XXI. cafion. That the Scottish planters of Ulfter, whofe CHAP. numbers and vicinity to their brethren in Scotland might create a powerful obstacle, should be left unmolested at first in the general commotion, feems to have been approved by all as a prudential measure. CHAP. XXII. Rebellion. 1641. CHAP. XXII. Rebellion of 1641-O'Connolly's discovery-Defencelefs ftate of Dublin-Arrival of WilloughbyDiftraction-Catholics of the Pale-MunsterConnaught Progrefs of infurgents in Ulfter-Forged Commiffion-Military operations-Maffacres-Proceedings of the lords juftices-A parliament-Infolence of Moore-Lord Dillon's deputation—Defection of the Pale - Extenfion of the rebellion-Military operations-Cruelty of Coote-Defeat of Julian'stown bridge-Blockade of Drogheda-Diftrefs of the garrifon-Ravaging expeditions of Coote and Ormond-Spirited reply of Ormond to GormanstonDiftrefs of Dublin-Siege of Drogheda raifedConduct of the juftices-Tichburne. CHAP. ROGER MOORE, the main fpring of the Irish confpiracy, was unable, with all his abilities and exertions, to render the infurrection general. The old English catholics of the Pale, by their averfion to the defign damped the ardour of many, so that fome of the confpirators relinquifhed the attempt. An honeft and able chief governor might doubtlefs have prevented any dangerous commotion, notwithstanding that the royal army confifted of only two thousand infantry and nine hundred horse, distributed as garrifons in feveral towns and fortreffes. The leaders of rebellion, however, notwithstanding the cold XXII. coldness of many, depended on a rifing throughout CHAP. all Ulfter, and on a fubfequent concurrence of the other provinces, when the northern counties and the capital fhould be in their poffeflion. On the twenty-fecond of October, the day previous to that which was appointed for the feizure of Dublin Castle, Moore and most of the other leaders of this enterprise affembled in the capital; and though they found only eighty of their men arrived, they encouraged one another with the hope of the arrival of their confederates from the north, and the completion of their number before the time of action. this critical evening a discovery of the plot was forced on the lords juftices by what we call chance, a name given to operations invifible and infcrutable to human intellect. On Owen O'Connolly, a fervant of Sir John Clotworthy, of the old Irish race, was, though he had been bred a proteftant, fuppofed a fit perfon to promote the confpiracy by Hugh Mac Mahon, who doublefs imagined him fecretly attached to the religion of his ancestors, and probably alfo hoftile to English government, on account of the fufferings of his family, who had been deprived of their lands by the system of plantation. In confequence of a meffage, O'Connolly repaired to Mac-Mahon's houfe in the county of Monaghan, and not meeting him there, followed him to Dublin, where he found him, when he and the other leaders had clofed their fecret confultation by falling on their knees, and drinking to the success of their enterprize. Mac-Mahon immediately with great exultation communicated to him the plot, introduced XXII. CHAP. introduced him to lord Macguire, and brought him to his own lodgings, where he proposed to detain him till the very hour of the affault, as he found reason to suspect him not inclined to the business. O'Connolly, feigning to be at once converted into a determined partizan of revolt, found an opportunity of escape, and rufhed with violent trepidation to the presence of Parsons, the lord justice, whom he informed of the tremendous defign juft ready for execution. Parfons, who ftill perfevered in his incredulity of rebellion, coldly advised O'Connolly to return to Mac-Mahon, and to learn more particularly the circumftances of the treafon. After the departure of O'Connolly, who was not fo ftupid as to follow this advice, Parfons awoke fuddenly from his torpid fecurity, iffued orders for the guarding of the caftle and city, and communicated the alarming information to his colleague, Struck more forcibly with this intelligence, Borlafe much blamed the difmiffal of the informer, fummoned the privy council, and fent to fearch for O'Connolly, who was found, feized as a fufpicious perfon, in the hands of the city watch. When, after fome repofe from fright and the intoxication of drink, he had given his evidence clearly, Mac-Mahon and Macguire were arrested, but Moore, Byrne, and other leaders effected their efcape. Mac Mahon, while he was waiting in a hall, before his examination by the privy council, amufed himself by drawing with chalk the figures of men hanging on gibbets, or groveling on the ground, either defigned to prefigure the deaths XXI. deaths of himself and his affociates, or thofe of their CHAP. opponents. The latter feems probable, as he boafted to the privy council, to whom, after a little hesitation he confeffed the plot, that the infurrection of that day was too mighty to be fuppreffed, and that his death would be feverely revenged. These two confpirators, after fucceffive imprisonments in Dublin and the Tower of London, were hanged at Tyburn in 1645. Notwithstanding the difcovery of the plot on the night of the twenty-fecond of October, the confpirators might still have executed their purpose, if they had perfevered with refolution; fince only eight infirm warders, and forty halberdiers, the ufual guard of the chief governors on occafions of parade, compofed the whole garrifon of the Caftle, which contained a depofit of fifteen hundred barrels of gunpowder, with a proportional quantity of matches and bullets, arms for ten thousand men, and thirtyfive cannons with their full equipments. Among the înconveniencies arifing from the too ftrict adherence to constitutional rights at this time was the destitute ftate of the capital with regard to troops, as the citizens had urged the privilege of their charter against the billeting of foldiers, and the prefent lords justices affected to govern on popular principles. In fuch circumstances of the feat of government the arrival was fortunate of an experienced and fpirited officer, Sir Francis Willoughby, governor of the fort of Galway, who found the juftices and privy council, of which he was a member, affembled at Chichester |