[Sidenote: Ormonde and the Protestant hierarchy.]
[Sidenote: Ormonde and Owen Roe O'Neill.]
While the Congregation at Waterford were fulminating their censures against all who adhered to the peace with Ormonde, the Protestant clergy who had taken refuge in Dublin were congratulating him on having 'preserved not only in this city, but also in all the out-garrisons, the free and full exercise of the true reformed religion.' They besought him to continue in this way as the only means to make Ireland obedient to the King, and to provide them with some maintenance until they could return to their benefices. 'If any of our number,' they concluded, 'be found disaffected to the religion, book of service, public worship, government of the Church, his Majesty's service, or disturbers of the present peace, we do not supplicate for such, but leave them to your lordship to be proceeded with as you shall find convenient.' This was signed by eleven archbishops and bishops and by seventy-seven other clergymen, many of whom afterwards rose high in the Church. Ormonde's loyalty to the Church of England was incompatible with Rinuccini's views; but it did not prevent the Council at Kilkenny from inviting the King's representative to his own town and castle. He left Dublin on August 28 and reached Kilkenny on the 31st, where he was received with triumphal arches and many demonstrations of joy; and even succeeded in collecting some of his long-lost rents. Ormonde left 1500 foot at Gowran, under Sir Francis Willoughby, and took 500 horse on with him, whom he quartered about Bennetsbridge. In passing Naas he took the precaution of borrowing eight barrels of powder from Sir John Sherlock, the governor, and they proved very useful. Digby and Clanricarde accompanied him to Kilkenny. His previous negotiations with Preston led him to believe that that general would keep the victorious Ulster army at a distance. Ormonde's last act before leaving Dublin was to send Daniel O'Neill to his uncle, Owen Roe, with power to make him great offers if he would adhere to the peace. These included the custody of all lands in O'Neill-land belonging to men who questioned the King's authority and of all Lord Caulfield's estate, and confirmation in his command. These were promises, while the nuncio was able to give hard cash, without which an army could not be moved--4000_l._ at first out of the Pope's money, and 5000_l._ later from the contributions of the faithful, or by means of an advance from the Spanish agent.[96]