1691. Mr. Ruth. ascend the hill, than the main body of the enemy BOOK I. fell upon them with such fury, that the assailants were compelled to retreat with precipitation into the morass; at the sight of which St. Ruth cried out in a bravado, Now will I drive the English army back to the gates of Dublin." Reinforce- Death of ments arriving, however, the English again rallied; and the enemy at the same instant sustaining an irreparable loss by the death of their general, who, still confident of victory, was, by one of those accidents which mock all calculation, taken off by a random ball, the fate of the battle was at once decided. Sarsfield next in command, but to whom St. Ruth had not deigned to communicate his dispositions, was unable by the most vigorous exertions to counteract the despair of the moment. The camp was abandoned, and great slaughter was made by the cavalry and dragoons in the pursuit. The English army marched forward with all expedition to Galway, which made no memorable resistance. But Limerick, now the last resource of the Irish nation, displayed under the gallant auspices of Sarsfield every symptom of determined and heroic fortitude. On the 26th of August that city was a second time invested on the Munster side; two days previous to which died within its walls the earl of Tyrconnel, at one period so conspicuous in Irish history, but who BOOK I. 1691. had become odious to the French by his treachery, bloody encounters, succeeded in effecting the The garrison now seemed to think only how to secure the best terms for themselves. And general Ginckel, well knowing the beneficent inclinations of the king in that respect, as well as his solicitude to bring the war in Ireland to a conclusion, acceded without difficulty to terms not indeed in the estimate of moderation and wisdom too favorable, but far more so than in their situation it was reasonable to hope. tion of On the 1st of October, 1691, the lords justices BOOK L arrived in the English camp; and on the 3d the 1601. articles were signed. The capitulation of Lime- Capitula rick is still famous in Irish history. In it is com- Limerick. prehended not the surrender of Limerick merely, but of all the forts, castles, and garrisons, still in possession of the Irish. In return for which, among many other regulations of subordinate importance, a general indemnity is granted; and they are reinstated in all the privileges of subjects, on condition of taking the oaths of allegiance, without being required to take the oath of supremacy. They were also restored to the enjoy ment of such liberty in the exercise of religion as was conformable to that which they possessed in the reign of Charles II. All officers and soldiers in the service of king James desirous to go beyond sea were to be furnished with passports, convoys, and carriages, by land and water, to the amount of seventy transport vessels; accompanied, for their protection and the accommodation of the officers, by two ships of war-and they likewise had liberty to transport 900 horses. It was also conceded, that no person should be impleaded for any trespass cominitted, or rents received or enjoyed, since the commencement of the war. The inhabitants of Limerick and other garrisons were empowered to remove their goods and chattels, without search, BOOK I. visit, or payment of duty. Finally, it was agreed 1691. that all prisoners of war should be set at liberty. The lords justices, conscious that they had ventured beyond the utmost limit of their legal powers, engaged that their majesties would use their endeavours that these articles should be ratified and confirmed in parliament. The military commanders on their part allowed all the respective garrisons to march out of the towns and fortresses yet in their possession, with the honors of war. Such were the terms which this devoted portion of a great and generous but unfortunate nation, who had displayed a firmness and gallantry worthy of a far better cause, obtained from the wisdom and benignity of the British monarch. But great offence was taken at these articles, by the malignity of some, and the rapacity of others, who hoped and expected to have converted the whole country, for their own individual emolument, into one tremendous mass of misery, confiscation, and ruin. For to such a state of selfish and remorseless depravity may human nature be degraded, that, to use the forcible language of lord Bacon, "there are those who would not hesitate to set their neighbour's house on fire, merely to roast their own eggs by the flames." The many thousands who retired to the continent left behind them, however, sufficient property to gra 1691. tify any ordinary lust of wealth or vengeance: BOOK I and the refugees were received, on their arrival in France, with that urbanity and generosity which happily on so many occasions serve to soften the traits of the dark and terrific character of Louis XIV. General Ginckel was solemnly thanked by parliament for his services; and the titles of Earl of Athlone and Baron Aghrim were conferred upon him, in perpetual commemoration of his heroic achievements. The articles of Limerick, so violently exclaimed against by men devoid of the feelings of humanity, as too lenient and favorable to the Irish rebels, were in the sequel carried into exact and punctual execution. Nay, such was the justice and generosity of the king, that divers doubts. arising out of certain ambiguous words were explained in favor of the Irish; and thus mercy, hiding the fatal sword of vengeance in wreaths of flowers, crowned the conquest achieved by valour *. On the king's departure for Ireland, the queen Queen conwas constituted sole regent, with a cabinet coun- gent. * "Orthou who sit'st a smiling bride By Valour's arm'd and awful side, Gentlest of sky-born forms, and best ador'd! Who oft with songs, divine to hear, Win'st from his fatal grasp the spear, And hid'st in wreaths of flowers his bloodless sword." stituted Re VOL. I. COLLINS'S Ode to Mercy. Р |