These came up with the insurgents at Dromore, and defeated them with great slaughter.  They rallied at Hillsborough, but again were defeated and scattered.  Hamilton divided his force, and, marching through the north, reduced Ulster to submission, with the exception only of the fortified towns of Enniskillen and Derry.  In the south General M’Carty was equally successful in clearing Munster of William’s adherents, and defeated Lord Inshiquin in every encounter.

On the 14th of March, Mr. Davenant, who had ridden into Dublin, returned in the evening with the news that the king had landed at Kinsale, two days before, with fifteen hundred Irish troops in the pay of France, and a hundred French officers, intended to aid in drilling the new levies.

“I am glad, indeed, that he has arrived, for had he been met on the seas by the English fleet, all our hopes might have been dashed at a blow.  Now that he is with us, it will rouse the enthusiasm of the people to the utmost.  If he is wise, he will surely be able to unite all Ireland under him; save of course the fanatics of the north, who, however, can do nothing against the whole strength of the country, since Hamilton’s little force, alone, has been sufficient to put down all opposition, save where they remain shut up behind the walls of Derry and Enniskillen.

“It is not with them that we have to cope alone—­they would be utterly powerless—­it is with the army of England and Scotland we shall have to fight.  Unfortunately we have no fleet, and they can land wherever they choose; but now the king is really among us, all who have hitherto wavered will join.  Let England and Scotland choose their king as they will, but there is no reason why Ireland should desert its rightful monarch at their bidding.”

“When will the king arrive at Dublin, father?”

“He goes first to Cork, Walter.  Tyrconnell has set out, and will meet him there.  They say he will be here in about ten days’ time.  The French ambassador, the Marquis d’Avaux, comes with him, and many French nobles.”

“Do you think, father, he will at once order that his friends shall receive the land again which was taken from them by Cromwell’s soldiers?”

“I hope not, my boy.  It is his interest and not our own we must think of now; and if Ireland is to resist, successfully, the English and continental troops of Dutch William, we must be united—­we must be Irishmen first, Catholics and Protestants afterwards.  I trust that he will issue such proclamations as will allay the alarm of the Protestants, and bind us all together.

“King James is not like his father.  In no single case, since he came to the throne, has he broken his royal word once given; therefore, all may feel confidence in any promises he may make.  I have, of course, no hope that anything he can say will influence the fanatics of Derry and Enniskillen, but we can afford to disregard them.  They are entailing misery and suffering upon themselves, without