Dublin's Protestants began an orgy of revenge against Catholics just hours after King James fled Ireland for France following his defeat at the Battle of the Boyne.

On 3 July word was sent to King William to come and restore order. The news that he was on his way was greeted with joy. Dublin's Protestants were terrified that the Jacobite forces might return. If Derry had been besieged, might Dublin be next? Their greatest fear was of a rerun of the 1641 rebellion which led to the massacre of hundreds of Protestants.

When William arrived in Dublin on 5 July he received a tumultuous welcome from Dublin's Protestants, just as he had been welcomed in Belfast three weeks before. However, much to his surprise a Te Deum, a hymn of praise more associated with the Catholic tradition, was sung for him at a special thanksgiving service in St Patrick's Cathedral (the chair that William supposedly sat in is still there).

In their loyal address the following day, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of Dublin, reminded the King of how Protestants had suffered under his father-in-law King James II, and thanked him for rescuing "us from the hands of our enemies."

But in Europe the news was not about Protestant euphoria at liberation, but how Catholics in Ireland were now living in terror.

William's mission was incomplete. He refused the Mayor's offer to take up residence in Dublin Castle, deciding instead to return to his camp to prepare his men for the march on Waterford.