Essex seemed to understand well the nature and motive of the queen’s professions, and he resolved to make some bold attempts to win back her favour.  He had made a sudden attack on Sir Brian O’Neill of Clandeboye, with troops trained in the wars of the Low Countries, and in a week he brought him to abject submission, which he expressed by saying that ’he had gone wickedly astray, wandering in the wilderness like a blind beast.’  But it was the misfortune of Sir Brian, or M’Phelim, that he still held his own territory, which had been granted by the queen to Essex.  ’The attempt to deprive him had been relinquished.  He had surrendered his lands, and the queen, at Essex’s own intercession, had reinstated him as tenant under the crown.  It seems, however, as if Essex had his eye still upon the property.’  Under such circumstances, it was easy to assume that O’Neill was still playing false.  So he resolved that he should not be able to do so any longer.  ‘He determined to make sure work with so fickle a people.’  He returned to Clandeboye, as if on a friendly visit.  Sir Brian and Lady O’Neill received him with all hospitality.  The Irish Annalists say that they gave him a banquet.  They not only let him off safe, but they accompanied him to his castle at Belfast.  There he was very gracious.  A high feast was held in the hall; and it was late in the night when the noble guest and his wife retired to their lodging outside the walls.  When they were supposed to be asleep, a company of soldiers surrounded the house and prepared to break the door.  ’The O’Neills flew to arms.  The cry rang through the village, and the people swarmed out to defend their chief; but surprised, half-armed, and outnumbered, they were overpowered and cut to pieces.  Two hundred men were killed.  The Four Masters add that the women were slain.  The chieftain’s wife had female attendants with her, and no one was knowingly spared.  The tide being out, a squadron of horse was sent at daybreak over the water into the “Ardes,” from which, in a few hours, they returned with 3,000 of Sir Brian’s cattle, and with a drove of stud mares, of which the choicest were sent to Fitzwilliam.  Sir Brian himself, his brother, and Lady O’Neill, were carried as prisoners to Dublin, where they were soon after executed.’[1]

[Footnote 1:  Froude, vol. xi. p.179.]

Essex did not miscalculate the probable effect of this exploit.  It raised him high in the estimation of the Anglo-Irish of the Pale.  ’The taint of the country was upon him; he had made himself no better than themselves, and was the hero of the hour.’  The effect of such conduct and such a spirit in the rulers, may be imagined.  A few weeks later, Sir Edward Fitton wrote:  ’I may say of Ireland, that it is quiet; but if universal oppression of the mean sort by the great; if murder, robberies, burnings make an ill commonwealth, then I cannot say we are in a good case ...  Public sentiment in Dublin, however, was unanimous in its approbation.  Essex