Tyrconnel himself was convinced that all was lost.
His only hope was that he might be able to prolong the struggle till he could receive from Saint Germains permission to treat.

He wrote to request that permission, and prevailed, with some difficulty, on his desponding countrymen to bind themselves by an oath not to capitulate till an answer from James should arrive.

[113] A few days after the oath had been administered, Tyrconnel was no more.
On the eleventh of August he dined with D'Usson.

The party was gay.

The Lord Lieutenant seemed to have thrown off the load which had bowed down his body and mind; he drank; he jested; he was again the Dick Talbot who had diced and revelled with Grammont.