the Irish subjects of James from their allegiance to him.[1]
Even under William III., Molyneux roundly asserted that the King is King of Ireland precisely as he is of Scotland, and this at a time when the independence of Scotland was unchallenged. Tyrconnell, after some hesitation, real or pretended, definitely refused to recognise William and Mary as his sovereigns.
Accordingly when in March, 1689, James landed at Kinsale he found his authority recognised over the greater part of the island. In February Tyrconnell had disarmed the southern malcontents; and a force was sent to Ulster which soon overran the greater part of that province.
James himself after a short stay in Dublin proceeded to the north; but before his departure he had summoned a meeting of Parliament; and the body thus convoked assembled at Dublin on May 7th, 1689.
As usual our printed authorities differ widely as to the composition of this Parliament. Admittedly it was the first for half a century in which the Irish element was adequately represented. As to the colonist element Murray and Davis differ widely. According to the latter, of a possible total of 300 only 224 members sat in the House of
- ↑ Murray holds the contrary view, namely, that the Crown of Ireland was by the Statute Law of Ireland, annexed to that of England (p. 111). But his interpretation of this could not, I think, have been upheld in the 17th century without great risk to the upholder. The whole public law of the period looked on James as the lawful sovereign, William as an usurper, his partisans as rebels.
