During some weeks he remained secure within his defences, while the Irish lay a few miles off.

He set himself assiduously to drill those new levies which formed the greater part of his army.

He ordered the musketeers to be constantly exercised in firing, sometimes at marks and sometimes by platoons; and, from the way in which they at first acquitted themselves, it plainly appeared that he had judged wisely in not leading them out to battle.

It was found that not one in four of the English soldiers could manage his piece at all; and whoever succeeded in discharging it, no matter in what direction, thought that he had performed a great feat.
While the Duke was thus employed, the Irish eyed his camp without daring to attack it.

But within that camp soon appeared two evils more terrible than the foe, treason and pestilence.