Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/143

 1S 6i.j SHAN a NEIL. 123 not ready ; at another he had 110 money, and pressed to have his loan of the three thousand pounds sent up for him into Tyrone ; and to this last request Fitzwilliam would give no sort of encouragement, ' being/ as he said, ' for his own part unwilling to lend Shan five shillings on his bond, and being certain that he would no sooner have received the money than he would laugh at them all.' The Government however cared little whether he submitted or stayed away. As yet they had not been forced to recognize Shan's ability, and the troops who were to punish him were on their way. Kildare, whom Elizabeth most feared, had gone to London on her first invitation. As long as Kildare was loyal Desmond would remain quiet ; and no serious rebellion was con- sidered any longer possible. O'Donnell was prepared to join the English army on its advance into Ulster ; and the Scots, notwithstanding their predilection for Mary Stuart, were expected to act as Argyle and as his sister ' should direct.' But Shan had prepared a master-stroke which dis- concerted this last arrangement. Though his suit found no favour with the Earl of Argyle, he had contrived to ingratiate himself with 'the Countess.' The Scots were chiefly anxious to secure their settlements in Antrim and Down ; and Shan was a more useful ally for them than Elizabeth or the feeble Callogh. The lady from whom such high hopes had been formed cared less for Protestantism than for the impassioned speeches of a lover ; and while Queen Mary's gown and kirtle were