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the United Irishmen, and was proscribed in the Fugitive Bill of 1798, He was living in Dublin in 1858.] '* '*^ ^^ ^' 33.

Synge, Edward, Archbishop of Tuam, was born in Cork in 1659. He was a Doctor in Divinity of the University of Dublin, was rector of St. Werburgh's, in 17 14 was consecrated Bishop of Raphoe, and in 17 16 was translated to the arch- bishopric of Tuam. This prelate volun- tarily resigned to his clergy the "Quarta pars Episcopalis" of the tithes of the diocese, which his predecessors had always enjoyed. Cotton says: " He presided over his sees with exemplary diligence for twenty-five years ; and during that time exerted himself in the publication of tracts upon religious and moral subjects, to the number of fifty or more. A list of these may be seen in Ware's Writers. Many of them have been adopted by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge." He died at Tuam, 23rd July 1 741, aged about 82, and was buried in the churchyard of his cathedral. [There was an extraordinary succession of prelates of the Irish Church in his family. His father (Edward), his uncle (George), and his two sons (Edward and Nicholas) were bishops.] "' "^ 339 254(3)

Taaffe, Sir William, of Ballymote, distinguished himself on the Government side in the O'Neill wars, and was knighted for his services at the siege of Kinsale, in 1 60 1. In December 1602 he commanded the Irish in the Queen's pay in Carbery, and defeated a body of the enemy under " the Apostolick Vicar, Owen MacEgan," killing 140 men, including the commander. In the ensuing confiscations of the ter- ritory of the MacCarthys, Sir William " had not the least share of her Majesty's bounty." He died 9th February 1630, and was buried at Ardee. "^

Taaffe, Sir Theobald, Viscount Taaffe, and Earl of Carlingford, was grandson of preceding, and eldest son of Sir John, who was created Baron of Ballymote and Viscount Taafi'e in August 1628, and who died before 1642. Sir Theobald fought for Charles I. against the Parliament in England, and subsequently assisted the Marquis of Ormond in his negotiations with the Confederates for a cessation of arms. On the recommence- ment of hostilities, he took the command of a force of 9,000 Irish in Muuster, but did not attempt to prevent Lord Inchiquin from taking Cahir Castle on the 3rd September 1647. He is reported, however, to have afterwards shot the governor and 100 of his men for their 21

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pusillanimous defence. On the 13th of November in the same year, he was de- feated by Lord Inchiquin at Knocknanuss, in the County of Cork. Carte gives the following account of the battle : " Taafi'e had with him about 7,500 foot, and four regiments of horse, making 1,200 men, and took his post in the left wing, with 4,000 Munster foot and two regiments of his horse. The rest of the foot were posted in the right wing under Lieutenant-General MacDonnell, supported by Colonel Pur- cell with two regiments of horse. [See MacDonnell, Alaster MacColl, p. 310.] When the battles joined, Purcell charged the English horse opposed to him with great bravery ; and MacDonnell's Highlanders, after a fire, throwing down their pieces, fell sword in hand into the enemy's left, and drove them two miles before them with considerable slaughter, and, with very little loss on their own side, made them- selves masters of the cannon and carriages, keeping possession of them for a full hour. Inchiquin in the meantime broke the left wing of the Irish army, all the Munster regiments, except Lord Castleconnell's, after a single fire, throwing down their pieces and running away ; nor could the General stop their tiight, though he killed several of them with his own hand. Inchi- quin did not amuse himself in following the runaways, but turned back to assist his left wing. Purcell, seeing him advance, retired with his horse, and left the High- land foot, drawn up about the cannon which they had seized, without a general to command them ; for MacDonnell, after his success, had sent to give notice of it to the other wing, and his messengers not re- turning, he had moved to an eminence at a little distance from his men, to observe from thence what was doing in the field. As he returned, he was intercepted and killed by a small party of fourteen horse. His men stood their ground till 700 of them were killed, when the rest threw down their arms, and cried for quarter. The Irish lost all their arms, ammunition, and baggage, and about 3,000 men in this action, wherein the flower of the Munster army were cut in pieces." Lord Taafi'e commanded Ormond's infantry at the battle of Rathmines, in 1649, and was again defeated. He was one of the deputies who in 165 1 went to the Con- tinent to ofi"er the sovereignty of Ireland to the Duke of Lorraine, and was excepted from pardon for life and estate by Crom- well. After the Restoration he received sundry grants of land, and was created Earl of Carlingford. He died 3i8t De- cember 1677, and was buried at Ballymote. 513