Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/535

 $'5 CHAPTER LXII. THE DESMOND REBELLION. THE administration of Ireland from Elizabeth's ac- cession to the period at which it was to be the scene of a sanguinary religious rebellion, presents, year after year, a series of recurring features severity ineffectually sustained, and attempts at conciliation, which were a fresh temptation to revolt. In Ireland, as elsewhere, the Queen's personal desire was for moderation and forbear- ance, but a ruling power can be gentle only when it is strong. The English were a conquering race, and were therefore objects everywhere of suspicion and dis- like. They had purchased in the past an imperfect toleration by adopting the habits of the conquered, but the Reformation had introduced new elements of ani- mosity. The Parliament of the Pale had changed the religion of the country. As the circle widened over which English law was extended, an alien and intrusive creed went along with it, and the cause of Irish inde- pendence became sanctified by the obligations of piety. The native opposition grew more combined and deter- mined ; while the false economy of the Quesn maintained