They proceeded to Brussels and thence to Louvain, where splendid accommodation was provided for them.  In several of the cities through which they passed they received ovations, their countrymen clerical and military having prepared for their reception with the greatest zeal and devotion.  The King of Spain was of course friendly, but to avoid giving offence to King James he discouraged the stay of the exiles in his dominions, and they found their final resting-place at Rome, where the two earls were placed upon the Pope’s civil list, which, however, they did not long continue to burden.  Tyrconnel fell a victim to the malaria, and died on July 28, 1608.  ‘Sorrowful it was,’ say the Four Masters, ’to contemplate his early eclipse, for he was a generous and hospitable lord, to whom the patrimony of his ancestors seemed nothing for his feastings and spending.’  His widow received a pension of 300 l. a year out of his forfeited estates.  O’Neill survived his brother earl eight years, having made various attempts to induce the King of Spain to aid him in the recovery of his patrimony.  He died in 1616, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.  Sir Francis Cottington, announcing the event from Madrid, said, ’The Earl of Tyrone is dead at Rome; by whose death this king saves 500 ducats every month, for so much pension he had from here, well paid him.  Upon the news of his death, I observed that all the principal Irish entertained in several parts of this kingdom are repaired unto this court.’

CHAPTER VII.

GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO THE PEOPLE.

The flight of the earls caused great consternation to the Irish Government.  Letters were immediately despatched to the local authorities at every port to have a sharp look out for the fugitives, and to send out vessels to intercept them, should they be driven back by bad weather to any part of the coast.  At the same time the lord deputy sent a despatch to the Government in London, deprecating censure for an occurrence so unexpected, and so much to be regretted, because of the possibility of its leading to an invasion by the Spaniards.  In other respects it was regarded by the principal members of the Irish Government, and especially by the officials in Ulster, as a most fortunate occurrence.  For example, Sir Oliver Lambert, in his report to the lords of the council, already referred to, said:—­’But now these things are fallen out thus, contrary to all expectation or likelihood, by the providence of God I hope, over this miserable people, for whose sake it may be he hath sent his majesty this rare and unlocked for occasion:  whereby he may now at length, with good apprehension and prudent handling, repair an error which was committed in making these men proprietary lords of so large a territory, without regard of the poor freeholders’ rights, or of his majesty’s service, and the commonwealth’s, that are so much interested in the honest liberty of that sort of men, which now, in time, I commend unto your lordships’ grave consideration and wisdom, and will come to that which nearest concerns ourselves and the whole.’