CHAP. XXX. catholics from all power. In the mean time however the rejoicings in Ireland were accompanied with acts of infult on the proteftants. Thus the Romish lord mayor of Dublin committed the officers of Chrift Church to prifon, because, as he faid, "their bells did not ring merrily enough" for the prince's birth. But intelligence foon arrived of a lefs agreeable nature to these bigots. While the project of invafion by the prince of Orange was ftill a fecret to the infatuated James, Tyrconnel, we are affured, was informed of the defign, and conveyed the news to his master. On the first certain information, the lord-deputy was directed to fend four thousand men to England yet the catholics affected for fome time to despise the efforts of the prince of Orange, who was coming, they faid, 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. Agitations. In the mean time the rumours of the prince's preparations were in Ireland received with agitation and astonishment. Proteftants 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 oppofition to London, and was every day joined by numbers, who deferted the imperious and bigoted monarch, the catholics and their chief governor funk at once from infolence to dejection. Tyrconnel defcended to flatter the proteftants, to boast of his impartial XXX. impartial government, and to cajole them to make CHAP. representations in his favour. The most spirited of the proteftants propofed to feize the caftle 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 fome hopes that the lord-deputy would fpontaneously refign. Tyrconnel however, while hope remained, refolved to make fome efforts. He issued new commiffions, 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 arofe in every quarter of the kingdom, who called themfelves the king's foldiers. As thefe, neither paid nor restrained by government, fupported themselves by depredation; and as the English colonifts endeavoured to defend their properties against them, all order seemed diffolved, and the country relapfing into a state of barbarism. maffacre. In the midst of this anarchy a tremendous alarm Alarm of was spread of a plot for the univerfal maffacre of the proteftants. A letter from an unknown hand, addreffed to lord Mount-Alexander in the county of Down, in a ftyle mean and vulgar, but plaufible, confident, and circumftantial, warned him of a butchery of the proteftants planned for execution on Sunday the ninth of December, in which no age, fex, or condition was to be fpared. As priests had announced to their congregations what was CHAP. " was called a fecret intention," enjoining them to XXX. stand ready armed to obey their orders; and as á friar had preached at Derry on the destruction of the Amalekites by Saul, emphatically depicting the iniquity of fparing those whom the divine vengeance had devoted to excifion, this and other letters of the like import, conveyed to gentlemen of Ulfter, whether they were the contrivance of artifice, or the effect of credulity, produced a great and furprising perturbation. In a moment the capital became a fcene of uproar and diftraction: the guards of the lord-deputy were ftruck with astonishment: the draw bridge of the caftle was raised, while a tumultuous crowd of both sexes and all ages rufhed precipitately to the fhore imploring to be conveyed away from the daggers of the Irish. In vain were two lords difpatched by Tyrconnel to affure them of protection; their remonftrances were drowned in fhrieks and clamour. An unusual number of veffels, which happened then to lie in the harbour, were filled with fugitives, who crowded on board in an ftacy of terrour and impatience, leaving their less fuccessful friends in a ftate of defpair and ftupefaction. A fimilar effect was produced elsewhere throughout Ireland, particularly in fome places where the intelligence was not received till the very day stated to be the appointed time of maffacre. 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. ftrength, others the coaft, and an opportunity of escape by fea. In the northern counties they collected what arms they could, and refolved on defence. CHAP. CHAP. XXXI. XXXI. Defcription Defcription of Derry-Refiftance of this townProteftant affociations-Treachery of Hamilton and Tyrconnel-Proceedings of the proteftants-Conduct of Lundy-Proceedings of James-George Walker Proceedings at Derry-Siege of Derry—— Appearance of Kirk-Character of Kirk-Atrocious cruelty of Rofen-Relief of Derry- -Operations of the Enniskilleners--Defeat of lord Galmoy—His treachery-Three armies fent against EnniskillenDefeat of Sarsfield-Retreat of Fitzjames-Defeat of Macarthy near Newtown-Butler. CHAP IN the perturbation and flight of the protestants, occafioned by the letters mentioned in the foregoing of Dery. chapter, the principal place of refuge in the nor. thern province was the city of Derry, new named, in the time of James the first, Londonderry. This city ftands on a fingularly fituate hill, infulated and of an oval form, which rifes from the bottom of a valley, on the western fide of the river Foyle, whose waters wash its foot through more than half its ex. tent, and form with the bafon, called logh Foyle, an excellent harbour. This beautiful town, confpicuous by its fituation and the lofty fpire of its church, |