Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/150

 BOYLE 13g enemy, whose humbers amounted to about five thousand men, before they were aware of his approaeh, and entirely roated them, and was engaged in takiog measures for their complete dispersion, when he received dispatehes from Cromwell, inforining him that his army before Clonmell was much reduced by the iavages of diseasey and that they had been twice repulsed by the besieged; conjuring him therefore, by every tie of duty and affection, to hasten to his relief, or that he should be compelled to raise the siege. Lord Broghil iuimediately returnied him for an- swer, by his own messenger, that he had just defeated the rebels, and would be with him before Clonmell in three days. Cromwell was much pleased with this messages and when, at the time appointed, Lord Broghiil appeared, he ordered the whole army to cry, "A Broghill A Broghill!' and ran and ensbraced him, thanking him for his seasonable assistance, and congratulating him on his late victory. Thus reinforeed, he prosecuted the siege with redoabled vigour, and Clonmell sureadered to his victo- rious arms in the depth of winter s Cromwell being soon after sent for to oppose the Scotch, gave the chief command of the forces in Ireland to Ireton, whom he appointed his deputy, and left Lord Broghill at the head of a lying camp in Manster. In this situation he was indefatigable, taking several towns, and frequently attacking the enemy with suecess. In these expeditions he evinced so much ability, and gave personal proofs of such undaunted courage, that he was regarded with admiration by the whole body of the nation; and Ireton, who still suspected him of a private attachment to the royal party, is reported to have said, "We must take off Broghill, or he will rain us all." Lord Broghill himself entertained great suspicions of Ireton's jealousy of him, and therefore kept with his little army at some distance, ácting independently till he was eompelled to join him at the siege of Limeriek.During