with a cargo of Spanish wine, to decoy the old chief and his son on board, and then put to sea, and convey them to Dublin. The mer-chant, accordingly, announced himself as having a cargo of the most delicious Spanish wines, and invited the neighbouring gentry to come and purchase them. O'Donnell and his son paid him a visit, and invited him to their castle, which he declined, but offered them the treat of a Spanish feast on board his ship. Young O'Donnell accepted of the invitation, was sumptuously entertained, and made the freest use of the Spanish wines, which produced the desired effect. He became intoxicated, the hatches were softly closed, he was taken off and delivered to the lord-deputy, and confined in the castle of Dublin, from whence he contrived to escape with some fellow-prisoners, letting himself down from a window by ropes. After great suffering and fatigue, one of his companions applied to a neighbouring chief of the name of O'Toole, for protection for the only son of O'Donnell of Donegal. O'Toole seized and delivered him to his enemies, and he was again placed in confinement, and loaded with chains. Two years after, he contrived to escape a second time, with Henry and Arthur O'Nial, sons of Shane O'Nial, who were confined in the same prison. In the confusion and precipitation of their flight, they lost Henry O'Nial, and in vain sought to recover him. The night became dreary and terrible, the wind high, and the snow incessant, and falling thickly upon them. They advanced towards the O'Byrnes, then at war with the queen. Arthur O'Nial's strength failed him; he became quite exhausted, and unable to proceed. O'Donnell striped off his own coat for a covering, and both lay down, sending their guide to Feagh Mac Hugh O'Byrne, of Glen Malure, near Glendalagh, to inform him of their distressing situation. Both were insensible, and covered with snow, when the assistance came. had expired, and O'Donnell was with difficulty recovered, and conveyed on men's backs to Glen Malure, where they were hailed with thrilling shouts of exultation. O'Nial O'Donnell soon after set out for his own country. The lord-deputy posted guards on the fords of the river Liffey, but Fiagh escorted him to a ford near the city, where it was not expected he would venture; he passed in safety, and, after a laborious and difficult journey, he was joyfully received by the brave Hugh M'Guire, and conducted by water to his father's castle at Ballyshannon. The old chieftain resigned the chieftainry of Tirconnell to his restored son, and the O'Nials were united with him in their common cause against their common enemies.* * Queen Elizabeth's last war with the Irish Roman Catholics commenced in the year 1588, and, from its distinguished leader, has been named the Tyrone war. O'Nial, earl of Tyrone, was the grandson of Con O'Nial, who had been created earl of Tyrone by Henry VIII., and was himself created earl of Tyrone by Elizabeth, with whom he was a favourite. The queen was now at war with Philip II. of Spain, and he only awaited a favourable opportunity to declare war against the English. Some Spaniards were cast on the coast of Ulster, whose wretched distress attracted O'Nial, who relieved them, not reflecting that they were, constructively, the queen's enemies; for this grave offence he was summoned, and attended before her majesty, pleaded his own cause with ability and success, and returned from England in the full enjoyment of her favour and confi * Dr. O'Conor's "Memoirs," already mentioned. dence. O'Rorke, of Breffney, was not so fortunate. He had given similar relief to some poor shipwrecked Spaniards on the coast of Sligo, and Sir R. Bingham, to punish him for such indiscreet humanity, led a strong force into his territories. O'Rorke fled to Scotland, and sought protection from James VI., who he believed was at war with Elizabeth, and who had secretly aided the Irish in their wars; but having made peace with her, he treacherously seized O'Rorke, and sent him in chains to her majesty, who ordered him to be hanged, without the formality of a trial. The Irish Roman Catholic party in Ulster was now rapidly gaining strength. O'Donnell determined on resisting the enemies of his country, with all his power and influence. M'Guire, of Fermanagh, took up arms with the same laudable determination. William Gilbert was sent with a strong force against them, and they fought a brisk engagement, in which Gilbert was killed, and his troops put to flight. The earl of Tyrone, who was now acting with consummate duplicity, was placed in some difficulty; he could neither declare against the queen nor remain neutral. He was constrained by circumstances to join her army, and was sent with Marshal Bagnal, and a strong force, against M'Guire, who, though he had received a small reinforcement from O'Donnell, was still too weak to encounter so powerful an enemy, and had no artillery. Tyrone crossed the Erne with his cavalry, broke the ranks of M-Guire's infantry, and was wounded in the thigh, and compelled to recross the river. O'Donnell now arrived with reinforcements, and wished to attack the enemy, but was restrained by a secret communication from Tyrone, who retired to Dungannon to have his wounds dressed. In the mean time Sir R. Bingham besieged Enniskillen, and obtained possession of the town through the treachery of one M'Cain, who opened the gates for his admission, and he alone was spared. Bingham, with his accustomed cruelty, put every man, woman, and child in Enniskillen to the sword, then garrisoned the fortress, and returned to Connaught to avoid meeting M'Guire and O'Donnell, whose united forces were prepared to give him battle with every prospect of success. Sir Walter Fitzgerald, of the illustrious house of Kildare, rose in arms against the |