Having expected shipping till the 8th of this month, [April], and meeting with none convenient, (in respect that all were taken up with sick soldiers, or with my Lord Lieutenant's horses,) I was desirous to make some use of the.time that I should stay here, and therefore was easily persuaded to go with Sir William Warren,<108> my kind friend, with whom I had been formerly acquainted in England, and to see some part of the realm northward, and the arch-rebel himself, with whom Sir William was to treat.

            But staying at Dundalk till the 15th of this month, and no news certain of the Earl's coming, I went to see the Newry, and from thence to Carlingford by the Narrow Water, and was hindered by waters that I could not come back to Sir William Warren before his first meeting with the Earl Tyrone, which was on the 17th day; [at] what time how far they proceeded I know not, but it appeared that the Earl was left in good disposition, because he kept his hour so well, the next morning: and, as I found after, Sir William had told him of me, and given such a report of me above my desert, that next day, when I came, the Earl used far greater respect to me than I expected; and began debasing his own manner of hard life, comparing himself to wolves, that fill their bellies sometime, and fast as long for it; then excused himself to me that he could no better call to mind myself, and some of my friends that had done him some courtesy in England; and been oft in his company at my Lord of Ormond's; saying, these troubles had made him forget almost all his friends.

            After this he fell to private communication with Sir William, to the effecting of the matters begun the day before; to which I thought it not fit to intrude myself; but took occasion the while to entertain his two sons, by posing them in their learning, and their tutors, which were one Friar Nangle, a Franciscan; and a younger scholar, whose name I know not; and finding the two children of good towardly spirit, their age between thirteen and fifteen, in English cloths like a nobleman's sons; with velvet jerkins and gold lace; of a good cheerful aspect, freckle-faced, not tall of stature, but strong, and well set; both of them [learning] the English tongue; I gave them (not without the advice of Sir William Warren) my English translation of "Ariosto," which I got at Dublin; which their teachers took very thankfully, and soon after showed it the Earl, who called to see it openly, and would needs hear some part of it read. I turned (as it had been by chance) to the beginning of the 45th canto,<109> and some other passages of the book, which he seemed to like so well, that he solemnly swore his boys should read all the book over to him.

            Then they fell to communication again, and, (calling me to him) the Earl said, that I should witness, and tell my Lord Lieutenant, how, against all his confederates' wills, Sir William had drawn him to a longer cessation, which he would never have agreed to, but in confidence of my lord's honourable dealing with him; for, saith he, "now is my harvest time, now have my men their six weeks pay afore-hand, that they have nothing to do but fight; and if I omit this opportunity, and you shall prepare to invade me the meantime, I may be condemned for a fool."

            Also one pretty thing I noted, that the paper being drawn for him to sign, and his signing it with O'Neal, Sir William (though with very great difficulty) made him to new write it, and subscribe, Hugh Tyrone. Then we broke our fasts with him, and at his meat he was very merry, and it was my hap to thwart one of his priests in an argument to which he gave reasonable good ear, and some approbation. He drank to my lord's<110> health, and bade me tell him he loved him, and acknowledgd this cessation had been very honourably kept. He made likewise a solemn protestation that he was not ambitious, but sought only safety of his life, and freedom of his conscience, without which he would not live, though the Queen.would give him Ireland.

            Then he asked of Sir Henry Harington,<111> and said he heard he had much wrong, to have an imputation of want of courage, for the last defeat at Arklow, protesting, that himself had known Sir Henry serve as valiantly as ever any man did, naming the time, place, and persons, all known to Sir William Warren.

            Other pleasant and idle tales were needless and impertinent, or to describe his fern table and fern forms, spread, under the. stately canopy of heaven. His guard, for the most part, were beardless boys without shirts; who, in the frost, wade as familiarly through rivers as water-spaniels. With what charm such a master makes them love him I know not, but if he bid come, they come, if go they do go; if he say do this, they do it. He makes apparent show to be inclinable to peace; and some of his nearest followers have it buzzed amongst them, that some league of England, with Spain or Scotland, or I know not where, may endanger them. But himself, no doubt, waits only to hear what my Lord Lieutenant intends, and according to that will bend his course.

            Friar Nangle swears all oaths, that he will do all the good he can, and that he is guiltless of the heinous crimes he is indicted of; for, if he had his pardon, perhaps there might be made good use of him.

            This is all I remember any way worthy the writing to you, not doubting but Sir William Warren, that had the sole charge, of this business, will give you much better account, of the weightier affairs than I, that only went to see their manner of parting.

I remain, in much duty,
JOHN HARINGTON.

Prev Next