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Knowles, uncle to Essex; but he as strenuously stood up for Sir George Carew; but with this the queen would not comply, when he, in a contemptuous manner, turned his back upon her, which she immediately resented by hitting him a box on the ear. The earl now laid his hand upon his sword, but the others interposing, he was obliged to retreat. Essex afterwards made submission, and was again received into favour. At this time the rebellion in Ireland was grown to a great height, and the lord-deputy being dead, several were proposed to be sent thither, when Essex hinted he should be glad of that command, to which the queen consented. He accordingly went with a large army, and an unlimited general commission, and soon appointed the Earl of Southampton as acting general. The intention of the government was, that Tir-Owen, the most formidable of the rebels, should be immediately attacked; but the whole summer was spent in the pursuit of some rebels of little note.—This conduct obliged the queen to send him some very sharp letters, which he highly resented. At length he ordered the army to march against Tir-Owen; but instead of coming to a battle, he held a private parley with that rebel, and concluded a truce with him for six weeks, renewable at the end of that time for six weeks more, and so on. But finding his conduct disliked in England, he hastened thither, leaving Ireland without orders; upon which he was put into custody at the lord keeper’s house. After six months’ confinement he was suffered to go to his own house. The queen now proceeded against him, but would not suffer him to be impeached in the star-chamber, lest they should accuse him of high treason, or fine him considerably. She appointed a select commission to try him at the lordkeepers, where, after a long hearing, they
