George Paulet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Paulet was an English soldier, governor of Derry
and killed in the uprising of Cahir O'Dogherty.
, by his wife, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Robert, 2nd Lord Willoughby de Broke. William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester
, was his eldest brother. His contemporaries call George a gentleman of Hampshire
. The king's letters of 20 and 23 July 1606, directing his appointment to the governorship of Derry, speak of his service in the wars.
He began at Derry by buying land from the constable, Sir Henry Docwra, who had built a town there more than thirty years after the destruction of Randolph's settlement. Docwra incurred the hostility of Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy (who became Earl of Devonshire), Lord Deputy of Ireland
, by supporting Sir Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan, Sir Cahir O'Dogherty, and Sir Niall Garv O'Donnell, whom he thought ill-treated. James I agreed with Devonshire on Irish policy, about the desirability of ruling Ulster
through Hugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory Ó Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, without much regard for minor chiefs. Devonshire died 3 April 1606; but he had previously approved the sale of Docwra's property to Paulet, whom he knew well. Docwra accordingly sold him his house, land which he had bought, and his company of foot, at a low price. The vice-provostship of Derry was thrown in without extra charge.
The new governor was established at Derry in the early winter of 1606, and on 20 February following Sir Arthur Chichester, the new Lord Deputy, told Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
that he was unfit for the place, and that there had been many dissensions since his arrival. He fell out over George Montgomery
, the new bishop of Derry
, over land claims. Tyrone and Tyrconnell fled from Ireland early in September 1607 (the Flight of the Earls
); O'Cahan, who ruled the greater part of what is now County Londonderry
, and of O'Doherty, the chief of Inishowen
in County Donegal
, came under some suspicion. Docwra had tried to divide these chiefs from the Earls, but Paulet had his own ideas on handling them.
O'Doherty put some armed men on Tory Island
, but this seems to have been done with the consent of the few inhabitants. Sir Richard Hansard, who commanded for the Plantation of Ulster
at Lifford
in Donegal, recounts that O'Dogherty left Burt Castle, on Lough Swilly
, at the end of October to superintend the felling of timber for building; but that this gave rise to a report that he was in rebellion. He then began to arm about seventy followers, refusing all recruits from outside his own district. Paulet made an unsuccessful attempt to seize Burt in the chief's absence, and reported everything to Chichester. O'Doherty remonstrated with him in a temperate letter; Paulet then (falsely) denied strongly that he had ever intended to surprise Burt, and accused O'Doherty of treason. O'Dogherty went to Dublin early in December and made his excuses to Chichester, who accepted them, but without much confidence. On 18 April the privy council ordered him to be fully restored to such of his ancestral lands as were still withheld, but this order did not reach the Irish government until he was actually in rebellion.
The Annals of the Four Masters
state that Paulet struck O'Doherty; there is more support for the idea that Paulet provoked into rebellion by insults. Paulet's carelessness invited attack, though Chichester warned him repeatedly to keep good watch. On the night of Monday, 18 April 1608, O'Doherty, at the head of fewer than a hundred men, seized the outpost at Culmore
by a trick, and surprised Derry itself an hour before daybreak. Paulet was killed, and the city was sacked and burned. Sir Josias Bodley, not however an eye-witness, reported that Paulet fell fighting valiantly; but the English government spoke of his cowardice. Paulet had been warned by Hansard, who held his own against the rebels at Lifford.
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
and killed in the uprising of Cahir O'Dogherty.
Life
He was the second son of John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of WinchesterJohn Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester
John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester was the son of William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester and Elizabeth Capell....
, by his wife, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Robert, 2nd Lord Willoughby de Broke. William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester
William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester
William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester was the son of John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester and Elizabeth Willoughby. He married Agnes Howard, daughter of William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham and his first wife, Katherine Broughton.- Children :# Lord William Paulet, 4th Marquess of...
, was his eldest brother. His contemporaries call George a gentleman of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. The king's letters of 20 and 23 July 1606, directing his appointment to the governorship of Derry, speak of his service in the wars.
He began at Derry by buying land from the constable, Sir Henry Docwra, who had built a town there more than thirty years after the destruction of Randolph's settlement. Docwra incurred the hostility of Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy (who became Earl of Devonshire), Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
, by supporting Sir Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan, Sir Cahir O'Dogherty, and Sir Niall Garv O'Donnell, whom he thought ill-treated. James I agreed with Devonshire on Irish policy, about the desirability of ruling Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
through Hugh Ó Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory Ó Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, without much regard for minor chiefs. Devonshire died 3 April 1606; but he had previously approved the sale of Docwra's property to Paulet, whom he knew well. Docwra accordingly sold him his house, land which he had bought, and his company of foot, at a low price. The vice-provostship of Derry was thrown in without extra charge.
The new governor was established at Derry in the early winter of 1606, and on 20 February following Sir Arthur Chichester, the new Lord Deputy, told Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
that he was unfit for the place, and that there had been many dissensions since his arrival. He fell out over George Montgomery
George Montgomery (bishop)
The Rt. Rev. Dr. George Montgomery was a Scottish churchman, promoted by James VI and I to Irish bishoprics.-Life:He was the brother of Hugh Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery, who used his influence on George's behalf. After James I had made him Dean of Norwich in 1603, he was appointed the...
, the new bishop of Derry
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, over land claims. Tyrone and Tyrconnell fled from Ireland early in September 1607 (the Flight of the Earls
Flight of the Earls
The Flight of the Earls took place on 14 September 1607, when Hugh Ó Neill of Tír Eóghain, Rory Ó Donnell of Tír Chonaill and about ninety followers left Ireland for mainland Europe.-Background to the exile:...
); O'Cahan, who ruled the greater part of what is now County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, and of O'Doherty, the chief of Inishowen
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, came under some suspicion. Docwra had tried to divide these chiefs from the Earls, but Paulet had his own ideas on handling them.
O'Doherty put some armed men on Tory Island
Tory Island
Toraigh is an inhabited island 14.5 km off the northwest coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It is also known in Irish as Oileán Thoraigh, Oileán Thoraí or Oileán Thúr Rí.-Language:The main spoken language on the island is Irish, but English is also understood...
, but this seems to have been done with the consent of the few inhabitants. Sir Richard Hansard, who commanded for the Plantation of Ulster
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
at Lifford
Lifford
Lifford is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland. It is the administrative capital of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken for fulfilling this role...
in Donegal, recounts that O'Dogherty left Burt Castle, on Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
, at the end of October to superintend the felling of timber for building; but that this gave rise to a report that he was in rebellion. He then began to arm about seventy followers, refusing all recruits from outside his own district. Paulet made an unsuccessful attempt to seize Burt in the chief's absence, and reported everything to Chichester. O'Doherty remonstrated with him in a temperate letter; Paulet then (falsely) denied strongly that he had ever intended to surprise Burt, and accused O'Doherty of treason. O'Dogherty went to Dublin early in December and made his excuses to Chichester, who accepted them, but without much confidence. On 18 April the privy council ordered him to be fully restored to such of his ancestral lands as were still withheld, but this order did not reach the Irish government until he was actually in rebellion.
The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
state that Paulet struck O'Doherty; there is more support for the idea that Paulet provoked into rebellion by insults. Paulet's carelessness invited attack, though Chichester warned him repeatedly to keep good watch. On the night of Monday, 18 April 1608, O'Doherty, at the head of fewer than a hundred men, seized the outpost at Culmore
Culmore
Culmore is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is between Derry and Muff, at the mouth of the River Foyle. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 2,960 people.- History :...
by a trick, and surprised Derry itself an hour before daybreak. Paulet was killed, and the city was sacked and burned. Sir Josias Bodley, not however an eye-witness, reported that Paulet fell fighting valiantly; but the English government spoke of his cowardice. Paulet had been warned by Hansard, who held his own against the rebels at Lifford.