WILLIAM AND MAIIY.

147

not less firmly attached to the reformed religion. The citizens chap.readily permitted him to leave within their walls a small garri—son exclusively composed of Protestants, under the commandof his lieutenant colonel, Bobert Lundy, who took the title ofGovernor.*

The news of Mountjoy’s visit to Ulster was highly gratifyingto the defenders of Enniskillen. Some gentlemen deputed bythat town waited on him to request his good offices, but weredisappointed by the reception which they found. “My adviceto you is,” he said, “to submit.to theKiug’s authority.” “What,my Lord?” said one of the deputies; “Are we to sit still and letourselves be butchered?” “The King,” said Mountjoy, “willprotect you.” “If all that we hear be true,” said the deputy,

“his Majesty will find it hard enough to protect himself.” Theconference ended in this unsatisfactory manner. Enniskillenstill kept its attitude of defiance; and Mountjoy returned toDublin.**

By this time it had indeed become evident that James couldnot protect himself. It was known in Ireland that he had fled;that he had been stopped; that he had fled again; that thePrince of Orange had arrived at Westminster in triumph, hadtaken on himself the administration of the realm, and hadissued letters summoning a Convention.

Those lords and gentlemen at whose request the Prince had williamassumed the government, had earnestly intreated him to takethe state of Ireland into his immediate consideration; and he jj°" c0 ™l lhhad in reply assured them that he Avould do his best to maintain nel -the Protestant religion and the English interest in that king-dom. His enemies afterwards accused him of utterly disre-garding this promise: nay, they alleged that he purposely suf-fered Ireland to sink deeper and deeper in calamity. Halifax,

* Walker’s Account; Light to the Blind.

** Mac Cormiek’s Further Impartial Account.

10 *