ment
to nothing but their zeal for the party by whom every thing was now
governed. Tranquil from their ignorance and inexperience, these men
indulged themselves in the most profound repose, on the very brink of
destruction.

But they were awakened from their security on the very day before that
which was appointed for the commencement of hostilities. The Castle
of Dublin, by which the capital was commanded, contained arms for ten
thousand men, with thirty-five pieces of cannon, and a proportionable
quantity of ammunition; yet was this important place guarded, and that
too without any care, by no greater force than fifty men. Maguire and
More were already in town with a numerous band of their partisans;
others were expected that night and next morning they were to enter upon
what they esteemed the easiest of all enterprises, the surprisal of
the castle. O'Conolly, an Irishman, but a Protestant, betrayed the
conspiracy to Parsons.[*] The justices and council fled immediately
for safety into the castle, and reenforced the guards. The alarm was
conveyed to the city, and all the Protestants prepared for defence. More
escaped; Maguire was taken; and Mahone, one of the conspirators, being
likewise seized, first discovered to the justices the project of a
general insurrection, and redoubled the apprehensions which already were
universally diffused throughout Dublin.[**]

But though O'Conolly's discovery saved the castle from a surprise, the
confession extorted from Mahone came too late to prevent the intended
insurrection. O'Neale and his Confederates had already taken arms in
Ulster. The Irish, every where intermingled with the English, needed
but a hint from their leaders and priests to begin hostilities against
a people whom they hated on account of their religion, and envied for
their riches and prosperity.[***]

* Rush, vol. v. p. 399. Nalson, vol. ii. p. 520. May, book
ii p. 6

** Temple p 17, 18, 19, 20. Rush. vol. v p. 400.

*** Ten ple, p. 39, 40, 79.

The houses, cattle, goods, of the unwary English were first seized.
Those who heard of the commotions in their neighborhood, instead of
deserting their habitations, and assembling for mutual protection,
remained at home in hopes of defending their property, and fell thus
separately into the hands of their enemies.[*] After rapacity had
fully exerted itself, cruelty, and the most barbarous that ever in any
nation was known or heard of, began it