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O'Neill, Con Bacagh (the Lame),
Earl of Tyrone, was inaugurated as The O'Neill, upon the death of
his brother in 1519. He was soon afterwards received into royal
favour, upon a resolve taken by Henry VIII. that Ireland should
be governed by "sober waies, politique drifts, and amiable
perswasions." In 1523 he bore the sword of state before the
Lord-Deputy. In 1534, however, he became involved in Silken Thomas's
rebellion, and in 1538, buoyed up by hopes of foreign assistance,
he joined Manus O'Donnell, and marched upon the Pale, and reviewed
his forces at Tara. He next year turned homewards; but was overtaken
by Lord Grey, at Ballahoe, in Monaghan, and defeated in a bloody
engagement.
In January 1542, at Maynooth, he renounced the Pope's supremacy,
and Henry VIII. desiring his presence in London, he set sail for
England and presented himself at Court on the 24th September. He
was created Earl of Tyrone and renounced the name of O'Neill, engaging
that he and his heirs should adopt the English dress and language,
that he would be obedient to the King's laws, assist the Deputy
in his hostings, and not succour any of the King's enemies, traitors,
or rebels.
His illegitimate son Matthew was created Baron of Dungannon (a
title to be afterwards borne by the heirs apparent of Earls of Tyrone),
and two of the Maguire family who accompanied him were knighted.
"And for his reward we [Henry VIII.] gave unto him a chayne
of three score poundes and odde; we payd for his robes and the charges
of his creation three score and fyve poundes, tenne shillings, two
pens, and we gave him in redy money oon hundreth poundes sterling."
Mr. Richey says of his submission to Henry VIII.: "Although
Con O'Neill might for himself accept any title from the King of
England, he, acting as chief of his tribe, had no shadow of right
to take a grant of all their tribal lands to himself; but in their
eyes the King's granting was simply a nullity."
Before long, however, Con regretted his submission, and is said
to have cursed any of his posterity who should learn to speak English,
sow wheat, or build castles. In 1551, on the accusation of his son,
the Baron of Dungannon, he was taken prisoner and confined in Dublin,
whilst his younger sons waged war with the English and with the
Baron, and his territories were devastated. Con died of a broken
heart in 1559, within the precincts of the Pale. "His death
would have been," according to the Four Masters, "a great
cause of regret to Kinel Owen, but for his great age and infirmities,
and that he left an heir worthy of him, i.e., John." His wife,
by whom he had his son Shane, or John, was Alice, daughter of the
8th Earl of Kildare. His son Feardoragh, or Matthew, Baron of Dungannon,
who was killed in battle two years before him, was the reputed offspring
of Alison, wife of a Dundalk blacksmith. |
