ers at Dublin. Not long afterwards he
issued that great Act of Attainder (1689) which summoned all who were
in rebellion against his authority to appear for trial on a given day,
or be declared traitors, hanged, drawn, and quartered, and their
property confiscated.[1] Next, the Protestant city of Londonderry
(S423) was bebesieged (1689). For more than three months it held out
against shot and shell, famine and fever.

[1] Attainder (S351): This act contained between two and three
thousand names. It embraced all classes, from half the peerage of
Ireland to tradesmen, women, and children. If they failed to appear,
they could be put to death without trial.

The starving inhabitants, exceeding thirty thousand in number, were
finally reduced to the last extremities. Nothing was left to eat but
a few miserable horses and some salted hides. As they looked into
each other's hollow eyes, the question came, Must we surrender? Then
it was that an aged clergyman, the venerable George Walker, one of the
governors of the city, pleaded with them, Bible in hand, to remain
firm.

That appeal carried the day. They declared that rather than open the
gates to the enemy, they would perish of hunger, or, as some voice
whispered, that they would fall "first on the horses and the
hides,--THEN ON THE PRISONERS,--then--ON EACH OTHER!" But at this
moment, when all hope seemed lost, a shout of triumph was heard. An
English force had sailed up the river, broken through all
obstructions, and the valiant city was saved.

500. Battle of the Boyne, 1690; Treaty of Limerick.

A year later occurred the decisive battle of the Boyne,[1] 1690, at
which King William commanded in person on one side, while James II was
present on the opposite side. William had a somewhat larger force and
by far the greater number of well-armed, veteran troops. The contest
ended with the utter defeat of James. He stood on a hill at a safe
distance, and when he saw that the battle was going against him,
turned and fled to France. William, on the other hand, though
suffering from a wound, led his own men. The cowardly behavior of
James excited the disgust and scorn of both the French and Irish.
"Change kings with us," shouted an Irish officer later, to one of
William's men, "change kings with us, and we'll fight you over again."

[1] Fought in the east of Ireland, on the banks of the river of that
name. (See map facing p. 358.)

The war was brought to an