looked up with much choler and grief in her
countenance, and said: O! now it mindeth me that you was _one_ who saw
this man _elsewhere_[142], and hereat she dropped a tear and smote her
bosom; she held in her hand a golden cup, which she often put to her
lips; but in truth her heart seemeth too full to need more filling. This
sight moved me to think of what passed in Ireland, and I trust she did
not less think on _some_ who were busier there than myself. She gave me
a message to the lord deputy, and bade me come to the chamber at seven
o'clock. Hereat some who were about her did marvel, as I do not hold so
high place as those she did not choose to do her commands.... Her
majesty inquired of some matters which I had written; and as she was
pleased to note my fanciful brain, I was not unheedful to feed her
humour, and read some verses, whereat she smiled once, and was pleased
to say: 'When thou dost feel creeping time at thy gate, these fooleries
will please thee less; I am past my relish for such matters; thou seest
my bodily meat doth not suit me well; I have eaten but one ill-tasted
cake since yesternight.' She rated most grievously at noon at some one
who minded not to bring up certain matters of account: several men have
been sent to, and when ready at hand, her highness hath dismissed in
anger; but who, dearest Mall, shall say, that 'your highness hath
forgotten?'"

[Note 142: Harrington had been at a conference held with him by
Essex; for which he had been severely rated by the queen.]

* * * * *

During the campaign of 1602, lord Montjoy had been occupied in Ireland
in reducing the inferior rebels to submission; in building forts and
planting garrisons; at the same time wasting the country in every
direction, for the purpose of straitening the quarters of Tyrone and
cutting off his supplies. At length, having collected all his forces, he
purposed to hazard an attack on the chieftain himself, in the midst of
the desert fastnesses to which he had driven him; but the difficulties
which he experienced from the impassable state of the roads, the
treachery of scouts and the inclemency of the season, compelled him to
defer this undertaking till the return of spring. Meantime, such was the
extremity of distress to which Tyrone had been reduced, that numbers of
his people had perished by hunger; and perceiving the remnant fast
diminishing by daily desertion, he renewed the offer of surrende