It is true that she had been already married to his rival, O'Donel; but that was a small difficulty in his way.

The knot was tied, but he had no hesitation in cutting it with his sword.

'The countess' was well educated for her time.

She was also a Protestant, and the government had hopes that her influence would be favourable to 'civility and the Reformation' among the barbarians of the north.

But whatever advantages the presence of the fair Scottish missionary might bring, Shane O'Neill did not see why they should not be all his own, especially as he had managed somehow to produce a favourable impression on her heart.