of his family had hastened, he openly assumed the leading of his powerful sept, in defiance of the pretensions of Matthew's issue; and, contenting himself with declining any direct hostilities against English government, asserted his superiority over all the neighbouring clans, in a most imperious manner. He gained, by his rude and boisterous valour, the esteem of all his followers, who collected in great numbers round a chieftain, possessing all the gross vices of barbarous life, and an extravagance of family pride, and affecting a patriotic abhorrence of English refinement. He indulged, and, by his examples encouraged them in excess, riot and dissipation. An expedition of this boisterous chieftain is recorded by the Irish annalists more circumstantially than usual; and, as it gives a picture of the manners of their countrymen at this period, as well as a specimen of their native history, we shall lay their narrative before our readers.

f “ Domestic dissension had, for some time, raged in the leading family of Tirconnel. The chieftain of this district, worn out with age, and oppressed by the unnatural cruelty of his son Calvagh, who had detained him two years in prison, could but ill support the ho nours of his family, or the independence of his tribe. Hugh, his other son, to revenge these quarrels, which had raged between the brothers, fled with his partisans to O'Niall, pressed him to seize the favorable moment of forcing Tirconnel to submit to his superior authority, and offered to assist him in the invasion of his own country, and the destruction of his own family. John was readily persuaded to an expedition so suited to his passions; summoned his vassals and auxiliaries, so as to exhaust all Tyrone, and the whole adjoining tract of Argial of their military inhabitants; and entering Tirconnel, pitched his camp between two rivers, displaying his great force, and denouncing vengeance against all his opposers. The first alarm of this invasion determined the inhabitants of Tirconnel to secret their valuable effects, and drive their flocks and herds

into the more inaccessible quarters of their country; a precaution which the haughty chieftain affected to treat with contempt and scorn. "Let them drive our prey into the Midst of Leinster, or let them hide it in the south," cried O'Niall: "we shall pursue it to the remotest quarter of the island. No power shall protect our enemies; or stop the progress of the prince and sovereign of Ulster!"

"Calvagh, on whom the defence of his country had devolved, found his forces utterly unequal to a contest with this arrogant invader: and as the common danger had reconciled the father and the son, he consulted the old chieftain on the conduct he was to pursue, and the measures to be taken in this dangerous emergency. "Do not," said the father, attempt with our inferior numbers to meet the enemy in the field. O'Niall is advancing on us, and in this new situation his camp bears a formidable aspect: but what though it be provided with stores of every kind; what though every necessary and every luxury is brought thither, and exposed to sale, as in a regular market, yet the state and magnificence of the enemy may be greater than his precaution. Attack his camp by night; one sudden and vigorous effort may disperse our enemies at once." This advice was applauded, and two gallant youths freely offered to undertake the dangerous office of entering the camp at close of day, in order to spy out the circumstances and situation of the enemy. They passed his guards, mixed with his tumultuous soldiers, traversed the camp and made all their observations unheeded.

“An unusual blaze of large tapers directed them to the general's pavilion, where John O'Niall lay surrounded by his body guards, consisting of sixty Irish vassals bearing the battle-axe, and as many mercenary Scots, armed with their broad cutting swords and targets. And so little were the youths suspected, that when supper was brought to these guards, they invited them to partake of their repast. To accept

this invitation was to form a friendship with these men, not to be violated; which should prevent them from giving any intelligence, or, if discovered, would have rendered their intelligence suspected. They therefore declined the courtesy; and flying to their companions, related what they had seen and heard, and enflamed them with impatience to surprise the enemy. Even the old O'Donnel mounted his horse and offered to lead his countrymen to the attack: they were formed by Calvagh into one compact body, and, under the conduct of their spies, burst into the camp at midnight, bearing down their opponents, and spreading terror and confusion. John O'Niall, to whose tent the enemy was pressing forward with dreadful slaughter, startled at the tumult, found himself abandoned by his guards, and fled precipitately: two youths only accompanied him, sons of the revolted Hugh O'Donnel; and swimming over rivers, and traversing unknown ways, with difficulty gained a place of safety. The whole army of Tirowen (Tyrone) dispersed and left the victors to enjoy the plunder of the camp."

In this local war the English government had not sufficient power or authority to interpose: Sussex had been recalled for some time into England; and sir Henry Sidney, who administered the government in his absence, first in conjunction with the archbishop of Dublin, and afterwards singly, found sufficient employment in regulating the pale. The clergy held their synods and formed their constitutions for the complete establishment of the old rites and ceremonies. The ornaments of several of their churches, which had been conveyed away, were recovered and replaced. The priory of Kilmainham was, in exception to the general regulation of ecclesiastical affairs, restored to the church; and several Irish chieftains of inferior note were reconciled to a government so zealously attached to the church of Rome, and consented to swear allegiance.

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The earl of Sussex on his return, was called into Thomond to oppose the violent attacks, of Daniel O'Brian. In the contest. which, this chieftain hadraised in support of his own pre-eminence, his brother, the baron of Ibracken, had been killed; and a vigorous interposition of the lord deputy was required to prevent his dispossessing the son of this baron and seizing the sovereignty of Thomond. The sudden appearance of the earl of Sussex dispersed his rude followers, and terrified and restrained O'Brian for a time. His nephew was declared earl of Thomond, and invested with the lands annexed to this title. He consented to hold them as an English subject, swore allegiance to the king and queen, together with all his freeholders, in the most solemn form, and renounced the name of O'Brian to the utter mortification of his Irish adherents. It is stated by their annalists that he accepted the title of earl, but gave up the dignity of Dalcais, to the astonishment and indignation of all the descendants of Heber, Heremon and Ith.

The Scottish adventurers, in the mean time, as the decision of the war in Tirconnel left them no military employment in Ulster, entered into the service of some turbulent chieftains of the west; but, before they could raise any considerable disorders, were suddenly attacked by the earl of Clanricard, who defeated and pursued these troublesome invaders to the almost total destruction of their body and the lord deputy, on his return from Munster was enabled to revenge their outrages by a descent upon the Scottish, islands.

During this reign Ireland was, as usual, much troubled with intestine commotions. One of these was productive of an act of barbarity in the English towards the natives, shocking to humanity. The sept of the Cavenaghs had spread themselves through the southern parts of the county of Dublin, where they committed hostilities. These wretched people were attacked by the citizens of Dublin, and many of them killed. The rest, to the number of a hundred and

forty, shut themselves up in Powerscourt fortress. They were compelled to surrender; and being carried to Dublin, seventy-four of them were put to death by the hands of the common executioner.

On the 17th of November, 1558, after a reign of six sanguinary years, queen Mary died, to the unspeakable joy of those who professed the Protestant religion.

CHAPTER II.

Accession of Elizabeth to the throne.-Sussex continued deputy-State of Ireland at this period.Turbulence of John O'Niall-Sir Henry Sidney desires a conference with him.-O'Niall requests Sidney to pay him a visit.-Justifies his character. -Force of his arguments.-Sussex receives the Queen's instructions for establishing the reformed worship.-A Parliament called.-Statutes enacted against the Roman Catholic religion.-Warm opposition of several members.-Dissolution of Parliament.-Universal discontents.-New excesses of John ONiall-Sussex marches against him.-A treaty concluded between them.-Ö'Niall swears allegiance.-Renews it in the presence of the Queen. -Favorably received by Elizabeth.-His conduct suspected by the Deputy-Sussex recalled and Arnold appointed to succeed him.-Superseded and Sir Henry Sidney appointed Viceroy-Restless turbulence of O'Niall. His vanity.-Proposes a conference with the Lord Deputy.-Refuses to attend.-His sudden and violent excursions.-Is resolved to maintain the dignity of his ancestors. -Sidney's_scheme for reducing him.-O'Niall's distress.-Repulsed and deserted by his followers.

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