and the other rebels of Ulster, and to plant garrisons at Lough Foyle and Ballyshannon. Though he was a brave and distinguished soldier, he did not understand how to carry on war in Ireland; and, as we shall see, he mismanaged the whole campaign. He delayed proceeding against Tyrone, and he neglected altogether the order for planting garrisons. Soon after his arrival in Dublin, he foolishly scattered a good part of his

Cahir Castle in 1845. From Mrs. Hall's "Ireland."

army, by sending detachments to various minor stations through the country. Then, probably deeming it not yet quite safe to attempt the reduction of O'Neill, he deliberately disobeyed the queen's instructions by setting out for the South in May, with 7000 men, chiefly with the object of chastising the Geraldines.

Through the whole of this disastrous journey, which

occupied about six weeks, the insurgents constantly hung round his army and never gave him an hour's rest, so that he had to fight every inch of his way. The O'Moores killed 500 of his men at the "Pass of the Plumes," near Maryborough, which was so called from the number of English helmet-plumes that remained strewn about after the fight. Having extricated himself from this pass, Essex pushed on for Caher in Tipperary, where he took the castle from Thomas Butler, one of O'Neill's confederates, after a siege of ten days -the only successful exploit of the whole expedition. Passing round by Limerick, Fermoy, Lismore, and Waterford, he returned to Dublin in June, "the soldiers," as the historian Moryson says, "being weary, sick, and incredibly diminished in numbers."

Matters were going on no better in the West of Ireland. In Collooney in Sligo, was a strong castle held by O'Conor of Sligo, one of the Government supporters, which was now closely besieged by O'Donnell ; whereupon Sir Conyers Clifford, by orders of Essex, marched from Galway to relieve it. Having arrived at Boyle, he started to cross the Curlieu Hills into Sligo; but he was intercepted by O'Donnell in a A.D. 1599 difficult part of the mountain road, Ballaghboy or the Yellow Pass. After a very sharp fight the English were defeated, and fled; and Sir Conyers, endeavouring to rally his men, was killed in the pass. He was greatly regretted by the Irish, who buried him with much respect.

called

Essex's fine army had melted away in a few months; and at his own request he now got 2000 more from the queen; who, however, was very indignant against him, and wrote him a bitter letter commanding him to proceed at once against O'Neill. In August 1599, he set

out at last for the north, with only 2500 men but he found the insurgent earl so strongly entrenched in his camp on a high bank over the little river Lagan, about halfway between Carrickmacross and Ardee, that he

Essex and O'Neill. From Moore's History of Ireland," iv., Title page.

did not dare to attack him.

conference, which was granted.

September, the two leaders rode down unattended, from the heights on either side of the river. O'Neill saluted

the earl with great respect; and spurring his horse into the stream, to be near enough to hold converse, he remained there up to his saddle-girths during the whole conference, while he laid down the conditions he demanded. A truce was agreed on: but nothing ever came of this conference; for, immediately afterwards, Essex suddenly sailed for England. The remainder of his short career, ending on the block, belongs to the history of England.

For some time after the departure of Essex there were negotiations for peace; but they were all rendered fruitless by the refusal of the queen and government on the one vital point of freedom of religious worship, which O'Neill always insisted on. He visited Munster in January, 1600, and encamped with his army at Inishcarra on the Lee, six miles above Cork; where most of the southern chiefs visited him and acknowledged him as their leader.

For the last two years victory and success had attended the Irish almost without interruption; and Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, had now attained the very summit of his power. But after this the tide began to turn; and soon came the day of defeat and disaster. In the next four chapters will be related the waning fortunes of the earl of Tyrone, and the waning fortunes of his cause.

and the other rebels of Ulster, and to plant garrisons at Lough Foyle and Ballyshannon. Though he was a brave and distinguished soldier, he did not understand how to carry on war in Ireland; and, as we shall see, he mismanaged the whole campaign. He delayed proceeding against Tyrone, and he neglected altogether the order for planting garrisons. Soon after his arrival in Dublin, he foolishly scattered a good part of his

Cahir Castle in 1845. From Mrs. Hall's "Ireland."

army, by sending detachments to various minor stations through the country. Then, probably deeming it not yet quite safe to attempt the reduction of O'Neill, he deliberately disobeyed the queen's instructions by setting out for the South in May, with 7000 men, chiefly with the object of chastising the Geraldines.

Through the whole of this disastrous journey, which