John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald (died 1589), seneschal
of Imokilly, was an Irish baron of the Desmond Rebellions
.
He was a prominent actor in the two great rebellions that convulsed Munster during 1563 to 1583.
In 1569, being "a principal communicator with James FitzMaurice
, "arch traitor", he was besieged in his castle of Ballymartyr by Sir Henry Sidney
; but after a stout defence, in which several of the besiegers were wounded, finding the place untenable, he "and his company in the dead of night fled out of the house by a bog, which joins hard to the wall where no watch could have prevented their escape".
He continued to hold out with Fitzmaurice in the woods of Aharlow till February 1573, when he humbly submitted himself before Sir John Perrot
in the church of Kilmallock, and was pardoned.
In 1575, he accompanied Fitzmaurice to France, but returned to Ireland a few weeks afterwards.
From that time till the date of Fitzmaurice's landing we hear nothing of him, with the exception that on 16 November 1576, he complained to the president of Munster, Sir William Drury
, that the Earl of Desmond
was coshering sixty horses and a hundred horse-boys on Imokilly, an incident quite sufficient to show how the wind was blowing meanwhile.
Instantly on the arrival of Fitzmaurice in July 1579, he went into rebellion.
An adept in all the stratagems of Irish warfare, and personally brave in carrying his schemes into execution, he became, after the death of the "arch traitor", the unquestionable, though not nominal, head of the rebellion.
It was against him, and not the Earl of Desmond
, that Ormonde mainly directed his efforts.
More than once during that terrible struggle, he was reported to have been slain.
He was, indeed, once severely wounded and his brother killed, but he manifested no intention of submitting.
In February 1581, he narrowly missed capturing Sir Walter Raleigh
.
In May 1583, his aged mother was taken, and executed by Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond.
But it was not till 14 June, when he was reported to have not more than twenty-four swords and four horse, that he consented to recognise the hopelessness of his cause.
His submission was accepted conditionally; but Ormonde, who greatly respected him for his bravery, pleaded earnestly with Burghley
for his pardon.
He was, he declared, a man 'valiant, wise, and true of his word'.
Ever since his submission "he and his people had been employed in order and husbandry".
Ormonde's intervention was successful so far as his life was concerned; but as for his lands, that was to be left an open question.
Thirty-six thousand acres of good land, which the undertakers had come to regard as their property, were not to be surrendered by them without a struggle.
He was represented as the most dangerous man in the province, as "having more intelligence from Spain than any one else".
Their representations were not without their calculated effect on Queen Elizabeth I, who had at first been inclined to treat him leniently.
Not suspecting any attack, he was in March 1587, arrested by Sir Thomas Norreys and confined to Dublin Castle
, where he died in February 1589, a few days after it had been finally decided that he should enjoy the profit of his lands.
, and was granted in wardship to Captain Moyle.
He obtained livery of his lands on coming of age, and in 1647 defended Ballymartyr against his nephew, Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
, when the castle was burnt and himself outlawed.
Seneschal
A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. In the French administrative system of the Middle Ages, the sénéchal was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration in southern provinces, equivalent to the northern French bailli...
of Imokilly, was an Irish baron of the Desmond Rebellions
Desmond Rebellions
The Desmond Rebellions occurred in 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 in the Irish province of Munster.They were rebellions by the Earl of Desmond – head of the FitzGerald dynasty in Munster – and his followers, the Geraldines and their allies against the threat of the extension of Elizabethan English...
.
Life
He was was the son of Edmund Fitzmaurice Riskard, seneschal of Imokilly and Shylie, daughter of Maolrony O'Carroll.He was a prominent actor in the two great rebellions that convulsed Munster during 1563 to 1583.
In 1569, being "a principal communicator with James FitzMaurice
James Fitzgerald (traitor)
James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald , 'arch traitor,' was the second son of Maurice Fitzjohn à totane, i. e. of the burnings, and Julia, second daughter of Dermot O'Mulryan of Sulloghade, co...
, "arch traitor", he was besieged in his castle of Ballymartyr by Sir Henry Sidney
Henry Sidney
Sir Henry Sidney , Lord Deputy of Ireland was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, a prominent politician and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, from both of whom he received extensive grants of land, including the manor of Penshurst in Kent, which became the...
; but after a stout defence, in which several of the besiegers were wounded, finding the place untenable, he "and his company in the dead of night fled out of the house by a bog, which joins hard to the wall where no watch could have prevented their escape".
He continued to hold out with Fitzmaurice in the woods of Aharlow till February 1573, when he humbly submitted himself before Sir John Perrot
John Perrot
Sir John Perrot served as Lord Deputy of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth I of England during the Tudor conquest of Ireland...
in the church of Kilmallock, and was pardoned.
In 1575, he accompanied Fitzmaurice to France, but returned to Ireland a few weeks afterwards.
From that time till the date of Fitzmaurice's landing we hear nothing of him, with the exception that on 16 November 1576, he complained to the president of Munster, Sir William Drury
William Drury
Sir William Drury, Knt., was an English statesman and soldier,He was a son of Sir Robert Drury of Hedgerley in Buckinghamshire, and grandson of another Sir Robert Drury , who was speaker of the House of Commons in 1495. He was a brother of Dru Drury.He was born at Hawstead in Suffolk, and was...
, that the Earl of Desmond
Earl of Desmond
The title of Earl of Desmond has been held historically by lords in Ireland, first as a title outside of the peerage system and later as part of the Peerage of Ireland....
was coshering sixty horses and a hundred horse-boys on Imokilly, an incident quite sufficient to show how the wind was blowing meanwhile.
Instantly on the arrival of Fitzmaurice in July 1579, he went into rebellion.
An adept in all the stratagems of Irish warfare, and personally brave in carrying his schemes into execution, he became, after the death of the "arch traitor", the unquestionable, though not nominal, head of the rebellion.
It was against him, and not the Earl of Desmond
Earl of Desmond
The title of Earl of Desmond has been held historically by lords in Ireland, first as a title outside of the peerage system and later as part of the Peerage of Ireland....
, that Ormonde mainly directed his efforts.
More than once during that terrible struggle, he was reported to have been slain.
He was, indeed, once severely wounded and his brother killed, but he manifested no intention of submitting.
In February 1581, he narrowly missed capturing Sir Walter Raleigh
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
.
In May 1583, his aged mother was taken, and executed by Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond.
But it was not till 14 June, when he was reported to have not more than twenty-four swords and four horse, that he consented to recognise the hopelessness of his cause.
His submission was accepted conditionally; but Ormonde, who greatly respected him for his bravery, pleaded earnestly with Burghley
Burghley
Burghley may refer to:*William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , chief minister of queen Elizabeth I of England*Burghley House, a sixteenth century country house in Lincolnshire, built for the above...
for his pardon.
He was, he declared, a man 'valiant, wise, and true of his word'.
Ever since his submission "he and his people had been employed in order and husbandry".
Ormonde's intervention was successful so far as his life was concerned; but as for his lands, that was to be left an open question.
Thirty-six thousand acres of good land, which the undertakers had come to regard as their property, were not to be surrendered by them without a struggle.
He was represented as the most dangerous man in the province, as "having more intelligence from Spain than any one else".
Their representations were not without their calculated effect on Queen Elizabeth I, who had at first been inclined to treat him leniently.
Not suspecting any attack, he was in March 1587, arrested by Sir Thomas Norreys and confined to Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
, where he died in February 1589, a few days after it had been finally decided that he should enjoy the profit of his lands.
Family
He married Honora, daughter of James Fitzmaurice, by whom he had Edmund and Richard, seven weeks old in 1589, and two daughters, Catherine and Eleanor. His son and heir, Edmund, at the time of his father's death being a year and a half old, was found by inquisition to be heir to Ballymartyr and other lands in County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and was granted in wardship to Captain Moyle.
He obtained livery of his lands on coming of age, and in 1647 defended Ballymartyr against his nephew, Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
Murrough McDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin and 6th Baron Inchiquin , was known as Murchadh na dTóiteán ....
, when the castle was burnt and himself outlawed.