Cromwell was determined that under his command the plundering habits of the soldiery in Ireland should be abandoned. On August 24 he issued a declaration Aug. 24. Cromwell's ordering that no violence was to be offered to the Declaration. life or property of persons not in arms. A market would be opened in his camp where ready money would be paid to all who brought provisions for sale. Those who wished to remain in their homes would, on payment of contributions fairly imposed, be protected in their persons and estates till January 1, when they would have to apply to the AttorneyGeneral for what further protection they might require.1

Aug. 17.

Drogheda.

Aug. 24. Sir Arthur

Aston appointed Governor.

Whilst Cromwell was, out of necessity, tarrying at Dublin, Ormond was doing everything in his power to strengthen Drogheda. On the 17th he appeared in person in Ormond at the town, and superseded Lord Moore, who had been appointed Governor by Inchiquin, in favour of Sir Arthur Aston,2 a Catholic officer who had been Governor of Reading in 1643 and of Oxford in 1644. In the latter employment he had lost a leg through a fall from his horse,3 and the wooden substitute had made him a well-known figure in Charles's army. He was no less notorious for his stern and unbending nature. On August 30, by which time all the regiments detailed for service had marched in, the garrison was composed of 2,871 men including officers. They were in truth the Numbers of flower of Ormond's army; his own regiment, under the garrison. the command of Sir Edmund Verney, having lately arrived to support the three foot regiments which were already in the place when it was attacked by Jones. Of the other three regiments one under Colonel Byrne which had been left behind but, according to Perfect Occurrences, it was a mere matter of the thinness of the ranks. Two regiments had to be combined into one, and the superfluous officers got rid of.

Aug. 30.

1 A Declaration, Aug. 24, Carlyle, following Letter cii.

2 Commission to Aston, Aug. 24, Carte MSS. clxii. fol. 46.

3 Wood's Fasti, Ann. 1644.

4 Garrison in Drogheda, Aug. 30, Gilbert's Cont. Hist. of Aff. in Irel. vol. ii. 496. There were 2,552 foot and 319 horse.

1649

ORMOND AND O'NEILL

III

by Inchiquin was composed of Englishmen and Protestants, whilst the other two under Wall and Warren were for the most

It is mainly part, if not altogether, composed of Irish Catholics. composed of Of Ormond's own regiment we have no certain inforIrish. mation, but if it was, as may reasonably be supposed, levied in the neighbourhood of Kilkenny, it is not likely that there were many Englishmen or Protestants to be found in its ranks. The seven troops of horse were mainly composed of Irish Catholics.

Aug. 23.

Ormond sends to O'Neill.

Whilst Ormond was thus, as he fondly hoped, securing Drogheda against danger, he was unremitting in his urgency with O'Neill to hasten to its aid. On August 23 he dispatched the Catholic Bishop of Raphoe and Colonel Audley Mervyn to press him to march at once.2 Mervyn took the opportunity of deserting to Coote. On September 1 the bishop reported that he had received a friendly message from O'Neill excusing himself from receiving him, on the ground 'that he was in Sir Charles's quarters,' and 'that his honour was engaged, which to him was dearer than his life.' The bishop shrewdly suspected that O'Neill was waiting for payment of the money I still due to him from Coote. O'Neill, added the bishop, had with him about 5,000 foot and 300 horse, but would have no difficulty in increasing his army to 10,000 foot and 2,000 horse.3

Sept. 1. O'Neill hangs back.

No wonder Ormond was eager to obtain the assistance of

1 When Jones appeared before Drogheda the two regiments which had just marched in 'had scarce time to quarter themselves conveniently, much less to contract such an acquaintance with the inhabitants, who were, for the most part, English; or the regiment of English commanded there by one Colonel Byrne since the taking of it by the Lord Inchiquin, as was in truth necessary for the security of each other's fidelity and concurrence in the defence of so important a garrison.' Narrative of Military Operations, Carte MSS. xxvi. fol. 440. According to the Moderate Intelligencer, Sir A. Aston chose rather to have Irish than English for his garrison.' E, 573, 19. 2 Ormond to O'Neill, Aug. 23, Gilbert's Cont. Hist. of Aff. in Irel. vol. ii. 230; Instructions to the Bishop of Raphoe and Col. Mervyn, Aug. 23, Carte MSS. xxv. fol. 351.

3 The Bishop of Raphoe to Ormond, Sept. 1, ib. fol. 442.

such a force.

Ormond at
Tecroghan.

Mission of
Daniel
O'Neill.

Sept. 5.

Finds Owen
O'Neill.

O'Neill's sickness.

his knee.

He had himself taken up a position at Tecro

ghan, the house of Sir Luke Fitzgerald in the southwestern corner of Meath, ready, if occasion served, to carry aid to the defenders of Drogheda ; but he had with him merely a small force of 1,000 horse, and though he hoped to make up his numbers to 4,000 foot and to 2,400 horse, he based his expectations only on the problematical arrival of a detachment from the Ulster Scots, of Clanricarde's men from Connaught, and of a detachment which he expected Inchiquin to send him from Munster. Even before the bishop's despatch was written, Ormond, to add weight to his mission, had sent after him Daniel O'Neill, who had negotiated with his uncle, Owen O'Neill, in the spring. On September 5, Ormond's new emissary wrote that he had found Owen at Ballykelly, twelve miles east of Londonderry, and therefore still in Coote's quarters, but unable to move as quickly as he wished on account of a swelling in "This day," added Daniel, “he has a litter made for him ; if to-morrow he has any manner of ease he intends to march. Whether it be his sickness or that he intends to oblige your Excellency the more, he has not talked anything as yet of his conditions. All his officers to a very few, and ness to help those of least consideration, are as passionate for his submission to his Majesty's service as Sir Luke Fitzgerald would have them. The number of foot he hopes to bring your Excellency will be near 6,000, and about 500 horse, truly not so contemptible for their number as some persuaded me they were; they are well horsed and armed to a very few.” 2 Ormond's forces, in short, were scattered whilst his opponent's were well in hand. On September 1 Cromwell, having sent Michael Jones in advance, set out from Dublin. On the 3rd his whole army, numbering about 10,000 men, was before Drogheda. On his way he was gladdened by the desertion of

His eager

Ormond.

Sept. 1. Cromwell

leaves

Dublin.

Sept. 3. Cromwell before

Drogheda.

1 Ormond to Clanricarde, Aug. 21, Carte MSS. xxv. fol. 337.

2 D. O'Neill to Ormond, Sept. 5, Gilbert's Cont. Hist. of Aff. in Irel. vol. ii. 251.

Captain Wentworth from the enemy with 150 of Inchiquin's horse, forming part of the cavalry which was with Ormond at Tecroghan. The divisions between English and Irish in the hostile ranks were beginning to serve Cromwell well.1 It would still, however, be some days before batteries could be opened. Trenches had to be dug and the siege cannon brought by sea from Dublin.

ance.

Sept. 8.

In one way Drogheda was admirably situated for resistIt was divided into two parts, separated by the deep Situation of channel of the Boyne, and only joined by a single Drogheda. bridge. It was therefore impossible for a besieger, unless his numbers were far greater than those of which Cromwell could dispose, to assail it on both sides, or even to stop the entrance of supplies. On the other hand, these advantages would be of little value unless Ormond had a force outside strong enough to make use of them, and it soon became evident that he was in too destitute a condition to aid the garrison. On September 8 Aston informed Wants of the Ormond that his ammunition was running short, his money spent, his stock of provisions low. On the 9th he begged Ormond to fall on the camp of the enemy. Neither he nor his subordinates, however, allowed their courage to fail. "Warren and Wall," wrote Verney to Ormond, "are my most intimate comrades, and indeed I have not in my life known more of diligence and circumspection than in these two gentlemen. We ordinarily meet once a day to discourse of our condition and what is fit to be done. . . We are informed that your Excellency hath a considerable army, and our humble opinions have been that you might advance and lodge at Slane Bridge with safety, and that the enemy could no way force you to fight unless to their

garrison.

Sept. 9. Verney's letter.

.

The Kingdom's Weekly Intelligencer, E, 373, 10; A Moderate Narrative, E, 574, 17; Narrative of Military Operations, Carte MSS. xxvi. fol. 440. Sir Theophilus Jones, Michael's brother, was left behind as temporary Governor of Dublin.

2 Aston to Ormond, Sept. 5, 8, 9, Gilbert's Cont. Hist. of Aff. in Trel. vol. ii. 250, 253, 258.