imposed, by his own authority, a tax of twenty thousand pounds a month on perfonal property, and levied it by a commiffion under the great feal; all vacancies in public schools were fupplied by popish teachers. The penfion allowed from the exchequer to the University of Dublin was cut off, and that inftitution converted into a popish feminary. Brigadier Sarsfield commanded all proteftants of a certain diftrict to retire to the distance of ten miles from their habitations on pain of death; many perished with hunger, still more from being forced from their homes, during the feverest inclemencies of the season.

But their sufferings were foon to have an an end. William at length perceived that his neglect of Ireland had been an error that required more than ufual diligence to redrefs. He was afraid to fend the late king's army to fight against him, and therefore ordered twentythree new regiments to be raised for that purpofe. Thefe, with two Dutch batallions, and four of French refugees, together with the Inniskilliners, were appointed for the reduction of Ireland; and next to king William himself, Schomberg was appointed to command.

Schomberg was a Dutchman, who had long been the faithful fervant of William, and had

now

now past a life of eighty years almost continu. ally in the field. The method of carrying on the war in Ireland, however, was a mode of operation with which he was entirely unacquainted. The forces he had to combat were incurfive, barbarous, and fhy; thofe he had to command were tumultuary, ungovernable, and brave. He confidered not the dangers which threatened the health of his troops by being confined to one place; and he kept them in a low moist camp, near Dundalk, without firing almost of any kind; fo that the men fell into fevers and fluxes, and died in great abundance. The enemy were not lefs afflicted with fimilar diforders. Both camps remained for fome time in fight of each other, and at last the rainy season approaching, they both, as if by mutual agreement, quitted their camps at the fame time, and retired into winter-quarters, without attempting to take the advantage of. each other's retreat.

The bad fuccefs of the campaign, and the miferable fituation of the proteftants in Ire land, at length induced king William to at tempt their relief in perfon, at the opening of the enfuing spring; and accordingly landed at Carrickfergus, where he found himself at the head of an army of fix and thirty thousand

ef

effective men, which was more than a match for the forces of James, although they amounted to above ten thousand more.

William having received news that the French fleet was failed for the coast of England, refolved, by measures of speed and vi gour, to prevent the impreffion which that circumftance might make upon the minds of his foldiers; and therefore haftened to advance against James, who he heard had quitted Dublin, and had stationed his army at Ardee and Dundalk.

All the measures taken by William were dictated by prudence and valour, thofe purfued by his opponents feemed dictated by obftinacy and infatuation. They neglected to harrafs him in his difficult march from the north; they neglected to oppose him at the ftrong pafs at Newry; as he advanced they fell back first from Dundalk, and then from Ardee; and at laft, upon the twenty-ninth of June, they fixed their camp in a strong station, on the other fide of the Boyne. It was upon the oppofite banks of this river that both armies came in fight of each other, inflamed with all the animofities arifing from religion, hatred, and revenge. The river Boyne at this place was not fo deep, but that men might wade over on

foot;

foot; however the banks were rugged, and rendered dangerous by old houses and ditches, which ferved to defend the latent enemy. William had no fooner arrived, but he rode along the fide of the river, in fight of both armies, to make proper obfervations upon the plan of battle; but in the mean time being perceived by the enemy, a cannon was privately brought out, and planted against him, where he was fitting. The fhot killed several of his followers; and he himself was wounded inthe fhoulder. The news of his being flain was inftantly propogated through the Irish camp, and was even fent off to Paris; but William, as foon as his wound was dreffed, rode through the camp and quickly undeceiv-. ed his army.

Upon retiring to his tent, after the danger of the day, he continued in meditation till nine o'clock at night, when, for form fake, he fummoned a council of war, in which without afking advice, he declared his refolution to force a paffage over the river the next morning. The duke of Schomberg attempted at first to expoftulate with him upon the danger of the undertaking; but finding his master inflexible, he retired to his tent with a discon

tented

tented afpect, as if he had a prescience of his own misfortune.

Early in the morning at fix o'clock, king William gave orders to force a pass over the river. This the army undertook in three different places; and after a furious cannonading, the battle began with unusual vigour. The Irish troops, though reckoned the best in Europe abroad, have always fought indifferently at home. After an obftinate resistance, they fled with precipitation; leaving the French and Swifs regiments, who came to their affiftance, to make the best retreat they could. William led on his horse in person; and contributed, by his activity and vigilance, to secure the victory. James was not in the battle, but stood aloof, during the action, on the hill of Dunmore, furrounded with fome fquadrons of horse; and at intervals was heard to exclaim, when he faw his own troops repulfing those of the enemy, "O fpare my Eng. "lish fubjects."

The Irish loft about fifteen hundred men, and the protestants about one third of that number. The victory was fplendid and almost decifive; but the death of the duke of Schom berg, who was fhot as he was croffing the wa

ter,