[Sidenote: Rinuccini joins the besiegers.]
[Sidenote: Bunratty capitulates, July 14.]
It was not till the middle of May that the Irish began to press the siege by taking the outlying castles of Cappagh and Rossmanagher. The works of Bunratty itself were strengthened by the labour and skill of the sailors, but it became difficult to supply the garrison with food and ammunition. The besiegers encamped in the park, where the underwood supplied material for gabions and fascines, and ate the deer, which they roasted with the dry wood of the palings. Muskerry arrived at the end of the month, and after that the siege became closer. Letters were received from Broghill, but no relief came. Rinuccini came to Limerick about the middle of May, where he had the satisfaction of superintending the rejoicings for Benburb, but he found that the siege of Bunratty was likely to be raised for want of money to pay the soldiers. There were frequent sallies from the garrison, but nothing decisive on either side. The nuncio went himself to the camp at the end of June with all that remained of the Pope's money, to which he added some of his own, and the attack was after that pressed with more vigour. Colonel MacAdam was killed by a stray round shot which came in at a window, and his loss proved fatal to the defence. Eighteen bags of money and some of Thomond's plate had been guarded by the commandant; but this treasure was now divided among themselves by the officers who found it, in spite of Penn's remonstrances. When Muskerry's men succeeded in getting heavy guns down to the shore where the action of the defenders was weak, ships could no longer lie near, and want of provisions soon became felt. On July 14 the garrison capitulated, and were carried off in Penn's boats. Rinuccini was satisfied that his presence and assistance during the siege would cause 'the people to recognise it as an apostolic undertaking,' and a _Te Deum_ was sung in the cathedral, where ten captured colours were displayed.[89]
[Sidenote: Battle of Benburb, June 5, 1646.]
While Rinuccini was at Limerick, and before Bunratty was taken, O'Neill gained his great victory at Benburb. The tidings were peculiarly grateful to the nuncio, in that success was entirely due to the Ulster Irish, and in no sense to the Supreme Council or to any who favoured Ormonde's peace. And, moreover, the efficiency of O'Neill's army was mainly due to the Pope's money, brought over and distributed by Rinuccini himself.