Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/154

134 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 42. O'Neil in the interval had been burning villages in Meath ; but the Deputy had penetrated his stronghold, had defied him on his own ground, and he had not ven- tured to meet the English in the field. The defeat of July was partially retrieved and Sussex was in a better position to make terms. Kildare, in the middle of October, had a conference with Shan at Dundalk, and Shan consented to repair to Elizabeth's presence. In the conditions however which he was allowed to name he implied that he was rather conferring a favour than receiving one, and that he was going to England as a victorious enemy permitting himself to be conciliated. He demanded a safe- conduct so clearly worded that whatever was the result of his visit he should be free to return ; he required a complete amnesty for his past misdeeds, and he stipulated that Elizabeth should pay all expenses for himself and his retinue ; the Earls of Ormond, Desmond, and Kildare must receive him in state at Dundalk and escort him to Dublin ; Kildare must accompany him to England ; and most important of all, Armagh Cathedral must be evacuated. On these terms he was ready to go to London ; he did not anticipate treachery ; and either he hoped to per- suade Elizabeth to recognize him, and thus prove to the Irish that rebellion was the surest road to prosperity and power, or at worst by venturing into England and returning unscathed he would show them that the Government might be defied with more than impunity. Had Neil Grey revealed to him those dark overtures of Sussex the Irish chief would have relied less boldly on