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THE BATTLE-FIELDS OF IRELAND,

FROM 1688 TO 1691:

INCLUDING

LIMERICK AND ATHLONE,

AUGHRIM

AND

THE BOYNE.

BEING AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE JACOBITE WAR IN IRELAND, AND THE CAUSES
WHICH LED TO IT.

   "And as they tread the ruined Isle,
   Where rest, at length, the lord and slave,
   They'll wondering ask, how hands so vile
   Could conquer hearts so brave?"      MOORE


  NEW YORK:
  ROBERT CODDINGTON, PUBLISHER,
  366 BOWERY.
  1867.




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867,

BY ROBERT CODDINGTON,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for
the Southern District of New York.




INTRODUCTION.


Most of the following chapters were written some time since, at the
request of the publisher, whose intention it was to present the readers
of Irish history with a portable volume, which, while removing the
necessity of wading through many tomes, would give an authentic account
of the two leading events of a very important period,--the battles of
the Boyne and Aughrim.

Having undertaken the task, and performed it to the extent of his
information, it appeared to the writer that, without some allusion to
antecedent causes and intermediate events, the book, though it should
be acceptable to some, would be quite unsatisfactory to others; and it
was concluded to make such interpolation as, without overburdening,
would render the offering more clear and comprehensive.

After collecting much matter bearing on the subject, and finding it
impossible to compress it methodically within the limits assigned, such
selections were made, from historians of every shade of opinion, as
would suffice, without distorting the parts already arranged, to give a
consecutive view of the Jacobite war in Ireland, from its inception to
its close.

As it was almost exclusively a war for religious ascendency on the
one side, and for complete civil and religious liberty on the other,
continually presenting a politico-religious aspect, it was chosen
to leave the ethological bearing to other mediums, and confine this
principally to the leading military events of the time. Hence, no
allusion whatever is made to the interior merits of either faith
dependent on the issue; nor to its exterior action, only so far as to
preserve the order of an unbroken narrative.

Having followed the war down to the battle of Aughrim, inclusive, and
reached the limit prescribed, the writer stops short of the final
event--the last siege of Limerick; and he does so as well from motive
as necessity, for he thinks that event could be more appropriately
connected with a history of "The Brigade." But whether the subject is
ever resumed by him or not, will greatly depend on the reception of
this little volume, which is now submitted to the public.

                                                          THE AUTHOR.




CONTENTS.

                                                                    PAGE

CHAPTER I.

  A Cursory View of England and Ireland anterior to the Accession of
  James II                                                             9


CHAPTER II.

  The Reign of James II. in England--The Invasion of William, Prince
  of Orange. From 1685 to 1688                                        26


CHAPTER III.

  Events preceding Hostilities in Ireland--The preparatory Measures
  of Tyrconnel                                                        41


CHAPTER IV.

  From the Commencement of Hostilities to the Landing of King James
  in Ireland                                                          58


CHAPTER V.

  The Battle of Cladiford--The Investment of Derry--Proceedings of
  Parliament                                                          74


CHAPTER VI.

  The Battle of Newtown Butler, and the Relief of Enniskillen
  and Derry                                                           90


CHAPTER VII.

  The Landing of Marshal Schomberg, and his Winter Campaign          108

CHAPTER VIII.

  Schomberg's Campaign continued--The