Chapter 49: O’Doherty
April, 1611
The sun warmed him as he walked across St James’ Park. Prince Henry had granted him special permission to do that, so that he could go and get some things from the small house he owned on the other end of the park. As he walked, Cahir found himself thinking about his wife and their children. Mary and their son and daughter would be coming to London in a few weeks, and Cahir was excited.
He’d written to them almost everyday since he’d left Inishowen three years ago, and had taken comfort in their replies, but to actually get the chance to see them, to physically hold them and touch them? That was something else entirely. He couldn’t wait.
And to think that all of that could’ve been taken from him if he’d decided to rebel as that idiot Paulet had wanted him to. Cahir had been lucky, his application for the Household of Prince Henry had arrived a few days before he’d been scheduled to meet with his foster-father. The acceptance and Mary’s urging had convinced him to go. If the letter hadn’t come when it had, Cahir didn’t know what would’ve happened.
“Excuse me, Sir, you wouldn’t happen to know where I could get some good eggs here, do you?” A voice asked.
Cahir blinked and turned to his right, and found himself looking at a kindly old man, with a scraggly beard and long flowing auburn hair. Cahir nodded. “At the end of the park, turn right, and then take a sharp left. You’ll find Mary’s Hen House, a great place for eggs.”
“Thank you.” The man said, though he didn’t immediately make to leave. Indeed, the fact he was in the park when you needed approval from Prince Henry to enter the park, and Cahir wasn’t sure if the Prince would’ve granted this man such approval. Cahir blinked as a camel walked past.[1]
He’d also noticed that the man’s accent was odd. He wasn’t from here. “Where are you from?” Cahir asked by way of trying to figure out the man.
“Dunaff, Sir.” The man replied. “And yourself?”
“You’re from Dunaff?” Cahir replied surprised. He’d never met anyone from that little village in London before. He switched to Gaelic and asked. “What are you doing so far from home?”
“Exploring the world, Sir.” The man said, also in Gaelic. “I’m trying to understand something.”
“And what is it that you’re trying to understand?” Cahir asked.
The man’s eyes narrowed then. “What it is that the English have that makes us all so willing to bend the knee to them.”
Cahir’s eyes widened; the way the man’s tone had hardened when he’d answered made him think that this was no ordinary man. Immediately, he glanced around. There was nobody else in the park apart from the two of them and the animals. “Who are you?” Cahir asked then.
“A man from Dunaff, Sir.” The man answered smiling, his voice soft.
“What do you want?” Cahir asked.
“I told you, Sir, to understand what the English have that makes us so willing to bend the knee.” The man replied.
“No,” Cahir replied, his tone hardening. “What do you want with me?”
He expected the man to demur and say something about being harmless, that’s what would happen at court, but instead, the man said. “I want to make you an offer, Sir.”
“What sort of offer?” Cahir asked, he wouldn’t agree to it, but he wanted to know what this man was after.
“I want to give you the chance to free your people from English subjugation.” The man said.
Cahir laughed. “My people are not under English subjugation. I still rule them.” And the English gave him a fair amount of leeway in that regard, as long as he stuck to some basic customs and rules.
“That is not ruling, that is acting as someone’s lapdog.” The man said.
“Watch your tone!” Cahir snapped; his anger was starting to rise. Who was this man?
“You know it is true, Sir. The English have you on a leash and the only way to remove it is to do what I suggest.” The man said.
This is a trap. Cahir realised. The man had likely followed him since he’d left the Palace, no doubt with some sort of sinister intention. Was this a test from the Prince? Or from one of the Prince’s enemies? Carr? Who?
Tentatively, he asked. “What do you suggest then?”
“There are those in Ireland who are waiting for a leader, for someone to guide them to freedom. They are preparing for a rising and they need you, Sir. You are the one who they want to lead them to the promised land.” The man said.
“Why?” Cahir asked.
“Because you know the English, you know how they think, how they operate, and you know their weaknesses. Plus, your clan is completely loyal to you, Sir. That is something that no other native chieftain remaining can say.” The man replied.
This is definitely a trap. Cahir thought to himself, but aloud he merely asked. “And say I went ahead with this, what else would I need to do?”
“Ride north to Manchester, board a ship captained by a man named Morgan, and then travel to Inishowen. Raise your clan, and then march south for Dublin. The others will join you.” The man said.
“What others?” Cahir asked.
“O’Donnell, MacCafferty and many more, they are just waiting for you to make the first move.” The man said.
“Why?” Cahir asked, he was convinced that this was a trap now. He would tell the Prince about this the moment he got back to the Palace, he just needed to get this man’s name.
“Because of what I have said before.” The man said.
“I see.” Cahir replied. “And what is your name?” The man frowned at him and so Cahir elaborated. “If we are to work together, I need to know your name.”
“Lachlan O’Sullivan.” The man replied.
Spanish, he’s bloody Spanish. Cahir realised. The O’Sullivans or a branch of the family had fought in the Nine Years War and had fled to Spain when that war had ended. So, that’s what this was. The Spanish were trying to create chaos. Well, he wouldn’t give it to them. He plastered on a smile and said. “I need to think, I will let you know, Lachlan.”
Lachlan nodded. “Of course, Sir, do not take too long though.”
“Of course.” Cahir said. “Good day.” He walked onward, moving quickly. His mind racing. He’d need to tell Henry as soon as he could, the consequences of this would be huge.
[1] No, you’re not imagining. King James kept camels, elephants, crocodiles and exotic birds in the Park. Maybe even a lion or two 😉