condign punishment for bringing an idol into a Christian camp and for opening the churches by the Pope’s authority.  Father White appeared in the camp a second time that day, making a most reasonable request.  He fell on his knees before the deputy, begging liberty of conscience, free and open exercise of religion, protesting that the people would be ready to resist all foreign invasion were that granted; and finally beseeching that some of the ruined churches might be given to the Catholics, who were ready to rebuild them, and pay for them a yearly rent into his majesty’s exchequer.  But the deputy was inexorable, and all he would grant was leave to wear clerical clothes, and celebrate mass in private houses.  Mountjoy entered Waterford, received from the citizens the oath of allegiance, and made over the city churches to the small section of Protestants.  At the same time he sent despatches to other towns ordering the authorities to evict the Roman Catholics from the places of worship.  And then proceeding to Cork, and thence through Cashel to Dublin, he undid all that the clergy had done with respect to the churches, ‘leaving perhaps to future statesmen,’ writes Father Meehan, ’living above the atmosphere of effete prejudices, the duty of restoring to the Catholics of Ireland those grand old temples, which were never meant to accommodate a fragment of its people.’[1]

[Footnote 1:  Page 30.]

When Mountjoy returned to Dublin he found that he had been created Lord Lieutenant of Ireland with two-thirds of the deputy’s allowance, Sir George Carew, appointed deputy during his absence in England, receiving the other third together with his own pay as treasurer-at-war.  Mountjoy was also informed that the royal pardon had been granted to Tyrone under the great seal, and that all other grants made to him by the lord deputy had been confirmed.  The king concluded by requesting that he would induce Tyrone to go with him to London, adding, ’as we think it very convenient for our service, and require you so to do; and if not that at least you bring his son.’  Along with these instructions came a protection for O’Neill and his retinue.  It was supposed that James felt grateful to the Ulster chieftain for the services he had rendered him during the late queen’s reign; and it is stated by Craik that after the victory of the Blackwater, he sent his secretary O’Hagan to Holyrood, to signify to his majesty that if he supplied him with money and munitions he would instantly march on Dublin, proclaim him King of Ireland, and set the crown upon his head.

In compliance with the sovereign’s request, Mountjoy, with a brilliant suite, accompanied by Tyrone and Rory O’Donel, embarked in May 1603, and sailed for Holyhead.  But when they had sighted the coast of Wales, the pinnace was driven back by adverse winds, and nearly wrecked in a fog at the Skerries.  They landed safe, however, at Beaumaris, whence they rode rapidly to Chester, where they stopped