THE

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

COMMONWEALTH.

A. D. THE struggles of Ormond, and his commis1649. sioners of trust, were marked with the same undecided character that distinguished all his former efforts. Ormond's great object was to unite all parties, if possible, in support of the common cause; that the enemies of Charles II., and the murderers of his father, should be hereafter considered the only enemies of Ireland; and that every concession should be made to conciliate the most austere and rigid assertors of Irish freedom. For this purpose, Ormond would not hesitate to shake hands. with Owen O'Neal; but so infatuated were the confederate council of Kilkenny, that they not only refused to coalesce with this gallant and generous soldier, but actually proclaimed him a traitor.

* Mr Taaffe, speaking of the infatuated conduct which distinguished the confederate council at Kilkenny, and of their ingratitude to Owen O'Neal, their most illustrious leader, has the following animated observations: "What welcome news to the co

Owen O'Neal, disgusted with such miserable policy, intrigued with the parliamentary forces, relieved

venanters of England, Ireland, and Scotland! The illustrious hero of Ireland, Owen Roe O'Neal, crowned with laurels on the continent; the only name on the military staff of Ireland formidable to its enemies; who had the praise even of his enemies, both at home and abroad; the lineal descendant and rightful heir of so many kings and monarchs of Ireland; of a race almost always its ornament and bulwark; munificent patrons of arts and sciences; favourers of the muses; all that essentially grace and adorn human life; champions of the faith; protectors of the weak; and unequivocal and unbending assertors of Irish rights; Owen Roe O'Neal, the only true champion, the shield and right hand of Erin, is declared a rebel and a traitor! This was hard treatment to those gallant Irish officers, who quitted foreign service, when promotions, honours, and honourable family alliances were open on the continent, to assist their countrymen in their late struggle for their liberties. Such an act of folly was fatal to Ireland; by it, the confederates damned their cause, and surrendered themselves and their country into the hands of their enemies. They did that which the English Parliament, Cromwell, Coote, Ormond, and all the open and covert enemies of Ireland, wished. They delivered Sampson into the hands of the Philistines, and the latter took care to destroy the man who was the terror of all the popish and covenanting enemies of Ireland.

"Sir Charles Coote, holding Derry for the parliament, and being sorely pressed for want of provisions, having sustained a long siege from the Lord of Ardes, who commanded the royalist army, contrived to send a messenger to O'Neal. Having heard of his being proclaimed a traitor and rebel, and knowing, consequently, that he must be distressed for money to pay his troops, he offered him a large sum, on the condition that O'Neal relieved him. Owen, indignant at the outrage offered to him and his brave troops, marched to raise the siege. The Lord of Ardes, not thinking it prudent to wait his arrival, departed from before Derry hastily. Owen Roe O'Neal was received with every appearance of friendship into the town. A ball and supper was prepared for

their distresses, and contributed indirectly to the overthrow of the hopes of the confederacy. Ormond besieges Dublin, and is repulsed with immense loss. The parliament of England turn their whole and undivided attention towards Ireland, the last refuge of the royal family. They send forward Cromwell, at the head of eight thousand foot and four thousand horse, with an ample supply of money, a formidable train of artillery, and all other necessaries of war. Cromwell commenced his barbarous warfare in Ireland by the siege and the destruction of Drogheda. He basely butchered the inhabitants. After a promise of quarter to the brave defenders of the town, he permitted his fanatical soldiers to slaughter them, when stripped of their arms and

the entertainment of the deliverer of Derry; and he received a present of a pair of russet boots, in order to dance with a young lady who was particularly anxious to enjoy the honour of that diversion with the great man. Supper being ended, he danced with her and some others, until he fell into a prespiration, and was completely exhausted. He soon after retired to bed, fell sick, and in a few days expired. Whether the popular opinion of his having been presented with a pair of poisoned boots, be well founded, still rests on conjecture-yet I think the probabilities favour that opinion. Coote was a mortal enemy to Irish par pists. He had engaged for a large sum, which perhaps he was unable to pay, and the general at the head of his forces could compel payment or make reprisals." Mr Taaffe concludes, that Coote conspired to destroy his great and powerful ally. We are unwilling to attribute the sudden death of Owen O'Neal, however formidable either his talents or power, to the cause suggested by Mr Taaffe. Coote was, at this period, most peculiarly interested in his safety; and the stupid denunciations of the Irish confederacy against O'Neal, were the best possible security for his fidelity.

incapable of defence. For five days this hideous and cowardly murder was continued, under the direct orders of this hypocritical Englishman; but thirty persons remained unslaughtered by an enemy glutted and oppressed with carnage; and Borlase says, that even these miserable thirty were transported as slaves to Barbadoes. Such were the effects of a policy dictated by the furious spirit of fanaticism, urged on by national hatred and contempt. With such facts before the contemplation of Ireland, will a rational Englishman wonder that an Irishman should give utterance to his political feelings in the language of the bitterest indignation-yet all this I desperate and murderous violence of Cromwell would have availed but little, had it not been for the wretched divisions of the confederates. Even this dreadful calamity with which their country was now visited, was insufficient to induce them to the adoption of any manly generous principles of action. The wolf was suffered to prowl and continue his bloody course among the unprotected flock, while the drunken shepherds were either disputing about their booty, or perhaps speculating on the slaughter of each other. Cromwell went on, and vigorously took advantage of the folly which surrounded him; he artfully held out the hope of religious toleration; intrigued with the principal leaders among the Irish; and by force and stratagem succeeded in the capture of Wexford, Waterford, and Ross. The duplicity practised by Ormond on the people of Ireland was signally punished by their present indifference to the result of the

conflict between him and Cromwell; well and truly did they say, that they saw but little difference between the cause of Charles and the English Parliament; both promised freedom, civil and religious, and experience told them that the word of Ormond was not to be relied on.

Under such circumstances, and with a nation so disposed, the victory of Cromwell, at the head of a well organized army, undivided in sentiment, animated by the hope of plunder, and the zeal of bigotry, was as certain as it was easy. All the principal towns of Munster surrendered to his arms, (1650) and the cause of Charles in the west of Ireland seemed to be irretrievably blasted. Clonmel was the only place which could be considered a serious impediment to the triumphant career of Cromwell's arms. A very interesting and remark able instance of individual heroism occurred there, which should not yield to the achievement of the Roman general; and which, if performed in ancient days, would have enjoyed the immortality of a classic historian. Hugh O'Neal, a northern officer, with twelve hundred of his provincials, maintained the town with such valour, that on the first assault two thousand of the besiegers lost their lives. "The Romish bishop of Ross," says Mr Leland," who was particularly active in raising and animating the besieged to this singular defence of their town, was taken prisoner in one of the assaults." A man so distinguished by his determination to resist the English depredators could expect but little mercy. His life, however, was offer