Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/592

 572 RAIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 46. which 110 medicine would cure and 110 precaution would prevent. It appeared at last that either in ignorance or carelessness they had built their sleeping quarters over the burial-ground of the Abbey, and the clammy vapour had stolen into their lungs and poisoned them. As .soon as their distress was known, supplies in abundance were sent from England ; but the vices of modern administra- tion had already infected the public service, and a cargo of meal destined for the garrison of Derry went astray to Florida. No subordinate officer ventured to take the vacant command. 'Many of our best men/ Captain Vaughan wrote a few days before Christmas, ' go away because there is none to stay them ; many have died ; God comfort us ! ' 1 1567. Colonel St Loo came at last in the beginning February. o f fa e new vear> ^he pestilence for a time abated, and the spirits of the men revived. St Loo, to quicken their blood, let them at once into the enemy's country; they returned after a foray of a few days driving before them seven hundred horses and a thou- sand cattle ; 2 and the Colonel wrote to Sidney to say that with three hundred additional men ' he could so hunt the rebel that ere May was past he should not show his face in Ulster/ Harder pressed than ever, Shan O'Neil, about the time when the Queen of Scots was bringing her matri- 1 Vaughan to Winter, December 18 : Irish MSS. Rolls House. - St Loo in his despatch says 10,000. He must have added one cipher at least. St Loo to Sidney, February 8 : 7mA MSB. Rolls House. 3 Ibid.