The news of the flight of O’Neill and O’Donnell caused, throughout the greater part of Ulster, the utmost consternation. Abandoned like sheep without their shepherds, the clansmen of Tfr Owen and Tfrconnell knew not what fate might befall them. The English Government, fearing lest, in their despair, they might resort to desperate courses, endeavoured to allay their anxiety. A Proclamation was issued by the King, in which he declared that he would take into his own hands the possessions of the fugitive earls, and would protect the rights of all those who had held estates under them. At this very time a scheme for an extensive Plantation had been laid before James by Chichester.

In 1608, a singularly rash and ill-advised insurrection gave an excuse for extending still further the projected confiscations. Its leader was the young Sir Cahir O’Doherty, chief of Inishowen. He quarrelled on some private matter with Sir George Paulet, Governor of Derry, and, in the course of the dispute, Paulet struck him in the face. Vowing vengeance, Sir Cahir withdrew. Niall Garff was afterwards said to have encouraged the misguided youth to his ruin, and young O’Hanlon and some others certainly promised assistance.