The king’s camp was now formed in regular order; he himself taking his place on its right, having near him the Horse Guards, and the Blue Dutch Guards, who were always his main reliance.  To the left of these were the English and Dutch regiments, further on the French and Danes, while the Brandenburghers and other German regiments formed the extreme left of the line.  To their great satisfaction, the post assigned to the Danes was one of the rude circular redoubts called, in Ireland, Danish forts, and probably constructed by their own far-off ancestors.

Chapter 9:  Pleasant Quarters.

After the termination of the short siege of Athlone, the troop of Captain Davenant were despatched to join the army near Limerick, and, on their arrival there, were ordered to take up their quarters at the house of a Protestant gentleman named Conyers, four miles from the town on the Limerick side of the river.

It was a mansion of considerable size, standing in large grounds, for its proprietor was one of the largest landowners in the county of Limerick, his grandfather having been a colonel in one of Cromwell’s regiments.  Mr. Conyers himself had gone to Dublin, upon the passing of the act sequestrating the property of all the Protestants by James’s parliament, to endeavour to obtain a remission of the decree, so far as it concerned his house and adjoining grounds.  As he had influential friends there, he had remained, urging his petition, until the battle of the Boyne and the entry of King William into Dublin entirely changed the position.  But he then, owing to the disturbance of the country, and the fact that the Irish army had retired to Limerick, found it impossible to return home.  He had, however, travelled with William’s army, to which he was able to give much useful information regarding the defences, and details of the country round the town.

As Captain Davenant’s troop rode up to the house, a lady, with a girl of some sixteen years old, appeared at the door.  Both looked very pale, for they feared that the brutal conduct of which they had heard, of William’s army, would be followed by reprisals on the part of the Irish.  They were somewhat reassured, however, by Captain Davenant’s manner as that officer dismounted, raised his hat, and said: 

“Madam, I have received orders to quarter my troop in the house, but I am anxious, I can assure you, to cause as little inconvenience and annoyance as possible, under the circumstances.”

“We are only women here, sir,” Mrs. Conyers said.  “The house is at your disposal.  I myself and my daughter will move to the gardener’s cottage, and I trust that you will give orders to your men that we shall be free from molestation there.”