AT a time when his Majesties thoughts were wholly laid out and employ'd, chiefly to reinforce his Army, and repair those losses which he sustained by the Siege of London-Der­ry, and the unfortunate Defeat of his Forces at Cruon-Castle near Iniskilling, his Majesty received certain Intelligence, That on the 12th of August last, Monsieur de Schomberg with a Powerful Army, and a great Train of Artillery, sufficiently provided with all Amunition, and Materials for War, did come to an Anchor in the Bay of Carick­fergus, in the North-East part of Ireland, and that the Invaders the same day Landed 200 Men, who immediately Intrenched themselves near the Sea-side to secure the Landing of the rest.

Brigadier Maxwell, Commander in Chief of his Majesties Forces in those Northern parts, finding himself too weak to make Opposition a­gainst so Potent an Enemy, thought he was obliged in prudence, to retire back to the Newry, leaving only Macarty Moors Regiment of Foot, and nine Companies of Cormack O Neils in Carickfergus, to di­vert the Enemy, and hinder him, by the longest defence they could, from advancing too soon towards the King. The very next day Count de Schomberg Disembarqued his whole Army without any opposition, and immediately Detached the 200 Men he set ashore the day before, to Belfast (a small open Town, scituated in the inmost part of that Bay) whither he presently marched with his whole Army, and met [Page 4]there ready to joyn him, a considerable Reinforcement of Horse from the Rebels of the North; he stayed at Belfast till the Nineteenth, and then sent to Summons the Garrison of Carickfergus to yield, which was Commanded by the said Collonel Ma [...]carty Moor, who slighted the Summons with that Resolution and Bravery, as became a good Officer and a Loyal Subject.

The next day being the 20th. of August, Count de Schomberg began to open his Trenches, and then played upon the Town from four Batteries of Cannon, and two Mortar-pieces; at the same time the Castle was furiously battered from the Fleet attending him in the Bay, so that in a short space both the Town and Castle were almost level­led with the Ground. However, the Governour bravely defended the place for Nine days, till he was reduced to the last Extremity, having but one Barrel of Powder left, and without any hope of Re­lief, he then quitted the Town upon very Honourable terms, tho' afterwards his Capitulation (almost in every Article) was most barba­rously broken by the Troops of Monsieur Schomberg, who suffered (in his own presence) some of the Soldiers to be stripped of their Cloaths, Disarmed, and otherwise basely used, and he himself (directly con­trary to the Agreement) detained some Officers Prisoners.

The Garrison thus abused by the Rebels and their Adherents, march'd to the Newry, a little open Town, seated on the passage of the Mountains which divide the Northern Province of Ʋlster from that of Leinster, in which is Dublin, the Metropolis of all the Kingdom. To this small Town his Majesty had sent before his Grace the Duke of Berwick with a detachment of Horse, Dragoons, and Foot, to divert the Enemies March, and hinder his too speedy approaches, time be­ing then very precious in respect to the circumstances of his Majesties Army; who on the 26th. of August, leaving Dublin, came to Drogheda, attended with his Troop of Guards, and 200 Horse of the Regiment of Collonel Parker, accompanied by Monsieur le Count D Avaux, Am­bassador Extraordinary from his most Christian Majesty, by Marquess De Rosen, Marshal-General of the Armies of Ireland, and by many o­ther Commanders and Officers of the Court, leaving the rest of his Army Encamped near Dublin, to be put into a condition to follow his Majesty, by the Care and Conduct of his Grace the Duke of Tyrconnel, (whose Zeal and Fidelity to the Crown in the worst of Times, can hardly in History find their Parallel) who in a short time mannag'd [Page 5]matters so well, that a considerable Army, well equipped and in good Order, marched after the King to Drogheda: where the Troops that daily arrived, Encamped on a rising Ground, on the side of the Town next to Dublin, having the River and Drogheda before them, and to­wards the Enemy, so that this place was conceived to be the most advantageous to Oppose him, in case of a speedy March.

His Grace the Duke of Berwick, one of his Majesties Lieutenant-Generals, being at the Newry to observe the Motions of the approach­ing Enemy, had notice that Count Schomberg was coming forward with his whole Army, consisting of 22 Battalions of Foot, Six Regiments of Horse, and Two of Dragoons, besides the Iniskilling Band of Rebels, and that his Advance Guard was already in sight; his Grace finding himself too weak to make any considerrable Opposition (after he had view'd an Advanced party consisting of Ten Squadrons of Horse and obliged them to Retreat) Fired the Town, and to render the Ene­mies Passage more difficult, broke up the High-ways, and made a good Retreat to Dundalk, a place scituated on this side the Moun­tains, eight Miles from the Newry, and sixteen from Drogheda.

The Marquess D' Escots, who Commanded then in Chief at Dun­dalk, upon consideration with his Grace, that their United Forces could not maintain the Town, being an open place, and all its For­tification Demolished long since by Oliver Cromwel, thought it best and most safe for the Kings Service, to preserve their Men, and joyn the King, then Encamped with a good Army at Drogheda, which they did accordingly.

About this time a Trumpet came from the Enemy to Drogheda, with a Letter directed to the Commander of Dundalk, in the Front of which, at first view, was represented a long List of Titles, (viz.) Governour of the Ducal Prussia, Grandee of Portugal, Commander of several places, &c. But the greatest Titles were Duke de Schomberg, Genera­lissimo of the Armies of their Majesties of Great-Brittain in England, Seotland, and Ireland: after which, he severely complains of the Burn­ing of Newry, and grievously threatens Vengeance against the Pri­soners in his Custody, if any further provocations in that kind should be offered to him. To the haughty temper of which Letter, his Majesty thought fit to return a suitable Answer, as from the Go­vernour of Dundalk, in which he threatens Schomberg, That if speedy reparation was not made for the Barbarous Usage offered to the Gar­rison [Page 6]of Carickfergus; contrary almost to every Article of their Stipulation, he would take satisfaction for that breach of Faith, up­on the Persons of the Rebel Prisoners in his custody; which Letter was thus directed.

The Commander of Dundalk to the Commander of the Enemies Army. And was sent by a Trumpet, but produced no Answer.

The Right Honourable my Lord Mou [...]tcashel, one of his Majesties Lieutenant-Generals, sometime Prisoner of War, and very much indisposed by great and dangerous wounds, lying then at Iniskilling, (a place most unwholsome in its scituation) believing he had to do with a Generous Enemy, and according to the usual Method of Honour, did therefore reasonably enough propose to himself, that he might obtain his Liberty of Count Schomberg, upon his Parol, to go to Dublin, where he might have better Accomodation for his Cure, and then to return Prisoner. To which purpose [...] Lord writ to Sir Richard Neagle his Majesties Secretary of [...] him to write in his own Name to Monsieur de Schomberg, [...] [...]ection of which Letter was to the Marshal de Schomberg, [...] sent by a Trumpet, who met him Northwards upon [...] beyond the Newry. The Letter was delivered to his Secretary, who soon after return­ed it to the Bearer, telling him, that his Master could not receive it, because it was not directed to him as Duke, which Quality (he said) was due to him: And the Secretary at the same time delivered a Letter from himself to Sir Richard Neagle, in which he gave the same Reasons for refusing his Letter; and further added, that his Master had renounced his Title of Marshal, when he [...] France for his Religion. During all this time, his Majesty prepared him­self with all diligence and expedition imaginable, to Rendezvous his Army at Drogheda, which was the better effected by the time the Enemy lost in the Siege of Carickfergus, and by the slowness of Schombergs March through the difficult Passages of the Mountains, with his great Train of Artillery and Baggage, and through the deep Ways from those Mountains to the Newry, which his Grace the Duke of Berwick had left very uneasie to the Enemy, and al­most unpassable, by digging up and breaking all the Calce-ways thereabouts. By this time his Grace the Duke of Tyrconnel having setled all things in very good Order in Dublin, on the 12th. of September came to the King at Drogheda, with all the Horse, the In­fantry [Page 7]being arrived there some days before. Which, when all to­gether, his Majesty reviewed, and found them to consist of about Twenty Thousand Men, Horse, Foot, and Dragoons, and was a­bundantly satisfied with the whole, but was most pleased in the good appearance of the Horse, and particularly with the Regiments of Horse of the Duke of Tyrconnel, and of my Lord Galmoy, and with the Lord Dungan's Regiment of Dragoons. But what gave the King the greatest satisfaction was, that he was sure of his Army, not only as to their Fidelity, but also as to their Courage, by the impatience they exprest in any delay, to Encounter the Enemy.

By this time Count de Schomberg was advanced to Dundalk, upon which, his Majesty resolving to loose no opportunity of Fighting the Enemy, and not any ways to baulk the vigorous resolutions of his Soldiers, marched September the 14th. directly to Atherdee with the whole Army, in Order of Battel, upon two Columns (as he him­self had directed it,) this place is half way betwixt Drogheda and Dundalk) the be ter there to observe the Enemies Countenance, where he thought fit to mark out his Camp, and sent immediately Orders for the Foot to hasten their March, not judging it safe to be so near the Enemy without them: Upon which, the whole Brigade of his Majesties Foot-Guard came up at Midnight, and the rest of the Infantry joyned them the next day. The Army in its two Lines, with the Reserve, Encamp'd in their Order of Battel upon the Hills fronting towards Dundalk, having the River of Largan before them, which had two Bridges opposite to each Wing of the first Line, Affain-Bridge at the Right, and Knockbridge at the Left, which were secured by Dragoons, tho' the River was passable in several places. His Majesty contented himself with his Head Quarters in some very mean Cottages, at the right of the first Line, where his Bed-Cham­ber was a poor Irish Cabbin (hard to creep into) without either Door, Window, or Chimney; the French Ambassador, and the Duke of Tyrconnel, had suitable Apartments in his Majesties Quarters, and the other General Officers were Accomodated after the same fashion in their respective Posts.

All the Ground from the River Largan towards Dundalk, is a con­tinued Rise of Hills, until you come to a Valley, in which there is a Narrow Bogg, which beginning from the left, runs the whole length of the Town, and so continues to the Sea-side. His Maje­sties [Page 8]Advanced Guards on the Top of these Hills, stood constantly in View of the Town, and of those of the Enemy, seperated only by this Bogg, through which there were several narrow Passes or Defiles.

The King went every day on Horse-back to view and observe the Enemies Postures; there did not happen many Skirmishes between both Armies, but upon all occasions that any of the Kings Party had to pass the Bogg, or to Charge the Enemy, they had ever the better of it, taking several Prisoners, either Forraging or in other Cir­cumstances: And many Deserters from Schombergs Army came over to the Kings.

Count Schomberg had disposed his Camp upon two Lines in the plain Ground, at the Foot of the Hills which were Northward of Dundalk, having the River before him, and the Town behind it; where he had taken up his own Quarters, with some Horse and Foot of his own, and of the Iniskilling Rebels, who had joyned his Army: His Left Wing was secured by a large Arm of the Sea, which came up to the Town, by which his Ships brought him from the North of this Kingdom, and from England, all Provisions of Bisket, Beer, &c. and Forrage for his Horses: To secure his Right Wing, which lay most Exposed, he made some Retrench­ments, and put a strong Garrison into a Castle of my Lord Bellew, scituated upon a Rising Ground; for his greater safety, he Forti­fied all the Avenues to Dundalk, with strong Retrenchments, to De­fend which, he there Posted a Battalion of the Prince of Orange's Guards, and a Regiment of French.

Four days after his Majesty had Encamped at Alers-Town, he re­solved to observe Count Schomberg's Countenance a little closer, and endeavour to Engage him to a Battel. Upon this Design the King Marched with his whole Army towards him in excellent Order. His Grace the Duke of Tyrconnel, Captain-General, Commanded the Right Wing; the Marquess de Rosen, Marshal of Ireland, the Left. The King himself drew up his Army in full view of the Enemy, so that the Extent of the Right Wing of the first Line, was within less than Cannon-Shot of them: Both Lines being rang­ed along the Hills, extending to the Left, a little more remote from the Enemy, whose Advanced Guards from their Posts, did plainly see the Disposition and excellent Order of the Royal Army.

[Page 9] The Day was very clear, so that the brightness of the Arms, with the glittering reflections from the broad Syths, (which most of the Foot were Armed with Instead of Pikes) seem'd to strike some Ter­ror into the Enemies Army.

His Majesty, attended by Count d' Avaux and some Persons of Quality of his Court, was upon the Deseent of the Hill, nearer ad­vanced towards the Enemy than the Right Wing: A Squadron of about 60 Voluntiers (being for the most part Officers of his Maje­sties Houshold) were upon a lower Ground, and somewhat nearer to the Enemy, at the very Entrance of the Pass towards the Bogg, which Party was Commanded by the Right Honourable my Lord Hunsdon, and some other Reformed Officers of Note: My Lord Thomas Howard Riding Right-hand-Man of the first Rank, and Marched directly up to the very Entrance of this Passage (which leads through the Bogg to Dundalk;) to secure which, the Enemy at the Mouth thereof, had strongly Entrenched themselves with a party of Dragoons.

Schomberg conceiving his Majesty intended to force his Pass, and so to enter Dundalk, Commanded his Iniskilling Foot to Advance to the Entrance of it towards the Town, and supported them with a Squadron of Horse, and strongly Lined all the Entrenchments be­hind them towards the Town, with Musqueteers.

His Majesty observing these Motions of the Enemy, Posted some Dragoons on each side this Pass, further Advanced beyond the Vo­luntiers, to Flank the Enemy in case they should attempt to Ad­vance; and some Foot-Granadeers ware advantagiously put into several little Cabbins at the winding of this way, not a Musquet-shot from the Enemy, who stood at the Head of the Defiles. Here hapned some little Skirmishes, but no considerable loss to either side. And after that his Majesties Army had been thus drawn up for three hours in view of the Enemy; during which time several Acclamations and Shouts Ecchoed from them, as Men full of Cou­rage and Resolution to Fight; nothing of which could provoke the Enemy from their Holes, nor was any thing else attempted by them. His Majesty Commanded the Army to March back to Alers-Town, the left Wing of each Line being then the Van-Guard, the the King himself remaining in the Rear of his whole Army, there expecting the Enemy would Detach some strong Party to observe his March, but not a Man of them stirred.

[Page 10] No sooner was Count Schomberg come into Ireland, but he present­ly sound he had great reason to suspect the French Troops, especi­ally those who were newly raised, and had Deserted in Flanders, as well as the Irish, and most of the English which he brought over with him, and this could not well be prevented; for the Prince of Orange being extreamly put to it for want of Men to Invade Ire­land, was forced to Inlist every body he could get, without fur­ther Examination, having even admitted without any Distinction, all the French Deserters which his Adherent had sent him from the Low Countreys. But what increased the Doubt and Jealousies of this Old General, was the Proclamation set out by his Majesty, and the Conditions he therein offered to such as were his own-Subjects, and those that were Forreigners, in case they would De­sert the Enemy, and embrace the Justice of his Quarrel against them. And also the Declaration of his Excellency the Count d' Avaux, pursuant to the Pardon Granted by his most Christian Majesty, to such of his Subjects that had Deserted his Service, and were then in Schomberg's Army, in case they would forsake it, and Inlist them­selves in the Service of his Majesty of Great-Brittain. Reflecting on these things, with the several Notes dispersed to the purpose there­of through his Camp, he thought himself obliged more to Guard himself against the growing Dangers in his own Army, than to think of advancing any further against the Kings. He presently enjoyned every body, upon pain of Death, not to stir out of his Camp. The Provost-Marshal was always abroad, and he promi­sed a Reward of five Pistols for every Deserter that should be brought to him; and to strike a terror into every body, he caused several to be Hanged upon a bare suspicion that they intended to Desert. Distrusting 500 French, he Disarmed and stripped them of their Cloaths, all in one day, and presently Shipp'd them back for England, from thence (as credibly reported) to be sent into the Islands of America.

Notwithstanding all this severity, Deserters came daily to the King, who from time to time gave an account of the great num­bers of the Sick, and the mighty scarcity of Schomberg's Camp, tho' supplyed with all Necessaries by his Shipping, as much as they could possibly bring him.

[Page 11] His Majesty having Notice of these advantages against the Ene­my, resolved to reduce them to greater straights, by destroying all the Forrage they had yet left before their Camp, and along the Sea-Coast: To effect which, he Detached a considerable Body of Horse and Foot to defend another Party that were sent to bring with them all the Forrage they could carry, and then in sight of Dundalk, they Burnt all that was left for four Miles together, with­out the least opposition of the Enemy.

Count Schomberg suffering all these things, made us easily believe, he with his Army was but in a bad Condition, and not able to undertake any considerable Action; and to prevent the Danger of a panick fear in his Army, he amused them with the Expectations of 10000 Danes, which he expected daily, and deluded them with false News of great Defeats, which the Rebels (his Adherents) had given his Majesties Forces in other parts of the Kingdom; and caused them to make publick Demonstrations of Joy for those Fancied Victories. It would have been a Mistory to the King's Party even to this minute, had we not been informed by several Deserters, why he caused three Volleys of small Shot, and three Peals of his Cannon, both from the Ships, and from the Shoar, which they say was for Joy of a Great Victory obtained by the Rebels against the King at Connaught, that his Majesty could never hear of to this day. Sometimes he kept up their drooping Spi­rits by giving out, that Dublin would be suddenly surprised by some Troops that he had sent thither for that purpose by Sea, which were actually Landed there, and that all the Inhabitants of that great City, had joyned his Party, and Declared themselves for him. 'Tis true that their Ships came to an Anchor in Dub­lin-Road, and that they began to Land some Men, when many Persons of Quality (as Voluntiers) with the Militia of that Coun­ty, both Horse and Foot, Marched in good Order to the Sea-side, to oppose their Design, (being Conducted by the Right Honou­rable the Lords High-Chancellor, and Chief Justice of that King­dom) who soon obliged them to retire to their Ships, which then immediately put to Sea; and that City was so well managed, that it remained still in perfect Peace, by the great Care and Conduct of the Honourable Simon Luttrell, Collonel of Dragoons, and Governour of the Place, where by his Prudence he had so [Page 12]well ordered every thing, that no attempts from abroad, or from any Faction within the City, could produce any Mischief, or give the Enemy any advantage.

Charlemont being the only place in the North of any strength remaining in his Majesties possession, the King believing the Ene­my might be considerably annoyed by Excursions from thence, if they had a Garrison sufficient for that purpose, sent thither a Detachment of Foot, and so soon as they arrived Major Regan, Governour of that Important place, sent a strong Party imme­diately and took Dunganron, where he made a considerable Booty from the Enemy: And further to reinforce this Garrison, ano­ther Detachment of Foot was sent them, not only to defend the place against the Enemy, but also to enable them to disturb and annoy the Rebels as much as possible, during the Season of the Winter.

Before Schomberg made his descent into Ireland, the Town and Castle of Sligo were possessed by the Rebels of Iniskilling; tho' the Town is an open place, yet the Castle is very strong, and is the chief inlet from the North, into the Province of Con [...]aught, in the West of Ireland, from whence they made frequent Incursions into that Province, and put the strong Town of Galway it self into great apprehensions of Danger, particularly from the notice of some private Intelligence held betwixt Collonel Russel and the disaffected party of that Town, of which he had been formerly Governour, and was now joyned with the Enemy.

The King receiving certain Advice, that Count Schomberg was about sending some French and English Granadiers, with other Troops, to carry on the Designs of the Rebels of Sligo, gave Orders immediately for Brigadier Sarsfield, with the Regiment of House Commanded by Collonel Henry Luttrel, Sir Neile O' Neile's Regiment of Dragoons, and the three Regiments of Foot of Charles O Bryan, Moor, and Obara, to March forthwith to Sligo, and to clear that Province wholly of the Rebels: The said Bri­gadier (whose Loyalty and Courage had already rendered him susticiently terrible to the Enemies of the Crown) being come to Athlone, Detached several Parties to possess the Passes, one of which meeting a Party of the Enemy, gave them an entire De­feat, and reprized a great number of black Cattel: Another of [Page 13]his Parties joyning with some of the Militia, and some Gentlémen Volunteirs of the Countrey, took a place called James-Town, and put, all the Garrison there to a shameful flight, which they so closely pursued, that they were forced (to secure themselves) to Swim three Rivers, where many of them were Drowned, and the rest totally dispersed.

Sarfield now Advancing into the Province of Connaught, De­tached Collonel Henry Luttrel with a considerable Party, to hinder the Forces sent by Schomberg, from coming to Sligo, but a Body of Rebels issuing out of the Town to sustain the Enemy, Luttrel found himself as it were shut in betwixt them both, having only his Party of Horse and Dragoons with him, the Foot being not yet come up, by reason of the difficulty of their March; at which surprize, this brave Commander no whit dismayed, but he pre­sently divided his Men into two Parties, and Commanded them to face both ways to the Enemy, which they did, and Charged them so vigorously, that they Routed them intirely, and pursued them to the very Gates of Sligo, where by fresh supplys, they were enabled to make Opposition; but Brigadier Sarsfield follow­ing immediately after, the Rebels abandoned the Town, save only about 500, which retired into the Castle, which was presently In­vested, and soon after formally Besieged. They defended them­selves for four days after the opening the Trenches, but then thinking an early Capitulation best, they obtained good Terms; after which they Marched away, only some French Granadiers took Party with his Majesties Forces. The taking of this place was of great Importance to the King, the Enemy by this being wholly shut up into the Ruined Countrey of the North, where they must certainly be reduced to great Extremities. This success was sol­lowed by another no less beneficial to his Majesties Affairs, which was the taking of a Castle possessed by the Rebels, scituated on a most considerable Pass into the same Province: At the first ap­pearance of the King's Forces, the Enemy desired to Capitulate, though it was otherwise impossible to take it, without Cannon, if they had been endued with Courage to make any Resistance. Forrage now growing scarce about Alers-Town, nothing almost re­maining betwixt Dundalk and Aberdee, and the Enemy being in no Condition likely to make any Attempt, his Majesty (the 15th. [Page 14]of October) thought fit to break up his Camp, and March back to Atherdee, where the Infantry Encamped on two Lines, having the Town behind them, from the Enemy; the Horse were divided in­to several Quarters thereabouts, for their better Accomodation, they beginning to suffer by the badness of the Season, and also for want of Forrage. The King resolving to Fortisie Atherdee, the Fortifications were begun before his Majesty came thither, and were afterwards carried on with all possible diligence during one whole Month whilst he stayed there, all which time the Enemy attempted nothing, but upon Parties the King sent out, there was some of them killed, and several taken Prisoners; and such as fre­quently Deserted Schombergs Camp, brought constant Tydings of their great Sickness, and general want of almost all Necessaries for Humane support.

Atherdee being now sufficiently capable to defend it self, and continual Rains growing very troublesome, his Majesty disposed his Army into Winter Quarters, he himself returning to Drogheda, (upon the 13th. of November) where he made a stay only of five days; and to preserve the Forrage there, came the 18th. of the same Month to Dublin, and soon after received Intelligence, that Schomberg not being able to stay any longer at Dundalk, had left that place, and in it many of his Sick Men behind. Monsieur de Boissleau, Major-General and Governour of Atherdee, having the first notice of it, sent a Party of 24 Horse thither; the Officer who Commanded having found no body in the Town, sent 12 of his Party after the Enemy, to take an account of them, three Miles beyond the Town; towards the Mountains they overtook some of the Enemies Baggage, Guarded by 100 Foot, whom they Charged and put to flight, made two Officers Prisoners, and se­veral Soldiers, and made a considerable Booty.

The Mighty Expectations of the Great Schomberg, and his Re­bellious Adherents, being thus Defeated, he Marched into the North of Ireland towards Belfast, with the week remainder of his Army, being diminisht much above one half, by extream Sickness, and want of necessary Subsistance, tho' he had a Fleet to attend him, and a whole Province behind him.

The Success of this Campaign has no ways been answerable to what Count Schomberg (had with the greatest assurances) proposed [Page 15]to himself, but much contrary to the hopes he had given to his Troops of Quartering in Dublin, and to divide amongst them as Cromwel had done, the Possessions and Inheritances of the Loyal Party; he not doubting in the least, with the Army he had brought, and with the help of the Rebels, to be a compleat Conqueror of the whole Kingdom before the end of the Campaign; otherwise, a General of his Character, would never have attempted a Design so great and Hazardous, to the loss of that Honour and Repu­tation which he had been so many years acquiring.

And to add full Measure of Grief to the Retirement of this General, amidst all the Frustrations of his Designs, my Lord Mountcashel most ingeniously wrought his own Deliverance from his Consinement at Iniskilling, being pretty well recovered of his Wounds, and came to the King at the Castle of Dublin, with se­veral Officers and others, from the Enemy, on Tuesday the 17th. of December, where his Lordship was very kindly received by the King with a Hearty Welcome, and Carressed by all the Great Officers and others his Friends, with all demonstrations of Joy and Gladness imaginable.