HISTORY OF ENGLAND

30 RZNUCCZNI AND CROMWELL IN IRELAND. XI. 2.A.D. 1649.Connaught through Clanricarde, of Ulster through O'Neal,of Munstcr through Inchiquin. The Catholic and Protestantinhabitants of Leinster were equally on his side. Nine-tenthsof Ireland were subject to him, nor was he entirely powerlessby sea, since Rupert's fleet lay at anchor off Kinsale. Howcould he avoid believing it possible to overcome even nowthe comparatively small forces of the Independents ?It is clear enough that the first object of the EnglishCommonwealth must have been to put sn end to this powerfuland dangerous formation of a combination of Royalist forcesso thoroughly hostile to itself.The supposition on which all Ormond's hopes rested, wasthat the army would not so easiiy become master of Englandas to make any important effort against Ireland. Ormonddreaded the arms but still more the money of the Parliament,and the influence it would exercise upon the Irish nation.Already however, in May and June 1649, affairs had reachedthis point. Cromwell had defeated all his opponents andformed an army devoted to himself. Without any regardhaving been paid to Fairfax, on the proposal of the Councilof State, he was appointed not merely Commander-in-Chiefof the forces, but also Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Themilitary and civil power were united in his hands1. Meanshad been discovered (among others the sale of the estatesof the chapters, which actually found purchasers at fair prices)to furnish him with very considerable supplies of money.It is certain that a large sum was handed over to him forprivate purposes, which he was to have the power of spendingwithout rendering any account of it.In real truth it was not the case that the expedition wasdirected against the Catholics as such. The confederacywhich was to be the object of attack was thoroughly Royalist,and was actually hostile to the strong Romanising tendenciesrepresented by the Nuntio. The late treaty contained apartial recognition only of the Catholic claims, and was rejectedby the Nuntio as ruinous.' Scott, Report from the Council oi State: 'The colnmission of Lientenant-General Cromwell to be Commander in chief over the forces in Ireland andGovernor-General of Ireland! Journal of Commons, June 22.xr. a. RINUCCINI AND CROMWELL IN IRELAND. 31A.D. 1649.gut since there were Catholics as well as Protestantsserving under Ormond, the strongest impulse now as everwas supplied by religious hatred.On the morning of the 10th of July the standards underwhich the army was to march were consecrated by severalministers to the war of God against the deluded Catholicsof Ireland. Officers of the army, and even Cromwell himself,expounded the Scripture 'exceeding well and suitably to theoccasion,' as the old chronicle tells us. Cromwell then mountedhis state-carriage, drawn by six Flemish horses. A bodypard,consisting of old officers, rode at his side. At CharingCross his trumpets were loudly sounded. He appearedalready with the insignia of an office at once priestly andmilitary-and thus he set out for Milford Haven, whence hemeant to cross over to Ireland.While he was making preparations for starting, newsreached him of Ormond's defeat before Dublin. Cromwellannounced it as a special mercy of God, for which it wasimpossible to be too thankful in word and deed. 'Mighthe,' such was his prayer, 'be found worthy by the Lord inwhatever he might call him to do.'In the middle of August Cromwell arrived in Dublin witha hundred sail. This nhmerous fleet, to oppose which theRoyalists had only Rupert's few vessels, made no less impressionthan the army, which, including the troops alreadyin Dublin and those he brought with him, made up a formidablearray: it amounted to 10,000 infantry and 5000cavalry.Cromwell's first step was to bind them to the strictestdiscipline-even his military orders are religious in their tone.He enjoins them to avoid all that is contrary to God's law.The officers are held responsible for the maintenance of themost rigid discipline and order. The troops were for themost part veterans : the fame of their former victories madethem doubly formidable.Ormond had fortified and provided with good garrisonsthe nearest positions, such as Drogheda (which he still successfullydefended against Jones), Trim, and Dundalk. Hewished to hold himself in readiness to come to the assistance