He had hitherto treated the Irish soldiers with contemptuous severity.

But now that he had resolved to stake life and fame on the valour of the despised race, he became another man.

During the few days which remained to him he exerted himself to win by indulgence and caresses the hearts of all who were under his command.

[105] He, at the same time, administered to his troops moral stimulants of the most potent kind.

He was a zealous Roman Catholic; and it is probable that the severity with which he had treated the Protestants of his own country ought to be partly ascribed to the hatred which he felt for their doctrines.