The plan agreed upon by the confederates was this:—­A rising when the harvest was gathered in; a simultaneous attack on all the English fortresses; the surprise of Dublin Castle, said to contain arms for 12,000 men; and to obtain for these objects all possible aid, in officers, men, and arms, from the Continent.  The rising took place on the night of October 22, 1641.  It might have been completely successful if the Castle of Dublin had been seized.  It seemed an easy prey, for it was guarded only by a few pensioners and forty halberdiers, who would be quickly overpowered.  But the plot was made known to the lords justices by an informer when on the eve of execution.

Sir Phelim O’Neill was one of those ‘Irish gentlemen’ who, by royal favour, were permitted to retain some portions of their ancient patrimonies.  At this time he was in possession of thirty-eight townlands in the barony of Dungannon, county Tyrone, containing 23,000 acres, then estimated to be worth 1,600 l. a-year, equal to some 10,000 l. of our money.  Charles Boulton held by lease from the same chief 600 acres, at a yearly rent of 29 l. for sixty years, in consideration of a fine of 1,000 l.  In 1641 this property yielded a profit rent of 150 l. a year.  Three townlands in the same barony were claimed by George Rawden of Lisnagarvagh, as leased to him by Sir Phelim under the rent of 100 l., estimated to be worth 50 l. per annum.

Sir Phelim might, therefore, have been content, so far as property was concerned.  But, setting aside patriotism, religion, and ambition, it is likely enough that he distrusted the Government, and feared the doom pronounced in Dublin Castle against all the gentlemen of his creed and race.  At all events he put himself at the head of the insurrection in Ulster.  He and the officers under his command, on the night of the 22nd, surprised and captured the forts of Charlemont and Mountjoy.  The towns of Dungannon, Newry, Carrickmacross, Castleblaney, Tandragee fell into the hands of the insurgents, while the O’Reillys and Maguires overran Cavan and Fermanagh.  Sir Conor Magennis wrote from Newry to the Government officers in Down:  ’We are for our lives and liberties.  We desire no blood to be shed; but, if you mean to shed our blood, be sure we shall be as ready as you for that purpose.’  And Sir Phelim O’Neill issued the following proclamation:—­

’These are to intimate and make known unto all persons whatsoever, in and through the whole country, the true intent and meaning of us whose names are hereunto subscribed:  1.  That the first assembling of us is nowise intended against our sovereign lord the king, nor hurt of any of his subjects, either English or Scotch; but only for the defence and libertie of ourselves and the Irish natives of this kingdom.  And we further declare that whatsoever hurt hitherto hath been done to any person shall be presently repaired; and we will that every person forthwith, after proclamation hereof, make their speedy repaire unto their own houses, under paine of death, that no further hurt be done unto any one under the like paine, and that this be proclaimed in all places.