Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Wexford.

This is coolbert:

"They were . . . made with their blood to answer for the cruelties they had exercised upon diverse poor Protestants." - - Cromwell.

Also from the BBC "History" magazine:

"Cromwell's army ravages Wexford"

"Thousands are slaughtered despite promise of 'no violence' by the English"

11 October 1649. NOT NECESSARILY AN EPISODE FROM THE THIRTY YEARS WAR BUT CLOSE TO IT!!

The type and manner of behavior as epitomized the era. No-holds barred warfare where atrocity became the norm. MUCH TO THE DETRIMENT OF EVERYONE!

"On 11 October 1649 guns rang out across Wexford. for more than a week the Irish port had been besieged by Oliver Cromwell's new Model Army.

"During the siege, Cromwell had been negotiating with the local governor . . . for a peaceful surrender. the English commander promised that if Wexford capitulated he would allow the garrison leave to disperse, and that 'no violence' would be offered to the townsfolk. but n the morning of 11 October, the talks broke down.

"A few hours later, for reasons that remain unclear, the officer commanding Wexford Castle decided on his own initiative to hand it over to Cromwell. Now the New Model Army had the upper hand. As a result the town's defenders broke and fled, Cromwell's men burst into the town."

"What followed was carnage . . . Estimates of the total death toll at Wexford differ widely, but most historians agree that at least 2,000 people may have been killed - - perhaps many more."

Two thousand persons I might assume the preponderance of which probably civilian and not military men.

"Contrary to popular belief, Cromwell had not personally ordered the attack on the town"

NOR DID THE MAN MAKE ANY EFFORT [?] TO CURTAIL ATROCITY! EVENTS AS TRANSPIRED AS I HAVE STATED WERE THE NORM FOR THE PERIOD!

coolbert.

No comments: