jections of the Rebels, who in their Nature are clamorous, and could no way make their Excufe fo plaufible, as by fcandalizing the chief Governor. And I further proteft, that as I fhall in the due Place once mention an honourable Anfwer of this Lord Deputy, to Part of the chief Complaints made by the Irish against him, so I would moft willingly have inferted his full Juftification, if any fuch Memorial had come to my Hands.

Sir William Fitz-williams, being Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir John Norreys was Lord Prefident of Munster, (who made his Brother, Sir Thomas, his Vice-prefident,) and Sir Richard Bingham was Governor of Connaught. This Lord Deputy now again entring the Government of Ireland, that Kingdom was in the best Estate that it had been in of long time, not only peaceable and quiet, (fo as any the greatest Lord called by Letter or Meffenger, readily came to the State there, and none of them were known to be any way difcontented,) but also moft plentiful in Corn, Cattle, and all Manner of Victuals. But within three Months after his taking of the Sword, fome Irish informed him, that the abovenamed Spaniards, laft Year wrecked on the Coafts of Connaught and Ulfter, had left with the Inhabitants (in whose Hands they fell) great ftore of Treasure and other Riches. This the Lord Deputy (as the Irish fay) did greedily feek to get into his Hands, but furely he pretended the Queen's Service, as may appear by a Commiffion, by which he first affayed to feize the fame. This not taking any Effect, he took a Journey himself into thofe Parts, with Charge to the Queen and Country (as they faid) and that in an unseasonable Time of the Year, after Allballontide. Where altogether failing of his Purpose, he brought thence with him as Prifoners, two of the best affected Gentlemen to the State in those Parts, whom he deemed to poffefs

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the greatest Part of thofe Riches, namely, Sir Owen Mac Tooly (Father-in-law to the Earl of Tyrone, who had long enjoyed a yearly Penfion of one hundred Pound from the Queen, and had kept Donnel in a good Courfe of Oppofition againft Turlogh Lynnogh 6 Neal) and Sir John ó Dogharty, (of Ulfter Lords beft affected to the English.) Whereof they first refufing (as they object) to pay for his Enlargement, continued Prifoner till the Beginning of Sir William Ruffel's Government, who in Pity discharged him, but the old Gentleman's Heart was firft broken, fo as fhortly after he died. The fecond was released after two Years Restraint, not without paying for his Liberty, (as the Irish fay.) At this hard Ufage of those two Ulfter Gentlemen, all the great Men of the Irish, (especially in thofe northern Parts) did much repine.

In the Month of May, 1590, the 'Ann. 1590.. Earl of Tyrone came into England, where he was after an easy Manner reftrained of his Liberty, because he came without the Lord Deputy's Licence, which Fault repaired by his Submiffion, he was freed of his Reftraint. In the Month of June, the Earl agreed before the Lords, to enter Bonds with good Sureties of the Pale, to keep Peace with all his Neighbours, namely, Sir Turlogh Lynnogh (who fince the renouncing the Title of ô Neal, and yielding at the Queen's Interceffion, the Government of thofe Parts to the Earl, was Knighted;) and at his Return to put in Pledges, to be chofen by the Lord Deputy and Council, for more Affurance hereof, and of his Loyalty, as alfo the Performance of certain Articles figned by him: Provided that the Pledges fhould not lie in the Caftle, but with fome Gentlemen in the Pale, or Merchants in Dublin, and might be changed every three Months, during her Majesty's Pleasure.

The Articles were to this Effect: To continue loyal and keep the Peace:To renounce the Title

of

of ô Neal, and all intermedling with the Neighbour Lords: That Tyrone fhould be limited, and made a Shire or two, with Goals to be built for holding of Seffions: Not to fofter with any neighbour Lord, or any Gentleman out of his Country, not to give Aid to the Ifland and Irish-Scots nor take any of them: That if for his Defence he needed Forces, he fhall levy none out of his Country without fpecial Licence of the State, in which Cafe he might have English Bands. To conclude, with the Lord Deputy within ten Months, about a Compofition of Rents and Services to her Majefty for all his Country, accor ding to the above mentioned Compofition of Con naught, made in the Year 1577. Not to impofe any Exactions without Licence of the State on his Country above ordinary, except it be for neceffary Forces for his Defence, and that alfo with Licence: Not to make any Roads into Neighbour Countries, except they be within five Days after a Prey taken: That none of the Country receive any Stealths from Neighbour Countries, nor steal from them, but he to bring forth the Thieves, or drive them out of Tyrone: That he execute no Man, except it be by Commiffion from the Lord Deputy, under the broad Seal for martial Law, and that to be limited. That his Troop of so Horse in her Majefty's Pay, be kept compleat for her Service; and that befides he anfwer a Rifing out at every general hofting. That he meddle not with fpiritual Livings, nor lay any Charge on them. Not to maintain any Monks or Fryars in his Country: Not to have Intelligence with foreign Traitors. That he take no black Rent of any Neighbours. To cause the Wearing of English Apparel, and that none of his Men wear Glibbes (or long Hair :) That he anfwer for his Brother Turlogh Mac Henry, Captain of the Fews: That in Time of Neceffity he fell Victual to the Fort of Black

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Black-water. Thefe he promised to perform upon his Honour before the Lords in England, and that his Pledges to be put in, fhould lie for Performance of them, to his Power. And order was given, that all the Neighbour Lords fhould be drawn to like Conditions, that fo they might not spoil Tyrone,

In the Month of July, 1590, Con Mac Shane, (that is, the Son of Shane o Neal,) accused Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, of many Practices, to make himfelf great in the North, and that after the Wreck of the abovenamed Spaniards, he confpired with thofe which fell into his Hands, about a League with the King of Spain, to aid him against the Queen. These Articles the Earl answered before the Lords in England, denying them, and avowing the Malice of Con to proceed of her Majesty's railing him to be Earl of Tyrone, and Con's Defire to ufurp the Name of 6 Neal, as his Father had done, which Name he laboured to extinguish. He could have spoken nothing more pleafing to this State (as he well knew,) and therefore his Answer was approved: But the Event fhewed his diffembling; for within two or three Years, Sir Turlogh Lynnogh died, and then the Earl took this Title of ô Neal to himself, (which was Treason by Act of Parliament in Ireland,) ftill excufing himself fubtilly that he took it upon him, left fome other fhould ufurp it, promifing to renounce it, yet beseeching that he might not be urged to promise it upon Oath. Cambden affirms that Hugh ne-Gauelocke, Baftard to Shane & Neal, exhibited thefe Articles against the Earl, who after got him into his Hands, and caufed him to be hanged, (hardly finding any, in regard of the general Reverence born to the Blood of the ô Neals, who would do the Office of Hangman,) and that the Queen pardoned the Earl for this Fact. I doubt not but he writes upon good Ground, and I find

good

good Warrant for that I write the fame to be exhibited by Con Mac Shane, and both may be reconciled by the exhibiting of the Petition by Hugh, in the Name of Con.

Sure I am that the Earl durft never enter into Rebellion, till he had gotten the Sons of Shane Neal to be his Prifoners. Two of them, in this Time of Sir William Fitz-williams his Govern ment, were now in the Castle of Dublin, and if they had been fafely kept, they being true Heirs of Tyrone before their Father's Rebellion, would have been a strong Bridle to keep the Earl in Obedience: But they together with Philip Reighly, (a dangerous Practicer,) and with the eldest Son and Heir of old & Donnel, (both imprisoned by Sir John Perrot, in his Government,) fhortly af ter escaped out of Prifon, being all Prifoners of great Moment, whofe Enlargement gave apparent Overture to enfuing Rebellion. Neither did the Irifb fpare to affirm, that their Escape was wrought by Corruption, because one Segar, Conftable of the Caftle of Dublin by Patent, having large Offers made him to permit the Escape of 6 Reighly, and acquainting the Lord Deputy therewith, was fhortly after difplaced, and one Maplefdon, Servant to the Lord Deputy, was put in his Place, in whose Time thofe Prisoners escaped. To return to the orderly Course of my Relation.

The Earl, on the laft of Auguft, and the fame Year, 1590, did before the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland, confirm the above mentioned Articles, fent thither out of England, faithfully promifing by Word, and under his Hand, to per form them. But ftill he delayed and put off the Performance, by Letters unto both States, intreating that equal Security might be taken of Sir Turlogh Lynnogh, and in general of all the bordering Lords, (which he knew at that Time most

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difficult