At five the battle began.

The English foot, in such order as they could keep on treacherous and uneven ground, made their way, sinking deep in mud at every step, to the Irish works.

But those works were defended with a resolution such as extorted some words of ungracious eulogy even from men who entertained the strongest prejudices against the Celtic race.

[107] Again and again the assailants were driven back.

Again and again they returned to the struggle.