Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/591

 1566.] DEATH OF O 1 NEIL. 571 worn out with his long sufferings he fell from his horse at the head of his people with the stroke of death upon him ; but before he died he called his kinsmen about him and prayed them to be true to England and their Queen, and Hugh O'Donnell, who succeeded to his father's command, went straight to Derry and swore allegiance to the English Crown. Tyrone was now smitten in all its borders. Magennis was the last powerful chief who still adhered to Shan's fortunes ; the last week in the year Sidney carried fire and sword through his country and left him not a hoof remaining. It was to no purpose that Shan, bewildered by the rapidity with which disasters were piling them- selves upon him, cried out now for pardon and peace, the Deputy would not answer his letter, and ' nothing was talked of but his extirpation by war only.' 1 A singular tragedy interrupted for a time the tide of English success, although the first blows had been struck by so strong a hand that Shan could not rally from them. The death of Randolph had left the garrison at Derry as in the words of one of them a headless people. 2 Food and clothing fell short, and there was no longer foresight to anticipate or authority to remedy the common wants of troops on active service. Sickness set in. By the middle of November ' the flux was reign- ing among them wonderfully.' 3 Strong men soon after were struck suddenly dead by a mysterious disorder 1 Sidney to the English Council, January 18: Irish MSS. Rolls Home. 2 Geoffrey Vaughan to Admiral Winter, December 18: MS. Ibid. 3 Wilfred to Cecil, November 15 : MS. Ibid.