Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/597

 1580.] THE DESMOND REBELLION. 577 immediately executed. The garrison of Kilmallock fell in one night with Sir John of Desmond and Sanders. They spoke English, and escaped in the dark, being mistaken for officers of Pelham. Sir John not wishing to run a second risk, communicated pri- vately with Sir Warham St Leger. He was promised pardon if he would betray the Earl, his cousin Fitz- gerald of Imokelly, and the Legate ; but before he could consent or refuse, fortune took a momentary turn, and the prospects of the insurrection brightened again. The Barons of the Pale, who had resisted the pay- ment of the cess, remained for a year in Dublin Castle. They gave way at last, but they went home in bitter humour, and the rebellion in the south was a sore temptation to them. Had they risen when Desmond rose, the resources of English power would have been severely tried. Had they risen later in a mass together they might have revenged terribly the destruction of the Geraldines. But they were disorganized by the remissness of their natural leader. The feudal chief of the English Pale, who in past generations had exercised sovereign sway there, was the head of the elder branch of the Fitzgeralds, the Earl of Kildare. The present Lord was as Irish at heart and as true a Catholic as his forefathers, but he lacked the vigour of his race, and was afraid to risk his skin. Sanders had sent letters round the Anglo-Irish houses, and the younger gener- ation of Plunkets, Dillons, Aylmers, Brabazons, and Nu gents, most of whom had been educated at Louvain, was enthusiastically eager to join him. Their fathers' VOL. X. 3 ?