WILITAW AJfD MAHT.

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leading, carrying, suckling their infants, covered all the roadswhich led to the place of embarkation. The Irish general, ap-prehensive of the effect which the entreaties and lamentationsof these poor creatures could not fail to produce, put forth aproclamation, in which he assured his soldiers that they shouldbe permitted to carry their waves and families to France. Itwould be injurious to the memory of so brave and loyal a gentle-man to suppose, that when he made this promise he meant tobreak it. It is much more probable that he had formed an er-roneous estimate of the number of those who would demand apassage, and that he found himself, when it was too late toalter his arrangements, unable to keep his word. After thesoldiers had embarked, room was found for the families of many.Hut still there remained on the water side a great multitude cla-mouring piteously to be taken on board. As the last boats putoff there was a rush into the surf. Some women caught hold ofthe ropes, were, dragged out of their depth, clung till theirlingers were cut through, and perished in the waves. The shipsbegan to move. A wild and terrible wail arose from the shore,and excited unwonted compassion in hearts steeled by hatred ofthe Irish race and of the ltomish faith. Even the stern Crom-wellian, now at length, after a desperate struggle of three years,left the undisputed lord of the bloodstained and devastated island,could not hear unmoved that bitter cry, in which was pouredforth all the rage and all the sorrow of a conquered nation.*

The sails disappeared. The emaciated and brokenheartedcrowd of those whom a stroke more cruel than that of death hadmade widows and orphans dispersed, to beg their way homethrough a wasted land, or to lie down and die by the roadsideof grief and hunger. The exiles departed, to learn in foreigncamps that discipline without which natural courage is of small

* Story’s Continuation; Macari® Excidium, and Mr. O’Callaghan’snote; London Gazette, Jan. 4. 1G9J.

Macaulay, History. VI.

CHAP.

XVII.

1691.

15