given rise to a great bitterness among the Irish people. Edward VI. tried to force Protestantism on them and failed, as the Irish did not want any change in their religion. Then Mary came and restored the old religion, but began English settlements in two counties. When Elizabeth became queen, she followed her father’s policy of making Ireland English. Soon there was a rebellion under Shan O’Neil, which was put down by Sir Henry Sidney in 1567. But the rebellion broke out again under Shan’s son, Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, in 1595, when the Spaniards gave their aid. He defeated the English, and Essex, the darling of Elizabeth’s old age, was sent against him. Essex made an unwise peace with him, and then returned to England for Elizabeth’s approval. She was very angry at his folly and ordered him to keep his house fora time. Essex, in his vain pride, marched to London to seize the queen; but was arrested, tried, and executed. Lord Mountjoy, an able man, was sent in his place to Ireland, and succeeded in suppressing the revolt. In the next reign, as we shall find, large tracts of land were taken from the Irish in the north and given to Scotch and English settlers.
11. Death of Elizabeth.—But the end of this great reign was now near. Elizabeth, after the death of Essex, became despondent. She had lost much of the sympathy of her people, although in memory of her great services they bore with her frailties of temper and disposition to rule arbitrarily. Nevertheless she knew when to yield to her Parliament and people. One of her last and most gracious acts was to abolish “monopolies” on a number of articles of common use. The Parliament had grown in power during these years of peace and prosperity, and it only waited Elizabeth’s death to begin again the struggle for its lost rights and privileges.
Elizabeth’s end was a sad one. Dejected and wretched, for days she would take no food, nor speak to any one. To the last she refused to name her successor. Asked if James of Scotland, Mary’s son, should succeed her, a slight motion of the head was all 4 the sign of approval she gave. On the 24th March, 1603, England’s great queen died.
