Your soldiers disobeyed your orders,
and plundered these poor people, and they were just as much justified in
defending themselves against them, as any householder is who resists a
burglar."
"You dare speak to me!" exclaimed Ginckle. "You shall share their fate.
Every man of you shall be broken on the wheel."
"General Ginckle," Walter said warmly, "hitherto, the foul excesses of
your troops have brought disgrace upon them, rather than you; but, if
this brutal order is carried out, your name will be held infamous, and
you will stand next only to Cromwell in the curses which Irishmen will
heap upon your memory."
The Dutch general was almost convulsed with passion.
"Take the dogs away," he shouted, "and let the sentence be carried out."
Several English officers were standing near, and these looked at one
another in astonishment and disgust. Two of them hurried away, to fetch
some of the superior officers, and directly these heard of the orders
that had been given, they proceeded to Ginckle's tent.
"Can it be true," General Hamilton said, "that you have ordered some
prisoners to be broken on the wheel?"
"I have given those orders," Ginckle said angrily, "and I will not permit
them to be questioned.
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