The Four Masters give a touching account of their departure, and exclaim:  “Woe to the heart that meditated, woe to the mind that conceived, woe to the council that decided on the project of their setting out on the voyage!” The exiles left Rathmullen on the 14th of September, 1607.  O’Neill had been with the Lord Deputy shortly before; and one cannot but suppose that he had then obtained some surmise of premeditated treachery, for he arranged his flight secretly and swiftly, pretending that he was about to visit London.  O’Neill was accompanied by his Countess, his three sons, O’Donnell, and other relatives.  They first sailed to Normandy, where an attempt was made by the English Government to arrest them, but Henry IV. would not give them up.  In Rome they were received as confessors exiled for the faith, and were liberally supported by the Pope and the King of Spain.  They all died in a few years after their arrival, and their ashes rest in the Franciscan Church of St. Peter-in-Montorio.  Rome was indeed dear to them, but Ireland was still dearer; and the exiled Celt, whether expatriated through force or stern necessity, lives only to long for the old home, or dies weeping for it.

The Red Hand of the O’Neills had hitherto been a powerful protection to Ulster.  The attempts “to plant” there had turned out failures; but now that the chiefs were removed, the people became an easy prey.  O’Dogherty, Chief of Innishowen, was insulted by Sir George Paulett, in a manner which no gentleman could be expected to bear without calling his insulter to account; and the young chieftain took fearful vengeance for the rude blow which he had received from the English sheriff.  He got into Culmore Fort at night by stratagem, and then marched to Derry, killed Paulett, massacred the garrison, and burned the town.  Some other chieftains joined him, and kept up the war until July; when O’Dogherty was killed, and his companions-in-arms imprisoned.  Sir Arthur Chichester received his property in return for his suggestions for the plantation of Ulster, of which we must now make brief mention.

There can be little doubt, from Sir Henry Docwra’s own account, that O’Dogherty was purposely insulted, and goaded into rebellion.  He was the last obstacle to the grand scheme, and he was disposed of.  Ulster was now at the mercy of those who chose to accept grants of land; and the grants were made to the highest bidders, or to those who had paid for the favour by previous services.  Sir Arthur Chichester evidently considered that he belonged to the latter class, for we find him writing[465] at considerable length to the Earl of Northampton, then a ruling member of King James’ cabinet, to request that he may be appointed President of Ulster.  He commences his epistle by stating how deeply he is indebted to his Lordship for his comfortable and kind letters, and the praise he has given him in public and private.  He then bestows an abundant meed of commendation on his justice