[MR] Wikipedia: Flight of the Earls

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1607, Hugh O'Neill, the Irish Earl of Tyronne, with Rory 
O'Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell, a number of of lesser Ulster nobles, and 
their families and followers, fled Ireland by ship for exile on the 
Continent. The Nine Years War, which sealed Tudor conquest of Ireland, 
had finally ended in 1603. English policies had reduced seriously the 
earls' lands, incomes and power. O'Neill and O'Donnell hoped to obtain 
Spanish help and troops to resume the war against the English invaders, 
but this never happened. The nobles, and most of their followers 
forfeited all their lands by leaving, and they eventually died in exile.

This event happened somewhat after our period of interest, but is 
important, as it marked the end to several hundred years of warfare in 
Ireland and finally established English control not just of Ulster, but 
the whole of Ireland. Sporadic resistance continued, but Ireland 
remained under English control for the next 300 years, and Ulster (aka 
Northern Ireland, or the "Black Six" as those counties are known by the 
rest of Ireland) continues to be a point of tension.

You can read more about the Flight of the Earls at 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_the_Earls .

Hugh O'Neill is one of the most colorful and interesting of England's 
Irish enemies, and a constant thorn in the side of Elizabeth I: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_O%27Neill,_Earl_of_Tyrone .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge