READINGS IN IRISH HISTORY

New Zealand Tablet, 13 December 1917, Page 17

READINGS IN IRISH HISTORY

By “Shanachie.”

SHANE O’NEIL. The stern and self-willed Elizabeth, inheriting all the despotic traits of her family, was even more resolute and persistent, if possible, than her father had been, in reducing Ireland to absolute political and religious subjection. She deliberately adopted, and relentlessly pursued, the policy of exterminating the natives and “planting” Ireland with English colonies. She was, however, destined to experience many obstacles, and to undergo man}? mortifications, before she could attain her end. Nor did she ever attain her end completely. In spite of the submission of many of the AngloIrish and native lords to Henry, patriotism, a fierce clinging to independence, still survived in Ireland. Many of the great Irish chiefs, and many lesser chiefs, and the mass of the tribesmen were far from subdued to English rule. There were leading men, too, who were not only dissatisfied, but also were eager to lead revolts against the English and their Irish allies. Among them were the valiant young sons of O’Neil and O’Donnell. Especially active in his hostility to the recent changes was Shane O’Neil, one of the most striking figures in Irish history. Through English influence Shane, though rightful heir to the earldom of Tyrone, had been passed over by his father in favor of Matthew, his half-brother. He was bitterly angry with his father for humbling himself to the English king, and for stooping to accept from him the title of Earl of Tyrone. Shane O’Neil resolved to make a desperate attempt to shake off the English yoke. He went among the native Irish, urging them to resist the foreigners. He succeeded in drawing his father from his English allegiance. He then undertook the task of preventing the English settlers from planting themselves in Ulster, and of frightening the Ulster chiefs into submission to his rule. He tried hard to unite the Irish; while the Lord Lieutenant, strove to sow dissensions among them. O’Neil sent to

the French king for aid, but in vain. Meanwhile Sussex gathered a large force with which to crush the bold young rebel of the North but, Shane, at the head of seven thousand Irishmen, was not so easily overcome.: After a campaign from which he derived neither advantage nor glory, Susesx resolved to resort to treachery. He hired a man named Gray, for a piece of land, to assassinate Shane; but Gray failed to carry out the plan. Then Sussex sent Shane some poisoned wine, in the hope that he would drink it, and so die. This attempt also failed. At this juncture the Earl of Kildare, who was a cousin of Shane O’Neil, and was also friendly to the English power, brought about'a cessation of hostilities. Shane was persuaded to go to London and make peace with Elizabeth. He was promised liberal and generous treatment. He accordingly repaired with a retinue of Irish soldiers attired in their native costume of saffron shirts, fur. jackets, sandalled shoes, and long, curled hair, to the brilliant court of the English queen. The Irish chief was graciously received by the queen, who admired the stalwart forms of Shane and his

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♦ men. A treaty was, soon made between them. . Elizabeth acknowledged , Shane O’Neil as “Captain of Tyrone”; but she did not yet award him the earldom which the recent death of his father had left vacant. She also promised that her troops would be withdrawn from a portion of Ulster. Shane, or his side, agreed to set at liberty the chief O’Donnell, whom he held as a prisoner, and to drive out a certain settlement or Scots which had recently been made in the northeastern coast of Ireland. Shane’s promise to exterminate the Scottish settlement, in order to please the English queen, was an act of sheer treachery for the Scottish colonists had stood stoutly by him in all his contests with his English enemies. It was at their hands, finally, that his ruin came, as a retribution for his treason to them. He returned to Ulster, and there continued his work of subduing the jealous chiefs who still defied his power. He soon showed that he held lightly his pledges to Elizabeth; but so embroiled at that time was England with Scotland and the Continental powers, that Elizabeth was forced to conciliate the bold Irish chief by new concessions. She now recognised him as Earl of Tyrone, and gave him all the power that his father had enjoyed. Shane, although he refused to intrust himself again at the English court, received the queen’s envoys with lavish hospitality, and concluded with them a new treaty of peace. His power in Ulster was now greater than it had ever been. One of the first uses that he made of it was to fulfil his promise to extirpate the Scottish settlers. He let loose his fierce soldiers, upon them and caused them to be ruthlessly killed or driven out. A period of comparative tranquillity ensued, during which Shane ruled Ulster with a strong hand. lie retrained from assailing the English! of the Pale. Crops were abundantly grown in the province, and lawlessness was severely punished. Two years thus passed, during which Shane’s government was vigorous and successful. All the while, however, the English were at heart jealous of his rule, and Shane was in reality quite as hostile to them. The war broke out anew between Ulster and the Pale. Sir Henry Sydney arrived in Ireland, as Lord Deputy, 15bo. to find the conflict fiercely raging. lie at once made common cause with those Ulster chiefs who had always hated, and when they could, had always resisted Shane O’Neil. Some of Shane’s old friends and allies, moreover, notably O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell, perceiving that Shane’s cause was fast losing ground, joined his enemies. The bold Ulster chief was at last brought to bay. In his desperation, Shane turned for help and protection to the remnant of that very Scottish colony upon whom he had, to please the English queen, wreaked such savage cruelties. With a few Ulstermen who remained faithful to him, he recklessly threw himself upon the mercy of the Scots. They received him with apparent good grace, and offered him a refuge from his foes. In reality, however, the Scots, whose kindred had been slain by Shane’s murderous emissaries, had vengeance in their hearts. One day they invited Shane and his retainers to a feast. Barring the doors of the banqueting-room, they fell upon their guests; and Shane and every one of his followers were killed upon the spot. Shane O’Neil had committed many crimes. He had caused his half-brother to be murdered, and had won away the wife of his father-in-law. He caused many deeds of blood to be perpetrated. It must not be forgotten, however, that he lived in rude and lawless times. On the other hand, Shane struggled valiantly, and to the bitter end, against the subjection of Ulster to English rule. When ho had a chance to govern his province he did so wisely and well. - On his death Ulster-lay helpless before English power for there was no warrior like Shane to take his place. Turlogh O’Neil was, indeed, recognised by Elizabeth as the chief of his clan ; but Hie chiefs who had followed Shane’s fortunes became the vassals of the English crown, and Turlogh’s authority in Ulster was ... only nominal. He, too, was really a vassal of the haughty English f queen /