There was no hope of succour, domestic or foreign.

In every part of Ireland the Saxons had set their feet on the necks of the natives.

Sligo had fallen.
Even those wild islands which intercept the huge waves of the Atlantic from the bay of Galway had acknowledged the authority of William.

The men of Kerry, reputed the fiercest and most ungovernable part of the aboriginal population, had held out long, but had at length been routed, and chased to their woods and mountains.

[122] A French fleet, if a French fleet were now to arrive on the coast of Munster, would find the mouth of the Shannon guarded by English men of war.