Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/542

 522 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 62. turn for a nominal allegiance. The same or hardly different conditions were offered to and accepted by Tirlogh Lenogh. But it was the curse of the English rule that it never could adhere consistently to any definite principle. It threatened, and failed to execute its threats. It fell back on conciliation, yet immedi- ately, by some injustice or cruelty, made reliance on its good faith impossible. Sir Brian MacPhelim O'JSTeil was owner, by the Irish law of inheritance, of the grant which Essex had re- ceived from the Crown. The attempt to deprive him had been relinquished. He had surrendered his lands, and the Queen, at Essex's own intercession, had rein- stated him as tenant under the Crown. It seems how- ever as if Essex had his eye still upon the property. Heport said that during the expedition against Des- mond, Sir Brian had held a suspicious conference with Tirlogh Lenogh and the Scots of Antrim. It was as- sumed that he was again playing false, and Essex de- termined to punish him. He returned to Clandeboy, as if on a friendly visit. Sir Brian and Lady O'Neil received him with all hospitality. The Irish annalists say that they gave him a banquet ; he admitted himself that they made him welcome, and that they accompanied him afterwards to the Castle of Belfast. Had Sir Brian meditated foul play, he would scarcely have ven- tured into an English fortress, still less would he have selected such a place for a crime which he could have committed with infinitely more facility in his own coun- try. Essex however was satisfied that he intended