Muskets and gunpowder were distributed.

Messengers were sent, under cover of the following night, to the Protestant gentlemen of the neighbouring counties.

The bishop expostulated in vain.

It is indeed probable that the vehement and daring young Scotchmen who had taken the lead on this occasion had little respect for his office.

One of them broke in on a discourse with which he interrupted the military preparations by exclaiming, "A good sermon, my lord; a very good sermon; but we have not time to hear it just now." [137] The Protestants of the neighbourhood promptly obeyed the summons of Londonderry.