Above : Picture Of Earl Strafford

In 1639, Wentworth was created Earl of Strafford, and exchanged the title of Lord Deputy for the more honourable one of Lord Lieutenant. In Ireland he was not particularly unpopular with the masses of the populat ion ; nor was there any reason why he should be. His repression of the disorders amongst the soldiers and his protection of trade had been positive benefits, while his acts of injustice and tyranny had not affected them.

Above : Picture Of Hugh O’Neill

The news of the death of Elizabeth was welcomed with satisfaction by the Catholics of the Irish towns, and by those of the rural districts in and round the Pale. The clansmen elsewhere had not yet come to consider themselves as subjects of the Crown. Although, during the O’Neill wars, the exercise of the Catholic religion had, from motives of policy, been little interfered with, yet none of the persecuting laws had been repealed, and they might at any time be brought again into force, at the mere caprice of an official; so that there was a general feeling of insecurity as long as the old Queen lived. From James much was hoped.

Above : Portrait Of Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy

Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy, was the new Deputy selected by Elizabeth to accomplish the task in which Essex had failed so signally. He was a man of considerable military experience, and had certain statesmanlike qualities. While absolutely unscrupulous in the means which he used to attain an end, he never indulged in useless cruelty nor in spiteful annoyance, calculated to irritate but not to weaken an enemy.