[Sidenote: The Break of Dromore.] The Protestant gentry of Down and Antrim met at Comber and formed an association. Lord Mount Alexander, who was only a nominal soldier, was made commander of the forces raised, which were considerable in point of number. A council was established at Hillsborough, where there was a fort, and stores were collected there; but from the first ill-success attended the movement. The general showed little ability, and his heart was not really in the business, while he complained of being ill seconded by others. The local magnates quarrelled among themselves. No real leader made himself known. A plot to seize Belfast and Carrickfergus, which were undefended, failed through want of promptitude, and an attempt to surprise the latter place after it had received a garrison was ill-managed and unsuccessful. Just before James landed in Ireland, Tyrconnel sent Richard Hamilton with a thousand good soldiers and twice that number of raw levies to the North. The Protestants were scattered about in small bodies and never came properly together. Those at Rathfriland and Loughbrickland fled at Hamilton's approach. A stand was made at Dromore, but he fell upon them before they were all assembled, and a complete rout followed. Tradition says the struggle was so short that a woman left her baking to see the fight, and on her return found the bread not burnt. Some delay was caused by the strong fort at Hillsborough, but there was no serious resistance. The general and most of the chief men fled to England or Scotland, and the rest flocked to Londonderry and Coleraine. By the time that James reached Dublin opposition to him was practically confined to the territory controlled by Londonderry and Enniskillen. Sligo was evacuated by special orders from Lundy, who laid the blood of all Ulster on Lord Kingston's head, if he did not come at once to the relief of Londonderry. The holder of King William's commission was obeyed, but when the Sligo men got to Ballyshannon they were ordered to stop there and defend the Erne. Afterwards they were told to go to Cladyford, but the order came too late. Lundy, who had at first demanded every man, then offered to take in a few as a sort of favour. Lord Kingston made his way to England, but he left Colonel Lloyd behind, who became the fighting hero of the Enniskillen garrison.'[182] FOOTNOTES: [158] _Sheridan MS._ Cartwright's _Diary_, January 17 and February 21 to March 5, 1686-7. Clarendon's _Diary_, February 6, and his letters of October 2 and January 8. [159] The Coventry letter, dated October 26, 1686, is in the _Jacobite Narrative_, ed. Gilbert, appx. i., and in _Ormonde Papers_, vii. 464. Clarendon's _Diary_, January 4, 1686-7. _Sheridan MS._ The King to Clarendon, April 6, 1686. Barillon to Louis XIV., October 16, 1687, in _Dalrymple_, ii. 262.