In 1556 Shane came to Dublin and made a submission to the Deputy, but next year there was war again, and Sussex marched up to Armagh ; after which he marched back to Dublin, and all was as before. Shane now interfered in a family dispute amongst the O’Donnells, and supported Hugh Dubh, a younger brother, against Calvach, eldest son of the reigning chief. Shane’s forces were far superior to those of his opponents, but over-confidence brought destruction to them.

They were encamped on the shores of Lough Swilly. Calvach O’Donnell sent two spies into their camp, who reported to their own leader the disposition of the O’Neill forces, and the careless watch which was kept. The O’Donnells made a night attack, and Shane’s army, taken by surprise, was defeated with great slaughter. He himself barely escaped, and his splendid black horse, ” Son of the Eagle,” said to be the finest horse in Ireland, was captured.

In 1558 Matthew, Baron of Dungannon, was slain. Shane maintained that he fell in fair fight, but the English authorities say that Shane murdered him, or caused him to be murdered. Of Matthew’s four young sons, the second, Hugh, was destined to attain “celebrity greater than even that of his uncle, Shane.” Next year (1559), Conn Bacach died. On his deathbed he pronounced a curse, it is said, on any of his posterity who should learn English, build a house or sow corn.

To Henry succeeded his only son, under the title of Edward VI, but, being yet a child, he was King in name merely. The real power was in the hands of a Council of Regency. The majority of the Council were Reformers of an advanced type, and they desired to introduce in England, and to extend to Ireland, a State Religion, differing, to an extent never contemplated by Henry VIII, from the faith of the Roman Church—and, in fact, denying some of her most fundamental doctrines.

These innovations found no genuine supporters in Ireland. Many, even of those who had been content to accept the Royal Supremacy, declined to go further, and obstinately insisted on celebrating or attending Mass, and rejecting the new Prayer Books. The bishops who owed their promotion to the royal favour showed, as a rule, but little zeal, except in the violence and vehemence of their abuse of the disobedient Irish people ; of their less compliant brethren, who still clung to the old order of things, and not infrequently of one another.

St. Leger, who continued in office for over a year, carried out his conciliatory policy towards the chiefs with a fair measure of success, but the ascendancy party in England considered him lukewarm in pushing the Reformation, and, in April 1548, he was recalled, and Sir Edward Bellingham sent in his place. Bellingham was a man, straightforward and honest enough, but rough, imperious, and a believer in stern direct methods.