Page:Confiscation in Irish history.djvu/66

 Had there been no rising in Ulster of the native Irish in 1641, or had there been no English and Scotch puritan settlers in Ulster to oppose the pacification of 1643, Charles I. would have had at his back an Ireland united in his support in his struggle with his revolted English subjects. The contest with them was a close one. Can we doubt that with one kingdom solidly united in his favour he would have been able to beat down his opponents? That the Plantation of Ulster cost the son of James I. his head is a proposition which can be maintained, that it cost James' grandson and namesake his Crown is a proposition which hardly admits of dispute.

Before the walls of Derry, and not at the Boyne or at Aughrim, was the question decided that the house of Stuart was to vanish from the ranks of ruling houses, to see finally, after some brilliant episodes, its cause buried in a drunkard's grave. Nor can the rulers who have succeeded to the Stuart heritage feel sure that the consequences of this far back injustice have been exhausted yet. And a worse confiscation was to follow.