140 BOYLE this siege the Lord Broghill was ordered on a service which certainly appears to have been dictated by evil intentions on the part of Ireton. Lord Muskerry had collected a body of three thousand men, one thousand of whom were horse, with which he was marching to join the Nuncio, who was at the head of eight thousand men, for the purpose of afterwards proceeding to the relief of Li- merick. To prevent their junction, Lord Broghill was dispatched by Ireton with bat one thousand troops. By forced marches he came up with Lord Muskerry before he had effected his union with the Nuncio, and fell upon him with the greatest intrepidity and resolution. He was, however, owing to his inferior numbers, soon surrounded by the enemy, who offered him fair quarter. This he refused, and threw himself into the thickest of the battle to encourage his men to exert themselves to the utmost. This so exasperated the rebels, that they exclaimed, "Kill the fellow in the gold-laced coat," and they would in all probability have effected their purpose, had he not been brought off by a lieutenant of his own troop, who was shot twice, and had his horse killed under him in ensuring his commander's rescue. So spirited an example infused fresh courage into his troops, they fought with despe ration, and their exertions were crowned with victory. The enemy was completely routed, leaving six hundred men dead on the spot, together with a great number of prisoners. When the war in Ireland was finished, Cromwell, who seemed resolved to attach Lord Broghill to him, by load- ing him with fresh favours, sent for him to England, and appointed him one of his privy council. Nor can there be a greater proof of the fine taste of the Protector, in spite of the cant which the times compelled him to use in pub- lic, than the constant and familiar intimacy in which he lived with Broghill, Waller, and Milton. The affairs of Scotland were at this time in much con-
