“Tell him I have not forgotten him,” Colonel L’Estrange said.  “While you have been doing so much, I have had a quiet time of it.  I could have got a regiment at once, had I cared for it, but I disliked the thought of fighting over here.  It was too much like civil war.  Six months ago, when things were going badly with us on the Continent, I asked to be employed, and was given a regiment they were just raising.  I had got them into fair order, and was expecting to be ordered to embark for the Low Country at any moment, when the news came of Ginckle’s heavy losses at Athlone and Aughrim, and the orders came for us to proceed to Bristol, and take ship there for Ireland.  I half thought of throwing up my commission, for the news of the scandalous conduct of the foreign soldiers had stirred every English heart with disgust and indignation, but I thought that the struggle was nearly over.  William was anxious for peace at any price, and would grant almost any terms to secure it; and, on the other hand, we knew that Louis was, at last, going to make a great effort.  So that it was certain that either the Irish would make peace on fair terms before winter, or the French would land, and there would be an end of any prospect of conquering Ireland, until matters were settled on the Continent, and William could devote his whole strength to this business.”

“And which alternative do you think the most likely?” Walter asked.

“The latter,” Colonel L’Estrange said, gravely.  “Frankly, Walter, the situation looks bad.  There is, so far as I can see, no chance whatever of our taking Limerick, and in a fortnight ten thousand French troops will be landed.

“Of course it is probable that, at the last moment, the Irish may conclude that they prefer to be under England rather than France, for that is what it comes to.  I hope they will have the sense to choose England, and if what we hear be true, they can judge from the insolent arrogance of the French officers, when they are but a fraction of your force, what they would be when they regarded themselves as your masters.

“William is ready to grant religious equality, and the security of persons and estates.  I think the Irish will be very unwise to refuse.  At the same time, they have suffered such villainous treatment, at the hands of William’s soldiers, that I cannot blame them if they decide to throw in their lot with France.”

“I think,” Walter said, “that, if they were but sure that all the promises would be kept, the greater part would be in favour of making peace at once.  Nine out of ten of us are of English descent, and have only been driven to take up arms by the cruel oppression which we have suffered.  Why, at present five-sixths of the soil of Ireland is in the hands of Protestants, our religion is persecuted, and for years we have been trampled on, and regarded as fair objects of robbery.”