As the principal traders, the skilled artisans and the officials were mostly Protestants, and as they were the chief sufferers the tradition of the Brass Money has naturally been preserved among their descendants. The crowd of fugitives from country visitors added to the confusion. Men who had been rich were reduced to penury, and the holders of power and influence were either in exile or reduced to the condition of a conquered population. As in 1641 the established clergy and laymen with property guaranteed by the Act of Settlement were often surprised at what happened. They found the conquered people friendly enough in common life, and often failed to see that they were perfectly certain to retake their own when they could, and in doing so often to take what never belonged to them. Trinity College, Dublin, though the fellows had escaped personal attainder, was not spared. Under Tyrconnel no rents were paid and but one meal a day was given in the hall, 'and that a dinner, because the supper is the more expensive by reason of coals, &c.' But fourpence a day was allowed to each fellow for kitchen and buttery. All arms and horses were taken away. When James landed, Vice-provost Acton and his three remaining colleagues waited on him and were promised protection and encouragement. But six months later the college was turned into a barrack and prison for Protestants. The government grant to the scholars was stopped. The chapel plate--all that was left of a rich store--was sent to the custom-house by Luttrell, but preserved by a friendly commissioner of revenue. The chapel itself was re-consecrated and Mass said there, but later it was made a magazine. All the woodwork in the college was destroyed, first by way of searching for arms, and then no doubt for fuel, of which there was a famine in Dublin. Dr. Michael Moore, a distinguished scholar and a man of high character, was made Provost by James, but soon had to resign as a punishment for having preached against the Jesuits. Another priest, Tiege MacCarthy, had charge of the library, and is honourably distinguished for having preserved the books and manuscripts. Provost Huntingdon and the fellows returned immediately after the Boyne.[259] FOOTNOTES: [239] Schomberg's letters to William, calendared in State Papers, _Domestic_, July 21 to August 3. Journal in Kazner's _Schomberg_, ii. 282. Hamilton to Melville in _Leven and Melville Papers_, August 1, 1689. [240] Journal in Kazner's _Schomberg_. Story's _Impartial History_. Avaux to Louvois, September 10/20. Schomberg to King William, August 16, State Papers, _Domestic_. Dean's information is in Clarke's _Life of James_, Original Mem., ii. 374. Berwick's _Memoirs_. Contemporary letter in Benn's _History of Belfast_, p. 171.