Contents Preface. Chapter 1: A Shipwreck. Chapter 2: For James Or William. Chapter 3: The King In Ireland. Chapter 4: The Siege Of Derry. Chapter 5: The Relief Of Derry. Chapter 6: Dundalk. Chapter 7: The Coming Battle. Chapter 8: Boyne Water. Chapter 9: Pleasant Quarters. Chapter 10: A Cavalry Raid. Chapter 11: The First Siege Of Limerick. Chapter 12: Winter Quarters. Chapter 13: A Dangerous Mission. Chapter 14: Athlone. Chapter 15: A Fortunate Recognition. Chapter 16: Peace.Chapter 1: A Shipwreck.A few miles to the south of Bray Head, on the crest of a hill fallingsharply down to the sea, stood Castle Davenant, a conspicuous landmark tomariners skirting the coast on their way from Cork or Waterford to DublinBay. Castle Davenant it was called, although it had long since ceased tobe defensible; but when it was built by Sir Godfrey Davenant, who cameover with Strongbow, it was a place of strength. Strongbow's followersdid well for themselves. They had reckoned on hard fighting, but theIrish were too much divided among themselves to oppose any seriousresistance to the invaders. Strongbow had married the daughter of Dermid,Prince of Leinster, and at the death of that prince succeeded him, andthe greater portion of Leinster was soon divided among the knights andmen-at-arms who had followed his standard. Godfrey Davenant, who was afavourite of the earl, had no reason to be dissatisfied with his share,which consisted of a domain including many square miles of fertile land,stretching back from the seacoast.Here for many generations his descendants lived, for the most part takingan active share in the wars and disturbances which, with scarcely aninterval of rest, agitated the country.The castle had continued to deserve its name until forty years before thetime this story commences, when Cromwell's gunners had battered a breachin it, and left it a heap of smoking ruins. Walter Davenant had died,fighting to the last, in his own hall. At that time, the greater part ofhis estate was bestowed upon officers and soldiers in Cromwell's army,among whom no less than four million acres of Irish land were divided.