But the great work of reconquering the three southern provinces of the island he deferred till William should arrive.

William meanwhile was busied in making arrangements for the government and defence of England during his absence.

He well knew that the Jacobites were on the alert.

They had not till very lately been an united and organized faction.

There had been, to use Melfort's phrase, numerous gangs, which were all in communication with James at Dublin Castle, or with Mary of Modena at Saint Germains, but which had no connection with each other and were unwilling to trust each other, [633] But since it had been known that the usurper was about to cross the sea, and that his sceptre would be left in a female hand, these gangs had been drawing close together, and had begun to form one extensive confederacy.