The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-17
One of the Most Ferocious Was
.. Sir Charles Coote.
INHABITANTS FORCED TO SURRENDER
Treaty of CapitulationlBroken
By The Conquerors.

One OF the most fcrocious and blood
thirsty OF the Cromwelian plundcrcrs of
Ireland was Sir Charles Cootc, Earl of
Mountrath, whose father had received
large grants OF land from the English
Government, chiefly in Connaught out
OF which he made an income of i4,ooo a
year, for the ''scrviccs' he had per-
formed i'll robbing the natives OF their
lands and numbering them. The first
mention OF this monster is on April 18,
lo44 where we find him one OF the Prot
cstant dcputation to King Charles l. at
Oxford, asking future graccs OF his
Majesty, that he would abatc his quit
rents for time, to encourage and en-
able Protcstants TO rcplant the kingdom
and cause a good walled town to be
built in every county of the kingdom
for their security, no Papist being per-
mitted to dwell therein; that the penal
laws should continue in force, and be
put i'll execution; that a competent Prot
cstant army should be established in the
Kingdom" and other measures of like
tendency.
Notwithstanding these professions. land
pretcnscs OF loyalty to Charles l., Coote,
when he was made President OF Con-
naught, in l645, declared ior the Parlia-
mcntary party, and started in to slaugh-
ter or drive out the Royalists, Catholics
and native Irish. His first act was 10
defeat and cruelty put to death the Arch
bishop OF Tuam, who made an attempt
TO recover Sligo from the Parliamentar-
ians. On June 20, 1850, having defeated
the patriot army, led by Bishop Hcber
MacMahon, near Derry, he caused that
eminent prclatc 'to be hanged with all
the circumstances OF contumcly, re-
preach and cruelty, which he could de-
wise"
In 1851 Cootc joined Ircton, Crom-
wells sonin-law. whom the butcher of
Droghcda had left 10 complete the con-
quest OF ireland. Gen. Preston, the gal
liant Irish commander, betrayed and de-
lcatcd i'll every other quarter, finally
threw himself with a few troops into
Galway, where he was inrustcd with the
chief command and honortd with the
title oi Governor. The town was soon
after invested by Cootc and was quick
ly reduced TO a state OF blockade. The
castles OF Tirclan, Oranmorc and Clare
Galway were taken and on Aug IL,
1851, the enemy pitched their camp be-
tween Lough-a-t and Suckcen,
within few hundred yards OF the walls.
Limerick having surrendered on Oct.
e, council OF war was held by Ireton
tc determine whether he should mmc-
diatcly march with his army towards
Galway 1t was decided to summon the
place to surrender to the bcsicgcrs, with
the conditions that the garrison should
march out unarmcd and the inhabitants
be allowed time for removing with their
effects to any place where they might be
appointed to live.
Accordingly, on Nov. 9, dispatches
were sent by Ircton to Preston (inclos-
ing letters also to the Mayor and the
inhabitants), in which he informed him
that if he should freely communicate
the proposals to the townspeople and be
himself, waving the frivolous imperti-
nence OF soldiers honor, or humor,
rather" inclined to capitulate, he might
then expect to partake in the benefit of
the conditions; but that if he smothered
or suppressed them, he might be sure
that his head would pay for the trouble
or mischief that would follow. En-
ragged at this threat, Preston, on Nov.
12, returned an angry answer OF defiance,
telling Ireton that the "heads of those
with him were as unsettled on their
shoulders as any he knew OF within the
town. The communication for the in
habitants was artfully contrived to Gre
ate distrust OF the garrison. They
seemed inclined to yield, and asked for
more particulars regarding the condi-
tions. Preston, dreading the event of
surrender, knowing the barbarity of
the English robbers, took shipping in
the bay and sailed to France. Before any
further negotiations took place Ireton
died at Limerick on Nov. 2o, and was
succeeded by Lieut.. Gen. Ludlow.
After the death OF this Infamous ruff
fan momentary CLEAN of hope passed
over the desponding minds of the inhab-
itants of Galway, and they again deter
mined on the most vigorous resistance.
In December Coote again proposed the ].