Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/630

 6 1 o REIGN OF ELIZA BE TH. [CH. 62. fate would not allow him to save himself. Never, he said, would he stoop to a Butler, ' whose blood he would drink like milk but for the English churles.' l In the vanity of chieftainship he spoke out stoutly from his mountain stronghold, and imagined that he could still treat with Elizabeth as an independent prince. Ad- dressing himself no more to Ormond, he wrote in regal style to Sir Warham St Leger : 'Where I understand that the Earl of Ormond giveth forth that I should submit meself before him as attorney to her Majesty, you may be sure he doth report more thereof than I have sent him either by word or writing. But this I have offered in hope to prove the unreasonable wrongs and injuries done to me by her Highness' s officers in this realm from time to time, un- guilty in me behalf as God knoweth. I am contented upon these conditions, so as me country, castles, posses- sions, and lands, with me son, might be put and left in the hands and quiet possession of me council and fol- lowers, and also me religion and conscience not barred With a pardon, protection, and passport for me own body to pass and repass, I would have gone before her Majesty to try all those causes just and true on me part, as still I do allege if I might be heard or have indiffer- ency, and likewise hoping T might have more justice, favour, and grace at her Majesty's hands when I am before herself than here at the hands of such her cruel officers as have me wrongfully proclaimed. And so 1 Gold to Burghley, April 13 : MS8. Ireland.