Nevertheless the negotiations were pressed on in her name, the fact of her decease being carefully concealed from the Irish.

Tyrone had already sent his secretary, Henry O'Hagan, to announce to the lord deputy that he was about to come to his presence.

Accordingly on March 29, he surrendered himself to the two commissioners at Tougher, within five miles of Dungannon.

On the following evening he reached Mellifont, when, being admitted to the lord deputy's presence, 'he knelt, as was usual on such occasions;' and made penitent submission to her majesty.

Then, being invited to come nearer to the deputy, he repeated the ceremony, if we may credit Fynes Moryson, in the same humiliating attitude, thus:-- 'I, Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, do absolutely submit myself to the queen's mercy, imploring her gracious commiseration, imploring her majesty to mitigate her just indignation against me.