66

and the remainder transplanted to the wilds of Connaught, where they were hemmed in and closely watched, Cromwell, whose exploits has rendered his name a bye-word to express a murderer and robber, on his return to England, was received as the pacificator of Ireland; but to him may be applied the terrible words of Tertullian, ubi solitudenem faciunt, pacem appellant. The ferocious conduct of this sanctified savage has left an impression of the greatest horror on the minds of the Irish, which the lapse of two centuries has not been able to efface; and the name of Cromwell is to this day accompanied with maledictions that forcibly express their detestation and remembrance of his atrocities. It appears that Cromwell, like Elizabeth, used religion as an apology for cruelty; for in his report of the capture of Wexford, where he admits two thousand were put to the sword, he states that he was willing to spare the inhabitants, and that "God would not have it so; but by an unexpected providence, in his righteous justice, brought a judgment upon them, causing them to become a prey to the soldier." The death of Cromwell, and the restoration of Charles the Second, produced a temporary calm to Ireland; but the sanguine expectations of those who had been deprived of their estates, and the jealous uneasiness of the host of adventurers, on whom they had been conferred, roused a feeling of bitterness and suspicion, that threatened a renewal of their miseries. In several instances the Catholics attacked the new proprietors, and confusion and disorder were the consequences. The latter represented these partial attacks as an attempt at another revolution. Agents were sent to Ireland, who, from interested motives, exaggerated these disturbances, and described them as arising from a conspiracy to set aside the authority of Charles; so that previous to the arrival of the king, an act was passed, confirming the grants made by Cromwell, thus securing to them and their descendents for ever the property of which they had possessed themselves.

66

The extirminating system, and the confiscation of property, adopted by Elizabeth, which amounted to fourfifths of the whole kingdom, was considered necessary to terrify and keep in subjection the Irish people; clemency was called weakness, and cruelty wisdom. The "journies" or razzias of Mountjoy, the butchery of Cromwell, and the persecutions under some succeeding reigns, had produced a sullen kind of resignation to circumstances amongst the people; but their hatred was only smothered, not extinguished, and burst forth with redoubled rancour, whenever an opportunity offered for its gratification. The defeat Battle of of James the Second at the battle of the Boyne, handed the Boyne. Ireland over to the government of William. The loss of this battle, so fatal to his interests, has been attributed to the pusillanimity of James; but when we turn to the history of his services when Duke of York, we find that on several occasions he distinguished himself as a courageous and able commander. His conduct at this battle is more to be attributed to his unwillingness, arising from a consciousness of a want of military knowledge as a sailor, to assume the immediate command of the army, than to any want of personal bravery. The embarkation of the deposed monarch followed close on his defeat, and confusion and terror spread rapidly amongst the Irish officers and soldiers. A proclamation of William was issued, promising pardon and protection to the common soldiers, but did not include their leaders. The latter, therefore, perceived that their only hope was in a continued and desperate resistance. The An. 1690. remains of the Irish army retreated on Limerick and Athlone, where they awaited the advance of the English forces, and determined to wipe off with their blood the stain cast on their national character at the battle of the Boyne. Exasperated by their defeat, and their desertion by James Despera-anticipating the application of the usual means to restore tion of the Irish tranquillity: persecution on the score of religion, and confiscation on the plea of rebellion-having no faith in the

G

Irish.

1690.

promises of pardon-they prepared to continue the war with a desperation that such feelings naturally excited. A portion of the English army, under Douglas, was repulsed from before Athlone, and rejoined the main body under the king, which was in full march against Limerick, the head Siege of quarters of the Irish army. The memorable siege of this Limerick, important place commenced on the 9th day of August; both the besiegers and besieged displaying the greatest courage and perseverance. William's operations were carried on without the material necessary for a siege, as the train of artillery, on its way from Dublin, had not arrived, and the enterprising Sarsfield, second in command in Limerick, having received information of the route it would take, of the numbers of the escort, decided on intercepting it. If success attended the attempt, the siege would be retarded, and the spirits of the garrison, which was beginning to droop, be revived. Selecting for the enterprise his best troops, he crossed the Shannon, and being well acquainted with the country, he avoided the troops dispatched by William, and falling unexpectedly on the convoy, he cut them to pieces, destroyed the cannon, and returned to Limerick without much loss. This success gave fresh vigour to the besieged. Animated by the example of their officers, they defended themselves with a desperation amounting to fury, neither giving nor receiving quarter.

Two guns of the convoy that had not been rendered useless were brought to the English camp, and others having been sent from Waterford, a battery was opened on the town; and on the 27th a breach having been made, the king directed a storming party to carry the counterscarp, and two towers that flanked it. Under the cover of a heavy fire they dislodged the enemy, and some of them even entered the tower; but were forced to retreat with great loss by the Irish, who had rallied, and were crowding to the defence of the breach. The Irish fought with the valour

of despair. The women, in the moment of excitement, forgetting the natural timidity of the sex, were seen mingled with the defenders of their homes, encouraging them to fight for their protection; and placing themselves by the side of their husbands, braved death with a courage worthy of a better fate. A close and deadly combat was maintained for three hours-a battery seized by a battallion of foreign mercenaries in the pay of William exploded, and they all perished. This accident infused greater confidence into the ranks of the besieged. The breach was defended with the greatest obstinacy. The best troops of William essayed in vain to make themselves masters of it-they were either shot or hurled from the walls by the besieged. Five hundred were slain, and nearly two thousand wounded, when William ordered a retreat.

The determined resistance of the garrison, and the great loss sustained by his army, made the King decide on withdrawing from before the town. He destroyed the batteries, and retired without being followed by the Irish, who were not in sufficient strength to meet him in the field. Some writers assert, that the conduct of William in his retreat was unworthy the great character for humanity and forbearance claimed for him by his friends. It is related, that on being asked, how the sick and wounded prisoners should be disposed of? he coolly replied—“ Burn them;" and that one thousand were in this manner destroyed.* This cruelty is treated by others as a malignant and infamous invention,† who speak of the king as one incapable of such cruelty; but as the life of an Irishman had always been considered by the settlers of little value, and as they might with impunity deprive them of it, it is not improbable that irritated by, and smarting under his defeat, such orders were issued and carried into execution by an exasperated, dissolute, and discomfited soldiery.

*

turns to

CHAPTER VII.

King William returns to England-Siege of Limerick, ann. 1691-Treaty of Limerick-Violation of the treaty-Commerce restricted-Mines of Ireland-Woollen manufactory-Assumption of the English parliament.

William re- SOON after the repulse of his troops from before Limerick, England. William embarked for England at Duncannon, leaving the army under the command of Ginckle and Solmes. But the campaign, notwithstanding the rigours of winter, was not ended. The King, on his arrival in England, found every political impediment to the prosecution of the Irish war removed. The French at sea were powerless-all dissensions amongst the English had ceased—and six or seven thousand disciplined troops were ready to perform any service to which they might be appointed. These were immediately embarked under the command of Marlborough ; and having joined Ginckle, speedily reduced Cork and Kinsale. The handful of French troops who formed part of the garrison of Limerick under Boileau, having quarreled with their Irish comrades, marched to Galway, there to await transports to convey them to France. The Irish remained under the command of Sarsfield, their countryman, whose good qualities as a man, and activity, wisdom, and bravery as a soldier, they held in the highest estimation.

Nothing decisive occurred during the winter; but several skirmishes with different results, took place between the two parties. The miseries attending military licentiousness was increased by the lawless attacks of the starving population. Wherever food was to be found, they attempted to procure it by force, and often periled their lives to obtain a scanty and precarious subsistence.