Free Behind the Walls by Nicola Pierce

was reached. The town elders agreed to allow Lord Mounjoy’s most trusted man – Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Lundy – intothe city with two companies of Protestant soldiers, about one hundred and twenty men in all. Lord Mountjoy gave his word that no other troops would enter Derry and should Lundy be called away, for any reason, he would hand the city back to its elders, just as he found it.
    It was a start in the right direction, at least this is how Lord Mountjoy described it in his report for Lord Lieutenant Talbot.
    The following evening, there was a welcome reminder that Derry wasn’t the only obstacle to King James and Richard Talbot’s plans for a Jacobite Ireland. Robert brought the latest news home in great excitement. His face was flushed, and his alarmed mother called for her husband while asking, ‘Goodness, Robert! What has happened now?’
    With his family gathered around him, Robert let fly. ‘A force at Enniskillen attacked a Jacobite regiment and sent them on the run all the way back to Cavan!’
    His family breathed together, taking in the news. ‘Who attacked first?’ asked his mother.
    Robert was oblivious to her anxious expression. ‘Why, they did, Mother. They heard that two regiments were coming to take up residence in the town and decided not to stand about waiting for their arrival.’ He laughed. ‘Much to the Jacobites’ surprise!’
    Mrs Sherrard pulled her shawl tightly around hershoulders. ‘I wonder if they have not acted hastily.’
    Robert was patient with her. ‘They had little choice, Mother. Enniskillen doesn’t have walls like ours.’
    His father stayed quiet, so Daniel asked him what he thought, noticing how Robert bristled, obviously expecting to hear something negative.
    Mr Sherrard glanced at his wife and sons, saying, ‘This is quite an achievement for Enniskillen.’
    Robert exhaled and felt confident enough to say, ‘It is a beginning.’
    His father nodded carefully. ‘Well, yes. That’s what it is – all it is – a beginning.’
    Daniel watched his brother deflate just a little. Sometimes it was hard to interpret their father. Was he now belittling Enniskillen’s worthy triumph?
    Robert managed to ask, ‘What are you saying, Father?’
    Mr Sherrard patted his wife on the arm and asked for a mug of beer. She understood that he wanted her out of the way so that he could discuss matters more freely with his sons. No husband wants his wife to worry needlessly about matters she has no control over. It was only right that Mr Sherrard confide in his sons, who were almost full-grown but still had so much to learn. It was only right that they learn from their father. Off she went with Horace behind her, hoping she’d throw him a morsel of something.
    Robert tried not to be sulky. ‘You don’t think we can win. Do you?’
    ‘Win what?’ Mr Sherrard’s question surprised his boys. They exchanged looks, checking whether the other had the answer to this. As the youngest, Daniel didn’t mind being tripped up so he tried, ‘Win Derry for us?’ Robert gave him his support with a solid nod.
    Their father smiled. ‘Alright. But I have to warn you both that this situation could go on for a long, long time. Closing the gates against James’s men has started a chain of events and not one of us knows where it’s going to end or when.’
    Robert, assuming he was being criticised, grew prickly. ‘We had to close them or else risk the city being invaded by murderers!’
    Mr Sherrard thought for a moment before asking, ‘My boy, did you truly believe we were going to be massacred?’
    Robert puffed up. ‘It has happened before!’
    ‘Yes,’ agreed his father. ‘Many things have happened before, but it doesn’t mean that they will happen again.’
    This was confusing. Robert shook his head to clear it.
    ‘Look,’ said his father, ‘all I am saying is beware of the more excitable sort. Closing the gates was rather flamboyant. Perhaps fear of invasion wasn’t the