estion was set at rest. The Queen and the English Council
naturally feared to alienate the few nobles who were friendly to them,
as well as the inhabitants of the Pale, who were as a majority in their
interest.

The Pale was kept in considerable alarm at this period, by the exploits
of the famous outlaw, Rory Oge O'More. In 1577 he stole into Naas with
his followers, and set the town on fire; after this exploit he retired,
without taking any lives. He continued these depredations for eighteen
years. In 1571 he was killed by one of MacGillapatrick's men, and the
Pale was relieved from a most formidable source of annoyance. But the
same year in which this brave outlaw terminated his career, is
signalized by one of the most fearful acts of bloodshed and treachery on
record. The heads of the Irish families of Offaly and Leix, whose
extirpation had long been attempted unsuccessfully, were invited in the
Queen's name, and under the Queen's protection, to attend a conference
at the great rath on the hill of Mullach-Maistean (Mullamast). As soon
as they had all assembled, they were surrounded by a treble line of the
Queen's garrison soldiers, and butchered to a man in cold blood.

This massacre was performed with the knowledge and approval of the
Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney. The soldiers who accomplished the bloody work
were commanded by Captain Francis Crosby, to whom the chief command of
all the kerne in the Queen's pay was committed. We have already related
some incidents in his career, which show how completely destitute he was
of the slightest spark of humanity.[441]

Sir Henry Sidney retired from office finally on the 26th of May, 1578.
He dates his _Memoir_ from "Ludlow Castell, with more payne than harte,
the 1st of March, 1582." In this document he complains bitterly of the
neglect of his services by Government, and bemoans his losses in piteous
strains. He describes himself as "fifty-four yeres of age, toothlesse
and trembling, being five thousand pounds in debt." He says he shall
leave his sons L20,000 worse off than his father left him. In one place
he complains that he had not as much ground as would "feede a mutton,"
and he evidently considers his services were worth an ampler
remuneration; for he declares: "I would to God the country was yet as
well as I lefte it almost fyve yeres agoe." If he did not succeed in
obtaining a large grant for his services, it certainly was not for want
of asking it; and if he did not