Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 49.djvu/484

 Geoffrey Fenton, and other officers, he made another expedition thither. Ballinacor was fortified and garrisoned, and a number of Fiagh's followers slain; but Fiagh himself evaded capture, and on the 24th Russell again returned to Dublin. Early in April Walter Reagh was captured and hanged, and another effort made to capture Fiagh. Fixing his headquarters at Money, half way between Tullow and Shillelagh, on the borders of Carlow, the deputy made frequent incursions into the glens of Wicklow, combining the business of rebel-hunting with the more peaceful recreation of shooting and fishing. A number of Fiagh's relations, including his wife Rose, fell into his hands, but Fiagh himself, though he had one or two hairbreadth escapes, contrived to elude his pursuers. On 4 May Norris landed at Waterford. Russell, though resenting his appointment, received him with courtesy, and even with hospitality. Meanwhile affairs in the north had assumed a more threatening aspect. A general hosting was proclaimed for 12 June, and on the 13th Norris set out for Newry, whither he was followed five days later by Russell. On the 23rd Tyrone, O'Donnell, Maguire, and their associates were proclaimed traitors in English and Irish, and a few days afterwards the army moved to Armagh, which Russell set to work to fortify, at the same time relieving Monaghan. Subsequently a council of war was held at Dundalk, and on 16 July Russell, in accordance with his instructions, returned to Dublin, leaving the army in the north to the sole command of Norris. So far they had managed to agree fairly well; but Norris was annoyed at having to play a subordinate part, and as the summer wore to a close his relations with Russell grew more and more strained. Early in September he suffered a slight repulse by Tyrone, and Russell at once moved to Kells, partly to support him, partly to watch the situation in Connaught, where Sir Richard Bingham [q. v.] was being hard pressed by O'Donnell and the Burkes. But the home government having, at Norris's suggestion, authorised a compromise, he returned to Dublin, leaving Norris to come to terms with Tyrone, which he eventually did on 2 Oct.

Early next month Fiagh Mac Hugh came to Dublin to beg for pardon, and Russell, having referred his case to the privy council, immediately set out for Connaught. He was received in state at Galway, but was everywhere met with complaints against Bingham, whose harsh government was said to be the principal cause of disorder. At Athlone he sat in council to consider these complaints and, having promised to institute an inquiry into their grievances, a peace was patched up with the Burkes, and Russell returned to Dublin shortly before Christmas. Owing to O'Donnell's intrigues the pacification was of short duration, and Russell was forced to confess that he had gone but ‘on a sleeveless errand.’ Early in March 1596 the Burkes, reinforced by a body of Scottish mercenaries, crossed the Shannon and laid waste Mac Coghlan's country, but were immediately attacked and put to flight by the deputy. In consequence of Norris's representations, Bingham was removed, greatly to the annoyance of Russell and all those who were in favour of strong measures. The fact that Tyrone delayed several weeks before he ‘took out’ his pardon naturally raised suspicions as to his sincerity, and when he eventually did so, about the middle of July, Russell insisted that ‘the dangers of the realm were in no way diminished … but rather increased by a deeper subtlety dissembled with a show of duty and good meaning when he saw he could do no other.’ Norris protested that the deputy was doing all in his power to nullify his efforts at a settlement. It was manifest that the system of dual government was working inconceivable mischief, and both Russell and Norris begged to be recalled. Matters grew worse when the deputy, in consequence of a fresh rising on the part of Fiagh Mac Hugh O'Byrne in September, determined to make a vigorous effort to capture him. This, Norris declared, was simply to endanger the safety of the whole kingdom; but the deputy held resolutely to his purpose. Day after day during the entire winter and into the following spring, despite the remonstrances of Norris and the open threats of Tyrone, he scoured the mountains and glens of Wicklow. His perseverance was at last rewarded on 8 May 1597 by the capture and death of Fiagh. On his way back to Dublin ‘the people of the country met him with great joy and gladness, and, as their manner is, bestowed many blessings on him for performing so good a deed and delivering them from their long oppressions.’ But Fiagh's death did not affect the situation.

In anticipation of his recall Russell had already, in March, removed from the Castle and put his train on board wages (, Sidney Papers, ii. 25). His successor, Thomas, lord Burgh, arrived on 15 May, and on 26 May he quitted Ireland. On his return there was some talk of making him governor of Berwick, and, after lord Burgh's death, he and Sir Robert Sidney were suggested for the vacant post; but he stood ‘stiffly not to go’ unless he might have it on as good terms as Lord Burgh