THEIR HEIGHT, FORM, AND STRENGTH. 59 



vain they turned and fled. Then the King, placing 

 himself at the head of his own fellow-countrymen, a 

 company of Dutch dragoons, furiously charged the 

 Irish. This was the final struggle. Left without 

 reinforcements, abandoned by De Lauzun and King 

 James, and overwhelmed on all sides by the rapidly- 

 increasing English regiments, Hamilton was borne 

 down and taken prisoner. Still the Irish Horse 

 fought on. ' Is this business over, or will your 

 Horse make more fight,' said William to Hamilton, 

 when the Irish commander was brought into his 

 presence. ' On my honour, sir,' said Hamilton, ' I 

 believe they will.' . . Whole troops had been cut 

 to pieces. One fine regiment had only thirty un- 

 wounded men left. It was enough that these gallant 

 soldiers had disputed the field till they were left 

 without support, or hope, or guidance, till their 

 bravest leader was a captive, and till their king had 

 fled." 



