Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/585

I579-] THE DESMOND REBELLION. 565 she required that they should be immediately disbanded. 1 The consequence, as usual, had been foreseen by every one but herself. Notwithstanding Malby's vigour, there was too much fuel in Ireland ready to kindle. Desmond, conceiving that he was now committed beyond hope of pardon, sent a messenger to Spain, to announce that he had risen, and every Catholic in Munster made up his mind to stand by him. When the Desmond was in the field, re- November. bellion had grown serious. Stealing out of Ashketyn on Malby's departure, the Earl crossed the country, and starting up where he was least looked for, one Sunday night in the middle of November, broke at low water into Youghal, which was then an English town. All Monday and Tuesday the Geraldines re- velled in plunder. The houses of the merchants were sacked, and their wives and daughters violated and murdered. Every one who could not escape was killed, and on Wednesday the houses were fired, and not a roof was left standing. From Youghal, their force daily increasing, the in- surgents marched upon Cork, and Sir Warham St Leger, who was in the city, looked for no better fate. The citizens were at heart with their countrymen. ' Here is no Englishman but myself with forty of my family/ he wrote. ' We owe God a death, and her Majesty our service, and we have put on resolute minds to yield our- Walsingham to Waterhouse, November 8, 1579 : MSS. Ireland.