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Life
fl.1579; leader of Desmond Rebellion, together with Nicholas Sanders and Oviedo, bringing the Papal Standard to Munster in 1579; landed at Dingle, opening the rebellion with the declaration, ‘This was is undertaken for the
defence of the Catholic religion against the heretics. Pope Gregory XIII had chosen us for general captain in this same war. ... We fight not against the lawful sceptre and honourable throne of England but against a tyrant which refuseth to hear Crhist speaking by his vicar’; d. prior to arrival of Papal expedition in a skirmish with the Burkes.
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Commentary
Sean O’Faolain treats Fitzmaurice as a key figure in the sectarianisation of Irish history. (See The Irish, 1947, pp.70, 108.)
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