With one loud cry of vengeance for desecrated altars and desolated homes, the Irish soldiers dashed to the charge, and Monroe’s ranks were broken, and his men driven to flight.  Even the General himself fled so precipitately, that he left his hat, sword, and cloak after him, and never halted until he reached Lisburn.  Lord Montgomery was taken prisoner, and 3,000 of the Scotch were left on the field.  Of the Irish only seventy men were killed, and 200 wounded.  It was a great victory; and it was something more—­it was a glorious victory; although Ireland remained, both as to political and religious freedom, much as it had been before.  The standards captured on that bloody field were sent to the Nuncio at Limerick, and carried in procession to the Cathedral, where a solemn Te Deum was chanted—­and that was all the result that came of it.  Confusion thrice confounded followed in the rear.  The King issued orders, under the compulsion of the Scotch, which Lord Digby declared to be just the contrary of what he really wished; and Ormonde proclaimed and ratified the treaty he had formerly declined to fulfil, while the “old Irish” everywhere indignantly rejected it.  In Waterford, Clonmel, and Limerick, the people would not permit it even to be proclaimed.  The Nuncio summoned a national synod in Waterford, at which it was condemned; and a decree was issued, on the 12th of August, declaring that all who adhered to such terms should be declared perjurers.  Even Preston declared for the Nuncio; and the clergy and the nobles who led the unpopular cause, were obliged to ask Ormonde’s assistance to help them out of their difficulty.  The Earl arrived at Kilkenny with an armed force; but fled precipitately when he heard that O’Neill and Preston were advancing towards him.

Rinuccini now took a high hand.  He entered Kilkenny in state, on the 18th of September, and committed the members of the Supreme Council as prisoners to the Castle, except Darcy and Plunket.  A new Council was appointed, or self-appointed, on the 20th, of which the Nuncio was chosen President.  The imprisonment of the old Council was undoubtedly a harsh and unwise proceeding, which can scarcely be justified; but the times were such that prompt action was demanded, and the result alone, which could not be foreseen, could justify or condemn it.

The Generals were again at variance; and although the new Council had decided on attacking Dublin, their plans could not be carried out.  Preston was unquestionably playing fast and loose; and when the Confederate troops did march towards Dublin, his duplicity ruined the cause which might even then have been gained.  A disgraceful retreat was the result.  An Assembly was again convened at Kilkenny; the old Council was released; the Generals promised to forget their animosities:  but three weeks had been lost in angry discussion; and although the Confederates bound themselves by oath not to lay down their arms until their demands were granted, their position was weakened to a degree which the selfishness of the contending parties made them quite incapable of estimating.