This page has been validated.

28

statutes which he hath sworn to maintain; and that these our adversaries are, truly, the friends of Andrew.

18. "And, verily, we fear lest the glory hath departed from our house, and lest all the truths which have come to light, will despoil us, your rulers, of our power: Wherefore, let us now turn to the inhabitants of the hill country, and to all without the city, and let us kindle their rage against our adversaries.

19. "And we will send unto the 'Parishes, and to the interior,' and gently give them tidings of our overthrow, and we will ascribe our discomfiture to any cause but the true one.

20. "And the men of the 'interior' will stand by us, and they will make me Governor of the realm, and I will then revenge you on your enemies."

21. Then some of the multitude shouted, and gave assent to that which had been spoken; and James wrote the letters, and sent them even as he proposed.

22. But when he sat down at the supper, and looked around, carefully, and saw that many who were present were boys, and beardless youths, and when he perceived the faces of many of his ancient friends, his spirit sank within him, and he became sorrowful.

23. And his followers feared that their hour was come, and they took no pleasure in the supper; so they returned to their homes, disconsolate and unhappy.

24. And the supper was named the Supper of Disappointment.

25. Now in those days there came tidings that there was a famine in an island beyond the great waters, called Ireland.

26. And many of the men of Ireland dwelt in the city, and the people had respect unto them, and for their sakes desired to send succour to their countrymen; and the rulers of the city commanded to be assembled the elders, and the wise men, and all the people, to take counsel together.

27. And when James, who is called the deluded, heard all these things, he shook off his sorrows, and bethought him that the hour was come wherein he might surely draw to his banner, all the men of Ireland who dwelt in the city.

28. So he sent for Henry the high priest, and certain others of his followers, and entreated them speedily to come up and make a stir in behalf of the land of Ireland, before the rulers, and the elders, and the wise men, could gather the people together.

29. And Henry and his followers did even as James the deluded had entreated, but the men of Ireland saw into the hearts of Henry and of James, and they knew that they sought to beguile them, and they turned aside and were greatly wroth.

30. But James the deluded was nothing abashed; so he stood forth again at the assembly of the rulers, and the elders, and the wise men, and the people of the city.

31. And he strove to seem learned, and he spoke unto the men of Ireland, of the length and the breadth of their country, and of the fertileness of the soil, and of many other things which are written in the book which is called Rees' Cyclopædia.

32. And he gave praises to the men of Ireland, and he said he was their kinsman, and he spoke of his Grandmother, and how that she had come from the same land with themselves; but the praises of James the