Captain Cuellar's Adventures in Connacht and Ulster

THE publication of a work entitled “La Armada Invincible” [Madrid, 1885], by Captain Cesareo Fernandez Duro, a Spanish naval officer, has been the means of bringing to light many fresh and interesting particulars relating to this ill-fated venture; and, though the incidents narrated are, as might be expected, viewed from the Spanish standpoint, yet the history is written in a spirit of moderation, and gives evidence of great research.

Amongst the valuable documents which have been collected and printed by Captain Duro, that having for its title “Letter of One who was with the Armada for England, and an Account of the Expedition,” is of most lively interest to us, seeing that it presents a graphic picture of the North and North-West of Ireland in 1588, drawn by one who was an actual eye-witness of what he describes.

Before proceeding, it may be well to observe that these adventures have already been dealt with by several writers. The Nineteenth Century, September, 1885, contained a valuable and interesting paper, entitled “An Episode of the Armada,” by the Earl of Ducie. In Longman’s Magazine [September, October, and November, 1891] appeared “The Spanish Story of the Armada,” by J. A. Froude; and in the Proceedings, Royal Irish Academy, 1893, Professor J. P. O’Reilly contributed a paper, entitled “Remarks on Certain Passages in Captain Cuellar’s Narrative.” The present paper has been written with the desire to identify some of the places visited by Cuellar while in Connaught and Ulster. His references to these places are, as might have been expected from a foreigner, in many instances obscure; and in order to correctly trace his wanderings, and identify the spots he visited, an intimate acquaintance with the local topography of the district is essential.