He was a native of Spain, and had been educated in the College of Salamanca, then famous for the learning and piety of its alumni.  The celebrated Florence Conry, subsequently Archbishop of Tuam, was one of his companions; and when he entered the Franciscan novitiate, he had the society of eleven brethren who were afterwards elevated to the episcopate.  Oviedo was the bearer of a letter from the Roman Pontiff, Gregory XIII., granting indulgences to those who joined the army.

On the 18th of August, scarcely a month after he had landed in Ireland, James FitzMaurice was killed by Theobald and Ulick Burke, his own kinsmen.  Their father, Sir William Burke, was largely rewarded for his loyalty in opposing the Geraldines; and, if Camden is to be believed, he died of joy in consequence of the favours heaped upon him.  The death of FitzMaurice was a fatal blow to the cause.  John Geraldine, however, took the command of the force; but the Earl hastened to Kilmallock to exculpate himself, as best he could, with the Lord Deputy.  His apologies were accepted, and he was permitted to go free on leaving his only son, James, then a mere child, as hostage with Drury.  The Geraldines were successful soon after in an engagement with the English; and Drury died in Waterford at the end of September.  Ecclesiastical historians say that he had been cited by the martyrs of Kilmallock to meet them at Christ’s judgment, and answer for his cruelties.

Sir Nicholas Malby was left in command of the army, and Sir William Pelham was elected Lord Deputy in Dublin.  The usual career of burning and plundering was enacted—­“the country was left one levelled plain, without corn or edifices.”  Youghal was burned to the ground, and the Mayor was hanged at his own door.  James Desmond was hanged and quartered, by St. Leger and Raleigh, in Cork.  Pelham signalized himself by cruelties, and executed a gentleman who had been blind from his birth, and another who was over a hundred years of age.

But the crowning tragedy was at hand.  The expedition commanded by San Jose now arrived in Ireland.  The Fort del Ore was once more occupied and strengthened; the courage of the insurgents was revived.  Meanwhile Lord Grey was marching so southward with all possible haste.  He soon reached the fort, and, at the same time, Admirals Winter and Bingham prepared to attack the place by sea.  In a few days the courage of the Spanish commander failed, and he entered into treaty with the Lord Deputy.  A bargain was made that he should receive a large share of the spoils.  He had obtained a personal interview in the Viceroy’s camp,[446] and the only persons for whom he made conditions were the Spaniards who had accompanied him on the expedition.  The English were admitted to the fortress on the following day, and a feast was prepared for them.  All arms and ammunition were consigned to the care of the English soldiers, and, this accomplished, the signal for massacre was given; and, according to Lord Grey’s official[447] account, 600 men were slain in cold blood.  So universal was the reprobation of this fearful tragedy, that Sir Richard Bingham tried to make it appear that it had not been premeditated.  Grey’s official despatch places the matter beyond question, and Dr. Saunders’ letter supplies the details on authority which cannot be disputed.