Sorley Boy has spent the past few years in striving to frustrate the schemes of Smith, and now those of Essex, for colonizing Ulster with English settlers.

He is willing to come to terms with the government provided his claims to the lands are allowed, but Essex determines to reduce him to unconditional submission.

After a retreat into Scotland, Sorley Boy had returned and made an unsuccessful attempt on the crown garrison at Carrickfergus.

He had eventually come to terms with Smith, who supports his claims to title in the Route on condition that he take up the reformed religion.

Letters of denization had been addressed to Sorley Boy from the crown in 1573, but Essex has frustrated these with the renewal of his plantation scheme; still, Sorley Boy manages to hold his position, when Essex fails in his negotiation with the Scottish regent and the Earl of Argyll of a withdrawal of the Scots from Ulster.