Leaving the plague-stricken city with a small garrison, Cromwell went to Carrick. 'The goodness of God,' says a contemporary newswriter, 'was exceedingly manifested in preventing the plunder of the place, which must needs have hazarded the army by infection.' None of the soldiers, in fact, suffered, which was 'the Lord's own doing and marvellous in our eyes.' The clergy were not in any way excepted from the terms granted to the citizens, and there is no evidence that violence was done to any priests. But the churches suffered terribly, Bishop Ledred's beautiful painted windows, which even Bale had spared, were broken in pieces, and Thomas Earl of Ormonde's splendid tomb was totally destroyed. A special interest attaches to the fate of the bishop, the learned David Rothe, who had opposed Rinuccini. There is nothing to show that he suffered from violence, but he was seventy-eight years old, and it is not surprising that he died in great discomfort, and in concealment. Bishop Lynch, who wrote from Clonfert in August, says he was stripped and mocked by the soldiers, but allowed to enter the nearest house, where he died within three weeks of old age and disease. Archbishop Fleming, who was also in Ireland, and who wrote in June, says much the same thing.[173] [Sidenote: Siege of Clonmel, May.] [Sidenote: Vain appeals to Ormonde,] [Sidenote: and to Preston.] [Sidenote: Clonmel is assaulted.] [Sidenote: Cromwell repulsed.] In the meantime Ennisnag Castle was taken, 'where were gotten a company of rogues which had revolted from Colonel Jones. The soldiers capitulated for life and their two officers were hanged for revolting.' Adjutant-General Sadleir, with two guns, took all the castles in the Suir valley from Clonmel to Waterford without resistance except at Poulakerry, five miles below the former town. This was taken by assault, thirty or forty being killed, 'and the rest remaining obstinate were fired in the castle.' On April 27 Cromwell came before Clonmel, and offered favourable terms, which were promptly rejected by the governor, Hugh Boy O'Neill, a nephew of Owen Roe, who had about 1500 Ulster men with him. O'Neill, whom Cliffe describes as 'an old surly Spanish soldier,' had expected to be attacked as far back as February, and Ormonde had written from Ennis at the beginning of March to say that he would 'draw all the forces of the kingdom into a body for the town's relief.' But he could do nothing, for the Commissioners of Trust were more anxious to thwart him than Cromwell, and would not allow a levy to be made in the county of Limerick. An attempt to send an expedition from the county of Cork was foiled by Broghill, and Clonmel was left to its fate. Preston had promised, but failed, to send ammunition from Waterford, and with Carrick in an enemy's hand it is not easy to see how he could have done so. O'Neill and the mayor, John White, made a last appeal to Ormonde. The long threatened attack had