154

HISTOKY OB ENGX.AND.

CHAP.

XII.

168 S.

with strange promptitude and enthusiasm. The flag on theCastle of Dublin was embroidered with the words, “Now ornever: now and for ever:” and those words resounded throughthe whole island.* Never in modern Europe has there beensuch a rising up of a whole people. The habits of the Celticpeasant were such that he made no sacrifice ill quitting hispotatoe ground for the camp. He loved excitement and ad-venture. He feared work far more than danger. His nationaland religious feelings had, during three years, been exasperatedby the constant application of stimulants. At every fair andmarket he had heard that a good time was at hand, that thetyrants who spoke Saxon and lived in slated houses were aboutto be swept away, and that the land would again belong to itsown children. By the peat fires of a hundred thousand cabinshad nightly been sung rude ballads which predicted the deli-verance of the oppressed race. The priests, most of whombelonged to those old families which the Act of Settlement hadruined, but which were still revered by the native population,had, from a thousand altars, charged every Catholic to showhis zeal for the true Church by providing weapons against theday when it might be necessary to try the chances of battle inher cause. The army, which, under Ormond, had consistedof only eight regiments, was now increased to forty eight: andthe ranks were soon full to overflowing. It was impossible tofind at short notice one tenth of the number of good officerswhich was required. Commissions were scattered profuselyamong idle cosherers who claimed to be descended from goodIrish families. Tet even thus the supply of captains and lieu-tenants fell short of the demand; and many companies werecommanded by cobblers, tailors and footmen.**

* Printed Letter from Dublin, Feb. 25. 1689; Mephibosheth andZiba, 1689.

** The connection of the priests with the oldlrish families is mentionedin Petty’s Political Anatomy of Ireland. Sec the Short View by a Clergy-