me much to think upon, yet I doubted not but that I might
easily obtain protection for my person and property from the Prince of
Orange, if I sought it by the ordinary submissions; but besides that my
conscience and my affections resisted such time-serving concessions, I
was resolved in my own mind that the cause of the royalist party was by
no means desperate, and I looked to keep myself unimpeded by any pledge
or promise given to the usurping Dutchman, that I might freely and
honourably take a share in any struggle which might yet remain to be
made for the right.

I therefore lay quiet, going forth from my lodgings but little, and that
chiefly under cover of the dusk, and conversing hardly at all, except
with those whom I well knew.

I had like once to have paid dearly for relaxing this caution; for going
into a tavern one evening near the Tholsel, I had the confidence to
throw off my hat, and sit there with my face quite exposed, when a
fellow coming in with some troopers, they fell a-boozing, and being
somewhat warmed, they began to drink 'Confusion to popery,' and the
like, and to compel the peaceable persons who happened to sit there, to
join them in so doing.

Though I was rather hot-blooded, I was resolved to say nothing to
attract notice; but, at the same time, if urged to pledge the toasts
which they were compelling others to drink, to resist doing so.

With the intent to withdraw myself quietly from the place, I paid my
reckoning, and putting on my hat, was going into the street, when the
countryman who had come in with the soldiers called out:

'Stop that popish tom-cat!'

And running across the room, he got to the door before me, and, shutting
it, placed his back against it, to prevent my going out.

Though with much difficulty, I kept an appearance of quietness, and
turning to the fellow, who, from his accent, I judged to be northern,
and whose face I knew--though, to this day, I cannot say where I had
seen him before--I observed very calmly:

'Sir, I came in here with no other design than to refresh myself,
without offending any man. I have paid my reckoning, and now desire to
go forth. If there is anything within reason that I can do to satisfy
you, and to prevent trouble and delay to myself, name your terms, and if
they be but fair, I will frankly comply with them.'

He quickly replied:

'You are Hardress Fitzgerald, the bloody popish captain, that hanged the
twelve men at Derry.'

I felt