Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/638

 618 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 62. conspiracy and attempts at force. But for the incapacity of the Irish leaders he would have driven the English out of the island ; and when the revolt of Ireland had been accomplished the train was laid for an answering movement across the Channel. A Papal emissary, whatever he might be, therefore, landing on the Irish coast was a fair object of suspicion, especially if commissioned to some permanent employ- ment ; and if born a subject of the Crown of England, was liable to prosecution for high treason. No person bearing a commission from an open enemy, and coming to a country which through that enemy's instigation was in a state of deadly civil war, could be allowed to plead innocence of unlawful intention. In September, 1583, two months before Desmond's death, there appeared suddenly in Drogheda an Irish priest named Hurley. He had been for some time resi- dent at Rome, where he had been a member of the Inquisition, and had been closely connected with the English Catholic College. He had brought with him letters of induction from Gregory XIII. as Archbishop of Cashel, and he had arrived to take possession of the See. He was making his way in disguise across the Pale, intending to go to Kilkenny, of which he was a native, and claim the protection of the Earl of Ormond. Unfor- tunately for himself he had also secret letters of com- mendation with him, undirected, but seemingly addressed to Catholic noblemen of the Pale who had given cause of distrust. He was seized, searched, and his papers found, and he was carried to Dublin before the Lords