Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/57

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

Cromwell in Ireland

Inchiquin, then commanding the Munster garrisons under Ormond, and that the "no disservice to the State.' which resulted was without doubt the treacherous surrender of these and other Royalist garrisons to Cromwell a couple of months later.

Cromwell sat before Wexford for ten days parleying with the Governor on one hand and with the inhabitants on the other. On October 11th, a breach having been made in the wall of the Castle, which stood outside the city wall, Commissioners were sent from the town to treat with Cromwell for the surrender of the place. Among these Commissioners was one Stafford, Governor of the Castle. Cromwell's own words tell the fraud and treachery that followed. Writing again to Speaker Lenthall, he says:—"While I was preparing the answer to the propositions, studying to preserve the town from plunder, that it might be of more use to you and your Army, the Captain Stafford, who was one of the Commissioners, being fairly treated, yielded up the Castle to us, upon the top of which our men no sooner appeared but the enemy quitted the walls of the town, which our men perceiving ran violently upon the town with their ladders and stormed it."

Examine this statement. Cromwell pretends

45