in arms against them, we cannot but let the officers and soldiers know how willing we are to indulge and provide for them, that by remaining in this kingdom, or serving their Majesties abroad, had rather promote the British and Irish interest than the designs of France against both, and do therefore promise and declare that all officers and soldiers of the said army that have a mind to return to their homes shall have leave to do so, with all their goods and effects, and there be permitted to live quietly and peaceably under the protection and encouragement of the Government. And although by the capitulation all the troopers of that army, besides the six hundred that have license to go beyond the sea, were to deliver up their horses without payment to such persons as shall be appointed to receive the same, yet we do hereby give the said troopers and dragoons leave to sell their horses to whom they think fit, and will pay them for their arms, upon their giving them up to the officer commanding the train of artillery, either in the Irish Town of Limerick or the camp. As also to the foot soldiers, they shall likewise be paid for their arms, they bringing them in. As for those officers and soldiers that are willing to take service under their Majesties, they shall have quarters immediately assigned them, and receive subsistence 'till their Majesties' further pleasure, for which end they may send two officers of their own to England or elsewhere, to receive from their Majesties themselves what further orders they shall please to give herein. And whereas it has industriously been spread about, that such of the Irish as enter into their Majesties' service will be sent into Hungary, and other remote parts, contrary to their inclinations and desires, we assure them they shall not be obliged to serve in any place against their wills, no more than be constrained to take service here, or return to their homes, they being at full and entire liberty to choose what part they will take; but if once they go into France, they must not expect to return into this kingdom again. Given at the camp, by Limerick, the 5th of October, 1691. "BARON DE GINCKELL." Lord Lucan, anticipating that the English would use their best endeavours to persuade the Irish to remain at home, called a meeting of the officers, and harangued them, to the effect that it would be much better for them to serve Louis XIV. of France than William III. of England. They were also addressed by the Baron of Danganmore, the Chief of Cratloe, Major-General Wauchop, and other officers who intended sailing for France. On the morning of the 6th, Mass was celebrated at the head of the Irish regiments, by their respective chaplains, who afterwards preached most impressive sermons. The archbishops and bishops then moved through the lines, bestowing their blessings on the men, who saluted them with military honours as they passed along the ranks. After the Irish soldiers had breakfasted, Lord Lucan sent word to Baron de Ginckell, that as the hour for deciding who were to remain, and who were not, had now arrived, they awaited the coming of his Excellency to witness their choice. The whole of the Irish forces were then drawn up on the Clare side of the city, with drums beating, and colours flying, and, perhaps, a finer or more imposing sight could not be witnessed than this patriotic army, with their polished arms glistening in the sunshine. The disheartened citizens now assembled on the ancient walls of Limerick, to behold their fellow-countrymen, and the neighbouring hills were crowded with thousands of the peasantry from the surrounding districts. Among the latter were several Rapparees, who, in despair, now passionately broke the pike-staffs which they had used so effectively during the war. Shortly after Lieutenant-General Baron de Ginckell appeared in full uniform, and on horseback, accompanied by his staff and the Lords Justices. On his approach the whole Irish army presented arms. The Commander-in-chief and the Lords Justices then rode slowly through the Irish ranks, while two soldiers planted two flag-staffs-one in front of the army, bearing the royal arms of France, and the other nearer, but considerably to the left, with the arms of Great Britain. After several copies of Baron de Ginckell's last proclamation were distributed among the Irish soldiers, they were addressed by Adjutant-General Withers, who, in a lengthened speech, endeavoured to prevent them from going to France, and pointed out the absurdity of their serving under a foreign power, against the best interests of their own country. He concluded by assuring them they could find no sovereign who would so anxiously and carefully watch over their welfare as King William III. The Irish then fell into order, headed by the royal regiment of Foot Guards, consisting of about 1,400 men, and the Earl of Lucan gave the order-"March." Such was the intense anxiety evinced by the vast multitude of spectators, that a deep and deathlike silence prevailed, broken only by the heavy and martial tread of the advancing soldiery, and all eyes were fixed on the royal regiment, which was one of the finest then in Europe. Amongst all present there were not, perhaps, any who watched its progress, as it approached the flag-staffs, with such interest and breathless anxiety, as the Earl of Lucan and Baron de Ginckell; and the former's expectations were fully realized, when he beheld them pass by the English standard, and continue their course to where the proud flag of France was flying, with the exception of only seven, who wheeled to the left. Next came Lord Iveagh's regiment, which marched under the English standard; and their example was followed by Colonel Wilson's; but the majority of the Irish regiments decided on going to France, being resolved to follow the fortunes of the dethroned King. Baron de Ginckell, being annoyed on account of the determined resolution of the Irish not to submit, on this day published another proclamation, offering them favourable terms. On the 7th, the Chief of Moyreisk, Captain O'Brien, and Cuthbert Fenwick, returned to Clooneene, after having taken an affectionate leave of the Earl of Lucan, the Baron of Danganmore, the Chief of Cratloe, the youthful Chief of Cineal Aodh, Captain Forster, Captain Tobyn, Colonel O'Kelly, of Castlekelly, Michael Mac Namara, and others of their friends, who intended going to France. Ralph Marlbrough also decided on going to France, as he was determined to follow his young Captain to the last; and Taggert and Clayton resolved to follow their Chief in his exile (136). O'Shaughnessy, the youthful Chief of Cineal Aodh, felt deeply the King's misfortunes, and resolved to rejoin him in France. Having been educated there, he was almost as much attached to that chivalrous country as to his native land; and he hoped that King James would yet be restored to his throne. He now embarked for France, never to return to the home of his illustrious ancestors, but to win for himself an honourable name, combating with the hereditary enemies of his race. The population of Ireland in 1688, the year of the revolution in England, was not more than 1,500,000 souls. The Catholics, at the utmost, did not exceed 1,200,000, so that the remaining 300,000 were Protestants, or other Dissenters. The revenue of the country, when in its most flourishing state, that is to say, from the year 1682 until 1685, before it was reduced by the sanguinary and devastating war of 1689, 1690, and 1691, was only £266,209 a-year. The war carried on against this small population by wealthy and powerful England, the Anglo-Irish Williamites of the North, Scotland, and the Continental allies of the Prince of Orange, lasted for three years, during which time the expenditure for England's well-disciplined regular forces alone-in 1689, about, 35,000, in 1690, between 54,000 and 58,000, and in 1691, considerably above 48,000 men-was:— 1. The army that landed in Ireland under the command of Frederick Armand, Marshal Duke de Schomberg, and others that afterwards landed to reinforce his Grace, together with the Enniskillen and Londonderry troops received into pay by the Prince of Orange in 1689, being nine regiments, and two troops of horse, four regiments of dragoons, and thirty regiments of foot, cost for that year alone £869,410 78. 6d. 2. The army of the Prince of Orange in 1690, consisting of two troops of guards, twenty-three regiments of horse, five regiments of dragoons, and forty-six regiments of foot, cost £1,287,630 2s. 3. The army in Ireland in 1691, commanded by Lieutenant-General Godert, Baron de Ginckell, being twenty regiments of horse, five of dragoons, and forty-two of foot, cost £1,161,830 12s. 10d. 4. The pay of the general officers, and the cost of the train, bread waggons, transport ships, and other contingencies, amounted to, as well as can be now ascertained, £6,637,742 58. The total expense of the English regular forces employed in Ireland for 1689, 1690, and 1691, was, therefore, at least, £9,956,613 7s. 4d. The National Debt of England (funded and unfunded), in the month of December, 1697, after the Peace of Riswick was signed, was £21,515,742 13s 8d. Deduct National Debt in the month of March, 1689, £1,054,925. Total debt incurred by the Prince of Orange, for carrying on his wars in Ireland, and on the Continent -£20,460,817 13s. 8d. Deduct on account of the war in Ireland, £9,956,613 7s. 4d. To this enormous sum of £9,956,613 7s. 4d. must be added the cost of the arms, clothes, and provisions supplied to the Northern Irish Williamites, who raised a Militia of at least 25,000 men. The total would be, without including the destruction of Protestant property, by burning houses, plantations, slaughtering cattle and sheep, and stealing horses, very close on £11,000,000. The consideration of the above figures will at once show that no nation so small as Ireland ever before put another more extensive to so much cost. The old Chief of Clooneene was greatly grieved to hear that the Irish were defeated, and expressed his opinion that the English would not keep the treaty, but violate it, as they did the Treaty of Galway in 1652. He also keenly felt the absence of his grandson, and the death of his son-in-law, The O'Kelly, of Mullaghmore, the Stacpooles, and his friends, Lord Galway (137), Brigadier O'Connell, Major O'Donnell, and Tiege Daly (138), who were numbered with the slain at Aughrim. Kelly returned to his Castle on Loughcutra Island; Donal Bran and his band quartered themselves in Bunnacippaun Wood; and Sergeant Power, whose wounds had prevented him from going to France, went to reside with his father at Park-na-attinagh. CHAPTER XL. DISTURBANCES IN GALWAY. Ox Tuesday, the 20th October, 1691, about half-past four o'clock in the afternoon, while the Chief of Clooneene was sitting in the parlour with his eldest son Major Forster of Rathorpe, his grandson John, Dermot Oge Cloran, and Cuthbert Fenwick, Shane O'Halloran announced Arthur Ffrench of Tyrone, ex-Mayor of Galway. After warmly greeting each other, the Chief asked, what was the latest news. Ffrench replied "I regret very much indeed to say, it could not be worse. In fact, it is almost impossible to imagine the dreadful change that has taken place in the hitherto peaceful and prosperous town of Galway in so short a time. The morning on which Lieutenant-General d'Usson left for Limerick, Sir Henry Bellasyse, a Williamite baronet and colonel, was appointed Governor of the town by Baron de Ginckell, and marched at the head of his regiment, and those of Colonels Herbert and Brewer, and at nine o'clock took possession of the various guards, and planted sentinels at all the posts of importance in and near the town. While the garrison were making preparations to march out, a large quantity of gunpowder which they were dividing in the street suddenly, and it is believed accidentally, exploded, causing terrible damage to the soldiers. A great number of them had their eyes blown out, their ears and hair burned off, and not less than thirty were thus mutilated. The accident caused the greatest confusion among all present, and both the Irish and Williamites flew to arms, as they mutually suspected each other of treachery; but when the cause was ascertained, and the officers had argued with them, confidence was again restored on both sides. However, the Catholics and Protestants hourly grew more jealous of each other, and matters were assuming a most serious aspect, for Sir Henry Y |