THE STORY OF IRELAND

New Zealand Tablet, 20 November 1919, Page 7

THE STORY OF IRELAND

(By A. M. Sullivan.)

CHAPTER XXXIX.— LORD DEPUTY PERROT -PLANNED A RIGHT CUNNING EXPEDITION, ... _AND STOLE AWAY THE YOUTHFUL PRINCE OF TYRCONNELL. HOW, IN THE DUNGEONS OF DUBLIN CASTLE, THE BOY CHIEF LEARNED HIS DUTY TOWARDS ENGLAND AND HOW HE s:> AT LENGTH ESCAPED AND COMMENCED DIS--'.'K CHARGING THAT DUTY. : - -Meanwhile, years passed by, and another Hugh had begun to rise above the northern horizon, amidst signs and perturbations boding no good to the Crown and Government of the Pale. This was Hugh O'Donnell"Hugh Roe," or "Red Hugh"— of the reigning chief of Tyrconnell. Young O'Donnell, who was at this time "a fiery stripling of 15, was already known throughout the five provinces of Ireland, not only 'by the report of his beauty, his agility, and his noble deeds,' but as a sworn foe to the Saxons of the Pale"; and the mere thought of the possibility of two Hughs— of Tyrone and Hugh, of Tyrconnell—ever forming a combination, sufficed to fill Dublin Castle with dismay. For already, indeed, Hugh O'Neill's "loyalty" was beginning to bo considered rather unsteady. To be sure, as yet no man durst whisper a word against him in the Queen's.hearing; ami he was still ready at call to do the Queen's fighting against southern Geraldine, O'Brien, or Mac Caura. But the astute in these matters noted that he was unpleasantly neighborly and friendly with the northern chiefs and tanists; that, so far from maintaining suitable ill-will towards the reigning O'Neill (whom the Queen meant him some day to overthrow), Hugh had actually treated him with respect and obedience. Moreover, "the English knew," says the chronicler of Hugh Roe, "that it was Judith, the daughter of O'Donnell, and sister of the before-mentioned Hugh Roe, that was the spouse and best beloved of the Earl O'Neill." "Those six companies of troops also," says Mr. Mitchel, "that he kept on foot (in the Queen's name, but for his own behoof) began to be suspicious in the eyes of the State; for it is much feared that he changes the men so soon as they thoroughly learn the use of arms, replacing them by others, all of his own clansmen, whom he diligently drills and reviews for some unknown service. And the lead he importssurely the roofing of that house of Dungannon will .not need all these shiploads of leadlead enough to sheet ObsSshane, or clothe the sides of Cairnocher. And, indeed, a rumor does reach the Deputy in Dublin, that there goes on at Dungannon an incredible casting of bullets. No wonder that the eyes of the English Government began to turn anxiously to the north." "And if this princely Red Hugh should live to take the leading of his sept—and if the two potent chieftains of the north should forget their ancient feud, and unite for the cause of Ireland," proceeds Mr. Mitchel, "then, indeed, not only this settlement of the Ulster 'counties' must be adjourned, one knows not how long; biit the Pale itself or the Castle of Dublin might hardly protect her Majesty's officers. These were contingencies which any prudent agent of the Queen of England must speedily take order to prevent; and we are now to see Perrot's device for that end.

"Near Rathmullan, on the western shore of Lough Swilly, looking towards the mountains of Innishowen, stood a monastery of Carmelites and a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the most famous place of devotion in Tyrconnell, whither all the clan Council, both chiefs and people, made resort at certain seasons to pay their devotions. Here the young Red Hugh, with Mac Swyne of the battle-axes, O'Gallagher of Ballyshannon, and some other chiefs, were in the summer of 1587 sojourning a short time in that part to pay their vows of religion ; but not without stag-hounds and implements of chase, having views upon the red deer of Fan ad and Innishowen. One day, while "the prince was here, a swift-sailing merchant ship doubled tho promontory of Dunaff, stood up the lough, and cast anchor opposite Rathmullan; -a 'bark, blackhatched, deceptive,' bearing tho flag of England, and offering for sale, as a peaceful trader, her cargo of'Spanish wine. And surely no more courteous merchant than the master of that ship had visited the north for many a year. He invited the people very hospitably on board, /solicited them, whether purchasers or not,: to partake of his good cheer, entertained them with music and wine, and so gained very speedily good-will of all Fanad. Red Hugh and his companions soon heard of .the obliging merchant and his rare .wines. They visited the ship, where they were ; received ; all respect, and indeed, with unfeigned joy; descended into the ; cabin, and with connoisseur discrimination tried and tasted, and finally drank too deeply and at last when they would come on deck and return to

the shore, they j found themselves secured under hatches; their weapons had been f removed; night had • fallenjfithey were prisoners to those traitor Saxons. Morning dawned, and they looked anxiously towards the shore; but, ah where is Rathmullan and the :Carmelite" church? And what wild coast is this? Past Malin and the cliffs of Innishowen; past Benmore, and southward to the shores of Antrim and the mountains of Mourne flew that ; illomened bark, and never dropped anchor till she lay under the towers of Dublin. The treacherous Perrot joyfully received his prize, and 'exulted,' says an historian, 'in the easiness and success with which he had procured hostages for the peaceable submission of O'Donnell.' "" And the prince of Tyrconnell was thrown into 'a strong stone castle,' and kept in heavy irons three years and three months, 'meditating,' says the chronicle, 'on the feeble and impotent condition of his friends and relations, -of his princes and supreme chiefs, of his nobles and clergy, his poets and professors.' " —(Mitchel's Life of Hugh O'Neill.) (To be continued.) *