534 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [en. 46. Elizabeth disinclined to quarrel with, him, sent Terence over to her to explain more fully the excellence of his in- tentions. Sir Thomas Cusack added his own commend- ations both of Terence and his master, and urged that now was the time to make O'Neil a friend for ever. Sir Nicholas Arnold, with more discrimination, insisted that it was necessary to do one thing or the other, but he too seemed to recommend the Queen, as the least of two evils, to be contented with Slian's nominal allegi- ance, and to leave him undisturbed.
- If/ he said, ' you use the opportunity to make
O'JS"eil a good subject, he will hardly swerve hereafter. The Pale is poor and unable to defend itself. If he do fall out before the beginning of next summer there is neither outlaw, rebel, murderer, thief, nor any lewd or evil-disposed person of whom God knoweth there is plenty swarming in every corner amongst the wild Irish, yea, and in our own border too which would not join to do what mischief they might/ 1 Alas ! while Arnold wrote there came news that Shan's ambition was still unsatisfied. He had followed up his successes against the Scotch by seizing the Queen's castles of Newry and Dundrum. Turning west he had marched into Connaught ' to require the tribute due of owld time to them that were kings in that realm/ He had exacted pledges of obedience from the western chiefs, frightened Clanrickard into submission, ' spoiled O'Hourke's country/ and returned to Tyrone driving 1 Sir T. Cusack to Cecil, August 23; O'Neil to Elizabeth, Au^nsr 25 ; Sir N. Arnold. to the English. Council, August 31 : Irish MSS. Rolls lloune.
