526 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 46. from the Crown to make discoveries and to settle there ; but he had found a convenient halting-place in an Irish harbour, from which he could issue out and plunder the Spanish galleons. : He had taken up his quarters at Kinsale, ' to make the sea his Florida ; ' 2 and in antici- pation of the terms on which he was likely to find him- self with Elizabeth, he contrived to renew an acquaint- ance which he had commenced in England with Shan O'JN^eil. The friendship of a buccaneer who was growing rich on Spanish plunder might have seemed inconvenient to a chief who had offered Ireland as a fief to Philip ; but Shan was not particular : Philip had as yet shown but a cold interest in Irish rebellion, and Stukely filled his cellars with sherry from Cadiz, amused him with his magniloquence, and was useful to him by his real dex- terity and courage. So fond Shan became of him that he had the impertinence to write to Elizabeth in favour ' of that his so dearly loved friend, and her Majesty's worthy subject/ with whom he was grieved to hear that her Majesty was displeased. He could not but believe that she had been misinformed ; but if indeed so good and gallant a gentleman had given her cause of offence, Shan entreated that her Majesty, for his sake and in the name of the services which he had himself ren- dered to England, would graciously pardon him ; and lie, 1 * Stukely's piracies are much railed at here in all parts. I hang down my head with shame. Alas ! though it cost the Queen roundly, let him for honour's sake be fetched in. These pardons to such as be hostes humani generis I like not.' Chaloner to Cecil, Madrid, December 14,1564 ; Spanish MSS. Rolls House. - Sir Thomas Wroth to Cecil, November 1 7 ; Irish MSS. Ibid.
