He thanked the Commons warmly.

Ambition, he said, should never induce him to draw the sword: but he had no choice: France had already attacked England; and it was necessary to exercise the right of selfdefence.

A few days later war was proclaimed, [113] Of the grounds of quarrel alleged by the Commons in their address, and by the King in his manifesto, the most serious was the interference of Lewis in the affairs of Ireland.

In that country great events had, during several months, followed one another in rapid succession.

Of those events it is now time to relate the history, a history dark with crime and sorrow, yet full of interest and instruction..