Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/145

SHAN O'NETL. 125 garrison there lie fell back into Meath, where in a few days he was joined by Ormond with flying companies of ' galloglasse.' But Sussex did not yet understand the man with whom he was dealing. He allowed himself to be amused and delayed by negotiations ; J and while he was making- promises to Shan which it is likely that he intended to disregard, Armagh was almost lost again. Seeing a number of kerne scattered about the town the officer in command sallied out upon them, when Shan himself suddenly appeared, accompanied by the Catholic Archbishop, on a hill outside the walls ; and the English had but time to recover their defences when the whole Irish army, led by a procession of monks and 'every man carrying a faggot/ came on to burn the cathedral over their heads. The monks sung a mass ; the primate walked three times up and down the lines, ' willing the rebels to go forward, for God was on their side.' Shan swore a great oath not to turn his back while an Englishman was left alive ; and with scream and yell his men came on. Fortunately there were no Scots among them. The English, though outnumbered ten to one, stood steady in the churchyard, and after a sharp hand to hand fight drove back the howling crowd. The Irish retired into the ' friars' houses ' outside the cathedral close, set them on lire, and ran for their lives. 1 'The second of this .month we assembled at Raskreagh, Mid still treated with Shan for his going to your Majesty, making him great offers if he would go quietly.' Sus- sex to the Queen, July 16 : Irish 3f88.