Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/153

1561 ] SHAN a NEIL. 133 English honour like English coin lost something of its purity in the sister island. Nothing came of this un- desirable proposal. Neil Grey however kept his secret, and though he would not risk his life by attempting the murder, sought no favour with Shan by betraying Sussex. Elizabeth's answer if she sent any answer is nol discoverable. It is most sadly certain however that Sussex was continued in office ; and inasmuch as it will be seen that he repeated the experiment a few months later, his letter could not have been received with any marked condemnation. Shortly after, Fitzwilliam returned from England with the Berwick troops, and before the season closed and before Kildare commenced his negotiations the Deputy was permitted to make another effort to repair the credit of English arms. Despatching provisions by sea to Lough Foyle, he succeeded this time in inarching through Tyrone and in destroying on his way four thousand cattle which he was unable to carry away ; and had the vessels arrived in time he might have remained in Ulster long enough to do serious mischief there. But the wind and weather were unfavourable. He had left Shan's cows to rot where he had killed them ; and thus being without food, and sententiously and characteristically concluding that ' man by his policy might propose but God at his will did dispose/ 1 Lord Sussex fell back by the upper waters of Lough Erne sweeping the country before him. Sussex to Elizabeth, September 21 : Irish MSS. Rolls House.