Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/557

 1565.] DEATH OF a NEIL. 537 be more joyous to him than to enjoy all the rest and to go thither/ It was idle to think that O'Neil could be really ' reformed ' except by force ; and ( the Irishry had taken courage through the feeble dealing with him.' If he was to go, Sidney said, he woidd not go without money. Ten or twelve thousand pounds must be sent immediately to pay the outstanding debts. He must have more and better troops ; two hundred horse and five hundred foot at least, in addition to those which were already at Dublin. He would keep his patent as President of Wales ; he would have leave to return to England at his discretion if he saw occasion ; and for his personal expenses, as he could expect nothing from the Queen, he demanded strange resource to modern eyes permission to export six thousand kerseys and clothes free of duty. 1 His requests were made excessive perhaps to ensure their refusal ; but the condition of Ireland could not be trifled with any longer, and if he hoped to escape he was disappointed. 1 In the matter of Ireland was found such an example as was not to be found again in any place ; that a sove- reign prince should be owner of such a kingdom, having no cause to fear the invasion of any foreign prince, neither having ever found the same invaded by any foreign power, neither having any power born or resident within that realm that denied or ever had directly or indirectly denied the sovereignty of the Crown to belong 1 1'ctition of Sir H. Sidney going to Ireland : Irish MSS. Rolls House,