But the Irish obtained no temporal advantages during this reign—­an illustration of the truth of what I have before remarked, that the nation has suffered almost as much from political as from religious causes.  The work of extermination still went on.  The boundaries of the Pale were increased thereby.  Leix was designated the Queen’s county, and the fort of Campa obtained the name of Maryborough, in compliment to the Queen.  Offaly was named the King’s county, and the fortress of Daingean, Philipstown, in compliment to her Spanish consort.

In the year 1553 Gerald and Edward, the sons of the late Earl of Kildare, returned from exile, and were restored to the family honours and possessions.  The Four Masters say that “there was great rejoicing because of their arrival, for it was thought that not one of the descendants of the Earls of Kildare or of the O’Connors Faly would ever again come to Ireland.”  They also mention that Margaret, a daughter of O’Connor Faly, went to England, “relying on the number of her friends and relatives there, and her knowledge of the English language, to request Queen Mary to restore her father to her.”  Her petition was granted, but he was soon after seized again by the English officials, and cast into prison.

Shane O’Neill made an unsuccessful attempt to recover his paternal dominions, in 1557.  The following year his father died in captivity,[406] Dublin, and he procured the murder of Ferdoragh, so that he was able to obtain his wishes without opposition.  Elizabeth had now ascended the English throne (A.D. 1558), and, as usual, those in power, who wished to retain office, made their religion suit the views of the new ruler.  The Earl of Sussex still continued Viceroy, and merely reversed his previous acts.  Sir Henry Sidney also made his worldly interests and his religious views coincide.  A Parliament was held in Dublin, in 1560, on the 12th of January.  It was composed of seventy-six members, the representatives of ten counties, the remainder being citizens and burgesses of those towns in which the royal authority was predominant.  “It is little wonder,” observes Leland, “that, in despite of clamour and opposition, in a session of a few weeks, the whole ecclesiastical system of Queen Mary was entirely reversed.”  Every subject connected with this assembly and its enactments, demands the most careful consideration, as it has been asserted by some writers—­who, however, have failed to give the proofs of their assertion—­that the Irish Church and nation conformed at this time to the Protestant religion.  This certainly was not the opinion of the Government officials, who were appointed by royal authority to enforce the Act, and who would have been only too happy could they have reported success to their mistress.