Disorders in Ireland at the Close of Mary’s Reign
In the midst of all this a Parliament (June 1556) was opened in Dublin, in the name of Mary and of Philip her husband. The ecclesiastical legislation of Henry VIII was reversed, but the grants of the abbey lands were confirmed. Two Acts relate to the Leix and Offaly settlement. The former asserts that ” the counties of Leix, Slewmarge, Offallie, Errie and Glenmalier belong of right to the King’s and Queen’s most excellent Majesties.” Leave was given to Sussex (Fitzwalter had succeeded to this title) to colonise these lands with ” their Majesties’ subjects, English or Irish,” making them grants of estates. The latter Act enacts that the lands shall be ” shired,” receiving the names of Queen’s Co. and King’s Co., in compliment to Mary and her husband. Sheriffs and other needful officials should be appointed for the new counties. This was all very well on parchment, but most of the districts to be shired and ” civilised ” were still in the power of the native tribes, ar»d seemed likely for the present to remain so. Two expeditions of Sussex, in the summer and the autumn of 1556, produced little result
. To follow the course of the war would be tedious. By constant raids the lands were wasted and ruined. The clansmen when worsted, withdrew to the hills and woods, whence they emerged, as opportunities offered, to slay and spoil the settlers. Eighteen times the O’Mores rose in rebellion.
For almost fifty years the war went on, marked by atrocitieg memorable even beyond the usual horrors of Irish warfare. Most horrible of all was the massacre of Mullaghmast (1577). A number of Irish chiefs, O’Mores, O’Connors, O’Carrolls and others, were invited by the English authorities to a conference on the Hill of Mullaghmast, near Athy. When they came, they were set on by soldiers, and massacred in cold blood.At length resistance was over. Early in the seventeenth century the remnants of the O’Connors withdrew to Munster, and the remaining O’Mores were transplanted to Kerry.
The closing yeas of Mary’s reign were marked by warfare in nearly every part of Ireland and by renewal of the intrigues with France. Sussex had resumed th mischievous policy of making useless raids into Irish districts. merely exasperated the Irish, who retorted by attacks on the Pale. Never, wrote Dowdall, in his remembrance, had the country been in a worse state.
In Dublin the Council and the Deputy were quarrelling as usual, and writing complaints of each other to England. The brass money, prohibited by proclamation in England (1556), was allowed to circulate in Ireland, and caused the ruin of trade and great misery amongst the people.
Sir Henry Sydney, who, with Curwen of Dublin, was administering the Government as Lord Justice during the temporary absence of Sussex in England, roundly declared that, if the Queen were not prepared to send speedy and effective succours in men and money, it would be better for her to recall her officials, and abandon Ireland altogether. If it were attacked by the French, it would surely fall into their hands.
The French, however, made no attempt to invade Ireland, and when Sussex returned in April, things went on much as before. In November 1558, Queen Mary died. At the time of her death, Ireland, both the Celtic parts and those under the authority of the English Government, was in a worse condition than it had been at her accession. As Mary was childless, she was succeeded by Elizabeth, her half-sister.
