Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/314

29 H XEIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 59. of the universal break-down. The weakness of the Government was one predominant cause, the meddling with the national religion was another, the atrocious local cruelty of the English garrisons was a third ; but two additional influences had combined to stimulate a great explosion of passion. The intended Munster settlement had come to nothing, and the best advice from Ireland was strongly against fresh experiments in that direction ; but, bent as the Queen was upon saving money, the scheme was intensely seductive. Ambitious enterprising subjects were still ready to tell her that, for a grant which would cost her nothing but her sig- nature, they were willing at their own risk to invade, conquer, occupy, and pay her tribute. The theory was excellent. A mere handful of English at Knockfergus had held at bay the whole power of the 'Neils, and what had failed in one part of the country might easily prosper in another. Sir Thomas Smith, who had succeeded Cecil as Elizabeth's principal Secretary, had a son who desired to make his fortune. The strip of coast between Knockfergus and the Giant's Causeway had been taken by the Scots from the Irish. Shan O'Neil's Countess had gone back to Argyleshire after his death, carrying half her people with her. There were now but a few companies of roving freebooters left upon the soil, which they did not attempt to improve ; and Sir T. Smith undertook that his son would take their place and hold the country if the Queen would make him a present of it.