this treaty, which could not be performed without his help, and he was not anxious for it after he had got rid both of O'Neill and the Parliamentary commissioners. Rinuccini's influence was at work all the time, and it was insisted that the first thing should be the admission of a Prestonian garrison into Dublin. Ormonde insisted on the original peace being first accepted, and so the negotiations fell through. Digby thought that if Preston had been promptly dealt with he would have attacked O'Neill, but his judgment is not for a moment to be set against Ormonde's. Preston was satisfied, and in a letter to the mayor and citizens of Kilkenny, urged the acceptance of Clanricarde's terms. What the ultimate position of the Protestants would have been may be judged from this document. 'We have,' he said, 'by the divine Providence, wrought the splendour of religion to that extension as from Bunratty to Dublin there is Catholic religion publicly professed and exercised, and from Waterford to the lower parts of Tyrone, and confined heresy in this province to Dublin, Drogheda, Dundalk, and Trim, these places which in four days will be garrisoned by my army, by God's help; and then think you in what posture of religion these parts are in, for us and ours, having all penal laws against Catholics repealed; all in our own hands, churches and church livings secured till the King in a free Parliament declare the same for us; the government in the Catholics' hands; petitions of right allowed the parties grieved; and, to make this good, our arms in our own hands.' This was written under the impression that Dublin would soon be in his hands, though in the same letter he admits that he could not take it even with O'Neill's help. Rinuccini and his council had already left the camp, and Preston's officers were soon induced to break with Clanricarde on the ground that no concessions would be of any use without a garrison in Dublin. 'That being denied did beget a desperation of future performances.'[103] [Sidenote: The popular tide turns against Rinuccini.] [Sidenote: The Supreme Council released.] [Sidenote: The Confederate constitution breaks down.] [Sidenote: Officers not 'excommunication-proof.'] [Sidenote: Preston submits to the nuncio.] [Sidenote: Ormonde in Westmeath.]