TIME RUNS OUT

To deter Queen Elizabeth from further attempts to plunder his treasure fleet, King Philip of Spain sends a thinly veiled warning to Queen Elizabeth. It arrives in the form of a small landing force in southern Ireland under the guise of a Papal Crusade. Philip intends that it demonstrate how easily he might send a great Armada to invade England if Elizabeth further provokes him by refusing to recall Francis Drake.

However, within weeks, the English discover a body in Ireland hidden in a hollow tree. It belongs to the leader of the Papal Crusade. Consequently, the powerful Earl of Desmond is prevailed upon to forsake his loyalty to the Crown and assume command. English forces now move to hunt him down.

In Dublin and London, English eyebrows are suddenly raised as Hugh’s mistress, Fiona O’Neill - daughter of his rebellious arch rival Tirlough Luineach O’Neill – moves into Hugh’s matrimonial residence at Dungannon. There, Hugh’s wife Siobhan continues as the chatelaine, but Fiona’s father – Tirlough Luineach - demands that Hugh marry his daughter or face a clan war.

Then, from out of the fog into Plymouth Harbour, sails Francis Drake, given up for dead two years ago. Deep in the holds of his ship lies the most valuable treasure ever plundered from Spain. Queen Elizabeth eyes the gold covetously as King Philip of Spain now threatens all-out war if it is not returned.

In the face of rising tensions between England and Spain, Hugh surprises the Crown with news that he has been elected by the Clans as the future successor to Fiona’s father in the forbidden Gaelic office of the O’Neillship. Hugh dismisses English protests by excusing his action as necessary to prevent the influential office from falling into the hands of disloyal rivals.

Hugh repeats his request to be created Earl of Tyrone.