[178] The work quoted is La Armada Invencible, by Captain Cesareo Fernandez Duro of the Spanish navy, Madrid, 1885. For my first acquaintance with this book, which deserves translation, I am indebted to a charming article by Lord Ducie in the Nineteenth Century for September 1885. Neither Captain Duro nor Lord Ducie can explain the words ‘D. Reimundo Termi Obispo de Times,’ nor can I. The Irish word Termon may have something to do with it, but whatever ‘Termi’ and ‘Times’ may mean, ‘Reimundo’ is good enough Spanish for Redmond. A year later Bishop O’Gallagher is mentioned in a State paper as ‘Legate to the Pope and custos Armaghnen ... using all manner of spiritual jurisdiction throughout all Ulster ... these twenty-six years past and more.’ The Spanish captain’s prayer was heard till 1601, when the bishop was killed by the English not far from the place where Cuellar had kissed his hand. Brady’s Episcopal Succession, s.v. Four Masters, 1601. Note of Popish bishops, &c. by Miler Magrath, calendared at Dec. 17, 1590.
[179] From a careful comparison of accounts I venture to distribute the wrecks as follows:—
- 1. To the south of Slea Head (‘in Desmond’ Fenton says);
- 1. ‘Nuestra Señora della Rosa’ (945 tons, 26 guns, and 297 men), between Slea Head and the Blaskets;
- 1. Deserted and burned near Carrigaholt in Clare;
- 1. At Dunbeg in Clare;
- 1. At Trumree in Clare;
- 1. The ‘White Falcon’ (500 tons, 16 guns, 197 men), in Connemara;
- 2. In Clew Bay (of which one was the ‘Rata,’ 820 tons, 35 guns, 419 men);
- 1. In Tyrawley;
- 3. Near Sligo, the ‘San Juan de Sicilia,’ one of them (800 tons, 26 guns, 342 men);
- 2. At uncertain places in Connaught;
- 2. At Killybegs;
- 1. The transport ‘Duquesa Santa Ana’ (900 tons, 23 guns, 357 men), at Loughros Bay;
- 1. In Boylagh, Donegal;
- 1. The ‘Trinidad Valencera’ (1,100 tons, 42 guns, 360 men), on the Innishowen side of Lough Foyle;
- 1. The ‘Gerona’ galeass (50 guns, 290 men), between Dunluce and the Bann.
This makes twenty, and there were probably two or three more lost. The ‘Barca de Amburg’ (600 tons, 23 guns, 264 men) sank off the coast somewhere.
The numbers of men given in this note are from the Spanish official list (Duro, ii. 60), but we know that many were transferred from one vessel to another. See, besides the authorities already cited, Fenton’s note calendared at Sept. 19, 1588, and Bingham to the Queen, Dec. 3. Other ships mentioned in Spanish accounts as having been lost in Ireland are the galleon ‘San Juan Battista’ (750 tons, 24 guns, 243 men); the ‘Anunciada’ (703 tons, 24 guns, 275 men), and the transports, ‘Gran Grifon’ (650 tons, 38 guns, 286 men), and ‘Santiago’ (600 tons, 19 guns, 86 men).—Duro, ii. 328.
[180] Note by Fenton, Sept. 19; Bingham to Fitzwilliam, Sept. 21 and Oct. 10; to the Queen, Dec. 3; Norris to Walsingham, Sept. 8 and 9; advertisements from Henry Duke, Oct. 26; Fitzwilliam, Loftus, and Fenton to the Privy Council, Dec. 31.
[181] Lord Deputy and Council to the Privy Council, Oct. 12, with twenty enclosures; Fitzwilliam to Burghley, Oct. 27, with six enclosures; Solomon Farenan to Fitzwilliam, Feb. 18, 1589; Bingham to Fitzwilliam, Jan. 3, 1592; Fitzwilliam to Burghley, May 9, 1592.
[182] Duro, ii. 450 sqq.; examination of Don Alonso de Luzon, &c., Oct. 13, 1588; Fitzwilliam to Burghley, Dec. 31. Sir Horatio Pallavicino arranged with Walsingham for the ransoms; see his accounts, Dec. 1589, No. 85, and Oct. 31, 1591, also G. B. Guistiniano to Burghley, April 8, 1591. On March 14, 1594, Tyrone made it an article against Fitzwilliam that neither he nor the Hovendens had been rewarded for their service.
[183] Bingham to Fitzwilliam, Sept. 21, 1588; Sir W. Herbert to Walsingham, Dec. 27, 1588; Lord Deputy and Council to the Privy Council, Dec. 31 and Jan. 30, 1588-9; see also several letters in Carew from June 2 to Aug. 1, 1589. The most important relic that I know is a very handsome table preserved at Dromoland; it was washed ashore near Miltown Malbay, and tradition says that it was ‘in the admiral’s cabin;’ but Sidonia never went near the coast of Clare. Lord Inchiquin writes that a letter, supposed to be still extant, accompanied the table to Dromoland, but that he has been unable to find it. An iron chest washed ashore near the Giant’s Causeway is in Lord Antrim’s possession. The Macnamara family formerly possessed cups, a watch, crosses, &c., out of the Armada, brought from the Arran Islands, but these I have been unable to trace; guns have been recovered, but not many, and the rudder of a ship was cut into gateposts near Westport!
[184] For the poems see Duro, i. 237, and ii. 85; examination of Spaniards taken at Tralee, Sept. 9, 1588; Fitzwilliam to Burghley, Oct. 27, with enclosures; examination of James Machary, Dec. 29, &c.