[Sidenote: Hugh Roe O'Donnell.] [Sidenote: Kidnapped by Perrott, 1587.] There was a prophecy that Ireland should be delivered by the O'Donnells when Hugh succeeded lawfully to Hugh. Its fulfilment was expected in Henry VIII.'s time, and now again it was in men's mouths. Perrott, who had small regard for such fancies, noticed the boy's importance, and decided that he would be a good pledge. In the winter of 1587, he sent a ship laden with wine and manned by fifty armed men round to Lough Swilly, where the master, John Bermingham of Dublin, traded freely with the natives. Hugh Roe came to hunt in the neighbourhood, or to visit MacSwiney Fanad, near whose castle of Rathmullen the false merchantman lay. As soon as the strangers heard of his arrival they went on board and kept careful watch. In due course messengers came from MacSwiney, who wanted wine to entertain his distinguished guest. Bermingham answered that he had sold all he had to spare, but would be most happy to entertain MacSwiney and the gentlemen with him. They came on board accordingly, and when they had caroused for some time in the cabin, the seamen quietly got under way, shut down the hatches, and carried the whole party out to sea. Pursuit was impossible, for the natives had no boats; and Hugh Roe was lodged in Dublin Castle, where he found many companions in misfortune, and where prisoners 'beguiled the time only by lamenting to each other their troubles, and listening to the cruel sentences passed on the high-born nobles of Ireland.'[210] [Sidenote: First escape of Hugh Roe O'Donnell, 1591.]