Such a government James might have established in the day of his power.

But the opportunity had passed away: compromise had become impossible: the two infuriated castes were alike convinced that it was necessary to oppress or to be oppressed, and that there could be no safety but in victory, vengeance, and dominion.

They agreed only in spurning out of the way every mediator who sought to reconcile them.
During some weeks there were outrages, insults, evil reports, violent panics, the natural preludes of the terrible conflict which was at hand.
A rumour spread over the whole island that, on the ninth of December, there would be a general massacre of the Englishry.

Tyrconnel sent for the chief Protestants of Dublin to the Castle, and, with his usual energy of diction, invoked on himself all the vengeance of heaven if the report was not a cursed, a blasted, a confounded lie.

It was said that, in his rage at finding his oaths ineffectual, he pulled off his hat and wig, and flung them into the fire, [121] But lying Dick Talbot was so well known that his imprecations and gesticulations only strengthened the apprehension which they were meant to allay.