The Irish standard., 1888-04-07
town, but the cannon continued

play, reducing it in parts 10 ruins.
On Sd December the missing portion
Of the Spanish fleet sailed into Castle
haven, about 30 miles westward, and
landed some troops there, part of whom
garrisoned the castles of Baltimore,
Dunboy, and Castlehaven, and the re-
mainder joined Red Hugh O'Donnell's
army, aud marched with them on Kin
sale. These vessels also brought
quantity OF artillery and ammunition,
which they landed and placed along the
harbor for it's defence. The English,
hearing of the new arrivals at Castle
haven, at once sent six of their fleet to
attack them, and a fierce engagement
ensued ia the harbor, one of the Span
ish vessels being sunk in shallow water.
Having expended all his ANN unition,
the English commander attempted to
sail VIGOROUSLY out Of the harbor but,
to his intense chagrin found he was be-
Gained, and when a wind afterwards
arose it was contrary, and only drove
him closer to the shore. The Irish.
seeing how matters stood, opened fire
with all their cannons, which they
piled necessarily during the two days
the English vessels were confined in
the harbor, so that when they returned
to Kinsale they were in a sorry plight,
having lost several hundred Of their
mon and received about four or five
hundred hot during their brief sojourn.
On December 2lst--soon after o. Don
nell's arrivaI-Hugh O'Neill appeared
with a large force on hill called Bel
gooly, three miles northeast Of the
English camp, where he entrenched
himself directly between the besiegers
and COX, thereby cutting off their sup
plies from headquarters. In that posi-
ton he resoluteIy remained and re-
fused to be drawn out of it by any ruse.
The English commanders now became
seriously Observation-Disclosures and deser-
ton were fast thinning their ranks,
their supplies had been cut off, while
those they had were nearly exhausted,
and, worse than all, the dreaded victor
Of Beilanaboy lowered like a thunder
cloud over the camp, ready at any mo-
ment to burst forth in destruction upon
them. Mountjoy began to consider
the ACCESSIBILITY Of abandoning, Or at
least postponing the siege, and retiring
to Cork. But the Spanlrds, cooped up
iii the town, became more and more
impatient, seeing that no active meas
ures were being concerted, and Del
Aeui]ha despatched several commune
cations to the Irish commanders press
ing them to take immediate action.
O'Nelli strongly resisted all proposals
fol active measures, knowing that time
was tho greatest enemy of this Eng
lisb, who were fast whitening away by
di>ease and famine. But the Spanish
commander renewed his demands,
strenuonsly urging the Irish to make a
general attack upon the English camp
Oh a certain night, while he was stimuli
taneously to make sortie from the
town. When this proposal was dis
cussed in council by the Irish it was
still opposed by ON ell, who earnestly
entreated them to wait, as the English
could not hold out much longer; but
Red Hugh C'Donnell, with the ardor
and impe5nosity Of youth, advocated
an immediate attack, in which view he
was supported by the majority of the
Irish chiefs. TAereupon O'Neill, I'M
willing, acQuiesced in the arrangement.
On the night of the 22nd of December
an Irish officer named Mcmahon
whose sou had served as page to the !
President in England, sent a messen.
ger to the English camp, to request the
favor of a bottle of aqua vitae flom the
President. To this request Carew, for
The sake Of their old friendship, readily
acceded, and sent him the bottle by the
MESSENGER.
Next day McMahon sent another
Messenger with g letter thanking him
or bis kindness; but unfortunately for
The Irish his gratitude did not end
here, for the letter also warned him OF
ho intended attack upon the English
amp that night. The President was
veil repaid for his bottle Of whiskey,
tits right TO say that tho sole author
ty for this incident is "Pacata Hiber-
lia."
Messengers were ROW despatched hot
cot TO all the outlying Eaglish posts
nd the VIII ole camp hustled with pre-
'arations. a letter from the Spanish
which was intercepted con-
rmed the intelligence as to the attack
hat night.
A little before iaYbreak ons Of the
English officers rode UP in great haste
. the Deputy, saying that lie had seen
reat numbers Of matches glimm ing
trough the darkness {the guns then
l use were m.atchlocks), and that he