Sidney believed that all Ulster difficulties originated in Scotland. Argyle did not pretend to be guided by any rule but the good of his own country, and he had 5,000 men always ready to invade Ireland if he did not approve of Elizabeth's policy. He loved Sidney, he said, better than any other Viceroy, and for that reason would rather see him anywhere than in Ulster. Sir Francis Knollys was Scotland's bitterest enemy, but he would willingly put him in Sidney's place, where he could do far less harm than at Court. Lord Herries was not even careful to use civil language. James MacDonnell's widow professed herself friendly, but said the clan would never forego its Irish claims until it was quite extinct. Donnell Gorm, born in Ireland and friendly to England, claimed the lordship of the Isles, and was in alliance with the Campbells--a reluctant tie which might easily be cut. His ancestors had a pension of 200_l._ from England, and its renewal would be money well spent. Rathlin Island, which was full of cattle--the very stable and baiting-place of the Scots--should be fortified and held, and this might be done for 300_l._ a year. A regular military occupation of the whole province would be intolerably costly, but half a dozen strong places on the coast might be provided for 2,000_l._ yearly. A town at Armagh and a bridge at Blackwater were quite necessary. In the meantime Dundalk Bridge might be repaired, and Bagenal's unfurnished castles at Newry, Carlingford, and Greencastle might be made tenable for 2,000_l._ If the Scots were once disposed of, it would be easy to govern Ireland; the O'Neills would then be shut up in their own province, and would have to work or to starve.[157] [Sidenote: James Fitzmaurice. The Butlers.]