On the announcement of the verdict a low shriek of exultation arose from the audience, followed by a simultaneous half-suppressed cry of, "Long life to our Judge! Long life to Buck English!" The judge stood up again and said: "Now, boys, I know that there is no man here present but a man who has been often well tried in exploits of danger and of death: every man of you is the leader of a party of brave fellows, who, with yourselves, have sworn to sustain the oppressed; crush the tyrant, and right the wronged.

Your men are brave, bold, and hearty; keep them to: their duty, and in perfect submission to your orders.

Let the old tyrant and his young cubs be cut off, at all hazards, but spare the women--nay, make every possible exertion to save them, but, more especially, and by all means, let the eldest daughter, Miss Anna, be saved, secured, and brought to me, as you all know how long I have vainly endeavored to make her mine.

And now, boys, every man to his post, and I, your commander, shall lead you on." Buck English is a real character--his real name was Ryan, and he had been respectably reared, but gave himself up to the intoxicating excitement of the French Revolution--he also fought in '98, and subsequently, for his intelligence and daring spirit, became the leader of all the lawless and disaffected parties in his native County of Limerick, and, indeed, of all Munster.
The parties within the old ruin now made their appearance on the hill, and every man of them going to the head of his own body, they marched first to Hospital, a contiguous village, where they boldly beat a drum, the sound of which called up, as by enchantment, such a concourse of armed men as frightened the parties themselves.

They marched from that, westwards, to Knockany, where they dug up several extensive fields (of grass) belonging to Mr.O'Grady.