Fago 76 BOOK IX. CHAPTER L-James I.-Flight of the Earls-Confiscation of Ulster-Penal CHAPTER II.-Last years of James - Confiscation of the Midland Counties CHAPTER III.-Lord Strafford's Impeachment and Execution-Parliament of 1639-41-The Insurrection of 1641-The Irish Abroad, CHAPTER IV.-The Insurrection of 1641, . 117 123 CHAPTER V.-The Catholic Confederation-Its Civil Government and Military Establishment, CHAPTER VL-The Confederate War-Campaign of 1643-The Cessation, . CHAPTER VII.-The Cessation and its Consequences, CHAPTER IX.-From the Battle of Benburb till the Landing of Cromwell at Dublin, CHAPTER XII.-Ireland under the Protectorate-Administration of Henry Cromwell-Death of Oliver, BOOK X. 195 141 145 149 CHAPTER III.-The State of Religion and Learning in Ireland during the CHAPTER IV.-Accession of James II.-Tyrconnell's Administration, CHAPTER V.-King James in Ireland-Irish Parliament of 1689, 173 CHAPTER VI.-The Revolutionary War-Campaign of 1639 –Sieges of Derry CHAPTER VIII.-The Winter of 1690-91, . Page 177 181 187 CHAPTER IX.-The Revolutionary War-Campaign of 1691-Battle of CHAPTER XII.-The Irish Soldiers Abroad, during the Reigns of William and Anne, 206 BOOK XI. CHAPTER L-Accession of George I.-Swift's Leadership, 209 CHAPTER II.-Reign of George II.-Growth of Public Spirit-The "Patriot" 214 CHAPTER III.-The Last Jacobite Movement-The Irish Soldiers Abroad- 219 224 230 234 237 CHAPTER IV.-Reign of George II. (Concluded)-Malone's Leadership, CHAPTER VI.-Flood's Leadership-State of the Country between 1760 CHAPTER VII.-Grattan's Leadership-" Free Trade" and the Volunteers, dence Established, CHAPTER IX-The Era of Independence-First Period, CHAPTER X.-The Era of Independence-Second Period, CHAPTER XI.-The Era of Independence-Third Period-Catholic Relief CHAPTER XII.-The Era of Independence-Effects of the French Revolu- tion in Ireland-Secession of Grattan, Curran, and their Friends, CHAPTER XVI.-The Insurrection of 1798-The Wexford Insurrection, CHAPTER XVII.-The Insurrection elsewhere- Fate of the Leading CHAPTER VI.-The Irish Abroad, during the Reign of George III., CHAPTER VII.-O'Connell's Leadership-The Catholic Association-1821 to HISTORY OF IRELAND. BOOK VIII. CHAPTER IV. SIR HENRY SIDNEY'S DEPUTYSHIP-PARLIAMENT OF 1569THE SECOND "GERALDINE LEAGUE"-SIR JAMES FITZMAURICE. SIR HENRY SIDNEY, in writing to his court, had always reported John O'Neil as "the only strong man in Ireland." Before his rout at Lough Swilly, he could commonly call into the field 4,000 foot and 1,000 horse; and his two years' revolt cost Elizabeth, in money, about £150,000 sterling "over and above the cess laid on the country"-besides "3,500 of her Majesty's soldiers" slain in battle. The removal of such a leader in the very prime of life was therefore a cause of much congratulation to Sidney and his royal mistress, and as no other "strong man" was likely soon to arise, the Deputy now turned with renewed ardour to the task of establishing the Queen's supremacy, in things spiritual as well as temporal. With this view he urged that separate governments, with large though subordinate military as well as civil powers, should be created for Munster and Connaught-with competent Presidents, who should reside in the former Province at Limerick, and in the latter, at Athlone. In accordance with this scheme-which continued to be acted uport for nearly a century-Sir Edward Fitton was appointed first President of Connaught, and Sir John Perrott, the Queen's illegitimate brother, President of Munster. Leinster and Ulster were reserved as the special charge of the Lord Deputy. About the time of O'Neil's death Sidney made an official progress through the South and West, which he describes as wofully wasted by war, both town and country. The earldom of the loyal Ormond was far from being well ordered; and the other great nobles were even less favourably reported; the Earl of Desmond could neither rule nor be ruled; the Earl of Clancarty "wanted force and credit;" the Earl of Thomond had neither wit to govern "nor grace to learn of others;" the Earl of Clanrickarde was well intentioned, but controlled wholly by his wife. Many districts had but "one-twentieth" of their ancient population; Galway was in a state of perpetual defence. Athenry had but four respectable householders left, and these presented him with the rusty keys of their once famous town, which they confessed themselves unable to defend, impoverished as they were by the extortions of their lords. All this to the eye of the able Englishman had been the result of that "cowardly policy, or lack of policy," whose sole maxims had been to play off the great lords against each other and to retard the growth of population, least "through their quiet might follow" future dangers to the English interest. His own policy was based on very different principles. He proposed to make the highest heads bow to the supremacy of the royal swordto punish with exemplary rigour every sign of insubordination, especially in the great-and, at the same time, to encourage with ample rewards, adventurers, and enterprises of all kinds. He proposed to himself precisely the part Lord Strafford acted sixty years later, and he entered on it with a will which would have won the admiration of that unbending despot. He prided himself on the number of military executions which marked his progress. "Down-they go in every corner," he writes, " and down they shall go, God willing!" He seized the Earl of Desmond in his own town of Kilmallock; he took the sons of Clanrickarde, in Connaught, and carried them prisoners to Dublin. Elizabeth became alarmed at these extreme measures, and Sidney obtained leave to explain his new policy in person to her Majesty. Accordingly in October he sailed for England, taking with him the Earl and his brother John of Desmond, who had been invited to Dublin, and were detained as prisoners of State; Hugh O'Neil, as yet known by no other title than Baron of Dungannon; the O'Conor Sligo, and other chiefs and noblemen. He seems to have carried his policy triumphantly with the Queen, and from henceforth for many a long year the dulce ways and " politic drifts" recommended by the great Cardinal Statesman of Henry VIII. were to give 66 |