Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ... HISTORY OF THE IRISH BRIGADES IN THE SERVICE OF FRANCE. BOOK I. The History Of The Irish Brigades In The Service Of France dates its origin from the war between Great Britain and Ireland occasioned by the change of dynasty in those islands, which commenced with the British Revolution of 1688, and was not accomplished till the acquiescence of Ireland in the results of that Revolution, by the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. In Great Britain, it was but natur-.il that such a change of dynasty should have occurred. At a period when theological differences of opinion had such a considerable influence on tho politics of Europe in feneral, and of Great Britain and Ireland in particular, the reigning overeign of the 2 Protestant kingdoms of England and Scotland, James II., had deserted the Protestant for the Catholic faith, and, through the birth of a male heir, was likely to establish a Catholic dynasty over those 2 Protestant nations; who could hardly be expected to acknowledge a Catholic Monarch, but for the expectation, existing previous to that birth, of his being succeeded, in the course of a few years, by a race of Protestant Princes. In an age when the boundaries between the monarchical and the other branches of the constitution had not been determined with sufficient accuracy, that Monarch had also considered himself justified in exercising powers, which, whatever may have been their defensibility on the score of precedent, were felt to be incompatible with the state of intellectual and political advancement at which Great Britain had then arrived. Under such circumstances, tho applications of the disaffected English and Scotch for assistance against King James were addressed to William, Prince of Orange, and Stadtholder of tho Dutch...
