JOURNAL OF THE COUNTY DONEGAL HISTORICAL f'OCIETY English were quick to seize the opportunity and, in pu0:-suance of their well-known 'divide and conquer' policy hacked ;Sir Niall Ga11bh against his kinsman. He, however, was .playing a deeper game and when Aodh Ruadh died began to show his independence, declaring his intention of having nim$elf inaugurated as ''O~Domhnaill." This did not suit Dublin Castle and so t:he Lord Deputy found a less stubborn and less ambitious person f o r their schemes in Aodh Ruadh's brother, Rory. Henceforth they Iavished their attentions on him. Sir Niall Garbn became more discontented at the turn of events. He retaliated by collecting his clansmen at Kilmacrennan and going ahead ,with the inauguration ceremony. Undaunted by this display the Government's next move was to create iRory Ea·11l of Tyrc.onnell and Baron of Donegal (27th December, 1603). It took the wheel but f.our years to turn. Earl Rory who had been piled high with English honours and favours in 1603 was compelled to fly with Hugh O'Neill and a host of their kinsmen ibecause of English treachery in 1H07. He sailed out of Lough Swilly in September and sank to an early grave in Rome on the following 28th July, aged 33 years. W:hen •Earl Rory fled his wife, Brigit, daughter .of Henry l2th Earl of Kiildare, did not accompany him but he took with him his infant son, Hugh, then 11 months old. The baby was well cared for, being befriended by the Archduke Albert, Governor of the Low Countries, who granted him a pension and as he grew up had him attached as a page to the Court of the Infanta Isabella at Brussels. Hugh adopted his benefactor's name in Gonfirmation and is usually styled "Hugh Albert" in contemporary records. He completed his education at the University of Louvain, joined the Spanish Sen:ice and rose to the rank of MaiorGeneral. He, was a person of much influence and standing on the Continent, being recognised as "The O'Donnell." We find him described as "-O'Donnell, Earll of Tyi<connel~, Baron of 1Li:fford, Lord of Lowe.:: Connaught and Sli0go and Knight of the Order of Alcantara." He desired to return to Ireland at the outbreak of the Confederate Wars but permission was refused him. He was sent instead to the Mediterranian where he was drowned in the summer of 164-2. He left no issue. Before passing from Hugh ALbert it might be mentioned that a sister was born in Ireland after his flight of 1607. She was brought up in the Old Faith by her mother. Her grandmother, the Dowager Countess of Kildart: introduced he:: to the English Court when she iWas lQ. Shi:: made a great impression and became a general favourite, especiallv with the King. He felt sorry for ·her father and desired to make amends to her for the harsh treatment her parent had re~eived. He accordingly bestow. ed a la::ge sum of money on her and gave her the name of Mary "iStuart." Her grandmother too named her as her heir. A b<rilIiant future was therefore assured .As was to be expected Mary had many suitors. Every inducement was held out to her to renounce her relig.ion and marry one of the Protestant nobility. This she positively refused to do and therelby incurred disp1easure of those in high places. Things !began to look black as her name became linked by rumour with the escape of two of her prisoner kinsmen to the Continent. Mary was summoned to appear before the Council to give an account of he·rseil:f. Being forwarned by a friend of what the consequences were likely to be she decided to provide for her safety by disguising herse1f as a cavalier and leaving England under an assumed name. In due course she Teached Flanders and was we:t-- comed at the Coiurt of the I;-1fanta. The fame of her exploit spread throughout Europe and 200.
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