We wish to demonstrate by this present series of historical articles on the mid-sixteenth century and the role of Shane O’Neill in particular, that Nicholas Bagenal – the ‘hero’ of ‘Bagenal’s Caisle
Mr Justice Dowdall and Thomas Stukeley were sent by the English Government to Shane O’Neill for the purpose of conferring with him but they met with little success.
In contempt the proud O’Neill stated that he never made peace with the Queen except at her own seeking and he arrogantly boasted that he would keep from O’Donnell his country (Donegal) and Newry from Bagenal and Dundrum from Kildare.
Even the English Deputy acknowledged O’Neill’s strong position: he was, he said, ‘the only strong and rich man in
In Newry Nicholas Bagenal despaired completely and in March 1567 he made a bargain with the aforementioned Thomas Stukeley to sell to him all his lands in