spoken of by the King in presence of the whole regiment, and having returned thanks to his Majesty for his great kindness, the King continued

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O'Shaughnessy, I will yet reward you for your fidelity to me; nor shall any who aid me in my present difficulties have cause to complain."

The King next addressed and complimented the Chiefs of Cratloe and Moyriesk, and the other officers, who all declared that they impatiently wished to meet the enemy in order to show how determined they were to conquer or die in his Majesty's cause.

The King, who appeared very anxious to fight, having reached Dundalk, where the enemy, under the command of the Marshal Duke de Schonberg, had halted, found that the expected fleet had not yet arrived in Carlingford Bay, with provisions for his army.

The Rapparees were of the utmost service to the Irish forces in cutting off the Williamite stragglers, and preventing the Duke de Schonberg from obtaining food and forage. Donal Bran distinguished himself, in conjunction with Galloping O'Hogan, MacCabe, O'Conor, O'Cavanagh, and others, and the Duke de Schonberg was after a time compelled to repair to a fortified camp. However, the King, who had changed his mind, would not now consent to storm it, though he was informed by his officers that the place was unhealthy, the Williamites wasted by sickness, and his own army most anxious to fight. Count de Rosen, seeing the King's want of energy, boldly, and with a bluntness unusual in a Frenchman, told his Majesty if he had ten kingdoms, instead of three, he would lose them all by his inactivity; but the King could not be persuaded to order an attack, and after some time the Duke de Schonberg hastily retreated, with his diseased army.

In the meantime, news spread abroad that Sarsfield had taken Jamestown and Sligo by storm, and though the Williamites were again seized with a panic, the King commanded his army, who were more anxious than ever to fight, to proceed to winter quarters. His Majesty then returned to Dublin, accompanied by many of his regiments. Amongst the officers were the Chiefs of Cineal Aodh, Cratloe, and Moyriesk, and young Captain Forster.

On their arrival in the city, they found their merry old friend there, who now figured in society as Sir Theobald Butler, Knight, of Sraghnagalloon, one of the representatives in Parliament for the borough of Ennis, and Solicitor-General for Ireland, with whom they spent much of their time (66). Sir Toby was in high favour with the King, and most popular with the people, and spent some very pleasant evenings

with his friends. Captain Forster told him about the indignation felt by the whole Irish army at the Duke de Schonberg not having been attacked either in his camp or while on his retreat, and the Chief of Cineal Aodh again fell into one of those melancholy moods which he was occasionally subject to before he had joined the army. Shortly after his regiment was ordered to Limerick, when he obtained leave of absence and returned to his home.

CHAPTER XV.

ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE IN IRELAND.

WHEN the Chief of Cineal Aodh arrived at Gortinsiguara, he received intelligence that the Flying Eagle was anchored off the coast of Duras. He immediately directed Dermot Oge to dispatch a retainer to Kinvara, with a letter inviting the Chevalier de Tourville to the mansion. On his arrival he informed the Chieftain that William had enjoyed the voyage, which was really very pleasant, as the weather was delightful, and that he was most hospitably received by the D'Arcys, at Brest, who prided themselves on doing everything after the good old Irish fashion. He then handed him a letter from his son, the purport of which was that he was in good health and attending college; that Moylan was studying at Douay; and desiring to be remembered to John, Cuthbert, Kelly, and all his other friends.

"I could not return sooner, as I had to attach myself to the fleet, and was only allowed to depart a short time since. I must discharge my cargo as quickly as possible, and then set all sail for France."

The Chieftain, who was delighted to see De Tourville, sent invitations to his Clooneene and Rathorpe friends, by whom they were accepted. After dinner De Tourville desired them to send to Duras for some excellent wines and brandies which he had brought over from Bordeaux, including a large case for Sir Toby Butler's particular use, and requested in return to be furnished with some fresh provisions for his crew. Having stated the number of beeves he required, Dermot Oge and Costellan were directed to procure them. When he had discharged his cargo, and obtained the necessary supplies, De Tourville was in a few days after on his return to Brest.

No news of any importance reached the neighbourhood of Clooneene

for some time. The Parliament still sat in Dublin, and continued making new statutes, while the army remained inactive during the winter. Young Captain Forster procured leave of absence, and returned to his parents at Rathorpe, accompanied by Sergeant Power and Ralph Malbrough. Donal Bran and his Rapparees had previously arrived at Bunnacippaun Wood, and waited impatiently for the spring to open a new campaign. Cuthbert Fenwick was most uneasy, as he had not obtained any intelligence of his family, and endeavoured to while away the time by accompanying John and Kelly on their shooting excursions. Theobald Butler, of Ballygegan, continued to pay his addresses to Helena O'Shaughnessy, and ardently wished for the opening of the new campaign, that he might prove himself by his valour worthy of her hand. One evening the young Captain, who had come from Rathorpe on a visit to his grandfather, remarked that the troops would have fought much better if the King had remained in France.

"No doubt," said he, "King James has not acted judiciously. The people imagined that his very presence would have been enough to make them successful; but I suppose he is waiting for the additional supplies of men and money promised by Louis XIV., and it is to be hoped that during the next campaign he will act more boldly. We are still powerful, our army unbroken, and therefore should not despair. He has only to put himself at the head of his adherents, and act as fearlessly as was his wont when Duke of York, and every other man will follow him to victory or to death."

The winter passed over, and in the eventful spring of 1690 all was again bustle and activity in the Irish army. This year is memorable for being the one in which the formation of the Irish Brigade in the service of France was commenced; and, unaccountable as it may seem, it owed its origin to one of the greatest blunders committed by King James and his advisers, during the war in Ireland. Having several times impressed upon the Government of France the great difficulties he was labouring under in not having a sufficient quantity of arms or money to oppose the Prince of Orange, he pointed out the absurdity of his trying at the head of Ireland alone, which was so impoverished from the effect of the late bloody war of the Cromwellians, to resist the mighty resources of England, Scotland, Holland, Denmark, and Germany, and therefore requested to be supplied by King Louis with a sufficient force of men, arms, and ammunition to resist the power of an ambitious Prince, who wished to force himself on a persecuted people, on whose country he had no claim. King James also represented that there was no fear of the assistance he asked for proving useless, for although they were now

entering on the second year of this sanguinary war, the Irish were not in the least disheartened, and, regardless of pay, would fight to the last, if only properly armed, in defence of their country. The soldiers had the greatest confidence in their officers, and a strong feeling of clanship existed between them since the army was remodelled by the Duke of Tyrconnell.

The Irish certainly acted with undoubted bravery, though subject to the greatest hardships, and probably no other nation, under such trying circumstances, would have been so unanimous in opposing such a powerful enemy. Their conduct during this bloody war has no parallel in the history of nations, except, perhaps, in the determined opposition given by the patriotic Swiss to the rash and impetuous Charles the Bold, of Burgundy, whom they finally overthrew and slew at the battle of Nancy, in 1477.

The French Government having at length complied with the repeated demands of the King for assistance, the regiments of Zurlauben, Merode, Famechon, Forrest, La Marche, Tournaisis, and Courvassiez, comprising something over 6,000 well-armed and able-bodied men, were ordered to Ireland. The passage of this land force, which was placed under the command of the Duke de Lauzun, was to be secured by a squadron of the French navy, consisting of 36 sail of the line, 4 fire ships, and some other vessels commanded by the Marquis d'Amfreville, assisted by the Marquis de Nesmond and the Chevalier de Flacour. This fleet sailed from Brest on the 17th of March, which, being St. Patrick's day, was considered a good omen by the people. It reached Kinsale and Cork on the 22nd and 23rd, and by the 27th landed the Duke de Lauzun and his men, but not until early in April were all the military stores disembarked. By the understanding which had taken place between James II., and Louis XIV., the Irish had to send the latter monarch back in exchange, to France, on board the same fleet which had brought them assistance, 6,000 soldiers, who were the flower of the Irish army; but, on account of being delayed for some time by unfavourable weather, they did not reach France until early in the month of May. This force consisted of five infantry regiments which were commanded by Lieutenant-General Lord Mountcashel, the Honourable Colonel Daniel O'Brien, eldest son of Lord Clare, the Honourable Colonel Arthur Dillon, Colonel Richard Butler and Colonel Robert Fielding. On their arrival in France, this organization was changed, being formed into three regiments, the commands of which were bestowed on Lord Mountcashel, the Honourable Colonel Daniel O'Brien, and the Honourable Colonel Arthur Dillon. Each regiment

contained 15 companies of 100 men, and its Colonel's company. By the arrangement made by Lord Mountcashel with the French Government for the support of these regiments, the officers and soldiers were to receive strangers' pay, which was for the latter a sol per day more than the French privates. The Colonels, in addition to their pay, received a sol in the livre, as well from the appointments of all officers, as from the funds for the maintenance of the respective regiments. Lord Mountcashel received, besides this privilege in his own regiment, a sol in the liere out of the pay of the two other regiments. These regiments, which received the name of the Brigade of Mountcashel, in compliment to his Lordship, consisted each of two battalions, and were the foundation of the illustrious Irish Brigade which contributed so materially to the military glory of the French nation.

The Duke de Lauzun, who was appointed by Louis XIV., to take command of his Majesty's forces in Ireland, was better known as the Count de Lauzun. This nobleman was by birth a Gascon; and, although chosen to command the army sent to assist the struggling Irish, possessed but little military genius. Having at an early age made the acquaintance of King Louis, he ingratiated himself so much into his Majesty's favour that after a time he became a personage of great importance at Court-so much so, indeed, that he did not consider it presumptuous to pay his addresses to the Princess de Montpensier, who was one of the Princesses of the Blood Royal, being cousin of the King of France. The Count de Lauzun, for such then was his rank and title, seeing his advances were favourably received by the Princess, boldly demanded of the King that they might be married with royal magnificence. Louis XIV., was at first greatly incensed at such audacity in one of his subjects; but, on consideration, offered to create the Count a Duke, Marshal of France and Governor of Provence, on condition that he renounced his intentions of espousing the Princess. This proposition, however, was refused by De Lauzun with as much hauteur as the King had at first assumed towards him, which so enraged his Majesty that he ordered the determined nobleman to be at once cast into prison. He was accordingly confined in the Castle of Pignerol, where he remained imprisoned for several years, until his disconsolate wife, the Princess de Montpensier, whom he had privately married, succeeded in winning over to her cause the Duke de Mayence, for the purpose of having him liberated. The result was, that the Count de Lauzun soon after escaped to England, where he remained in exile. until the Revolution of 1688, when the consort of King James II., the beautiful and unfortunate Queen Mary Beatrice of Modena, and the

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