" From this time the beam of
Essex's favour was obscured, the issue terminating in his death and
disgrace. In the meantime, Tyrone had thought proper to break the trace,
"and joining with O'Donnel and others, overran almost the whole kingdom.
He pretended to be the champion of the Catholic faith, and openly
exulted in the present of a phoenix plume, which Clement VIII., in order
to encourage him in the prosecution of so good a cause, had consecrated,
and conferred upon him."[24] Essex being recalled, the Queen appointed
Mountjoy as lord-deputy. "He found the island in a desperate condition;
but being a man of capacity and vigour, he immediately advanced against
Tyrone in Ulster. He penetrated into the heart of that country, the
chief seat of the rebels. He fortified Derry and Mount Norris. He chased
them from the field, and obliged them again to shelter in woods and
morasses; and by these promising enterprises he gave new life to the
Queen's authority throughout the island."
Tyrone, however, still boasted that he was certain of receiving the
promised aid from Spain; "and everything was put in condition for
resisting the Spanish invasion, which was daily expected.
Pages:
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473