged earl was bleaching on a spike on London Bridge, With the exception of the very few chieftams of note who had stood by the Queen's Government during the rebellion, all the new and old English, as well as the native Irish lords, had seen their countries lirst ravaged with fire and sword, then handed over by royal grants and letters patent to the officers of the Queen's army. Over and above this wholesale transfer of entire districts to the great adventurers whose names are but too familiar to rea4* wmmmm^mm 8 MaoCariuy Mori; or, era of Irish history, the St. Legers, the Raloighs,* the Herberts, the Courtncys, the Trenchers, the Berkeleys, uud many others, a swarm of the smaller fry, the common soldiers, and others such, over- ran the country, taking each what he could grasp in the struggle, and then securing a right to the same by petition and claims for service rendered. It was at once painful and curious to see the vari- ous shifts to which the original owners had recourse, in order to save even a remnant of their property from the claws of the cormorants who were seizing all under favor of '* the Queen's Majesty." Even those chiefs, or lords of countries who had, from prudential motives, or a strange perversity of judgment, upheld the English cause against their kinsmen and country- men, and consented to hold their territories from the Queen, found it harder than they might have ex- pected to make head against the insidious policy of the great and small Undertakers from England, who had set their hearts on having and holding every foot of laud that had an Irish Papist for its owner. Thus stood matters in the Southern province of Ire- land at the opening of our story, in the k quarter of the sixteenth century. Amongst those native Munster chieftains who had remained loyal to the Government throughout the Desmond rebellion, were the lords of Carbery and * Sir Walter Raleigh and his friends alone received no less than 36,000 acres of the confiscated lands of Desmond, com- prising gome of the richest and most fertile in Ireland. ^m^^m Till FoRTUNKS OV AN IrISII ChIBI. 9 Muskerry, two of the three great clilcfB of the pow- erful sept of the MacCarthys. But the head of their house, the INIacCarthy More, although created Karl of Clanuarthy by Queen Elizabeth at the outbreak of the rebellion, had done little, or ratlier nothing, to serve the Government ; being the brother-in-law of the Earl of Desmond (whose sister was his wife), he had never actually joined the English against him, and the Government, knowing tho vast |. ' er he could have thrown into the scale in favor of Dc ,mond, were fain to keep him in his neutral posit* n, even at the risk of his giving secret aid to Ms relati^ e .«id friend. J^.i,houg!» Donald, Firl of Olanea' ih; , was nOs the man to be influenced by patriotism, or, in- deed, any other high and lofty motive, being much addicted to low, sensual pleasures, and r:*turally of a mean and grovelUng mind, still it is quite certain his sympathies were with the oppressed Catholics, and that he did aftbrd some aid and comfort to the Earl of Desmond in his sore need. His vast territories, bordering on those of the Geraldines, had suffered severely during the long-protracted contest; Don- ald's neutrality could not, and did not, preserve them from sharing more or less in the utter desola- tion that had come on the adjoining country, the theatre of the great rebellion; what with fugitive parties of Desmond's men flying thither from the pursuit of their enemies, after sustaining a defeat, and the wanton outrages of their fierce English pur- suers, Clancarthy's country was much impoverished, ■^ 10 MacCaliHT Mobe; or, I and bis people were indignant at the vacillating? con« duct of their chief, which left them thus exposed, so to say, between two fires. Things could not go on in this way. There came a time when the Earl of Clancarthy found it neces- sary to justify himself to the government, and to disclaim by letter all connection with his unfortunate relative, then reduced to the last extremity. His letter of excuse and submission was graciously re- ceived ; he was ostentatiously admitted to renewed favor, but his country was immediately placed under English protection, viz : — the gentle care of such men as Sir Warham St. Leger, and the military authorities generally. Still the land was nominally his own, his renewed submission of it and himself to the Queen having saved it from the claws of the vultures who were in those evil days ever hovering over the " countries," of the great Irish lords. Now, this lirst Earl of Clancarthy had, at this time, but one legitimate child remaining, a daughter who was still under twenty, and of such goodly presence as might be expected from the daughter of MacCarthy More, and the niece of the princely Ger- aldine. Trained by her lady mother in the womanly accomplishments befitting her rank, Lady Ellen Mac- Carthy had grown up to early womanhood in the seclusion of her father's chief castle of Pallioe on the lovely banks of the Laune, in the romantic soli- tudes of Killarney, close by the Lower Lake. A few short years before, and a bright-faced boy, Thb Furtunrs of an Ibisu Cuief. 1] her young brother, had bounded over tlie Kerry hiila by lier side, in tlie beauty and freshness of early youth, givhig promise of a noble manliood. Now he was gone, and she was alone, alone with her aged mother, and their attendants in that far lonely fortress by the sweet Laune side. The fate of that young son of Clancarthy, the Baron of Valentia, is so sadly illustrative of those strange and turbulent times that we will be pardoned for digressing from our main subject while we relate it. It was the practice of the English government to demand hostages from the native chiefs whose loyalty was not sufficiently well assured. It so happened, therefore, that when first the Earl of Clancarthy be- came an object of suspicion to the Queen's otlicers, in her happy and prosperous kingdom of Ireland, his wife and son were demanded, and accordingly given by Donald as hostages for his good and duti- ful behavior in regard to his gentle liege Elizabeth. The Countess was, after a while, restored to her home, but the son and heir of MacCarthy More was kept in durance vile. From England, whither ho was first sentp the young Baron was brought to Dublin Castle. He had not been long in that gloomy abode, the shadow of whose massive towers falls darkly over the history of the Irish race, when, wonderful to relace, he escaped and made his way to France. How a mer3 boy, like Clancarthy's son, could have eluded the vigilance of his keepers, and, in defiance of bolts and bars, elTected his escape 12 MacCartuy More; ob, was a problem that puzzled every one except those who were in the secret, whoever they might be. The Earl stoutly denied all knowledge of the aftair, and was, or aftected to be, full as angry as any of the functionaries whose agreeable duty it was to commu- nicate the strange tidings to their amiable sovereign beyond seas. All the information that could be gath- ered on the subject was that "one William Barry,'' no doubt a foster brother of the vounff Baron, or an attached follower of his house, — had " enticed and conveyed away the young Lord of Valentia, the Earl of Clancarty's son," out of her majesty's realm of Ireland. If the Earl was at all privy to his sou's abduction, then must bis powers of dissimulation have been greater than was generally supposed, for, even in presence of Elizabeth herself, he persist- ently denied all knowledge of hov/' it had taken place, and declared himself much aggrieved by the spiriting away of his son. Whether the Earl w^as sincere in his protestations, or that he was only acting a part, the drama, as re- garded his son, was speedily brought to a close. The story is as touching as it is brief. A very short time after the mysterious escape of the boy-Baron, poor Barry was discovered in the Earl's country, in the disguise of a boL^gar, and being arrested, by the Earl's own order, and sent to Dublin, the i'aithful fellow confessed that he had ventured back to Ire- land for the purpose of obtaining some means of Bubsistence for the young lord. Alas I for the deli* V ■'.ji '.I Tub Fortunrs of an Irish Cuibf. 13 cately-nurtured boy, in whose veins floweJ the blood of two princely houses I Never again did he behold his humble friend, nor was any relief sent him to the strange land where his wayward fortune had cast him lone and helpless. Barry was kept in prison, and a few months alter the news reached Ireland that "the voung Baron of Valentia had died in France." So ended the brief record of his life. And so it was that Lady Ellen MacCarthy became heiress apparent of the vast possesKsions of her house, if not of her father's new title, to which neither he nor any of his people attached much importance. MacCarthy More^ or, the great MacCarthy was his far prouder title, because it was that which his ancestors had borne for many ages, and it was also that by which he ruled his broad domains. But alas for the poor Countess ; as though the loss of her only sou, her bright, bold boy, under such hard circumstances, were not sorrow enough for her already broken spirit, the news of his death made anythmg but a favorable change in the Earl. From that day forward he threw off all restraint, indulged his evil habits more than ever, and became utterly regardless of consequences. In order to raise money for his riotous course of living, he mortgaged large tracts of land, and with them some ot his castles, to the great disgust of the friends of his house, and the grief of his immediate relatives. Amongst those to whom the reckless chieftain had mortgaged some of his lands was a certain Sir msm 14 MacCartuy Mork; or, Valentine Brown, an Englishman by birth, a Bur- veyorby profession, and an undertaker of confiscated Irish property, by favor of her high mightiness, Queen Elizabeth. Sir Valentine Brown was a sharp, shrewd man, and the Earl of Clancarthy was by all men considered a very shallow and heedless one ; it was, therefore, prognosticated on all sides that the keen- witted surveyor, having once got a footing within the territory of MacCarthy More, by grants of the confiscated lands of some minor chiefs, " executed for treasonable acts," would undoubtedly carve a fortune for himself out of the expected ruin of Clancarthy. It would be now considered a triflino: sum that Brown had advanced to the Earl, — being consider- ably under one thousand pounds, — yet for that pal- try sum Brown had received actual possession of a fine property called MolahifF, worth £1,000 a year, the profits of which he was to enjoy until such time as the money advanced was paid back, which the Earl had reserved the right of doing. A great eye- sore to the whole Clan Carthy was this thriving English settlement at Molahiff in the very heart of MacCarthy More's country. Valentine had built him- self a strong English house with a spacious barn at- tached, and made many other improvements that went to show how little idea he had of the place be- ing ever restored to the original owner. The winter of 1587-8 was drawing to a close when the tidings spread abroad that the Ei*rl of Clancarthy was about " to prefer his daughter in marriage,"— as Turn li'oKTUNKS OF AN IkISH CuIEV. 15 the quaint phraseology of the day expressed it. Here was news for the unmarried amongst the noblemen and gentlemen of Munster ! The young and hand, some heiress of the princely MacCarthy More was lo be given in marriage, to wnom no one knew, as yet. The prize was so rich, so tempting, that many would fain have tried to win it, but it was only the noblest in the land who could aspire to the hand of the Lady Ellen MacCarthy. All at once a strange rumor went about, startling alike friend and foe of MacCarthy More, and making the blood of every one who bore his name boil with imlignation. The Earl had made choice of a son-iu- law, and of all the men in Ireland who should he be but Nicholas Brown, the low-born son of the English surveyor ! The young heiress who was to transmit to future ages the blood, if not the name of a long line of princely ancestors, — whose hand no English nobleman would have dared to solicit, fearing the Queen's displeasure, — for the Queen's pleasure was known to be, as her deputy Sir Henry Sydney had expressed it, *' the dissipation,^^ that is to say, the " breaking up" of the territories of the great Irish lords. The possessions of the Earl of Clancarthy were so vast that he would have been a bold man in- deed, were he tJie first noble in the realm, who would venture to ask the hand of their future lady from the Queen of England. Sir Thomas Norreys, President of Munster, had entertained some thoughts of making Buch application, advised thereto by his friend, Sir : 16 MaoOabthy Mobb; OB, Warham St. Leger. But to think of Nicolas Browne carrying off the richest prize on Irish ground ! If the announcement of the Earl's singular choice so astonished the very English officials themselves what must have been the feelings of the whole Clan- earthy, through Carbery, Muskerry, and Desmond ?* A thrill of fiercest anger shot through every heart, and on every cheek was the flush of shame as the rumor, low and doubting at first, becoming louder and more confident as time went on, reached the ears of young and old, of high and low, that MacCarthy More "was selling his daughter, for money, to Valentine Browne's son." This capped the climax, and many a fierce clansman, grasping the handle of his skene, swore within himself the base English churl should never wed MacCarthy's daughter. But all this time what effect had the news on Lady Ellen herself and her lady motlier, in their lone dwelling by the lake shore ? Overwhelmed were they both by the strange tidings which the Earl him- self had conveyed to them in his rough, despotic way, curtly and sternly, — then, as if to deprive them of the opportunity of endeavoring to shake his resolu- tion, he set out at once for London, — for '*the • Carbery waa the country of MacCarthy Reagh ; Mus- kerry of another great chief of the MacCarthy's, and Desmond, called *• Desmond Proper," was the MacCarthy More'a own country, long contested between those powerful chieftains and the southern Geraldines, whose palatinate of Desmond em- braced a still larger tract of country in Cork, Limerick, anrt Waterford. Desmond Proper was in Kerry. Tns Fortunes of an Irish Cuikf. IT ^ Court," as the phrase wefat in those days. It is probable that Earl Donald had other reasons for go- ing to London at that particular time, — he feared, and not without reason, the anger of his sept, and he had not the courage to brave the storm. His absence, however, gave little concern to the noble lady whom he had never treated as became a * wife, and the daughter whose bright youth he was blighting, the daughter whose earliest recollections were darkened by his unkindness to herself, his neg- lect, and ill-treatment of her mother. Many an hour did the Countess and her daughter spend in sad repining over the new misfortune that awaited them, and in eager consultation with the few trusty friends they had near them, as to whether anything could be done to avert the blow. Of these friends the most honored and honorable, both from age and position, was O'Sullivan More, the first in rank in MacCarthy's country, and hereditary marshal of his house. Dark grew the chieftain's brow as his eye rested on the girlish form of the Lady Ellen where she stood in the deep embrasure of a narrow splayed window looking pensively out on the sunlit mountains of Killarney, while he and her mother dis- cussed in a low voice a stop he had been proposing. Her face bore already the stamp of sorrow, sad to see in one so young, and her voice when she spoke had a tremulous tone very different from its merry ring but a few short months before. " Before God, Countess ! it shall not be !" said O'Sul* if^ *mm mmma 18 MagOabtht Mobi; ob, tivan with stern emphasis, speaking in the language of the country as, amongst themselves, all the Irish then did, even those of them, and they were comp»r' atively few, who had learned to speak in the Saxon tongue. " Foul shame it were that the blood of the Geraldines and the MacCarthys should ever be min- gled with that of the Brownes. You must e'en do as I say, end perchance it will avail us somewhat." " Pray God it may, Sir Owen !'* said the Countess with a heavy sigh. " It were well to do it quickly," said O'SuUivan, " if we would have good come of it. MacCarthy once returned, we can do nothing." "To-morrow, then, let it be I Alas ! I fear it will nought avail. Surely the hand of God is heavy on our house 1" " Say not so, Honora Fitz-James !"t said O'SuUi- van solemnly ; " if there is power in Clan Carthy to prevent it, this gieat grief shall not come upon the daughter of the Geraldines. Be of good heart, Honora ; for if this plan should fail, we will try an- other that cannot fail. I will now rejoin the chief- tains in the hall. They are sorely troubled about this matter, and have come hither to know from your ladyship whether anything can be done to prevent this accursed marriage." f It was the custom amongst the Irish and Anglo-Irish to call the wife by her own family name. So this lady being the daughter of James, tlie fifteenth Earl of Desmond, was called by her father's name. In the rural districts of Ireland this custom still prevails amongst the old families. ASi^r-xWi Tqb Fortunes '^f an Irisu Cuibf. m " Greet them well from rae," said the Countess, her hollow check flushing for a moment, "tell them they are welcome to Pa 11 ice Castle, and hid them to the feast this evening. In the absence of MacCarthy, I pray you. Sir Owen, take the chief place. Say to the chiefs that my daughter and I are with them in heart, and hope to thank them in person to-morrow for their friendship in this hour of sorest need." " Sweet Ellen," said the chieftain, approaching the younger lady and laying his hand on her shoulder with the paternal familiarity warranted by his age, and rank, and long tried friendsliip to her house ; " sweet Ellen ! why so sad ? Cheer thee up, fair flower of Killarney ! all is not lost that is in danger. Nicolas Brown shall never put ring on the daughter of MacCarthy More. Better a minstrel of Clan Carthy than an English undertaker." The young lady started, — a deep crimson flush suffused her iace, and she raised her eyes with a questioning look to the chieftain's face. O'Sullivan nodded and smiled, but nothing more he said; shak- ing the fair Ellen by the hand, and bowing respect- fully to both ladies, he left the room. The Countess soon after retired to her oratory, where many of her hours were spent in fervent prayer for the living and the dead. Alas ! how few were the living who still had a place in the heart oi the prematurely-aged lady of Clancailhy, but how many of the dead of her race, the martyred dead, were before her sorrowful mind in those tranquil 20 MacCartht MORXJ ou, hours of prayer. Her three brothers, Gerald, John, and James, had all died in the cause of Ireland and the faith, — the former, the great rebel Earl of Des- mond in hoary age in a Kerry cabin ; the latter in early manhood on a Cork gibbet, and the bodies of all three had swung in chains in Irish air tijl they mouldered to dust, while their heads bleached in summer sun and winter snow on the top of English spears, the object of English scorn and derision. Oh, Countess of Clancarthy, how hard was it for you to pray for jour enemies, the enemies of your faith. That you did so we are w^ell assured, and high must be your place, daughter of the martyred Geraldines, in the glory of your Lord ! Left thus alone. Lady Ellen retired to her own apartments in one of the towers of the Castle. There her maids were in waiting, but passing them with a gentle smile where they sat at work in her ordinary sitting-room, some wdth the needle, some with the distaff, she retired to a small room that would now be called her boudoir^ then in minstrel parlance her " bower," occupying one angle of the Castle keep. There she threw herself on the carved oaken seat that occupied the recess of the one narrow window the room contained, and sat, while the yellow sun went down, looking listlessly out on those scenes so lovely and so familiar, which could charm her eyes no more. What was the strange emotion that, like the rippel on a stream, played over her dark Spanish features. Tub Fortunks of an Irish Chief. 21 usually haughty in repose ? What was the thought that brought the light to her tear-dinimed eyes, and the blood to her pallid cheek ? Of whom, or of what was the Lady Ellen thinkinLC that evenine: hour iu her darkening tower chamber? Surely her thoughts were not of Nicholas Browne, the survey- or's son of ^loUahiff! The shadows crept over the highest mountains that kept watch over the placid waters ; the sun had long since faded from Tore and Toomies, and the Eagle's Nest, and the woody steeps of Glena were enveloped in the grey mists that curled upwards from the lakes and islands ; still Ellen sat in a rev- erie that, judging by her face, was not all of sorrow. The parting words of O'Sullivan had struck one chord in her heart that was not of sadness. As the stars came out in heaven, and the darkness gathered round, the silken tapestry wdiich hung within the doorway was gently raised, and a timid girlish face peeped in; it was that of Una, Lady Ellen's favorite attendant. " Does my lady wish a light ?" she softly asked. " Not yet," her lady replied ; " but bring my harp, and stay !" — " It is almost dark !" whispered the attendant, as she placed the instrument before her mistress. " Not so dark as my soul, Una O'Leary !" was the dreary answer ; ** but listen now while I play, and tell me if you know this air." It was not an Irish melody that flowed from be- MacCarthy Mork; or, ncath the lady's taper fingers after phe had played a wild sweet prelude. It was a Spanish air, one of those serenades both gay and tender, which were then as now, distinctly characteristic of the old Iber- ian music. The strain was repeated a second time, and still Una was silent; all at once, however, she chipped her tiny hands, and said with sudden anima- tion — " I know it, Lady Ellen, I know it now. It is" — " Speak lower, little Una ! while you tell me I" " It is the same that we heard that foreign minstrel play in a boat one night near Dunkerron Castle." ** I am glad to find that I play it correctly," said the lady, in a voice which she vainly strove to keep from trembling. " I have often tried it since, it pleased me so much then." She then dismissed her attendant, and went to join her lady-mother, in whose apartments theii evening meal was served. That over, the Countess and her daughter sat to- gether conversing in low tones on the all-absorbing topic of the EarPs traffic with the Brownes. Chilled and broken as was the Lady Clancarthy's spirit by the manifold sorrows of her life, a spark of the old fire was kindled in her heart by the last crowning indig- nity offered by her unworthy husband to he^ blood as well as his own. Christian woman as she was, and chastened by sore affliction, she could not behold unmoved the disgrace that threatened two noble houses should the heiress of MacCarthy More becomo I I. TlIK FoUTUNES OF AN IllU'^II ClIIEF. tlie wife of a man who was, in lior regard, little better tlian a menial. " I tell thee my danghter," said the prematurely- aged matron, " I would sooner sec thee dead and laid in the tomb of the MacCartliys, than see thee wedded to that Saxon churl !" " And I would rather die an hundred times, mother mine," replied Lady Ellen, with unwonted energy, " than bring such foul disgrace on your name and mine. Better far the tomb in Mucruss Abbey than the Btone-w |i house at Molahifi'." Thus the .aother and daughter talked while the night wore on, and the sounds of music and joyous revelry came softened from the hall far below, where the chiefs of Clan Carthy were seated round the fes- tive board, pledging each other in Spanish wine, and vowing to protect at all hazards, the fair daughter of MacCarthy from the degradation to which her mean- spirited father would ruthlessly consign her. Hope seemed to revive in the hearts of mother and daugh- ter as the loud-spoken words were borne to their ears, and with lightened hearts they knelt to offer their nightly orisons to God above. u M MacCarthy Morb; ob, CHAPTER 11. Next morning there was the bustle of departure in the court-yard of the Palace. While the earliest sun- beams gilt the mountain-tops, and KilJarney'e Lakes and the Laune river slept in shade, saddle-girths were being tightened, and a band of MacCarthy's gallow- glasses stood ready to mount their liorses, to escort the wife and daughter of their chief on a visit they prosposed making. The court-yard, or rather the *' bawn," presented a gay scene that bright spring morning. It was full of armed men, for with the fol- lowers of MacCarthy More, were mingled those of the other cliieftains who had staid in the castle over night. There were O'Sullivans from the mountain coasts bordering on Bantry and Berehaven, O'Don- oghoes from the hills and glens and the Lake shores, O'Learys, and O'Mahons, MacAuliffes, MacDonoghs and O'Driscolls from the fertile plains of Cork, each bearing the well-known cognizance of his chief em- broidered on the short cloak, or cotta, which formed the outer garment of those Irish soldiers. While the kerns and gallowglasses chatted merrily amongst themselves, and the horse-boys, holding the horses of the several chiefs, awaiting their appearance from the castle, amused themselves with playing off prac- tical jokes at the expense of the long-haired clans- p^en around them, a far 4iffereDt scene was going for- I The Fortunes of an Irisu Cuief. 26 L^ ward within the castle, where, in the privacy of Lady Clancarthy's oratory, wuth only the Countess, her daughter, and their attendants, for a congregntion, the holy Sacrifice of the ]Mas8 was being offered up by a venerable priest, whoso snow-white locks and furrowed cheeks were more from sorrow and suffer- ing than from age. A. strange and awful thing it was that in those stormy days of religious persecution it was a capital oftence to celebrate Mass, and almost as great a one to assist at its celebration. Hence it was that the chapels originally attached to the feudal castles of the chiefs had fallen into disuse, ever since the inaus- picious reign of Henry VIII., and the priests who ventured to remain in the country secretly harbored in the dwellings of the Catholic lords and gentry, or hiding, with the ingenious aid of the faithful people of the country, in caves and vaults, and other secret places, might only say Mass by stealth, with every precaution agahist discovery. As in the present in- stance, it was not deemed expedient to celebrate Mass publicly, oven in the castle of MacCarthy More, fearing lest one of the "meaner sort" might be tempted by the large reward offereu for the appre- hension of a priest, or any information concerning the solemnization of those " Popish rites," which were amongst the highest crimes known to those Tu- dor laws. No sunbeam glanced through stained window on priest or altar that day in Pallice (Castle j the room i .1 } i 26 MacCabtiiy More; or, in M'hicb alone the Countess of Clancarthy might daro to have an altar erected was small and dark, within the thickness of the massive wall, as even tlie sleeping apartments ordinarily were in those ancient castles of ihe Irish chiefs. Mass over, the priest retired to the inner chamber, connected with the Oratory by a long and narrow passage, known but to few, where his days and nights were spent during the Earl's absence, — for it was only during his absence that the holy man was per- mitted to remain within the walls, so great was tho chieftain's dread of drawino- down on himself the terrible anger of Elizabeth, by harboring a " Po]»ish priest." A little while after the Countess and her daughtcf were standing in the hall below, receiving the re- spectful salutations of the chiefs, and exchanging with them those friendly greetings which marked tlio social intercourse of the great feudal families and the tributary chiefs who were allied by blood to their respective houses. With their whole figures enve- loped in the large loose cloaks worn by the ladies of those days when travelling, the large ridhig hoods thrown back, revealing the haggard, care-worn face of the elder lady, — like some classic ruin, noble even in decay, — and the bright, though dark features of the younger, subdued, and pale and pensive, yet lovely still,— the mother and daughter stood, sur- rounded bv the warrior chiefs, come of whom wore already gray and old, others fresh and buoyant as L I m Tub Fortunes o» an Irish Chief. 27 V the young deer of Killarney's woods, when startmg on their course, all bending with chivalrous homage before the wile and daughter of MacCarthy. It was, in sooth, a goodly picture, its effect heightened by the antique features of the ancient hall, its trophies of war and chase, its spears, and shields, and banners, intermingled, here and there, with the huge antlers of the red deer that even then made their home in the Kerry forests. The salutations over, O'SuUivan announced to the ladies that some of their friends meant to accompany them ; " these times are not safe. Dame Honora," said the Kerry chieftain, with a grim smile, " there might be some between this and Cork who would deem it a good day's work to seize the wife and daughter cf MacCarthy More, in which case," he added signifi- cantly, " Donald MacCarthy might have to mort- gage some more land to the Brownes to provide a ransom." The ladies being only too glad to accept the friend- ly escort, they were soon mounted on their palfreys, and the gallant cavalcade set forward at a round pace, taking the Kenmare road. Some hours after, while the day was still young, the ladies of Clancarthy alighted from their palfreys at the door of Shandon Castle, where Sir War- ham St. Legcr, the Queen's general, then had his abode. A stern old soldier was Sir Wa^-ham St. Leger, one of the last to whom a gentle lady, espe- cially a lady of Irish blood, would look for sympathy m 28 MacCartuy More; oR| / and counsel in such a case, yet it was precisely to him that the Countess of Chxncarthy and her daugh- ter had recourse. In less troublous times it would have been strange to see these noble ladies, with the Irish gentlemen who accompanied them, ushered througli files cf Eng- lish men-at-arms into the j)resence of the Queen's chief captain in Munster ; tiien, nothing was strange in Ireland, for the simple reason that the strangest things were so constantly occurring, that people ceased to wonder at anything. Rough as the general was by nature, he received the ladies with as much courtesy as could be ex- pected from a man whose life had been mostly spent in camps. To O'Suliivan and the other .chiefs he was fain to be civil, all of them being at that particular time " under protection." " Your pleasure. Countess ?" said St. Leger, after the ladies were seated in the old fortress hall, he himself standing uncovered before them, in his well- worn buff coat and slashed doublet. St. Leger was a mai of few words, and Lady Clan- earthy knew it. *' We come. Sir Warham St. Leger," she replied, " to crave your good offices with the Queen's highness in regard to the dealings of my lord and husband with Sir Valentine Browne, to whom he hath, as we learn promised my daughter, the Lady Ellen here present, in marriage, for his second son, Nicholas." " What fault does your ladyship find with young Thk Fortunes of an Irish Chief. 29 Browne ?" said St. Lcger sharply. " Sooth to say, he iiath no Lick of lauds or livings." •' Not he, indeed," said O'SuUivan More, promptly —he was tearful lest the Countess should say sonie- thuig that might give offence where it was necessary to conciliate; little could be said against the Brownes that did not apply as well to St. Leger himself, — *' "^ot he, indeed. Sir W'arham ; but you must your- self admit that the dauujhter and heiress of Mac- Carthy ]\Iore" — St. Leger frowned — " I mean the Earl of Clancarthy, ought to look higher than Mas- ter Nicholas Browne." This politic speech had its effect. " "What sayeth the young lady?" the general asked, turning ab- ruptly to the Lady Ellen. *' Young Nicholas Browne is not to be despised for a husband." " I pray you. Sir Warham," said the young lady, looking up mto the old man's war-worn face with a heightened color, and a moistened eye, " I pray you, name him not as a husband for me. I know you have great favor with the Queen's Majesty." — Sir Warham smiled down on the fair pleader. — " Use it, I entreat you, in our behalf — for my lady mother dislikes the match no less than I do." " You speak well for one so young," said the grim veteran, " I would that our sovereign lady, Elizabeth, heard you plead your cause. I warrant me, she could not refuse the petition of so fair a lady." " There be some who say," whispered O'Lcary to McDonogh behind Sir Wdrham's back, "that a 30 MacCarthy Mork; or, lady fair and young would find little favor in the eyes of Elizabeth Tudor." " It seemeth strange to us, Sir Warham," tad the Countess, with as much composure as she could assume, "that the Earl of Clancarthy should think of bestowing his daughter — alas ! his only child," — she added with a si";h, — " on a gentleman of so little ac- count as Master Browne. The gentlemen of our house, some of whom you see here present, are all opposed to the match." "Truly, I know that," said Sir Warham, testily, " for I have had letters from more than one of them on the subject. I would the matter w^ere ended one way or the other." " But will you not aid us, Sir Warham ?" said the Countess, still more earnestly than before. " Of a surety, if you will only make known to the Queen how much my daughter and myself mislike the match, she will be graciously pleased to consider our case, and have regard to the honor of a noble house." *' And you, Sir Owen O'Sullivan," said the Gen- eral, in his abrupt way, " you and all these gentle- men are of a like mind with regard to this matter ?" "Truly we are. Sir Warham," said the chieftain, speaking for the others ; " we came hither in attend- ance on the Countess and the young lady, but since you put the question, I will tell you truly: there is rot a follower of tlie MacCarthy »j i a The Earl of Clancarthy, Sir Owen 1" •' Tub Fortunes of an Irish Cuibf. 31 ** Well, the Earl be it, then,— but be he Earl or what he may, he hath made little of the whole Clan Carthy by so much as naming this Nicholas Browne for his daucfhter's husband. So much are the chiefs against it, that I fear it will breed disturbance in that country if the thing be not prevented in time." " But I see not how it can be prevented," said St. Leger, the cloud again gathering on his brow, " neither you nor I have any right to go between the Earl of Clancarthy and his own child." " But there is one who has the right !" said the Countess, eagerly. The veteran shook his head. "I know not that she will put a stop to the marriage. Nicholas Browne is an English gentleman ; his father has, hi his time, done good service to the Queen's cause, for which her highness has seen fit to reward him as became her royal goodness. She will not deny his son this new means of advancing his fortune." The general was evidently becoming impatient, seeing which, tlie Countess and her daughter rose, and the elder lady said, with that mild dignity which was her characteristic trait, — " In which case, Sir Warham, our visit hath been of no avail, and we have but to crave your pardon for intruding ourselves upon you. We will now take our leave, hoping that you will still not refuse to put in a word with the Queen's highness, in regard to this, our humble suit." " Mother," said the young lady, while the hot ml 82 MacCarthy More; or, blood of her proud race mantled on her cheek, ** Mother, we have said enough : more were unbe- coming. We are not such poor beggars, but we can help ourselves, if others will not." " Well said. Lady Ellen !" cried a young chief of the O'Donoghoes. "If your father had a little of your spir* it, we need never have been here on such an errand." A sardonic smile curled the lip of Queen Elizabeth's officer as he listened to these ebullitions of youthful feeling; with cold and formal courtesy he accom- panied the ladies to the door, and there bowed them out, nodding carelessly to the chieftains, who re- turned his salute in the same fashion. " Fare you well, Sir Warham !" said O'SuUivan More. " You shall be bidden to Lady Ellen's wed- ding, an' she marries Nicholas Browne !" • " Well ! Sir Owen," said the Countess, as O'SuUi- van rode up by her side when they had left Shandon towers some distance behind. " Methinks there la little hope in that quarter." " Your thought is mine, dame Ilonora ! It were best not trust to so frail a plank. We must con- vey Ellen to some place of safety where neither MacCarthy nor the Brownes can reach her." "Alas! whither could we send her that Donald would not find her out?" said the Countess, in a tone of great despondency. " And yet it breaks my heart to think that my poor Ellen, the only child that cruel death has left me, should marry a low-born English- man, and a heretic to boot 1" TuK Fortunes of an Irish Cuief. 88 " It shall not be, HonoraFitz- James, take my "vrord for it I" said O'SuUivan with stern emphasis. "An' Donald MacCarthy will not listen to reason from any of us, we have a right to prevent this disgrace from coming upon us all, in whatever way we can. I will think the matter over as we ride home, and see what can be done." The party rode on in silence, each one plunged in anxious thought. Mid-day was past, and they were nearing the lake shore, when, at a sharp turn in the mountain-road, they encountered a small company of horsemen, the foremost of whom was a stout, burly, fresh-faced man of some thirty years or thereabouts, clad in the buif coat and doublet of the English gen- tleman of that day, beneath which was the breast- plate and other pieces of light armor. A steel mo- rion on the head completed the gentleman's cos- tume. As he rode in advance of the others, they were evidently his retainers. The road being narrow, not more than two horses of either party could pass abreast, and O'SuUivan called out, — " Fall back there, and make way for the Countess of Clancarthy I" " That will I do right willingly," said the English- man, bowing low to the name, " but not for your bidding. Sir Owen O'SuUivan. I would have you speak civilly, an' you speak to me." " Small courtesy is due from any here to your fa- ther's son, Nicholas Browne !" said the chief haugh- tily ; " make way, I say again I'* m 84 MacCartuy More; oe, ** Not at your bidding, say I again," returned young Browne defiantly, " though all the O'SuUivans in Kerry were at your back." " Why stand parleying there, Sir Owen?" called out young O'Donoghoe from behind ; *' ride on, and let the English churl take the consequences if he will not give way !" Still Browne moved not, and his followers were seen to grasp their weapons. Pale with terror. Lady Clancarthy said, — " for God's sake. Sir Owen, let him pass !" " Ay I let him pass, gentlemen all !" said the fair Ellen, in English ; " it is for you to teach him what is due to ladies. Fall back, friends !" " We may not refuse you, Lady Ellen !" said O'Sul- livan, " the daughter of MacCarthy commands here !" The Irish gentlemen immediately reined in their horses at one side the narrow mountain road to let the others pas3, the two ladies with cutting politeness doing the same. Browne, nettled and ashamed, still held back. "Lady Clancarthy," he stammered, "I owe you an apology. Had your ladyship said but a word, or the Lady Ellen, that so I might save mine honor in recrard to O'Sullivan and the others— » " I pray you name it not. Master Browne," said the Countess more haughtily than her wont. " We ask favors only of our friends ; we await your pas- sage !" And she motioned him onwards with her riding-whip. Tub Fortunes of an Irisu Cuiirr. 85 Seeing there was nothing for it but to move on, Browne set spurs to his horse and clashed forward ; as he passed tlie younger kidy, her horse, a spirited one, began to prance restively, which Nicholas see- ing stopped, and caught hold of the rein. " Let go the bridle !" said Lady Ellen, in a tone of authority, " I can manage the liorse if you will but go on. Let go, I say !" Chafing with anger and vexation the English squire dropped the bridle and rode on, amid the jeers and taunts of the bold Kerrv chieftains who much enjoyed the discomfiture of the audacious aspirant to Ellen's hand. " So that is Nicholas Browne I" said the young lady when she had succeeded in quieting her pal- frey ; *' truly, he does credit to his Cither's fat beeves. A winsome knight is he for lady's love I'* " Nay, sweet Ellen ! you are cruel !" said O'Sulli- van, with grave irony, " you forget that the gentle- man is soon to be MacCarthy More's son-in-law I" The young beauty's laugh rang out none the less sweetly that it was bitter and ironical. •' He Mac- Carthy More's son-inlaw !" she said with an energy that was almost fierce. *' That will be, Sir Owen ! 'when Tore and Mangerton come together, — when Ellen MacCarthy forgets the blood that is in her veins !" " My child," said her gentle mother, " it is not for us to say what ehall or shall not be. The will of God must be done.'* i 4^ •Ml '^^ 86 MacCartiiy More; ob "I know that, mother mine," rejoined her daugh- ter ; " but I know, too, that Qud never willed a daughter of yours to be the wife of Nicholas Browne. Let us say no more about him, dearest mother I For me, I would fain forget that such PS he is alive I" " Would to God that we could all forget I" sighed the Countess, " but, alas I alas ! we cannot !" After partaking of the generous hospitality of Pallice Castle, l.ie chiefs, with the exception of O'Sul- livan More, and one or two others, chief officers of the Earl's household, took advantage of the bright light of a full moon to return back to their homes. It was a cheering and a picturesque sight, as the la- dies stood on the ramparts of the castle watching each chief with his followers, riding successively out from the arched gateway below, then winding along by the Lake shore till a turn of the road hid them from view. It was like a scene of faery ; and a proud smile flitted over Ellen's face as she thought that all these noble gentlemen, and many another, called MacCarthy lord, and were bound to follow him to the field. It was a lonely night, and no fairer scene did the round moon gild on earth than that wliich lay before the eyeB 0/ the ladies of Clan- earthy. " Far in the west, Where the Lake's blue breast Kepused, like an angel of light at rest, The rich rays there, Beemed epints of air, That wanton'd about in thejr silver hair.^ t The Fortunes or an Irish Giiibf. 87 A Then and there it was that the sagacious chief of Clan Sullivan submitted to the Countess and her daughter the new plan he had devised for defeating the Earl's unaccountable project. "If we find," said he, "that nothing turns up to prevent this marriage before Donald's return, me« thinks it were worth the trying, Dame Ilonora, to send our black rose here straightway over the moun- tains to O'Rc'irke's country. In the fastnesses of the Brenny she will be safe from pursuit, and Brian O'Rourke is just the man to stand by a lady in dis- tress. What think you, Countess, and you, fair El- len, of this notion of mine?" Both ladies agreed that the scheme was a good one : '' I know the chieftain of Brenny, O'Rourke, well," said the Countess, " and sure I am that he would protect my child from ill as he would his own blood. The plan is a good one, Sir Owen !" " So it appears to my poor judgment. None of ua hereabouts in Cork or Kerry could hope to keep the young lady from her father's knowledge, whereas Brian O'Rourke in liis far country can do it, and he will, too, I know well." " I will send off a trusty messenger to O'Rourke to-morrow," said the Countess, " making our hard case known to him, and then, if the worst happens, I will send Ellen's two foster-brothers and Una O'Leary with her to Dromahaire,* where the chief can dispose her in a place of safety." * Drompiiaire was, of old. the chief seat of the powerfa) 88 MacCartiiy Mokb; ur, ** The fewer attcnclants you send there will be the less danger of discovery," sjiid O'Sullivan in his dry, sententious way. "But I see the moon is already on the wane, and, with your permission, gentle ladies, I will seek repose. I must make an early start to- morrow. So fare you well, ladies, and if any new danger arise, you can let me know by a sure hand.'* Ab he passed wliere Ellen stood, apparently lost in thought, the Chieftain laid his hand lightly on her head for a moment and whispered — " I tell you again, keep up your heart. There's one I know that's able for MacGarthy and the Brownes. Never you fear I" Without -waiting to mark the effect of his words, O'Sullivan hurried away, and the ladies soon after descended the narrow stone stairs, within the raas- hive walls, which led from the ramparts to the inner parts of the castle. This staiicase was lit by lamps attached to the wall at long intervals. As the two dark robed figures descended the stairs with noiseless step, their faces looking wan in the dim, uncertain light, they might easily have been taken for the spirits of departed chdtelaines, doomed to wander for a time through the lone recesses of th'iir ancient dwelling. Yet there was a smile on Ellen's lip, and a bright light in her eyes that spoke of re vivmg hope. A second time had the words of O'Sullivan More recalled her from the depths of despondency. chieftains of Breffuy O'Rourke, now the Country of Leitrim. It was a strong fortress, oud in troubloufl times, withstood aome hard sieges. I Tub FoRTUNKa ov an luieii Cuikf. 80 i With unwonted fervor the maiden prayed that night, when she knelt beside lier mother m the ora- tory, — tliat God would send Bome means of de- livering her from the dark doom that threatened to blight her youth'a fond hopes, and plunge her in a sea of life-lon;hts had become, and to account to herself for the not un- pleasing excitement that had taken the place of that dull despondency which for weeks and weeks had set- tled down upon her. '•What has happened ?" said the soft voice of Una, and the little tire-woman crept close to her young mistress. "Will not my lady tell her faithful Una if any new mishap hath come ?" "I know not what there is to tell, Una 1"' Lady Ellen answered with a mizzled look. "I know but this that the gentleman whom we saw this morning at mass hath brought some strano;e trouble to the house. Pray God it be for good ! — and yet " she added mu- singly as if to herself, — " and yet, it must be so, for old Eman's Uarp echoed to day no sound of sorrow." Just then came a message fr'jrn the Countess that she was going for a walk on the ramparts, and desired her daughter to accompany her. At the foot of the stairs leading to tliC battlements Lady Ellen found her mother and then- guest. It was a lovely evening, between day and dark, that " Lour of silence and of rest," to dreaming poets dear. As they emerged from the 56 MacCartht Mors; ob, cover of the roof on the open ramparts, and the blue evening sky with its first faint stars broke on their view, MaeCarthy turning to the fairy-like scenes that were gradually Avaxing dim in the dai'kening twilight, said in a thoughtful tone — "IIow long: shall we call these scenes our own — we of the ancient race? How long shall MacCaura rule over Desmond?" " Not long, I fear," made answer the Countess, *' if Donald may have his way. You have, doubtless, heard of his dealings with the Brownes, in regard to certain mortgages — as I am told the lawyers called them. If he be not stopped, the Brownes will soon have all." Florence MaeCarthy laughed, and the Countess turned on him a look of inquiry. *• I crave your ladyship's pardon," he said, "but the Brownes are not likely to have all. MaeCarthy More has borrowed money of others besides the Brownes, and made over lands to them, aye and castles tool — If the Brownes have Molahiffe, Castle Lough of the MacCarthies is as surely mine, wuth many a broad acre of the Earl's country to boot I" *• Thine ! Castle LouMi thine?" *' Surely yes, dame Ilonora I as surely as money can buy it." " And you came in my father's absence to claim your own !" exclauned Ellen, speaking for the first time. " Even so, fair lady. I came hither to claim my own." V •n 'I IIU. I 1 I I I IW— Hi MBWi"i'«iim ii i iii jw« « »« V If The Fortunes op an Irish Chief. 67 •* Methinks," saicl the young lady, the pride of hoi race flashing in scorn from lier dark eyes, •'methinks it were morebecomhig aMacCarthy to come on such unr> 68 MacCartiiy Moke; ob, CHArTER lY. The following morning, after the early brea) rast of those days, Lady Ellen, weary of the still, n ono- tonous life within doors, and longing, as young iaid« ens will, when skies are briojht and breezes are '/land, for a stroll in the open air, — took Una with h ^sT, and wrapped in a cloak, the hood of which coveLf»d her head, left the castle unobserved by any save Ihe por- ter at the gate, and went down to the rirer side. There, seating herself on a bank which coijucanded a view of the picturesque rapids, where t? >€ ourplua waters of the Lower Lake run out, throuifl" tl.e chan- nel of the river's bed, to join that arm of t'lC Atlantic called Court MeSherry Bay. ListlespJ / her eyes wandered over the lovely scones amicf which her young life had pussed, and not evfi. the bright sheen of the dancing waters, or the lirathery spray she had so often admired, could th" » ,u ' j) ;i| in ii ni i |ipm p nn,iinjnjiniw npw» n TaE Fortunes ov an Irish Cuibf. 59 I* *' Nay, name him not," said the young lady, in a querulous tone, " what should we hope from him ? iie hath come here like any commo.i English under- taker, to secure a share of my father''s lands in the ruin that is coming upon us." " Hist !" said Una, turning with a start, as a foot- step fell on the sward behind. Her mistress followed her example, and there stood Florence JMcCarthy, in the light huntuig-garb of an Irish chieftain, admira- bly well adapted to shew olT the noble proportions of his lofty figure. A smile was on his face as he courteously saluted the young lady of Clancarthy. There was little doubt but he had overheard her contemptuous re- mark, and for a moment Lady Ellen felt confused ; it was but for a moment, however, and then she arose, and with freezing coolness returned the young chieftain's salute. She would have passed on, but MacCarthy seemed detcrmmed not to be left behind ; he walked on by her side, and Una fell back a few paces. " You seem to have forgotten me, fair cousin !" the young man said after an embarrassing silence. " Forgotten you ! — how ?'* " Do you not remember how we were playmates at Cork when I and my brother Dermod were there with my father, as you and your brother were with your parents, that time when Sir Henry Sydney kept foyal state there on his passage through the Pro« irince? If you have forgotten those days, Ellen 60 MacCartuy More; or, MacCaura, not so have I, even tliough I be like any common E?iglis/i undertaker /" There was sadness in the smile that rested on Mac- Carthy's lace when Ellen looked up to it in surprise. " And are you the little Florence MacDonogh who, with your brother Uerniod Moyle, drew my poor brother Teague out of the water that day when he fell mto the river Lee ?" " Even so, fair lady ! — somewhat taller I am, as you see, but natheless I am the same Florence Mac- Donogh. It grieved me sorely to hear of your bro- ther's death." " Ah ! poor Teague !" sighed the young lady. It was all she could say. The sad and lonely fate of the loved companion of her childhood had thrown a dark, cold shadow over all the years of her life, since the news of his death had reached his desolate home. Respecting her sorrow, and in part feeling it him- self, Florence, too, was silent ; he could not think without emotioa of the lonely death of the young scion of his race, whom he had known a bright, play- ful child. They had reached the Lake shore, and as each involuntarily paused to look at the entrancing scene that opened before them, MacCarthy suddenly said — " Have I heard truly that MacCarthy IMore hath made choice of one of Valentme Browne's sons, for — "he stopped, then added, as if with an effort, speaking more rapidly — " for a son-in-law ?" " Alas, yes !" said the young lady, forgetting, for •! Tub Fortunes op an Irish Cuiep. ei the moment, her previous distrust. " Unhappy that I am, sucli, I fear, is my hard fate." " An evil day were it, surely, wheu a daughter of MacCarthy became the wife of a scurvy English sur- veyor! — It must not, shall not be ! — And yet," he added, with the same humorous smile as before, " what right have 1 to speak so — I who am like any common under, ker !" " Nay, sir, if you must needs keep harpmg on that," said Lady Ellen shortly, " you may do so, and welcome. I said but what I thought, and may- l»ap I spoke the truth." Florence MacCarthy stopped short in his walk, and turned his beaming eyes full on the lady's face. " But suppose I came not hither in search of money or land, as Sir Thomas Noneys and your fair self are of like mind in thinkiniij I did ?" Lady Ellen's cheek turned pale, then red, under the search insj look that was fixed on her face. She would say something, but she knew not what she could say with prudence. " Can you think of nought else that brought me hither than the mortgages I hold on certain of your father's lands?" The -voice that spoke these words was trembling with emotion, and Ellen's cheek turned redder as she listened, but she made an effort to appear unconscious of the meaning of the words, and answered with forced composure — " It were hard for me to guess." 62 MacCartuy Mobs; or, *' Then, will I tell you. I came hithei Ut save ono you know iVoin a fate she dreads. To make her tlin wife, an' she will, of ono as nobly born as herself; of one in whose veins flows the blood of her own princely fathers. Ellen MacCarthy, will you he my wedded wife, and so escape the shame and sorrow of marrying Nicholas Browne ?'* These words, like an electric shock, restored El- len to her usual self command, which was remark- able for her nge. " Florence MacCarthy," ishe said, looking him proudly, almost sternly in the face, " I may not pro- mise that on such short acquaintance*, and without my mother's knowledge." "Your mother has gladly given her oonsent.'" " Natheless, we met but yestermoru ; it is over soon to " Florence interrupted her with a smile and a look that she could not intcrDret. " I see you are other- wise disposed," he said. '• Think no more of it." They had been for some time retracing their steps towards the Castle, and had now reached the sloping lawn before it.* An exclamation of surprise escaped Lady Ellen ; some half a score of horsemen, whom she recognised as followers of O'Sullivan More, were at the gate, newly arrived, and in the open door ot the hall stood their chieftain smiling kindly and Bomewhat archly, on the two young scions of Clan * This liiwn, in front of Pallice Castlo, was then, as it has h(i*>x. eini^e, called Gallows Fuld, as it was there that MacCarthy was wont to have crinunul offenders executed. I ' , * t: ^ww The Fobtunes of an Irish Cuiir. 68 Carthy advancing towards liim. By his side was the Countess, who, hearing of her friend's arrival, had conic down, even to the Castle door, to bid them welcome. " Ccad milk faihhe^\ Fineen !" was O'Sullivan's salutation, a& he grasped Florence by both hands, after a ccrdial, fatlierly greeting to Lady Ellen; " you have come none too soon, though I see you have lost no time. How goes on business ?" " You mean with Xorreys V" said Floroice, draw- ing a little behind the young lady, and making a sign with his hand which (he elder chieftain, who was his brother in-law, appeared to understand, for, with- out waiting for an answer to his question, he went on to ask tiie Countess whether she had heard from her husband since he saw her before. The Countess delayed answering for a moment till her daughter and her attendant had disappeared on the steps within the wall* leading to the household — -" I received a letter by Florence here, the contents of which he will tell you. Donald desires that what we have in hand be done with speed. For his action in this matt-er, I forgive hi'u all that hath gone be- apartnients. Then she said, in a low, cautious voice, t A hundred thotisand welcomed. * The Castles of that day, amoTigst the Irish, were of a pecu- liar build, as their existing remains tt-stiiy. Inside the oul^ir door, reached by a ladder, there was another strong door lead- in % to the hall, and between the two. a very narrow flight of stone steps led to the upper storeys of the building. 1 hese staircases were the scene of many a bloody hand to hand con- flict, when the castles were stormed by an enemy. .1 64 MacCarthy More; or, fore. I pray you, cjontlcmen and clear friends', cuter our i)oor abode. Mac Fiiian will see that your wants be duly cared for." " That will I, Lady of Clan Carthy !" said the aged Bcneseluil bowiui' low, " welconier 2;uests have never cross^od the t!irefc;hold of Paliice Castle." " For me, I pray you excuse my absence," saitl the Btately daughter of the Geraldine. "At the evening meal my daughter and I shall join your company." She was going to ascend the stairs when Florence said something to her in a low whisper, evidently makhig a request, to which she smilingly assented, and leaving the chieftains to enjoy tliemselves in their own way, with the gentlemen of the Earl's household, she hastened to rejoin her daughter. Lady Ellen was sitting by a window in a musing attitude, but there was an angry flush on her cheek which did not escape her mother's keen scrutiny. " Aileen !" said she in Irish, in which language they generally spoke to each other, "Aileen, my child, Florence MacCarthy wishes to pay a visit to Muck- russ Abbey while here. We shall go this evening. The moon is at her full to-night, and wo shall sail over after the evening meal." " As you will, my lady mother !" said Ellen, care- lessly. "Aileen" said her mother, *how is thi Ife- thought it would give you pleasure, this sai the lake by moonlight — in such good company! aht added significantly. Tim FORTDNIS OP AN IlllSU ClKKF. 65 f L " You are over thoughtful for me, mother," the young lady replied hi a softened voice. " 1 desire no better company than yours and O'Sullivan More's." " Ailecn ! jSiloen ! beware !" said the Countess, solemnly and sadly. "Our last chanoe is lost if you turn his heart away. He is well affected towards you now, but his rnind may change if he find you cold and careless. Ailoen, my only tic on earth, think now that you have to choose between Florence MacCarthy and Nicholas lirowne ! You are mad, mad, ma:rGen taffety. I would look iny best to-day — not for love," she added in an under- tC'De, " but for snite." i^iid she did look her best, when, as evening ap- proached, she appeared before her mother, ready to descend to the hall. The Countess noted with an approving f-niile the change in her daughter's ap- parel. " How passiug fair my child is !"" she murmured low to herself, as they descended to the banq- eting- hall, at the entrance of which ihey were met by MacCarthy and O'Sullivan, v/ho conducted them to their seats on the dais. Tlie same feeling of ad- miration was expressed in the eloquent glance of Florence, but the lady, proud and cold, appeared to notice it not. With music and mirth the moments lightly sped while the meal went on. ISTever had Enian of the Harps called from the silver strings more joyous strains; the praises of the O'Sullivans and MaC' Carthvs mingled in his song, and the gentles above, and the retainers below, ^\'cre alike inspired by his minstrelsy. Even the Countess v/as less grave than usual. Lady Ellen alone refused to smile, rjid O'SuUivan with the privilege of an old friend, ban- tered the fair girl on her maidenly modesty, as ho doubtless deemed it. Florence was by no means particular in his attentions, and there seemed a tacit miderstanding between him and the young lady, that no tie of sympathy existed between them. i- I MUlMKUpWli Thb Fortunes of an Ibisii Chirf. 67 When the first moon-beams came streaming into the hall, throu^^h the splayed loop-liol^s, the Count- ess and Florence rose simultaneously, and the Countess whispered to her daughter that it was time to go, if they would have the best of the moon- light. O'Sullivan, who had been pledging Mac- Finan across the table, drained his goblet hastily, and declared his wilUngness to join the party. " Though I must own. Countess," he pleasantly Baid, " I were better pleased to go by daylight. It is a lonesome place, that same Irrelagh . now that the monks are gone, and only the dead dwelling in the old Abbey." "No Deed to go in," replied the lady with a calm smile. " We may even land, and there will be enough of us in the boat to make good company." Some of the gentlemen looked as though they would fain have joined the party, gathering its des. tination from O'Sullivan's words, but unasked they might not intrude themselves on such a company, and so they were fain to content themselves with toasting the ladies of Clancarthy in the Spanish wine that sparkled in luige methers on the board, as the retainers did in the less costly usquebaugh provided for their delectation. Meanwhile our party sailed out into the lower lake, the boat guided by a skillful hand through the rocks and shoals at the head of the swift roHii;g Laune. Some half-a-dozen sturdy gallowgla.sses occupied one end of the boat, their battle-axea 68 MacCartut More; or. gleaming in the moon-liglit — such a guard was, in those stormy tunes, not alone one of honor, hut one of prudence, vvliile the histy arms of four stal',vart kerne impelled the liglit craft over the waters, now bright in the moonlight, now dark in the shade. On sped the boat, and silence seemed to have fallen like a spell on the party, enhanced, as it were, by the more than e-arthly beauty of the sceiies through which they glided, and the hushed repose of earth and air. The boatmen began all at once to chant in chorus a low, plaintive song, to the measured ca- dence of which their oars kept time. Occasionally, too, was heard the shrill scream of the heron from the rcfly shore, or the louder cry of the eagle from the mountains above. These sounds served but to make the general hush of nature deeper still by contrast, and lent, tlierefore, a new charm to the scene. Past Rabbit Island the boat glided, — past Innis- fallen and its ruined Abbey, ruined like Muckruss and Aghaboe,* not as yet by time, but by the ruth- less soldiers of Henry the Eighth, and his daughter Elizabeth, — past Ross Island with its ancient strong- hold of the O'Donoghoes, past the mouth of Glcna Bay, with " Dinis' Green Isle " seen dimly tlinough the hazy moon-light, — it was then that O'Sullivan's Voice broke the silence. ♦ Three Abbeys, for nges long in ruins, pivo a more moiirnful and Holemii beauty to tl" tiui^ic sct-nes of KDlaruey. Tliesa are Aghuboe, on a high iiill in figbt of the Lower Lake, lunis- fulleu, ou the ihIbikI ot thut name, aud Muoi, or Irrulu^h. on the puflinBula ol" Muckru&M. ^ ■f ' ^^-«-r^Iw«^ls«affllSPmr^i»»«>^«»<«^■N•li|^(■ mmmm mmmmm The Fortunes of an Irish Chief. 69 ! " Had we but music on board," said he, " we might sail up tlie bay to the Eagle's Nest." "Musi'j ne(3d not be wanthig," said Florence. "With permission of the Countess, I have brought Lady Ellen's lute ; it may be that she will favor us so far as to jjlay somewhat. I dare not ask such grace, but you, Owen, she will scarce refuse !" " That I will answer for," said O'SuUivan, and the Countess in a low voice, told her daughter at once to accede to the request. Lady Ellen took the lute from the hand of Flor- ence, though it must be owned, with no gracious air, and while the boat glided up the narrow chan- nel between " Dinis' green isle, and Glona's wooded shore," played a strain of the elder time, slow and sim- ple, such as " Killarney's wild echoes" best repeat. The air was a sad one, and as the fairy-like echoes caught it up, repeating it in every possible way, it seemed as though the spirits of the dead were wail- ing on every craggy steep above, and along the sha- dowed waters that lay beneath, dark as the river of death. While all listened, as if entranced. Lady Ellen stopped suddenly and laid down the lute; her lieart was sad that hour, she knew not why, sad and troubled, and her own mournful music was more than she could bear. Yet she could not, and would not, wake a livelier strain. No one spoke, but Ellen folt the instrument drawn gently form her hand, and the next moment a bold* I i 1'^ t> 70 MacCarthy More; or, er hand swept its chords with a strange, wild pre- lude that went ringing like the sound of many trum- pets away amongst the rocks and mountains. Be- fore the young lady had recovered from the first surprise, the strain was changed, and a wild, sweet Spanish air was floating on the night-breeze, and breaking, in fitful snatches, from lonely caves Avhere the echoes dwelt. The air was the same that for months long had been haunting Ellen MacCarthy, and its every note woke an echo of gladness in her heart. But she said not a word. The Countess praised the air and asked what it was callec) Florence answered that it was a Spanish serenade air, mentioning the name at the same time. " You have heard it before, Lady Ellen?" he carelessly asked, turning to the silent maiden by his side. " To be sure she did," said O'SuUivan gleefully — " and I heard it, too, one moonlight night last har- vest at Dunkerron Castle,* when people thought I was asleep. But I suppose little Ellen forgets all about that night," he added in a humorous tone. Lady Ellen was silent, but there was one, at least, who found her silence more eloquent tlian words. " Is Lady Ellen still ' otherwise disposed?' " whis- pered a voice at her side. * Dunkerron Castle, situate withiit a few miles of Ken- mnre town, was one of the principal strongholds of O Siilii- van More. Near it was Cappanacuss, another strong cas- tle of the same poweiful chief. ) This Fortunes op an Irish Chief. 71 I The answer must have been satisfactory, for the next moment Florence took the lady's hand, and raised it to his lips. Even the shadow of the tower- ing Eagle's Nest did not hide the action from the watchful eyes of fiiends^hip. O'SuUivan rubbed his bands, and chuckled merrily to himself, as, leaning across, he said to Ellen in a low voice — " I told you a Spanish minstrel was better than Nicholas Browne. And I told you, too, to keep up your heart. Methinks I am somewhat of a prophet, Aileen dhu !" The Countess perfectly understood what was go- ing on, but she chose to remain a silent observer of what, nevertheless, filled her heart with joy and thankfulness. " What has become of the music ?" asked O'SuUi- van, maliciously. " Hath it gone to sleep with the echoes ?" " Will you not play that air again, Florence ?" whispered Lady Ellen. Not only that air, but many others, Irish and Spanish, did Florence play, and the echoes answer, as the boat floated down the stream ai^ain towards the broad expanse of the Lower Lake. As it round- ed the sharp headland at Otter's Point, and glided along under the dark woods of Muckruss toward the ancient Abbey of Irrelagh, the accomplished min^ Btrel changed the lively strain he had last played to a wild and mournful air that thrilled every heart ' — it v/as the funeral march of the Clan Caura, whcoa ■■^"*^' - 72 Ma^cCarthy Morr; or time-honored burying-place they were approach* ing. For a brief space tlie boat stopped when the Ab- bey was in sight, solemn and mournful in tlie e^ilence and decay to which the ruflian barbarism of English soldiers, doing the will of the ne\v religion, hadcon- sisj-ned it for evermore. Grand and stately was the music and I'ull of woe, and as the oarsmen rested on their oars, and the gallowglasses raised their barrads in honor of the noble sleepers within the ruined pile, it seemed as if the voices of the dead MacCarthys rose, hollow and plaintive, from amid the tall ancestral trees that had for ages sheltered their last repose, joining in the solemn and familiar strain. " Ellen," said Florence MacCarthy, laying down the lute, as the boat sped on again over the bright waters of Castle Louo-h Bav, where a castle of the MacCarthys stood on a small island, flinghig its sha- dows far out into the bay ; " Ellen, it is there, before the ruined shrine of Irrelagh, over the ashes of our fathers, that I should wish to plight my faith to the fairest daughter of Clan Caura. Say, shall it so be ?" "It is a strange thought, Florence," replied El- len softly, " yet I nuslike not the plan. But me- thinks it were well, before you talk in such wise, to speak with my lady mother anent the matter." " I leave that to you, fair lady mine," said Florence pleasantly, and he laughed low to himself. Lady Ellen that night, on their reaching Pallice i ■^v«. Tub Fortunes of an Irish Chibf. 73 Castle, threw herself into her mother's arms, aiul whispered — "Mother, I am saved. iJe has come to save me — to make me his own dear wife !" **Iknow it, dear one !" said the mother, fondly kissing: her child's white forehead. " I know it, and I am fiflad, iilad and thankful." " But my father " " Hist ! child, hist I — let no one hear these words : Your father knoivs it^ too, — he sent Florence hither. But an' it were known, he being now in England, he might spend the remnant of his days in the Tower of London, and never see Killarney's hills again." " And the Browncs ?" "Let them e'en make the hest of it," said the Countess, more sharply than was usual with her. " Had they not looked to climb so high, their fall would have been the less, and their disappointment the more pitied. Come, my Aileeu, let us to our night prayer. We have much to thank our God for this happy night !" And a happy night it was ; one that was often re- membered with strangely-varying emotions in the changeful years that followed. Alas ! that tlie very brightness of the recollection, and its delicious charm, should serve to darken and embitter still more many an after hour of gloom and anxious care. Two days after, when the moon was again sinning on the desolate Abbey walls in the last hours of night, a bridal party stood before the ruined shrine of Muckruss, where the altar still stood, defaced and 74 HacCartht Morr; ob broken. The light of day might not witness, in those evil days, the marriage of MacCarthy INIore's daugh- ter to the son of one MacCarthy Reagh, and the eon of another, — himself the lord of broad ancestral domains I Few were tlie witnesses of tliat marriage, that in other times would have gathered together princea and chiefs, and lords, and ladies from more than one of the four Provinces of Ireland. O'SuUivan More, MacFinan, the seneschal, and another young officer of the Earl's household, who was the Lady Ellen's foster-brother, these, with the Countess and Una O'Leary, were alone pre&ent. The friar, the Earl's chaplain, a man of venerable age, who said Mass and performed the ceremony, was one of those who In the direful days of Henry VIII., were expelled from the Abbey at the sword's point. It was, truly, a solemn and picturesque scene, suggestive of many a mournful rellection. i No bard played, no dairseach sounded, no clansman raised his joyous cheer, when the daughter of the MacCarthys and the Geraldines wed her equally no- ble kinsman; no banner waved, no spear or battle-axe gleamed ;only the pale moonlight streaming through the roofless aisle, and the sickly ray of two small tapers on the altar, illumined the strange scene. Amid tlie ghostly shadows of the ruined fanes, in silence and in mystery, where, their lordly fathers slept beneath. Lady Ellen became the wife of Flo- rence MacCarthy. "'*-*-^'. j' ' ti wH wi imvmi'jt ip" ' " ' y i Tub Fortunks of an Irish Ciiib?. 75 Little did Nicholas Browne dream that morning in his house at Molahiffe, that the presumptuous hopes he had cherished, of being one day MacCarthy More's son-in-law, were forever blighted ; that the fair and rich prize he had so coveted was even then Bnatched from his grasp. ■, 76 MacCartiiy Mork' or. CHAPTER V. Silently and secretly as tlie inarriago was perform- ed, the news sped like wild-fire, throughout the Prov- ince, that Florence MacCarthy had wooed and won the lieiress of Clan Carthy's Earl I Tlie clans of Cork and Kerry heard it, and were glad. The Brownes heard it, and rage and mortification, and the thirst of vengeance, filled their souls. The Queen's officials heard it ; Sir Thomas Norreys heard it, and sore amazed and discomiited at the clever trick Flor- ence had played him, and dreading, moreover, the Queen's anger, he sent a posse of soldiers into Kerry with all haste, and in the chief castle of MacCarthy More, within the walls of the Pallice, were Florence MacCarthy and his young bride, the aged Countess, MacFinan, and Lady Ellen's foster-brother, arrested ; even poor little Una O'Leary was duly taken into custody as " the Queen's prisoner !" Luckily for O'Sullivan he had gone home before the arrival of the troops, and succeeded in keeping himself out of the way till the storm had blown over. It was the solitary consolation of the so lately happy party that the priest, too, was saved from falling into the hands of those who literally thirsted for the blood of every minister of the ancient faith. To him capture would have been cruel and most certain death I ' Tub Fortdnks of an Irisu Chief. 77 Florence MacCarihy, MticFinan, nnd Tca!]jae Meri- gagh, the ])rido's foster-brolher, were conveyed to Cork, and lodged under bolt and bar ; the Countess \va8 taken to the strong fortress of Castlemaine, in Kerry, but Lady Ellen and her fomalo attendant wei-e placed " under proper surveillance''' at the house of an English "merchant of the city."* Sad and sud- den ending to a season of happinesiJ all too brief ! People, now-a days, may ask in surprise what con- cern it was of Sir Thomas Norreys, or of Queen Elizabeth, that the daughter of an Irish chieftain should marry, with the consent of her nearest rela- tives, a young gentleman of her own race, every way suitable for her husband. Nevertheless, so much did it concern even the royal Elizabeth herself, that when she read the letter in which Norreys informed her that Florence MaeCarthy, having, on false pre- tences, got his warrant to go into Desmond, had married his cousin " in an old broken church near by," and, it was feared, " with Mass and Popish rites, — not in such solemnity and good sort as be- hoved, and as order of law and her Majesty's in- junction doth require" — the gentle Tudor princess burst into a fearful passion, stormed and swore, as was her wont, and vowed a terrible vengeance on all and every one who iiad aided in this " treason- able practice," as she and lier ministers styled the marriage. x\nd why all this fury ? Simply because * Why the prisoners wore not all lodged in Cork jail is matter of conjecture. Some historians have it that they were arrested at diifcrent times aud in different places. A 78 MacCartiiy More; ob, '•♦ of the very advantages of birth • and alliance which made Florence so acceptable a son-in-hiw to theEiul and Countess of Clancarthy. Right well would it have pleased the Queen had she heard of Lady El- len's marriage with Nicholas Browne, the surveyor's son, or, indeed, any other " loyal English gentleman ;'* but, alas ! for the Englisli interest and the new reli- gion, the case was far, far diflerent. Florence Mao- Carthy, wrote Norreys and St. Leger, was " one of tlie best affected gentlemen of the Irishry in Mun- Bter ;" he was " beloved of all his nation ;" was " fer- vently attached to the old religion," and " much fre- quented the company of Spaniards, whose language he had learned." To crown the long list of the young gentleman's offeiices, he was onnected by birth or marriage with nearly all the great families " of the Irishry ;" he was the favorite nephew of Mac- Carthy Reagh, Lord of Carbcry, the brother-in-law of O'SuUivan More, the nephew of James FitzMau- rice, the arch-traitor, the first cousin of MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry, whose mother was another sister of FitzMaurice, the nephew of Lord Roche, who had married the third of the FitzMaurice sisters, and the uncle of O'Connor Kerry, whose mother was his sis- ter ! Here was, surely, sufficient cause why he should not have been, by any manner of means, the son-in- law of the great Earl of Clancarthy. " For," wrote St. Leger and Norreys, " if this alliance be not pre- vented, it will breed much trouble, and cause much loss to her Majesty." All that could bo done ha<] Thb Fobtones ov an Ibibu Cuibf. 79 bo^vii (lone, her Majesty was informecl, by the arrest of tlie otreiidhig parlies, who had dared to " prao- lice" a step so undutiful and so ungrateful to their BO voreign liege, tlie Queen! The only trouble waa that O'Siillivan More luul not yet been apprehended, but of that there was good hope. In the midst of her towering passion, the Queen suddenly remembered that tlie Earl of Clancarthy was actually in London, and him slie forthwith sum- moned to her presence, exulting in the thought that he, at least, was m her very clutches. Both Norreya and St. Leger had stated it as the current opuiion that the marriage was not accomplished without the Earl's " connivance." ISTow, Donald ]\racCarthy More was not the nr.an who might be expected to bi-ave the fury of Eliza- beth Tudor with any shew of composure. And yet he did ; his face, prematurely old, from his disorderly life, yet still stamped with the nobility of his race, was calm and unmoved, as he stood the fire of that lightning glance before which the bravest and stout- est had often quailed. "How now, Earl?" said the enraged lioness, *• svhat wicked treason is this that hath been wrought of late m your country ? Is it true what they tell me, that you have compassed a match for your daughter without our knowledge* or consent?" " If so be that the marriage hath taken place, mine honored liege," made answer MacCarthy, fore God, I know not of it." (( be- m 80 MacCarthy More; or, " By the soul of our father !" ^^aid the Queen, with still iucrea^^inn; furv, " but this is too mueh. W'^ould you have us believe, my Lord of Clancarthy, that this gentleman who hath proved himself so unwor- thy of the many favors we had bestowed upon him, went from here en such errand withoat your know- ledge ? Speak, man, and speak truly !" A slight confusion was visible in the Earl's man- ner, as he replied — " Something of the matter Flor- ence said to me, but I gave him for answer that without your Majesty's consent I would not, for all the world, allow my daughter to marry him. This I said before witness." " How sayest thou ! before witness ! — before Tvrhat witness V" cried the Queen in a tone of incredulity. "Before gentlemen of as good account as any in Munster." "Are they of loyal demeanor? well aifGcted tow* ards us ?" " Surely, yes! — your Majesty may have them be- fore you, an' you will, or before your honorable Council. They are now in London." ' Write down their names I" said the Queen to her Secretary, Sir Francis Walsinghara, who was present. The witnesses were live Irish gentlemen ot honor and credit, and, as it happened, of " loyal demea- nor, ' as Walsingham certilled, after referring to a list of the disaffected in Munster. " Have them summoned before tiie Council !' said the Queen to Walsingham. " For you, my Lord of The Foetunes of an Irish Chief. 81 Clancarthy, see that you leave not tliis, our city of London, without our knowledge." " Most gracious Queen," said the Irish Earl, " if this marriage hath been practised, without my knowledge or consent, I must crave permission to recover my daughter^ if so be I can, from this cun- nins: traitor wiio halh deceived us all. She bein'j still under age, the marriage may be broken, au' it please your highness." Miglitily the suggestion did please her highness, and much did it serve to remove suspicion of " con- nivance from the Earl, The Queen sv ore a round oath that the thought was a good one, and, by Avay of consolation, she in- formed the aggrieved i)arent tliat his A"ife and daugh- t^v, and " all those who had been parties to the mar- riage," were in prison ; " 'Sullivan More, the chief adviser, as it seemeth, hath flone escaped the vigi- lance of our faithful servants," said the Queen, some- v/hat appeased. Smiling to himself at her Majesty's strange pro" nunciation of O'Sullivan's name, which in her mouth was O'S-owl-i-van, the Earl gravely shook his head, " I fear me much that O'Sullivan's escape may breed trouble," said he ; " natheless, with your Majesty's gracious aid, we may rciiedy the mischief, I cannot but blame my wife for giving in to these practices. The woman hath ever been of weak mind *— " he was going to add — " like her late unhappy brother of Desmond," but he luckily remembered 82 MacCabthy More; or, that ?t "was not advisable to remind the Queen of his own so near connection with that ill-fated Earl. The five gentlemen " of loyal demeanor" who had, so fortunately for the Earl, been present on the occa- sion, duly testi6cd before her Majesty's Privy Coun- cil that they had heard the Earl of Clancarthy posi- tively refuse to give his daughter m marriage to Florence MacCarthy, inless he ol>tained the Queen's sanction to the marriage.* What with their testi- mony, and the shew of displeasure made by the Earl in regard to the undutiful conduct of his wife and daughter, not to speak of Florence, — Donald Mac- Carthy More remained a free man in London, whilst Ihe storm of Elizabeth's anger was venting itself on all concerned m the obnoxious marriage. It was well for the reckless head of Clan Caura that the Queen did not see the merry twinkle of his eye, or hear his soliloquy, as he wended his way to his lodging in the Strand. "Truly, Florence hath a long head. Ay! and a sharp wit!" said the noble father-in-law to himself, with a complacent chuckle; "now, w lo but ho would have thought of having me say, with wit- ness present, that I would never give in to his mar- riage with Ailecn, failing the Queen's consent ? Ila I ha I ha ! The Queen's consent ! As though Mac- • The nanifs of the.so " honorablf gentU^mrn " were as fol- lows : Ilicliard Power, J ime8 Triint, Donis Palvey, Patrick Galway, and Dermod L< ynn. Their testimony was to the effect that the Earl had givwn monni/ deeds to Florence MacCartliy in their presence, but witl; the express proviso that all was uuU in law unless the Queen gav« her consent. ^ 1 m ^ i 1 Thk Foktunes op an Irish Chief. 88 Carthy Moie must needs usk tlie consent of Harry Tudor's base-born daughter to marry hts daughter to whosoever he Avilll Truly, Florei: 'C hath played his cards well, and between us, we have led the Brownes a merry dance ! Weie Tlorence but safe out of tlie casce now, I warrant he would make all c:o smoothly. A long head hath Florence MacDonogh, aud he knows this game of state-craft as weil, me- thuiks, as old Cecil hinisell!" Little cared the profligate J^'arl, while exulting in the successful strategy which had kept himself out- side the Tower walls, that his noble and virtuous wife was then the inmate of an Irish prison, subjected to all manner of indignity and uisult, and deprived of the ordinary comtorts of life ! Had the heart within him been one whit less hard and selfish than it was, it would have been cold and heavy at the thought that the partner of his life, the mother of his children, the daughter of a right noble race, was the prisoner of Elizabetli's heartless minions, torn from her home in her declining years for simply obeying his com- mands. Ilis young daughter, too, and the husband he had himscif:' given her! But nothing of this troubl'id the ignoble soul of Donald MacCarthy, with whom sf//" was ever the one supreme object. So he went his way rf\joicing. lie, at least, had escaped Elizabeth's ire Happily for the poor Countess, there was one to compassionate her unmerited suiforings. There was one to remember that she had once been the ad- ill ! II ' M U '. -^, h 84 MacCarthy More; or, mired and courted Lady Ilonora Fitzgerald, daughter of the Earl of Desmond, and was now the Countess of Clancartliy, respected by all save her unworthy husband. This compassionate friend was not of the Irish, nor yet of the Angjo-Irish race; he was one of the re- cent undertakers, and his name was Sir William Her- bert ; a stern, dark-faced man of purely English blood, respected by all men for his high principle and moral worth, though little loved by his brother- undertakers, for reasons to be shown hereafter.* Now, Sir William Herbert being a magistrate, had ample power to exercise his humane feelmgs; so one bright day in the early part of July he went to Castlemaine, and, without let or hindrance, took the Countess of Clancarthy and the maid who accom- panied her, and merely teljing the jailor that he would be answerable for the lady's appearance, con- ducted her, with the respect due to her rank and sta- tion, to his own Castle of the Island, some miles dis- tant, where suitable apartments were given her, and the kind Herbert family did all that refined attention could to make the noble lady forget that she was a prisoner. Good Sir William sat down then and penned a letter to Sir Francis Walsingham, the Queen's Sec- retary, which betipeaks at once his hunianity and * Sir William was the ancestor of the present Ilerlterts of Killaniey, who still retuiu the honorable c-haractcri^ticfs ot their sturdy ])rogenitor. Ihey are good landlords, and. therefore, much beloved by their tenantry, the descendants of the very ohiefd and clansmen whoso hiucTs they now possess. \1 I' * f TuK Fortunes of an Irisu Cuirf, a sense of justice that is truly marvellous in an Eng- lish undertaker of that day in Ireland. And yet the letter contained some passages that are eminently cLaracteristic of that au;e. Whilst informing the Queen's Secretary that he had taken it upon him, as an old and faitliful servant of the Queen, to remove the Countess of Clancarthy from the " damp, un- wholesome prison " to which she had been conveyed, he excused the step by saying that the Countess of Clancarthy, besides being " ever of very modest and good demeanor — though matched with one most dis- orderly and dissolute" — was "far stricken in years, and without hope of children" therefore "to be favored!" Furthermore, Sir William, in his apology, gravely informed the right worshipful secretary that it was rumored in tliose parts that the Earl's attempt to throw the blame .of the marriage on his wdfe, was made with a view to have her so brou<2cht to shame and trouble that it would shorten her days, and leave him at liberty to contract a new marriage, " whereby the Queen's remainder might be imper- illed" The modern reader may not know that, in case of the Earl's death without issue male, his vast posses- sions were to pass over to the Queen of England ; he having been induced some years before to surrender his lands to her Majesty, and accept them back as her gift, together with his Earl's patent ! Hence, it was a valid excuse for Herbert's removing the Coun- tess from her prison to his castle, that she " was far tW m I It .4^: I 86 MacCartiiy Mouk; or Btricken in years, and without hope of children," so that her Majesty's " Great Expectations" touching MacCarthy More's principality, Avere no wise " imper- illed." But to return to Florence and his young wife, whom we left im})risoned within the grim walls of the ancient City by the Lee, The captivity of the Earl's son-in-law was not so irksome as might be imagined. Whether it was that the Vice-President had given orders to make his imprisonment as light as pos- sible, or that, in the absence of anj'- special command on the sulyect, the Cork jailers took it upon them- selves to give the wealthy young MacCarthy the full benefit of his ample means, it is certain that his hours were blithely spent while in their custody. His friends were allowed to visit him at will, and he was, moreover, free to entertain them, which he did with a right good will. Mirth and good cheer abounded in the spacious apartment which money had procured fur him, and what he valued most of all, — as, indeed, it was the most remarkable privi- lege he enjoyed, — his young bride was not debarred from visithig him. It is true, Lady Elhm's visits were not made openly as those of the others ; much caution was observed by the turnkeys in her going in and coming out, but this air of mystery that shrouded their interviews served but to in- crease the joy of meeting, and gave a still more po- tent charm to those swiftly-passing hours they spent together within the gloomy prison walls. Sitting If , « r H) i The Foktunrs of an Irish ,Ciiirf. 87 lonely in her semi-confinement, in the quaint old house of the Cork trader, where slie was placed for sale keeping, on her liusband's security given by bond, the young daughter of Clancarthy whiled away the tedious hours between her visits to the pri- son, by talking with her faithful Una over the strange events of the last few weeks. There was in the house an ancient spinnet that had belonged to some de- parted member of the trader's family, and as the young lady had, happily, learned its use, it served to beguile some of the weary hours. Lady Ellen was not much given to thought, nor was she of an ima- ginalive turn ; she was one of those who are fain to take what good they can out of the world and pass- ing CTonts, troubling themselves little, or none at all, about future contingencies. Having, by nature, fully as much of her father's common-place character,— it might be even more than of her mother's more re- fined and thoughtful temperament, — the young heir- ess seldom, if ever, thought of anything beyond the present hour, or the evil immediately threatening herself, whatever that might be. It must be some- thing directly affecting herself that had power to gladden or sadden her young, light heart. It is true, she felt keenly this, her first separation from her mother, and her tears flowed many a time when she thought of her sad and lonely state in the gloomy fortress of Castiemaine, far away from kith and kin, from home and friends. Even when with Florence, she sometimes gave way to despondency, . -^ '-. i i h.^h 80 88 MacCartiiy More; or, while talking of her mother, and, with the petulance of a froward child, blamed her marriage as the un- lucky cause of so much miscliief. Florence smiled as he listened to these girlish complaints, well knowing that he had the power of soothing away the cares and sorrows that rested so lightly on his young wife's heart. One day, wlien Lady Ellen came to visit him, he met her with a face of joy that at once attracted her attention. It was so different from his usual expres- sion of anxious care. " "Why, how is this, Florence?" she asked, "you look as though you had received some glad tidings T'* "And truly, so I have. Heard you no news, you who live abroad in the city ?" Ellen shook her head. "Then am I better served in prison. I have heard that your lady mother hath been taken from Castlemaine prison by Sir William Herbert, on his own bail, and lodged in his Castle of the Island !" " Now, may heaven bless him for that good deed !" said the young lady, with a glowing cheek and a moistened eye, " I forgive him all, were he fifty un- dertakers. But, Florence', know you this for cer- tain ?" " That do I, my little wife ! — I had it from one of mine own men who came hither yesternight with the news. ?j " Now, then, I am happy !" said Lady Ellen, as she threw back the hood from off her face, and laid Jjer head on her husband's shoulder. t |> 1 f f> Tub Fortunes of an Irish Chirp. 89 "Happy, Ellen ! and I in jail, — yourself a captive, your mother, too, and others of our friends, all on our account !" " Yea, happy, Florence, I said, and said truly. But tell me, how is it," she said, with a look, of newly-awakened curiosity, "how is it that my father hath not been arrested, though he be in London ? hath no suspicion fallen on him ?" Florence MacCarthy laughed, a low, inward laugh peculiar to himself. "Suspected he was, Ellen, and matters might have gone hard with him, too, but that provision was made beforehand for his safety. Nay, no questions, little one ! such heads as this," fondly stroking her raven liair, " need not be tioubled carrving men's secrets. You would be too wise, an' you knew everything !" Lady Ellen was quite willing to be 1 ft in ignor- ance on that, or, indeed, any other subject. She had already learned to look up to Florence's wisdom and knowledge as something far beyond her com prehen- sion, and it needed not this new proof of his far- reaching foresight to make her regard him with ad- miration in those early 'days of their married life. They were bright days, after all, notwithstanding their surroundings. Nor did this escape the keen eyes of their deadly foes, the Brownes. Fierce in love and in hate, Nich- olas Browne, who had really set his heart on the Earl's dark-haired daughter, and had coveted her no less than the broad domains she was to inherit,— ] ri I M: •J" <■ i a.H ;^ 90 MacCarthy More; or, now hated with a mortal, implacable hatred, the man who had rohbed him of the lady and her lands. The deserted bridegroom of Molahiffc henceforth lived but to revenge himself on the successful rival who, like the young Lochinvar of Scottish song, had borne away in triumph the prize of which he had thought himself sure, and left him to "dangle his bonnet and plume." His first step, in the way of revenge, was to ap- prise O'Sullivan Beare, — whose daughter it was Bupposcd that Florence would have married, — of what had occurred. The hot blood of the Kerry chieftain boiled with indiijnation at the news, and the lightning flash of his eye, and the dark frown that gathered on his brow gladdened the heart of Nicholas Browne; he knew that he had made an- other and a powerful enemy for Florence. The thought was balm to his heart. The next move was made by Sir Valentine, his worthy progenitor, — with a heart full of bitterness the quondam surveyor had betaken himself to Dublin, there to hover around the Viceregal court, in expec- tation of some fortunate turn of affairs that might enable him and his to recover the ground they had lost by Florence MacCarthy's bold and masterly couji de main. The month of October brought a letter from Sir Valentine in Dublin, to Sir F. Wal- singham in London, complaining that his three sons who were settled on the Earl of Clancarthy's lands were in great danger of being dispossessed, for that 4 i The Fortunks of an Irish Cuirf. 91 I all the MacCarthys were now likely to join against them, and that the horsemen heretofore allowed each undertaker by the Queen's government, were, by advice of Sir William Herbert, to be recalled, or left to be supported at the sole charge of t^aid undertak- ers. This, Sir Valentine said, would be utter ruin to his three sons aforesaid, and many other loyal gentlemen who could by no means afford to pay these horsemen, and if left to their own servants would be undoubtedly set upon by the Irish lords of countries, who unjustly claimed the lands. To crown all the grievances of Sir Valentine and his three sons, " Florence MacCarthy remaineth in Cork with the resort of his friends and the EarVs daughter ^ with small restraint, he rather rejoiceth with ban- quettings than that he seemeth sorry for his con- tempt !" And then, to make matters still worse, Florence and his friends, he alleged, were giving out that the Queen had not forbidden the marriage, and that she would soon be broucrht to restore Florence to favor, and give him the right of suc- cession to his fatlier-in-law's vast possessions. What effect these artfully-framed complaints had in London remahis to be seen. They were strengthened and enforced, be it remembered, by the earnest remonstrances of Norreys and St. Leger, and also by those of the Queen's Bishop of Cork, all of whom pamted in vivid colors the sad re- sults that might and would follow this union of the two chief branches of the MacCarthy sept, eon* i \ !'■ in m if':-' m IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // * i^ /y^M? 1.0 I.I 1.25 lii|2| ||2^ m 2.2 20 U 1111.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WfcST f.«; "N STRHT WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 m ^\ V \\ «> ^1> ^^ 1 I ^ .V &. " '# #<^/^ f/j \ \ 6^ <-■ 92 MacCarthy Morb; or, nected, too, with several of the Geraldine familieb, representing to her Majesty that the only \ ay to prevent all tliis mischief was to annul the mar- riage, and to endeavor, if possible, to cut off Florence's right of succession to the Lordship ot Carbcry. With so many and such powerful ene- mies, hard it was for Florence MacCarthy to hold his ground. I lieb, y to nar- off p ot ene- to Tub Fortunes of an Ibish Ch»f. 98 CnAPTER VI. One sad day there was mourning in Cork jail. Orders had come from England to remove Florence MacCarthy to Dublin, and the young wife of four months was called to see her husband, it may be for the last time, while the Queen's messengers waited to do their errand and convey him on board a royal ves- sel then lying in the harbor. " Oh Florence ! Florence !'* she cried, as she clung to him, sobbing and in tears, at the last moment, " would that I had never become your wife, when this, this is the penalty ! — How is it that the meanest of my father's clansmen can marry whom he will, whilst you and I must needs have leave from Eng- land ?" ' . " Hush, darling !" whispered her more politic hus- band, " you forget that walls have ears in a prison ! Were vou better skilled in certain matters, I would tell you more than now I do or can. Be sure, how- ever,' that the Brownes are at the bottom of all this. You are but a child in worldly wisdom," he tenderly added, " else you would have no need to ask where- fore it is that neither you nor I, — but especially you, — was free to marry, without the Queen's good leave." Seeing a turnkey's head protruding through the half-open door, Florence said aloud, " Commend me 94 MacGartut Mokk; or, to your lady mother, if, perciiance, it please our gra- cious Queen to shorten the tern^ of her imprison- ment and yours, that so you may return in peace to your father's castle of the Pallice. And so, fare- well ! my wife ! my Ellen ! — think of me as I will think of you, and be of good heart, dear one, for the Queen's goodness will soon restore us to each other." Smothering her grief as best she could. Lady El- len rejoined her attendant, who awaited her at the gate, and returned to her lonely room, lonelier than ever. Drearily and wearily her days now passed ; no mother, no husband, no friend to cheer or comfort her drooping spirit. Una was the only one left to whom she could speak of her own affairs, for her husband had specially warned her to keep a close mouth in her intercourse with the people of the house where she lodged, so as to avoid saying any- thing that might be used against him, herself, or any one concerned in the marriage. Time rolled on ; day followed day, and week fol- lowed week, and still no change in Lady Ellen's condition. Iler mother was still a prisoner in the Castle of the Island, and she herself was kept under a surveillance which, however, was not very strict, owing, probably, to the heavy security in which Florence was bound for her appearance when called on. The friends who had been arrested with the bride and groom were still in close confinement with* m the prison, but Lady Ellen had heard, to her great contentment, that O'Sullivan More, having given -I Tni Fo&iUNis OF AN Irish Cuikf. 95 ' himself up to the Vice-President, was admitted to bail, and suffered to return to his own Castle of Dun- kerron. Lady Ellen and her attendant were in the habit of walking a little way on the river's banks, enjoying the freshness of the summer eve or mom, and many a time they sat together on the edge of the low wall that ran on either side the stream, watching the sun go down, and the moon and stars shine out in the li- quid ether of the evening sky. There was no such bustle then as now by the water-side in Cork, al- though the commerce of the city was considerable, for the population it then had. Little of the rare beauty, for wliich it is now so famous, then met the eye, and the people that were seen moving through the streets were as motley as the houses on either Bide. Both one and the other presented the various characteristics of the mixed races by whom the an- cient city was then inhabited, and in bath these might be observed a strange admixture of the old and new Irish with the modern English. Then, as now, the British flag flaunted proudly over ** The pleasant waters of the River Lee " then, as now, most of the nations of Europe were re- presented by their several flags in Cork waters, but there was one flag, long familiar in Irish ports, that was then no longer to be seen in any of them, the grand old flag of Spain. Many tliere were on Irish ground, those stormy days, who yearned for the sight d6 MAcCARinT More; ok of that friendly flag again, for, truth to tell, it was then, and for long after, the one hope of the perse- cuted Catholics of Ireland. But not of that was Lady Ellen thinking, as she eat with Una by the river after eundon^n, one evening towards the end of August, looking listlessly down the stream to the bridge and the forts that then, at either end, terminated its city course. 11 er thoughts were far away in the gloomy Castle of Dublin, with him, the loved and lost, to whom a few short months before she had joyfully given hand and vow. She was startled from her sad, though not unpleas- ing reverie^ by the voice of a man asking for alms. The lady started, for the voice was not that of a common beggar, and the man, when she looked at him, as he stood with hand oi'tstretched, had not much the appearance of one to whom the mendicant's trade was familiar. His attire was that of an ordin- ary workman of the city, and his thick-set, burly figure, and coarse, swarthy features, gave little indi- cation of want. Only the empty sleeve that hung by his side gave any plausible excuse for his having recourse to charity. Lady Ellen somehow shrank from the bold, free look which the stranger fixed upon her. She motion- ed to Una to stand up, as she did herself, then told the beggar that she was as poor as himself, which she regretted for his sake. She was turning away in some trepidation, when the supposed beggar, follow- ing, and watching his opportunity till no one was i TlIK FOKTDNES OP AN IlllSII ClIIEF. 97 idi- tree lion- :old she in low- as near, snid close to her car, so close that she started ajid cauu:iit Una's arm — '* I know well that Aileen MacCarthy hath no mo- ney in her purse — poor caged bird that she is ! Be not afraid," he added, in a deep, lioarse whisper, " the same blood flows in your veins and mine. Little cau^e have 1 to love tlic daughter of Ilonora Fitz- James, but I wish you no ill, young daughter of MacCarthy More !" ** In the name of Heaven, who are vou?" *■ A friend of yours, but no friend of Florence Mac- Donogh,' tlie man answered in the same deep, ear- nest whisper. *' Nevertheless, I owe him a good turn for what he hath done in regard to the Brownes, and seeing you here this evening, I thouglit I might as well tell you that there's one Donald MacCarthy in these parts who has some forty good swords at com- mand, ready to back man, woman, oi* child against that devil's bird, Nicholas Browne. Here's people coming — I must away, for this lame arm," and chuckling, he pohited significantly to where the arm that ought to have been in the empty sleeve, was drawn up under his outer garment, across his brawny chest — "this lume arm, and this English gear I have on, would serve me little if some eyes in Cork got sight of my bonny face ! — Charity, good lady, for the love of God 1" he whined out, in the professional drawl of the begging tribe, as footsteps were heard approaching. The passers-by were becoming fewer and fewer, for in those turbulent times, even though " No curfow toU'd the knclI of parliiii; Uuy " 98 MacCartuy Mork; or, the fear of danger abroad sent all men early to their homes, — if, percjiiance, they had them, — and cleared the streets of loiterers. " Get thee gone, thou idle varlet !" said a stern voice in English, "thy hypocritical whining shall nought avail thee here. Get thee hence, I say, or I will have thee put where such knaves ought to be." " Good Master Tom kins, be not so hard on a poor fellow !" said the supposed beggar, " an' you wanted your supper yourself, you would, perchance, whine somewhat as I do. Sufler your fair daughter to give some alms to a poor fellow who hath lost an arm ?" " The lady is no daughter of mine ;" said the burly Englishman, " but be she who she may, it nothuig concerns you. Begone, I say, an' you would not have me call the watch !" " Thanks, good sir I" said the sturdy beggar, in a tone of grim mockery.. " May God reward you ac- cording to your deserts !" — So saying, he turned a corner and was lost to sight. " Mistress Ellen !'^ said the Englishman, who was no other than the merchant to whose safe keeping she was entrusted, " I marvel much to find you abroad in the streets so long after sundown. See that you keep more in-doors hereafter, and avoid parleymg with such graceless varlcts as yonder beg- gar, whom I hold to be no safe company ! Pray thee, fair mistress, hasten thy steps; an' thou art seen out of doors at this unseemly hour, my damo and I may be brought to account." . Tub Fortl^nrs op an Irish Ciiibf. 99 L a 'JIS i For several weeks after tliis rencontre, Lady Ellen discontinued her eveninur])Ose that lay hidden far do"wm in the heart of the Earl of Clancarthy, rough and reckless as lie seemed. It never occurred to Lady Ellen, though her husband's more astute mind miffht have guessed, that, in seeking to recover his daughter from the custody of Engx! h officials, the Earl did but shew the natural anxiety of a father to have his youno; dauohter aj:ain under the shelter of his own roof, until such time as her husband was re- leased from prison, — that his ulterior views m regard to the divorce might he only insinuated in order to throw St. Leger and Norreys off their guard. " Alas ! alas !" sighed the young wife. " Who would be bom an Earl's daughter in this poor land, i TUK FOKTUNKS OF *~ IlUSIl CuiBF. 103 i \ . these black and sorrowful days ! Oh ! that my poor brother were but living, then should I be free to marry wliom I would !" " Pri' thee be not Ciist down, sweet lady I" quoth Mistress Tonikins, her comely lace beaming with kind womanly sympathy. '' AVlien TondJns and 1 came together first we had hard time,^. for many a long day, — ay 1 marry had we, for he w. but a serving- man in our house, and my father v.as a chief man in the Glovers' Guild v\ fair Loi 'on city idy father wrs a hard man, and he was main r.ri-ry at first, aDd Bwore he'd have Giles Tomkius 'Uiipi yd to the Weat em Indies. He took me away from him, too, but after a month or two, when he saw tiiat I did noth- ing but cry all day long, he sent for Tomkins, and told him to take his wife and go iiis ways. lie never troubled us after, and in time himself and Tomkins became the best of friends. So cheer thee up, sweet Mistress, things may e'en turn out witli you and your winsome spouse as they did with Giles Tom- kins and myself." This homely attempt at consolation was not ■without its effect on Lady Ellen, who could not help emilinGf at the thou^dit of " the chief man of the Glovers' Guild" waxing so wroth over the alliance of honest Giles Tomkuis. She was amused at the good w^oman'^s evident su)) posit ion that the Earl of Claucarthy considered his new son-in-law as unworthy of that hoQor, as the honest glover of " fair London city" did his tormer serving man. She was tempted 104 MacCautiiy More; or, to explain to Mistress Tonikins that her husband was fully her equal in nobility of birth, and if not her equal in wealth, so nearly so that her father was well content with her choice, which was, in-ered their reversional "rights." Inexperienced as she was, however, and by no means remarkable for precocious prudence or sagacity, the young lady repressed the desire so nat- ural to one in her position, and wisely k(.'pt the secret, which known, might and would have seriously compromised her father, and drawn down still heavier displeasure on her husband. The following' eveninix, one of the loveliest of late September, Lady Ellen e\'])ressed her vish to walk abroad with Una, to which ^Mistress Tomkins will- ingly acceded, observing that she looked somewhat pale, and that a walk in the fresh air miglit do her good. Tears came hito the young lady's eyes ; words were on her lips that she might not speak, so drawing her hood over her face, and nodding kindly to the good-natured helpmate of Giles Tond^ins, she left the house, followed by Una, and walked with the buoyant step of youth along the narrow streets of the old city, taking the direction of the Martin Gate. The sun had not yet reached the horizon, and his rich autumnal rays fell slant-wise over the rows of quaint old buildings on either side, penetrating only at intervals, where the houses were lower, to the I It Thr Foktunks op an Imsn Cihep. 105 rugged pavement below, which they gilt as gor- geously as thougli it were a pahice floor of polished marble. The greater part of the streets lay wra})t in the shade of the tall steep-roofed houses as Lady Ellen MaeCarthy and her faithful attendant tripju'd liglitly along, little heeded by the passers-])y. The business of the day was over, but the streets were still alive with the citizens, taking the air with their wivx'S, and daughters, and " sweethearts." Down Castle street Lady Ellen and L^na went, the young lady's anxious glance full often fixed on the massive walls of the Kinuf's Castle which closed the vista at the end of the street. There, she knew, was an EnL]:lish warder on the battlements, and an Eiilt- lish sentinel pacing to and fro in front of the gates. But the Castle was passed, and the warder, whose attention was turned to the open country, rather than the streets of the city, and the sentry, who scarce interrupteil the martiid strain he was humming to look at the two hooded figures that glided past liim, undistinguishable in the crowd of Cork ladies simi- larly attired, who were walking (.0 and fro, engaged in animated conversation. Through the lofty arch of the Martin Gate tlio two figures passe^l, by the .vi le open portal of the strong Castle that defended ilio entrance on tlie outer side, and, unchallenged by warder or by sentinel, reached the oj^cn couniry. Little thougnt the whistling sentry at the Casih- gate that the taller of the two light-footed dam-t-is who tripped past liini that evening at sundown, the r 106 MacCarthy More; or, faces half hidden in tlie deep hoods then worn by women of hiijfh and low degree, was the miich-talked- of heiress of llie great Earl of Clancarthy, for whose apprehension, a week later, he niiglio have some fifty marks of gold, or mayhap a grant of land that wonld make his fortune, and his children's after him. So in happy (but not profitable) nnconsciousness he let slip the golden opportunity of fou!iding " a new family" in Cork or Kerry, on the forfeited lands of some Irish Chieftain. Standing in the field v/ithout, in the shade of the high town wall, Lady Ellen looked around, half fri listened at her own boldness in venturing so far. " Pray heaven that wliat I have done be for good !" she whispered low to Una. " An' he should fail us now, all were lost! Back it were not safe to go, for so many watchful eyes there be, that our flight may be even now discovered." " Nay, dear lady, be not so fearful," said Una, in the same low tone ; " an' the man were truly your hus- band's messenger, it is little likely tliat he will leave you in such a strait as this. If it please you, let us walk on ; it were unwise to stand still so near the gate." They walked on at random a little way in the di- rection of the Iieights, Lady Ellen becoming more and more anxious every moment; they had reached an angle of the walls, and there stopped short, fear- ful to venture further, when a voice behind them said in Irish—" Is the colleen dhu taking a bit of a walk this fine evenins: ?" «■ mm ■Jimu 7Tm The Fortunes op an Irish Chibp. 107 Turning quickly, Lady Ellen beheld her friend, the pedlar, pedlar now no longer, but arrayed in the ordinary garb of a Cork townsman of the lower classes. With an admonitory gesture, the quick- witted Carbery man went on in the same careless lone, meant for the ears of the passers by : "It isn't afraid of the red soldiers you'd be, Kathleen astore, to be strolling out here, you and Maura, by yourselves !" " Afraid !" said Lady Ellen in the same language, takingthe cue from the Carbey man," what for would I be afraid ? The red soldiers never did harm to me." "May be it's going to see your grandmother you are up Kenmare side." "You've a good guess; that's just where we're bound for." " Then I'll be part of the way with you, but you cannot be back to-night." " Not before the gates are closed. My mother said we might stay over night." Talking 'thus in a careless way the three walked on, little heeded by any one they met. All at once a horseman dashed past them, followed by one or two others. Lady Ellen did not venture to raise her eyes, and the guide himself grew suddenly silent. When the sound of tlie norses' feet grew faint in the distance, Bryan na Carda (for so Florence's mes- senger was named) burst into a loud laugh. "Does your ladyship know who that was that passed but now ?" I . Ju. 108 MacCarthy Mour; ok, " Nay, how Bhould I know ? I looked not from under my liood." "That wasNicliolas Browne, wlio would fuhi have been your ladyship's husband. I warrant me he is riding in hot Iiaste to Cork to lodge a complaint agains'i that dare-devil, Donald MacCarthy, for some new pnaiks he has been playing ; some of his horses houghed, or his cows killed, or may be some of his Englishmen sent to the other world. Donald is a great hand at playing such tricks — especially on the Brownes, as your ladyship can't but know." " Thank God he did not see me !" ejaculated Lady Ellen, her mind full of the threatened divorce. " Nay, he hath given up hope of your ladyship now," said Bryan. " Heard you not that he hath married the daughter of O'SuUivan Beare ?" " What, Eveleen, whom her father would fain have Florence marry ?" asked Lady Ellen eagerly. *' The same. Master Nicholas, hearing that O'Sul- livan and his daughter deemed themselves slighted in that matter, offered to marrj'- the lady himself, hoping thereby to get some back* amongst the Lish. So the match was made, and the couj)le married, and now the Brownes and O'SuUivan Beare's people are pulling together against MacCarthy More and my master, — bent on doing all the harm they can." "Strange tidings these!" said Lady Ellen, " and yet I am well pleased that Browne hath taken a wife. Since Eveleen O'SuUivan married the geiit!e- * Bnck in Irish phrasoology, used in thia Bonse, means stqrport. fli 1 Tub Fortunes op an Iiusu Chief. 109 wi\.in for spite, I need have no pity for her. But whillier are we going ?" slie asked, seeing that tliey had now lost siglit of Cork, and were going farther and fartlier from the river, hack into tlie country. " To a place of safety," was Bryan'* curt, hut re- spectful answer. " I fear your kidysLip is tired, but there are horses waiting for us a little farther on." On the little party trudged, through the increasing darkness ; the road became wild and lonely, and lit- tle Una keeping closer to the side of her mistress, wliispered her fears that, afr.er all, they might have fallen into evil hands. " Hush !" said her mistress, " be not afraid. I will end well, I doubt not." Just then, from out a clump of trees, came a voice asking, in Irish, " Is that you, Bryan naCarda?" Bryan's answer brought out from amongst the trees three Kerry ponies, and two men who had had them m charge. Lady Ellen and her shrinking attendant were placed on two of the ponies, Bryant mounted the third, and with a kindly " God speed you, Lady Ellen of Clan Caura !" from the men behind — which familiar words set poor Una's mind at ease, the little party rode on in silence, their way lit only by the fitars of heaven, Bryan riding in front as guide. " Now, then," said he aloud, " a iig for Norreys, and St. Leger, and the Brownes to boot !"# On, on they rode through the silent night, their destination a secret to the young wife of Bryan's no MacCartuy Morr; or, master, who, nevertheless, took some pleasure in thinkmg that she owed her newly-recovered freedom to her husband, whose loving care still watched over her. ^ Thk Fobtdmis or am Irisb Chixf, 111 ^ ii CHAPTER VIL During his imprisonment in Cork, Florence Mao Cartliy had had several interviews with the Vice- President ofMunster. At lirst, Norreys, still smart- ing under the hiiniiliation of the clever trick played upon him, indignantly refused ; it occurred to him, however, that by speaking with Florence he might possibly glean some information that would furnish an item for his next dispatch to London, so ho changed his mind, and gave orders for " Mr. Flor- ence MacCartie" to be admitted to bis presence. " My service to you, Sir Thomas !"said the gentle- man of the MacCarlhys, with a courteous bow and a bland smile. Service me no service !" said Norreys testily, " what would you of me ?" " Nought at the present time. Sir Thomas, savmg this, that I would fain tell you how it was that mat- ters fell out as they did after I went into Desmond with your Honor's permission." ** My permission ! — a pretty use you made of it I Truly, I would sooner have cut off my right arm had I but known your traitorous design." MacCarthy bit his lip, and a deeper glow mantled his cheek, but his voice was as calm as usual, and his features as composed, when he replied, with a smile, "Traitorous design had I none, be well assured, Sir Thomas ! in going to Desmond.'* ; i 112 MacCartiiy ]\[orr; or, " Now, by mine lionor," said Xorrcys, vohcmcnt* ly, " tliis exceedeih all belief. What of the mort- gages you talked of? \yhat of the EarPs broken promises, ;uid ail tiie other complaints you lodged against him ? Wliat of the promise you said you were under to marry the daughter of O^Sullivan Beare ?" "As for tlic mortgages, Sir Thomas," said Flor- ence, smiling, " I held them then, and do hold them still. Tiiat I did not make good m}- claims to the mortgaged lands at that time is easily accounted lor. Few days had I passed in Pallice Castls when the mortgages and O'Sulllvan's daughter were forgotten, and the only thing I cared to remember was that the Earl had promised his daughter to me in marriage, and that if I could win so fair a prize, I had a better right to her than Nicholas Browne." "Knew you not that the Queen had her word to say in a matter of such moment? that the Earl him- self, even though you had his consent, had no power to give his daughter and heiress hi marriage without her Majesty's sanction ?" " Nay, truth to tell, I thought not of it," said MacCarthy, with a look of candor in his face that might have deceived sharper eyes than those of blunt, honest Norreys ; " I need not tell a gallant knight like Sir Thomas Norreys, that wiser heads than mine have been turned ere now by bright eyes and fair faces. One moonlight night on the Lake, with the Countess and A TiiK Fortunes op an Irisu Chirp. 113 ^ her lovely daiigliter, sent Avisdoin to tliQ ■winds. That is the pliiin trnth, Sir Thomas I — As lor the Queen's hiyhncss, liow was I to know that my gracious hidy, whom I liad served, and my father belbrc me, wouhl withhold her consent to my marry- ing the lady of my choice ?" " But when the lady of your choice was the Earl of Clancarthy's heiress V" " Nay, had she been the daughter of one of mine own vassals, it were all the same to me." •' But not to the Queen." •*So 1 find to my heavy sorrow. My chief trouble in this matter is that I have fallen under her Majes- ty's dispkasure, whereas I dreamed not of any such result from this love-fully of mine. The Earl's anger we, all of us, dreaded, but the Queen's no one thought of. I Avould that Ellen had been the daugh- ter of some gentleman of no account, then might I have wooed and wed her without giving oftence to my gracious Queen !" " Or O'Sullivau and his daughter !" said Norreys, pointedly. " Xay, as regards them, they may be as angry as they will. The lady hath souglit consolation in the arms of Nicholas Browne, and her father may e'en let his WTath cool as it heated. I never had heart or eye in his daughter, for all he would fain have made the match." Thus ended the first interview between the Vice- President and the Earl of Clancarthy's politic son- IWMM 114 MaoCabthy More; or, ) in-law. The impression made on the mind of Nor* reys was, on the whole, favorable ; he began to think that, after all, Florence MacCarthy was not so much to blame ; it really did seem that he had of- fended not so much from malice as from ignorance, and he was undoubtedly a fair-sjioken, courteous gentleman. As regarded his going into Desmond, ii matters were as he represented them, he was no wise to blame ; he might have gone, as lie said, to look after his mortgages, without any thoughts of mar- riage ; and then he had ever been of well-assured loyalty and of dutiful demeanor towards the Queen's highness. So much for the effect of the first conference ; an- other and another followed, each one raising Florence in the good opinion of Sir Thomas. Without soli- citing any favor for himself or others, the wily chief- tain had, in his smooth, insinuating way, talked the Vice-President into the conviction that the marriage was wholly unpremeditated on his part, a pure affair of " love at first sight,'* and that none of the parties concerned had been aware that the act was treason- able and offensive to the Queen ! Having reached tliis conclusion, Sir Thomas Nor- reys, good man ! sat him down and wrote a letter to Sir Francis Walsinghara, the Queen's Chief Secre- tary, in behalf of Florence MacCarthy ! In this re- markable document, the so lately exasperated offi- cial recommends " Mr. Florence MacCartie" to " his honor's good favor," "as well by reason of the good # i ) TUE FORTUNRS OF AN IrISU CiIIRF. 115 * demeanor and carriage of liiinsclf," as also that sev- eral times since iiis coulincment, having conl'crenccs wilh him, he " found him very penitent for his fault so oftensive to her Majesty, protesting tliat the igno- rance o[ her highness' i)leasure, and no ill-meanincr in hiinhiell was the cause of his error,"* Befrre ihis letter reached Walsinijham, Florence MacCarthy had been removed to Dublin. There some anxicas, tedious weeks passed over his head. Sepa- rated from the young wife who, a few short months before, he had wedded in the mysterious and roman- tic solitude of the old abbey of the MacCarthys, by the Lake shore ; with the love of a Celtic heart burn- ing within him in its first fervor, and the thought of bis fair and youthful bride, torn from her mother's side, exposed to dangers, and trials, and humilia- tions, from none of which he could shield her, — this was, indeed, misery, — this alone would have made imprisonment mtolerable to most nwjn of his race. But, however much Florence MacCarthy might have loved the fair lady he had wooed and won, there was another passion that divided with love the empire of his heart, and filled his mind with dreams and hopes in which love had no share. Ambition, perhaps, even more than love, tilled his heart, and guided all his movements. Religion was not forgotten in his aspirations, but it did not occupy that first place in his heart and hopes which it did in those of other * State Papers, as quoted in the " Life and Letters of Florence MacCarlhy More," by Daniel MacCarthy.— p. 48. 116 MaoCarthy More; or, Irish chieftains of his day, — he well loved the an- cient faith, and much desired its exaltation, but it was not the guiding star of his tliouglits and plans. For several days he had been hi a state of even unusual anxiety. Calm and self-possessed as he al- ways was, he could with dilliculty maintain his com- posure when in the prestmcc of any of the oliicials who kept watch and ward over him. His imprison- ment, owing to the favorable impression he had made on Norreys, was latterly little more than nominal, and, learnhig that Sir Thomas had written to Lt)ndou on his behalf, he had even begun to hope for his lib- eration. One rich, autumnal day, when the mellow sun was shmmg through the bars of MacCarthy's prison, and the sky was calm and blue, and the winds were asleep in their ocean cradle, word was brought to Florence that he was to be removed to the Tower of London without delay. For a moment the ruddy check of youth grew pale, and the lamp of hope burned dimly within Florence's heart ; it was but a moment, and he was himself again, — the warm glow niantled on his cheek, and his dark eyes gleamed with unwonted light, while low he murmured to himself — "Thank God I Bryan has succeeded." He did not ask for any ex- planation of the new mandate, but he was not long left in doubt on the subject. Previous to his departure from Dublin he was brought before the Lord Deputy and the Council, TlIR FORTUNKS OF AN IllISII ClIIBP. 117 ew ill as |ek, [ht, .dl X- .iig as Icil, and Uicre questioned on tlie flii^lit of the Lady Ellen IMacCarthy, his wife, tVoni Cork. His suqirise was great, or so it seemed ; but it was not so great as tliat of tiie grave fuiiclionaries beforo wliom he stood, wlien lie said, in a dolei'ul tone, and with all nppearance of sineerity — " The silly damsel will be my ruin. She knew full well that I was bo'ind under a heavy penalty for her appearance on dt. land before the \'iec-President ! Your lordships may send me to the Tower, or where you will, I am a ruined man. Four hundred pounds I cannot pay, though I were sold horse and foot ! Woe is me that mine own wife should be niv undoinix !" " It is conunonly reported," said the Lord Deputy sternly, " that this thing hath not been done without your knowledge. An' it be so, you will have cause to rue it." " I have cause enough to rue wliat hath been done,' said Florence, dejectedly ; •' but for this ill-advised step of my wife's, I had, doubtless, been a free man before long, as Sir Thomas gave me some reason to hope." There was some show of reason in this plausible remark, as the lords could not but see, so after a whispered consultation among themselves, during which MacCarthy stood before them with a look of well-feigned anxiety on his handsome features, — they came to the sage conclusion that nothing could be drawn from him, and that further examination must be left to the English Privy Council, or the Queen lis MacCartiiy Mokk; or, herself. Intently engaged in tlieir discussion of the matter, they paid no attention to the prisoner's looks, otherwise they miglit, possibly, have arrived at an- other conclusion, to the effect that the "p:entlenian of the MacCarthys" was anuising himself at their expense. It wholly escaped their notice that the keenest eyes in Ireland were taking ironical note of their grave deliberations, and that the face which met their eyes when they turned them on it, in such doleful, troubled guise, wore a look of mingled drol- lery and exultation when their eyes were turned away. They little knew Florence MacCarthy. In ftict they set him down as a man of weak intellect, from whom little danger was to be apprehended, son-in-law as he was of the Earl of Clancarthv. A few days more — ^jiist as many as the voyage from Ireland to England then took — and Florence MacCarthy was an inmate of the Tower of London. With all his hopes of a speedy deliverance — all his strong self-reliance, his heart sank within him as he passed under the gloomy arch of that dread abode, where blighted hojie, disappointed ambition, hum- bled pride, a' id bleeding hearts, marked, with tears and sighs the weary hours that lay between them and the hangman's rope, or the headsman's axe. How could Florence MacCarthy fail to feel the blighting chill of the dreary place when he thought how many of his kindred had pined years of their lives away in the depths of that fortress- prison, — how many of them had gone thence but to TUK FORTUNKS OP AN luiSH .CllIRF. 119 eel he ara iSS- to If the phice of execution ? With the blood of the Ger- aldiiies, as well as of the MacCarthys, coursing through his veins, he could not forget that liis maternal an- cestors had been oftener tenants of tlie Tower than, perhaps, any other lords of the old or new Irish, lie knew full well that even then one of the Geraldines was before him in the Tower, viz.. Lord James Fitz- gerald, the only son. of the great rebel, Gerald, Earl of Desmond, sent by his motlier as a hostage when her heroic husband was in his sorest strait, in the hope of saving his life, and the remnant of his broken fortunes. Alas for the cruel disappointment ! So Floience McCarthy was duly consigned to the loving care of Sir Owen Ilopton, Lieutenant of the Tower, and his name was formally ad*led to the list of State prisoners. Weeks and weeks passed away ; the glories of au- tumn had faded from tlie earth, and icy whiter reigned, yet still the young husband of Lady Ellen MoCartliy, the noble bridegroom of Muckruss, lay in "durance vile," his days spent in the dull monotony of prison life, his nights cheered by dreams of the loved one far away, hoping every day to be re- leased, yet every day disappointed. So the dismal wintry liours dragcct! hier ,ia, IV !" an* i k TiiK Fortunes op an Iuisu Cuikf. 131 other coniing witli surer aim from tlie same quiver, the damsel was still unwilling to (lisol)oy a mistress whom all her dependents loved. Wiiile she stood a moment hesitating, tlie Countess, muttering to her- self the old sa3ing, " second thoughts are best," went forward quickly and took np the arrow. Iler keen eye had detected a paper protruding from un- der the featherv dart ; this she managed to secrete, then handing the arrow to h'*- trembling attendant, she told her, with a laint smile, *' Methought it had been sent with a love-message for my fair Maureen, an' it were so, there is no trace of it now ; mayhap you will find it somewhere hereabouts." "Xay, madam," said IMaureen, somewhat reas- sured, but still declining to take the arrow in her hand, •' nay, madam, school-craft hath little to do with the love-messages of such as we." It is needless to say that the Countess lost no tmie in returning home. Having reached her own apart- ments, she dismissed her attendant, and opcnln say, graciously received, and the de- sired instructions actuallv sentto the Vice-President. Scarce twenty-four hours had elapsed after the an- nouncement was made to Florence tliat Lord Bur- leigh had acceded to his request, when the gate of his prison opening, gave admission to Lady Ellen, with Una O'Leary, and the faithful Carbery man, Bryan na Carda! Again, after so many dreary months of separation, Florence MacCarthy clasped to his heart the young wife to whom, as to himself, their union had brought but sorrow and unrest. A t i The Foutunks of an Irish Chief. 133 + marvellously quick passage must the lady have had from Ireland, and so Florence told her with t'nat low, quiet laugh that was peculiar to himself. *' But how is it, Florence," asked Lady Ellen, " that you have obtained permission for me to come hither?" " I have obtained permission for more than that," he replied exultuigly, " you are now at liberty, sweetheart, to appear abroad at will. There be let- ters of Lord Burleigh's on their way to Ireland, com- manding Korreys to see that my little wife be no further molested by her father or any other person, and that she be aUowed to live in my house. What say you now, fair Ailecn?" " I say," she smilingly replied, *♦ that I begin to tliink you can work magic." " That can I, EUeu ! and I will teach you to work it, too !" " What mean vou, Florence?" Drawing her to him, he whispered acme words that made her start and turn pale. " Oh ! Florence, I cannot — *• You can and shall— for my sake, for your own sake, an' you love nie." " For your sake 1 would do much," she said, her dark eyes filling with tears, "but that — oh ! Flor- ence, bethink you of my youth — "And bethink you, sw^Tet wife, what the conse- quence must be, an' y? :i do it not." A pause ensued ; Ludy Ellen stood with downcast 134 MacCartiiy Mork; or, eyes, silent and thoiiglitful, the color on her cheelj coining and going like clouds over the April sky ; Florence watching her the while with a smile of conscious power. At length she raised her eyes to his, and saidj while her voice trembled with emo- tion — "Florence, even that will I do for vou : "Thanks, Ellen! I knew you would not fail me!" said Florence, with genuine feeling.. *• You must leave me now," he wdiispered, drawing her for a moment to his bosom ; *' remain at Mistress But- ler's till we see what fate hith in store for us." Two days more and the Lady Ellen McCarthy w^as bowing before the throne of the red-haired, fiery-eyed Queen of England ; Lord Burleigh himself ushered her into the royai presence, and in a low voice told the Queen who she w^as. *'In sooth, a comely damsel !" said Elizabeth, fix- ing her bold eyes on the face of the young Irish lady where she knelt in her timid grace before her. " So this is my lord Clancarthy's daughter, of whom we are tired hearing. God's life 1 damsel, you are ovei- bold to appear before us, after your lewd practices. How came you to withdraw yourself from the cus- tody of our servants in Cork?" "May it please your gracious Majesty," said Lady Ellen, in a voice scarcely audible, her face covered with blushes, *• I heard that my father was like to have me back, and meant to get a divorce — " ** Ay, marry," interrupted Elizabeth with -^ 'iCM^%^ t - ^ S - Thb Fv^rtunes of an Irish Chief. 135 ^ I 1 laugh, " you liked not the divorce ! An' you had had more of your bridegroom's company, you might like it bettor. But now we bethink us, how did you escape from Cork, and whither did you betake yourself?" " An' it please your Iliglniess," said Lady Ellen in sore distress, " I would fain be excused from an swering those questions." The fiery eyes began to flash. " God's death young lady, answer!" With a faltering voice Lady Ellen spoke, not dar- ing to raise her eyes — " A man from my husband's country met us — that is, my waiting-maid and I-— outside the gates — and— and — " " And what ? Speak out, lass, speak out ! '• " And conducted us to the house of my husband's foster-brother, near Kilbrittan." *' Kilbiittan ! one of MacCarthy Reagh's castles I — and her husband's foster-brother! You hear?" turning to Burleigh, who bowed assent. "And so, young lady, your husband's foster-brother, doubt- leisL\. by your husband's contrivance, kept you all this time concealed near Kilbrittan Castle ! God's life, damsel, is it so ?" " I was there but a short time, your Highness,'* faltered out the young lady. • ** Where, then, have you been ?" The stern voice of the royal speaker made the young heart in Clan- carthy's daughter sink within her ; she knew, how- ever, that there wa» nothing for it but to answer the question truly, be the consequence what it might. 136 MacCarthy More; or, "Here in London — lodged not far fi,.ui the Tower — so that I could see my husband's prison, though I could not see himself." Blushincj at her own boldness in sayincj so much, and fearing ^ sudden outburst of anger from the Queen, Ladj \"" bowed her head lower than be- fore. ■"' Great was her surprise, and still greater her sense of relief, wlien she heard the Queen say with her shrill, coarse laugh: " By the soul of our father King Henry, but this is a good joke ! Heard you ever the like, lords and ladies? There was all IMunster, ay ! marry, and all London to boot, wondering what had become of this young lady, and here she was snugly nesting at our very door. Ho ! ho ! ho ! — a keenwitted knave i? this Florence MacCarthy !" Then turning to Lady Elkn, she said, with mock gravity — '* Wlierefore, we i)ray thee, fair mistress MncCarthy, hath it pic? ^ed thee to visit our court at this present ?" "My gracious Queen," said Lady Ellen, harassed and bewildered, falling on her knees as she spoke, •' r come to petition your Grace on behalf of my husband. He hath ever Deen ? most loyal subject, your Highness, and his only desire is to live in peace in his own country on the lands he hath inherited from his fiither, the late Sir Donogh MacCarthy, who was likewise your Grace's bounded servitor." " Marry, young lady !" said the Queen, in her abrupt way, '* there be some who say that your bus- i sss Tub Fortunks of an Irish Ciiirf. 137 band is not at heart so well afTected towards us as his father was. Nallicless, young lady of Chincar- tliy, it hath been represented to us that your lius- band, in the matter of the marriage, offended uti wit- tingly, and knowing tliat iie hath served against our enemies, we will take note of his case. Pending tlie decision, Lady Ellen McCarthy, you can visit your husband wlien you will, and we shall be glad to see you at our court, if so be you can come hither witli some latly of good estate." Thus graciously dismissed, the young Irish hidy retired from the presence, accompanied to the door of tlie throne-room by one of the lords in waiting. Many a plumed and belted earl of that brilliant court, envying the lot of the imprisoned chief of Carbery, would gladly have paid his devoirs to the young and lovely daughter of the proud Earl of Clancarthy ; l)ut Elizabeth's jealous hatred of youth and beauty was too well known to permit any such expi*ession of sympathy or admiration for the too charming wife of Florence McCarthy. Even the grave and stern face of Burleigh smiled for a moment when the trusted friend of Elizabeth met the young lady's eye as she bowed herself out of the royal presence. On rejoining outside her faithful attendants, Bryan and Una, Lady Ellen, girl like, told the latter in a whisper that she had made the Q-aeon laugh, and that she did not find her half as liard or as cruel as she expected. *• The she-wolf 1" said Bryan to Una, as they walked 188 MacCartut Moke; or, together behind tlieir mistress. " I'd sooner trust an Irish life to the fiercest l)lood-]iound that ever crossed Slievc Logher. Peace or rest will I never know till my master is safe out of her hands." Something similar might liave been the thought that darkened the broad white brow of Florence McCarthy when he listened to his wife's account of her hiterv''n\, brightened by the ardent fiincy and the so easily awakened hopes of youth. He could not find in ^i h .irt to tell her how little faith he had in the promise of Elizabeth to " take note of his case." Something had been gahied, too, — his wife was invited to appear at court — that would give her opportunities of interceding for his release, and the vei-y fact of her being so invited proved that the Queen's anger was on the wane, dying, if not dead. Then he could see Ellen every day without any risk to her or himself. On the whole, his prospects were improving, and calmly trusting the future to Provi- dence, he applied himself with renewed ardor to the study of ancient Irish liistory, which formed the chief pleasure of his solitary hours. A learned man was Florence MacCarthy ; few men of his day had a more profound and intimate know- ledge of the literature of the Gael ; the bardic re- cords of the earlier times, and the genealogies of the great families were all familiar to him, and the dreams he dreamed while pondering over the event- ful story of his own race were, perhaps, the inspira- tion of his strange Ufa But it was not only in the i ■■yyygpyMp ^w"***' > < u m< t s M m >9^m m^ fi ^ i^ % TuE Fortunes of an Irish Ciiikf. 189 (f I Irish 'language and its litciature that Florence JNIac- Carthy pursued his studies. English and Spanish were scarce less familiar to him,* and Latin was as his mother tongue. During his Irequent visits to the Court of Queen Elizabeth, he had made the acquaintance of the most celebrated Englishmen of that day, by reason of his literary tastes, and had even made friends amongst the statesmen who surrounded the throne of Eliza- beth. These friend ships, not publicly acknowledg- ed, mdeed, after his imprisonment, but still existing to some extent, Florence turned, at times, to good account in ways that often puzzled and discomfited his enemies. Such being Florence MacCarthy, it is easy to ima- gine that his capacious and self-sustaining mind Ibund ample employment for itself even in the dull mono- tony of prison life. iNIany a plan was formed, many a dream of power — of freedom for himself, his coun- try, and his religion — passed in turn through that busy, restless brahi, while Florence sat gloomily in his tower-chamber, his eyes fixed on vacancy. In the midst of his lofty day dreams, FLrcnce MacCarthy bore well in mind that his broad pater- nal domains were being scrambled for by the under- takers; even the son-in-law of the English Attorney- General had appropriated to himself some thousands * The numerous letters of Florence MacCarthy preserved ftmongHt the English State Papers are fully equal ia s'yle to thone of any of the English statesmen of that day. He appears, indued, io h&ve mastered the language in all its idioms and intricacies. i 140 MAcCARiny More, or, m of acres of the fertile lands of Carbcry. This had been going on ever since the lirst news of their own- er's imprisonment in London had reached Ireland ; and Florence knew it well, for he managed to be made acquainted, even in the Tower, with everything that concerned his ailairs. lljilil latoly, however, he thought it unwise to enter any protest, and was fain to wait till the Queen's stormy anger had sul)sided. That time, he judged, had now come. The Queen bad promised to consider his case ; he would, there- fore, make a bold venture, relying on the good of- fices before mentioned of friends in high places. So he took up his pen and indited a petition to the Queen that she would graciously cause his property to be protected for as long a time as it pleased her Majesty to keep him in prison. More he did not ask, but much more was granted. Great was the astonishment of the Lords Justices in Dublin when they received a written order from the Queen's Privy Council, that Florence MacCar- thy's riglits were to be respected during his impris- onment ; that his " ser^'ants, officers, and tenants," were to continue in peaceable possession of all their holdings ; " also," went on the royal order, " that such sureties as have been committed to prison, or otherwise injured by distresses on their goods for default of the presence of such of the suppliant's ser- vants as could not, by reason of their attendance upon the Lady Ellen MacCarthy, his wife, repair into that realm, according to their bonds, may be re- ThS FOUI'IINKS OF AN laiSlI ClIIKP. 141 leased and sol at liberty, and tlicir goods restored unto tliein." This was much, but tliere was Btill more. It was further commanded tliat " Daniel llocho, Alouzo O'Brien, and Edmund Shibagli, or any of the servants of the said Florence MacCarthy, may be permitted, at all times, to rejK'iir into that prov- ince, or any other part of that realm, and to return hither aji^ain, behaving themselves as dutiful sub- jects with such commodities and other necessary things as they sliall tratisport for tlie use and relief of their said master, whereof, praying you to have such convenient regard that there may be no further occasion of complaint by them unto us in this busi- ness.* Lady Ellen could scarcely believe the evidence of her senses when Florence showed her, on her next visit, the copy of this remarkable document. With a smile of quiet exultation her husband watched her as she read, amused at the wonder and amaze- ment her face expressed as clause after clause met her eye. When she reached the end, she looked up bewildered — " Florence ! am I awake — or do I but dream?" "We are all but dreamers in this world, mine ov/n Aileen ! but you are as w^ide awake now as you ever will be." "And is this order truly from the Queen?" " Of a surety it is, and the same is even now on the way to Ireland. I wot me well the Lords Jus^ * Soe Life and Letters of Florence MacCartby More, t). 77. 142 MacCarthy Mork; or, tices, and Sir John Popljain, and ^faster Rogers liifl hopeful son-in-law, and all the rest of the rohhers that have undertaken my lands, will doubt, as my little wife does, whether they be waking or sleeping when tlwjy come to read it." " But I would fahi know," said Lady Ellen, " who hath -won sivch grace for you." *'Mine own self," said Florence, very calmly; "my poor petition, presented by my Lord Ijurleigh, hath wrought this change. Caged bird though I be, Ellen, you see I can do somewhat towards hold- ing mine own. By this move we have gained much; now for another move, that may, perchance, checjk- mate some of mine enemies !" "And what is that?" *• A little matter I have in hand, which I must needs keep secret even from yon, sweet "wife, until such time as the result be known. I would not trouble your little head with my plans and projects. It is meet that one so fair and vounij should not be burdened with care. So, sit you down, mine own Aileen, and I will play you one of those old-world airs you used to love." "Play!" said Lady Ellen, in surprise; "surely you jest, Florence. Alas ! what instrument have you in this dreary place ?" and she looked round with a visible shudder. " This have I," rei>lied Florence, with a cheerful smile, as he drew forth from under his cloak, whieli hung on a pin over his bed, a lute of quaint but r im iiiiiiii)«ilil»gi|iiiiiyu'itfiMiiiiiii The Fobtunks of an Irish Cuirf. 147 ** Set me free- — nay, sweetheart, that were )ver- nmch to expect from the lionesB wliose foot is on our nation. Thanks to my good lord of Orniond, \\ ho hath gone cecurity for rae, I am free to live outside the tower, provided I stray no farther than three miles from London ! " There was bitterness in his tone, but Lady Ellen heeded it not — " You have liberty to remain here, — say, Florence, is it so ? " The passionate eagerness of her look and tone v/as so touching, that it was one of the happiest moments of Florence MacCarthy's troubled life when he was able to answer in the allirmative. " God be praised that so much is granted !" E.iid the lady, with pious fervor — " Even here we may bo happy ! " " Happy ! " repeated Florence, as he gazed with mournful tenderness on the face, now so bright, that a few moments before had been clouded with heavy sorrow — " alas ! m}'- poor Aileen ! the flower of hap- piness may not bloom in the shadow of yonder prison. Natlieless, I am half content to wait for what more I fain would have, since it hath pleased her majesty " — again the cold sneer disfigured the handsome face of the speaker, — " to allow me the sweet company of mine own wedded wife." Days and weeks of quiet happiness followed ; not even during the first days of tlieir married life in the old baronial halls on fair Killarney's banks, amid friends and faithfui fjllowers, and the tale of Sean* m If -A 111 KSH 148 MaoCarthy More; or, achie and the song of bard, did the charm of wedded love throw a brighter hak> over the passing hours, than in that dingy lodging in the dingy London of that day. Strange was the lot of that ■. oung liiisband and wife, so nobly born. Nearly three y-^- "s had passed since their marriage, and of all that tv ae they had spent but a few days together. Imprisoned, separated, — meetinn* when thev did meet, but in the shadow of prison-walls, with prying eyes and listen- ing ears around, their love had grown tlie fonder for the difficulties and dangers that beset their path ; their life, so divided and yet so united, had a strange and potent 3harm that the calmest and most peaceful domestic enjoyment could not yield. Nor did they lack society, when they felt inclined for it. Their visits were ever welcome at Ormond House, for the stern old soldier of Elizabeth, Black Thomas of Ormond, tlie greatest, truth to tell, of the un-Irish and anti-Ivish Butlers, — was the friend and patron of Florence MacCarthy, and his lady- wife had a kind, motherly heart for the da.ighter of her cousin. Lady Konora of Desmond. At Ormond House the young couple met the foremost men of Elizabeth's Court — Lord Burleie "pestiferous Jesuit, iNrclK-r, and other such deadly eueniiosof UieQ^iecn, in eundrydisguir-ua." y iWl p HWH HI W *W* ! 154 MacCarthy More; or, This nervous fear of giving olFcnce to the ruling powers so grew upon her that she came, after a very- little while, to dread the visits of Father Archer, knowing that the discovery of their intercourse with hitn would he hopeless ruin to her husband, and herself; perhaps even death. Glad and thankful as slie was for the opportunities they afforded them all of occasionally receiving the sacraments, yet her fears so overmastered all other feelings, that Flor- ence was at length forced to request the good Fa- ther to come no more to their lodgings, unless when sent for. " We can meet elsewhere," said he, " Master Wan- desford," — even in their most private converse the word father was seldom used by Florence — never, indeed, except in confession, being far too dangerous for unnecessary use. — " We can meet elsewhere, — at Master South well's in tlie Strand, or the Widow Smith wick's, belike, near Temple-bar, so long as you and I remain in London, the which, for one of us, at least, I pray God may not be long." " I am well content that it be so. Master Florence ;" said the honest burgher, for such was, at the time. Father Archer's outward semblance ; " I have noted your lady's fears with much concern, and would fain ease her mind by absenting myself from this house. In her present state it behooveth you, ray son and dear friend, to see that she have as little disquietude as may be." " The more bo, good master," said Florence drop i Thk Foktunes of an Irish Chief. 155 ping his voice almost to a whisper, his cheek flush- ing and his eye kindling with a new and strong emo* tion, — " the more so, that if she were once a mother, and the mother of a son, it would spite some we know^, and put certain " rights" we wot of in more imminent pen, ' " Talk not so, my son ! talk not so," said the sup- posed burgher ; " leave those matters to Ilim who ruleth all, — let us to other matters. Touching that letter of Don Dermutio, — write the answer as soon as may be, and I w^ill see that it be sent by a safe hand. There is a Flemish vessel now in j)ort wait- ing for a fair wind to set sail. The chance is a good ») one. " Surely yes, but the safe hand you speak of, — know you Avell who he is ? " " It were strange an' I did not, my son, — he is one of ours. No need to mention names." " I will write the letter ere I sleep to-night, good master ! — Where would you that I send it ? " The place was named, and the visitor soon after retired. It w^as long before the friends met again ; eome sudden and secret orders reached Father Ar- cher next day, from his owm superiors, and the next Florence heard of him he was in Madrid, between which capital and the British and Irish cities years of his busy life were spent. The letter to Don Der- mutio Mac Carthy, he delivered himself in the Span- ish metropolis. The reader may, perhaps, denire to know who 16G MacCakthy Moke; or, this Don Dermutio Mac Carthy was, with his Span- ish-Irish name. lie was a cousin of Florence Mao Cartliy, a zealous and devoted priest, whose Irish naiTie of Derniid was made Dermutio by the Span- iards,, during his long residence amonst them. He was for many years, an active and eliicient agent of the Irish Catholics in Madrid. lie was much es- teemed by King Philip the Second, their great pa- tron and true friend, a monarch whose name and fame have been blackened by Protestant bigotry, precisely because of his entire devotion to Catholic interests, and his stern, consistent, uncompromising hostility to the new religion, which he had himself seen spring into existence, — a monstrous excrescence on the Church of Christendom. Looking back on those days, when the Irish portion of the Church was passing through the Ked Sea of persecution, to the Catholic student c " history no prouder figure ap- pears than that of the dark, stately husband of Mary of England, by lying Protestant histories called "Bloody Mary;" the Catholic King^:>«r excellence^ the nctunwcYthy son of the great Emperor Charles the Fifth, — l*hilip the Second of Spain ! And so, it is probable, thought his cotemporary, Florence Mac Carthy, a man fully capable of esti- mating the great Catholic prince who alone, of al the crowned heads of Catholic Europe, Elizabeth feared. None may now tell how often the figure of that Spanish King, in his grand and gloomy pal- ace of the Escurial, in the mountain solituie where The Fortunes of an Irish Cuikp. 157 he had built himself a home, in aecordance with hi^ contemplative mind and mortitied life, — slied the brightness of hope on the dark prison ( ill wherein many an Irish ;*ldef was expiating the crime of con- spiracy against the baleful power of the tyrant Elizabeth. And none knew better than Florence Mac Carthy what the persecute I Catholics of Ire- land owed to Philip. None could better appreciate the stern grandeur of his cliaracter, the evangelical purity of his life, his life-long, never changing devo- tion to Catholic interests, than Florence Mac Car- thy, the prisoner of Queen Elizabeth, the high-born chieftain, the lord of broad domains, reduced by English Protestant tyranny, to a condition in which he could hardly provide the common necessaries of life for himself and his delicately nurtured wife. Whatever hopes he based on the friendly aid of the Spanish monarch, and his own fertility of invention and diplomatic skill, were, indeed, sorelj'- needed to keep him from, utter despondency. Day by day his affairs were assuming a more desperate aspect. From the confusion and neglect folio win o; his lonjr absence from Ireland, now fully three years, his re- mittances became less and less as time rolled on ; even for that little he was indebted to the active ex- ertions of his only brother, Dermod, his junior by some years, who was devotedly attached to him. One by one, Florence was forced to dismiss the few attendants whom alone he had retained ; only Una O'Leary, and one of his own serving-raen were all 158 MacCartiiy More; or, ; : that now remained, and even tliis poor retinue their master found it hard to support. He had even raised mortgages on some of his [ands, still lioping that tlie day might soon eome when, restored to home and freedom, lie could retrieve his fast- breaking fortunes. Vain, alas ! his hopes ! — jMontli followed montli, and matters grew worse instead of better. Florence was still a prisoner, notwithstanding his earnest pe- tition to the Queen, — less and less grew the remit- tances from ruined Ireland, and the temporary ex- pedients, whereby the harassed chieftain had hith- erto eked them out, began at last to fail ; he could not go on mortgaging for ever, and he had borrowed so often that he had well nigh exhausted that wretch- ed source of supply. To crown his misery he saw his cheiished wife pining, day by day, pining like a prisoned dove, for air and sunshine, for her own free hills and streams, and. the world of beauty that lay around her ancestral home. Debarred by her pre- sent condition from appearing at court, or visiting the few friends she had in London, Lady Ellen w^as virtually a prisoner in the heart of smoky London. This restraint anvl the many inconveniences to ^ ''ii( she was subjected were trying enough to tL I's daughter, and truth to tell, she felt them , but worse than all was the separation from her mo> aer even when a mother's loving care was most needed. Under such circumstances it is not strange that the young lady became more petulant and more irrita* Tub Foktunks of an Irisu Chikf. 159 ble day by day ; her mind was not of that clastic kind that springs up from under the pressure of dif- ficulties, and shines the brightest when clouds are dark around ; Lady Ellen not only felt her trials and troubles and humilitions but she made others feel that she did so. Even the husband that she still loved, with all the fervor that was in her nature, was made to feel at times the cliects of her increasing petulance. Any other than Florence MacCarthy would have sunk into hopeless despondency under such accumu- lated trials. Stout and brave as his heart was, and great iiis faith in the future, he found the load almost too heavy for liis shoulders, strong and broad as they were. With an elegant poet of our day he might have said : — My heart is hot and restless, And my life is full of care, And the burden laid upon me, Seems greater than I can bear." But dark and dreary as were the clouds around him, and weary as he might well have been of life, his pale cheek glowed, and his eye flashed with a joyous light when word was brought him in the lonely study-room, where many of his hours were passed, that a child was born to him. He hurried to his wife's bedside — he stooped to kiss her pallid brow, and heard her whisper, with her own old smile of love and hope, " Florence you have a son I " The babe was placed in his aims by iljiii .*v •'' 'Vu^. 160 MacGarthy More; or, the. delighted Una, and while thanking God in his inmost heart for tho safety of mother and child, a world of light, and hope, and joy broke on his darkened spirit. Tlie woes of imprisonment, the weariness of exile, the hai-assing cares that made life a burden,, — all were forgotten, as the young father gazed on the faco of the unconscious babe who might some day rule the half of Munstcr, the future Earl of Claacarthy ! — Ilis heart was full, too full for utterance, — silently and tenderly he laid the infant on the mother's bosom, and went to induloe, unseen of any, the new and delightful emotions that filled his heart. ..J^^' I I I Tub Fortunes op an Ikish Chief. 161 CIIAPTE]?. X. Very humble was the London lodscins: in which tliis young son of Florence MacCarthy entered on the stage of life ; no pomp surrounded the cradle of tho infant heir of Desmond and of Carbery ; no trumpet sounded, no lierald proclaimed tliat a grandson was born to the Earl of Clancarthy. the hcnd of a princely Sept ! — In poverty and obscirity his life began, whatever its after course might be. Sad as this was to the young parents, and keenly as they felt it, they welcomed the young stranger none the less joyously, and in due time Florence succeeded in findinor a priest to baptize him. They gave him his grand- father's name, Donald, and lovingly committed him- self and liis fortunes to the Providence of the future. It was autumn tlien ; autumn in the fields, in the woods, and in the orchards, — autumn wherever nature reigned, but alas ! little of the autumn glories reached Lady Ellen MacCarthy in the dull London chamber where she spent her hours of convalescence, nursing ]ier infant son, or Florence in the poor little room where he sat with the few books he had sent for to Ireland, and others that Raleigh had given him, pondering over the past of his race and country, and his own bright dreams for both, all the more fondly cherished that they were nourished in silence and in solitude, under the penalty of death for treason — 5^ i jih I 'A 4 \ 162 MacCarthy More ; OR, against the Protestant Queen of England. Ho-w the foil* young mother welcomed the rich, rnellcw sun* beam, — all the more precious for being rare, — that fell on the face of her sleeping babe — as it lay on lier knee, thinking the while how lovely was earth and sky, that day, around her childhood's home ! — And how Florence, seeing it come struggling ouo through the dull London fog, started from his old-world dreams and remembered that he had been awaiting a fine hour to go to Greenwich Palace to petition the Queen, for the hundredth time, to allow him, of her great clemency, to return to his country ! — That autumn sun was gilding many a stately castle that called him lord, and many a green hill-side, where his clans- men roamed at will, in his own fair land beyond the sea. Yet for him, — and the thought brought a smile of unwonted bitterness to his face, — for him, he dared not have set foot beyond the threshold of his temporary dwelling had he not obtained, through Lord Burleigh, a protection from the Queen, forbid- ding his creditors to n»olest him. Ilis creditors ! Yes, it was even so, — poorly as he and his wife lived, with Una as their only permanent attendant, of late days, his resources, ample as they were, had at length utterly failed; even the devoted exertions of his brother could no longer raise money for his ex- penses in London from amongst the host of robbers who were seiirng, day by day, on the rich plains of Carbery. Time was gliding by — already had Flor- ence been some six years in captivity, between Cork, ■■M Mm— MM Thk Fortunes op an Irish Chief. 163 Dublin and l^ondon, — with so many powerful ene- mies, all selfishly interested in his prolonged im- prisonraent, — with his estates divided piecemeal amongst English adventurers, even some of his own kindred having helped themselves to a slice, — with, nothing to expect from his father-in-law, whose disso lute habits left him nothing to spare for the calls of duty and affection, unable longer to obtain money by mortgage on lands which were actually in the j'ossession of others, — even the professional money- lenders from whom he had been raising funds at ruinous rates of usury, were unwilling to make further advances, aad the few friends who had been aidiuGf him with loans beinij as tired of lendincr as he was of borrowing, — well mi»(lly conjectured by the learned biv^grapher of Flonuice Mac- Of Carthy to liave been made out at some period of his long imprison- ment in connection with the charges that were forever heinji; trumped against him. - The Foetunbs of an Ir^su Cuikp. 165 18 ' \Tintry sun as they faded away into the evening shadows. She looked hiiiguidly up, as her husband entered, hut there was something in liis face that in- stantly changed the expression of hers. " You have had tidings, Florence !" she cried, bounding forward with the eagerness of youth — '' what of my mother ?" " ISTought of your mother, but somewhat of my good uncle, Sir Owen MacCarthy." " And what of him ?" she said, in the careless tono of one who felt nowise interested in the answer. " He is dead." " Poor Sir Owen ! — Peace to his soul ! — Heard you aught besides ?" " Nay, methinks that were- enough," said Flor- ence, his cheek flushing with anger; "he was ever my very good friend, and could he but have had his way, my cousin, Donald Pipi, would not be Mac- Carthy Keagh, as he is this day." " Donal Pipi, — the Tanist — then who is Tanist now of that country ?" said Lady Ellen in the same listless tone. " Truly your memory is but i^hort. Dame Ellen !" said her husband, coldly, — " else you need not ask the question. I marvel much that you are so oblivi- ous in such matters." The pale face of the young wife lit up with sudden animation ; she started as it were from a lethai'gy, and fixed her flashing eyes on her husband's face j " Florence 1 you are the Tanist !" Mil s! t 'fJ t ' . *i,'^^ \\ 166 MacCartiiy More; or, " It is even so, Ellen !" said Florence, gloomily ; " I am Tanist now of MacCarthy Reagli's country, but full dearly hath the honor cost me, an' the old saying be true that a trusty friend is hard to find. I have lost one, and little have I gained so long as mine enemies hold my lands, and the Queen my body." " Natheless," said his wife, cheerily, " it is worth the wishing for, to stand next to the rod of Mac- Carthy Reagh."* " A little money were better worth wishing for at this present," said Florence, with a bitter smile. <*An' we might live on names and titles, we need not want now. I fear, sweet wife, the Tanist of MacCarthy lleagh's country wall find it no easier to provide what is needful for himself and others, than the lord of fair Carbery, or the son-in-law of MacCarthy More. But cheer thee, Aileen ! I have •better news for thee — I met a gentleman from Cork to-day who advanced me some few pounds that will keep us a little longer, — perchance, till I have leave to return home." In her joy at hearing of the money they so sorely needed, Lady Ellen heeded not the cold smile, or the bitter tone that gave strange significance to Flor- ence's words. Indeed, there was often a hidden meaning in his words and in his looks that the young wife could not fathom, and perchance, would not, if she could. * The Rod liere meant was the Waud of Sovereignty amongst Che Celtic Irish. i Tub Fortunes of an Irish Chief. 167 / Alone with liis books that evening, Florence Mac- Carthy was a different man. There was a light in his eyes and a flusli on his cheeks that told of burn- ing thoughts ■'vithin. A book lay open before him. but he was not readincr. Ilis ever-active mind was hard at work on some aerial fabric that appeared to please him exceedingly. " Lord of Carbery," he murmured low, — " Tanist of MacCarthy lieagh's country, — son-in-law, and, therefore (failing male issue), if not the natural, at least th3 probable heir of MacCarthy More, in virtue of his hereditary, though new-made title of Earl of Clancarthy, — what is to prevent me, were I back in Munster, from taking the first place amongst the lords of tlie old race ? — And then — with the promised aid from beyond seas — and the rising in the North that may any day be looked for — ," he paused — the fire of his old Spanish blood flashed brighter still from his kindling eyes — his whole frame trembled with the electric thought that shot through his veins, — he stood up in the strength and pride of his noble manhood, reared his tall form to its grandest height, — then muttered, — as it Avere, hissed, between his teeth, — " Then, Elizabeth Tudor, look to thy hold on thy * realm of Ireland,' and thy ' rights of reversion ' to Irish lands ! — The day may come, proud Queen I when Irish lords and gentlemen may marry and give in marriage without leave of thine, — ay ! and prac- tice * Popish rites,' without fear of thy penal laws I" * * * ^ * If If, (i! ■i4l Vi m ft t 1 1 'ItA \ 168 MacCartuy Mork; or, 1 ! The long dark winter had passed away, and the Btorray winds of March were waking the sleeping earth to Spring's first life. The woods around Killarney were already tinted with the faint green which in the genial climate of Ireland comes with the latter days of March, when the winds have sunk to rest in the lap of Spring and Nature begins to smile in the sun's vernal rays.f In and around Pallice Castle there was joy, for the young daughter of MacCarthy More was back again in her native halls and with her a babe of beauty, around whose cradle the hearts of the men of Desmond gathered as a sacred shrine. Even the reckless Earl of Clancarthy was softened to human love and kindness, and breathed an unwonted prayer of gratitude to heaven, as he bent over the first-born of his daus^hter, the heir of his Earldom, by English law, and his probable successor in the chieftainship. There was one thought, however, that troubled the now aged nobleman then and after, — so much of his lands had passed into the hands of the Browns, when he little hoped to have an heir male of his own blood ! Tliis was a bitter and a mortifying re- collection, and, truth to tell. Earl Donald, never remarkable for patience, cursed his own folly many a time, now that kind Heaven had sent him an heir in whose veins was none but the purest blood in Munster. t March comes in like the lian, and goes out like the lamb^ is o com< mon saying in Ireland. y Tub Fortunes op an Irish Cuiff. 169 » But little cared the Countess Ilonora as she pressed to her heart the child who came to bless and cheer her declining age, — the child in whose infant feat\uv;^ her fancy already traced a resemblance to her own son, so early lost, so fondly remembered, — the eliild who was to fill the vacant place in her heart, as in the family Iionors and possessions. By all the re- tainers and clansmen of that country the new arrival was hailed with unbounded delight; it seemed as though the young Baron of Valentia had come l)ack from the grave, and the elder line of the Mac- Carthys was not, after all, to perish out of the land. Joy reigned in Desmond of the jNIacCarthys, in castle and in shieling ; even the gloom of poverty that shrouded the country as a pall, gave way for the time to the brightness of hope, easily lit, and as easily quenched, in th.' light Celtic nature. Truly might those clansmen of Desmond have sung with the national bard of centuries later : '1 m I'll ? " Tho' dark are our sorrows, to-da}' we'll forget them, And smile thro' our tear.:*, like a sunbeam in showers, There never were hearts, if our rulers would let them, More forra'd to be grateful and blest than ours." There was joy, too, in fiiir Carbery* — whose peo- ple although " protected " in their several holdings, suffered in many ways from their lord's imprison- ment. They saw cause for ho])e, not only in the birth of an heir to their well-beloved lord, but in the permission given his wife to return with her son to Ireland. Amongst all the MacCarthys and their ■ M' ■ i i ■ ;■ ^■■ ■ ; t i 170 MacCarthy Moiir; or, vast connections, indeed, through all the great Irish houses of Munstcr, the news was hailed with delight that the young heir of Clan Carthy was safe in Ireland with his mother. The news of the child's birth had been welcomed with joy amongst the chieftains of the old race, who exulted in the thought that the English Queen would thereby lose her " right of reversion " to the broad Earldom. So long as the young baron was in England they had feared that his life might be secretly sacrificed to Elizabeth's cupidity, hence the general joy amongst the Catholic lords and chiefs when Lady Ellen Mac- Carthy arrived in Munster with her son. Very diiferent, as may be supposed, were the feel- ings with which the English undertakers and the Eng- lish officials, — themselves undertakers on the larg- est scale, — regarded the event. Letters are found among the English State Papers from Sir Geoffry Fen- ton, the Queen's Bishop of Cork, and others, complain- ing of the honors paid in Munster to Florence MacCar- thy's son. " Here is a young child of Fineen MacCar- tie's," wrote the dignitary just mentioned, — "who, after this country manner, is used among the people as a young prince, carried about the country with three nurses, and six horsemen, when he removeth to any place ; and happy is he that can have him to foster for a month ! and so from month to month, to the best of the country to be fostered, wdth such songs of rejoicing in the praise of his father, Fineen, and the young Imp^ that it were good his father, at Tub Fortunrs 0¥ an Irish Cuikv. 171 his coming over, should Lc looked into, which will be very shortly, as his cousin, Donell McCartie, which came lately out of England told me."* From this higlily evangelical and Christian-like epistle of the dignitary of the Tudor (^hurch in Ire- land, we see, as in a magic glass, the enthusiastic reception given to this child of promise ; we can see the splendor by whicli he was surrounded,— -the care ajid attention lavished upon him, — we can hear the "songs of rejoicing in honor of the child's father," — and thence we can easily account, as the worthy churchman did himself, for the outburst of wrath the whole crew of English robbers against "the young Imp," and his father! — And the "Donell MacCartie" who brout^ht from London the alarm- ing news that there was a likelihood of Florence's return, was himself one of the worst enemies of boih father and child. He was no other than Donell Pipi, the new MacCarthy Reagh, whose recent visit to London had been for the very purpose of cutting off his envied and hated kinsman from the suc- cession to the chieftainship by surrendering his lands to the Queen and receiving them back from her, in English tenure, by which means his possessions would go at his death, to his own children. For the j^resent, Donell found his design impracticable; his uncle, the late MacCarthy Reagh, and other chiefs of the Sept, knowing his jealous dislike of his cousin, and fearing that he might endeavor to change the course of sue- * Life and Letters of Florence MacCortty More, p. 88. 1 i> ' i! i Hi 172 MacCartoy More; or, cession by adopting English tenure, liad met in council, some years before Sir Ouen's death, and also before Florence's marriage, and bound Donell, under a surety of £10,000, "to leave the usage of Tanistry, as he found it." So, Florence hearing, as he managed to hear everything, that his cousin, the new MacCarthy Reagh, was in London, at once di- vined the object he had in view, and in the course of a short visit, apparently of courtesy and respect, gave Donell to understand that in case he attempted to interfere with his right to the title and lordship of MacCarthy lieagh, he would make him pay the £10,000 to the last farthing, — and moreover, he warned him, with that calm earnestness of *nanner which gave such weight to all his words, that he would tind his attempt useless, for he had friends at Court who would see no such injustice done him. Donell put on airs of injured innocence, and declared himself guiltless of any such design ; privately, how- ever, he made inquiries which satisfied himself that Florence had only spoken the truth, in relation to his influence at Court, and that nothing could be done in that quarter ; so he was fain to go home as he went, none the better for his visit to London, but more envious than ever of the polished and high- bred cousin who, prisoner as he was, and with all his resources cut oiF, could yet defeat the machina- tions of his enemies, and make for himself powerful friends at the very Court of Elizabeth! "It was ever so with Fineen," said the joung MacCarthy The Fortunes of an Irish Ciurf, 173 Reagh. Whoii l)ut a boy, in ourpports around Kil- brittan Castle, he was first and best in everything; he made friends of \nh of a mean spirit. "His Spanish songs, and S])anish tongue, and Spanish ways can all be turned to orood account accainst him. Never mind ! There is luck in leisure — it's a lonix lane has no turning, — so Fineen MacDonogh ! we may be even with you yet." Strange to say that, with all his wondrous power of winning hearts, with all the love that gathered round him, and all the hopes that centered in him, no man in Munster of his day, even in that early period of his long and chequered life, had so many or such inveterate enemies as Florence MacCarthy ! And his young wife, his wife of five years, she to whom he had given much love, and would have given more but that, all too soon, and yet too late, he dis- covered that there was, between him and her, little in common, little community of thought, or aim, or anything that binds hearts together, — how did she spend those months of separation from her hus- band, of reunion with her parents ? Oh ! Aileen MacCarthy ! wife of a man whose dreams were high and noble, who would fain have served his country, while advancing himself, — but whose every effort. ill % \fR, ■ m nwuMi iwwL^'iww 174 MacCartuy Morb; or, every generous or patriotic aspirntion Avas crvinhod by mountains of difficulties — Aileen MacCarthy ! what didst thou, dauohter of the first Irish chieftain of Munster, to advance his interest, or Ireland's, or thine own ? From thy lone, unhonored grave conies the sad response — "Nothing! — Naught did I for Florence, wlien he sent me, with our son, to make friends for him and his cause in Munster, — nou'jrht did I for husband or country — little, even, for myself" Glad to find herself back aGrain amonscst friends and kindred, welcomed home to her fatlier's castl«, where the board was spread and the harp resounded in honor of the so-loncj absent daugjhter and tlie infant heir she brou<2:lit back from the Saxon land for the failing line of MacCarthy More, Lady Ellen thought but seldom of her husband in his lonely room in the stranqier's land, — of his davs, so full of anxious solicitude, of racking thought, — his nights of study more than sleep, of feverisli dreams, of wakeful, weary watcliing. The five years of her married life had but added to her rare beautv : her slio-ht form had assumed larger and fuller proportions, and if the girl of nineteen, whom Florence MacCarthy wooed and won. had been passing fair to look upon, fairer still was the young matron of twenty-four, whose ricli ripe loveliness was now the theme of many a song, tlie admired of every eye. Lady Ellen knew it, — she knew that even at Elizabeth's Court homage was paid full often to lier beauty while she awaitei) tlie Queen's pleasure with regard to her liusband, — ^iiUii Tub Fortunes of an Irish Cuiep. .75 and the vanity that had hitherto lain latent in her heart, grew by degrees, not slow, into the ruling passion of her nature. Under this evil influence, even maternal love grew faint and feeble, and Lady Ellen was nowise sorry to b3 rid, by the timc-lionored custom of " fosterage," of the charge of nursing hi r babe. It is true she sometimes accompanied him wlien he v/as taken for fosterasfe to the house of some <»'reat cliieftain, as described by the English Bishop of Cork, for she was not insensible to the honor of beiii'jr the mother of Florence MacCartliy's son, iii whose person the two chief branches of tli(^ Clan Carthy might one day be united ; but oftener still slie remained at home, where her ffithcr's declininof health oblii]:ed him to keep more indoors, and where times were ga\ er than of old, for Earl Donald, although subdued by dis- ease, and a better man than was iiis wont, was as fond of gay company as ever. It was a joy for the acred Ear], r>i:"jr than his heart for years had known, to hnv? his only child near him, shedding light and beauty o i his fortress-home ; Avith his wife he never had much community of feeling, and now, when sensible, all too late, of his ill-treatment of one so deserving of a happier lot, the sight of her pallid face, and grief-silvered hair was something !ie wished to avoid as far as might be. 1:1' u It' Kendent on her father, whose profligate course of life, and neglect of pecuniary affairs, left him little to spare. Her mother jrrew daily more detached from the world, more rapt in her devotions, more closely united to the God from whom and throuirh whom she alone received consolation. Day by day the distance grew Avider between the Christian motlier, whose heart had been chastened by suflering, and the worldly-minded daughter, whose less sensitive nature could not suffer in the same deo-ree. Summer past away with its sunshine and its flowers. Autumn came and went, and the moaning winds of bleak November were making sad music amongst the leafless woods around Killarney, when one gray evening, as the Countess and her daughter sat watching the little Donald whom Una was encouraging to make his first attempt at walking, — an unusual bustle was heard in the hall below; the next moment steps were heard on the stairs, and Florence MacCarthy entered the room ! Speechless with astonishment. Lady Ellen stood, and it was not till she had received and returned his fond embrace tliat she could realize the presence of her husband, A thrill of joy ran through the sorrow-chilled heart of the Countess Ilonora, as Florence kissed her hand with the courtly grace that belonged to him, and her grave, sweet voice trembled with pleasurable emotion as she welcomed hiixx back to Pallice Castle. The Countess had, • t I 'I ! if f i ■ i u t. SB! , 1 i '■r'* W J* K is rX flr ^ 1 HI 'i ' ^ .S; ^4vM: .;i '^r Br] ,'« v^' ^^ \V ^i 0i / ^m 1 msamm .178 MAcCARTHy More; or, from the first, recognized in her liigh-bred son-in-law qualities of mind, at least, more akin to her own than those of even her own and only child, and to see him again was one of the very few pleasures to wliich she had of late looked forward. With all her heart beaming in her eyes. Lady Ellen took up her son and'^placed him in his father's arms, where, however, he did not long remain, for the little heir of Clancai'thy had already a temper and a will of his own, and so, seemg only a stranger in the father he had never known, he cried and kicked so lustily to get back to Una that Florence was well content to resign him to the lauo-hinj? damsel who, although having no special charge of his little lordship, often claimed the privilege of having him a while to herself. The child was sent to his nurse, and then Lady Ellen asked her "husband how he had got home at last. Florence smiled. " I am sent on the Queen's business," he replied sententiously. " The Queen's business !" cried his wife, much amazed. " Why, Florence, you deal in riddles !" The Countess, even, looked the surprise she did not care to express. "It is even so," said Florence, looking from one to the other, with the same humorous expression ; " small chance would I have had of coming hither even now, but that Donal — I crave your ladyship's pardon for naming the graceless varlet," he said, in an altered tone addressing the Countess — " but Thr Fortunes of an Imsn Chirp. 17& ( that Doiial hath been inlaying his wild pranks, worse than ever of late, — the which you may have hoard, and that there are signs of trouble gathering in the Xorth ! — For these reasons I am graciously permitted to return liitlier, on condition that I help Her Majesty's servants to keep the peace here in Miinster." " And for that only hath your long imprisonment ended ?" said the Countess. " I pray your ladyship, when was favor bestowed by Eli.^abeth of England on one of our race or creed, save to further her own interests ? — How fares MacCarthy More ?" " Donald is well," said the Countess, her pale cheek faintly flushing; " we see as little of him now as ever. Alas ! Florence, thhigs are no better here than when you left us five long years ago !" " Courage, dear lady !" said Florence, kindly and cheerfully. " Courage — the clouds v/ill clear away at last, and light will succeed to darkness. Now that I have come back, things may go better." The Countess shook her head. " An' his heart be not changed, Florence, I have nouglit to hope I — Natheless, I trust in God — tu>l in him ! Go now, my son, you have need of rest and refreshment.'* " Is MacCarthy in the castle ?" " I knov not if he be. Florence !" said the Countess. '* Methinks he rode out tliis morning." A few hours lat(: Florence and his father-in "'iiw were sitting tetenjhtete by the bog-wood fire in the 'J. I if; iL ly I: •JTr J- - * ^*-' ill i; UABI 180 MacCajituy Mork; ob, * I lower hall. The evening meal was over, and, con- trary to his usual custom, the Earl was duly sober, whether it was that the temperate habits of his son- in-law had shamed the old man into unwonted moderation, or that Florence had besought him to keep his head clear for that time, at least. That end of the hall was respectfully left to themselves, while the few gentlemen who had shared the even- ing meal gathered around the capacious fireplace at the farther end, and the vassals betook themselves elsewhere. Florence had been explaining to the Earl the terms on which he had been allowed to return home. " You see I am the bounden servant of Her Majesty," said he with his strange smile ; " after five years' imprisonment, — my property (for all the Queen's * protection ') gone to wreck and ruin, — I am ex- pected to pacify all Munster, — and brhig all Clan Carthy, at the least, to loyal sentiments. The which I will do, — according to mine ability." " Before God, Florence ! you are over cool for a MacCarthy !" said the Earl ; his obtuse faculties wliolly at fault in penetrating the deep heart of his son-in-law. " What do you propose doing ?" " Hire some hundreds of bonnaghts,* and raise as large a force of my own men as my convenience will permit." " By St. Bride ! you talk as though you had money * The bonnaghts were mercenary troops in those tron^ilons times, often employed by Munster and Leiuster chiefs, according to their military necessities and the extent of their meana. The Fortunes of an Irish Chief. 181 con- oney n\>lon8 ardiug at will ! — Metlioiight you were pleading poverty to the old woman in London ?" " And the old woman in London, with her usuaj liberality, hath given me the means of serving her and myself." "Say yon so, Fineen?" said the Earl eagerly; " if that be so you are luckier than ever Irish gentle- man was before. What allowance hath she made you ?" " I warrant me you will laugh when I tell you. I know not if you remember hearing of a fine that was imposed on David Barry when he was set at liberty after the Desmond troubles, his father having died in prison ?" "Ay, marry, I remember it \vell ; but what hath Barry's fine to do with your aftairs ?" " You may not know, McCarthy More, but 1 know," said Florence, with his calm smile, " that the fine was never levied, and so it might have been for- ever and a day, seeing that Barry is now the Queen's most humble servant to command, had not David meddled overmuch in my atfairs. So when Elizabeth was graciously pleased to send me home on her own business, after five years' imprisonment — for little crime beyond a love match — to estates that her English servants had had their will of all the while, knowing that it were easier to draw blood from a stone than money (for Irish uses) from the grand- daughter of the miser, Henry VII., I reminded Her Majesty of Barry's unpaid fine, whereat she was well I .■ 1' t ; I }! ' » ; ! >■ ii: 1^ i- ij-^ ::■ !:U IMi;, 182 MacCarthy More; or, m ' 1' ' il pleased, — ^knowing that I could do little to serve her without money — and with her own hand she signed an order for that fine to be levied without delay, and given to me for her royal uses! I tell you, Donald MacCarthy, the Lord Deputy in Dublin looked blank enough when I presented to him the Queen's order to have that fine levied without delay, and handed over to me, who hath for so many long years been kept away from home and country, dancing at- tendance on the Queen with my sad petitions, even since the prison gates were throAvn open to me. David Barry hath had his share in my long imprison- ment; he shall now pay his fine,t and pay it to me /" With compressed lips, and flashing eyes, and bitter emphasis, Florence spoke ; but his father-in-law re- garded the matter in a different light. To him it was a capital joke, and he laughed loud and long at the idea of Florence's bringing up the long-forgot- ten fine, and obtaining a grant of it for his own purposes. " Doth Barry know of this ?" said Elizabeth's rough old Earl, when he had had his laugh out. " Truly yes," said Florence ; " I came not hither from Dublin before I had got security on his lands, he having refused to pay the fine on the Lord De- puty's deman 1. on the grounds that he had it not." t £500 may now seem a small fine for a nobleman convicted of re- bellion ; but it must be remembered that £oOO, in the reign of Elizabeth, was, proportionally, aa much as $10,000 now, or even more. The Fortunes of an Irish Cuirp. 188 The Earl looked at his keen-witted son-in-law in blank amazement. " Finecn MacDonogh," lie said, " your father be- fore you was a long-headed man, and a man that played his cards well ; but, by my life, he was noth- ing to you in regard to dealing with these Sassen- achs ; but tell me, Fineen, you that know so much, is there trouble at hand ?" " The Queen will have it that there is," said Flor- ence, ever cautious in his words, " and so say Nor- reys and St. Ledger, and others that ought to know.'* " What do they say ?" " They say that O'JSTeil and O'Donnel in the North are making raids even now into the Pale, and must, therefore, find themselves in a condition to resist the Queen's authority. Here in Munster, as they tell me, there is much discontent — the which is truly surpris- ing," adcl'^d Florence with irony too finely-pointed for his fatlier-in-law's perception. " Even your own son, Donal," said he, fixing his eyes on the old man's face, " is sjiid to be somewhat troublesome to the English in these parts." " By the Rood ! they may well say that," said Earl Donald, with one of his heartiest laughs ; " Donal was ever a scrapegrace, as you know full well, and of late years he hath taken to hunting the Browns, — I warrant you he maketh their ''Slgnory^ as they call my lands of Molahiffe, over hot for their comfort." " Much have I heard of his pranks, even in Lon - S ii *i i: U' ky ..I i,''i [l;rn lit 184 MacCautuy More; or, don," said Florence, humoring the strange iancy of the reckless cliieftain. " I promise you ' the Earl of Clan- car's base son' is as well-known even to the (^ueen her- self as either CXeil or O'Donell. Few disjiatches from Munster cross the Avatcr now to London without some new' story of Donal's 'evil practices.' lie is known in Cork and Dublin, ay, marry, in London, as * the Munster liobin Hood !' " " And truly he is," said the gratified father of that hopeful son ; " they call him not amiss. Donal is a brave boy — if he had fifty faults I will say that for him — I warrant you he keeps the Browns in hot water ; he hunts them and theirs — they hunt him and his — so it is all fair ; let them fight it out, say I !" " Donal is a chip of the old block, MacCarthy 1" said Florence, as he rose to retire. "Ho ! ho ! ho !" laughed the Earl, "a chip of the old block ! — well, I know not but he is ! — at his age I might have amused myself as he doth, were there, as now, a brood of English vipers nesting in the heart of my father's country. Take a draught of wine, Fineen, before you go." " I thank you, but I must decline the ofier," said Florence ; " my head cannot bear so much as yours — long though you say it is, — you will hold me ex- cused." Reluctantly the Earl suffered him to go without emptying another flagon, and Avhen Florence did suc- ceed in effecting his retreat, McFinan, the aged seneschal, was inyjted tP take his place at the hearth, Thr Fortunes of an luisn Chief. 185 . I'j of ex- th, and his sliare of the wme — a rare vintage which had gained a good round ago in the vaults of Pallico Castle. In a marvellously short space of time, considering the straits to which he coni})luinod of being reduced, Florence had no less tlu\n four hundred of his own retainers under arms, and ready for any emergency. He had made arrangements, too, with some of the captains of the honnaglits^ to obtain as many of those hardy soldiers as his needs required, whenever he chose to call for them. Meanwhile Lord Barry was not idle. Enraged beyond measure by the claim given to Florence on certain of his lands, awaiting the payment of the fine, he cast prudence to the winds and set out im- mediately for " the court," to lay his complaint be- fore Her Majesty. This he did with a rashness and recklessness that made him overshoot the mark. Hg accused the Lord Deputy and others of Her Ma- jesty's L-isli officials of gross injustice towards him- self, complained that they had given all his lands to Florence MacCarthy, and scrupled not to hint hat those high functionaries were bribed by a man whom he could prove to be a traitor to the Queen's high- ness. The latter charge was taken due note of, and pri- vate orders sent to the Lord Deputy to take no fur* ther steps in the matter of the fine until he had given satisfactory answers to the charges which the Lord Barry was prepared to bring against him. But be- '<-x ; »#■ \ i; |?'j| m hit * 1« m'^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) I 1.0 I.I 1.25 ''•" iltt "' III 1.4 IM 1.6 P /i <9 /J '<3 Photographic Sciences Corporation ^^ ^4<^ \ \ % V o"^ pi; 1j a V 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 I V '*'.% i/x \ 188 MagCarthy Morr; or, fore these instructions reached Dublin, Florence w^aa already put in possession of the lands forfeited by BaiTy's leaving the country ! The hot-blooded chief of Ibawn had made powerful enemies for himself, as he then, and after, found to his cost. It was early winter when Florence came home ; the winds were abroad over the chilled and faded earth. Still there was beauty and the wild grandeur which a poet loves, in the fairy-haunted scenes around Killamey. Dear to the heart of Florence MacCarthy, with its high aspirations, its yearnings after the unreal, its wealth of poetry cramped and pinched by the hard realities of his life, — dear to him, after his five j'-ears' imprisonment in smoky London, was the free air, the glorious beauty of that wild region whose charms not even winter could destroy. The rocks and the mountains were there, and the free waters and the ancient woods, and the native skies, and the old-time legends and historic associations that hung over all, and which none knew better than Florence MacCarthy, the life-long student of the past. This free, unchecked com- munion with nature in her grandest moods, amid scenes that were so intimately associated with the history of his proud race, was, to the chafed and harassed mind of Florence, like a draught of cool water to the parched traveller in the desert waste. It strengthened all his faculties, and braced his energies for new struggles. Sometimes his wife accompanied him, but for her the wintry scene had Thb Fortdnbs 09 AN Irish Chibf. 187 no channs, and she preferred the fireside in the castle hall to " the wind-beaten hill," or the lake shore that lay all mournful in winter's icy arms. With all his love for his wife, her staying in-doors was no privation to Florence. The dreams he dreamed, and the plans he formed, were not to be talked of, least of all tc the fair young wife who had already reproached hira many a time with the singular aptitude he had of getting himself into trouble. From some of his favorite speculations he knew she would have shrunk in terror, — and his own life might be the forfeit of such revelations, even to her. Solitude was his safest, as it was then his favorite, companion. Fain would Florence have prolonged his stay at Pallice, as the Countess wistfully besought him to do, but he knew that his people were anxiously looking for his return to Carbery, and there, for the present, his affairs lay. So with his wife and their young son, and a goodly train of attendants, he turned his f\ce homewards, and established his household gods amonj]^ the faithful clansmen of Car- bery. Great was the rejoicing all over Cork County when the young Tanist returned to the home of his fathers after his long captivity in the land of the stranger ; ever a favorite amongst the clansmen of MacCarthy Reagh, his unjust imprisonment made him all the more beloved, his brother Dermod hav- ing taken care to keep him before them in the way most likely to enlist their sympathies. ■«■■■« 188 MacCabtuy Mobb; ob. Some few there were, however, who were far from sharing the general joy. Donald MacCarthy Ileagh was not glad to see his cousin back in his country ; desirous of leaving his lands, and the captaincy of his sept to his own son, he could not forgive Flor- ence for coming betweeji him and that dream of his life, any more than he could forgive him for his far greater popularity amongst the clancmen. Then there was worthy Mr. liogers, the hojieful sonr in-law of the English Attorney-General, who had managed to possess himself of over three thousand acres of Florence's own lands left him by his father, — Rogers, assuredly, was not glad. Then there was Lord Barry fretting and fuming, in his baronial castle of liarryscourt, over Florence's out-manccu- vring of him in the matter of the fine, and the safe return of so unwelcome a neiujhbor. To all these, for the very sulficient reasons already assigned, Florence IMacCarthy's release, and his re- appearance amongst his native scenes was anything but pleasing. There was no help for it now, how- ever, — whatever their united skill might do in the future, — there was Florence home again, heir appa- rent to the chieftainship of his clan, with the young son who was one day to inherit the title of Clancar- thy, as his father might that of MacCarthy More, in addition to the scarce less proud one of MacCarthy Ileagh. Amongst these gentlemen, bound by a common interest, Florence's return, under such cir- cumstances, caused a commotion that was anything but pleasant. Tub Fortunes op an Irish Ciiibp. 189 While Florence was hard at work, on^anizhig, traimng, repairing the sad inroads of neglect on his fine estates, lovingly and zealously assisted by his brother, the high-hearted, generous, l>ermoarrv, shallow and selfish and vindictive, was made the mouthjnece of the league. The early days of June, rich, radiant June — saw Florence MacCarthy summoned to Dublin to answer the charges of my Lord Barry of Butte- vant — was ever man so hunted and harassed? While the grass was green on his native plains, and the flowers made glad the ca-th, — while his son was learning to lisp his name, and home aftections were twining around his heart, — for Lady Ellen was again likely to become a mother, — he was forced to leave his fair southern home for the smoky atmosphere of Dublin, — then far difterent from the handsome and elegant metropolis of Ireland in our day, — and the slippery precincts of the viceregal court. A few days' notice were given him, and knowing, from bitter experience, how uncertain was the time, or manner of his return, he availed himself of the little time given him to pay a visit he had been promising to make for weeks past. This was to an old and tried friend of his family, the Lord Courny, whose castle, near Kinsale, rose on a beetling cliff over the wild Atlantic wave. The aged nobleman received his young friend with every manifestation of joy. Two whole days did Florence spend at Kinsale, rambling most of the time along the shore, 190 MaoCarthy Mobs; or, sometimes with his friend, oftener alone. It were worth seeing him when he stood at early morn cr late eve " by the sad sea wave," — the ocean breeze fanning his dark luxuriant liair, his tall form erect and motionless, his face pale and rigid, and his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. A noble specimen he was of those proud Milesians of whom an Irish poet* has gracefully sung : In Erin old there dwelt a mighty race, Taller than Roman spears. But of what was he thinking, this noble descend- ant of the Eugenian princos of South Munster, as he stood during those bright summer hours looking out on the restless waters ? Was he dreaming of that " Hy-brasil — the land of the blest," which figures so largely in the traditions of the western and southern Irish tribes ? — " That Eden where tli' immortiil brave Dwell in a land serene, — Whose homes beyond the western, wave, At twilight oft are seen I" ISTot so; Florence MacCarthy was no dreamer. His lot was cast amid stern and hard realities, and whatever poetry might have been in his nature, no man of his day brought keener perceptions, more shrewd sagacity, or more consummate prudence to bear on the difficulties by which he was surrounded Since these lines were quoted, and this chapter written, the sh poet" has passed from amongst the livmg— slain by the « "Irish hand of an Irish assassin ! Thb Fobtunss of an Irish Gniir. 191 from youth to age. Standing by that rocky sliore, his mind was occupied with grave cares and plans of vast magnitude. If he was not thinking of the fabled "land of the blest" of his Celtic fathers, he was thinking of the noble land beyond the sea from which they had gone forth to possess the " Isle of Destiny," — of that sunny Spain which was under Heaven the hope of Irish Catholics then, — he was thinking of what the prospects might be of speedy aid, and how that aid, — if come it did, at last, — might be made available. IIow his look kindled, — how the color rushed back to his cheek, — how he bit his lips almost till the blood flowed, as though to keep from giving utterance to the bold projects, — the high hopes that tilled his soul in those hours of apparently idle thought by the sounding sea. That sea washed the coast of Spain,-— from Spain must help come. On one point, then, his mind was made up, before he returned to his home. 192 MacCabthy More; ob, ClIArXER XII. 0?ir the 27tli day of June, in that year of grace, Florence MacCarthy was called to answer tho charges of the Lord Barry before the Lords Justices. These charges were, for the most part, a reproduc- tion of the former ones, on which he had been ex> amined before the Piivy Council, in London, years before. With the old, there were, however, some new counts to the indictment. Tlie very first charge brought forward was concerning " one Allen Marten, gent, born in Galway, student of Her Majesty's common laws, being maintained and kept by Florence Cartie, both in England and Ireland for a time, till he was sent by the said Florence over to Sir William Stanley and Jacques, — hath preferred the said Mar^ ten to the Prince of Parma, where he was appointed one of his secretaries !" The next charge was of a similar nature : " William Hurley, born in the county of Limerick, brought up in Oxenford, professor of the Civil Law, was, at the time of the apprehension of the said Florence, his retainer in this realm, em- ployed by the said Florence to the said Sir William Stanley and Jacques, furnished with money and horse, under color to procure a discharge from Eng- land for the said Florence, which Hurley remains there as yet by his direction 1" The fifth count in the indictment is worthy of TllR FORTUNRS OF AN IrISII CuIRP. 193 note : " Finin MacConnac MacCartic, of Glenacinme, witliin the country of Carbery, in the county of Cork, cousin and retainer to the saitl Florence, which Finin prctendeth title to Glcnacrime aforesaid, was sent over by the said Florence to Sir William Stanley and Jacques aforesaid, where he serves and remains as yet." It was curious that every one of the eight charges brought against Florence on this occasion in some way related to his connections with " the Queen's enemies" abroad, and friends and retainers of his sent, at his own expense, to various parts of Europe. Yet, by his own account, his affairs were in the very worst condition ; he had not the means of raising a force for the protection of his property and the Queen's service, but depended solely on Lord Barry's fine. The fine was still unpaid, and yet the forces were raised and equipped! — If these charges of Barry's were true, Florence MacCarthy was in no need of money. But, according to him, these charges were not true ; he stoutly denied them all. Says his biographer : " It will be noticed that the two first articles in his reply are concerning law students. It is impossible to peruse his numberless petitions, to see the supreme address with which was carried on a struggle of half a century about his property, the care with which every legal docu- ment about it was preserved, the readiness with which, upon occasion, they were invariably forth- coming, and, above all, the consummate skill with iU MacCartht Mork; ob, which, at tlie moBt critical moments of his career, his correspondtnce was conducted, and not at once conclude that he must, through life, have retained in his employment very wary and learned legal advisers ; doubtless the Brehons of Munster were equally made use of in his intercourse with his own followers I" As for the clause relating to " Finin MacCormac MacCartie," thereby hangs a tale so illustrative of Irish affairs in the reign of good Queen Bess, that we shall give it to the reader as Florence repeated it to his wife and her mother on one of the two evenings he spent at home after the examination. As no decision had been come to in Dublin, he found it expedient to repair to London to solicit the good offices of his friends, the Cecils, knowing well the powerful influence that was being used against him. For reasons known to himself, he did not make the ladies acquainted with the particular clauses of the indictment ; he merely said that there was little in them that was new. " But one thing Barry brought in," said he, " will serve to show the manner of his attack. It is about a poor lad, a young cousin of mine, who, being in sore straits, as many others of us are in these times, he came to me when I was in the Tower, and asked me to write a petition for him concerning his lightful inheritance, the which I did, and found means to have it brought before the Privy Council. Your ladyship," addressing the Countess, ** may, perchance, have heard ere now of the pitiful TiiR Fortunes op an Irish Chief. 195 murder of MacCarthy of Glenacrime by his brother's son, Cormac Don I" "Surely I heard of it," replied the Countess — "I was young at the time, but I mind me well of the fear I had when they told me of the murderer hang- ing in chains at Cork till the flesh fell oft' his bones and they shook and rattled in the wind. What Iiad that to do with your examination, my son Florence ?" Florence smiled sadly. "'An the murder had nought to do with it, Countess, the murdered man, or, leastways, his son, had. The poor lad of whom I Bpoke but now is the son of the murdered chieftain. I know Ellen hath a fondness for hearing stories — " " Truly I have, Florence !" interrupted his wife, eagerly ; " 'an there be a story I pray you tell it." The three sat by an open window, and with the rich plains and swelling uplands of his own Carbery before him, and a distant view of the silver waters of Court MacSherry Bay, where they washed the walls of his ancestral castle of Kilbrittan, Florence commenced his story. He told how, in the days when Sir William Drury fitly represented Queen Elizabeth in Ireland, the chieftain of Glenacrime, a MacCarthy, and a tributary of MacCarthy lieagh, was foully murdered by his nephew and Tanist, Cormac . Don MacCarthy, who thus lioped to enter on the chieftainship before his rightful time ; how the murderer, still in the prime of life, but of dark, forbidding aspect, w^as tried, convicted, and executed for his heinous crime, and how his wretched body 196 MacCartiit Mors; or, swung in chains outsulc the walls of Cc.k city till the flesh mouldered from the bones, and the gaunt ekeleton shook drearily in the hreeze that swept over the old ancestral plains ; how the tale of hoiTortiirilled the heart of Munster, as the noble daughter of the Desmond could bear witness, — how the Queen's oiRcials took up the matter in Cork, and, whereas Cormac Don MacCarthy was convicted of murder^ and suffered the extreme penalty of the law, tried him for treason, and his body being already out of reach, by reason of its bony condition aforesaid, his lands, or rather the lands of his murdered uncle, were declared escheated to the Queen's highness I* "You talk full strangely, Florence," naid the Countess ; " you said but now that Cormac Don was convicted of murder, as by right he should, yet was, after his death, tried for treason.'''* " It was even so, our lady mother !" " But, pri' thee, how could the murder of his uncle be made out treason against the Queen ?" Florence smiled darkly as he answered : "An' the murdered chief were a ' ^^idless man, his mur- derer's crime would be murder, — nothing more, but seeing that he had been the lord of broad lands and more than one strong castle, to which the murderer would have been the rightful heir, it was expedient * By one of those strange coincUlenccs that sometimes startle us in our path of life, the above were the last words of this story written when the author heard of tlie fuul and pitiful murder of her friend of many years and fellow-laborer in the field of Irish iiistory, Hon. T. D. MeGee, in Ottawa, Canada West. What fol- lows was written after an interval of two mournful weeks. TuR Fortunes of an Inisn Cuikf. 197 to make Cormac's crime treason, that so his lands might be forfeited to the crown. I see my litLlo Aileen looks bewildered — my story is not such as gentle ladies love to liear." " Then wherefore tell it, Florence ?" said his wife, pouting. "That I will presently tell, Ellen," said Florence, gravely ; " no mere seannachie's tale is this, but a true story of British rule In this lav, T of the Gael. Now, although the fair lands of Gi'jnacrime were declared forfeited to the Queen, •• jre was on strong eno'gh and bold enough to keep lit:* Idajesty out of this, her rightful inheritance^'' -h« spoke with bitter irony, — "that one was Teague of the Forces, — brother and h^ir of Cormac Don MacCarthy." "And hath he kept the lands?" said the C">untess. " Ay ! marry ! hath he, and it pleased the Queen'b highness to let him keep them, for Tcngue was Teague of the Forces, and Her Majesty had no forces to spare for the taking and holding of her lands of Glenacrime." "A proper man is Teague," said Lady Ellen, laughing, "but what of the poor lad concerning whom you spoke e'en now ?" "The lad is my namesake, Fineen MacCarthy, and he is the son of the murdered chieftain. He was but a young child when the red hand of murder left him fatherless. His mother died of grief for her husband's sad end, and siiice then, the boy hath been a lonely orphan, dependent on the charity and good i 198 MacCartuy More; or, will of his father's friends. Last year he made his way to me in London, and being in a most forlorn condition, besought me to do him what service I could, for the sake of his dead father, who was m j father's friend and follower." " Poor lad !" said Lady Ellen, her eyes full of tears, " it was little you could do to aid him then I" " But what I could, I did ; I wrote a petition for him, and found a friend to present it to the Privy Council." " And what came of it ?" " What might be expected — nothing. But my Lord Barry will have it now, that I sent the boy on a certain business of my own to persons beyond seas, and that he there remaineth in good favor and good estate. That, as I have told you, is one of the treasonable charores now brouGrht afjainst me." " But even an' it were so, Florence," said his wife with her almost childlike look of wonder, " what treason would it be for you to help your young cousin to good entertainment in foreign countries ?" Florence glanced at the Countess, and found her eyes fixed on him with a peculiar expression, a look of keen scrutiny that surprised him. "Ellen will be ever a child," said Lady Clancarthy with her grave smile. " She hath yet to learn," said Florence, " how many meanings the word treason hath in these latter days. Pray heaven she may never have cause to know it better I" Tub Fortunkb of an Irish Ghibf. 199 " You speak in riddles," said the younger lady, somewhat testily ; " metbinks there is something in this young Fineen's story that I have not heard. Where is he now ?" " God and himself knoweth," said her husband eva- sively ; " some there be who say he joined himself t« soldiers bound for the Low Countries, and there died. For me I say not, for I know not whether he be dead or living." . Again the eyes of Florence met those of the Count- ess and both smiled in a way that each understood. Florence was well aware of the vast difference be- tween his wife's intelligence and that of her mother, and it afforded him a sort of pleasure to think that, without his committing himself even to her, his mother-in-law had in part penetrated a secret that weighed heavily on his own care-burdened mind. The story of Fineen of Glenacrime was no more alluded to in the family circle. Most of the following day Florence was absent, and when, at late evening, he returned home, his wife urged him to tell where he had b<'en. *' I have been to Lord de Courcy's, to bid him fare- well before my departure." " Why, Florence, it is but a day or two since you saw him ! Truly you do much affect the old lord." Florence smiled, and tacitly admitted the fact. He oared not to tell Iiis gay wife what w^as soon talked of throughout Munster, and written over and over to Queen Elizabeth, that the wily chieftain had pur- 200 MacCarthy Mobb; or, chased from his aged friend, the Old Head of Kinsale with its strong castle, the nearest to Spain of any on Irish ground ! Yet this piece of news was deemed by the English officials another damning proof that Florence McCarthy was " a cunning and subtle traitor !" A few days more and Florence had bade adieu once more to the fertile plains and pleasant waters of liis native Carbery and the rocky shores of Erin ; he placed himself again in the power of the royal termagant of England, and appeared openly at her court to defend his own cause. Many difficulties he had to encounter, and many charges, whether true or false, to answer. He had been levying forces, and putting his castles in repair, — he had made himself master of Kinsale with its noble harbor, fronting on that Spain where Elizabeth's hated and dreaded foe, Philip the Catholic, ruled in power and in might, — • and, to crown all, he had been " holding parley with certain of the Queen's enemies in Ireland." To most men, situated as he was, these charges would have been overwhelming ; not so Florence MacCarthy. His answers were ready : If he had been placing his country on a war footing it was solely for the Queen's service, — if he had secured the har- bor and castle of Kinsale, it was to keep it from fall- ing into the hands of Her Majesty's enemies, — and as for his consorting with rebels, he had been using his poor endeavors to dissuade them from any trea- sonable practices agau'.st their gracious sovereign! Tub Fortunbs of an Irish Chief. 201 The cutting irony of the last words was too finely pointed for even Elizabeth's astuteness to perceive. "They are waxing bold, those northern traitors !" said the gentle daughter of Henry the Eighth ; " marry, their blood is over hot, — we must e'en send leeches among them and pliysic them with fire and sword, — they have grown lusty from over-feeding, and a dose of starvation will be for their benefit. What of O'Neil and O'Donnel ?" " Of O'Xeil I have no knowledge, most gracious liege, — O'Donnel I know somewhat, lie is of a most hot and fierce temper, — much addicted to the prac- tices of the old faith and a sworn enemy of English law and all civil maimers." " In sooth, a goodly picture," said the Queen, her choler rising, as Florence intended it should. "O'Neil we know of old, — smooth ana fair-spoken he is, but a born traitor at heart we find him to our cost. God's death ! my Lord Burleigh !" — turning to that noble- man, who, with his eyes fixed on Florence's face, stood gravely listening to the singular collocpiy, — " God's death ! but these pestiferous traitors must be stopped thousch it cost us half our kingdom. How stand affairs in Munster, Master Florence IMcCartie ?" "I fear not 'over well, your highness ! — the Geral- dines are up again, I hear, with some eight thousand fighting men. Rumors there are of further disatfec- tion, the which maketh loyal subjects to betliink them of preparing for tlie worst." "And you, Master Florence, being a right loyal m HMili 202 MAcCARTnY Moke; or, subject," said Burleigh, speaking for the first time, " what course do you propose to take for the further- ance of the righteous cause ?" " W''th me, my good lord !" said Florence in a tone half thoughtful, half dejected, " it is but the means that are wanting. Men I can command in plenty, bat the means of supporting them I have not. The five years of my imprisonment hath left me a poor man, and for my Lord Barry's fine, which it pleased Her Majesty's grace to bestow upon me, it hath done me more harm than good, for I have ex- pended full three hundred pounds in law to recover the same, yet nothing have I gained in return. My Lord Barry and his lawyers have made Her Majesty's bounty of small avail to me ; and were the loss only mine, I were not here to speak of it ; but in my in- ability to serve the Queen as my father's son were bound to do, I could think of nothing but an ap- peal to her justice and clemency^'' — there was the slightest possible curl on Florence's lip as he said this, — " to enable me to defend her cause and mine ?» own. " Before God, my Lord Burleigh ! he shall have what powers he will to aid our cause ! — See to it that this Barry be kept from working further mis- chief to Master Florence McCartie !" So ended the audience. Barry's charges might, at another time, have thrown Florence again into the Tower, — now, in the fears growing out of the increasing troubles in Ireland, fears which Florence TiiK Fortunes op an Irish Chief. 203 himself had skilfully wrought upon for his own advantage, the wily Tanist went back to his own country not only exonerated from blame (at least for the present) but with the prestige of renewed favor at court, and ample powers from the Queen. The autumn was far advanced when Florence landed once more on the coast of Desmond, and im- mediately the news spread abroad that all the undertakers in his country were soon to be dispos- sessed of the lands they had so cavalierly seized and so sturdily held. Florence MacCarthy was high in court favor, so rumor said, and any passing day might brin^ the gentlemen " squatters " on his estates " notice to quit." His singular preparations, as if for active service, were renewed with fresh activity, and as rumors of war and rebellion came sullenly up from the far North, all eyes began to turn to this most peaceful and law-abiding Munster chief, the young Tanist of MacCarthy Rcagh's country. The strange uncertainty that even then attended all his movements, — the deep depths in which his designs lay hid, gave him an importance independent even of his position as a powerful and influential branch of one of the first of the Munster Bepts. Another rebellion was brewing North and South, and the course tliat Florence MacCarthy would take was of great importance to friend and foe. Such was the state of things when our hero was summoned, one bleak, wild day in late November ^^T^ 20^ MacCarthy Morr; or, to the bedside of llie Earl of Clancartliv who was dangerously ill. Lady Ellen had been for a week before at Pallice Castle. One glance at the aged chieftain convinced Florence that there all was nearly over; the closed eyes, the laboring breath, the sunken cheeks and dilated nostrils, sliowed all too plainly that the first Earl of Clancarthy was passing away. His wife and daughter sat near, the former pale and silent, with her eyes fixed on the face that had once been very dear, — now fast changing into clay ; her daughter, with eyes and cheeks red with weeping, for the father who, with all his faults, and they were many and great, had ever been as kind to her as his rough nature permitted. Silently and sorrowfully Florence joined the watchers, and for the little time that the Earl's spirit yet remained in the flesh, he never left his side. In a whisper he asked the Countess whether a priest had been brought. The pale sad face brightened a moment as the lady replied : " Truly yes, God sent us a priest ; Father McEgan had come hither but yester eve, and it pleased God to give Donald the grace of repentance ; he hath made a good confession, as the Father tells us, and received some hours since the holy viaticum. All that can be done to prepare him is done, and while he could speak, or knew anything, he ceased not to crave pardon of God, and of me, his poor wife. God lie kuoweth how I forgive him all — all 1" TflR FORTDNKS OF AN IrISII ClIIKP. 205 " Said lie aught of the succession ?" " Fineen !" muttered the dying man, as though hi ', ears had caught the sound — " Fineen — MacCartliy More — no Earl — Ilonora ! poor wife ! — forgive — Jesus ! Mary !" A gasp, a shudder, a convulsive motion of the limbs, and Donald MacCarthy More had gone to meet his Judge. The prayers for the Dead were recited, — reverently and tenderly his wife closed his eyes, and all was over for the Earl of Desmond. 4c ^: He :|c 4< ^c In the chancel of the ruined Abbey of Muoruss or " Irrelagh of the MacCarthys," by Killarney's fair waters, the traveller even of to-day may see a plain tombstone, " with some attempt at heraldric device," says a modern writer, " and much defaced by the feet of passing generations since it was laid there ; the eye can still, however, discern a sculptured Irish crown, surmounting an equally rude earl's cornet and escutcheon of arms. Modern care has guarded it from further defacement, by crossing the stone with some bars of iron, which now receive the tread of the rude peasant or careless tourist, when trampling on the memorial which tells us that an Irish cliief- tain, metamorphosed into a belted English noble, sleeps below. It is the Earl of Clancarthy who lies here entombed, the first and the last so entitled."* The death of this powerful chieftain is thus re- corded in the " Annals of the Four Masters :" M^ 9 * Lake Lore, pp. 48-60. ■ 206 MaoCarthy Morb; or, " A. D. 1596, MacCarthy More died, namely, Donal, the son of Donal, son of Cormac Ladrach, son of Teige ; and although he was called MacCartie More, he had been honorably created Earl before that time, by command of the sovereign of England. lie left no male heir after him, who would be appointed his successor, and only one daughter, who became the wife of the son of MacCarthy Reagh, namely, Fineen, and all were of opinion that he was heir of that MacCarthy who died, namely, Donal." Little goodf was to be said of this last of a long line of princely chieftains in his lifetime, but his death was the death of a repentant sinner, and his wife and daughter mourned him for the memory of his L tter days. + It is not generally known, even to those students of Irish his- tory to whom the name of Donald, first Earl of Clancarthy, is familiar, that he was somewhat of a poet, and that two poems of his, wliich, from their religious character, must have been written in his later and better days, are still preserved. They are both in the Irish language. One is entitled — "A sorrowful vision hatli deceived n-e'^ — and the other, "Alas! alas! benign Mary!" a pious and penitent address to Our blessed Lady.— ^ee Transac- tions of the tbavw- Celtic Society. Thi Fobtumis of an Ibish CuiBF. 207 CHAPTER XIII. Tub news of thcvEjii'l of Clancarthy's death raised a perfect whirlwind of excitement in the whole of South Munster ; Protestant bishops, English under- takers, Irish relatives, all were forthwith up and doing, in hopes of gaining a share of the mighty spoil. Since the confiscation of the Desmond Oeral- dine estates, after the tragic death of Earl Gerald of Desmond, the Great Rebel, no such windfall had come to the rapacious vultures whose ordinary prey was Irish confiscations. Even the redoubtable Donal, the Earl's " base son," the outlaw whose dwelling had been in the wild fastnesses where Eng- lish law could not r'^ach, and whose life had been like IshmaePs, his hana against every man, and every man's hand against him, — now arrayed himself in English garments, and emerged from his wild re- treats as a claimant, no less ! for the captaincy of the Clan Carthy, and the vast estates of its deceased chief, who, having left no legitimate male issue, Donal considered himself the rightful heir. A curi- ous sight it was when the fierce outlaw, the Robin Hood of Munster, presented hunself, in the ordinary dress of an English gentleman of those days, before the Vice-President in Cork city, to make his sub- mission to the Queen, and put in his claim to his father's hereditary title and the fami.y possessions ! — 208 MacCaiitiiy More; or, Very composedly he was Ijc.ird, and with no disfavor, by the wily otlicial, for English policy then was to encourage all claimants to the estates of the great Irish lords in order to promote discord and strife amoii'jjst " the mere Irish." But of all tlie claimants to the late Earl's posses- sions, the most feared by all the others was the one who was least noisy in asserting his claims, the hus- band of the Earl's only legitimate child. All the others were banded against him. In those days, with the fear of Florence before their eyes, wrote to the English IVivy Council, the Bishop of Ardfert, the Brownes and others (we modernize their quaint language) : " Right Honorable, and our singular good Lords, most humbly craving pardon, we have presumed, understanding that Florence McCartie prepareth himself to be a suitor, under Her Majesty and your Honors, for the lands and honor of the late deceased Earl of Clancarthy, to set down unto your Honors the state of the country, as also the condition of the party, with the nature of the people, the troubles may ensue unto Her Majesty and State, with the miseries like to fall upon us poor English Gentlemen, and all English inhabitants here dwelling. The country, a great continent of great fastnesses and strengths, and the said Florence already Tanist of Carbery, a country almost as great as the Earl's, and all these whose names are here inclosed* being * It may not be uninteresting to read the names " inclosed " by the Engiirili bisliop of Ardfert aud the Kerry undertakera. TUe Tub Fortunbs op an Irish Ciiibf. 209 Lords of Countries, and great commanders, his allies and followers I The gentleman liimself, a .most notable Papist, and a favorer of all superstitious manner of living, brought up with his uncle, James FitzMaurice, and his conversation hath been much with men not well affected unto Her Majesty. Him- self and all his house came out of Spain." An English official. Sir Geoffry Fenton, also wrote Uj Sir Robert Cecil, in the spring following the Earl's death : "The Earl of Clancarthy, a great lord in Munster, being now dead, and Florence McCarthy, by marrying with his heir general, having an ap- parent pretence to the Earldom, I fear some altera- tion will grow in those parts by Florence, who is more Spanish than English ; and I received this day advice from Munster that Florence already begins to stir coals, in which respect I wish your Honor to advise with my Lord Treasurer out of hand, to have him either sent for thither, or some special letter written to the -Lord President of Munster to lay hold of him, to make stay of him in his person, or to see him assured upon good pledges ; for without ** inclosure," as now in the State Paper Oflice, is — " A l?not of Buch as are Lords of countries, bcinjj^ h incon McCartie's kinsmen, atid followers of the Earl of Clancarthy, within Desmond and the County of Cork adjoining; upon Desmond : Cormac McDermod and Teague McDeruiod (Fineen's aunt's sons) ; O'SuUivan More, married to Fineen's sister: O'Sulllvan Beare; O'Donotfhoe of the Glens; McGilUcuddy; MeCrehon ; MacGillo Niwhm; McDonnell; Hugh Cormac of Dungwill ; Clan Dermod ; Clan Lawraa ; Hugh Donuell Brik ; McFinau ; McFinan Dhu ; Clan Teago Kcttas ; McDonogh Barret; MeAuUlFe ; O'Keefc; O'Callaghan; O'Daly, with many others, and allied by hinxself and his wife unto most of Uie noblemen in Ireland," "•V y^ff?"^^ 210 MacCabthy Mors; ob, one of these two preventions I look that ho will be a dangerous Robin Hood in Munster." I'lorence did not wait to be " laid hold of," for he immediately set out post haste for London, having first provided himself with a letter of recommenda- tion from Sir Thomas Norreys — not aware, possibly, that Donal McCarthy had received just such another only a day or two previous. It was before the Privy Council that Florence Mac- Carthy presented his claim in person to the lands of his lato father-in-law. Very gravely the Lords lis- tened while he, in true legal phraseology, advanced his reasons, and to him, at least, they were very con- clusive, why he, and he only, should be recognized as the Earl's heir. After a short consultation among themselves, the Lords announced to the apparently calm expectant that although Her Majesty might be graciously pleased to waive her claim to lands which, by the Earl's death, lapsed to her, there were other claim- ants thereto besides Master Florence MacCarthy. There was the aged Countess to be provided for, and there were the lands bequeathed by the Earl to his base son, Donal, known as the Castle Lough estate, the which Donal was in Londi. a to petition for ; lastly, there was one still greater difficulty in the way, viz. : that the Queen herself had, ten years before, given a patent for the Earl's lands to the late Sir Valentine Brown and his son Nicholas ! This last fact was brought out with an air of TUR FOUTUNKS OV AN Iui8U CuiKF. 211 triumph that did not escape tlie keen and practised eyes of Florence. Not a trace of emotion was visi- ble on his face, yet a tierce delight was burning in his heart as he replii'd : " Concerning this j)atcnt of Master Browne, now Sir Nicholas, if it bo us I liave lieard, it can no- wise art'ect my claim. Could I but have sight of the document, methinks I could convince your lordships that the patent is not a valid one." T; » patent was produced, for, as Florence well knew, ]>rowne had transmitted it to the Council with- out delay. Word by word it was conned over, pa- tiently and slowly, till Florence placed his linger on a word, and smiled blandly as Sir Francis Walsing- ham read aloud — " Should the Earl die without heirs^ then is the Seignory to pass to Sir Valentine J5rowue and his heirs forever !" Florence furtively watched the lords while they exchanged signilicant glances. Seeing that no one spoke, he spoke himself. " Methinks Sir Nicholas Browme might kave saved your lordships the trouble of examining this patent. He knew full well that the Earl of Clancarthy left heirs. Ay ! marry, and heirs male, seeing that his daughter is now the mother of four sons, all of whom are sound in mind and body, and as likely to live as any in Munster." " The gentleman is right," said Lord Treasurer Burleigh, with a grim smile ; " Sir Valentine and his lawyer were for once at fault. Master Florence Mo- 212 MacCaBTHY MoBEf OR, Cartie, the matter awaits tlie Queen's pleasure. It shall be brought forthwith under her hifjhness's no- tice." Florence bowed his thanks for this non-committal promise, and withdrew, leaving Her Majesty's Privy Councillors, as he well knew, to discuss amongst themselves the possibility of setting his claim aside in favor of their royal mistress, lie had reached the door when he turned back, and, as if with sudden recollection of some very unimportant matter, said, with well-feigned indiflfcrence : *' I humbly crave your lordships' pardon, but by a strange oversight, I forgot to give my Lord Treasurer a letter from the Earl of Ormond, and Sir Robert this from Sir Thomas Norreys." And he presented both with as perfect coolness and composure as though their contents nothing concerned him. Before the letters were read he had bowed himself out of the Council Chamber. Let us remain for a brief space amongst the noble advisers of Queen Elizabeth. While Sir llobert Cecil read Norrey's communication with the impas- sible coolness of a man who saw notliing particular in what he read, his father was evidently disturbed by what he saw. As he glanced over the letter before him, his brow contracted, a faint flush suffused his deeply-furrowed cheek, nnd his hands shook with nervous excitement. There was dead silence in the Council Chamber, and every eye was turned on the hged statesman. Tub Fortunks of an Irish Ciiibp. 213 iness s 110- " My Ioi'cIh !" he said at length, " thei'e is that m this letter whieh demands prompt attention. My Lord of Ormond seemetli much to desire that this Florence McCartie shall be sent back to Ireland as soon as may be, and that he be favored in this mat- ter of the succession. Tiie nobleman seemeth to ap- prehend danger, the which your lordships may per- ceive from his letter." And he read aloud : " This bearer Florence McCarthy is now to make repair into England about some suit of his own, which, in regard to this dangerous time, he may be hardly spared from hence. lam heartily to pray you to favor him in his lawful suits, and that he may be dispatched from thence ; whom I leave to your favor- able regard, and so I commit you to God's most blessed guiding. "From Dubiin, this 18th June, 1598. " Yo ar fast assured friend, "Thomas, Ormois^d and Ossoky." The faces of Her Majesty's noble councillors length- ened considerably as this alai.ning document was read by the Lord Treasurer — in a voice that even his habitual self-control could not render steady. Tliat very afternoon, Burleigh had an interview with Her Majesty, and on the following day Florence Mac- Carthy was again before the Queen in person, sum- moned to icive an account of the circumstances that had ffiven rise to Lord Ormond's ominous letter. There was a thunder-cloud on the royal brow aa ■4 .11 h 2U MacCarthy More; or. the Queen bent her searching glance on Florence MacCarthy. Very meek and submissive was the face of the Tanist of Carbery, as he bent before the throne, but within himself he was saying : " Be as angry as thou wilt, Elizabeth Tudor ! angrier yet I hope to make thee ere we part company." " How now, Master Florence," said the royal vixen ; " what troubles are these we hear of from our realm of Ireland ? My Lord Ormond, our right worthy Lieutenant-General, is much disturbed on account of some traitorous doings there, as we learn from his letter brought by you to our Lord Treasurer." " Most gracious liege," said Florence, with eyes cast down in deep humility, as it seemed, but really to hide the fierce exultation that burned in their dark depths ;" most gracious liege, your royal subjects in Ireland are sore afraid of evil days coming. O'Neil and O'Donnel are up at last, and with them all the Northern Province, while in Munster, the Geraldines ha\ e taken the field under the banne'" of one James Fitzgerald, nephew of the late rebel Earl of Des- mond, whom O'Neil hath made Earl of Desmond." Old and decrepid as she was, with her seventy years of life, and forty of royalty, bending down her once stately form, Elizabeth started to her feet with all the fierce fire of her younger days. " Man I what saidst thou ?" she cried, stamping her foot, her voice hoarse with rage ; " O'Neil did not dare to make an Earl of Desmond I" " My liege ! I have told you truly," said Florence TUE FORTUNKS OF AN IrISH CiIIKP. 2!5 with relentless pcilinacity,---" and niore than that hath he done. He hath made Donal McCarthy, my wife's base brother, MacCarthy More !" Elizabeth clenched both hands as they hung on either side at full length, while she paced the floor with nostrils dilated, eyes burning like living coals and glaring like a tiger's. A fearful oath burst from her parched lips, but, for some moments, more she could not find voice to say. To and fro she strode with that firm, manlike gait that had distinguished her through life, broken now by fury as well as age, the hands, still extended, opening and closing convul- sively. All at once she stopped in- front of Flor- ence, and said with a violent effort to control her rage — " And you. Master Florence MacCarthy ! — what hath this mighty O'Neil done for you ? — Come ! out with the secret, man ! — What lands and titles hath he awarded to you ?" " None, my gracious liege, none !" was the prompt rejoinder ; " it hath not been my fortune to find favor in his sight, as hath Donal McCarthy and James FitzTliomas !" " What think you, my Lord Burleigh !" said the Queen, turning to that nobleman who stood by a silent, but attentive, listener. " Shall we leave O'Neil's MacCarthy to enjoy his honors, or send Master Florence into Ireland, with power from us to take possession of the Earl's lands ?" " Your grace's wisdom will dictate the proper IP ■1 W rm • MM' 11 216 MacCartiiy More; or, course," said llie aged statesman, with his wonted cool caution. " Ay, many, and Master McCartie shall hear of it full soon," cried Elizabeth, still wroth, but graci- ously disposed towards the man wnom she meant to use as a foil for O'ISI eil's MacCarthy. Day by day Florence awaited the fulfilment of the Queen's promise, but many days passed, and still he found himself lianging about the Court in precisely the same state of suspense, nothing gaining, but much losing. lie took to his old trade of petition- ing, but petitioning was of no avail ; still no answer came from the Queen. Days passed into weeks, and his anxiety increased in proportion to the lapse of time, knowing that events were transpiring in Ire- land that made his presence there more than ever necessary. One day Florence received a summons to repair in all haste to Greenwich Palace. When the mes- sage reached him he was in a state of excitement all unusual with him, pacing his small apartment to and fro after the manner of a caged lion, muttering wild words to himself in the forbidden language of old Spain, ano looking as though the warrior spirit of his race had suddenly passed into his usually inert frame. Hearing the message, which came to him in the name of Sir Robert Cecil, he bowed very calmly and said he would wait on Sir Robert without dealy. But when the messenger was gone, he burst into a sort of derisive laugh, tli^.t sounded strange from Tub Fortunes of an Irish Cuiep. 217 one so staid and so subdued in his ordinary bearing. Not one word he said, but composing his features as best he might, lie betook himself to the palace. He was well pleased to find that it was only Sir Robert Cecil he had to encounter that day. Even Florence Mac^ arthy dreaded the all-plcrcing eyes of the royal Elizabeth. Cecil junior looked rest- less and ill at ease. He was the first to speak. " I sent for you now, Mr. Florence McCartie," he said, endeavoring, but in vain, to appear perfectly composed, " for that the Queen hath been graciously pleased to consider your claim for loyal service ren- dered ; it is her will that you now take possession of the lands owned by your late father-in-law, the Earl of Clancarthy, the title to remain in abeyance for future jonsideration." Florence shook his head. " I fear her Majesty's bounty is somewhat late. Donal McCarthy has taken upon himself the style and title of MacCarthy More, sanctioned by O'Neil, a portion of whose army is even now marching into Munster. What can I do now, I who have not even the means of going back to Ireland ? What I might have done for the Queen, had I been in mine own country, and master of mine OAvn and my wife's inheritance, I say not now, for it were idle to talk of opportunities lost. When I might have done somewhat for my self or others, I was here in London where I could serve no one." " Nevertheless, it is the Queen's royal will that yon i II I If mvimsmm \ 218 MacCartiiy Morr; or, w ' M ' C90 into Ireland without delay, and to further your doing so, I am to give you wherewith to bear your ex})euses tliitlier." Florence coolly pocketed the order for one hundred p^our.Js which Elizabeth, in her close regard to money, doubtless considered a high price for the loyal service she expected from one of the first lords in Munster — at a time when her rule in Ireland was in imminent danger of coming to an end. He looked at Cecil with a smile which even that wily courtier found it hard to understand. " I know not," said Florence, " whether your Honor or the Queen's highness hath heard the evil tidings." " What tidings ?" asked Cecil with well-feigned curiosity. " How the Northern rebels under O'Neil have de- feated the Queen's troops on the banks of the Black- water, and are now besieging the strongest fort in Ulster. Truly, O'Neil hath come out of his shell sooner than friend or foe expected." " Somewhat of his traitorous deeds her Majesty hath heard," said Cecil carelessly, " but my Lord of Ormond hath received orders to proceed without de- lay against the rebels, and we hope to hear a good account of them soon." " I pray God you may !" said Florence MacCarthy with a fervor that quite charmed Sir Robert Cecil. Practised as he was himself in the art of dissimula- tion, he could not read the deep heart of Florence MacCarthy. So he took it for granted that the Tanist Tub Fortunks of an Ibisu Ciiibf. 219 of Carbeiy was as loyally anxious for the defeat of the iusurufont chiefs as he was himself. It was truly " diamond cut diamond" between the two. Cecil knew tliat the rebellion had already as- sumed a most formidable aspect ; that the Northern chiefs, Hushed with victory, were preparing to march into Munster, where the Avhole province awaited but their coming to rise almost as one man ; that Con naught, never reliable to English interests, was as good as lost, and that e\ en in semi-Norraan Leinster the "disaffected" were in the majority. He also knew that the Queen had no forces in Ireland to re- sist this threatened storm; but it never occurred to his mind, sagacious as it was, tliat Florence MacCarthy knew more of the matter than ho did. \ Those were the days when, according to the histo- rian Camden, " the condition of Ireland was in a manner desperate, for almost the whole nation was broke out into rebellion ;" when Elizabeth and her Council were day by day informed that " Tyrone re- ceiveth letters from the King of Scots ;" " Scotland beareth up this rebellion ;" " the King of Spain bear- eth a great sting of mind against her Majesty," and when every letter that reached the gentle Tudor prin- cess from her trusty servants in Ireland was filled with complaints of " the lamentable state of this ac- cursed country." " The enemy is grown insolent and intractable ;" wrote one, " in discipline, and weapons, he is little inferior to us ; the men of most :•'• ''I p. > i 1 ra / 220 MacCartuy More; or, ppirit follow tlie rebels, and leave the rascals to the Quoeii's service."* Much of this general state of things, Florence Mac- Ciirthy well knew, and of the particular affairs in his own province he knew more than either Cecil or the Queen, but what he did not know was the relative strength of the national army ready to be marshalled by the powerful chieftain of Tyrone, and the ill-ap- pointed horde of " ragged rascals " literally and truly, on whom depended the maintenance of British power in Ireland. How could Florence MacCarthy have realized the fact that whereas the rebels in the four provinces had well-nigh twenty thousand men under arms, trained and disciijlined as their enemies admit- ted them to be, Lieutenant-General Lord Ormond had no more than eight or nine thousand of the " rascals " who alone " followed the Queen's service !" Cecil knew this, and the Council knew it, and the Queen had the niortification of knowing it, too, when she sent her dole to the nobey-connected Tanist of Carbery, to enable him to return to his country after his long and wearisome waiting in London for an answer that perchance would never have come had not Donal MacCarthy, the usurper of the chieftain- ship, taken sides with O'Neil. Florence MacCarthy was well pleased when he found hhuself alone that evening in the quiet of his hmmble lodgings. Long he sat musing with his head * Sir H. Brounker, as quoted from the State Papers by Daniel MacCarthy in his " Life and Letters of Florence MacCarthj More." TuE Fortunes of an Irish Chiep. 221 resting on liis hand, his face expressing more plainly than he usually permitted it to do, the thoughts that passed in quick succession through his restless mind.* At times his thoughts escaped in words, lialf uncon- sciously to himself, and he would start from his seat and pace the floor with slow step and thoughtful mien. His own affairs and those of his country were strangely mingled in his mind. " Truly Donal hath it all his own way," he said with a contemptuous smile ; " with O'Neil at his back, and Clan Carthy at liis foot, he must needs fancy himself a great man. It well beseemeth his mother's son to head the men of Desmond I — ^Mac- Carthy More ! — Donal the base-born — the sleuth- hound of the sept — the wild outlaw — truly we are much beholden to O'Neil ! A rare captain hath he given to Clan Caura. But he and Donal shall find that even O'Neil is not kinc: in Desmond. So lona: as O'Sullivan holdeth out for me, Donal may play MacCarthy More an' welcome. His reign will but last till I come." He arose and resumed his march, with head bent forward and hands crossed behind his back. After awhile he stopped short and muttered again, in pur- suance of another train of thought — "the Queen would send me back now, hoping to use me, her loyal servitor," and he laughed a bitter mocking laugh, " against O'Neil whom, in her wisdom, she thinks hath made me his enemy by favoring Donal. Ha ! ha ! — they will find us none such bad friends 222 MacCartuy Mork; ob, when all is told ! — And Elizabeth mnst do somewhat more than scMidiiig me an hundred pounds ere I go on her errand !" And again he laughed that deep inward laugli peculiar to himself. Next day he was called into the presence of the Queen herself, and was told by the lips of royalty, with a graciousness all nnwonted, that he was at liberty to return to Ireland whensoever he would. Nay, the Queen condescended to remind him that his wife's base brother had usurped the possession of the Clancarthy estates, and taken upon himself the barbarous title of MacCarthy More. Florence's answer was characteristic. He had suddenly become more stately in his bearing, and looked every inch the princely head of the proud Clan Carthy. " Most gracious queen," said Florence, " I am thankful for the new favor you have added to the many ere now bestowed upon me, but in these trou blous times I have no desire to return into Ireland, where my present poverty unfits me to render ser- vice to your Majesty, and I might perchance fall again under suspicion. Tlie many years of imprisonment I have undergone, and the ruin that hath come upon me, for no cause that I know of, — have made me fear- ful of going into Ireland at a time when almost every lord and gentleman of mine own race is in arms with O'Neil." Elizabeth well understood the bitter meaning of his words, and had she given way to the first impulse Tub Fortunes ov an Irish Chief. 223 she would have ordered liim " tc the Tower," but she knew the danger was imniincn o ; she knew that tho English rule in Ireland was never so ill-assured as then ; she knew that Florencj MacCarthy knew all that she did, perchance more, and in his altered tone she read his consciousness of her weakness and his strength. Florence MacCarthy was no longer the suitor, he was dictating terms, — his turn was come. ;^l 224 MacCartuy More; or. CHAPTER XIV. Florence went to Ireland some time after when it suited his own convenience. Wliat he f^vl there was best known to liimself, but it is certain lie had done little for the Queen, when the royal lady and her f dvisers were startled by the apparition of his towering figure in London. lie came to complain that between Donal and the Browncs he had no con- trol in Desmond, and could, consequently, do nothing against the rebels, now more powerful than ever in all parts of the country. Elizabeth stormed at first, and swere that Florence MacCarthy was as wicked a traitor as O'Neil him- self, and that too much had been done for him already. But seeing that even her fiercest anger did not much affect Florence, she was forcibly re- minded that times had changed, and, after due con- sideration with her ministers, she commanded his claims to be once for all examined, and a decision given without dela^-. Tl. ^ result was that the entire possessions of the lat": Earl were at length bestowed on Florence and his wife ; payment to be made to Sir Nicholas Browne of the moneys his father had advanced on mortcfao^es. The motives which prompted the Queen to this magnificent " grant," as it was styled, were plainly set forth — " in hope of his (Florence's) loyalty and service !" Tub Fortunks of an Irish Ciiirf. 225 Very grateful dul Florcnoe appear, but, although urged to set out speedily for his country whence the news were daily worse, he seemed in no hurry to be gone. Day after day lie was to bo seen hovering around the precincts of the Court and the Council- chamber. At Icnojth Sir Robert Cecil brouijht him an angry mandate from the Queen to repair forth- with into Ireland if he would not have all the grants already made cancelled and withdrawn. Then came out the reason of his loiterinoc. There was one little clause in the Gjrant whoreb^ the Queen reserved to herself " all the ritrhts and chiefries of the late Earl !" And Florence coolly and methodically ex- plained that those very rights and chiefries were precisely what would enable him to recover his wife's estates from those who wrongfully held them. This concession was not to be thought of, for if there was anything Queen Elizabeth was particularly bent on doing, at that particular time, it was to have and to hold all such "rights," and to abolish all such " chiefries " amonc^ " the mere Irish." CD A day or two after Florence was summoned before the Council and there aj^prised of certain tra>orous doings of his brother, Dermod Moyie, and others of his kinsmen, w^lio had been found holding inter- course with the rebels. It surely required all the self-control of which Florence was master, to conceal his feelings when informed, on the authority of Sir Thomas ISTorreys, that " the castles and houses " of his brother and their friends had been taken and '; 11 "1 ;1 1 I » 1 I 226 MacCarthy Morb; ob, razed to the ground, and fiirtlier, that he himself being suspected of authorizing and instigating these treasonable acts, it was deemed advisable to detain hira in England ! Yet Florence heard it all with the coolest in- difference ; expressed himself well contented to keep himself out of those home-troubles, and in the most innocent way imaginable asked whether worthy Sir Thomas had informed their lordships of the fall of the strong castle of Molahiff, which Sir Nicholas Browne had stoutly held for the Queen. The lords exchanged significant looks, as though of caution, and answer was made that a rumor. of that event had reached them. " Is it known to your lordships," asked Florence, without raising his eyes, "that it was Donal, the usurper of my wife's patrimony, that led the assault, and that it was by his orders the garrison were slaughtered after a fierce and obstinate resistance ?" This, too, was known, but somehow, it seemed, that Florence's absence became suddenly more de- sirable just theh than his presence, and he was in- formed that he was at liberty to retire. A few days after he was called to an interview with Sir Robert Cecil, and by that politic son of a still- more politic father, gravely informed that his captivity was at last at an end (hitherto he had been only liberated on sufference and on heavy bail), and that the Queen was graciously pleased to confer upon him all those " rights " which had appertained to his Thb Fortunkb op an Irish Ciiirf. 227 imself ; these detain est iu- ,0 keep e most .hy Sir fall of icholas e lords laution, ent had Lorence, lal, the assault, n were ance?" eemed, lore de- \\ as in- terview m of a liat his id been fl), and ^>r upon to his late father-in-law. Only the chieftainship was with- held ! But all this was on condition tliat he went immediately to Ireland, and set about expelling Donal and the other traitors wlio were bidding fair to have all Munster in their hands soon. " But to clear my country of rebels," said the ever- cautious Florence, " I should e'en be left to work in mine own way. I must be at liberty to parley with the Queen's enemies, without suspicion of treason, when my needs require the same." Sir Robert was willing to grant this and, in short, all other concessions and privileges in the Queen's name, only Master Florence MacCarthy must start without delay. And Florence did start accordingly, for the first time in twelve long years a free man. His first visit in Ireland was not to his ovrn home, or the wife he had not seen for months long. The load of anxiety that weighed heavy on his heart made him turn his steps in anotlier d rectiou, towards one who had the power of bestowing, or withholding Avhat most lie coveted Oil earth. A few hours after his I 'ding in Ireland, he was shaking the friendly hanJ of liis brother-in-law, O'Sullivan More, in his ancestral castle of Dunkerrin, near Kinsalc. Older and more careworn both looked than when last we saw tliem together at I*alice Castle by the lake-shore, but the cloud passed awav from the brow of each, and the darkened faces bi ightened with some- thing like the olden smile as tl :> friends cxciianged 228 MacCarthy More; or, tlieir kinclly greeting, and O'Sullivan welcomed "Flo- rence after his long sojourn in the iingenial atmos- phere of London. " Truly it does my heart good," said Florence, " to look once more on the face of a true friend. Owen, my heart is too full for words. But for your friendship I had lost all." " I know not but you might, Florence," said O'Sullivan with his old frankness and good-nature ; " had I not kepi the Rod for you, the Desmond es- tates were worth little. But cheer thee, old fi iend ! Donal's chieftainsliip will little avail him, when the Rod is yours and the elccaon too !" *' Think you the gentlemen are for me ?" " Ay ! truly are they, and for none else. As for Donal, scarce one of them would acknowledge liim, — it was foul shame, they say, to all the sept, to have a base-born churl for MacCarthy More, even though the MacCarthy blood be in his veins by the father's side. An' that be the stuif O'Neil makes captains and chiefs of, his fbllo^ving of lords and gentlemen wall be but small. IIow found you Lady KUen and the children ?" "As yet I have not seen them. I hear Ellen hath had a gay tiaie in Cork, lately, among the English there ; and thoy tell me slie has worse to say tlian any one concerning ' the rebels,^ " — there was a sig- nificance in liis way of pronouncing the last words that. O'Sullivan v/ell understood. " She is not as prudent as wo might wi^'i," puIu i Tub Fortunes of an Irish Ciiiep. 229 PJilU the Kerry chieftain, shaking his head gravely, " and I fear," lowering his voice, " that she is over- much with the English dames. Such company is neither for your good nor liers, MacCarthy More that will soon be ! — an" you have secrets, my good friend, I pray you, keep them from your fair lady-wife !" Florence started, colored, and looked with keen scrutiny into O'SuUivan'a face ; what he saw there brought an angry Hush to his brow, and he muttered to himself — " I feared as much — God help us all this day !" There was a moment's silence, then Mac- Cavthy spoke again, in his usual tone j self-control never cost him much. " But, prithee, tell me, Owen ! how fares it with our vouno; cousin of Desmond, James FitzTliomas?" " Excellently well ; he hath no less than eight thou- sand men together, in the Limerick mountains, ready to join O'Neil at his coming into Munster, the which h flaily looked for." " I hear that Dormod O'Connor hath come out of Cuiir aught with a large force, and that all the Lacys ani some of the Burkes are out." "It is even so, they are with the Earl now. In sooth, the whole province waiteth but for the rxorth- ern clans to rise as one man. What do you purpose doing?" " I purpose recovering my country first of all," said F!.)rerice with his peculiar smile ; " the Que )n and lier ministers seem to think that 1 can do more to keep Munster quiet than any man iu it. Hence hath my 230 MacCahthy More; or, twc4vc years' imprisonment been brouglit to an end. But before I cun bring the country o . er to loi/al sen- tlinents and the ways of English ' civility ' " — this was said with a contemptuous curl of the lip — " I must needs have the power as well as the will." "How "ill O'N'eil take your assumption of tlie cliieftainsi j "Passinor , ,\ \ warrant vou ! — See if he do not I I purpose visiting him and Desmond before I am many days older." " You dare not, Florence !— it were as much as even your life were worth !" Florence MacCarthy laughed in his own peculiar way. " Owen O'Sullivan, you are a wise man, yet there be things you do not understand. I have got permission to hold parley with the rebels — in further- ance of the Queen's gracious designs for the civiliz- ing and pacifying of this country," " Florence, you are too deep for my poor wits," said O'Sullivan, eviiently puzzled. "I pray God you may bring your designs to a favorable issue !" The entrance of O'Sullivan's wife, anxious to sec her brother, put a stop to the conversation. Before Florence left Dunkerrin, an hour later, he startled O'Sullivan by the information that the Earl of Essex was coming over from England with an army of 16,000 foot and 2,000 horse. " So you see, Owen," ho added, " it behoveth all to look to their arms, which- ever side they follow." The Fortunes of an Irish Cuibp. 231 " Why not tell me that sooner ?" said O'Sullivan much amazed. " 111 news ever come soon enough," replied Flo- rence calmly. " Nevertheless, keep up your courage, and hold yourself in readiness with the Ro'^., when once I have got the needful authority to cake it, and all will go well, — / promise you that, who never yet deceived you!" " I will hope for the best, Florence ! — but I pray you be on your guard, for these are perilous times ! Heard you of the death of Sir Thomas Norreys ?" " Marry, I did ; he fell, I was told, in a petty skir- mish, fell without his fame. Well! there may a worse man come in his place." When Florence reached his home he found his children, four bright, rosy boys, — but his wife, he did not find ; she was still in Cork, where the festivities given in honor of Essex and his army were just at their height. His indignation was so great that he would not have her apprised of his coming, and be- fore they met, all Ireland, and England, too, were startled by events that even the most sagacious could not have foreseen. Florence MacCarthy, knowing that he could do little for the expulsion of Donal without being formally invested with the title, and knowing, too, that failing the Queen's consent he could not openly assume it without hazarding the loss of all he had gained, made application to the Commissioners, Sir II. Power and Sir Warham St. ; 1- 232 MacCartiiy More; ob, Lcger, who had been appointed to rule Mimster instead of the Vice-President lately deceased. Now Sir Warham was his enemy of old time, but so skil- fully did Florence state his case that he succeeded in convincing tlie stern old Trojan and his colleague that the pacilication of Munstcr depended on his tak- ing the old sept title of MacCarthy More, now usurped by his wife's base brother. He finally pre- vailed upon the Commissioners to write a joint letter to Sir }w )Lert Cecil, giving it as their of>inion that unless the Queen so far condescended to the barbar- ous way,^ of Jie Irishry, Florence might as well have been kept in London. " And so for the title of MacCarthy," they wrote, " (which the bastard Donal doth now usurp, withholding thereby the country,) we also think it agreeable to policy, to the end that he might the rather induce the country- people to forsake the rebels (which no doubt by this means they will), to grace him with the title of Mac- Carthy, whereby he shall be the better enabled both to obtain and defend that country." .Yet not all these representations could induce the tyrant Queen of England to allow Florence to as- sume the obnoxious title. Had it been the English earldom he coveted, Elizabeth would have been easily prevailed upon to grant hira the renewal of it, buried as it was in the grave of Earl Donald in Mucruss Abbey, — but the title of Earl of Clancarthy was to him nothing, that of MacCarthy More every- thing. The burning wish of his deep heart was to i TiiR Fortunes op an Irish Cuief. 233 to rule as an Irisli cliieftaiii, a prince,— as the MacCarthy was of old. He liad lieard of the great nortliern chieftain casting aside, as a worn-out gartuent, tlie queen's title of Earl of Tyrone, and proudly assinuirig the hereditary one of O'Xeil, — the toparch of Tyr- connell was still O'Donnel, — even so would lie, one of the two great Munster cliieftains, be MAcCAirriir, and nothing else. Tliat was his dream by niglit, his hope by day, but beyond that dignity stretched a golden vista, ending in Irish indejjendence, in total separation from the Engkind that had been from the first a harsh stepmother to Ireland, — in close con- nection witli Catliolic Spain and "eternal Home I" Did any one, of all his Catholic contemporaries, rightly understand Florence MacCarthy ? did even one give liim credit for the good intentions, the noble aspirations that underlay all the circuitous workings of his capacious mind ? About these days, Florence and his wife must have made up their quarrel, if quarrel they had, and Lady Ellen MacCarthy must have embarked in a new career, f :)r we find her husband writing to Sir Robert Cecil that his wife was defending one of her fortresses, " Castle Lough of the MacCarthys," in tlio Lower Lake of Killarney, against her base brother. And gallantly the castle was defended, but it fell at length into the hands of the wild caj^tain of " loose Bwords," who now called himself j\[acCarthy More. Donal had, in truth, been reaping honors of late that entitled him to real distinction. He it waa ''I 1 in Ij. It ( I 'i 234 MAcCARTnY Morr; or, who, with his own followers and his Connaughtmen., had first humbled the proud crest of the gallant Essex in the ever-memorable Pass of Plumes, what time tlio brilliant favorite was marching with the flower of his army to put down the Munster rebels ! The royal troops had driven Donal and his ill-disci- plined hordes before them into the woods and fens of a region where it would have been hard to follow them. But it so happened that the Earl, knowing nothing of their whereabouts, on his march back to Dublin after his solitary feat of taking Caliir Castle and driving off a prey of cows, fell into an ambush formed in a narrow and woody defile by Donal MacCarthy with some of the O'Mores and the Geraldines, Donal, how^ever, being the leader. The brilliant crowd of plumed cavaliers who accompanied Essex, including many scions of the first fiimilies of England, and who, on that day, fell like sheep beneath the venge- ful blows of the men of jMunster, caused the place of slaughter to be named ever after the " Gap of Feathers," or more commonly the " Pass of Plumes." This achievement, which gave Donal a prestige amongst the national party, and increased his natural boldness by many vlegrees, nothing discouraged Florence ; he knew that the gentlemen of the sept were with him, and that O'SuUivan was keeping the rod of supremacy till he could take it with the Queen's sanction. Meanwhile he availed himself of the pennission he had received to parley with the rebels. TlIL FORTIINRS OP AN IriSU CiIIRF. 235 It was in the romantic wilds of Drisliane, in tho county of Cork, that tho young Earl of Desmond, com- monly called the Sugaun Earl, lay then encamped with some twelve hundred of his men ; true Geraldine that he was, he had with him the venerable Bishop McCreagh and Father Dermot, a priest of some distinction. Florence's own account of tho night he spent in his cousin's camp is both curious and interesting. For all in the camp there were just two beds, one of which was given to the Bishop and the priest ; the other being for the young Earl, he in- vited Florence to share it with him, after they had all supped on " beef and water," " the only meals they overbad," quaintly said Florence. The loriG: consultation which then and there took place was possibly somewhat different in its nature from that which Elizabeth or her ministers antici- pated in the authorized " parley with the rebels." Long and earnest it was ; very warm on the side of James of Desmond ; cool and cautions, as usual, on that of Florence. After a w^hile, the Bishop was summoned to take part in the conference, and then the voices of all three sank to a lower tone, and even the impetuous young Geraldine became subdued and calm. Florence's rhetoric appeared to have a won- derful effect in taming down these determined rebels. That, however, was nothing new, — the man whose smooth, fair speech had ere now charmed the evil spirit out of Elizabeth Tudor, and made even the keenest of English statesmen see things, at times, in such 286 MacCarthy More; or, wise as it suited him to represent them, could havo little difficulty in persuading James Fitz Thomas, liis own kinsman, that he was not so much the Queen's friend as his, and tliat only a favorahle opportunity was wanting for him to prove his true sentiments. Whatever were the representations made by Florence to his rebel kinsman, and whatever effect they might have had on the Queen's cause, it is certain that the "parley" between the cousins was very beneficial to Florence, for in twenty-four hours after it ended, there was not a " bonnie" nor any other rebel sol- dier to be seen in the whole country of Carbery; as if by magic the large Geraldine force that had been living at free quarters on the tenants of Florence MacCarthy, all at once disappeared from his lands. — But where, of all places, should they turn up again, but in the barony of Ibawne, belonging to Florence's old enemy and constant maligner, the Lord Barry of Buttevant, who forthwith sent off complaints to Cork, and Dublin, and London, that Florence MacCarthy, by his traitorous dealings with the rebels, had wrought him this evil, and maliciously persuaded his cousin, the traitor FitzrThomas, to send his rebel hordes to spoil his lands and harry his tenants. But complain as he might in Ibawne the rebels remained so long as there was cow, or calf, or sheep to kill, or provisions of any kind to be had. This was bad and very bad, and fierce was the anger of loyal " David Buttevant," but worse things were to come upon ])avid, and angrier still he had cause to be. TliB FOUTUNBS OF AN IrISII ChIEF. 237 Florence MacCjirthy liad by this time taken up liia abode in the old Castle of Kinsale, tlie aeqi^isition of wliich years before had excited the suspicions of Eli- zabeth's officials in Ireland. There, with his wife and children, he made his home, much to the annoy- ance of Lady Ellen, who had no fondness for the sea, and could nowise understand why her husband should prefer that lone sea-washed fortress of the De Courceys to anv of her castles in romantic Desmond, or his own in fertile Carbery, amid softly-swelling hills and ver- dant meads and silvery streams. So disgusted was the fair lady of Clancartliy with her husband's sin- gular choice of a dwellinii*, that most of her time was spent with her mother at Killarney, — Florence had sternly forbidden the visits to her English friends in Cork, and^ with all her faults, and, truth to tell, they grew more as she grew older, — Lady Ellen MacCarthy was too much of a Catholic to Bet her husband's will at defiance, or separate in anger any length of time from the man to whom she had plighted her faith before God's altar, Avhere the dead were around, the dead of her race and his. Weak and vain she had become, but her home-ties were still strong, and she knew and felt wbn.'; was due to her mother's commaiids, as well as her husband's. Lady Ellen was at home, and sitting one evening pensively watching f iQ shadows gathering over the crested sea-wave, Florence standing in the recess of a neighboring window, lost in thought as he often was, — perhaps musing sadly on the fate that had M 238 MacCarthy Moue; or, given him for wife one who, however fair to looli upon, was no helpmate to such fis lie. All at onoe a courier was amiounced, and Florence, starting f his reverie^ hastened to the outer hall to meet lum. Listless as his wife sometimes was, of late years, she was even nervously anxious in matters where her own and her family's interests might be at stake, and she awaited her husband's return that evening with a restless impatience that made her start at times from her seat and pace the room with a hurried step. When Florence re-appeared his check was Hushed and his eyes were lit up as his wife had not seen them for years long. " Florence !" she said, laying her hand on his ar as they both stood in the fading light by the wind^. .. where Ellen had been sitting. " Florence ! what tidinjxs hath he brouo-ht ?" A change passed over the husband's face at the sound of the light, musical voice. Someundefinable emotion was visible on the face which the stern law of necessity had schooled into habitual dissimulation ; a struggle might be plainly seen, the struggle of a heart that would fiiin confide in one it ought to love, but feared to do so; then Florence MacCarthy sa'd in the uncertain tones of one who knew not how the tidinojs he announced might be received — " Another defeat hath the Queen's troops sustained." "Where? how, Florence?" cried Lady Ellen eagerly. " In the Curlew Mountains, in O'Rourke's country. I The Fortunes of an Irish Chikp. 239 ii-'' i J Sir Conycrs Clifford, Governor of Connauglit, was marching, by the orders of Lord Essex, against tho northern rebels at Belleek, with over two thousand men, liorse and foot, when, in the heart of the Cur- lew Mountains, he was suddenly attacked by the O'Kourkes and some of their f'iends, and after a sharp contest, the royal forces were utterly routed. Sir Conyers and many of liis officers slain, and full twenty-five banners, Avith a large quantity of arms and ammunition, and other stores, fell into the hands of the — the enemy. Clifford's head was cut off, and sent to O'Rourke to Drumah re Castle." A cry of horror escaped Lady ICllen. " A gracious gift, truly, for the noble Lord of Breffny !" " A welcomer one than you think, Ellen, it may have been," said Florence with emphasis. "What mean you, Florence?" " Heard you never, or have you forgotten, that Brian O'Rourke, this young chieftain's father, was hung on Tyburn Hill, partly for sheltering ship- wrecked Spaniards from the ill-fated Armada, partly for some indignity offered to Queen Elizabeth's pic- ture a little before. His head was spiked on London Bridge, just fourteen years ago^ atid I fear this dis- aster is mainly owing to the vengeance of tho O'Rourkes." " It may be so," said Lady Ellen musingly ; then she added, as the hot blood of her race took fire at tho possibility of such an in&alt, "An' it were my father wlio had been so dealt with by the English, I am no M ■ ml I 240 MacCartiiy Moue; or, daughter of ClaiiCprlhy or I would do as the O'Rourkes did, if tliey set foot in my country ! — Take it as you will, Florence, I tell you they should pay the eric with their biood !" Florence shook his head reprovingly, but there was tliat iu his eyes that made Ellen tliink he was much of her way of thinking in regard to the battle of the Curlew Mountains, — for a pitched battle it really was, only that the natives had the advantage of knowing their ground, wliereas the English did not, and tnc further one of beiniTj well accustomed to mountai:i, or whnt is now called guerilla^ warfare. Says the biographer of Florence IMacCarthy, speaking of this brilliant exploit of the O'Rourkes and their allies in the Curlew Mountains: "Two h'lndred men slain! as many wounded ! Nineteen hundred old soldiers scattered and disgraced! for they fled ' in a general rout, throwing away not only their arms, but their very clothes,' and the head of Iler Majesty's Governor of Connaught to be spiked npon the battlements of O'Rourke's Castle — as the head of his fatiier had been upon London Bridge — should that barbarous chieftain have the sense to take a lesson of civility from his English neighbors, was the eric taken by the son for the blood of hi« parent ! " Irish history abounds in tales of bloody requital like t]}is, for crtielty and insult inflicted by the Eng- lish conquerors. Savage practical jokes bctweerj. nations are the ccsllle^t of all cntcrtainmonts ! It as the —Take lid pay t tlierc lie was attic of t really age of lid not, ucd to rflxve. Carthy, lonrkes " Two ineteen id! for ot only oad of spiked as the lidge — hisc to fhbors, of his ^quital Eng- Itwcen ! It Thr Fortunes of an Irish Cniif. 241 was in an evil hour that Bryan O'Rourke dragged the Queen's portrait, — the elFigy of that beauty which adorned the world — in the mud ! It was in a worse hour, when the I^ondoners, amused with their pleasant Jest of the gad,* thronged to witness the ignominious death of an insolent barbarian (an Irish prince) ! but it was in the worst of all when the tragedy in the Curlews washed out with the blood of several distinguished English oihcers, and several humlred old soldiers, the shame of that ghastly revel around the Tyburn gibbet I" * It excited much mirth amoni^st tl\e Lonaoncrs at the time that this "great Lord of Brouiiy" petitioned tiie Queen to allow him to be nuna; "with a g'^d, or withy, after the fashion of his own eouutry." Tliis favor was graciously granted, and no less a person tium Mylcr McGiath, iirst Protestant Archbishop of Cashel, was appointed to administer to his spiritual wants ; but the " grwit Lord of Brenny " not only refused the services of the apostate friar, but gave him in Irish a piece of hia mind that waa not very llatteriug to that exalted personage. I'.^j iA 242 MacCaktht Mork; oa, .» * J 410^- .^ CHAPTER XV. The Geraldine forces once gone, "All the ap- proaches into Florence's countr;^ , which was * the back and strength of all Munster,' "wer- ' nstantly closed ! What took place from that tit. e forward within the vast and populous territories of Mac- Carthy More, the English Government had no means of knowing, except by the letters which Florence himself chose to write to Sir Robert Cecil."* So carefully had the wily chieftain shut out all strangers from his immense possessions, — even Donal, the nominal MacCarthy More, having gone with all his followers with the rebel army into Barry's coun- try, — so skilfully and so quietly had he strengthened all its borders, that before any notice was taken of his proceedings, both Carbery and Desmond were as sealed book^, which not even the keen eyes of her Majesty's officials could penetrate. When too late, this discovery was made by those worthies, and immediately a shower of complaints was sent across the Channel, conveying all manner of suspicions against Florence MacCarthy. Sir George Carew, the new Vice-President of Munster, even wrote that rumor said he was gone into Spain to hasten the coming of Don Juan D'Aquiia. Florence might be rusticating on the beautiful banks of Killaniey, in * Llfe^jJ LctterB of Florence MacCnvthy More, p. 319. The Fortunes of an Irish Cuiep. 243 the ap- as 'the nstantly forward of Mac- o means j'lorence , out all n Donal, with all f-'s coun- gthened iaken of were as s of her 00 late, lies, and t across spicions Carew, ote that jten the light be niey, in one of hia wife's castles, — or in one of his own in fair Carbery, — he might be looking seaward from his strong fortress by the Old Head of Kinsale — his favorite dwelling of late — or consulting in Madrid with the Spanish king and his ministers, — where he was, or what he was about, was a problem which good Sir George had no means of solving. Failing of anything like certainty, however, he was ready with expedients. He proposed that, in case Florence was gone to Spain, the young Earl of Desmond, so long imprisoned in the Tower, should be sent over to Ireland and placed in possession of all the principal castles in MacCarthy's country. This was easily done — on paper, — but to do it in reality would have taken more men than Elizabeth's army in Ireland numbered just then. What with the malicious insinuations and open accusations of Lord Barry, enraged at the ravages of the rebel troops in his country, which he, as usual, attributed to Florence's agencj^ — what with the repeated warnings of Carew, and St. Leger, and the other officials, with the whole confraternity of the Undertakers, it is marvellous that the Queen and her ministers still trusted, or rather pretended to trust, him. Not only w^as his country closed, as before mentioned, against the English, but it was literally swarming with armed men — hired soldiers from Connaught ; his own fol- lowers, and even many of those of his cousin, Mac- Oarthy Reagh,— -strangest of all, since that chieftain was no friend of Florence, as all their world knew. fi- l^.;;« V |>^^Rtt 244 MacCartht More; or, Strange, indeed, it was that whole tribes of Donal Pi pi's m-^st warlike vassals were then in the service of his cousin and Tanist. Whatever the intentions of the latter might be, he was laj^idly extending his power, increasing his popularity, and enlarging his means of defence. Things were in this state in the vast country that called Florence Mr^aCarthy lord, when in the first week of March, in the first year of the seventeenth century, word was brouglit to the chieftains of Munster that the great Northern rebel was coming at last to visit friend and foe in the southern jH'ovince. To all of them he wrote in the same terms, that " he would come to learn the intentions of the gentlemen of Munster with regard to the great question of the nation's liberty and religion." To Ormond, the Queen's Lieutenant-General, he tauntingly wrote that " it was his intention presently to journey into Munster, to know the minds of the people of that province ; and that he had appointed the Holy Cross, in Tipperary, as the place at which he would meet his friends." In that letter he also undertook to teach politeness to the sternest and proudest Butler that ever ruled in Ormond. " When you next write," said he, " direct your secretary to use the word Mehel as seldom as may be.'* How the heart of Black Thomas must have swelled within him as he road these bold, defiant words, knowing that they indicated the consciousness of etrength and power! Too well stern Ormond knew TlIK FOUTUNES OP AN IrISU CiIIKF. 245 if Donal 3 service itentions I din a; liis on-in- law of the Earl of Clancarthy — in all respects one of the foremost lords in IMunster, connected by blood with all the chief houses, — whereas Donal was sim;)ly Donal the outlaw, Donal the base, of whom all Mua- Bter could not make a 'irentleman. ri S Hi} ■ 250 MacCautiiy Morh; or, " Florence," said the politic Earl, in his blandest tones, " Donal had never been made MacCarthy I^Iore by me, had you been liero, but you being de- tained in England, and not knoAving for how long, it behoved us to have a MacCarthy More. Now that we can have a better one, there is nothing done but can be undone. What say you, my Lord of Desmond, and friends all ! shall Florence MacDonogh, Tanist of Carbery, be MacCarthy More ?'* All present, with one accord, answered in the affinnative, and Donal's vehement opposition was of small avail where all were against him. Might v;aa right in those days, but in that case Florence had undoubtedly the right as well as the might. It was a proud day, the proudest of Florence Mac- Carthy's life, when in the national camp, surrounded by the chief men of his race, in presence of the accomplished representative of the Northern Hy- Nial princes, an<^ with the full consent of all, he received from the hand of his faithful friend, O'Sullivan More, the White Rod, which was verily and indeed the scaptre of a noble principality — the same which his fathers had ruled right royally for many an age. There was a flush on his dark face, and a proud exultation in his usually calm eyes as he took the emblem of so much power; and when he spoke his thanks for the great honor and dignity bestowed upon him, there was a tremor in his voice that told of strong and deep emotion. And truly the scene was one to impress even a less ,-**»' Thk Foriunfs of an Irish Cuikf. 251 interested spectator, especially one of the old race and the ancient faith. The inauguration was accom- panied with solemn and symbolical rites that carried the mind back to the night of time, to the days of the first MacCarthy who ruled in Desmond, — back to times long anterior to the Christian era, wdiilo others were used tliat belonged to the newer and holier dispensation. By the pagan rite, or rather custom, being purely matter of etiquette^ was the chief installed into oflice ; by the Christian rite he was blessed, — both imposing in their kind. And they who stood around, truly no nobler company had Ireland seen together in the later times ; no more truly national assembly had met on Irish soil since the last feis at Tara, ages before. There were seen Eugenian chiefs from South Munster, and Dalcassians from Tliomond and Ormond and Ossory ; mail-clad Norman-Irish from all the provinces except Ulster — then and for some years after tlie home of the old Irish alone; and finally the stalwart sons of the North, O'Rourkes and O'Reillys from either Breffny, MacMahons from Uriel, Maguires from Fermanagh, Magennises from Down, O'Neils and O'Donnels from Tyro wen and Tyrconnell, O'Doghertys and O'Cahans from the farthest north, and O'FaiTcls from the fertile plains of Annaly ; and venerable ecclesiastics were tliere, one bishop and several priests, — men whose emaciated forms and weatlier-bronzed faces told of much suffering and privation, and, too, of much travel, — amongst these grave and learned men wx're i'. U t\ 252 MacCaktiiy More; ob, representatives of more than one of the Religious Orders, — in sooth, a right noble company! But chief amongst them all was conspicuous the great Northern Karl, the conqueror of tlie Blackwater side, the head, and heart, and soui of the national i)arty, his clear bhie eyes as yet undimrned by the mist of age, his stout, square-built form still erect in the prime of manhood's strengtli. By his side stood James Fitz Thomas, O'Neil's Earl of Desmond, a young man of handsome aspect, and of bearing befittinix his hio-h lineasje. Such was the assemblage, such the scene in that camp on the banks of the JVIaine river in Cork County, in that hour when Florence MacCarthy was invested with the style and dignity of IMaeCarthy More by the free election of his Sept, and with the unanimous concurrence of all the principal lords and gentlemen of the Irish race ! Well for him had he died that hour I « « m * * * A month had not passed afl er the inauguration of Florence MacCarthy, when his professions of loyalty to the English interest were put to the test in a way he little expected. O'Neil had gone home to the north to meet Essex* near Dundalk, and th' u t rejoin his friend, Hugh Roe O'Donnel that gallant young chieftain was bu'sy orga. ^ troops * This famous conference between the Irish Eari u '"yro and the English Earl of Essex Is one of the memorable historic in identa tf that time, — the result of it was that Essex took French loave of his aiiny and hurried oil to England. Tub Fortunks op an Irish Ciiikp. 253 and miisteriiif:^ the elans in far Tyrconnel, proparincf for one of his headloncf cliaim's on tlic EnijHsh and their Irisli friends in Connan<^ht ; O'Neil had, hy a ekilfid strataLjcni, avoided meeting Ormond in Tip- perary, well knowing that the army he had then at command was not such as he could lead aj^ainst the tried soldiers of the Queen's Lieutenant-General. He had gone to Holy Cross, as he told Ormond he would, and had there met and conferred with his friends in tliat section of the country ; hut to fight the Queen's forces was not his programme just then, so he quietly slipped away by night, leaving his watch-fires burning, and loft the chafed and mortified old royalist general to retrace his steps back whence he came. O'Neil had left behind him a considerable force of Connaughtmen, commanded by Dermod O'Connor, brother-in-law of the Earl of Thomond, and these troops were placed at the disposal of Florence Mac- Carthy, — so rumor said, and so it seemed from what followed soon after. Immediately after his memorable visit to O'Neil's camp, the wily Tanist of Carbery wrote in all haste to London and to Cork an account of his " parley with the rebels," — how he had endeavored to per- suade Tyrone and Desmond and the others to return to their allegiance to so good a sovereign ; how he found them unwilling to give up their treasonable courses, but had prevailed on them to withdraw their troops out of Carbery and Desmond, that is to say, (i ■ H i: f- ; • V'l 264 MacCartuy More; or, un- ±er >ver „ as usual, by Lord Bany, now more wrp+hful than ever, and blaming his old enemy, Florence MacCartliy, for all the woes that had come upon him. Things were in this stato, Florence keeping his country in perfect quiet, which the Queen and Gov- ernment believed, or appeared to believe, loyal ser- vice, and which it was undoubtedly their interest to perpetuate, when on a day, to the horror and dismay of the peaceable inhabitants, a strong detachment of British troops was sent into Carbery, burning and destroying everything that came in their way, and even slaying the unarmed country people wOiom they styled in their dispatches " churls and poor people," boasting that they " left not one grain of corn within ten miles of their way wherever they marched ;" on through Carbery they marched — two English cap- tains with their companies, — on into O'Donovan's country,* carrying destruction wherever they went, and amongst other savage depredations, burning the castle of Florence's foster-brother, and a quantity of corn belonging to his own brothei', tlie gallant Der- mod Moyle, who was then with the so-called rebel amiy. But Florence was not " with the rebels," and his country was under royal " protection;" what then was his indignation when he saw, for the first time, his peaceful possessions ravaged by an armed force, and his people slain in cold blood; after all his endeavors, and hitherto successful endeavors, to keep * O' Donovan was one of the principal cliiefs of MacCurthy Rcagh'a country. •t 256 MacCabthy More; or, the red tide of war beyond his borders. It would scarce have lessened his indiojnation had he known that this unwarrantable outrage was committed by order of Sir Henry Power, who was about leaving the province, and for no other reason but that he had, as he wrote to England, " conceived a doubt of Flo- rence MacCarthy's loyalty !" Those were the men vrho represented Queen Elizabeth in Ireland ! For once in his life, Florence MacCarthy was roused to decisive action. The blood of his Milesian fathers boiled in his veins ; without waiting even for the arrival of O'N^eil's troops, for whom he at once sent to another part of his country, he hastily dis- pat'jhed some of his own followers in pursuit of the invaders, whom they overtook, just as they had crossed the Bandon river ; a fierce skirmish ensued, in which some slight loss was sustained on both sides, but still the destroyers swept on spreading ruin and death as they went. Their devastations were speedily brought to a close. Before they know what was coming, they found themselves between Dermod O'Connor with his thousand Connaughtmen, and Florence Mac- Carthy with almost as many of liis own clansmen. The English being in strength, they managed to re- treat from their rather awkward position, and com- menced to retreat towards Kinsale, closely pursued by the Irish, and keeping up a running fire as they went. The English succeeded, however, iu throwing a It would e known litted by t leaving t he had, »t ofFlo- the men i! thy was Milesian even for e at once istily dis- it of the :hey had ensued, on both preading ht to a , they or with ?Q Mac- ansnien. kI to re- id corn- pursued as they ►wuicf a 'S Thr Fortunes op an Irish CtiiEP. 257 garrison into Kinsale, but, having received orders to hasten towards Cork, they set out in good order, 500 foot and GO horse, making a gallant show, no doubt, as their helmets and arms glittered in the sun. They had traversed about half the distance between Kinsale and Cork, when, in descending a hill, the officer in command of the horse ordered a halt to reconnoitre the dangerous ground that lay before them. Right in front rolled a deep and rapid river, spanned by a narrow bridge — on either side bogs aad woods — truly an encouraging prospect for the warriors of Elizabe+h, strange as the country was to them ; but worse than the In'idge and the river, the bogs and the woods, was seen by the British. The sun was shining full on the plain, and its rays flashed back from glittering objects under tlie tall ferns and the low brushwood, wliich the practised eyes of the horsemen soon recognized as steel morions, and pikes, and bayonets ! The word soon flew like lightning along the line — the Irish were tliere in ambush ! The scouts had passed and rei)assed the bridge witli- out perceiving them, as tliey lay flat on the ground, covered over with their native fern, " the Irish hill- fern;" but the sun shone out and from tlie hill-side above, the gleaming weaj)ons and the steel morions* wore visible through the leafy cover. Not knowing * That the Irish soldiers, or soino of them, at least, wore ' cap-shaped licliuets, i^ proved by the faet that some ol' the ollul^ T^riting to Cecil of this very encounter, state expressly tliat tlic^y dihoovered the ambutih by reason of " the sun shiuing ou their morions." I t. r I n \ , • ■■ jr. *^ . ;>• "■ ■.■■^Mi:^ 268 MacCauthy More; or, what force miGjIit be there concealed, the Enofli^h retreated, seeing which the Irisli rushed from their place of concealment, and, to the cries of "MacCartliy forever !" — " O'Connor aboo !" charged furiously on the invaders, led on, in two bodies, by Darmod O'Connor and Florence MacCarthy. The fight that followed was fierce and bloody; many fell on both sides, and Captain Flower, the English commander, was amongst the wounded ; so fiery was the vengeful attack of the MacCarthy s and their allies, that the English did not long stand their ground, but retreated figliting, their foot pro- tected by their cavalry, the Irish pressing them harder and harder. As their good fate had it, there was a small castle about a quarter of a mile fi-om the scene of action, and this they managed to gain, the horse keeping a bold front to the pursuers, while the main body entered the castle. So fierce was the pursuit of the avengers of their own and their kindred's wrongs, that even the English officers in command were forced to admit in their dispatches that, had not that castle been so near, matters would have gone hard witli them ; as it was, tlicir loss was sufficient to make tliem feel that even "churls and poor people" might be revenged. The Foutunks of in Irish Cuibf. 259 e Enorlis-b Tom tlieir lacCarthy riously on T Dv^nnod i bloody; iower, the unded; so acCarthys long stand ;• foot pro- dnjx them ,d it, there e ffom the gam, the while the 'S of their even the admit in [n so near, [as it was, ^hat even led. CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION. Nothing can better illustrate the wonderfully clever mind of Florence MacCarthy and his bound- less powers of persuasion than the fact that he man- aged to escape the censures of the Government and the anger of the Queen after this operu and in part successful attack on her Majesty's troops, which it was hoped by his enemies, and feared by his friends, would be his utter ruin. Yet he plainly told Sir Robert Cecil, that he was only sorry he did not catch either of the English captains, for that if he had, he would certainly have hanged them both ! — He knew his power at the time, and was well aware that there was nothinsc Elizabeth and her ministers dreaded more than a rupture with him. But still from that time forward he never trusted himself in the hands of the English, never emerged from the fastnesses of his country, or entered a walled town without a written protection. Only once he forgot his habitual distrust of the English, and that once was his ruin. jlilfe, It was immediately afltcr Florence's gaUilil 1exi| ploit in revenge for the slaughter of hisiiHHp * pie, and the spoliation of his lands, that Sir Hehry Power, the author of the outrage, was removed from m r 260 MacCarthy More; or, Munster, and a much abler and more politic man was made President of Munster. This was Sir George Carew, the man who, of all others, had most to do in defeating the life-long projects of the new MacCarthy More, and undermining the proud elevation which he had at length attained. One of the ablest English- men ever sent in those stormy days to fleece the Irish and keep them in subjection. Sir George Carew was also one of the most unscrupulous. As no device was beyond his cunning, so none was too wicked, too utterly base to be used by him at need. This Flo- rence MacCarthy, like many others, found to his cost. He had now to deal with a man as able as himself, as far-reaching and as far-seeing, but alas ! without any of those conscientious scruples that, as a Catho- lic, restrained Florence MacCarthy within certain limitations. The position in which our hero found himself at this time was one that called into play all the powers of his versatile and singularly gifted mind. He was, to use a hackneyed phrase, between two fires ; on the one hand, O'Neil and Desmond were urging him to throw off the ignoble mask under which he concealed bis real sentiments, and boldly declare for faith and ^country ; the Government, and especially Carew, was, ^J#tie other hand, vehemently insisting on his break- ^ing ;^h the rebels, and lending his powerful aid to tlBwifh them, as beseemed one so highly favored, or so they said, by his liege lady, Elizabeth. Then at home there was his wife rej[?roaching him with hia Thr Fortunes of an Irish Chief. 261 was, )reak- lid to or so 311 at his " untlcrhaud plotting " — and doing her little best to induce him to join the royalists onee for all. His tried friend, O'SuUivan More, had gone as a hostage for him to O'Xeil, and was detained in the Korth so rauch beyond the time stipulated that he grew impatient, and began at length to blame Flo- rence for the temporizing and vacillating conduct that had left him a prisoner, far away from home and friends — and neglected, it would seem, by the very man for whose sake he had placed himself in thrall. Yet still Florence hesitated, neither joining ono party nor the other, but keeping himself out of harm'a way in the depths of his own wild country of Des- mond, his castles filled with armed men, and his borders on a war footing. Meanwhile the fierce struggle was raging north and south ; O'Neil had conquered Bagnal at the Yellow Ford and Clonti- bret ; he and O'Donnel had well nigh cleared the North of the Queen's mercenaries; Desmond, his faithful ally, was for some time successful in the South, but after a while his resources failed, and he found it hard to maintain his ground. Tlien it was — when the Northern chieftains felt the necessity of eifectincf a simultaneous risiuGj in the South, that O 7 they called indignantly on IMacCarthy More to hoist at once the standard of revolt and call his chieftains and his people to arise and revenge the w^rongs of ages. Then it was, too, that James Fitz Thomas be- sieged him with letters of earnest supplication, de- picting in moving terms the straits to which he was ■ .1 i^ 262 MacCarthy Morb; or, reduced, and imploring liim, for the sake of the cause that ought to be equally dear to both, to come to his assistance. He was not to be moved from the neutral ground he occupied, and so made friends of neither party. A fatal error this was, and a sad verification of the old adage that too much caution defom.