Quiet Times
For some years after, O'Byrne appeared to remain quiet and, following the death of the Earl of Desmond in 1583, had even received into his territory his old foe, Nicholas White, the first visit to that place by a senior crown judge. He gave his uncle and sons as hostages to the new governor, Sir John Perrot, who hanged a piper sent in by O'Byrne after a cattle raid which had been carried out to the piper's tune. Some of the hostages escaped, but O'Byrne soon appeared before Perrot in English dress and supplied more hostages.
In March 1587, the Irish wife of the English captain, Sir Thomas Lee, let it be known that her husband was plotting to capture O'Byrne, and Lee decided to separate from her. In 1589, 22 O'Byrne hostages escaped custody - including two of Fiach's sons and his brother in law - 11 being recaptured. O'Byrne's docility remained in doubt, and he was soon found attacking Arklow Castle in revenge for a private wrong.
Read more about this topic: Fiach Mc Hugh O'Byrne
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