by strenuous exertions he succeeded in restoring order to the half-mutinous Irish soldiery. Nor did he begin his task a moment too soon, for by early spring Ginkel was marshalling his army at Mullingar, and having obtained a formidable siege-train was marching upon Athlone. Ere the new campaign began, William, not only anxious in his own interest to close the war, but by nature tolerant, and "touched," as Sir Charles Wogan says, "by the fate of a gallant nation that had made itself the victim of French promises," offered the Irish Roman Catholics the free exercise of their religion, half the Churches in the kingdom, and the moiety of their ancient possessions. But the Irish were still sanguine ; they knew how critical William's position was, and how great were the risks he ran in Flanders when half his available forces were locked up in Ireland: and no response was made.

Athlone, the ancient fortress built by King John upon the Shannon to overawe the septs of Connaught, like many other towns in Ireland consisted of an English quarter and an Irish quarter. The former, on the Leinster shore, was of no great strength. The Irish town lay on the Connaught side; and the deep and rapid river was spanned by a single bridge. Ginkel advanced and commenced the siege. The Irish soon evacuated the English town, and retired into the Irish town, breaking the bridge behind them. Ginkel, who was strong in artillery, pounded the devoted city for several weeks; silenced the few brass cannon in the town; and breached the walls in several places. But

the strong stream of the Shannon effectually prevented an assault, and his attempts to repair the bridge were gallantly defeated by the Irish. St. Ruth, with the whole Irish army, had come to support the garrison, and lay encamped a mile or two off upon the Connaught side, too contemptuous, though warned by Sarsfield, of the possibility of the English forcing the passage of the river. There was a dangerous ford some way below the bridge, and by this Ginkel determined to make an attempt to cross. Under cover of the darkness the forlorn hope plunged into the water, and struggled to the other side. A short fight at the breach, and Ginkel's men had entered the town, seized the broken end of the bridge, and held it till it was hastily repaired. Their comrades poured across, and Athlone was taken.

St. Ruth, thunderstruck at what had happened, drew off his army and took up a strong position behind the Suck. Ginkel, after putting Athlone into a state of defence, advanced to Ballinasloe. He found the Irish strongly posted on rising ground, surrounded by a quaking morass, and their right resting on the ruined castle of Aughrim.

Late in the afternoon of July 12th he determined to attack. From five o'clock till nine a desperate battle was fought. At one moment the English centre, staggered by the stout resistance, gave way and fled; and St. Ruth believed the day to be his. But a regiment of English cavalry under Mackay, and one of French Huguenots under Ruvigny, managed to struggle over a narrow causeway in the bog, and turned his right flank;

and as he rode down to fling his cavalry upon them, a cannon ball took off his head, and the Irish were without a commander. The Irish now fought each for himself, and without method or plan. The English centre was rallied by Talmash. The Irish were driven up the hill into the camp, and, being unable to hold it, fled headlong, some taking the way to Galway and some to the city of Limerick. And now began a scene of frightful butchery. The English and Danish cavalry pursued and cut down the fugitives; no quarter was given, and the flying Irish were hewn to pieces indiscriminately. Seven thousand were slaughtered, and only four hundred were taken prisoners. An eyewitness from the top of the hill of Kilkommeden next day saw the country, for miles in the line of flight, white with the naked bodies of the slain.

CHAPTER V.

THE BROKEN TREATY. A.D. 1691-1700.

THE last line of defence had now been broken through, and a pitched battle fought, which made it impossible for the Irish again to meet Ginkel in the field. Their only hope was to maintain themselves in the city of Limerick until the rainy season brought them the terrible ally of pestilence, which had before stood them in good stead at Dundalk, and at the siege of Limerick in the previous year. Ginkel had occupied Loughrea and Athenry, and advanced to the city of Galway, which was held by Lord Dillon, and, after a short siege, had received its surrender on favourable terms to the inhabitants, its garrison marching out with all the honours of war, and retiring on Limerick.

Limerick was now the last refuge of the Irish. It was crowded with the broken remnants of the Irish army. Tyrconnel lay dying in the castle, and Sarsfield was in command, with high hopes of repeating the successful defence of the previous autumn. Ginkel invested the town on August 25th, and opened fire upon it with fifty guns. The English fleet sailed up the Shannon to cut off

Y

all hope of French succours. September came, and with it the news that Kilmallock had been abandoned and Sligo had surrendered. Still the town held out; and Ginkel, with private instructions from William to finish the war on the best terms he could, was growing anxious at the duration of the siege. On September 22nd an attack was made from the Clare side of the river. There was desperate fighting on the Thomond bridge. The Irish were driven across, and the defenders of the island portion of the town, fearful lest the English should enter pellmell with the fugitives, drew up the drawbridge, and their comrades were either cut to pieces or flung into the water.

This was the last fighting of the war; and an armistice was agreed upon for three days. The Irish were willing to surrender if they could get favourable terms. Ginkel, who knew the risks of prolonging the war into the autumn, and how welcome to William would be the release of a portion of the army of Ireland for service on the Continent, was equally willing to grant them. Military articles were agreed upon, permitting all officers and soldiers, "and also those called rapparees or volunteers," in the Irish quarters to embark, with their "families, household stuffs, plate, and jewels," for any place beyond sea, passports, convoys, and transport being provided for them.

The civil "articles of Limerick" were drawn up, and were signed by Sarsfield and by the lords justices on October 3rd; and, amongst other things, provided as follows: (i.) "That the Roman Catholics of Ireland