[1] Fought in the east of Ireland, on the banks of the river of that name. (See map facing p. 358.)

The war was brought to an end by the treaty of Limerick (1691), when about ten thousand Irish soldiers who had fought for James, and who no longer cared to remain in their own country after their defeat, were permitted to go to France.  “When the wild cry of the women, who stood watching their departure, was hushed, the silence of death settled down upon Ireland.  For a hundred years the country remained at peace, but the peace was that of despair."[1] In violation of that treaty, a severe act was passed against Roman Catholics; they were hunted like wild beasts, and terrible vengeance was now taken for that Act of Attainder (S499) which James had issued.  Furthermore, England selfishly closed her own ports and those of her colonies against Irish products; this policy starved the industry of that unfortunate island.

[1] Green’s “Short History of the English People.”

501.  Massacre of Glencoe (1692).

Fighting against William and Mary had also been going on in Scotland; for Claverhouse, or “Bonny Dundee” (S472), was an ardent adherent of James II and vowed, “Ere the King’s crown shall fall, there are crowns to be broke."[2] But the Jacobites, or adherents of James (S495), had been conquered, and a proclamation was sent out commanding all the Highland clans to take the oath of allegiance before the beginning of the new year (1692).

[2] Scott’s Poems, “Bonny Dundee.”

A chief of the clan of the Macdonalds of Glencoe, through no fault of his own, failed to make submission within the appointed time.  Scotch enemies of the clan told the King that the chief had refused to take the oath, and urged William “to extirpate that set of thieves.”  The King signed an order to that effect, without clearly understnading what was intended.

Thereupon the Scotch authorities sent a body of soldiers to Glencoe, who were hospitably received by the Macdonalds.  After stopping with them a number of days, they rose before light one winter morning, and, suddenly attacking their friendly hosts, murdered all the men who did not escape, and drove the women and children into the snowdrifts to perish of cold and hunger.

They finished their work of destruction by burning the cabins and driving away the cattle.  By this act, Glencoe, or the “Glen of Weeping,” was changed into the Valley of the Shadow of Death.  The blame which attaches to William is that he did nothing toward punishing those who planned and carried out the horrible massacre.

502.  La Hogue; the Peace of Ryswick, 1697.

The English naval commander, Admiral Russell, like many of William’s pretended friends and supporters, had been engaged in treasonable correspondence with James II.  If the latter succeeded in recovering his crown, the Admiral hoped to bask in the sunshine of royal favor; but he later changed his mind and fought so bravely in the sea fight off La Hogue that the French supporters of James were utterly beaten.