soon withdrew in their own galleys, upon which an English
ship and pinnace, sweeping round from Kinsale, carried
off the Spanish vessels in sight of the powerless little
fort. These desperate circumstances inspired desperate
councils, and it was decided by the cousins to endeavour
to gain the great wood of Kilmore, near Charleville--in
the neighbourhood of Sir James' old retreat among the
Galtee Mountains. In this march they were closely pursued
by the Earl of Desmond, either in earnest or in sham,
and were obliged to separate into three small bands, the
brothers of the Earl retiring respectively to the fastnesses
of Lymnamore and Glenfesk, while Fitzmaurice, with "a
dozen horsemen and a few kerne," made a desperate push
to reach the western side of the Shannon, where he hoped,
perhaps, for better opportunity and a warmer reception.
This proved for him a fatal adventure. Jaded after a long
day's ride he was compelled to seize some horses from
the plough, in the barony of Clanwilliam, in order to
remount his men. These horses were the property of his
relative, Sir William Burke, who, with his neighbour,
Mac-I-Brien of Ara, pursued the fugitives to within six
miles of Limerick, where Fitzmaurice, having turned to
remonstrate with his pursuers, was fired at and mortally
wounded. He did not instantly fall. Dashing into the
midst of his assailants he cleft down the two sons of
Burke, whose followers immediately turned and fled. Then
alighting from his saddle, the wounded chief received
the last solemn rites of religion from the hands of Dr.
Allen. His body was decapitated by one of his followers,
that the noble head might not be subjected to indignity;