fuch heavy accufations, for more than thirty years that he furvived the publication of it; being most of that time, in the exalted stations of Bishop of Derry, and Archbishop of Dublin; to which fucceffive dignities, he was thought to have been raised, chiefly on account of the great merit and fervice of that performance.

CHA P. XX.

Surrender of Limerick, with the Articles of capitulation.

ON the 3d of October, 1691, was furrendered to

General Ginckle, and the lords juftices of Ireland, upon the articles of capitulation here following, freely and folemnly entered into, the city of Limerick, together with all the other garrisons then held by the catholics of that kingdom, for king James. Thefe articles were afterwards ratified, and exemplified, by their majesties king William and queen Mary, under the great seal of England; and in the year 1695, confirmed by an act of the Irish parliament. By the first of these articles, it was ftipulated and agreed, "that the Roman catholics of Ireland fhall enjoy fuch privileges, in the exercife of their religion, as they did enjoy in the reign of king Charles the Second. And that their majesties, as foon as their affairs will permit them to fummon a parliament

which are now in the hands of his relations." Swift's Works, vol. viii. If this be not a ridiculous boast of his biographer, as most probably it is, these relations of his grace are now again thus publicly called upon to produce those attested vouchers.

The particulars of the fecond fiege of Limerick (fays Macpherson) are neither important nor diftinctly known. Six weeks were spent before the place, without any decifive effect. The garrifon was well fupplied with provifions. They were provided with all means of defence. The season was now far advanced. The rains had fet in. The winter itself was Ginckle had received orders to finifh the war upon any terms. The English general offered conditions, which the Irish, had they even been victors, could fcarce refufe with prudence." Macpher. Hift. Gr. Brit. vol. i. p. 620.

near.

parliament in Ireland, will endeavour to procure the faid Roman catholics fuch further fecurity in that particular, as may preferve them from any further difturbance on account of their religion."

b

This furrender of Limerick, and the other garrifons, happened at a most favourable conjuncture for King William, who was then engaged in a war with France; and while his forces were thus divided, by the Irish war, could not proceed in that, which he was carrying on abroad, with the defired fuccefs. On the other hand, what indeed fhewed a real and laudable intention in the Irish to put an end to the troubles of that kingdom, by this capitulation, was, that previous to the figning of the articles, an affurance had been sent them of a supply of twenty fhips of war, fpeedily to arrive from France, under the command of Monfieur Chateau Renault," which supply" did actually arrive in Dingle-bay a day or two after the articles were figned, confifting,' as appears from the minutes of a letter from the lords juftices to the king, of eighteen ships of war, fix fire-fhips, and twenty great fhips of burthen, and brought on board eight or ten thousand arms, two hundred officers, and three thoufand men."

2 66

King William was fo fenfible of the neceffity of collecting and uniting his whole force against the formidable power of France, that in order to put à speedy period to the Irish war," he had fent inftructions to the lords juftices,' to iffue a proclamation, affuring the Irifh of much more favourable conditions, than they afterwards obtained by the articles of Limerick. The juftices formed these instructions into a procla

Lel. Hift. of Irel. vol. iii. p. 610. * Harris's Life of King William, f. 353.3 Id. ib. f. 372.

"The opponents of William give him no credit, either for his juftice or humanity, upon the prefent occafion. They afcribe his eagerness to finish the troubles of Ireland to his earneft defire of profecuting with vigour the war on the continent. They allege, that had not an English parliament deprived his creatures of the hopes of Irish forfeitures, he would have been lefs liberal in the conceffions which he made." Macphers. Hift. Great Britain, vol. i. p. 623.

a proclamation, afterwards ftiled the fecret proclamation," because though printed, it was never published; for their lordships finding Limerick reduced to the condition of capitulating, fmothered the proclamation, and haftened to the camp, that they might hold the Irish to as hard terms as the king's affairs would permit: this they effected. And although, adds my author, they deferved the thankful acknowledgments of every proteltant in the kingdom; yet a party foon fprung up, that inveighed loudly against the articles. The defigning -men of this party quarrelled with them, only because their expectations were disappointed of raifing large fortunes out of the forfeitures; but they eafily drew a -majority of the proteftants to their fide. They thought

d

the

"We are told that they (lords juftices) had already prepared a proclamation, offering terms still more advantageous to the Irish than thofe granted by the general; but on the first intelligence of a treaty they fuppreffed it. Hence it was called the SECRET PROCLAMATION, becaufe, though printed, it was never published." See Harris. Writers of Ireland, in the article Cox. Lel. Hift. vol. iii. p. 618.

"Though the terms granted at the capitulation of Limerick were, perhaps, neceffary in themselves, and highly suitable to humanity, they were foon after, equally difliked by both parties. The English protestants looked with unbounded refentment upon articles, which rendered, in some measures independent a people, whom, on account of ancient prejudices and recent injuries, they abhorred. The Irifh having obtained with fo much facility fuch good terms, imbibed an opinion, that they might have extorted conditions ftill more favourable from an exhausted enemy. The arrival of the French fleet, two days after the capitulation, with arms, ftores, provifions, and ammunition, confirmed them in their fentiments on this fubject. But that circumstance, in conjunction with many other obvious reasons, juftified William for putting an end to the war upon moderate terms. Many millions had already been expended in the reduction of Ireland. Near one thousand men had been loft by fickness and the fword. The army, though victorious in the field, were exhaufted with fatigue. Winter was approaching, the fiege of Limerick muft in all probability have been raised, a fecond difappointment before that place would have been equal to a defeat. The fpirits of the Irish would rife, the French encouraged by their fuccefs, would aid their allies with more effect." Macpherf. Hift. Great Britain, vol. i. P. 622.

the Irish intitled to no articles, but what would expofe them to the fevereft events of war. They cenfured the lords juftices and the general, as if the kingdom were betrayed, infifting that the articles ought not to be obferved."

← “This party-war was foon declared from the pulpit. Dr. Dopping, bishop of Meath, preaching before the justices in Christ-church, Dublin, the Sunday after they had returned from the camp, argued, that the peace ought not to be observed with a people so perfidious. This ill opinion of the Irish catholics was probably taken up from the many fcandalous libels then industrioufly propagated, and ftill occafionally revived by their enemies, on the principles and actions of fuch of them as had been concerned in any of the different infurrections, anterior to, or coincident with this revolution. But befides that it has been often inconteftably proved, that these libels contain little elfe but grofs and barefaced mifreprefentations of facts, the experience of the time paft fhould have now evinced the integrity of the conduct and principles of these people, beyond all reasonable doubt or fufpicion.

"But in order to obviate this (indeed) perfidious doctrine, thus folemnly delivered from the pulpit by the bishop of Meath, doctor Moreton,' bifhop of Kildare, the following Sunday, fhewed the obligation of keeping the public faith. This matter became fo much the fubject of difcourfe, that it was neceffary to settle people's opinions on the controverted points; and to that end, Dean Synge preached in the fame church, on these words, keep peace with all men if it be possible ;" and moderated fo judiciously, that no more was heard of the difpute from the pulpit; but in parliament, and council, the difference fubfifted, until the English act of refumption quieted the difputants, who then faw they loft nothing by the articles."

4 Harris's Life of K. William, f. 353.

THE

5 Id. ib.

THE

CIVIL AND MILITARY

ARTICLES

O F

LIMERICK,

Exactly printed from the Letters Patents; wherein they are ratified and exemplified by their Majefties, under the Great Seal of England.

GULIELMUS & Maria Dei gratia, Angliæ, Scotia, Franciæ & Hiberniæ, rex & regina, fidei defenfores, &c. Omnibus ad quos præfentes literæ noftræ pervenerint falutem infpeximus irrotulament. quarund. literarum patentium de confirmatione, geren. dat. apud Westmonafterium vicefimo quarto die Februarii, ultimi præteriti in cancellar. noftr. irrotulat. ac ibidem de recordo remanen. in hæc verba. William and Mary, by the grace of God, &c. of God, &c. To all to whom these prefents fhall come, greeting. Whereas certain articles, bearing date the third day of October laft paft, made and agreed on between our juftices of our kingdom of Ireland, and our general of our forces there on the one part; and feveral officers there, commanding within the city of Limerick, in our faid kingdom, on the other part. Whereby our faid juftices and general did undertake that we fhould ratify thofe articles, within the space of eight months, or fooner; and use their utmost endeavours that the fame fhould be ratified and confirmed in parliament. The tenour of which faid articles is as follows, viz.

ARTICLES