King William landed at Carrickfergus, on the 14th of June, and the combined army at once began their southward march.  Against this force, King James collected but twenty thousand men.  Of these, six thousand were French.  They had arrived, under the command of the Count de Lauzun, in March, but they had not increased the numbers of King James’s troops, for he had been obliged to send, in exchange, an equal number of his best-trained soldiers, under Lord Mountcashel, for service in France.  Of the fourteen thousand native troops, the Irish horse, which was raised and officered by Irish gentlemen, was excellent, but the infantry was composed for the most part of raw levies, but half armed, and the only artillery consisted of twelve guns, which had arrived with the infantry from France.

It was a sad parting, when Captain Davenant and Walter left home for the front.  The former was filled with gloomy forebodings.  He could scarcely hope that the ill-trained levies of James could succeed against the vastly superior force, of disciplined troops, with whom they had now to cope; especially as the latter were led by an able and energetic general, while the former were hampered by the incompetence and vacillation of James.

The day before they started, Captain Davenant rode over to the Whitefoots and had a talk with Jabez.

“I know not how the campaign will go,” he said.  “If we are beaten, we shall probably retire to the west, and maintain the war there.  In that case, Dublin will of course fall into the hands of William.  Should this be so, I will ask you to reverse our late position, and to extend what assistance you can to my wife and mother.  It may be that, if I do not return here, none will disturb them.  I have not made myself obnoxious to my Protestant neighbours, and no one may take the trouble to bring it before the notice of the English that I am absent, fighting with the army of King James.  If, however, they should do so, and the castle and what remains of the estates be confiscated, will you lend what aid you can to the ladies, and my younger boy, until I or Walter return from the war?”

“That will I do, right gladly,” Jabez said, heartily.  “Should I hear any talk of what you speak of, I will go up to Dublin with some of our friends and ministers, and we will testify to the good relations which have existed between you and your Protestant neighbours, and entreat that no measures be taken against your estate.  Should we not prevail, be assured that I will look after the comfort of the ladies, as if they were of my own family.

“I can well understand that Mrs. Davenant, the elder, would not accept the shelter of our roof, whatever her extremity.  She belongs to the generation of my father, and cannot forget the past; but I will see that they are well lodged in Bray, and have every protection from molestation and annoyance there.  Should I find, as, alas! may be the case, that the spirit of religious persecution is fiercely abroad, I will consult with them, as to whether they may wish to cross the sea until you can join them, and will make arrangements, as they may direct, for their passage.”