iers, who perished in great numbers. Jones himself, the brave
governor of Dublin, died at Wexford. And Cromwell had so far advanced
with his decayed army, that he began to find it difficult, either to
subsist in the enemy's country, or retreat to his own garrisons. But
while he was in these straits, Corke, Kinsale, and all the English
garrisons in Munster deserted to him, and opening their gates, resolved
to share the fortunes of their victorious countrymen.

This desertion of the English put an end to Ormond's authority, which
was already much diminished by the misfortunes at Dublin, Tredah, and
Wexford. The Irish, actuated by national and religious prejudices, could
no longer be kept in obedience by a Protestant governor, who was
so unsuccessful in all his enterprises. The clergy renewed their
excommunications against him and his adherents, and added the terrors
of superstition to those which arose from a victorious enemy. Cromwell,
having received a reenforcement from England, again took the field early
in the spring. He made himself master of Kilkenny and Clonmel, the only
places where he met with any vigorous resistance. The whole frame of
the Irish union being in a manner dissolved, Ormond soon after left the
island, and delegated his authority to Clanricarde, who found affairs
so desperate as to admit of no remedy. The Irish were glad to embrace
banishment as a refuge, Above forty thousand men passed into foreign
service; and Cromwell, well pleased to free the island from enemies
who never could be cordially reconciled to the English, gave them full
liberty and leisure for their embarkation.

While Cromwell proceeded with such uninterrupted success in Ireland,
which in the space of nine months he had almost entirely subdued,
fortune was preparing for him a new scene of victory and triumph in
Scotland. Charles was at the Hague, when Sir Joseph Douglas brought him
intelligence, that he was proclaimed king by the Scottish parliament.
At the same time, Douglas informed him of the hard conditions annexed to
the proclamation, and extremely damped that joy which might arise from
his being recognized sovereign in one of his kingdoms. Charles too
considered, that those who pretended to acknowledge his title, were at
that very time in actual rebellion against his family, and would be sure
to intrust very little authority in his hands, and scarcely would afford
him personal liberty and security. As the prospect of affairs i