The Confederates were even then divided into two parties.  The section of their body principally belonging to the old English settlers, were willing to have peace on almost any terms; the ancient Irish had their memories burdened with so many centuries of wrong, that they demanded something like certainty of redress before they would yield.  Ormonde was well aware of the men with whom, and the opinions with which, he had to deal, and he acted accordingly.  In the various engagements which occurred, the Irish were on the whole successful They had gained an important victory near Fermoy, principally through the headlong valour of a troop of mere boys who dashed down with wild impetuosity on the English, and showed what mettle there was still left in the country.  Envoys were arriving from foreign courts, and Urban VIII. had sent Father Scarampi with indulgences and a purse of 30,000 dollars, collected by Father Wadding.  It was, therefore, most important that the movement should be checked in some way; and, as it could not be suppressed by force, it was suppressed by diplomacy.

On the 15th of September, 1643, a cessation of arms for one year was agreed upon; and the tide, which had set in so gloriously for Irish independence, rolled back its sobbing waves slowly and sadly towards the English coast, and never returned again with the same hopeful freedom and overpowering strength.

The Irish, even those whose wisdom or whose ardour made them most dissatisfied with the treaty, observed it honorably.  The Puritan party professed to regard the cessation as a crime, and therefore did not consider themselves bound to observe it.  As they were in fact the ruling powers, the unfortunate Irish were, as usual, the victims.  The troops, who had been trained and collected for the defence of their native land, were now sent to Scotland, to shed their blood in the royal cause.  As honorable men, having undertaken the duty, they fulfilled it gloriously, and won the admiration even of their enemies by their undaunted valour.

The unhappy English monarch was now besieged by petitions and counter-petitions.  The Confederates asked for liberty of conscience; the Puritans demanded a stern enforcement of the penal laws.  Complaints were made on both sides of the infringement of the cessation; but Munroe was the chief offender; and Owen O’Neill was summoned to consult with the Supreme Council in Kilkenny.  Lord Castlehaven, who was utterly incompetent for such an appointment, was given the command of the army; and O’Neill, though he felt hurt at the unjust preference, submitted generously.