xvii
ANNALS OF CORK.
these disorde~ and banishing of plows, which should be the relief of men to live, there is such famine among the people here as is to be feared the province will ere long be unpeopled. Besides the mortality being such, as the like hath not been known in the life of man, the deaths some days in this town (being but one street not half a '/ quarter of a mile in length), 62, 66, 72 one day with another, through the week 20, 30, ·
40 when they die the least. The like death is through all the counties of the provmce as well in towns as elsewhere, saving among the traitors, who neither be touched with these diseases, nor yet taste of any famine, and who enjoy continually the whole- some air of the fields, which is the cause of their pursuing John fz. Edmond, the best subject the Queen hath in these parts, and who in his towns and wards maintaineth within two months 600 persons and hath not now left above 30. It is not the plague of pestilence that is amongst this people, for neither have they God's marks, nor yet when they be dead, it maketh a speedy work with them as doth the plague, for they live not sick above 6 or 7 days, besides the sickness we have here the plague of famine, as were it not for the Queens store we should starve, of which there is nothing these six weeks but bread and beer,.I have been in two towns besieged and never found like scarcity as is here. If her Majesty will maintain 2000 footmen and 300 horsemen four months and send victuals at once for that time she shall make an honourable end of this rebellion.'' 1585. At Cork one Moragha Gang1.ach was attainted of felony for taking of buow- ria-begg• for the late Earl of Desnjond in Imokilly and one Cuchelayn was attainted and executed at Cork for taking Shrach, and the like for the Earl in Kierrie-Curihy. The Seneschal of Imokilly was forbidden by Sir Will. Dreury the Lord Pres. of Mun- ster to take any allowance of Kerm'ty or the like in Imokilly. 158t, March 20. Stephen Skiddmor als. Skiddie citizen and vintner of London (after desiring his body to be buried in the Parish Church of S. Stephens Colman Street whereof he was a parishioner), bequeaths "the sum of £24 of lawful English money to the Mayor for the time being of the city of Cork in Ireland, wherein he was born, or to his sufficient deputy bringing with him a discharge for the receipt under the common seal of the said city (at the usual feasts,) to be bestowed by sa1d Mayor and with the consent of his brethren the aldermen of said city yearly for ever in manner following, that is to say upon ten of the honestest poorest persons of the said city of Cork men or women aged 50 years at the least 40s. a piece, and he hopes this charitable act will put in mind the Mayor, &c., of Cork to make provision of some con- venient place within said city to continue for ever an almshouse for said poor persons to dwell in. _ 1591, Dec. 4. "The King of Denmark complains that the Whale of State " Copenhagen was taken by the Salamander of Bristol and May Flower of Papcn. S. Ives and brought into Cork and thence to Kinsale, restitution offered but refused, 6,600 dolla.m demanded." 1597. Murtagh Oge Me Shee and his brothers Rory and Edmund from the cradle inclined to mischief as all that Sept hath been being apk~T BtP~pers. hended and having broken prisons, Murtagh at Lymerick, Rory at · - kenriy, after many favors went into open action and in the end were cut off. Mur- tagh was grieved (as he said) that he was oft protected but could never get his pardon, that when the date of his protection was expired, he must pay money for the con- tinuance of it to Sir Thomas Norice from time to time. This rebel was marked by nature. He h&d a strong arm, a desperate villain, a skilful targeteer, he was taken in a wood .killing porkes to entertain the rebels of Leinster. Tyrrell the traitor, his company being brought to Oork, evidence was given against him that he had spoiled and m~rder~d about fourscore English families. The one sentence was given upon
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• B'""'f'W..b~g were soldiers kept in readiness aa well in peace aa in war at the charges with meat, d.rink, and wages. Bltraclt, "an exaction in money taken by great lords to bear their charges in coming to parliaments, oouncils, or borough towns.'' Kernit!J,.& charge of 3 or 4 shillings upon a plowland towards the maintenance of the Earls Keme 100, 200, or 300 men more or less. c
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