Orange and Green

Orange and Green, by G. A.
Henty

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Title: Orange and Green A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick
Author: G. A. Henty

Release Date: May 8, 2006 [eBook #18356]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
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AND GREEN***
E-text prepared by Martin Robb

ORANGE AND GREEN:

A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick
by
G. A. Henty.

Contents
Preface.
Chapter 1
: A Shipwreck.
Chapter 2
: For James Or William.
Chapter 3
: The King In Ireland.
Chapter 4
: The Siege Of Derry.
Chapter 5
: The Relief Of Derry.
Chapter 6
: Dundalk.
Chapter 7

: The Coming Battle.
Chapter 8
: Boyne Water.
Chapter 9
: Pleasant Quarters.
Chapter 10
: A Cavalry Raid.
Chapter 11
: The First Siege Of Limerick.
Chapter 12
: Winter Quarters.
Chapter 13
: A Dangerous Mission.
Chapter 14
: Athlone.
Chapter 15
: A Fortunate Recognition.
Chapter 16
: Peace.

Preface.
The subject of Ireland is one which has, for some years, been a very
prominent one, and is likely, I fear, for some time yet to occupy a large
share of public attention. The discontent, manifested in the troubles of
recent years, has had its root in an old sense of grievance, for which
there was, unhappily, only too abundant reason. The great proportion of
the soil of Ireland was taken from the original owners, and handed over
to Cromwell's followers, and for years the land that still remained in the
hands of Irishmen was subject to the covetousness of a party of greedy
intriguers, who had sufficient influence to sway the proceedings of
government. The result was the rising of Ireland, nominally in defence
of the rights of King James, but really as an effort of despair on the part
of those who deemed their religion, their property, and even their lives
threatened, by the absolute ascendency of the Protestant party in the
government of the country. I have taken my information from a variety
of sources; but, as I wished you to see the matter from the Irish point of
view, I have drawn most largely from the history of those events by Mr.
O'Driscol, published sixty years ago. There is, however, but little
difference of opinion between Irish and English authors, as to the
general course of the war, or as to the atrocious conduct of William's
army of foreign mercenaries towards the people of Ireland.
G. A. Henty.
Chapter 1
: A Shipwreck.
A few miles to the south of Bray Head, on the crest of a hill falling
sharply down to the sea, stood Castle Davenant, a conspicuous
landmark to mariners skirting the coast on their way from Cork or
Waterford to Dublin Bay. Castle Davenant it was called, although it
had long since ceased to be defensible; but when it was built by Sir
Godfrey Davenant, who came over with Strongbow, it was a place of
strength. Strongbow's followers did well for themselves. They had

reckoned on hard fighting, but the Irish were too much divided among
themselves to oppose any serious resistance to the invaders. Strongbow
had married the daughter of Dermid, Prince of Leinster, and at the
death of that prince succeeded him, and the greater portion of Leinster
was soon divided among the knights and men-at-arms who had
followed his standard. Godfrey Davenant, who was a favourite of the
earl, had no reason to be dissatisfied with his share, which consisted of
a domain including many square miles of fertile land, stretching back
from the seacoast.
Here for many generations his descendants lived, for the most part
taking an active share in the wars and disturbances which, with scarcely
an interval of rest, agitated the country.
The castle had continued to deserve its name until forty years before
the time this story commences, when Cromwell's gunners had battered
a breach in it, and left it a heap of smoking ruins. Walter Davenant had
died, fighting to the last, in his own hall. At that time, the greater part
of his estate was bestowed upon officers and soldiers in Cromwell's
army, among whom no less than four million acres of Irish land were
divided.
Had it not been that Walter Davenant's widow was an Englishwoman,
and a relation of General Ireton, the whole of the estate would have
gone; but his influence was sufficient to secure for her the possession
of the ruins of her home, and