t the mighty
zeal expressed by the Scots for the Protestant religion, would
immediately engage them to fly to its defence where it was so violently
invaded; he hoped that their horror against Popery, a religion which now
appeared in its most horrible aspect, would second all his exhortations:
he had observed with what alacrity they had twice run to arms, and
assembled troops in opposition to the rights of their sovereign: he saw
with how much greater facility they could now collect forces which
had been very lately disbanded, and which had been so long inured
to military discipline. The cries of their affrighted and distressed
brethren in Ireland, he promised himself, would powerfully incite them
to send over succors, which could arrive so quickly, and aid them with
such promptitude in this uttermost distress. But the zeal of the Scots,
as is usual among religious sects, was very feeble when not stimulated
either by faction or by interest. They now considered themselves
entirely as a republic, and made no account of the authority of their
prince, which they had utterly annihilated. Conceiving hopes from the
present distresses of Ireland, they resolved to make an advantageous
bargain for the succors with which they should supply their neighboring
nation. And they cast their eye towards the English parliament, with
whom they were already so closely connected, and who could alone fulfil
any articles which might be agreed on. Except despatching a small body
to support the Scottish colonies in Ulster, they would therefore go
no further at present than sending commissioners to London in order to
treat with that power to whom the sovereign authority was now in reality
transferred.[*]

* Rush. vol. v. p. 407.

The king, too, sensible of his utter inability to subdue the Irish
rebels, found himself obliged, in this exigency, to have recourse to
the English parliament, and depend on their assistance for supply.
After communicating to them the intelligence which he had received, he
informed them, that the insurrection was not, in his opinion, the result
of any rash enterprise, but of a formed conspiracy against the crown of
England. To their care and wisdom, therefore, he said, he committed the
conduct and prosecution of the war, which, in a cause so important
to national and religious interests, must of necessity be immediately
entered upon, and vigorously pursued.[*]

* Clarendon, vol. ii. p. 301.

The English par