"... I will give a single instance, which may show upon what terms the Protestants stood for their lives: Several gentlemen kept their horses, and armed their servants, in order to defend themselves against the Rapparies or Plunderers, which was called, levying war against the King.
In the County of Cork, one Mr. Brown had been seen in a company of men that were endeavouring to make their escape from the plunderers, but left them and went home; he was however for this brought before Judge (Denis) Daly (Wikipedia here), who acquitted him as innocent:
Afterwards he was carried before Judge (Thomas) Nugent (Wikipedia here) and even he, as bad as he was, at first seemed inclined to acquit him, till he had discoursed with King James, lately come over; and then, by a corrupt Jury, found him guilty, and condemned him to be hanged, drawn and quartered; and the sentence was accordingly executed, no intreaties being able to prevail with King James to pardon him; which made many call to mind the bloody executions in the west of England, and fear Nugent would act over again the infamous part of (Judge George) Jefferies...
... the poor People began to be convinced it was more than a bare threatening, which Sir Robert Parker* and others blabbed out in the coffee house, viz. That they designed to starve one half of the Protestants, and hang the other; and that it would never be well till this was done."
- from Benjamin Bennet, Memorial of the Reformation (London, 1717; Wikipedia here)
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• An account of Mr Browne's execution can be found on page 280 of The History of Bandon, and the principal towns in the West Riding of Cork (online here). The description is identical to the method used by Jeffreys in England during the Bloody Assizes of 1685:
"Notwithstanding that the miserable man's wife and his six little children threw themselves ... at James's feet, and besought his pardon; but this effort of hers was more than unavailing, for, adding insult to injustice, he spurned her. The unfortunate man was first half hanged, then his bowels were torn out, and his body cut into quarters..."
The rest of the chapter includes references to the Monmouth Rebellion and connections with the south west of England, and the general fear that James II's army instilled within the civilian community of west Cork.
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* Parker (1655-91) had accompanied King James II from France to Ireland.
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