COUNT HANLAN'S DOWNFALL, OR A True and Exact Account of the KILLING that Arch Traytor and Tory REDMON ô HANLAN: BY ART ô HANLAN, One of his own Party, on the 25. day of April, 1681. near the Eight Mile Bridge, in the County of Down.
Being the Copy of a LETTER writ by a Country Gentleman (now in Dublin) to a Perſon of Quality (his Friend) in the Country.
DƲBLIN, Printed for William Winter, Bookſeller at the Wandring Jew in Caſtle-ſtreet. 1681.
THough You know I am not inclin'd to Scribling, and therefore can expect no Packet from me, yet being ſenſible of your want of freſh Intelligence of News from Dublin; and I being oblig'd to ſhew my gratitude for the laſt Favours you did me, do readily lay hold on this opportunity of telling you ſomewhat Remarkable has happen'd within the compaſs of theſe five days I have been in Dublin.
On Saturday laſt, when the Lord Lieutenant, Nobility, and Gentry were return'd from Chriſt-Church, where they had been Celebrating the King's Coronation: according to the cuſtome upon State Feaſtivals, the Great Guns on the Cuſtome-Houſe Key were diſcharg'd; the firſt of which (being either over charg'd, or through age, or ill uſage, become faulty) burſt into ſeveral pieces, which flew divers ways, and fell at conſiderable diſtances; particularly one piece of neer an hundred weight, flew into the Houſe of Captain Lovet, on the Blind Key, and did much miſchief; ſeveral perſons were hurt (as 'tis ſaid) by other pieces: but one piece hit a Gentleman on the ſide of his head, who was leaning on a poſt hard by, with intention to have fired one of the Guns himſlf; which Gentleman (Clerk he was to the Right Honourable the Lord Bleſſinton's Troop)4 was taken up, carried home, dreſſed by Chirurgeons, died yeſterday, and was buried this afternoon.
This Account is purely Tragical: But another that I am to give you, may be ſaid to be Tragi-Comical; for it has Bloodſhed and Battery to the higheſt degree, in it, yet is the Tidings of it very welcome, I obſerve, to all here, and will be no leſs to you, though at ſo conſiderable diſtance. 'Tis the Relation was this day brought, of the Surprize, and Killing of the Famous Northern Tory, Count Hanlan: The circumſtances whereof, as I received them from the mouth of one of his Conſederates, and Executioner, and Mr. William Lucas, who was Commiſſioned in that affair. That His Grace, the Lord Lieutenant finding all ways and endeavours hitherto uſed, as well by Himſelf, as other Chief Governours, for repreſſing and bringing to condign puniſhment, outragious Rebels and Tories, infeſting this Kingdom; reſolved to act by his own ſentiments and way: which was to this effect. His Grace ſent for a Perſon of Honour of this City, (acquainted in thoſe Counties theſe Tories chiefly reſorted to,) and commanded him to find ſome perſon of choice, who might be capable of His Majeſties Service in that Affair. On which Command of His Grace, Mr. Williaw Lucas of Drumintyan in the County of Down was ſent for; who received the following Commiſſion, writ every word with His Grace's own hand, for privacy. None knowing of the deſign but this Perſon of Honour, and Mr. Lucas, whom His Grace acquainted with it. Beſides other private directions given Mr. Lucas by His Grace, which I could not obtain. But the Commiſſion is as follows.
5WHereas William Lucas Gent. hath given me good reaſon to believe that he is able to do His Majeſty good ſervice in the Apprehending, Killing, and Deſtroying of proclaimed Rebels and Tories; if he may, upon occaſion, have the help and aſſiſtance of ſuch of His Majeſties Army, as he ſhall deſire. Theſe are therefore to Will and Require all His Majeſties Officers, Civil and Military, to be aiding and aſſiſting to the ſaid William Lucas in the ſaid ſervice. And I particularly require all Officers of Horſe and Foot, to ſend as many of the Souldiers, under their reſpective Commands, as he ſhall deſire with him; and to direct ſuch Souldiers to obey his Orders. And I further Authorize thes ſaid William Lucas, in my Name, to give, aſſurance to any of the Tories, that in caſe they ſhall aſſiſt him in the performance of the ſaid ſervice, that they ſhall have his Majeſties Gracious Pardon for any Crimes formerly committed by them, Murther only excepted. And that over and above, they ſhall be well rewarded.
Purſuant to which Commiſſion, Mr. William Lucas thus acted. Knowing of a Foſterer of his out in Rebellion with Redmond O Hanlan, by one of his Relations ſent for him; and this Foſterer, one Art O Hanlan came to Mr. Lucas, who gave him this following Protection.
6BY Vertue of a Power to me, from His Grace the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; For the Apprehending, Killing and Deſtroying of proclaimed Rebels and Tories, bearing date the 4. of March laſt; as alſo for the giving Aſſurance and Protection to ſuch Tories as shall aſſiſt me in His Majeſties Service, and have not had hand in Murder; I do therefore in His Graces name give my Protection and Aſſurance to Art ô Hanlan, and do deſire all His Majeſties Officers, both Civil an Military to take notice thereof; and that they do not offer to kill, apprehend, moleſt or diſturb the ſaid Art, during the ſpace of one Month, from the Date hereof. And I alſo deſire all His Majeſties Officers, and good Subjects, to be aiding and aſſiſting to him the ſaid Art ô Hanlan, in the furtherance of His Majeſties Service. Given under my Hand this 3. of April, 1681.
Art O Hanlan being thus furniſh'd and encouraged, and provided with Arms, by the ſaid Mr. William Lucas, for ſo good an Undertaking, waited for a convenient Opportunity of Executing his Deſign, which did thus offer itſelf.
7On Munday the 25th. Inſtant, the ſaid Art O Hanlan and William O Sheel, in company with Redmond O Hanlan, were near the Eight Mile Bridge, in the County of Down, waiting for prize, on the ſcore of a Fair that was held there, at which place, while they were watching for their Prey, Redmond took ſome occaſion to quarrel with Art, as they ere ſmoaking their Pipes, and in the cloſe bid him provide for himſelf, for he ſhould not be any longer a Tory in any of the three Counties, (viz. Monaghan, Down, or Ardmagh) whereupon Art roſe up and ſaid, I am very glad of it, and will go juſt now; and then taking up his Arms (having his Authority and Protection about him) imediately he ſhot Redmond in the left Breaſt, with his Carbine, and forthwith ran to the Eight Mile Bridge for a Guard, but Art returned with a Guard, and Mr. Lucas, who ſoon had notice at the Newry where he was waiting Redmonds motions, for the ſame Ends, found Redmonds Body, but the Head was taken off by O Sheel, who fled with it, the Body they removed to the Newry, where it lies under a Guard till Orders be ſent how it ſhould be diſpoſed of; and ſince that Mr. Lucas has ſent out a Protection and Aſſurance to O Sheel, to bring in the Head of that Arch Traytor and Tory Redmond O Hanlan.
This Evening Art O Hanlan gave in a Relation of this Adventure, to the Lord Lieutenant and Council, who ordered him to have a Sum of Mony paid forthwith, for the good Service he has done. And to Mr. Lucas His Grace has promiſed the Honour of a Command in the Army. Theſe I mention to ſhew the extraordinary Care, Vigilance and Honour of our Government. If this Relation of mine may prove any way diverting to you, 'twill be a ſufficient Reward for this trouble of Letter writing, which is in it ſelf irkſom to
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