In January 1647, the General Assembly of the Confederates met at Kilkenny, and Rinuccini succeeded in inducing it to reject the Ormond Peace by a crushing majority. It soon, however, appeared that of some peace they were most desirous, and in the Spring attempts were made to induce Ormond to cede Dublin to the Confederates.

Above: Picture of Queen Elizabeth

During the spring and summer of 1602, Mountjoy had pushed his campaign in the north, and one by one the Ulster chiefs, even Hugh Ruadh’s two brothers, Rory and Caffir O’Donnell, submitted and sued for pardon. O’Neill, however, with a few hundred faithful followers, still stood out, away in the remote northern parts of Tir Owen.

Shane was now anxious to be gone as speedily as possible, but certain of the English ministers were inclined to detain him. The agreement made, they said, was that he should return home safely, but when was not specified. Without violation of the words of the safe conduct, he might be forced to remain in England for any length of time they chose. It might well have happened that they should have taken advantage of this quibble, and that Shane should have seen his native land no more, but for the news that came from Ireland in spring. Ulster, it was declared, was in as bad a state of disorder as ever it had been, and young Brian, “the Earl of Tyrone,” as the English called him, had been murdered by the followers of Turlough Lynnach O’Neill, a cousin of his. Things being in this state, it seemed best to send Shane back, and so in May he was sent.