The pal liament of Scotland soon displayed a more decided spirit of resistance to William than even the English parliament had shewn. William had instructed his commissioner, the Duke of Hamilton, (Dalrymple's Memoirs, p. 376.), to comply with the various demands of the Scottish convention in favour of popular rights ; but Hamilton, from interested views, concealed from the boroughs the orders which he had received in fa vour' of liberty ; and the minds of the nation were alie na d by this treochery,. as well as by the king's refusal to- . scribe and exclude the whole of the Tory party,— 0 a in asure asure which the king saw, would create a host of enemies from .
the pa-rliament• was thus agitated, a civil war was excited by the Viscount Dundee, under whose new title and splendid achievements the cruelties of Grahame of Claverhou-,e were for a while forgotten. When the Scottish convention had declared for William,—when Balcarras, and the other leaders of the Tories, were secured in Edinburgh,—Dundee, more fortunate, esca ped with fifty horse. lie had left behind him the duke of Gordon in possession of Edinburgh castle ; but, as that nobleman, despairing of relief, and pressed by a siege, was reduced to capitulate within a month, the cause of James in Scotland depended now upon his sole conduct. Dundee retired into the Highlands from the pursuit of general Mackay,--was joined by the Macdo nalds,—surprized Perth,—and levied contributions to the very gates of the town of Dundee. Being joined by several of the mountain clans, he found himself, at one period, at the head of 1700 men ; but, as the High landers, loaded with plunder, deserted in numbers, he retired into the wilds of Lochabcr, and waited the arri val of succours from Ireland. When 300 recruits ar rived from that country, Dundee once more called the Highlanders to his banners. With a force exceeding 2500 men, he gave battle, at the pass of Killycrankie, to Mackay, who, with considerably superior numbers, was advancing from Blair. By a rapid descent in thick and separate columns, the Highlanders overpowered the thin lines of Mackay, and would have scarcely left a man to report the defeat, had not the death of Dundee, in the moment of victory, left the command in less vigorous hands. Cannon, an Irish officer of indifferent abilities, succeeded him, whose forces, after a repulse by a single regiment of the Cameronians, dispersed, and returned to their homes.
These events took place during the summer of 1689. In the spring of the same year, James arrived from France at Kinsale in Ireland, where he found Tyrcon nel, the lord lieutenant, devoted to him, and an army of 38,000 men in arms to support his cause. It may natu
rally be asked, by what neglect, on the part of William, the interests of the late king were allowed to assume so prosperous an aspect ? and, indeed, the delay in settling Ireland is one of the parts of William's conduct which seem least to accord with the usual prudence and en ergy of his character. Since the period of James's flight from England, the Irish Protestants had beheld the increase of the lord lieutenant Tyrcorinel's prepara tions with all the exaggerated terrors of an expected massacre by the Papists. The city of Londonderry, however, shut her gates upon his forces, and the whole of Ulstc r united in measures for their defence, and for continuing their dependence upon England. James was attended from France by about 2500 British and Irish followers, and 100 French officers. His reception at Kinsale was cordial, and his public entry into Dublin magnificent. About 10,000 Protestants gathered toge ther around Londonderry, and an increasing number rallied themselves at Inniskillen.
Surrounded by the congratulations of Dublin, James ordered a parliament to assemble on the 7th May. Be fore it met, he quitted Dublin to lay siege to London derry, a town whose memorable siege will be described under a different article. (See LONDONDERRY.) The relief of the garrison by Kirke, gave a decisive blow to the fortunes of James, while the example of the besieg ed raised the emulation of the Irish Protestants. Six thousand of Tyrconnel's troops were soon after defeated at Newton Butler. by a band of 2500 Inniskilleners ; and the courage of the Protestants rose in every quar ter.
James's parliament, which assembled at Dublin, could only vote him a revenue,—they could not give it. forcing a coinage of brass money to pass for fourteen times its value, he raised a temporary supply ; but, as France refused him pecuniary aid, his adherents were supported by rapine ; and, to increase his difficulties, the French auxiliaries were engaged in perpetual quarrels with the Irish. At last, on the 12th of August, William's army, amounting to 10,000 men, arrived from England, under the command of the aged duke of Schoenberg; and, landing on the coast of Donaghadee, besieged Carrickfergus, and forced its garrison to capitulate. But the campaign of Schomberg was both short and indecisive. Encamping in a low and damp situation near Dundalk, his troops were wasted by disorder. The enemy, no less enfeebled by sickness, were fortunately little able to annoy them ; and, at the approach of winter, both armies retired into winter quarters.