Philip III.

of Spain encouraged these aspirations.

He had an Irish legion under the command of Henry O'Neill, son of the fugitive Earl of Tyrone.

It was reported that, in 1630 there were in the service of the Archduchess, in the Spanish Netherlands alone, 100 Irish officers able to command companies, and 20 fit to be colonels.

There were many others at Lisbon, Florence, Milan, and Naples.