parliamentarians. An enterprise so desperate and false in point of principle, could only have prospered by the force of original talent and pre-eminent vigour; but these were qualities to which the lord lieutenant had few pretensions; and thus his re-appearance in the war, though marked on some occasions by demonstrations of personal dignity and good sense, was still as devoid of interest as it was barren of success.

It would be tedious to offer proofs of the correctness of these observations, by describing how mistrust of his intentions animated the citizens of Wexford and Waterford to close their gates against him, even when they most needed succour. Equally dull would be the task of relating, in detail, the various inconsistencies and violations of principle by which the other principal actors in these disastrous proceedings sullied their reputations, and incurred disgrace-how Munroe, one of the first to take the solemn league and covenant, became suspected, and was sent prisoner to London; how Preston, jealous of O'Neil, plotted and acted with Clanrickarde, against his old brother in arms; and how O'Neil himself, finding his views alike incompatible with the objects of the Confederates and of Ormonde, was proclaimed a traitor by the Confederates, and made a compact of mutual assistance with Monk, in the North, which was faithfully observed, during a term of three months, until it was dissolved by the puritanical fury of the English House of Commons. These were minor incidents, seldom reflecting credit upon the persons concerned in them, and never diverting the main current of affairs from its impetuous course. Upon that tide the master spirit of the storm soon rode, and became the great avenger to every party but his own, of all the blind and perverse folly, the mingled stubbornness and negligence, the corruption, bigotry, and crime with which this long and inglorious war had been overloaded.

In January, 1649, Ormonde signed a new treaty with the Confederates, embodying the principal concessions yielded by Glamorgan; and in the following month of March, the English parliament voted the lord lieutenancy to Oliver Cromwell, who, looking around him for suitable companions and assistants in so arduous a command, quickly fixed his eyes on Boyle, Lord

Broghill. According to his biographer, Mr. Budgell, that nobleman, shocked by the king's death, had quitted the parliamentary army, and abandoning Ireland, and the estate he had there, as utterly lost, had retired to Marston, a family seat in Somersetshire. The complete character of this political adventurer is revealed with peculiar simplicity and effect in Mr. Budgell's account of his conduct upon this occasion. He could not, it seems, "forbear reflecting, in his retirement, upon the miserable condition both of his country and the royal family, till, at last, he conceived it beneath his spirit and quality to see the public ruined, and his own private fortune enjoyed by rebels. He resolved, therefore, to accept something, both for the sake of his country and himself, and accordingly, under pretence of going to the Spa for his health, he determined to cross the seas, and apply himself to Charles II. for a commission to raise what forces he could in Ireland, in order to restore his majesty, and to recover his own estate. Having taken this resolution, he applied to the earl of Warwick, who had interest with the prevailing party, desiring him to procure a license for him to go to the Spa. He pretended to the earl that he meant nothing more by this journey than the recovery of his health; but he let some of his friends of the royal party, in whom he thought he could confide, into the secret of his design; and having raised a considerable sum of money, came up to London to prosecute his voyage.

But the committee of state, who spared no money to get proper intelligence, being soon made acquainted with the whole design, determined to proceed against him with their utmost severity. Cromwell, a member of the committee, and no stranger to the character of Broghill's cleverness, entreated that he might have leave to talk with him, and endeavour to gain him before extremities were resorted to. Having obtained this permission, he immediately dispatched a gentleman to Broghill, to let him know that he intended to wait upon him. Broghill having had no acquaintance with Cromwell, told the gentleman that he was not the person to whom the general had sent him. The gentleman readily replied, that he was sent to the Lord Broghill, and, therefore, if he was that

lord, he was sent to him. His lordship finding there was no mistake, confessed that he was Lord Broghill, and desiring his humble duty to be presented to the general, he added that he would not give him the trouble to come to him, but that he himself would wait upon his excellency, if he knew at what hour it would be most proper for him to do so: in the mean time he would stay at home, to receive further commands. The gentleman took his leave, promising to return directly.

Musing in his chamber upon what had passed, Broghill soon afterwards, to his great surprise, saw Cromwell himself enter the room. When some mutual civilities had passed between them, and they were left alone, Cromwell told him, in few words, "That the committee of state were apprised of his design of going over and applying to Charles Stuart for a commission to raise forces in Ireland, and that they were determined to make an example of him, if he himself had not diverted them from that resolution." Lord Broghill interrupted him here, and assured him that the intelligence the committee had received was false; that he was neither in a capacity, nor had any inclination to raise disturbances in Ireland, and concluded with entreating his excellency to have a kinder opinion of him. Cromwell, instead of making any reply, drew out of his pocket copies of several letters sent by Broghill to persons in whom he confided: these he put into his hands. Lord Broghill, upon perusing them, found it was to no purpose to dissemble any longer. He asked his excellency's pardon for what he had said, returned him his humble thanks for his protection against the committee, and entreated his directions how he should behave in so delicate a conjuncture. Cromwell told him that though till this time he had been a stranger to his person, he was not so to his merit and character; that he had heard how gallantly his lordship had already behaved in the Irish wars; and, therefore, since he was named lord lieutenant of Ireland, and the reducing that kingdom was now become his province, he had obtained leave of the committee to offer his lordship the command of a general officer, if he would

serve in that war; that he should have no oaths or engagements imposed upon him, nor be obliged to draw his sword against any but the Irish rebels.

Lord Broghill, continues his simple biographer, was infinitely surprised at so generous and unexpected an offer; he saw himself at liberty, by all the rules of honour, to serve against the Irish, whose rebellion and barbarities were equally detested by the royal party and the parliament. He desired, however, the general to give him some time to consider of what had been proposed to him. Cromwell briskly told him that he must come to some resolution that very instant; that he himself was returning to the committee, who were still sitting; and had determined, if his lordship rejected their offer, to send him immediately to the Tower. Broghill, finding that his liberty and life were in the utmost danger, and charmed with the frankness and generosity of Cromwell's behaviour, gave him his word and honour that he would faithfully serve him against the Irish rebels. Upon which, Cromwell once more assured him that the conditions he had made with him: should be punctually observed; and then ordered him to repair immediately to Bristol, to which place forces should be sent him, with a sufficient number of ships to transport them into Ireland. This being done, Broghill returned to Munster, and there raising a troop of horse, and 1,500 foot, again took the field to fight for the parliamentarians, whose guilt in beheading the king had so lately filled him with horror and despair.

Cromwell landed at Dublin in 1649, with 9,000 foot and 4,000 horse, £200,000 in money, and a full supply of ordnance. The troops he had selected for this expedition consisted of the gloomiest fanatics and wildest enthusiasts in the Puritan army-men who compared themselves to the people of Israel marching to extirpate the idolatrous Canaanites, and who fancied themselves the appointed instruments of heaven for the overthrow of the empire of Babylon in Ireland, and the erection of a new Jerusalem in its stead. Cromwell began his opera tions at the head of these bigoted desperadoes with characteristic fury. Proceeding at once to attack Drogheda, he disdained

the forms of regular war, and took the town by storm. It was garrisoned with 3,000 men, who fought bravely, and were promised quarter upon throwing down their arms. But Cromwell, pre-determined to strike unexampled terror with his first blow, let loose his armed zealots upon the unresisting Irish, and, in defiance of the promised quarter, devoted two days to a general carnage. Only 30 of the garrison were spared, and they were sold as slaves, and transported to the colonies.

It was at this extreme point that Ormonde, ever too late with his good measures, concluded a hasty agreement with Owen O'Neil, the only officer whom valour, skill, and experience in war qualified to cope with so formidable an antagonist. But a fatal disease had seized upon the frame of that popular commander: he was now so ill that he was obliged to be moved about on a litter. Even in this condition, with a spirit and determination unsubdued by bodily sufferings, he ordered the army to march, and was carried at their head towards the enemy. The motion, however, was more than he could bear; he was obliged to stop at Lough Oughter Castle, where he died, and took with him to his grave the lingering hopes of Irish independence.

Although the winter was now setting in, Cromwell, undeterred by the approaching severities of the season, detached a force under Venables to co-operate with Coote in the North, while he proceeded himself to Wexford with 9,000 men. Here he was joined by Broghill. Ormonde had contrived to throw a reinforcement into the town; but Strafford, the governor of the castle, betrayed his post, and an easy capture was brutally followed by a repetition of the scenes which had flooded Drogheda with blood.

New Ross and Carrick-on-Suir were the places next taken by Cromwell's troops, while Broghill, moving into the districts over which the possessions of his family gave him most influence, marched through the open gates of Youghal, Kinsale, Bandon, and even Cork, and reduced Dungarvan after a slight resistance. Thus, before the winter set in, Cromwell's army had won excellent quarters, and, with the exception of Water