The storm which Derry had braved was gathering around it at last.

King James and his troops were advancing against it.
Opinion was strongly divided in the city.

Almost without exception, the older citizens deprecated resistance.

The walls, indeed, were strong, and the position formidable.

The king had no artillery worth speaking of, and the walls, manned by brave men, might well, for a definite time, resist assault; but the stores of food could not long support the large population now gathered in the town, and there seemed no possibility, whatever, of assistance from England before the horrors of famine would be upon them.