Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/177

 1563.] SHAN a NEIL. 157 facts are not denied. Elizabeth, on the receipt of O'NeiTs complaint, directed Sir Thomas Cusak to look into the evidence most scrupulously ; she begged Shan to produce every proof which he could obtain for the detection 'both of the party himself and of all others that were any wise thereto consenting ; to the intent none might escape that were parties thereunto of what condition soever the same should be.' ' We have given commandment/ she wrote October. to Sussex, ' to show you how much it grieveth us to think that any such horrible attempt should be used as is alleged by Shan O'Neil to have been at- tempted by Thomas Smith to kill him by poison ; we doubt not but you have, as reason is, committed the said Smith to prison, and proceeded to the just trial thereof; for it behoveth us for all good and honourable respects to have the fault severely punished, and so we will and charge you to do.' l ' We assure you/ she wrote to Cusak, ' the indigna- tion which we conceive of this fact, being told with some probability by you, together with certain other causes of suspicion which O'Neil hath gathered, hath wrought no small effect in us to incline us to bear with divers things unorder ly passed, and to trust to that which you have on his behalf promised hereafter in time to come.' 2 It is in human nature to feel deeper indignation at a crime which has been detected and exposed than at guilt equally great of which the knowledge is confined 1 The Queen to Sussex, October 15 : Irish MSS. 8 The Queen to Sir Thomas Cusak Irish MSS.