erns of
the Irish, was emboldened, by their ignorance and bigotry, to assume
the chief authority in the civil government. Foreseeing that a general
submission to the lord lieutenant would put an end to his own influence,
he conspired with Owen O'Neal, who commanded the native Irish, in
Ulster, and who bore a great jealousy to Preston, the general chiefly
trusted by the council of Kilkenny. By concert, these two malecontents
secretly drew forces together, and were ready to fall on Ormond, who
remained in security, trusting to the pacification so lately concluded
with the rebels. He received intelligence of their treachery, made
his retreat with celerity and conduct, and sheltered his small army in
Dublin and the other fortified towns, which still remained in the hands
of the Protestants.

The nuncio, full of arrogance, levity, and ambition, was not contented
with this violation of treaty. He summoned an assembly of the clergy at
Waterford, and engaged them to declare against that pacification which
the civil council had concluded with their sovereign. He even thundered
out a sentence of excommunication against all who should adhere to a
peace so prejudicial, as he pretended, to the Catholic religion; and the
deluded Irish, terrified with his spiritual menaces, ranged themselves
every where on his side, and submitted to his authority. Without
scruple, he carried on war against the lord lieutenant, and threatened
with a siege the Protestant garrisons, which were all of them very ill
provided for defence.

Meanwhile, the unfortunate king was necessitated to take shelter in
the Scottish army; and being there reduced to close confinement,
and secluded from all commerce with his friends, despaired that his
authority, or even his liberty, would ever be restored to him. He sent
orders to Ormond, if he could not defend himself, rather to submit
to the English than to the Irish rebels; and accordingly the lord
lieutenant, being reduced to extremities, delivered up Dublin, Tredah,
Dundalk, and other garrisons, to Colonel Michael Jones, who took
possession of them in the name of the English parliament. Ormond himself
went over to England, was admitted into the king's presence, received
a grateful acknowledgment for his past services, and during some time
lived in tranquillity near London. But being banished, with the other
royalists, to a distance from that city, and seeing every event turn out
unfortunately for his royal master,