1579-1 TtfE DESMOND REBELLION. 56 i therefore was despatched in hot haste to Drury, to bid him make peace on any terms, and if the public exer- cise of the Catholic religion was insisted on, to grant it. 1 A thousand men however were sent at the same time from Chester, and in a few days the Irish post brought news which in a degree relieved the anxiety. The English commanders understood perfectly that hesitation would be fatal to them, that at any odds they must face the insurgents in the field, or all Ireland would be in arms. Sir Nicholas Malby had a few hundred English soldiers at Athlon e, and he was fortunately able to avail himself of a feud be- tween the Greraldines and the Connemara and Mayo Burkes. Granny O'Malley .had been taken and im- prisoned by Desmond, and had probably died, as her name appears no more in Irish story. Her husband, the Mac William, cast his fortunes with England, and sent his retainers with his son Theobald to Malby's as- sistance. With their and his own troops he plunged into the Limerick woods, came up with the rebels, and forced them into action. Fitzmaurice, at the beginning of the fight, was struck by a ball in the breast. As he staggered in his saddle, Theobald Burke rode at him and cut him down, being himself at the same moment struck dead by a blow from a Geraldine. Fitzmaurice's body was taken after a desperate scuffle by the English. 1 'Ha despacbado a Irlanda el Consejo con ultima resolucion de que procure el Virrey acordarse con los que se ban levantado ; y cuando no puede ser de otra raanera, les otor- VOL. X. gue publicamente el ejercicio de la religion Catolica, si quieren reducirse con esto a la obediencia de la Eeyna.' Descifrada de Don Bernardino, Agosto 15, 1579: MSS. Simancas. 36
