It was necessary for his own sake to dismiss him.

An honourable pretext was found.

He was ordered to repair to Versailles, to represent there the state of affairs in Ireland, and to implore the French government to send over without delay six or seven thousand veteran infantry.

He laid down the seals; and they were, to the great delight of the Irish, put into the hands of an Irishman, Sir Richard Nagle, who had made himself conspicuous as Attorney General and Speaker of the House of Commons.
Melfort took his departure under cover of the night: for the rage of the populace against him was such that he could not without danger show himself in the streets of Dublin by day.

On the following morning James left his capital in the opposite direction to encounter Schomberg, [436] Schomberg had landed in Antrim.