It threatened, and failed to execute its threats.
It fell back on conciliation, and yet immediately, by some injustice or cruelty, made reliance on its good faith impossible.' Essex seemed to understand well the nature and motive of the queen's professions, and he resolved to make some bold attempts to win back her favour.

He had made a sudden attack on Sir Brian O'Neill of Clandeboye, with troops trained in the wars of the Low Countries, and in a week he brought him to abject submission, which he expressed by saying that 'he had gone wickedly astray, wandering in the wilderness like a blind beast.' But it was the misfortune of Sir Brian, or M'Phelim, that he still held his own territory, which had been granted by the queen to Essex.

'The attempt to deprive him had been relinquished.

He had surrendered his lands, and the queen, at Essex's own intercession, had reinstated him as tenant under the crown.

It seems, however, as if Essex had his eye still upon the property.' Under such circumstances, it was easy to assume that O'Neill was still playing false.