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purpose of recovering that post and quartering them in
huts under the walls, that they might not be burden-
some to the city, but receive pay and provisions from
the country; but this proposal was also rejected, and it
was even moved in the council to seize Ormonde’s per-
son, and to attack his troops as enemies. Irritated at
their obstinacy and ingratitude, Ormonde withdrew his
army, and left the citizens to defend themselves, by
their own resources, against the vigorous attacks of
Cromwell; their courage giving way, they declared that,
unless they received a reinforcement of troops and a
supply of provisions, they could make no further resist-
ance. At length, when the assault was hourly expected,
the Marquess appeared again with his forces on the
north side of the Suir, and Cromwell having already
lost about 1000 of his men by sickness and the chances
of war, prepared to raise the siege. Ormonde now
proposed to cross the river and attack the retreating
army in the rear; but the citizens obstinately urged
their objections, from an apprehension that the city
might become the winter quarters of his army.
Early in the following June, Waterford was again
besieged by the parliamentary forces under the com-
mand of Gen. Ireton, on whose approach General Pres-
ton, then governor, sent to the Marquess of Ormonde
to inform him that, unless supplies were immediately
forwarded, he should be obliged to surrender; these,
however, not being sent, the garrison was soon reduced
to the greatest distress. Though the siege was begun
early in June, Ireton did not summon the city to surrender
till the 25th of July; soon after which the besieged
made a sally, but were driven back with loss; and a
party of musketeers being sent by the besiegers to burn
the suburbs, the smoke being driven by the wind into
the city, so terrified the besieged, that they thought the
whole army had made an assault, and began to seek
safety by the eastern gate. Two brothers named
Croker, who led the party that burnt the suburbs,
under cover of the smoke which concealed the smallness
of their number, scaled the walls and marched forward
to the main guard, putting all they met to the sword.
The besieged, firmly believing that the whole of Ireton’s
army had forced their way into the city, were seized
with a panic, which enabled this small party to secure
all their great guns, and march with them to the western
gate, which they opened to their fellow soldiers, who
immediately marched in. The citadel still held out, but
after a protracted treaty surrendered on the 10th of
August, upon terms favourable to the citizens generally,
whose persons and property were guaranteed from in-
jury. The violence of the parliamentarian army was
chiefly directed against the churches, works of art, and
remains of antiquity, not even the tombs of the dead
being spared from mutilation. From this period till
the year 1656, the old government of the city by mayor
and sheriffs was superseded by a government of com-
missioners appointed by Cromwell, whose most devoted
partisans had supreme power in the city. Under these
commissioners orders were issued prohibiting Catholics
from trading within or without doors; high courts of
justice were instituted here as in other cities, for the
trial of persons concerned in the massacre of 1641; and
under this usurped authority the public buildings, quays,
streets, roads, and other works were generally improved.
Col. Lawrence, the first governor under the parliament,
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was succeeded in that office by Col. Leigh, to whom,
and to the justices of the peace, the lord-deputy and
council issued an order to apprehend forthwith all
Quakers resorting to that city, and to ship them either
from that port or from Passage, to Bristol, to be com-
mitted to the care of that city. On the restoration,
Richard Power was appointed governor of the county
and city of Waterford; and on the revival of the corpo-
ration, the inhabitants petitioned the Duke of Ormonde
to be admitted to the enjoyment of the franchise, not-
withstanding religious differences; but so far from
obtaining this object, it was ordered by the lord-lieu-
tenant and council, in 1678, that, with the exception of
some merchants, artificers, and others, they should be
expelled from the city, though many were re-admitted.
During the interval of peace from 1664 to 1681, the
trade of the port continued to increase rapidly; the
duties paid at the custom-house, at the former period,
amounted to £7044, and at the latter to £14,826.
Jas. II., on the day after the battle of the Boyne,
arrived at this place, and immediately embarked for
France in a ship which lay in the harbour ready to
receive him. On the 20th of July, Major-Gen. Kirk
advanced with a body of forces from Carrick, and sent
a trumpeter to the city to summon the garrison to sur-
render; this was first refused in mild terms, but soon
after, the citizens sent to know the terms that would be
granted, which, being the same as those offered to the
garrison of Drogheda, were rejected. The garrison then
demanded the enjoyment of their estates, the freedom
of their religion, and liberty to march out with their
arms and baggage, which being refused, preparations
were made for a regular siege; but on the 25th the
garrison was allowed to march out with arms and
baggage, and was conveyed to Mallow. On the follow-
ing day King William entered the city, and took mea-
sures to prevent the property of any person from being
damaged; on his return from the siege of Limerick, he
embarked at this port, on the 5th of September, for
England. At the close of this century the city is re-
presented as being in a wretched condition; the houses
in ruin, the streets filthy and uneven, and the roads
extremely bad; but, under the management of successive
mayors, it was greatly improved both in comfort and
appearance early in the following century. In 1732, a
tumultuous assembly rose to prevent the exportation
of corn; another riotous meeting, occasioned by the
scarcity of provisions, took place in 1744, when the
military were called to suppress the riot, and several
lives were lost. In the disturbances of 1798 the citizens
took no part: several meetings of United Irishmen were
held here, but the peace of the city was preserved by
the victory obtained over the insurgents at Ross.
The city is beautifully situated on the southern bank
of the Suir, about 16 miles from its influx into the
sea: it extends principally along the margin of the
river, having an elevation very little above high water
mark, except at the western extremity, where it occu-
pies some high and precipitous eminences, and at the
eastern extremity, where are some more gentle eleva-
tions: on the south, bordering on the stream called
John’s river, which here falls into the Suir, is a large
tract of level marshy land stretching towards Tramore.
Near the western extremity of the city, and connecting
it with the small suburb of Ferrybank in the county of