visers of the crown; Christianity and law were thus perverted from useful purpose to pernicious designs.
Chief Justice Keatinge, when asked by the L. L. Tyrconnel, for his opinion at the council, Dec 24, 1688, gave it to due effect:— "That it would be vain to withstand the Prince of Orange's forces, which had met with no opposition in England, and would find their work easy in Ireland. He recounted the misfortune of the last rebellion and the consequences of another by the utter forfeiture of all their estates; that in the north the Protestants were already in arms, and would readily join with any other Protestants that came to their assistance; that the King having withdrawn himself from his people, and the government in the hands of the Prince of Orange, they must not expect any succour from England; nor had they a fund to maintain a war, the revenue of Ireland not being sufficient to discharge the public disbursements, and which would decrease daily, and therefore as I am called." and he, "to give advice upon this extraordinary occasion, so I will not be answerable for any miseries that may ensue upon your noncompliance, but exhort your Excellency to make a wise, timely and honourable accommodation, which I doubt not you may obtain for yourself and people."
The Irish soil was not trod by James until William was seated upon the throne of Britain; then indeed this country was cursed with his presence, and its extravagant loyalty abused to restore on abdicated tyranny to England and Scotland, or to confirm it here. Such were James's views in calling a parliament, to arm or tax subjects, and employ that union at his will and pleasure forms his only title to Irish gratitude and affection. There however arose one man in that assembly who had a perfect knowledge of, and an ardent attachment to, the constitution of his country. The Great Charter, Petition of Right, or Bill of Rights, would have met in him an able framer and intrepid defender. James's Attorney-General, Sir Richard Nagle, dignified that situation by exchanging its usual character for that of a stern inflexible patriot. He carried measures similar to those of 1782, and thus paid homage to the excellence of English law by trans-
