[221] See Preface to _Clarke Papers_, i. lxviii.; Irish Commissioners to Cromwell December 2, 1651, printed in appx. to Firth's _Ludlow_, i. 496, and _ib._ 297; W. Rowe to Cromwell in _Milton State Papers_, p. 17.
[Sidenote: Galway still holds out, Dec. 1651.]
[Sidenote: Ireton's last summons to Galway.]
[Sidenote: Ludlow commander-in-chief, Dec. 1651.]
Ireton wished to press on to Galway, and Ludlow thought it could easily be brought to surrender while the garrison were 'under a great consternation by the loss of Limerick.' But there was much sickness in the army, and officers generally were unwilling to begin another troublesome campaign in November. Coote, who had been for some time blockading Galway on the east side, came to the camp and gave his opinion against immediate action. He did not believe the place could be taken without attacking it on both sides. A bridge had been prepared for the short river between Lough Corrib and the sea, but the right bank was strongly fortified, and it would be impossible to throw it across. It would be necessary to go all round by Cong, where Clanricarde lay with 3000 men. Even if the passage were forced many rivers lay in the way, none of which were fordable in case of heavy rain, while horses could only be led from Cong to Aghenure near Oughterard, and from that on to Galway they could not travel at all. There was no forage in the country, and food and ammunition would have to be carried on the men's backs. This reasoning prevailed, and Ireton wrote from before Clare Castle merely to offer the same terms as had been tendered to Limerick in July: 'I will not,' he said, alluding to what had happened at Waterford, 'now do you the courtesy to summon you at such a distance, because your gravity once chid me for it as unadvisedly, but for the good men's sake of the city who perhaps may not be so angry in the notion of a soldier's honour, as to understand the quibbles of it ... though men of your unhappy breeding think such glorious trifling worth the sacrificing or venturing of other men's lives.' He desired him therefore on peril of his head to communicate the offer made to the citizens. It was easy for Preston to answer that he fought in a good cause and that Ireton was risking men's lives in a bad one, while his head and those of his friends were as 'unsettled on their shoulders as any in the town.' The mayor and aldermen answered in the same strain; and Ireton died a fortnight after the date of their letter. Ludlow was in Dublin at the moment, and the Commissioners made him commander-in-chief until the pleasure of Parliament should be further known.[222]