Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/157

 1562.] SHAN a NEIL. 137 Majesty and your laws, for the which I have required and obtained your Majesty 's pardon. And for that I most humbly from the bottom of my heart thank your Majesty, and still do with all humbleness require the continuance of the same ; and I faithfully promise here before Almighty God and your Majesty, and in presence of all these your nobles, that I intend by God's grace to live hereafter in the obedience of your Majesty as a sub- ject of your land of Ireland. ' And because this my speech being Irish is not well understanded, I have caused this my submission to be written in English and Irish, and thereto have set my hand and seal ; and to these gentlemen my kinsmen and friends I most humbly beseech your Majesty to be mer- ciful and gracious lady.' 1 To the hearers the sound of the words was as the howling of a dog. 2 The form which Shan was made to say that he had himself caused to be written, had been drawn for him by Cecil ; and the gesture of the culprit was less humble than his language ; the English cour- tiers devised ' a style ' for him, as the interpretation of his bearing, ' O'Neil the Great, cousin to St Patrick, friend to the Queen of England, enemy to all the world besides.' 3 The submission being disposed of, the next object was to turn the visit to account. Shan discovered that not- 1 Irish MSS. Rolls House. 2 ' He confessed his crime and rebellion with howling.' CAMDEN. So Hotspur says ' I had rather hear Lady my brach howl in Irish.' 3 CAMPION.