In all else they were superior to the Irish; in arms, armaments, munitions, supplies of food and money, here the long purse, settled organization and greater commerce of England, gave her an overwhelming advantage.

Moreover the English lacked the moral restraints that imposed so severe a handicap on the Irish in their resistance.

They owned no scruple of conscience in committing any crime that served their purpose.

Beaten often in open fight by the hardier bodies, stouter arms and greater courage of the Irishmen, they nevertheless won the game by recourse to means that no Irishman, save he who had joined them for purposes of revenge or in pursuit of selfish personal aims, could possibly have adopted.

The fight from the first was an unequal one.