Above : Charles II, Replaced Charles I After His Death In 1649

O’Neill had endured, almost since his coming to Ireland, the continual neglect and ingratitude of the Council. He was now at the end of his patience. When a messenger came to his camp to inform him of his removal from the command of the Ulster armies, he publicly burned the letters. This meant, of course, that he had openly broken with the Confederation, or rather with the party that now ruled what remained of it. He had a fine army of tried soldiers, all devoted to him ; he occupied a strong position in the very centre of Ireland, and had much support elsewhere. He would not be easily crushed.