dying, as was reported, of
vexation and discontent, was succeeded by Sir Henry Bagnall. "He
advanced to the relief at Blackwater, then besieged by the enemy, but
was surrounded in disadvantageous ground. His soldiers, discouraged by
part of their powder accidentally taking fire, were put to flight; and
though the pursuit was stopped by Montacute, who commanded the English
horse, fifteen hundred men, together with the general himself, were left
dead upon the spot. This victory so unusual to the Irish, roused their
courage, supplied them with arms and munitions of war, and raised the
renown of Tyrone, who was hailed as deliverer of his country and patron
of Irish liberty."[22]

The unfortunate Essex was afterwards appointed to the command; but his
troops were so terrified at the reputation of Tyrone that many of them
counterfeited sickness, and others deserted, fearful of encountering the
forces of that daring chief. Finding himself in a great measure
deserted, "he hearkened to a message from Tyrone, who desired a
conference; and a plain near the two camps was appointed for this
purpose. The two generals met without any attendants. A river ran
between them, into which Tyrone entered to his saddle-girth, but Essex
stood on the opposite bank."

At this meeting where "Tyrone behaved with great submission to the
lord-lieutenant, a cessation of arms was agreed on.[23] Essex also
received a proposal of peace, into which Tyrone had inserted many
unreasonable and exorbitant conditions; and there appeared afterwards
some reason to suspect that the former had commenced a very
unjustifiable correspondence with the enemy." From this time the beam of
Essex's favour was obscured, the issue terminating in his death and
disgrace. In the meantime, Tyrone had thought proper to break the trace,
"and joining with O'Donnel and others, overran almost the whole kingdom.
He pretended to be the champion of the Catholic faith, and openly
exulted in the present of a phoenix plume, which Clement VIII., in order
to encourage him in the prosecution of so good a cause, had consecrated,
and conferred upon him."[24] Essex being recalled, the Queen appointed
Mountjoy as lord-deputy. "He found the island in a desperate condition;
but being a man of capacity and vigour, he immediately advanced against
Tyrone in Ulster. He penetrated into the heart of that country, the
chief seat of the rebels. He fortified Derry and Mount Norris. He chased
them from the