Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/309

I572-] STATE OF IRELAND. 289 he would not answer for the country. 1 Elizabeth told him shortly that she would be troubled with no such matter. She could spare neither men nor money, and he must take his chance. 2 Fitzmaurice's views were fortunately fastened upon Munster. He moved from Athlone to Portumna, where he was joined by the de Burghs, and then crossed the river into Limerick. Perrot, who desired nothing better than to have Fitz- maurice within reach of his arm, hurried up to the woods, in which he was reported to be lying, between Kilmalloch and the Shannon. The waters were out The horses could not travel. The men splashed two abreast along the shaking turf tracks which crossed the bogs. He got at the Scots at last, cut them in two, hurled half of them into Lough Derg, and chased the rest into Tipperary. There, a few days later, he over- took, and might have destroyed them, but the army used the opportunity to mutiny, and told him that they would do no more fighting till they were paid their wages. Perrot swore he would hang the ringleaders. The men were respectful, but resolute. 'If one was hanged/ they said, l they would all hang for company ; ' and he was compelled to draw off, and see his prey escape him. 3 By desperate efforts he pacified the immediate clam- our. Again he surprised Fitzmaurice at Ardagh, and 1 Fitzwilliam to Elizabeth, July 24, 1572: MSS. Ireland. 2 Elizabeth to Fitzwilliam. Au- 3 Perrot to Fitzwilliam, Septem- ber 12, September 16, 1572; Perrot to Cecil, November 2: MSS Ibid. gust 5 : MSS. Ibid. VOL. x. 19