in his own prowess and resources amounted to rashness,
and finally caused his death. Coming forth from a wood
to parley with a party of the Queen's troops led by his
neighbour, the Lord of Ossory, a common soldier ran him
through the body with a sword. This was on the last day
of June, 1578--a day mournful through all the midland
districts for the loss of their best and bravest captain.

While these events occupied the minds and tongues of men
in the North and East, a brief respite from the horrors
of war was permitted to the province of Munster. The Earl
of Desmond, only too happy to be tolerated in the possession
of his 570,000 acres, was eager enough to testify his
allegiance by any sort of service. His brothers, though
less compliant, followed his example for the moment, and
no danger was to be apprehended in that quarter, except
from the indomitable James Fitzmaurice, self-exiled on
the continent. No higher tribute could be paid to the
character of that heroic man than the closeness with
which all his movements were watched by English spies,
specially set upon his track. They followed him to the
French court, to St. Malo's (where he resided for some
time with his family), to Madrid, whence he sent his two
sons to the famous University of Alcala, and from Madrid
to Rome. The honourable reception he received at the
hands of the French and Spanish Sovereigns was duly
reported; yet both being at peace with England, his plans
elicited no open encouragement from either. At Rome,
however, he obtained some material and much moral support.
Here he found many zealous advocates among the English