Arrival of the Spaniards at Kinsale

Above : Philip I

The slow-moving Spanish monarch had, however, moved at last. Philip Ill’s ships were on the sea, their sails set for Ireland. Even as arranged by the King, the fleet was but a small one, scarcely half what the Irish leaders had asked and hoped for. But before ever they left port, sickness had thinned the numbers of the soldiers, and when at sea they had encountered such rough weather that several of the vessels, including those carrying most of the artillery, were obliged to return to Spain to refit. Altogether, little more than 3,000 Spaniards reached Kinsale at the end of September, 1601. This force was totally inadequate for important military operations. That their general, Don Juan D’Aquila, seems, judging from his subsequent conduct, to have possessed neither courage nor ability was an added misfortune for the Irish.

The Spaniards disembarked (October 2nd) and took possession of the town of Kinsale, the townsmen opening their gates. The army with which Mountjoy and Carew prepared to oppose the Spaniards was, at least, twelve thousand strong ; it included contingents sent by the towns, and others by their Irish and Anglo-Irish allies. Of these, the most powerful were the Earl of Thomond (O’Brien), and the Earl of Clanrickard (Burke). About the middle of October, Mountjoy pitched his camp on a hill called the Spittle, north of Kinsale, and began the siege.

The town of Kinsale was reckoned at this time a strong fortress, and one the capture of which by assault would be difficult. Nor did there seem much hope of reducing it by famine, since the Spanish commander boasted that his supplies were adequate for eighteen months.

Had the force sent by Philip landed, even at this late period, on the shores of Tir Owen or Tirconnell, where the power of the two Hughs, though weakened, was still vigorous, or had it reached Munster a year or two earlier, before the insurrection in that province had been crushed, it might, in spite of the inadequacy of its numbers, have done much for the Irish cause. Now it had come at the wrong time and to the wrong place.

The two castles which defended Kinsale Harbour Mountjoy soon captured. With a view of encouraging future surrenders, the lives of the soldiers who had defended them were spared.