who had lately appeared at Dublin to claim the original
grant made to Robert Fitzstephen of the moiety of the
kingdom of Cork, and who at present commanded the garrison
of Kilkenny. The accomplished soldier of fortune anticipated
the Deputy's movements by this blow at the confederated
Butlers, who retaliated by an abortive attack on Kilkenny,
and a successful foray into Wexford, in which they took
the Castle of Enniscorthy. Sidney, taking the field in
person, marched through Waterford and Dungarvan against
Desmond's strongholds in the vicinity of Youghal. After
a week's siege he took Castlemartyr, and continued his
route through Barrymore to Cork, where he established
his head-quarters. From Cork, upon receiving the submission
of some timid members of the League, he continued his
route to Limerick, where Sir Edmond Butler and his brothers
were induced to come in by their chief the Earl of Ormond.
From Limerick he penetrated Clare, took the Castles of
Clonoon and Ballyvaughan; he next halted some time at
Galway, and returned to Dublin by Athlone. Overawed by
the activity of the Deputy, many others of the confederates
followed the example of the Butlers. The Earl of Clancarty
sued for pardon and delivered up his eldest son as a
hostage for his good faith; the Earl of Thomond--more
suspected than compromised--yielded all his castles,
with the sole exception of Ibrackan. But the next year,
mortified at the insignificance to which he had reduced
himself, he sought refuge in France, from which he only
returned when the intercession of the English ambassador,
Norris, had obtained him full indemnity for the past.
Sir James Fitzmaurice, thus deserted by his confederates,