154 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 42. Irish should be left to themselves to realize their own ideals and govern themselves their own way. Sir Thomas Cusak, a member of the Irish council, came over with a scheme which, if the Queen consented to it, would satisfy the people and would ensure the re- turn of Shan O'Neil to a nominal allegiance. The four provinces should constitute each a separate presidency. Ulster, Connaught, and Munster should be governed in the Queen's name by some Irish chief or nobleman if not elected by the people, yet chosen in compliance with their wishes. O'Neil would have the north, the O'Briens or the Clanrickards the west. The south would fall to Desmond. On these conditions Cusak would under- take for the quiet of the country and for the undis- turbed occupation of the Pale by the English Govern- ment. Prepared as Elizabeth had almost become to abandon Ireland entirely, she welcomed this project as a reprieve. She wrote to Sussex to say that, finding his expedition had resulted only in giving fresh strength to Shan O'Neil, 'she had decided to come to an end of the war of Ulster by agreement rather than by force ; ' and Cusak returned the first week in August empowered to make whatever conces- sions should be necessary, preparatory to the proposed alteration. To Shan O'Neil he was allowed to say that the Queen was surprised at his folly in levying war against her ; nor could she understand his object. She was aware of his difficulties ; she knew ' the barbarity ' of the people
