Imatges de pàgina
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HISTORY

OF

IRELAND.

CHAP. XXVII.

Contests of Ormond and the clergy-Clanricarde's adminiftration-Negociation with the duke of Lorrain -Progrefs of the republicans- -Siege of Limerick Executions-Siege of Galway-Further proceedings -Executions-Difpofal of forfeitures- -Cromwel protector- ·Mifcellaneous tranfactions-Cromwel's indulgence to the Irish-Arbitrary measure with refpect to the prefs Adminiftration of Henry CromwelHis refignation-Proceedings of the royalists Council of officers-Ludlow-Seizure of the Castle and its reduction.

WHILE Ireton and Coote were completing their CHAP. conquefts, the former in the fouth, the latter in the XXVII, north, the marquis of Ormond was deeply engaged, Contests besides his military efforts, in contefts with the Ro- and the mish clergy, who, intent on a delufive object, the clergy. VOL. II. establish.

of Ormond

CHAP. establishment of the papal power in Ireland under XXVII. their own administration, by the intervention of a

foreign prince, counteracted the plans of the roy. alifts, and thus unintentionally facilitated the progrefs of the English republicans to the fubjugation of the whole. As all Connaught, with Limerick, ftill remained in the hands of the confederates, and as this town, together with thofe of Sligo and Galway, could be easily fortified beyond any danger from Ireton's force, and were commodious by their ports for the reception of fuccours from abroad, a successful oppofition might long have been made to the republican arms, if unanimity and refolution had prevailed among the profeffed abettors of the royal caufe. Propofing, by the advantage of the important post of Limerick, to prepare in the winter an army fit to face the enemy in the enfuing fpring, but denied by the citizens, when he requested their admiffion of eighteen hundred men for a garrifon, Ormond, by the advice of the commiffioners of truft, fummoned twenty-four prelates to this town to confult with him on the distracted state of affairs, and proposed to them that either obedience to his authority should be procured by their influence, or fome other way fhould be recommended, by which it might be preserved, on his withdrawing from the kingdom.

Among the proposals of this affembly, mostly lax and indefinite, the most precife and important were, that the receiver-general fhould account for the fums levied fince the peace; and that a privy council should be composed of native nobility, spiritual and

temporal,

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