CHAPTER
XXIII
The Interregnum
A.D. 1649 to A.D. 1660
The, republican parity, with Oliver Cromwell
at their Lead, were now triumphant in England. The marquis of Ormonde,
in quality of lord lieutenant of Charles II., continued his exertions in
Ireland for the royal cause.
In this year, Preston, the late rebel
general, wished to obtain the title of earl of Catherlogh, as he had
already received that of viscount Taragh. To this latter distinction,
was added a grant of land to the value of eight hundred pounds per
annum, in order to enable him to support the dignity.
Dublin was held by the republicans, to which
it had been delivered by lord Ormonde in 1647. He now resolved to attack
that city, and for that purpose collected all his forces at
Leighlin-bridge, from whence be marched them to Cloghgrenan, where he
had a fortified house. Considerable delay occurred here, from deficiency
in funds; but the marquis having at length borrowed eight hundred pounds
from Sir James Preston, he was enabled to prevent the disbanding of his
forces.
It seems that a person named Rochfort at this
time held a correspondence
with Jones, the governor of Dublin; to whom he appears to have
communicated a report of the state and circumstances of the royal party.
In a letter dated 4th June, from Carlow, he says, that "the soldiers of
the army were so secured to Ormonde, far beyond their expectation that
nothing but a sudden attempt could prevail against him. None hath been
made privy to our proceedings, but general Preston, his son colonel
Warren, and a few other leading men so far embarked in the work, as a
syllable hath not dropped from any of them. This I gather by Ormonde's
being friendly invited hither to dine on Thursday last, though he would
not (as we suppose, by reason of the caution thence given him) commit
his person to us, without his own guards of horse and foot; by which
advertisement we missed of our last opportunity.' It appears, that a
plan was at this time formed to assassinate the marquis of Ormonde.
Early in June, he departed for Dublin, where he was defeated by Colonel
Jones at Rathmines, on the 2nd of August.
Oliver Cromwell landed at Dublin, on the I5th
August. In October, he besieged Wexford. The marquis of Ormonde
endeavoured in vain to succour the place. Perceiving that he could
entertain no hope of success in a battle with Cromwell, he crossed the
Wicklow Mountains and rested at Leighlin-bridge. Here he was informed of
the success of the republicans at Wexford.
The Romish clergy met at Clonmacnois, on the
4th of December; when they issued formal acts and declarations, all of
Carte. which are signed by Francis Edmund, bishop of Leighlin? But their
acts and declarations were now of no avail; an invincible force having
made its appearance in the land, which finally deprived both royalists
and Romanists of the possession of the country.
A.D.1650. An attack on Kilkenny being
meditated by Cromwell, he ordered colonel Hewson, governor of Dublin, to
his aid. In March, the latter left Dublin and took Leighlin-bridge on
his route.
The deputy, General Ireton, now marched with
part of the English army and encamped near Leighlin, where they remained
for a time, finding good quarters for the men and grass for their
horses. They continued to sojourn in this neighbourhood, removing every
week or fortnight a mile or two for fresh quarters, without the
occurrence of any remarkable event. About this time, they drew near to
Carlow castle, which was then well fortified, and had a strong garrison,
commanded by captain Bellew, from whom the deputy frequently received
letters relating to exchange of prisoners, and several other concerns.
No hostile proceedings had, however, occurred, nor had any summons been
sent to the governor of the castle. But on receiving intelligence of the
success of the parliamentary force in Scotland, Ireton resolved on more
active service here; believing that under these favourable circumstances
no forces would be required by the parliament from Ireland. He
immediately forwarded a summons to his neighbour the governor of Carlow
castle, and at the same time constructed a bridge over the Barrow near
the town, over which he conducted part of the army, and invested the
castle. The following is a copy of the characteristic summons:"
To the Governor of Carlow Castle."
We have been your gentle neighbour hitherto,
doing little more than looking upon you. But the time being come now
that we are like to deal in earnest with your garrison, as effectually
and speedily as God shall enable us. That I may not be wanting in my
part to save any of the blood which may be spilled therein, I am
willing, upon a timely surrender, to give terms to so fair an. enemy,
(especially if I find you inclinable to a more peaceable disposition for
the future). I thought good, therefore, to send you this summons,
requiring you to surrender the castle of Carlow, with the furniture of
war therein, into my hands, for the use of the parliament and
commonwealth of England, to which I expect your present answer. ".
NOTE **
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Interregnum
July the 2nd, 1650. Your
humble servant, H. IRETON."
To which the Governor returned this answer:”
For the Lord Deputy and Commander of the
Parliament Forces. "
MY LORD,
This being your first summons, I am not at
this instant prepared to give any answer to it. I desire three days,
time to acquaint the lord bishop of Dromore with your lordship's
demands, and in the meantime, that no acts of hostility be committed by
your lordship's army, the like being observed by the garrison; by that
time your lordship shall receive the resolution of your lordship's
servant,
M. BELLEW." Carlow
Castle, 3rd of July, 1650.
To this request Ireton acceded; and then
proceeded to Waterford, leaving Sir Hardress Waller, major general of
the foot, with a sufficient force to prosecute the siege of Carlow. Sir'
Hardress shortly after drew out two cannon, battered a tower belonging
to the castle, which much discomfited the garrison ; after which he
cannonaded the town and took it ; when Bellew surrendered and agreed to
the following articles:
"
THE ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made and
concluded by HENRY JONES, lord of Clougher, major ANTHONY MORGAN, and
lieut. colonel PHILIP FERNSLY, for and on behalf of the right honourable
the lord deputy of Ireland, of the one part; and major JOHN DUNGAN,
captain GEORGE DARCY and captain JOHN WODISSON, on the part and behalf
of captain BELLEW, governor of Carlow castle, on the other part, dated
the 24th of July, 1650.
I.
That the castle of Carlow, with the artillery, provision, arms,
and ammunition, and all other furniture of war, (except hereafter
excepted) shall be delivered to Sir Hardress Waller, or to whom he shall
appoint, within twenty-four hours after the signing hereof, major John
Dungan and captain George Darcy shall remain as hostages.
II.
II. That all officers and
soldiers within the garrison shall march with their horses, and marching
arms, &c. and have a safe convoy to Lea castle, and a pass for ten days
to march to Athlone, and carriages allowed them for their goods to said
castle, and that the said carriages be delivered at Lea castle to said
convoy.
III.
III. That all the musquets
within said town shall be allowed to inarch, with each of them one pound
of powder, bullet, and match proportionable.
IV.
IV. That the inhabitants of the
said town- shall have liberty to live in said town, and enjoy their
corn, paying such contributions as others in their condition.
V.
V. That all manner of persons
now in the castle of Carlow shall have one month's time allowed them for
the removal of their goods, and passes to carry them to what places they
shall desire.
VI.
VI. That George, servant to
colonel Preston, shall have liberty to stay in the' quarters about
Carlow for' two months, to transact his said master's affairs, and have
a pass to carry to Waterford such goods, debts, or money as belongs to
his said master.
VII.
VII. That all manner of persons
now in the castle of Carlow shall have quarters for their lives and
goods.
VIII.
VIII. That no person shall be
arrested, or stay the goods, or Molest the person of any now in' the
said castle upon any pretence whatsoever.
IX.
IX. For' the full' performance
of all and every the above articles, and the article under-written, the
parties above mentioned have hereunto set their hands and seals at the
hour of seven in the morning, July 25th 1650.
X.
X. That the ' said carriages
and convoy shall be provided within forty-eight hours after delivering
up the castle to-such as' shall be appointed by Sir Hardress Waller.
(Sighed) George Darcy John Dungan &John Wodisson
Cromwell was, as usual successful at
Kilkenny, where he was considerably aided by a party in the town. "This
treachery" says' Carte, "was now grown universal, arising sometimes
from' the fears of the inhabitants, and sometimes from the Corruption,
avarice- or 'cowardice of the garrisons of the towns; and was' the cause
of the 'loss of the' castle of Catherlogh,"
The following passage appears in a letter of
the' marquis. Of Orinonde in reply to the Romish archbishops of Dublin
and Tuam: "The rebels have without any considerable resistance from
abroad, taken Catherlogh, &c. The loss of these places and the want of
any visible power to protect them, have doubtlessly induced many to
contribute their substance, and personal assistance to the rebels; from
which, whether they might have been withheld by church' cereuses we know
not but have not heard of any such which issued against them. From
Roscommon, the 2nd of August, 1650. ORMONDE
The castle of Tullow, commanded by Colonel
Butler, was this year taken by colonels Reynolds and Hewson.
The Romish congregation at James's-town now
levied troops; among the rest; some horse under Daniel Kavanagh. The
marquis of Ormonde having appointed the marquis of Clanricarde lord
deputy, departed for France, on the 11lth December.
A.D. 1651. The Romish clergy, still busy 'in
political affair, now endeavoured to renew the old confederacy; and as.
a preliminary step excommunicated the marquis of Clanricarde, and all
his adherents to which they added a strict prohibition to their flock
from serving in his army. "The main view," says Carte, "of the clergy
had always been to cast off the English government, and to subject the
kingdom to some foreign Roman Catholic prince." In pursuance of
this policy, the acts against the lord deputy were confirmed at a synod
of the clergy, assembled on the 1st September, by requisition
of the bishop of Leighlin, as senior bishop of Leinster. He was the only
Romish prelate at the meeting, which took place at Balledrohid; but the
deficiency was corrected by the admission of fourteen officers of
wandering troops, to the honour of signing their papers. On the 23rd of
September, they appointed an envoy to invite the duke of Lorraine, (a
Roman Catholic), to accept of the office of protector of the kingdom.
This project was confirmed at a subsequent meeting of the clergy held at
James’s town. As if the duke of Lorraine, even with the assistance of
"the church," could contend against the immense power of Great Britain!
In February, 1652, the marquis of Clanricard found
it advisable to retire to England. , Ireland being now completely
subjugated by the parliament, its next step was the appointment of a
high court of justice, in order to bring to trial the perpetrators of
the murders and outrages committed in the early stages of the rebellion.
Colonel Walter Bagnall was condemned by this tribunal; "on slight
pretences and small evidence," says Carte. Such was the fatal issue of
the barbarous and inhuman rebellion of 1641, of the fierce contentions
in the land, the reckless, violent proceedings of the Romish clergy, and
the perverse disposition of the rebels.
("Spelling are as seen in the book")
CHAPTER XXIV
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