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guished ancestors, who proudly claimed France as their country, has he not, I ask, and I challenge contradiction, composed a song which would do credit to a native of our own country? I have no doubt but he will soon write another equally good in the Irish language, which is so dear to us all. It is my opinion, gentlemen, that the right way to express our appreciation of a man's merit, be he present or absent, is to drink his health in flowing goblets; and I therefore give you as a toast the health and long life of the Chevalier Victor de Tourville, Captain of the Flying Eagle, a vessel which, you know, has brought so much good wine and excellent brandy to this country."

Sir Toby's sentiments were received with great applause by the company, when, De Tourville having responded in suitable terms, and after many other speeches were made, the Chief of Clooneene and his guests retired to rest.

In a few days after, news reached Clooneene of the march of the Prince of Orange from Dublin, and that Wexford and Waterford had surrendered to him also; of his intention of returning to England, and that he had sent Lieutenant-General Douglas to besiege Athlone, as recorded in the last chapter.

On hearing of these events, the Chief sent intelligence of them to Donal Bran, who was then at home. The Rapparee immediately sent word to all the members of his band, to meet him that night at Bunnacippaun Wood, and directed each man to bring his horse, and come fully accoutred. They readily obeyed the pleasing summons, and towards evening the whole band assembled, and drew up near the old castle under the command of their leader.

Donal had now another officer in whom he placed great confidence. This person was Conor O'Shaughnessy, a gentleman descended from a junior branch of the Cineal Aodh, and a youth of activity and daring. He, like other gentlemen of his time, was urged on by patriotic motives, and through fear of losing his property should the Williamites succeed in taking the country.

Donal Bran's band were now well armed, but still retained the dress of the peasantry for the purpose of disguise. Having arranged their plans of advance and attack, they rapidly proceeded to Athlone, and at night arrived near that town.

CHAPTER XXI.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL DOUGLAS BESIEGES ATHLONE.

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THE town of Athlone is situated nearly in the centre of Ireland, being partly in Westmeath and partly in Roscommon, which latter county was anciently part of the territory of Hy-Maine, extending from Clontuskert, near Lanesborough, in the county of Roscommon, southwards to the boundary of the kingdom of Thomond, and from Athlone to Seafin and Ath-na-Riogh, or Athenry, in the present county of Galway. Athlone derives its name from Ath,' an Irish word signifying Ford, and Luan,' the Moon, and was dedicated in Pagan times to the goddess Luna. At this period, 1690, this town was commonly called by the Irish Blahluin,' a corrupt abbreviation of three Irish words, signifying, respectively, 'Baile,' a town, Ath,' a ford, and 'Luan,' the moon, and, collectively, the 'Town of the Ford of the Moon' (86). Athlone, like many other towns in Ireland, was divided into two parts, known as the Irish Town and English Town. The latter stood on the Leinster, and the former on the Connaught side of the Shannon, and both were connected by a bridge which was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and it appears that during her reign the town was much enlarged.

Early next morning, on entering Athlone, Donal Bran and Conor O'Shaughnessy met the valiant governor, Colonel the Honourable Richard Grace, who had made every preparation to defend the town. The Governor directed Donal to proceed to a distance from the town, to watch the movements of the enemy, and endeavour, when an opportunity presented itself, to cross the river. The Rapparees obeyed, and met Lieutenant-General Douglas advancing, who plundered, burned, and destroyed the country in a cruel manner (87). The Protestant inhabitants threw up the protections they had received from King James, relying on Douglas, whose army, notwithstanding this, did not refrain from plundering them, and treating them in the same way as they did the Catholics. His forces comprised nearly 9,000 horse and foot, with a train of twelve cannon and two mortars, while Colonel Grace had only 800 men to oppose him. As Douglas's army advanced, the Rapparees skirmished with them; but when the enemy approached the town the skirmishers either fell back, or moved on the flanks of his army, watching opportunities to cut off his stragglers.

When Douglas arrived before Athlone, which was on the 17th of July, he found the English Town destroyed, and the bridge broken down. He then sent a drummer to the Honourable Colonel Grace, to demand the speedy surrender of the garrison. The loyal Governor fired a pistol shot over the head of the messenger, which he did not intend to take effect, saying at the same time-"These are my terms; these only will I give or receive; and when my provisions are consumed I will eat my old boots."

On receiving this reply, Lieutenant-General Douglas planted his batteries, and opened a heavy fire on the castle and walls of Athlone. Colonel Grace hoisted a bloody flag, and his cannon kept up an unremitting fire, one of the first discharges from which killed the enemy's best gunner. The Williamites then endeavoured to pass the river at Lanesborough, but were failed in the attempt, and repulsed with considerable loss; and on the 25th, up to which time an incessant cannonade was kept up by Douglas, a rumour that Sarsfield was on his way to relieve Athlone having reached them, caused Douglas to retreat in haste, abandoning his heavy baggage, while the Rapparees, under Donal Bran, O'Conor, and other leaders, harassed his army night and day. His forces could obtain no provisions in the country through which they marched, and they suffered exceedingly until they reached the camp at Cahirconlish, which was on the 8th of August.

Donal Bran harassed them with the greatest success. He captured many of their horses, and slew several of their stragglers, whose arms he took possession of; but when the army came near Banagher, which was garrisoned by the Irish, Donal relinquished the pursuit, and returned to his head-quarters at Bunnacippaun Wood, where he deposited all the spoils, and, after taking a few days' rest, marched to Limerick, bringing with him the cavalry horses and arms which he had captured.

On arriving there, he met Captain Forster, who was exceedingly glad to see him, and Donal presented him with a letter from his father, informing him of the death of O'Shaughnessy. The Captain was stationed outside the city, on the county Clare side, where the French cavalry were also encamped.

Donal Bran and Conor O'Shaughnessy were congratulated by all their friends amongst the dragoons, on the great success with which they harassed Douglas and his cruel army. The Captain told Donal that the services of his band were now required more than ever, and said

"The forces of the Prince of Orange have burned and pillaged all around since their arrival, but many of them have been destroyed by

you and your old friend Galloping O'Hogan; so you had better proceed in the evening, cross the Shannon at O'Brien's Bridge, and act in conjunction with the other Rapparee leaders. Take every possible care to obtain all the intelligence you can about any reinforcements that may come to William's camp. The horses you have brought will be distributed amongst such of our officers as require them for the use of their several regiments. But come now to my tent and have some refreshment."

After partaking heartily of a substantial meal, Donal Bran was soon at the head of his mounted Rapparees, and crossed the Shannon at the first dawn of the morning. He made towards a mountain near Castle Connell, and sent scouts of horse and foot, who were natives of the county, to try and fall in with other bands of Rapparees. After same hours they were discerned returning, accompanied by a strong body of horsemen, who soon joined Donal's band. The celebrated Rapparee Chiefs, Galloping O'Hogan and the White Sergeant, rode at the head of the party. The former was a tall, dark-haired man, of great physical strength and mental capacity; and the latter, although not so tall as O'Hogan, was considered one of the ablest of the Guerilla Chiefs. Warm were the greetings which were now exchanged between them, while their horses were being unsaddled and fed. Some of the different bands commenced to empty their haversacks, and spread on the mountain side an ample supply of provisions and several bottles of usquebaugh. Having partaken of this repast, they smoked their pipes, and held a long and serious conversation with regard to their future movements. The three leaders then resolved to unite, and proceed to Roscrea and wait there until night, and then intercept the Williamite stragglers who were likely to pass. After a few days they were successful in surprising some strong detachments of the enemy; for, indeed, it was their wont, since the war began, to perform several signal services for their country, many of which might be envied by the regular

army.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE PRINCE OF ORANGE BESIEGES LIMERICK.

EARLY on the morning of the 9th of August, 1690, the Prince of Orange marched from Cahirconlish, at the head of his army, towards the city of Limerick.

At a remote period in Irish history, a sanguinary battle was fought here, between the Kings of Munster and Connaught. The armies of both these princes engaged at the fords while the tide was out; and so intensely were their minds bent on each other's destruction, that they did not perceive its gradual return until quite close to them, when they threw down their shields and fled in haste, to save themselves from being drowned, which being observed by the spectators, they exclaimed-"The pool is covered with shields," from which saying the town received the name of 'Luimneach,' 'Luimne' in ancient Irish signifying a shield.

From a very early period, Limerick was a place of considerable importance, and is called by the Greek geographer, Ptolemy, 'Regia.' In 433, the celebrated St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, crossed the Shannon at Limerick, on his route to Connaught. In the year 540, Guara, King of Connaught, invaded the kingdom of Munster, but was defeated by Dioma, King of Cashel. In the reign of Fedelim, King of Munster, in 812, the Danes, for the first time, sailed up the Shannon, and captured Limerick, which they pillaged, and burned the ancient monastery of Mungret, which was founded by St. Patrick, but were afterwards defeated with great loss by the native Irish. Though often baffled, these persevering and warlike people again landed in the year 815, under the command of the fierce Turgesius (88), who encouraged them in cruelty and rapine for thirty years, and after this long period of desolation he was proclaimed King of Ireland. The Danes conquered Limerick in 855, and were finally driven from Ireland by Brian Boroimhe, in 1014. Limerick did not become subject to English law until the death of Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, in 1194. On the Monday after Michaelmas-day, 1195, the first Provost of Limerick, John Spafford, was sworn in, and it continued to be governed by Provosts until 1198, when Richard I., surnamed Cœur de Lion, granted the inhabitants a charter empowering them to elect Mayors and Bailiffs. The first Mayor was Adam Sarvant, and John Bambery and Walter White were the first Bailiffs. The City of London did not receive a similar honour for ten years after-namely in 1207; Dublin in 1308, and Cork in 1318. Limerick was formed into a county in 1210, by King John, who also caused a castle and stone bridge to be built in the city. The See of Limerick was founded in the sixth century by St. Munchin, who was its first Bishop. The Danes having embraced Christianity in the tenth century, several of them in course of time became Bishops of Limerick.

On arriving before this ancient city, the Prince of Orange spent the greater part of the day in selecting the best ground for planting cannon,

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