244

HISTOBY 03? ENGLAND.

chap. The battle of Newton Butler was won on the same afternoon—— on which the boom thrown over the Foyle was broken. AtConster- Strabane the news met the Celtic army which was retreatingthe'irish! from Londonderry. All was terror and confusion: the tentswere struck: the military stores were flung by waggon loadsinto the waters of the Mourne; and the dismayed Irish, leavingmany sick and wounded to the mercy of the victorious Pro-testants, fled to Omagh, and thence to Chaxlemont. Sarsfield,who commanded at Sligo, found it necessary to abandon thattown, which was instantly occupied by a detachment of Kirke’stroops.* Dublin was in consternation. James dropped wordswhich indicated an intention of flying to the Continent. Eviltidings indeed came fast upon him. Almost at the same time atwhich he learned that one of his armies had raised the siege ofLondonderry, and that another had been routed at NewtonButler, he received intelligence scarcely less dishearteningfrom Scotland.

It is now necessary to trace the progress of those events towhich Scotland owes her political and her religious liberty, herprosperity and her civilisation.

set the example of flight were not in the habit of waiting for orders to turntheir backs on an enemy. They had run away once before on that veryday. Avaux gives a very simple account of the defeat: “Ces mesmesdragons qui avoient fuy le matin laschferent le pied avec tout le reste de lacavalerie, sans tirer un coup de pistolet; et ils s’enfuirent tous avec unetelle dpouvanto qu’ils jettferent mousquetons, pistolets, et espies; et laplupart d’eux, ayant crev£ leurs chevaux, se ddshabillbront pour alter plusvistehpied.”

* Hamilton's True Relation.