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References to the Baldearg may be seen in various of the Memoirs of the O'Donnells in the libraries of the British Museum, Madrid, Dublin, and elsewhere. Nature's Devil Signals I have already alluded to the fingers typical of murderers; I will now refer in brief to a form of Nature's other danger signals. The feet of murderers are, as a rule, very short and broad, the toes flat and square-tipped.
An O'Donnell with the Baldearg turned up in 1690, in the person of Hugh Baldearg O'Donnell, son of John O'Donnell, an officer in the Spanish Army, and descendant of the Calvagh O'Donnell of Tyrconnell, who had been created Earl of Wexford by Queen Elizabeth.
In the days when Ireland was in a chronic state of rebellion, it was said that it would never shake off the yoke of its cruel English oppressors till its forces united under the leadership of an O'Donnell with the Baldearg.
The last hope of the garrison and of the Roman Catholic inhabitants was that Baldearg O'Donnel, the promised deliverer of their race, would come to the rescue. But Baldearg O'Donnel was not duped by the superstitious veneration of which he was the object. While there remained any doubt about the issue of the conflict between the Englishry and the Irishry, he had stood aloof.
Numerous prophecies were recollected or invented. An O'Donnel with a red mark was to be the deliverer of his country; and Baldearg meant a red mark. An O'Donnel was to gain a great battle over the English near Limerick; and at Limerick the O'Donnel and the English were now brought face to face,
No expression used by Baldearg indicated that he considered himself as a subject. His notion evidently was that the House of O'Donnel was as truly and as indefeasibly royal as the House of Stuart; and not a few of his countrymen were of the same mind. He made a pompous entrance into Limerick; and his appearance there raised the hopes of the garrison to a strange pitch.
The only birthmark of this description which I am acquainted with is "The Historic Baldearg," or red spot that has periodically appeared on the skins of members of the O'Donnell clan. Its origin is dubious, but I imagine it must go back pretty nearly to the time of the great Niall.
William lands at Carrickfergus, and proceeds to Belfast State of Dublin; William's military Arrangements William marches southward The Irish Army retreats The Irish make a Stand at the Boyne The Army of James The Army of William Walker, now Bishop of Derry, accompanies the Army William reconnoitres the Irish Position; William is wounded Battle of the Boyne Flight of James Loss of the two Armies Fall of Drogheda; State of Dublin James flies to France; Dublin evacuated by the French and Irish Troops Entry of William into Dublin Effect produced in France by the News from Ireland Effect produced at Rome by the News from Ireland Effect produced in London by the News from Ireland James arrives in France; his Reception there Tourville attempts a Descent on England Teignmouth destroyed Excitement of the English Nation against the French The Jacobite Press The Jacobite Form of Prayer and Humiliation Clamour against the nonjuring Bishops Military Operations in Ireland; Waterford taken The Irish Army collected at Limerick; Lauzun pronounces that the Place cannot be defended The Irish insist on defending Limerick Tyrconnel is against defending Limerick; Limerick defended by the Irish alone Sarsfield surprises the English Artillery Arrival of Baldearg O'Donnel at Limerick The Besiegers suffer from the Rains Unsuccessful Assault on Limerick; The Siege raised Tyrconnel and Lauzun go to France; William returns to England; Reception of William in England Expedition to the South of Ireland Marlborough takes Cork Marlborough takes Kinsale Affairs of Scotland; Intrigues of Montgomery with the Jacobites War in the Highlands Fort William built; Meeting of the Scottish Parliament Melville Lord High Commissioner; the Government obtains a Majority Ecclesiastical Legislation The Coalition between the Club and the Jacobites dissolved The Chiefs of the Club betray each other General Acquiescence in the new Ecclesiastical Polity Complaints of the Episcopalians The Presbyterian Conjurors William dissatisfied with the Ecclesiastical Arrangements in Scotland Meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland State of Affairs on the Continent The Duke of Savoy joins the Coalition Supplies voted; Ways and Means Proceedings against Torrington Torrington's Trial and Acquittal Animosity of the Whigs against Caermarthen Jacobite Plot Meeting of the leading Conspirators The Conspirators determine to send Preston to Saint Germains Papers entrusted to Preston Information of the Plot given to Caermarthen Arrest of Preston and his Companions
There had arisen, notwithstanding the community of blood, language and religion, an antipathy between the Celts of Ulster and those of the other three provinces; nor is it improbable that the example and influence of Baldearg O'Donnel may have had some effect on the people of the land which his forefathers had ruled.
At length, in the eighty-third year of the exile of this ancient dynasty, it was known over all Europe that the Irish were again in arms for their independence. Baldearg O'Donnel, who called himself the O'Donnel, a title far prouder, in the estimation of his race, than any marquisate or dukedom, had been bred in Spain, and was in the service of the Spanish government.
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