The army then advanced to Armagh, where Shane had burned the church and destroyed all the buildings that he could. In crossing the Blackwater, which was now very low, a further justification appeared for an autumn campaign. In some former expeditions undertaken in springtime all the provisions had been exhausted while waiting for the river to become fordable. Shane's chief residence at Benburb was found in ruins, and on the tenth day Clogher was reached. Some of the corn had been carried off, but the greater part was still accessible, and all within a circuit of twenty-four miles was destroyed. While lagging in the rear with some horse Kildare was here attacked by the O'Neills, and had a narrow escape. Near Omagh Shane Maguire died on the march, just as he was about to be restored to his own. At or near Castlederg Shane showed himself in the rear, but did not venture even to skirmish, though the ground was very unfavourable to English troops, and though he had near 5,000 men with him. At the ruined castle of Lifford, Randolph met Sidney and satisfied him that Derry, with its church and other stone houses, was the best place for a fortress. On the right bank of the Foyle opposite to the entrenchment the whole army halted. O'Dogherty and the Bishop of Derry, who was of his family, then came to Sidney; but none of the O'Donnells appeared, and the Lord Deputy found it necessary to enter Tyrconnel in person. The Foyle was accordingly passed, not without difficulty, and leaving six companies and six weeks' provisions with Randolph, he marched by Raphoe through Barnesmore gap into Tyrconnel, and arrived at Donegal without seeing an enemy. He was joined on the march by O'Boyle, by two chiefs of the MacSwineys, by O'Gallagher, and by the Bishop of Raphoe, one of those prelates who had attended the Council of Trent. Donegal was taken formal possession of, and then delivered to O'Donnell, as was also Ballyshannon. The Erne was then passed in boats brought from Donegal, and Shane's people abandoned Belleek Castle, which they vainly tried to burn, and which Sidney gave up to the O'Donnells to hold of the Queen. Passing between Lough Melvin and the sea, the army marched unopposed to Sligo. O'Connor surrendered the castle, which he desired to hold of the Queen independently of O'Donnell. Sidney directed him to pay one year's rent pending a regular trial of the title, and then proceeded to Boyle by the pass over the Curlew mountains, 'the foulest place that ever we passed in Ireland.' The value of the fertile plains of Boyle was apparent to Sidney, who regretted that they were spoiled by local wars and yielded nothing to her Majesty. From Boyle the army went by Roscommon to Athlone, where the Shannon was passed by swimming, some baggage horses being lost. 'Thanks be to God,' said Sidney, 'in all this painful and long journey there died not of sickness above three persons, and the rest in such