assailants.  Tumult filled the before quiet streets—­women and children deserted their homes, escaping they knew not whither—­fathers, husbands, and sons, stood trembling, not for themselves, but for their loved and defenceless relations.  As the country people poured into London, the citizens fled southwards—­they climbed the higher edifices of the town, fancying that they could discern the smoke and flames the enemy spread around them.  As Windsor lay, to a great degree, in the line of march from the west, I removed my family to London, assigning the Tower for their sojourn, and joining Adrian, acted as his Lieutenant in the coming struggle.

We employed only two days in our preparations, and made good use of them.  Artillery and arms were collected; the remnants of such regiments, as could be brought through many losses into any show of muster, were put under arms, with that appearance of military discipline which might encourage our own party, and seem most formidable to the disorganized multitude of our enemies.  Even music was not wanting:  banners floated in the air, and the shrill fife and loud trumpet breathed forth sounds of encouragement and victory.  A practised ear might trace an undue faltering in the step of the soldiers; but this was not occasioned so much by fear of the adversary, as by disease, by sorrow, and by fatal prognostications, which often weighed most potently on the brave, and quelled the manly heart to abject subjection.

Adrian led the troops.  He was full of care.  It was small relief to him that our discipline should gain us success in such a conflict; while plague still hovered to equalize the conqueror and the conquered, it was not victory that he desired, but bloodless peace.  As we advanced, we were met by bands of peasantry, whose almost naked condition, whose despair and horror, told at once the fierce nature of the coming enemy.  The senseless spirit of conquest and thirst of spoil blinded them, while with insane fury they deluged the country in ruin.  The sight of the military restored hope to those who fled, and revenge took place of fear.  They inspired the soldiers with the same sentiment.  Languor was changed to ardour, the slow step converted to a speedy pace, while the hollow murmur of the multitude, inspired by one feeling, and that deadly, filled the air, drowning the clang of arms and sound of music.  Adrian perceived the change, and feared that it would be difficult to prevent them from wreaking their utmost fury on the Irish.  He rode through the lines, charging the officers to restrain the troops, exhorting the soldiers, restoring order, and quieting in some degree the violent agitation that swelled every bosom.