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26 LEINSTER
He was not the first rebel in the famous Geraldine
family. Carton gates open from the little town of
Maynooth, where, outside the famous ecclesiastical
college, stands the ruin of that strong castle which
was the seat of the Geraldine power when all Ireland
could not rule the Earl of Kildare and therefore it was
settled that the Earl of Kildare should rule all Ireland.
And over against the castle is a yew of portentous
size and age, which bears the name of Silken Thomas's
tree. In 1534 the Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy of
Ireland, had been summoned to Henry VIII and
detained in the Tower; his son Thomas remained in
Ireland with power as Vice-Deputy. After a few
months the rumour came that Kildare had been put
to death—a rumour no way incredible. His son, in
natural indignation, determined to owe Henry no
more allegiance, and on St. Barnabas' Day rode into
Dublin with one hundred and forty followers wearing
silken fringes to their helmets. The council was fixed
to be held in St. Mary's Abbey, and the Geraldine troop
rode splashing through the ford of the Liffey to the
north bank. In the council chamber sat the Chan-
cellor, Archbishop Cromer, and Silken Thomas, with
his armed followers tramping in at his heels, re-
nounced his allegiance, and called on all who hated
cruelty and tyranny to join him in war upon the
English. His speech ending, he proffered his sword