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Above : Picture Of Sir Arthur Chichester, Replace MountjoyÂ

The nine years’ war which he had waged against the power of England had won for Hugh O’Neill a great reputation, not only throughout the British Isles, but also on the Continent of Europe. Henry IV of France, no mean judge of military ability, counted him as ranking third amongst the famous soldiers of his age. Even in defeat, he was certainly the most important man in Ireland, and this Mountjoy realised. ” On my Lord Tyrone all the tranquillity of this Kingdom doth depend,” he declared.

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.