which they had solemnly guaranteed.

It was now October, and Marlborough at once set about the investment of
Kinsale. On the very evening of the day he entered Cork, he sent off five
hundred horse towards that town, and the next day marched thither himself
at the head of his infantry. The works of Kinsale consisted of two forts,
both of considerable strength, called the Old Fort and Charles's Fort.
They were well supplied with stores and provisions for a siege. On the
approach of the besiegers, the governor set fire to the town and retired
to the forts, and, in answer to the summons to surrender, replied that
"it would be time enough to talk about that a month hence."

Marlborough ordered General Tettau to cross the river in boats, with
eight hundred picked men, and to carry Old Fort by storm. The assault was
made with great determination and bravery; but the works were strong and
stoutly defended, and the British were about to fall back, discomfited,
when fortune came to their assistance. Some loose powder ignited and
fired the magazine, by which more than two hundred men of the garrison
were killed, and the works seriously injured. After this disaster, the
governor abandoned the fort and withdrew, with the survivors of its
garrison, to Charles's Fort. Marlborough at once commenced the siege of
this position, but for fifteen days the place resisted all his efforts.
The heavy loss, however, which the garrison had suffered by the explosion
in Old Fort, rendered them unable, by sallies, to interfere with the
works of the besiegers. These were carried on with great vigour, for
Marlborough feared that the approach of the wet season would put a stop
to his operations.

When, therefore, the governor offered to surrender, on the terms of his
being permitted "to march away with his garrison, their arms, baggage,