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Henry O'Neill and the formation of the Irish regiment in the Netherlands, 1605

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Jerrold Casway
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Extract

The formation of an Irish regiment in the Spanish Netherlands, under the Archduke Albert of Austria in 1605, was a noteworthy development, since this contingent was destined to play a vital role in Anglo-Spanish relations during the early decades of the seventeenth century. Unfortunately little is known about the creation of this controversial force and the problems provoked by it.

The pivotal character upon which this examination revolves is Henry O'Neill, the second son of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone and his second wife Siobhán (sister of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, earl of Tyrconnel), who served as the regiment's colonel from its inception until his untimely death in 1610. Henry first arrived on the continent in the spring of 1600, when as a boy of thirteen, he and other youths, were sent by Tyrone to Spain as hostages.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 18 , Issue 72 , September 1973 , pp. 481 - 488
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1973

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References

1 Archbishop of Santiago to Philip III, 18 May 1600 (N.L.I., Seer, de Estado, Negoc. de Inglaterra, legajo 840, frame 6); A report of the council of state, 19 June 1602 (ibid., leg. 2511, frs 108–9); Father Ludovico Mansoni, s.J. (papal nuncio to Ireland) to Cardinal Aldobrandini, 11 Jan. 1602 (‘Correspondence of Father Ludovico Mansoni’ in Archiv. Hib., xvii (1953), pp 17–18 Google Scholar); Mansoni to Aldobrandini, 24 Jan. 1602 (ibid., p. 16).

2 Walsh, Micheline, The O'Neills in Spain (Dublin, 1960), pp 5–7 Google Scholar, An examination, 2 Mar. 1603 ( Cal. S.P Ire. 1601–3, p. 573 Google Scholar).

3 Mountjoy to privy council, 1 May 1601 (N.L.I., Carew MS 604, pp 260–2).

4 Mountjoy to Cecil, 12 Sept. 1602 ( The itinerary of Fynes Moryson (Glasgow, 1907), iii, 212–13Google Scholar), Mountjoy to Cecil, 25 Mar. 1605 (ibid., pp 290–3).

5 Sir John Harrington to Dr John Still (bishop of Bath and Wells), 1603, in Harrington, John, Nugae antiquae (London, 1804), i, 340.Google Scholar

6 Questions and answers concerning the state of Ireland, 1604 ( P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Eliz.-Geo. III, vol. 216, no. 63 Google Scholar).

7 Instructions to Sir Charles Cornwallis, early 1605 (B.M., Harleian MS 1875, ff 7rv).

8 Lord Deputy Chichester and council of Ireland to privy council, 30 Dec. 1604 ( P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Eliz.-Geo. III, vol. 216, no. 56 Google Scholar).

9 Davies to Granbourne (principal secretary), 6 Jan. 1604–5 (ibid., vol. 217, no. 2). Cornwallis, too, spoke of Tyrone's annoyance over the prospect that Henry might undertake ‘ any military action ’ without the assent of the English king (Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes (ambass ador to Flanders), 24 June 1605, B.M., Stowe MS 168, ff 50rv).

10 Council of state's opinion on Henry O'Neill going to Flanders, 28 June 1605 (N.L.I., Seer de Estado, Negoc. de Inglaterra, leg. 624, frs 8–9).

11 Philip III to Conde de Villa Mediana, 7 May 1605 (ibid., Negoc. de Flándes, leg. 2225, fr. 2).

12 Villa Mediana to Philip III, 15 Mar. 1605 (ibid., Negoc. de Ingla terra, leg. 2584, frs 1–3).

13 Opinions of the earl of Tyrconnel, 1 Mar. 1605 (ibid., fr. 9).

14 Council of state's opinion on Henry O'Neill going to Flanders, 28 June 1605 (ibid., Negoc. de Flándes, leg. 624, frs 8–9).

15 Cornwallis to Edmondes, 24 June 1605 (B.M., Stowe MS 168, f. 50).

16 Cornwallis to privy council, 7 Aug. 1605 (B.M., Harleian MS 1875, ff 73v–74r; Cotton MS, Vespasian C, ix, f. 69).

17 Cornwallis to Salisbury, 8 Sep. 1605 (B.M., Harleian MS 1875, ff 113rv; Cotton MS, Vespasian C, ix, f. 102v).

18 Cornwallis to Edmondes, 4 Sept. 1605 (B.M., Stowe MS 168, f. 125).

19 Cornwallis to Salisbury, 8 Sept. 1605 (B.M., Harleian MS 1875, f. 113V; Cotton MS, Vespasian C, ix, f. 102v).

20 Edmondes to Cornwallis, 21 Oct. 1605 (B.M., Harleian MS 1875, f. 239), Edmondes to Cornwallis, Oct. 1605 (B.M., Stowe MS 168, f. 191; Edmondes to Salisbury, 23 Oct. 1605 (P.R.O., S.P. Flanders, vol. 7ii, f. 258).

21 Council of state's opinion on Henry O'Neill going to Flanders, 28 June 1605 (N.L.I., Seer, de Estado, Negoc. de Flándes, leg. 624, frs 8–9); Report of the council of state, 17 Sept. 1605 (ibid., Negoc. de Inglaterra, leg. 2512, frs 39–40). Brendan Jennings, however, believed that an order (22 Sept. 1605) to pay Henry twenty crowns monthly was an indication that O'Neill already had his appointment ( Jennings, Brendan, ‘Irish swordsmen in Flanders, II, 1586–1610’ in Studies, xxxvii (June 1948), p. 195 Google Scholar). This assumption is incorrect, for the council of state agreed as early as June that when Henry was permitted to go to Flanders he would receive this grant (Council of state's opinion on Henry O'Neill going to Flanders, 28 June 1605, N.L.I., Seer, de Estado, Negoc. de Flándes, leg. 624, frs 8–9).

22 Chichester to Salisbury, 29 Oct. 1605 ( P.R.O., S.P. Ire., Eliz.-Geo. III, vol. 217, no. 79 Google Scholar); Chichester to Salisbury, 2 Nov. 1605 (ibid.. no. 80).

23 Edmondes to Salisbury, 6 Nov. 1605 (B.M., Stowe MS 168, ff 2O7v–208; P.R.O., S.P. Flanders, Vol. 7ii, f. 268v).

24 Edmondes to Salisbury, 25 Nov. 1605 (ibid., f. 297; B.M., Stowe MS 168, ff 24grv). These actions were also reported to Cornwallis (Edmondes to Cornwallis, 27 Dec. 1605, ibid., f. 288v; B.M., Harleian MS 1875, f. 321v; Cotton MS, Vespasian C, ix, f. 283).

25 Grant to Henry O'Neill, 2 Dec. 1605 (Wild geese in Spanish Flanders, p. 81); Appointment of William Barri, 11 Dec. 1605 (ibid.); Commission to Thomas Preston, 14 Dec. 1605 (ibid.), Commission to Jenquin Visumuns [Fitzsimmons], 15 Dec. 1605 (ibid.); Commission to Edward Geraldin [Fitzgerald], 18 Dec. 1605 (ibid., p. 82).

26 Henry O'Neill to Salisbury, 22 Dec. 1605 (P.R.O., S.P Flanders, vol. 7ii, f. 306). This action only confirmed the suspicions of many that James I and some of his ministers looked favourably upon Tyrone and did not misconstrue the activities of the Irish serving abroad (Nicholas Canny, ‘ The government reorganization of Ulster (1603–1607) and the position of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, with regard to it ’ (Master's Thesis, University College, Galway, 1967), passim). In this thesis Canny examines the diverse reactions to Tyrone and his policies, and demonstrates that the earl had maintained his good relationship with James until his flight in September 1607. Tyrone, fearful of jeopardizing this trust, would not sanction disreputable activities under his son's directions.