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conceived, than were his regiments ready to fustain their

part.

On à fandy plain by the feashore lay the mean village of Arklow. On and about the low hillocks beyond which the enemy's force stood in multitudes, prepared to dispute the passage of that pelting river, then by reason of the tide very full and rapidly flowing. Here the Ovoca stream runneth due east into the sea: but about two miles from its mouth it trendeth north through Glendaleure, where the Lord Deputy Grey had been defeated now twenty years agone, by Phea MacHugh and the Viscount of Baltinglass. Here, too, Sir Peter Carew, running in his armour, which he could not put off, was half fmothered and enforced to lie down whom, when the rebels had taken, they difarmed, when one villain with his sword slaughtered and killed him.

This fastness, for fuch in truth, by reason of the nature of the ground, the Glen might be called, was as strong as might be the valley being in the middle of a wood, and of great length between the two inacceffible chains of hills, no other way was there to pass through, than either by the bed of the torrent, which is rocky and full of great flippery stones; or on the banks, which are boggy and soft,

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thronged with mighty trees, full of tangled brushwood, and torn and chafmed by constant rains and waterfalls. When you add to this that there had been pleachings of the branches, piling of stones, and other fortifyings after the manner of the natives; 'twill appear that there was no other course for my Lord than the forcing by the whole army of the deep ford at Arklow.

Yet

Now was it drawing towards evening; and the tide was ftill rifing, and recent floods had flushed the river. my Lord gave the word to march in order thoro❞ the stream.

First, there was a round of our artillery to clear the way; and then a rattling volley of the musketry, in the midst of which Sir Chriftopher St. Lawrence, leaping into the water, fwam across. Him, with a fhout, followed the Vanguard under my Lord Southampton; and the horse, charging repeatedly as the enemy approached, kept the passage safe till all, even the baggage waggons, had croffed over.

Then did the natives in more volumes than we yet had seen, and in numbers far exceeding the quadruple of our little army, form themselves in line. 'Twas fomething new in their mode of warfare; but thefe had been trained

somewhat, having been armed and levied by the Lord Euftace and the Earl of Kildare when in rebellion; and aforetime had croffed their pikes against her Grace's troops. Which, when the English Gentles faw, they craved of my Lord-General leave to volunteer a charge against "Twas in the Earl's vein: and the trumpet

the enemy.

founded for a general halt.

Now the commanders, witting nothing less than action on that day, were lightly armed; having not their close beavers, but tilting helmets only, with their pretty crests and graceful feathers. Na'th'lefs they formed in double line, English and Irish, Nobles and Knights, Efquires and Gentles; and, as a referve, my Lord himself with William's regiment of yeomanry. The Clarion calls a charge; and with lance in rest, at a full gallop over the dry turfy fand, the little band rush on amain. Bravely and firmly met that terrific shock the angry natives! The Clarion recalls. The troop reforms. The enemy now ftrips off the cloak, leaving the body naked. Wrapping the vesture round and round his left arm as a target, he prepares to meet the onslaught with the fword. "Charge!" shouteth Effex; and away fkirrs the gentle troop, followed by the whole reserve!

Battle of the Plumes.

139

'Twas but a moment's work, and all was over! The enemy was overthrown and beaten down, through and through; for the horsemen paffed their ranks in many places, and those who could not fly, which the most part did confusedly, cafting away their very arms for lightness, were fain to come in presently upon protection. But my Lord would not take lefs than abfolute fubmiffion from those chiefs, the O'Beirnes, O'Tooles, MacHughs, knowing her Grace would fo require it at his hands.

And now the Lord-Lieutenant and General Governor of Ireland, by her Grace's leave, and in virtue of the precedent, created Knights upon the field. Here, from that loved hand, young Cheney received the coveted honour: and 'twas Effex who, with his own drawn fword, cut square the Cheney banner, and threw the baldrick over William's fhoulder openly before the army: and in their tent that night, playfully himself buckled on his life's friend the proud gilt fpurs of a gentle knight.

And this was the Battle of the Plumes!

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No pity in your bloods to ufe a wretch thus?
You, Princes, in whofe hearts the best compaffions,
Nearest to thofe in Heaven, fhould find fit places,
Why do you mock at mifery? fling fcorns and bafenefs
Upon his broken back that finks with forrows?—
may reward you too: and an hour come
When all your great defigns fhall fhew ridiculous,
hearts plucked like mine".

Heaven

And your

WOMEN PLEASED, act v. fc. III.

H, what a peft is an exacting woman! Sir
Thomas would tell of that wife who fo plagued

good Richard Hooker, he writing his Polity,

"Rock the cradle with your toe!" Then, the babe fqualling, provoked by its mother's four milk per cafe,

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Why doft not fing lullaby?" till the poor clerk was well

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