position, but did what was nearly as bad by shifting his men in sight of the enemy and finally posting them so that the bend of the hill hid his two wings from one another. The right, under Alexander MacDonnell, consisted of Scots islanders and Ulstermen, the Munster troops being on the left, where Taaffe himself stood. Inchiquin began the attack with his artillery, but the Highlanders, having fired a volley, threw away their muskets and rushed sword-in-hand upon the guns, of which they retained possession for an hour. Inchiquin's left was driven back towards Mallow, but on the right he was completely victorious. Rupert's faults were not his, and he did not pursue, but turned back to look after his defeated wing. The Highlanders and Purcell's horse, believing the battle won, were scattered all over the country, and made no effective resistance. Half of Taaffe's army were slain, the remainder flying to Liscarroll and Newmarket; while Inchiquin lost only about 150 men. 'We were killing till night,' he says; and few prisoners were made, except among the officers. The arms of 6000 men strewed the field, and Taaffe's commission from the Confederates as general of Munster was taken with his baggage. Bellings had heard that Alexander Macdonnell was killed by an officer in cold blood, after quarter given; but the English accounts give no hint of this; and Rinuccini says distinctly that he refused quarter. The result of the battle was to place all Munster at Inchiquin's discretion, except Limerick, Waterford, Clonmel, and Kilmallock. He received the thanks of Parliament, and 1000_l._ were voted to buy horses.[118] [Sidenote: The dwindling Assembly at Kilkenny.] [Sidenote: The nuncio's party outnumbered] [Sidenote: A property qualification.]