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CHAP. catholics from all power. In the mean time, howXXX. ever, the rejoicings in Ireland were accompanied with

Agitations.

acts of insult on the protestants. Thus the Romish lord mayor of Dublin committed the officers of Christ Church to prison, because, as he said, "their bells did not ring merrily enough" for the prince's birth. But intelligence soon arrived of a less agreeable nature to these bigots. While the project of invasion by the prince of Orange was still a secret to the infatuated James, Tyrconnel, we are assured, was informed of the design, and conveyed the news to his master. On the first certain information, the lord-deputy was directed to send four thousand men to England: yet the catholics affected for some time to despise the efforts of the prince of Orange, who was coming, they said, to end his days on a scaffold like the duke of Monmouth; and the lord chief justice spoke with delight from the bench concerning English rebels, who would be hanged every where in clusters.

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In the mean time the rumours of the prince's preparations were in Ireland received with agitation and astonishment. Protestants and catholics alike rushed in crowds to Dublin, ardently enquiring news. At length on the arrival of certain advice, that the prince had landed, was advancing without opposition to London, and was every day joined by numbers, who deserted the imperious and bigoted monarch, the catholics and their chief governor sunk at once from insolence to dejection. Tyrconnel descended to flatter the protestants, to boast of his

impartial

XXX.

impartial government, and to cajole them to make CHA P. representations in his favour. The most spirited of the protestants proposed to seize the castle of Dublin, an enterprize which might have prevented much of the bloodshed and calamity of the following years; but they were prevented by the more timid, who had some hopes that the lord-deputy would spontaneously resign. Tyrconnel however, while hope remained, resolved to make some efforts. He issued new commissions, for the levying of troops, to all who would accept them, without paying even fees of office; and, excited by the preaching of the priests, an armed rabble arose in every quarter of the kingdom, who called themselves the king's soldiers. As these, neither paid nor restrained by government, supported themselves by depredation; and as the English colonists endeavoured to defend their properties against them, all order seemed dissolved, and the country relapsing into a state of barbarism.

massacre,

In the midst of this anarchy a tremendous alarm Alarm of was spread of a plot for the universal massacre of the protestants. A letter from an unknown hand, addressed to lord Mount-Alexander in the county of Down, in a style mean and vulgar, but plausible, confident, and circumstantial, warned him of a butchery of the protestants planned for execution on Sunday the ninth of December, in which no age, sex, or condition was to be spared. As priests had announced to their congregations what

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XXXI.

CHAP. was called a "secret intention," enjoining them to stand ready armed to obey their orders; and as a friar had preached at Derry on the destruction of the Amalekites by Saul, emphatically depicting the iniquity of sparing those whom the divine vengeance had devoted to excision, this and other letters of the like import, conveyed to gentlemen of Ulster, whether they were the contrivance of artifice, or the effect of credulity, produced a great and surprising perturbation. In a moment the capital became a scene of uproar and distraction: the guards of the lord-deputy were struck with astonishment: the draw bridge of the castle was raised, while a tumultuous crowd of both sexes and all ages rushed precipitately to the shore, imploring to be conveyed away from the daggers of the Irish. In vain were two lords dispatched by Tyrconnel to assure them of protection: their remonstrances were drowned in shrieks and clamour. An unusual number of vessels, which happened then to lie in the harbour, were filled with fugitives, who crowded on board in an ecstacy of terror and impatience, leaving their less successful friends in a state of despair and stupefaction. A similar effect was produced elsewhere throughout Ireland, particularly in some places where the intelligence was not received till the very day stated to be the appointed time of massacre. Starting from their devotion, they fled in amazement, leaving all their property to the

mercy

XXX.

mercy of the catholics. Some gained places of CHAP. strength, others the coast, and an opportunity of escape by sea. In the northern counties they collected what arms they could, and resolved on defence.

CHAP.

XXXI.

of Derry.

CHAP. XXXI.

Description of Derry-Resistance of this town-Protestant associations-Treachery of Hamilton and Tyrconnel-Proceedings of the protestants-Conduct of Lundy-Proceedings of James-George Walker-Proceedings at Derry-Siege of Derry -Appearance of Kirk-Character of Kirk-Atrocious cruelty of Rosen-Relief of Derry—Operations of the Enniskilleners-Defeat of Lord Galmoy

His treachery-Three armies sent against Enniskillen-Defeat of Sarsfield-Retreat of Fitzjames— Defeat of Macarthy near Newtown-Butler.

CHAP. IN the perturbation and flight of the protestants, occasioned by the letters mentioned in the foregoing Description chapter, the principal place of refuge in the northern province was the city of Derry, new named, in the time of James the first, Londonderry. This city stands on a singularly situate hill, insulated and of an oval form, which rises from the bottom of a valley, on the western side of the river Foyle, whose waters wash its foot through more than half its extent, and form with the bason, called logh Foyle, an excellent harbour. This beautiful town, conspicuous by its situation and the lofty spire of its

church,

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