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LIMITED EDITION
DALTON, Charles. Ed. by. King Charles the Second's Irish Army Lists, 1661 - 1685. Dublin, De Burca, 2000. Second. pp. xxxiv, 176. Fine facsimile limited edition in quarter morocco gilt, head and tail bands, in slipcase. Signed and numbered by the publisher. €90.00
The
original edition was published for private circulation and was limited to twenty
copies only. The editor states that he made extensive use of the manuscripts of
the Marquis of Ormonde, preserved at Kilkenny Castle, the calendared and
uncalendared Irish State papers, the King's Letter Books and Entry Books at the
Public Record Office for the names of Officers serving on the Irish
Establishment, 1661-1685.
In
December 1660, Sir Maurice Eustace, Lord Chancellor, Roger, Earl of Orrery, and
Charles, Earl of Mountrath were appointed Lord Justices. Under the able rule of
Orrery and Mountrath the Army in Ireland was reduced and remodelled. King
Charles's new army dates from 11th February, 1661 and when the Irish parliament
met in May the Lord Chancellor informed the House that "there were
twenty months" arrears due to the army.
The patrons of military history while glancing at the list of officers appointed to command this army, will recognise the names of many Cromwellian field officers who had served in Ireland during the Commonwealth. One may wonder how these 'renegades' found their way into the new Royalist levies. The answer is that these same officers not only supported the Restoration but were eager in the King's service afterwards. It transpired that many Cromwellians were retained in the Army of Ireland and had equal rights with those Royalists who had fought for Charles I and had shared the long exile of Charles II. From a purely military point of view they had learned the art of war under the most successful soldier of his time.