of a bastard--continued to maintain himself in the character of Robin Hood, and the undertakers had their difficulties with both.[229] [Sidenote: Remarks on Fitzwilliam's government.] Fitzwilliam's long public career was now at an end, though he lived until 1599. Years before he had expected to be buried in Ireland and slandered in England; and slandered he seems to have been, though he was allowed to sleep in his own country. He was not a brilliant man, and he was never given the means of doing very great things; but he steadily advanced the power of the Crown in Ireland. Not being a professional soldier he gained no remarkable victories; but of his courage there could be no doubt, as the Dublin mutiny well proved. The charge of corruption has been commonly repeated against him, but this old-world gossip wants confirmation. It was the general practice to make accusations of covetousness against Irish officials, and especially against chief governors. Russell did not escape, and it is clear that many things capable of an ill interpretation would be done in a country where enough money was never forthcoming for the public service. It is evident that neither Elizabeth nor Burghley believed the stories against Fitzwilliam, and if an official satisfies those who employ him he can afford to despise unpopularity. He was not a great man, but he was eminently serviceable, and, if he gained no striking successes, his reign was free from crushing disasters. FOOTNOTES: [214] _Four Masters_, 1592. On Feb. 27, Gardiner, C.J., writes to Burghley that Hugh Roe is back in Donegal; under May 31, 1589, there is a list of twenty-two prisoners who had escaped from Dublin Castle, of which eleven had been brought back, but Hugh Roe is not mentioned. In 1594 Henry, Con, and Brian MacShane were all in Tyrone's custody; (No. 139) in _Carew_ of that year. [215] _Four Masters_, 1592; Fitzwilliam to Burghley, July 7. Captain Lee, in _Desiderata Curiosa Hibernica_, vol. i. p. 106, says Willis had with him three hundred of the very rascals and scum of that kingdom, which did rob and spoil that people, ravish their wives and daughters, and make havoc of all. [216] _Four Masters_, 1592; Tyrone to Burghley, Aug, 2; Fitzwilliam to Burghley, Aug. 8. [217] Loftus to Burghley, Dec. 27, 1590, and Feb. 4, 1591; Lloyd's _State Worthies_. Loftus began the attack by recommending Philip Williams to Burghley, Dec. 18, 1586. Williams's wife applied to Jones a few days later, and the Archbishop forwarded her letter, Jan. 1, 1587. Fitzwilliam wrote to Burghley in favour of Williams, Sept. 17, 1590; see also Sir R. Bingham to Geo. Bingham, Oct. 29, 1591.