ment. The inhabitants of the Pale assembled, deliberated, and at length resolved to entrust their cause to three agents, eminent for their knowledge of the laws, and zealous opposers of the present tax. They were sent into England with letters to the queen and to the English council, signed by the lords Baltinglass, Delvin, Hoath, Trimbleston, Bellew, Nangle, some of the families of Plunket and Nugent, with other distinguished inhabitants of the counties of Meath and Dublin, in the names of all the subjects of the English Pale. They complained of the grievance they sustained by the tax, and that they had been denied redress by the lord deputy; they urged the illegality and oppressive burden of the tax, and the various abuses committed in the exaction of it."* But this genuine daughter of Henry resolved on maintaining prerogative. The Irish agents were committed to the Fleet, as contumacious opposers of the royal authority. The queen's letters to Sir Sydney and the Irish council, reprimanded them for not having instantly committed and punished these refractory subjects, who durst deny the legality of the composition; commanding, that all, who superscribed the present application to the throne, should be summoned before them; and if they should persist in their opposition, should be committed to close imprisonment; that all her servants and counsellors, learned in the law, who had neglected to maintain her prerogative, * Leland, Vol. II. Book IV. c. ii. p. 263. should be removed from their offices. All these severities proved insufficient to operate on the lords and gentlemen of the Pale. "They appeared before the council, and there, peremptorily adhering to their former declarations, and denying the legality of any tax not regularly established in parliament, were committed to close durance in the castle of Dublin. Their agents in England on a second examination appeared equally determined; and therefore were removed from the Fleet to the Tower; which implied that their offence was considered as of a treasonable nature. The whole body of Irish subjects were alarmed and confounded at this rigour, which they imputed to the practices of Sydney, and whom of consequence they loaded with the most virulent invectives. Their clamours were so violent, as even to startle the arbitrary queen and her obsequious counsellors. They dreaded the consequence of a general discontent in a country which harboured so many secret enemies to government, and therefore closed their imperious denunciations of vengeance by accepting an equivocal submission from the Irish agents, who acknowledged that the manner of their application had been undutiful, but disavowed all intention of impeaching the queen's just prerogative. They gave security to render themselves before the lord deputy, and were remitted to Ireland. Here they repeated their submission, and were dismissed: some of the confined lords and gentlemen regained their liberty by a like submission. Nor were the more spirited and obstinate broken by any further severity. Sydney was instructed to bring this violent and dangerous dispute to some speedy accommodation:* a composition for purveyance was by the deputy and council, with the concurrence of the lords and gentlemen of the Pale, settled for seven years; and the malecontents were discharged. All the rage of indignation and resentment fell on the lord deputy. He was accused of wantonly alienating the affections of the Irish subjects; of ruling without temper, policy, or discretion; of lavishing the revenue; of discouraging and despising the well-affected; of carelessly or corruptly pardoning the most notorious rebels and offenders. Nor was Sydney insensible to the sting of popular odium. He grew weary of a government, in which every act of administration was strictly scrutinized, and severely interpreted; and made pressing instances to the queen, that she would be pleased to recal him."† History is the best refutation of those ignorant bigots, who assert, without authority or reason, that papists are unfit for freedom. The spirited defence of their constitutional rights, and opposition to arbitrary government, made at sundry times, as well as the present, has been at no time equalled by the protestant Pale that succeeded it The conclusion of this dispute is only to be *This appears from a letter written by the English council to the lords justices of Ireland, dated April 30, 1584. + Leland, Vol. II. Book IV. c. ii. p. 265. explained by the apprehension of foreign enemies. The assistance, given by Elizabeth to the revolted Netherlands, naturally pointed out Ireland to Philip, as a proper scene for retaliation. At Rome, every fugitive, who could suggest any scheme of annoying the persecutress of the catholic faith, was favourably received. Of this sort was an English adventurer, Thomas Stukely, whose enterprising genius had raised him to some notice in Ireland, and even gained him the attention of deputy Sydney. He arrived at Rome, the center of conspiracy against Elizabeth, was well received by the Irish ecclesiastics, and introduced to the pope, as a distinguished friend to the catholic cause. With pope Pius V. his project did not succeed, but his successor, Gregory XIII. listened more attentively to his plans, artfully hinting the facility with which his nephew, Jacomo Boncompagno, might be established king of Ireland. The ambitious old man received the overture with delight, practised with Spain, amused Philip with the hope of burning the English fleet, by the address and valor of Stukely, and of expelling Elizabeth from all her dominions, by first beginning with the invasion of Ireland. Eight hundred Italians were raised for this expedition, commanded by Stukely, in the pay of Philip. Another Irish exile meditated a descent on his country. FitzMaurice, after his liberation from prison, subsequent to his reduction by Perrot, retired to the continent, thirsting for revenge. His sollicitations at the court of France, after two years expectations and disappointment, proving fruitless, he next applied to Spain, where he was received with more attention. Philip sent him to the pope; Gregory was readily prevailed on by Saunders the famous ecclesiastic, and Allen, an Irish priest, to favour his design of an invasion. A bull was drawn up addressed to the prelates, princes, nobles, and people of Ireland, exhorting them to assist Fitz-Maurice for the recovery of their liberty, and the defence of the holy church; and promising to all his adherents the same spiritual indulgences granted to those who fought against the Turks: a banner was solemnly consecrated and delivered to this champion of the faith and as Saunders and Allen both consented to attend Fitz-Maurice into Ireland, the former was invested with the dignity of legate. The conspirators thus strengthened by the authority and benediction of the holy father, and furnished with some money, were sent to king Philip, who was to supply the forces necessary for their enterprize." Elizabeth, informed of these designs, prepared forces for the Irish service, by sea and by land. Her ships were stationed to guard the Irish coast, and Sydney had orders to quell by lenity and conciliation every remains of commotion in Ireland. Stukely embarked at Civita Vecchia, and arrived at the mouth of the Tagus, when Don Sebastian was invited to Africa by Mahomet, son of Abdalla, king of Fez. On explain * Leland, Vol. II. B. IV. c. ii. p. 268. VOL. I. |