58 THE IRISH PEOPLE. 



" The inefficiency of the Irish was, in that age, 

 commonly imputed, both by their enemies and by 

 their allies, to natural poltroonery. How little 

 ground there was for such an imputation has since 

 been signally proved by many brave achievements in 

 every part of the globe. It ought, indeed, even in 

 the seventeenth century, to have occurred to reason- 

 able men that a race which furnished some of the 

 best horse soldiers in the world would certainly, 

 with judicious training, furnish good foot soldiers. 

 But the Irish foot soldiers had not merely not been 

 well-trained, but had been elaborately ill-trained. 



The Irish Horse maintained a desperate fight 

 in the bed of the river Boyne with Solmes' Blues. 

 They drove the Danish Brigade back into the bed 

 of the river, and fell impetuously on the Hugenot 

 regiments, which began to give way. Caillemot, 

 while rallying the Hugenots, was slain. Schomberg 

 rallied them, but fell. The Hugenots rallied once 

 more under the impetuous charge of the Irish 

 (Horse), and the battle continued to rage fast and 

 furious all around. King William came up with 

 reinforcements, and his presence inspired his men to 

 renewed efforts. Still Hamilton (with his Irish 

 Horse) held his ground bravely. The Enniskilleners 

 were sent against him, but he swept them instantly 

 from his path. William tried to rally them, but in 



