The action by which Chichester originally introduced himself to public notice was one that did not at first commend itself to the powers that be. He was compelled to make a very hasty retreat from his native place in Devonshire, in consequence of his having been criminally concerned in a highway robbery. With the connivance or assistance of one or two associates, he lay in wait for and robbed a ” Queen’s purveyor,” as a tax-collector was then called ; which offence, however, was of very grave, indeed even terrible, significance, and more especially at that crisis, when Queen Elizabeth very much required all the money that could be hastily collected from her subjects to assist in carrying on her numerous military enterprises in almost every corner of Ireland.

It was generally believed at the time that Chichester had fled directly to France ; but this has since been found to be a mistake, as he went, in the first instance, for refuge to Ireland, where he had an elder brother, John Chichester, and two cousins named Bourchier, who were all servitors of the English at various places in the land. With their connivance, he was able to remain for a time in concealment ; but his retreat being soon discovered, he privately made his escape to France, where he was safe from further pursuit, and where he enlisted as a soldier of fortune.

His astute and daring nature in dealing with enemies soon made him a name in the French service, whilst several of his influential friends in England did not fail to inform the Queen that his exile was a serious loss to her service, especially in Ireland, where soldiers of his particular calibre were then so urgently needed. It soon afterwards came to pass that the offence which had been at first denounced in Devonshire as highway robbery of a very aggravated character, for which the perpetrator had to fly into an enemy’s country for refuge, was condoned and pardoned by the Queen, and then as a matter of course represented to her subjects as a mere youthful frolic.

Chichester was then permitted to return to England, and thence sent with all despatch to serve Her Majesty in Ireland. It was commonly remarked that whilst Elizabeth sent her eagles against Spain, she reserved her vultures for this unhappy country ; and in the present instance the Irish had a very truthful illustration of the fact. Chichester came here about the time of the commencement of the war against the Northern Lords a war which had been largely forced by the cruelties and oppressions of Fitzwilliam, the Lord Deputy, and Sir Henry Bagnall, the Field Marshal in Ulster. The new servitor, on his arrival, found the whole country in commotion, and was soon able to enter upon his work with heart and hand. It does not appear that Chichester was appointed to any military command, as his name is not mentioned in connection with any of the battles or general fighting during this war ; so his duties were probably, for a time at least, those of an assistant to his brother, who had been then recently knighted and appointed Governor of Carrickfergus or correctly speaking, Governor of Upper and Lower Clannaboy, Carrickfergus being his base of operations.

To be continued