in the territories claimed by him, except Dunluce. A few months later he was the acknowledged leader in the Ulster league against the Government — a league strengthened and consolidated by alliances with O'Neill and O'Donnell. In 1572 Sorley made peace, and was granted "letters of denization" for the quiet possession of his lands; but not permitting himself to be made an instrument in Essex's hands for the spoliation of his Irish allies, he was before many months again in opposition to the Government. On the invasion of his territory by the Earl of Essex in 1575, he sent part of his own family, and the women and children of many of his followers, with plate and other valuables, to the island of Rathlin for safety. Essex heard of their retreat, and on the 22nd of July sent a considerable force to the island under the command of John (afterwards Sir John) Norris. The castle soon submitted, and all, upwards of 200, were put to the sword, except the constable's wife and child, besides 300 or 400 more "that they have found hidden in caves and in cliffs of the sea." The Queen was delighted at the news of this slaughter, and wrote to Essex: " Give the young gentleman, John Norrice, the executioner of your well-devised enterprise, to understand that we will not be unmindful of his good services." Essex says in his account of the transaction: "Sorley then also stood upon the mainland of the Glynnes, and saw the taking of the island, and was likely to run mad for sorrow, tearing and tormenting himself, as the spy sayeth, and saying that he then lost all he ever had." For eight years after Essex's death in 1576, Sorley MacDonnell seems to have reigned without a rival on the northern coast, he and his followers being left in almost undisputed possession of their lands. The increase in numbers of the Scottish settlers under his rule, and their prosperity, gave Sir John Perrot an excuse for an expedition against them in 1584. His troops numbered about 2,000 men, besides such "risings out of the Irishry" as he was able to command on his route. He was accompanied by the Earls of Thomond, Ormond, Clanrickard, Sir John Norris, Hugh O'Neill, besides the chiefs of the O'Conors and O'Mores. Sorley retreated behind the Bann; Dunluce was taken after a brave defence; and Perrot was able to boast that whereas Sorley had been "lord over 50,000 cows . . he now has scarce 1,500 to give him milk." MacDonnell retired to Scotland, and soon returned with large reinforcements; and the war dragged on for many months with varying success, and with little honour or profit to Perrot. The losses inflicted on the Anglo-Irish allies were considerable; Dunluce was ultimately retaken, and Government, sick of a contest in which it was possible to effect so little, was glad to leave Sorley Boy in possession of his estates on condition of his coming to Dublin, prostrating himself before a portrait of the Queen at the Castle, and expressing very great "contrition for his own reckless and ungrateful career." He performed this ceremony, 11th February 1585-'6, and was presented by Perrot with "a velvet mantle adorned with gold lace." He engaged to hold his lands of the Queen by the service of homage, fealty, and two knights' fees. According to the Four Masters, Sorley's wife, Mary O'Neill, daughter of Con, first Earl of Tyrone, died in 1582, and he himself in 1590. He was buried in Bonamargy, in the County of Antrim. "The Irish caoine and the Highland coronach mingled in one wild wail" over his grave. He was succeeded by his third son, Sir James MacDonnell, who made himself peculiarly obnoxious to the Government by his active co-operation with Hugh O'Neill, and who died at Dunluce, 13th April 1601. 224
MacDonnell, Sir Randal, 1st Earl of Antrim, son of Sorley Boy, succeeded to the family estates and name on the death of his brother James in 1601. He was known as "Arranach," from having been fostered in the island of Aran. In the autumn of 1602 he abandoned the cause of Hugh O'Neill, and passed over to Sir A. Chichester, offering to serve against his former ally with 500 foot and 40 horse, maintained at his own expense. He was subsequently knighted by Mountjoy. In 1603 James I. granted him 333,907 acres between Lame and Coleraine. About 1604 he married Alice, daughter of O'Neill, then in her twenty-first year. His position after the flight of O'Neill and O'Donnell was perilous in the extreme; but by devoting himself entirely to the consolidation and improvement of his estates, his movements, as O'Neill's son-in-law, ceased to excite the suspicion of the authorities; and when he had occasion to visit London in 1608, he was cordially received at court. He did not participate in the abortive insurrectionary plots in which so many of the northern chieftains, stung to desperation by the spoliation of their lands and the plantation of Ulster, engaged, and lost their lives. In 1618 he was created Viscount Dunluce, a member of the Privy Council, and Lieutenant of the County of Antrim, and two years afterwards the title of Earl of Antrim was conferred
