- 375'] THE DESMOND REBELLION. 53!
temperate, and humane 'administration/ 1 The hot summer had been followed by the plague. Dublin and the neighbouring villages were infected, and not choosing to go near the pestilential atmosphere, the new Deputy landed, accompanied by his son Philip, at Drogheda, and though in the dead of the winter, commenced a progress round the four provinces. Going first into Ulster he saw Surleyboy, to whom at his earnest entreaty he restored Rathlin, perhaps that he might collect and bury his dead. On leaving the Scots he paid a friendly visit to O'Neil, who gave him assurance of his loyalty, and intimated that if he was well treated he would accept an earldom and adopt English manners. Re- ferring him to Elizabeth, Sidney crossed rapidly through Leinster, which he reported as being for the most part waste, burnt up, and destroyed, and then went I57 6. on through Waterford, Dungarvan, and Januar y- Youghal, to Cork. Everywhere he was received with acclamation. The wretched people, sanguine then as ever in the midst of sorrow, looked on his coming as the inauguration of a new and happier era. Three Earls, Desmond, Thomond, and Clancarty, attended him with their retinues. The intriguing restless James Fitz- maurice, disappointing utterly Sir John Perrot's ex- pectations of him,, had left the country, and was now alternately in France and Spain, preaching the wrongs of Ireland. His relations and the other Munster chiefs appeared to be weary of disaffection, and willing to be
- Tirlogh O'Neil to the Queen, to Burghloy, and to Walsingham,
November, 1575 : MS/S. Ireland.
