Davis, William, landscape painter, was born in Ireland about 1813. The greater part of his artistic career was passed at Liverpool, where he was a member of the local Academy. The Athenaeum says: "His character was singularly estimable, modest and unassuming in the highest degree, cheerful, industrious, persevering, conscientious. He lived bravely a life of much disappointment and some privation, alleviated by a keen sense of what is lovely and lofty in nature, and by the artist's power of realizing, for the delight of others, what he himself felt and saw… His merits have been warmly recognized by several of the best judges, but only slightly and intermittingly remarked by the mass of sightseers. He will assuredly not pass into oblivion, but he will hold a distinct and highly honourable position in our school of art… No man saw further than Mr. Davis into the opportunities of a quiet rural subject—a hedge, a stream, a drenched autumnal pasture, a flitting of light and shadow over an English sky, a farm with its sheltering trees and homely appurtenances. All this he felt keenly and thoroughly, and translated it into art, not only familiar and realistic, but touching, elevated, and on occasion even grand." He died in London, 22nd April 1873, aged about 60. 15 241
D'Aguila, Don Juan, a Spanish general, who "being in prison to answer some actions of his in Brytanny," consented in 1601 to take the command of a large force for the invasion of Ireland. Owing to difficulty in procuring transports, his departure was retarded at the port of embarkation, until the 6,000 men originally composing the armament were diminished to 4,000. On the passage, seven of the ships, conveying a chief part of the artillery and military stores, were, through stress of weather, obliged to put back to Corunn' Don Juan occupied Kinsale and the forts of Rincorran and Castle-ni-Park at the entrance of the harbour, on 23rd September, sent his transports back for further supplies, and communicated with O'Neill, O'Donnell, and the other Irish chieftains in arms against Elizabeth. Lord Mountjoy and Sir George Carew, with a force of some 3,000 men, 2,000 of whom were Irish, and several war vessels, hastened to blockade Kinsale, and supplies were fast poured in to them from England. The siege', was carried on with great activity, and the Spaniards behaved with admirable bravery. On 1st November the besiegers took Rincorran, and on the 20th Castle-ni-Park. The loss of these forts effectually prevented succours arriving by sea to the beleaguered garrison. The Spaniards made several desperate sorties, in which numbers were slain on both sides. The want of artillery wherewith properly to defend the place was severely felt. On the 20th November the investing force had been increased to some 11,800 foot and 857 horse, with 20 pieces of siege ordnance. On 1st December a breach was stormed by a party of 2,000 English, who were repulsed by the Spaniards. On the 3rd the missing portion of the Spanish fleet, under Don Pedro Zubiaur, arrived at Castlehaven, and landed 700 men, who were by the Irish put in possession of O'Driscoll's castle of Baltimore, O'Suliivan Beare's castle of Dunboy, and the fort of Castlehaven. On 21st December O'Neill and O'Donnell showed themselves on the hill of Belgley, north of Kinsale, about a mile from the English camp. Their forces numbered 6,000 foot and 500 horse, with 300 Spaniards from Castlehaven. Don Juan was urgent that an immediate effort should be made to raise the siege, and on the morning of the 24th December O'Neill and O'Donnell marched to the attack. Their plans had, however, been betrayed. Mount joy was fully prepared, and a disgraceful rout of the Irish troops ensued, with little loss on the English side. Don Juan's position being now desperate, he demanded a parley, and articles of capitulation were signed by him on the 2nd January 1601-'2. He surrendered the town and other fortresses in the possession of his countrymen on condition that his whole force, "as well Spaniards as other nations whatsoever that are under his command,… with arms, munition, money, ensigns displayed, and artillery," should be provided with provisions at market prices, and ships for their return to Spain. He bitterly complained of not having been properly supported by the Irish chieftains, and declared that he had found them "not only weak and barbarous, but (as he feared) perfidious friends." It is right to add that Hugh O'Neill had always advised that a Spanish force, to effect anything, should be landed in Ulster, especially after the end of the Desmond war, and the occupation of Munster by Elizabeth's troops. Numbers of Irish gentlemen, who are named in Pacata Hibernia, took advantage of the terms of the capitulation to retire to Spain, and as fast as transports could be prepared the Spaniards were embarked. Before Don Juan could deliver up Dunboy it was re-occupied by O'Sullivan Beare's retainers, who stood a long siege. [See O'Sullivan.] Don Juan
