138 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [cH. 42. withstanding his precautions he had been outwitted in the wording of the safe-conduct. Though the Govern- ment promised to permit him to return to Ireland, the time of his stay had not been specified. Specious pre- texts were invented to detain him ; he required to be recognized as his father's heir ; the English judges desired the cause to be pleaded before themselves ; the young Baron of Dungannon must come over to be heard on the other side; and while to Shan it was pretended that the Baron had been sent for, Cecil wrote privately to Fitzwilliam to prevent him from leaving Ireland. At first the caged chieftain felt no alarm, and he used his opportunities in flattering and working upon Elizabeth. He wrote to her from time to time, telling her that she was the sole hope and refuge which he pos- sessed in the world ; in coming to England his chief desire had been to see that great person whose fame was spoken of through the earth, and to study the wisdom of her Government that he ' might learn how better to order himself in civil polity.' If she would give him his father's earldom, he said, he would maintain ' her authority in Ulster, where she should be undisputed Queen over willing subjects; he would drive away all her enemies; he would expel Mary Stuart's friends the Scots; and with them it seems he was prepared to dismiss his ' countess ; ' for ( he was most urgent that her Majesty would give him some noble English lady for a wife with augmentation of living suitable ; ' and he on his part would save the Queen all further expense in Ireland with great increase of revenue.' As the head of the
