Some gentlemen deputed by that town waited on him to request his good offices, but were disappointed by the reception which they found.

"My advice to you is," he said, "to submit to the King's authority." "What, my Lord ?" said one of the deputies; "Are we to sit still and let ourselves be butchered ?" "The King," said Mountjoy, "will protect you." "If all that we hear be true," said the deputy, "his Majesty will find it hard enough to protect himself." The conference ended in this unsatisfactory manner.

Enniskillen still kept its attitude of defiance; and Mountjoy returned to Dublin, [140] By this time it had indeed become evident that James could not protect himself.

It was known in Ireland that he had fled; that he had been stopped; that he had fled again; that the Prince of Orange had arrived at Westminster in triumph, had taken on himself the administration of the realm, and had issued letters summoning a Convention.
Those lords and gentlemen at whose request the Prince had assumed the government, had earnestly intreated him to take the state of Ireland into his immediate consideration; and he had in reply assured them that he would do his best to maintain the Protestant religion and the English interest in that kingdom.

His enemies afterwards accused him of utterly disregarding this promise: nay, they alleged that he purposely suffered Ireland to sink deeper and deeper in calamity.