A true and impartial history of the most material occurrences in the kingdom of Ireland during the two last years with the present state of both armies : published to prevent mistakes, and to give the world a prospect of the future success of Their Majesties arms in that nation / written by an eye-witness to the most remarkable passages.

AN IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF THE Affairs of Ireland.

England an happy Kingdom at the Reſtauration. IN the Year 1660. when the Legal Adminiſtration of Government both in Church and State was reſtored with K. Charles II. never was there any People more happy than the Engliſh; not only ſecure from all Foreign Invaſions by the Scituation of our Country, and from all Oppreſſion at home by its Laws; but the Temple of Janus was then ſhut, and we enjoyed an univerſal Peace with all the World. This diſturb'd by deſigning Perſons. And yet Proſperity in a few years becoming a Burthen to us, we took an occaſion to quarrel with our Neighbours of Holland, which ſeveral Wiſe men did then, and have ſince lookt upon, to be induſtriouſly begun and fomented by Cunning and Deſigning Perſons of a different Intereſt and Perſuaſion, to weaken the Proteſtant Intereſt in Europe. Thoſe unhappy Breaches however were made up, and open'd again; and then a good Underſtanding ſecur'd a ſecond time, to the ſatisfaction of all that meant honeſtly.

The Methods the French King took to Advance his own Intereſt. The King was a man that loved to be eaſie, and pleaſe himſelf, by whoſe Example a great part of the Nation became in a ſmall time of the ſame temper, and the natural Hardneſs of the Engliſh was to a great degree ſoftned: this was chearfully obſerved by our Neighbouring Monarch, who failed not to incourage our King in his way of living, by contributing to his ſatisfaction in whatſoever he had a mind to be delighted withal; and in the mean time gave incouragement to our Ship-Carpenters and Seamen; both to build him Ships, and ſail in them; and no wonder, for they had no buſineſs at home. About fifteen or ſixteen years ago the French King ſent a great part of his Fleet to the relief of Meſſina, and ſome other places in Sicily, which ſome then lookt upon as a Blemiſh in his Politicks; and yet it appears ſince, that this was none of the leaſt depths of them; for by this, and ſuch like means, he has got now a good Fleet, and expert Sea-men.

The D. of York's managing. But whilſt theſe things were on foot abroad, the Duke of York had a Conſiderable Game to play at home: For tho it's more than probable he was a Papiſt all along; yet to amuſe the People, he comes to Church; and conſidering that the Popiſh Part in England was by much the leaſt of Three, things were ſo well managed on that Side, as to make the Proteſtants fall foul upon one another, not only with hard Names and Characters of Reproach, but in other Actions that ſeem'd more ſevere; by which means the Intereſt of both Parties was not only conſiderably weakned, but that of the Papiſts incredibly ſtrengthned: Then what by the dexterous management of the Presbyterian Plot, and ſome improvements made of that by the Obſervator; by which the Popiſh Party obtain'd a great Reputation, (and people begun to think that the Devil was not ſo black as he is painted) in the height of which, when (they ſay) ſome meaſures were thought of to reduce the D. of Tork and his Favourites, King Charles died.

King James proclaimed. The Duke of York was proclaimed King by the univerſal conſent of all People, and afterwards as generouſly aſſiſted in the Weſt, as the Circumſtances of the Nation would allow: But then when the Parliament came to addreſs his Majeſty, and beſeech him, That for the ſatisfaction of the Nation, the Popiſh Officers and others might be removed from Places of Truſt, and have competent Penſions allowed them; he gave a very poſitive Anſwer, which was, in effect, That they were his beſt Friends, and he would not be without them. After this, things grew every day worſe than other; for then all mens eyes were opened, and every body could diſcern the Storm approaching. Ruines his own Intereſt. Accordingly the Rain came, and beat violently upon the Houſe, but it being founded upon a ſtock, thanks be to God, has ſtood. And as God often brings Light out of Darkneſs, and can by ways unthought of, or not look'd into by men, turn things contrary to what they deſign or intend them; P. of Orange. comes. ſo in the midſt of our Neceſſities, he rais'd up an Inſtrument, who, by his Virtue and Wiſdom contrived, and by his Valour put our Deliverance in execution. How proſperouſly this ſucceeded in England, is known to all the World; for beſides the natural Inclinatiof the people to Variety, their general averſion to Popery made the thing at that Juncture very eaſy, tho the Prince was then in a manner a Stranger to the Nation in general.

The State of Ireland at that time. But tho all things ſucceeded ſo happily for the Proteſtant Intereſt in England; yet there was a Cloud in Ireland that ſeem'd to threaten us, if due care was not taken in time to diſperſe it. My Lord Tyrconnel, during the Late King's Reign, had been framing and modelling an Iriſh Army, that might be ready to ſerve the Popiſh Intereſt on all occaſions, part of which was ſent over into England, ſome time before the Prince Landed; and after his being proclaimed King, my Lord Tyrconnel (having ſtill a conſiderable Body of men in Arms) refuſes to deliver up the Sword. Some ſay that it was not demanded from him; and more, That he had been eaſily forced to it at firſt; or at leaſt, there might have been a Method taken to have perſuaded him. But the management of this was entruſted to Major General Hambleton, a profeſt Papiſt; Lieut. Gener. Hambleton ſent over. and ſo well did my Lord Tyrconnell and he, with ſome other, play their Cards, that they got Hambleton ſent over, againſt the advice of moſt that underſtood the Affairs of that Kingdom; by which means Succours were delayed, and Hambleton, as ſoon as he was ſafe in Ireland, was ſo far from perſuading my Lord Tyrconnell to yield, that he ordered all the Horſes that were left in Proteſtant hands, and fit for Service, to be ſeiz'd for the Late King's uſe, and treated thoſe whom he believed King William's beſt Friends, at Dublin, very harſhly; for which Service he was made Leutenant-General of the Iriſh Army.

The State of England at that Juncture. But the Affairs of England did not admit of preſent Succours to be ſent to the Proteſtants in Ireland, who now were groaning under ſeveral Afflictions; for a great part of the old Army was diſbanded, or ſent into Holland, the Dutch were ſent home, and it's thought, ſome unſeaſonable Diſputes and Heats about Matters of Religion, did no ſmall diſſervice to the Publick There was alſo a hot Report about that time at London (and indeed all over England) that King James was dead; which Report was only ſpread abroad by his own Party; and ſeveral other ſuch little Artifices were uſed, on purpoſe to make others more ſecure; month March King James lands in Ireland, March 12. 1689. for ſhortly after we had a certain Account, that he landed from France at Kingſale, in the Weſt of Ireland, having about 1800. men with him.

This was on the 12. of March, and after ſome ſmall time he came to Dublin, where he was received with all the Demonſtrations of joy imaginable, by my Lord Tyrconnell, and all the Popiſh Party, who look'd upon him as their only Support, Champion and Deliverer; tho ſeveral of them have ſince changed their minds.

A little before this, the Proteſtants in Ireland were in daily expectation of Arms, Ammunition, Commiſſions, and ſome Forces from England; and it's more than probable, that if they had got them, or not hop'd for them, the Buſineſs had coſt neither ſo much Blood, or Treaſure as ſince it has; yet ſome adviſed, not to make any ſhew of diſcontent, till they had an Opportunity, and were in a condition to make their party good, by the arrival of Succours from England: But the greater part, impatient of delays, begin to liſt Men, and with what Arms they could get, to make a ſhew of forming an Army. Rout at Drummore, March 14. Againſt thoſe in the North, Lieutenant-General Hambleton marched, with about One Thouſand of the Standing Army, and nigh twice as many Rapparees, in a diſtinct Body; they met at Drummore, in the County of Down, and on the 14 of March the Proteſtants were routed with no great difficulty; and no wonder, for they were very indifferently provided with Arms, Ammunition and Commanders; nor was their Diſcipline any better: This was called afterwards, The Break of Drummore, (a Word common amongſt the Iriſh Scots for a Rout). At the ſame rate were ſome others ſerved ſhortly after, at a place called Killeleigh, under one Hunter, and thoſe that reſiſted had the ſame Fate, at ſeveral other places. In the mean time Major-General Macarty, by the ſame meaſures, and ſome little Artifices, brought the Proteſtants of Munſter under the ſame Circumſtances.

This gave occaſion to King James and my Lord Tyrconnell, to take the Arms and Horſes from all the Proteſtants of that Kingdom, except thoſe that fled to Londonderry, and ſome few that went towards Iniskilling; but a great many that could get away, for either England or Scotland, made what haſte they could, and in ſome few Weeks after, thoſe that went that way, were actually ſhut up in Derry.

On the 25th of March they had Arms and Ammunition brought them, by Captain James Hambleton; and all the World knows they behaved themſelves very well.

month April April 13. Succors ſent to Derry. On the 13th of April, Collonel Richards, and Collonel Cunningham, were ſent to their relief, with two Regiments, who came into the Lough, but returned without doing any thing, and were broke for their pains.

Maj. General Kirk in the Lough. Then went Major General Kirk with his own, Sir John Hanmer's and Brigadeer Stuart's Regiments of Foot; the Winds were croſs, and the Iriſh fortified the River, that it was difficult to relieve the Town, and our Ships laid at leaſt two Months in the Lough; the poor Soldiers, as well in Town as on Board, endured great hardſhips all this while: But the Dartmouth Frigat at length forced her way, month July July 31. Siege Raiſed. and the Siege was raiſed on the laſt of July. Some condemn the Iriſh Politicks mightily in ſitting down before this Town, whenas if they had let it alone, the people would either have ſubmitted of themſelves, or however, they had been at leiſure to have ſent a part of their Army into Scotland, which was an eaſy thing, as then, to do, and would, no doubt, have hindered any Succours going over that year from England; but Providence orders all things, and rules the Actions, and diſpoſes of the Councels of men accordingly.

Mackarty taken Priſoner. The day before the Siege of Derry was raiſed, the Iniskilliners hearing of a Body of about Six Thouſand of the Iriſh Army, Commanded by Major General Mackarty, that was marching towards them; they very boldly and bravely met them nigh twenty miles from the Town of Iniskillin, and at a place call'd Newtowne Buttler, fought, and routed them, taking Mackarty Priſoner, killing and drowning nigh Three Thouſand, there being of the Iniskillin-men in all, both Horſe and Foot, not above Two thouſand; loſing not above Twenty, and having about Fifty wounded. This Story ſeem'd to me at firſt very Incredible; but I was told, it partly hapned by a Fatal Miſtake in the Word of Command amongſt the Iriſh; for the Iniſkillin-men charged the Iriſh Right Wing very ſmartly, which Mackarty perceiving, ordered ſome of his Men to face to the Right, and march to relieve their Friends; the Officer that received the Orders, miſtook, and commanded the men, inſtead of facing to the Right, to face to the Right about, and ſo march; the Iriſh in the Reer ſeeing their Front look with their Faces towards them, and move, thought they had been running, and ſo without more ado, threw down their own Arms, and run away; the reſt ſeeing their men run in the Reer, run after them for company, and were moſt of them cut off, or drowned in Boggs and Loughs; ſo unhappy may a ſmall thing prove to a great Body of men: and at other times a little thing in appearance, proves very advantageous: For we read of a Roman at plough, who ſtood with his Ox-yoke in a Gap, and ſtopt the Soldiers that were running away; this made them face about, and win the Field; though, I believe, in that Action of the Iniskilliners, as well as Derry, there was a great deal due to their Valour, and more to the Providence of God.

Forces raiſed in England. During theſe Tranſactions in Ireland, the King gives out Commiſſions in England to raiſe 18 Regiments of Foot, and four or five of Horſe for the Service of Ireland. Moſt of thoſe had their Commiſſions dated the 8th of March, 1688/9;. and the Levies went on with all imaginable ſpeed; for greateſt part of them were raiſed, armed and cloathed in leſs than Six weeks. I was in the Armories at the Tower when the Arms were to be delivered out to the new Levies, but there was not half ſo many there as would do it; for the Arms were moſt ſquandred away, or loſt, in the late hurry of Affairs; and though ſeveral Proclamations were ſent abroad to bring them in, yet His Majeſty was forc'd to have moſt of his Arms out of Holland, which was both expenſive and troubleſome.

March to Cheſter. This Army was muſtered, and diſciplin'd as well as the time would allow; My Lord Devonſhire and the Honble Mr Wharton being appointed Commiſſioners to view them in their ſeveral Quarters; and in July moſt of them were commanded to Cheſter, in order to be ſhip'd for Ireland. I am a Stranger to the Reaſons of State, why they went no ſoonner; yet, that that ſeems conſiderable to me, was, that my Lord Dundee had left the Convention at Edenbrough, raiſing a powerful Faction for the Late King, in the North of Scotland, and the Caſtle of Edenbrough was not as yet ſurrendered by the Duke of Gordon; it might not therefore be thought prudent, to part with an Army out of our own Kingdom, till the Danger were over from that Quarter; ſo that it was the beginning of Auguſt before our Army got to Cheſter.

month August Auguſt 8. Encamp at Neſton, and then embarque. Moſt of them encampt about a Week at Neſton; and then on Thurſday, the 8th of Auguſt, about Six a Clock in the Morning, His Grace Duke Sconberg, General of all Their Majeſties Forces, Count Solmes, General of the Foot, and ſeveral great Officers more, with not Ten Thouſand Foot and Horſe, embarqued at Highlake, for Ireland.

The Winds being croſs, they lay on Board till Monday the 12th; when at Four a Clock in the morning, the Wind being S. S. E. and S. E. the Bonaventure Frigat (Captain Hobſon Commander) fired a Gun, and put his Light in the Main Top-maſt Shrouds, that being the Sign for ſailing. There was alſo The Antilope, the James Galley, &c. The Cleaveland, and the Monmouth Yats, with between 80 and 90 Veſſels more, who all were under ſale at Six a Clock; and at Eight the Bonaventure put out an Enſign in the Mizen-ſhrouds for all the Captains and Maſters to come on board; which done, they received Orders to ſail directly to Carigfergus-Bay in Ireland: In caſe of bad weather, ſo that they could not reach thither, to ſail for Loureau in Galloway in Scotland; and if they fell ſhort of that, Ramſey Bay in the Iſle of Man to be the place of Rendezvouz.

Tueſday the 13th, at break of day, the greateſt part of the Fleet was up with the Mountains of Dundrum in the County of Downe (theſe are commonly called the Mountains of Mourne, and are ſaid to be the higheſt in Ireland; on the top of one of the higheſt ſtood a famous Monaſtery in time of old.) About Three that Afternoon the Fleet came up the Lough, within a mile and a half of Carigfergus; at Four they came to an Anchor in Bangor Bay, and immediately the General ordered his Flag to be put out at the Yats Main-yard-Arm, that being the Sign for landing our men, which was done accordingly; Land in Ireland. and they encamped that night in Fields adjoining to the Shoar; they lay upon their Arms all night, having frequent Allarms of the Enemies approach, but nothing extraordinary hapned; and yet if thoſe of the Enemy that were in Carigfergus, Bellfaſt, Bangor, and the Adjacent Gariſons had attackt the Duke that night, it might have bred him no ſmall diſturbance.

Gariſon of Carigfergus burn their Suburbs. Next day, being Wedneſday the Fourteenth, the Duke continued ſtill encamped, and the Gariſon of Carigfergus, apprehending a Siege, burnt their Suburbs: The day following, the Duke ſent a Party of about Two Hundred and Fifty men, commanded by Sir Charles Fielding, to ſee what poſture the Enemy was in about Belfaſt; the Enemy was retired toward Lisburne, and Sir Charles with his Party returned to the Camp; and then the Duke ſent Collonel Wharton's Regiment to take poſſeſſion of the Place.

Friday the 16th. Lieutenant-Collonel Caulfield, of the Earl of Drogheda's Regiment, was ſent with a Party of Three Hundred Men towards Antrim, who came there the next day, and found the Town deſerted by the Enemy.

The General marches to Belfaſt. On Saturday the General marched with his Army to Belfaſt, from whence he ſent out Parties, who took ſeveral of the Iriſh that were robbing and ſpoiling the Countrey: And then to Carigfergus. And Tueſday following being the 20th. five Regiments of Foot were ſent towards Carigfergus, encamping before the Town, and next day ſeven more went, who almoſt ſurrounded it; after which, ſome Cannon and a Mortar were planted, and alſo ſmall Entrenchments begun. The Town deſired a Parley, and ſent out Lieutenant Gibbons, with Propoſitions in Writing: He preſented them very ſubmiſſively, and the Duke went into a Tent to read them; but when he found they deſired time to ſend to the late King for Succours, or leave to ſurrender, he ſent the Paper out, and ordered the Lieutenant to be gone, and then their Cannon plaid directly at the Tent where he left the Duke, doing ſome Damage thereabouts, but the Duke was gone abroad. Our Cannon were as ready as theirs, for we begun to play upon my Lord Denegall's Houſe in the Town, on which the Enemy had planted two Guns, which diſturbed our Camp. Before next Morning our Men drew their Trenches ſeveral Paces nearer the Wall, which occaſioned very warm firing on both ſides all Night: We loſt ſome men, and had two Officers wounded; and a Drummer, that made his eſcape over the Wall, gave the Duke an Account, that there were about thirty killed in Town that Night.

Batteries planted. Thurſday, The 22d, was employed in running the Trenches nearer; the Mortars and Cannon ſtill playing upon the Town, and upon the Half-Moon, that was to the Right of the Caſtle: This Day came a Fleet of about Fifty Sale into the Lough, which brought over four Regiments of Foot, and one of Horſe. The day and night were ſpent in ſmart firing, four Regiments of Foot mounting the Trenches.

Friday the 23d. the Beſieged deſired another Parly, and would have marched out with Bag and Baggage, Drums beating, and Colours flying, &c. But the Duke would allow no other Terms, but to make them Priſoners of War. During this Parly, the Duke viſited all the Trenches, and obſerved the Walls of the Caſtle, and a poor Dutch-man was ſhot from the Walls, making his Returns to Reproaches againſt the Prince of Orange, our King, ſaying, That their King was a Tinker King, he had nothing but Braſs-Money; he was not nimble enough at getting off, when the Parly was over, and ſo loſt his Life for his Jeſts ſake. After this the Duke gave orders for the Ingineers and Gunners to go on as vigorouſly as poſſible. Before we had only two Batteries, one on the Wind-Mill-Hill (with Mortars) before the Caſtle, Weſtward; the other of four Guns, againſt the North-gate. The Duke then ordered a very large Mortar to be placed cloſe under the Walls, upon a New Battery, near the Lord Denegall's Houſe (with two Small Guns) which did great Execution: This Night was ſpent in continual firing of great and ſmall Shot, and next Morning the Town was all over ſmothered with Duſt and Smoak occaſioned by the Bombs; Coll. Richards wounded. Collonel Richards was carried to Bellfaſt, being wounded in the Trenches the Night before, and there was one Mr. Spring made his eſcape out of Town, who told the Duke, That all the Soldiers lay continually on the Walls, ſo that the Bombs only plagued the Proteſtants in Town; as alſo that Mackarty Moor, and Owen Mackarty, were the only two that hindered the Town to be ſurrendred; and that they reſolved, if we ſtormed the Town, to retire all to the Caſtle, in order to which they had laid in great ſtore of Corn, Beef, Salt, and other Proviſions proportionable: He gave alſo an account, that they were ſtraitned for Ammunition, having only at firſt 30 or 32 Barrels of Powder, with other things ſuitable. This Afternoon ſeveral of them were obſerved to be very buſy on the top of the Caſtle; it was believed at firſt they were planting Guns there, but we underſtood afterwards, that they were pulling off the Lead to make Bullets.

Breaches increaſed. Sunday the 25th. The Siege continued, and the Breaches were made wider, particularly one a little to the Eaſt, of the North-gate; and yet the Iriſh were very induſtrious in making up at Night, what we beat down in the day.

Next morning our Guns plaid furiouſly, and the Breach (notwithſtanding all their cunning) was increaſed; which the Iriſh ſeeing, and fearing that our Men would enter, they found out this Stratagem, (viz.) They got a great number of Cattel, and drove them all as near the top of the Breach as they could force them to go, keeping themſelves cloſe behind them; and this ſerved in ſome meaſure to ſecure the Breach, for ſeveral of the Cattel were killed by our ſhot, and as they fell, the Iriſh threw Earth, Stones and Wood upon them; but this they thought would not hold long, and ſo they deſired another Parly, which the Duke would not hear of, but ordered the Mortars and Cannon to play without ceaſing, and the Men of War had orders to play their Guns from the Sea upon the Caſtle, which ſo terrified the Iriſh, that at Six a Clock next morning they put out their white Flag again, and ſent their Propoſals to the Duke, which at length he agreed to, having more buſineſs before him, and the Seaſon of the Year beginning to alter. Gariſon ſurrendred. He gave them leave therefore to march out with their Arms and ſome Baggage, and they were to be conducted with a Guard to the next Iriſh Gariſon, which then was Newry; Collonel Wharton at the Parley lay before the Breach with his Regiment, and was ready to enter, when the Duke ſent to command his Men to forbear firing, which with ſome difficulty they agreed to, for they had a great mind to enter by force. When firing ceaſed on both Sides, ſeveral of our Officers went into Town, and were treated by the Iriſh with Wine, and other things in the Caſtle, and the Articles were ſcarce agreed to, till Mackarty Moor was in the Duke's Kitchen in the Camp, which the Duke ſmiled at, and did not invite him to Dinner; ſaying, If he had ſtaid like a Soldier with his Men, he would have ſent to him; but if he would go and eat with Servants in a Kitchen, let him be doing.

When we took poſſeſſion of the Stores, the Iriſh had but one Barrel of Powder left, tho ſome ſay they threw ſeveral more into the Sea to ſave their Credit.

The Iriſh march out. On Wedneſday the 28th of Auguſt, about Ten a Clock, the Iriſh marched out, and had Sir William Ruſſel, a Captain in Collonel Coy's Regiment, with a Party of Horſe, appointed for their Guard; but the Countrey people were ſo inveterate againſt them (remembring how they had ſerved them ſome few days before) that they ſtript moſt part of the Women, and forced a great many Arms from the Men; and took it very ill that the Duke did not order them all to be put to Death, notwithſtanding the Articles: But he knew better things; and ſo rude were the Iriſh Scots, that the Duke was forced to ride in among them; with his Piſtol in his hand, to keep the Iriſh from being murdered. The poor Iriſh were forced to fly to the Soldiers for protection, elſe the Countrey people would certainly have uſed them moſt ſeverely; ſo angry were they one at another, tho they live all in a Countrey. However, this was laid at the General's Door, by the great Officers in the Iriſh Army, and they would ſay, That he had loſt his Honour, by engaging in ſo ill a Cauſe. The Governour of the Town was Mackarty Moor, but Owen Mackarty had a great Aſcendent over both him and the Gariſon. The Gariſon conſiſted of two Regiments of Foot, luſty ſtrong Fellows, but ill clad, and to give them their due they did not behave themſelves ill in that Siege.

The number of the Dead on both ſides. They had about One Hundred and Fifty killed and wounded in Town, and we had near that number killed, and about Sixty wounded. The Town it ſelf is not very ſtrong, but the Caſtle is conſiderable; it ſtands upon a Rock, and has its Name from Fergus, the firſt King of Scots, who firſt brought the Iriſh into Britain, and was drowned in this Bay, (as Camden tells you). However, it's one of the moſt important Places in the North of Ireland, and the taking of it gave an hopeful proſpect of future ſucceſs.

The General returns to Bellfaſt. The Duke put Sir Henry Inglesby's Regiment into Carigfergus, and on Wedneſday the 28th, and the day following, the Army marched to Belfaſt, where they Encamped about a mile beyond the Town. On Friday Duke Schonberg's Regiment of French Horſe, conſiſting of 500 men, came to the Camp, and on Saturday, the laſt of Auguſt, the Army was muſtered, being as follows; Horſe, my Lord Devonſhire's Regiment, my Lord Delamere's, Coll. Coys, Duke Schonberg's; and Coll. Leviſon's Dragoons. Foot; One Battalion of Blew, Dutch; Carleſoon's White, Dutch; Coll. Beaumont, Coll. Wharton, Lord Drogheda, Lord Lisburn, Lord Meath, Lord Roſcomon, Lord Lovelace, Lord Kingſton, Duke of Norfolk, Coll. Herbert, Sir Edward Deering, Sir Tho. Gower, Coll. Earle, La Millioneir, Du Cambon, La Callimott.

month September September 1. A Letter ſent from the D. of Berwick Whilſt the Duke ſtaid at Belfaſt, there came a Letter to him by a Trumpet from the Duke of Berwick; but 'twas return'd un-open'd, becauſe it was directed only, For Count Schonberg; the Duke ſaying, That his Maſter the King of England had honoured him with the Title of a Duke, and therefore the Letter was not to him. This is a piece of State that has been often practiſed amongſt Great Men; for when King Edward the IIId. ſate down before Tournay in France, he ſent to the French King, whom he ſaluted only by the name of Philip of Valoys; challenging him to fight a ſingle Combat to prevent Bloodſhed, or with 100 men each; and if thoſe methods did not pleaſe, then within ten days to join Battel with all their Forces near Tournay: To which Philip made no direct Anſwer, alledging, That the Letters were not ſent to him, The King of France, but barely to Philip of Valoys; yet he brought his Army within ſight of the Engliſh; and by the Mediation of King Philip's Mother, and two Cardinals, a Peace was concluded till the Midſummer following.

But to return; Our Train ſent by Sea to Carlingford. Our Artillery-Horſes were moſt of them as yet at Cheſter; and therefore the Duke gave Orders for greateſt part of the Train to be Shipt, and the Fleet to ſail with thoſe, and all Neceſſaries for the Army, to Carlinford-Bay, within Eight miles of Dundalk: And then on Monday the ſecond of September, we marched beyond Lisburn; this is one of the prettieſt In-land Towns in the North of Ireland, and one of the moſt Engliſh-like places in the Kingdom; the Iriſh name is Liſhnegarvah, which they tell me ſignifies the Gameſters-Mount; for a little to the North-Eaſt of the Town there is a Mount, moated about, and another to the South-Weſt; theſe were formerly ſurrounded with a great Wood, and thither reſorted all the Iriſh Out-laws, to play at Cards and Dice; one of the moſt conſiderable amongſt them having loſt all, even his Cloaths, went in a Paſſion, in the middle of the night, to the Houſe of a Nobleman in that Countrey, who before had ſet a conſiderable Sum on his head; and in this mood he ſurrendred himſelf his Priſoner; which the other conſidering of, pardon'd him; and afterwards this Town was built, when the knot of theſe Rogues was broke; which was done chiefly by the help of this one man; the Town is ſo modern however, that Cambden takes no notice of it.

On Tueſday, the 3d. we marched through Hilsborough, a place where the Enemy before our coming, had kept a Gariſon, near which, on the High-way ſide, were two of our men hanged for Deſerting; We Encamp at Drummore. that night we encampt at Drummore (the place where Lieutenant-General Hamilton routed the Northern Proteſtants); the Inhabitants had all or moſt of them left the Town; and there was not ſo much as a Sheep or a Cow to be ſeen; our ſmall marching Train came up with us here from Belfaſt, and here the General had an account, That the Duke of Berwick was at Newry, with about 1700 Foot and Dragoons, and two Troops of Horſe, deſigning to defend that Paſs.

At Lough Britland. Wedneſday the 4th, we march'd to Loughbritland, where we encamped in two Lines (as from the beginning) upon the ſide of a Hill, beyond the Town; the Inhabitants had deſerted this place alſo, and what little Corn there was, ſome lay reapt and not bound up, and the reſt was ſpoiled for want of management. As our Army was marching up, I went Three miles beyond the Camp, where I met with the Iniskillin Horſe and Dragoons, whom the Duke had ordered to be an Advance-Guard to his Army. I wondred much to ſee their Horſes and Equipage, hearing before, what Feats had been done by them; they were three Regiments in all, and moſt of the Troopers and Dragoons had their Waiting-men mounted upon Garrons, (thoſe are ſmall Iriſh Horſes, but very hardy); ſome of them had Holſters, and others their Piſtols hung at their Sword-Belts: they ſhewed me the Enemies Scouts upon a hill before us; I wiſht them to go and beat them off, and they anſwered, With all their hearts, but they had Orders to go no further, than where they ſaw the Enemies Scouts; tho they ſeem'd to be diſſatisfied with it; and added, They ſhould never thrive, ſo long as they were under Orders.

Newry burnt. And yet if thoſe men had been allowed to go on in their old forward way, it's very probable they might have ſaved the Town of Newry from being burnt; for the Duke of Berwick was then in it; and a Troop of the Enemies Horſe advanced that afternoon, ſome three miles from the Town towards us; but ſeeing the Iniskilliners, they retreated in haſte to the Town, only leaving ſome few Scouts to bring a further account of our motion. Thoſe in the Town were ſtartled at the news, and made ready to march off; but ſeeing no Enemy approach, they took time to ſet it on fire, and take all the people, with whatſoever was valuable, along with them: They went away about Sun-ſet, and next morning came to Dundalk, where we heard that ſome of their great Officers expreſt themſelves very melancholly, as if they had but ſmall hopes to withſtand the Engliſh.

The General not knowing that the Town of Newry was burnt, nor that the Enemy had deſerted the Paſs, gave Orders for 70 men out of each Regiment of Foot, in all 1200, with a Party of Horſe and Dragoons, and four Field-Pieces to be ready to march by three of the Clock in the morning; this Party was commanded by Coll. Wharton, and was deſigned to attack the Enemy, whom we expected at the end of the Town, there being an old Church, with ſeveral other convenient places, from whence they might prevent our marching; nor could we well go about, without a great deal of trouble, and ſeveral days march, and then we muſt leave the Enemy on our Rear, which was not to be done. We march to Newry. The Party marched according to Orders, and the whole Army followed about Six of the Clock: But on our march, the Duke had an account by one Mr. Humphreys of Belfaſt, That the Enemy had retreated, and Burnt the Town; the General then went forwards, and found the Flames not quite extinguiſhed; and with Coll. Leviſon's Dragoons, and ſome of the Iniskillin Horſe, he went at leaſt two miles further, but nothing of an Enemy appearing, he returned, and gave Command for his Army to encamp a mile ſhort of Newry. The bad weather had diſturb'd us before, but now the Rains and Wind were ſo extreamly violent, that it was very difficult for us to pitch our Tents; ſo that every one was forced to ſhift for himſelf as well as he could; Proviſions were alſo very ſcarce, for there wanted Horſes to bring them after us. We encampt here next day alſo; from whence the Duke ſent a Trumpet to the Iriſh, to let them know, That if they burnt any more Towns, he would give no Quarter. I went abroad into the Countrey, where I found all the Houſes deſerted for ſeveral miles; Cuſtoms of the Native Iriſh. moſt of them that I obſerved, had Croſſes on the Inſide, above the Doors, upon the Thatch, ſome made of Wood; and others of Straw or Ruſhes, finely wrought; ſome Houſes had more, and ſome leſs: I underſtood afterwards, that it is the cuſtom among the Native Iriſh, to ſet up a new Croſs every Corpus Chriſti day; and ſo many years as they have lived in ſuch a houſe, as many Croſſes you may find; I asked a Reaſon for it, but the Cuſtom was all they pretended to: Here the Corn alſo was either lying, and rotting on the ground, or elſe was ſhaken by the violent winds, for the People were all gone, the Proteſtants the March before, and the Iriſh now, at the retreating of their Army, ſome fled for fear, and thoſe that had a mind to ſtay, were forced away by the Army, with all their Cattel, and whatever elſe was portable. In the Evening the Duke ſent a Detachment of 520 Foot, with a Party of Horſe and Dragoons (commanded by my Lord Lisburn) towards Dundalk; they got there the next morning, but found it forſaken by the Enemy, and not burnt; tho it had been better for us if it had, as it fell out afterwards.

There is an old ſquare Tower in Newry, which they call the Caſtle, this was left ſtanding, and not above five or ſix Houſes more; the Town it ſelf had been a pretty place, and well built, ſtanding upon a very advantageous Paſs, the Tide coming up above the Bridge, by a Bay that comes from Carlingford. In this Caſtle the Iriſh had left ſome ſalt Beef and Herrings, but they were ſalted ſo very much after the Iriſh faſhion, that the Soldiers, for all they were very hard put to it for Victuals, yet they could not eat them; (I believe the greateſt reaſon was, a fond conceit they had got amongſt them, that the meat was poiſoned:) There was alſo a ſmall Gun left in the Caſtle, and another Twelve-Pounder thrown over the Bridge into the River. In this Caſtle the General left Fifty men of Sir Tho. Gowers Regiment, commanded by Captain Pallifer; The Army marched to Dundalk. and on Saturday the 7th of September the Army marched to Dundalk; in our way thither we found two Redoubts, nigh a place called the Four-mile-houſe; for Mareſchal de Roſe, the French General, was at Dundalk ſome time before our Army approached, and enquiring whether the River was fordable, he found it was in ſeveral places; then he went on to Newry, and finding it a convenient Paſs, he ordered it to be defended, at the ſame time commanding thoſe Redoubts to be made, which if the Enemy had mann'd, they might have given us no ſmall diverſion; for there are vaſt Mountains on each hand, and a Bog between them, through which there was only a Cauſeway with a deep Ditch, and a ſmall Stone Bridge about the middle of it; at the farther end of the Cauſeway, the Forts were placed a convenient diſtance one from another, from whence the Iriſh might eaſily have retired, if we had forced the Paſs; for neither could our Horſe follow, nor knew our Foot how to tread the Bogs after them: This place was formerly very woody, and was fortified by O Neale, Earl of Tyrone, againſt Sir Charles Blunt, Lord Deputy, which he found great difficulty in paſſing; but next year he built a Fort ſome two miles nearer Dundalk, called Moyery Caſtle: The Countrey between Newry and Dundalk, is one of the wildeſt places of all Ireland, being the haunt ſome years ago, of the famous Tory, Redman O Hanlon, whoſe Anceſtors were wont to brag that they were Standard-Bearers in times of old, to the Kings of Ʋlſter.

Our encamping there. We Encampt about a mile on this ſide the Town of Dundalk, in a low moiſt Ground, having the Town, with the River, towards the Weſt between us and the Enemy; the Sea towards the South, the Newry Mountains to the Eaſt; and toward the North were Hills and Bogs intermixt; the Proteſtants that were left there, told us, the Iriſh boaſted when they went away, that they would drive us all back into the Sea again, or elſe we would die of our ſelves, the Engliſh not being uſed to the Field, eſpecially in a ſtrange Countrey, and at that time of the year. At our coming thither we got about 2000 of my Lord Bedlow's Sheep, which came in very good time to the Army, for it had gone hard with us before for want of Proviſions; however Bread was ſo ſcarce, that the General gave Orders, that what there was, ſhould be for the Men, and not for the Officers, (becauſe he judged they could ſhift better.) It was alſo ordered the firſt night we came there, That an Officer, with a Party of men out of every Regiment, ſhould go back and take up what men they met withal upon the Road ſick, for ſeveral were beginning to faint already, by reaſon of the Bad weather, and conſtant marchings, and want of Proviſions.

Gaſper de Coligny, ſometimes Admiral of France, and one of the moſt knowing Men of his time, was wont to ſay, That War is a great Monſter, which begins to be formed by the Belly; meaning, that Food ought to be the very firſt care of a General for his Army; this Duke Sconberg knew as well as any one; and now (his Ships not being come) he takes part of his Train-horſes to ſend for Bread.

Maj. General Kirk joins the Army. On Sunday the Eighth, Major General Kirk's Regiment, Sir Jo. Hanmer's, and Brigadeer Stuart's join'd us; and that Afternoon we had a Report, that a Party of my Lord Delamere's Horſe were ſurrounded by the Enemy, but it proved falſe; for there were none of them within ten miles of us.

Monday the 9th, The Soldiers had Orders not to ſtir out of the Camp on pain of death, for they ſtragled abroad and plundred thoſe few People that were left, and ſome of them were murthered by the Rapparees; a word which we were ſtrangers to till this time. Rapparees from whence. Thoſe are ſuch of the Iriſh as are not of the Army, but the Country people armed in a kind of an hoſtile manner with Half-Pikes and Skeins, and ſome with Sythes, or Muſquets. For the Prieſts the laſt three or four years paſt would not allow an Iriſh man to come to Maſs, without he brought at leaſt his Rapparee along; that they ſay in Iriſh ſignifies an Half-ſtick, or a Broken-beam, being like an Half-pike; from thence the Men themſelves have got that name; and ſome call them Creaughts, from the little Huts they live in: theſe Hutts they build ſo conveniently with Hurdles and long Turf, that they can remove them in Summer towards the Mountains, and bring them down to the Vallies in Winter. I went this Afternoon with ſome others to Carlingford; (this is a little Town on the Seaſide ſome eight miles backwards from Dundalk) there being an excellent Bay here, our Ships had orders at Bellfaſt to ſail thither; (there had been a ſmall Town (and it was known in Q. Elizabeth's time by reaſon of a Defeat that Sir Henry Dockwra gave the Iriſh, not far from hence) but the Iriſh about the time they burnt Newry, burnt this alſo, only there ſtood five old Ruinous Caſtles upon the Shore, and a prodigious Mountain hung almoſt over theſe into the Sea.) Our buſineſs was to ſee if our Fleet was come, or at leaſt in ſight, but a ſmall Fiſher-boat was all the Fleet this place afforded at that time, nor had we any Ships there for ſeveral days after.

Late King's Army at Drogheda. By this time the General had an Account, that part of the late King's Army was at Drogheda, a conſiderable Town on the Sea-ſide, ſixteen miles from Dundalk: one of the Enemies Ingineers came over to us, who told the Duke, that the Enemy was drawing together as faſt as they could, but that they could not make above 20000 well-armed men. You muſt know, that every body who knew Duke Sconberg, believed he would not come into Ireland without a good Army, and in all reſpects well provided, and ſame had made our Army twice as many as they were: the Iriſh Army was likewiſe harraſſed by being at Derry; and ſeveral of them, both Horſe and Foot, were gone into the Country to Recruit; ſo that when we came firſt to Dundalk, they were in ſuch diſorder, that moſt of them retreated beyond Drogheda; and I was told ſince by ſome of themſelves, that they had not at that time above 8000 men in a Body: Mareſchal De Roſe was very much concerned at this, and he with ſome others, were for deſerting Drogheda and Dublin, and retreating towards Athlone and Limerick, as they did this year: this my Lord Tyrconnell heard of, where he was ſick at Chapell-Izzard, and went immediately to Drogheda, where he told them, that he would have an Army there by the next Night of 20000 men, which accordingly proved true, for they came in from Munſter on all hands. But when De Roſe heard that Duke Sconberg halted, he was ſure (he ſaid) that he wanted ſomething, and therefore adviſed to make what haſte they could to get their Army together; They come to Ardee. and a day or two after that, ſome part of their Army moved towards Ardee. (This is a ſmall Town between Drogheda and Dundalk, where my Lord More, and Sir Henry Titchburne defeated a Party of the Iriſh in the late Rebellion): the People here are moſt of them Proteſtants, ſo that when the Iriſh retreated towards Drogheda, they expected the Engliſh Army, and therefore they provided great quantities of Ale, Bread, and other Proviſions, for the Soldiers; but the Iriſh Army returning, it was all ſeized by them, ſeveral of the poor People ſtript, and ſome of them glad to ſave their lives by flying in the night to our Camp. Whether it was that the General did not expect the Enemy to advance towards us, or at leaſt that they would not come to encamp ſo near us, or what other Reaſons he had, I am not able to judge; but ſince it happen'd we ſtay'd there ſo long, in all appearance here was a good Opportunity loſt in not ſending to Ardee for all this Proviſion, as alſo in not getting in, or at leaſt in not deſtroying the Forage between Ardee and Dundalk; for when the Enemy came, and ſate down by us, they got a great quantity of Forage between our Camp and theirs, and burnt a great deal afterwards before our Faces; but they ſay that was the firſt thing the General order'd, to cure all the Forage, or at leaſt make it unſerviceable to the Enemy.

But to return to our own Camp. Coll. Coy ſent abroad with a Party. Monday the 9th, in the Afternoon, Coll. Coy went out with a Party of 200 Horſe to ſcour the Country, but met with none of the Enemy, for they were in a doubtful Condition what meaſures to take. The 10th, Little hapned of moment, only the General rid out to obſerve the Countrey; the Popiſh Chappel in Town was made a Store-houſe, and amongſt other Papers of like nature, I found one that ſometime before had been given to the Prieſt, To pray for the Shoule of Brian Rhode. The 11th, There came a Gentleman from the Enemy, who told the Duke, that their Numbers were not ſo great as was reported; and the Trumpet returned that was ſent formerly to the Duke of Berwick for they kept him on purpoſe for ſome days, that he might not give an Account of their Condition till their Army was got together.

Thurſday the 12, it was given out in Orders, That Forage ſhould be fetched from beyond the Town towards the Enemy, and that if any Soldier would threſh Corn, and bring it to the Commiſſary, he ſhould be paid for it the full value: The Majors were ordered to ſee the Arms of their reſpective Regiments kept clean, and the Soldiers to leave off firing in the Camp, becauſe that ſome unskilful Fellows had done miſchief to our own men: That none of the Soldiers ſhould Rob or Plunder the Country-people, and that there ſhould be a Reſerve-Guard appointed in every Regiment, conſiſting of a Captain, Lieutenant, Enſign, and fifty men, to be always ready to draw out upon all Occaſions.

Bread brought to the Camp. Friday the 13. Two Hundred and Four Load of Bread came to the Camp, and four Ships came to Carlingford: A Report was in the Camp, that our Horſe, who went a foraging in the morning, were engaged with the Enemy, which occaſioned the General to ride out, and all the Collonels that were in Town, were ordered to the Camp; but the Buſineſs was only thus; A Party of the Enemies Horſe appeared at a diſtance, whilſt a Party of ours, and ſome of Collonel Leviſons Dragoons were tying up their Forage, upon their Horſes; our Men ſeeing the Enemy appear, threw down their Forage, drew up, and march'd to meet them; as our Men advanc'd, they drew back, till they were out of ſight; when our Men had got up their Forage again, the Enemy appeared a ſecond time, and ſo a third, till a greater Party of Horſe went out: After this, the Duke always ordered a Party of One Hundred Horſe to cover the Foragers whilſt they were at work.

The Duke goes to Carlingford, but few Ships as yet arrived. Next day the Duke went to Carlingford, longing to ſee the Fleet; but only four Ships were come, and thoſe the night before; the Weather then was very tempeſtuous, and orders were given out how the men ſhould receive their Bread; this was very good News to them, for it had been very ſcarce ever ſince we left Belfaſt; but to ſay truth, the Bread we had then, and during our ſtay at Dundalk was full as good in its kind, as any we have had ſince. In the Evening we had News, The Iriſh come and encamp at the Bridge of Slane. that the Iriſh Army was come as far as Ardee, and part of them to the Bridge of Slane, within three Miles of us; where they encamped, and where their whole Army ſtaid afterwards for ſome time. This Evening it was given out in Orders, That none that went a foraging ſhould paſs the Horſe Out-guards, and that the Horſe might cut Wood for their Stables, and alſo the Foot for their conveniency; ſo that this was the firſt publick appearance of our ſtaying here. News of the Danes coming. Then the Report of the Danes coming was firſt ſpread abroad, and that we deferred meeting the Enemy upon that account; about this time alſo landed Collonel Viller's Regiment of Horſe, having ſuffered much in a Storm, and loſt one hundred and four Horſes. In two or three days moſt of the Wood about Town, as alſo moſt of the Fruit-Trees in my Lord Bedloe's Orchard were cut down. And

Sunday the 15th, It was ordered that a Collonel ſhould go the Rounds every night, and the Officer of the Guard to give him the Word. Our Entrenchments begun. The Right Wing was to furniſh Monſieur Cambon, Quarter-maſter-General with two hundred Men, to work at the Trenches at the Weſt-end of the Town, next the Enemy, where we planted ſeveral Field-Pieces, and it was not eaſie for the Enemy to break in upon us that way; the Majors were ordered a pound of Powder for each Man, and to take care it ſhould be delivered as there was occaſion.

Monday the 16th, Six Hundred Men were ordered to work at the Trenches, which the Duke ſaw then convenient to draw round his Camp, ſince he had an Enemy that was too ſtrong for him, very near, and therefore he muſt put it out of their power to force him to fight; for Wo be to that Army, which by an Enemy is made to fight againſt its will. And this is the Advantage of an Entrenched Camp, that none can compel you to give Battel but when you pleaſe. This Method has been practiſed very much of late, eſpecially by the French; and yet it is no new thing, it being very much in uſe amongſt the Romans; yet before the vanquiſhed Pirrhus, King of the Epirots, they never uſed any Entrenchments, but lay in the open Fields; but having found that Princes Army entrenched, they liked it ſo well, that ever afterwards they practiſed it themſelves.

A Battalion mounts to the Trenches. But not to digreſs too far, a Battalion was ordered to march next night into the Trenches at the Weſt-end of the Town (which was Major-General Kirks) no Officers nor Soldiers were to ſtir out of the Camp; all the Collonels were to ſend for their Detachments that were abroad, except that at Newry. The Captain that commanded at Bedloes Town (that was an Houſe of my Lord Bedloe's, about half a mile to the North-Weſt of Dundalk, where we had a Guard) if the Enemy appeared, was to march to the Camp through Dundalk and that a Party of one hundred Foot lye by the Horſe-Guard that Night. This day or the next came Collonel Tiffins, and the reſt of the Iniskillin Foot, and encamped towards the North-Weſt of the Town, but within the Trenches on very ſafe Ground, as did alſo their Horſe.

What Brigadees of Foot we had. Our Brigadeers of Foot were Sir Henry Bellaſſis, Sir John Hanver, Brigadeer Stuart, and Mounſieur La Millinere; we had only one Brigadeer of Horſe, who was Collonel Villers. The General's Orders for the ordinary Guards. Then the General gave the following Orders to be obſerved, and Detachments to be made out of all the four Brigades of Foot, as followeth, viz. One Brigade was to furniſh all Ordinary and Extraordinary Guards for the day, with what little Detachments are to be made for that day; to which end the Brigade muſt furniſh Officers and Soldiers, as followeth: For the Duke's own Guard, a Captain, Lieutenant, and Enſign with Colours, two Serjeants, two Drums, and Fifty Men; the Main-Guard in Town the like Number; and the Artillery-Guard as many: The Guard for Lieutenant-General Douglas, a Lieutenant, Serjeant, and Thirty Men: For Major-General Kirk, an Enſign, Serjeant, and Twenty Men; the Guard for the Treaſury, a Serjeant and Twelve Men; in all, for the Ordinary Guards, three Captains, four Lieutenants, four Enſigns, nine Serjeants, eight Drums, and two hundred and twelve Men. Each Brigadeer had a Serjeant and twelve Men out of their own Brigade; and the Collonels, when they were quartered with their Regiments, had a Guard of ſix Men (Count Solmes, and Major-General Soravenmore had Guards of their own Dutch). Theſe were upon ordinary Duty: And then the Reſerve-Guard, of Captain, Lieutenant, Enſign, and Fifty Men, out of each Regiment, was always to be ready, as well out of other Brigades, as that which had the Ordinary Guards for the day: the Brigade that had the Guards was always to have a Collonel ready in the Camp, as well to ſee the Detachments made, as to go the Grand Round, through the four Brigades at night. The Lieutenant Collonels and Majors were alſo ordered always to keep with their reſpective Regiments, that in caſe Detachments were to be made, every one might be ready in his turn to march. And the Majors of the reſpective Brigades were to attend every night at the General's Quarters for Orders.

Next day, and the day following, one hundred Men out of each Regiment were ordered to work in the Trenches, as alſo a Lieutenant and twenty Men, out of each Company, to fetch Straw and Wood to build Hutts; what ſick Men were in the Camp, were ſent to Carlingford; and now our Scouts and the Enemies ſtood uſually within a quarter of a mile of each other: Some little Skirmiſhes hapned, hut they turn'd to no account on either ſide: The General went frequently abroad to view the Enemy, and ordered on Thurſday that a Brigadier ſhould go the Rounds at night, and ſee the Guards in the day.

An Account that the Iriſh advanced. Friday the 20th, In the morning we had an Account that the Enemy advanced towards us, and that a Party of two thouſand Foot, and fifteen hundred Horſe were gone beyond the Mountains, to attack the Paſs at Newry, and fall upon us in the Rear; which had been no ill Project: but their Deſign was only to cut off our Foragers, and Straglers. About ten a Clock a Party of the Enemies Horſe did appear in ſight of our Camp, and they had ſeveral Battalions of Foot drawn up in order near their own; but upon the advancing of a Party of our Horſe, theirs retired to their Main Body, which was too ſtrong for us to meddle withal. The detached Party of the Enemy that we heard was gone beyond the Mountains, went to a place call'd the Blackbank; and hearing that my Lord Hewet's Regiment of Horſe, and Sir Henry Ingleby's Foot were marching to the Camp, and were in Newry, or hard by it that night (though they came not thither till the next) as alſo ſome French Detachments that the Duke had commanded in, lay in Newry, beſides the uſual Gariſon of Fifty Men; they came no further that way, but ſtruck off to the left towards Sligo; whenas its very probable, That if our Enemies had been all men of Reſolution, they might have ſent part of their Army in our Rear; and whilſt we endeavour'd to oppoſe thoſe, they might with the reſt have forced our Camp, and deſtroy'd us; but Providence was our beſt Guard. We had ſent ſeveral men ſick to Carlingford by this time. I hapned to be there that day, and we had News that the Enemy had taken Newry, and were upon their march to Carlingford; this was not believed by us; but however, the Iriſh that remained there, thought it true: and 'twas very obſervable with what Joy the Little Boys, as well as the ſilly Old Women, received the News, running together, and whiſpering; nor was it poſſible for them to conceal their inward ſatisfaction. As I went to the Camp that Evening, I obſerved a ſmall Party of Light Horſe croſs the Rode a litte before me in great haſte; and when I got about a mile further, I underſtood that they were a Party of the Iriſh that had killed five French men, and two Iniskilliners, as they were a foraging towards the Mountains. Great Rains. This Afternoon came the firſt of our Ships up to Dundalk, from Carlingford, with Ammunition and Proviſions: In the Night the Rains were extreamly violent, and both Horſe and Foot had orders to forage towards Carlingford, for the Forage was deſtroy'd on the other ſide.

The Iriſh draw out their Army, and proffer Battel. Saturday the 21ſt, About Nine a Clock in the Morning (it being a very clear ſunſhine-day) our Camp was alarmed; the Enemy diſplay'd their Standard-Royal, and all drew out, both Horſe and Foot, bringing along a very handſome Field-Train. A great Body of their Horſe drew up to the South-Weſt of the Town, about half a mile from our Out-works; the Duke went out to obſerve them, and ſent for Collonel Beaumont's Regiment, into the Trenches beyond the Town, and about an hour after for Collonel Earls. It was reported, that ſeveral great Officers were for fighting, and deſired the Duke to ſend for the Horſe home, who were moſt of them gone a foraging as far as Carlingford; but his Anſwer was, Let them alone, we will ſee what they will do. He received ſeveral freſh Accounts that the Enemy advanced, and always bid, Let them alone. A Body of their Foot came to the ſide of a Bogg, and fired upon a Party of our Horſe, not far from the Duke; but they knew the Horſe could not come at them, elſe, I ſuppoſe, they would ſcarce have come ſo near. Then our Gunners ſent from the Works, to ſee if they might fire amongſt the Enemy; who, by this time were within Cannon ſhot, but the Duke would not ſuffer it, except they came within Muſquet-ſhot of our Trenches. He obſerved the Enemies motions and poſtures, and ſaid, He ſaw no ſign of their deſigning to fight; only-once they drew their Army into two lines, as if they would, and then he ſent Lieutenant-General Douglaſs to the Camp, to order all the Foot to ſtand to their Arms; and ſent to the Horſe, That upon the firing of three Pieces of Cannon, they ſhould return to the Camp, but till then to go on with their Foraging. Mean time the Duke, as if there was no fear of danger for all this (for he uſed to ſay, That it was not in their power to make him fight but when he pleaſed) alighted from his Horſe, and ſate him down upon a little Hill, where he ſeem'd to ſleep for ſome time, though I believe his thoughts were at work how to repulſe the Enemy, if they ſhould attack him. Lieutenant-General Douglaſs came to the Camp, and all the Soldiers, with the greateſt joy in the World, ſtood to their Arms; ſeveral that had not ſtirr'd out of their Tents for a Week before, now got up their Muſquets, and all were glad to think that they had an opportunity of beating their Enemy (for they never ſuppoſed the contrary) and ſo to march forwards from that ſad place, which they begun already to be very weary of.

But refuſed by the Duke. We ſtood looking upon one another for ſome time, and moſt people deſired that they might march through the Town, and have a fair Tryal for it; but the Duke had no ſuch thoughts; and therefore he did not ſo much as ſend for his Horſe home; beſides, he knew that the Enemy could not eaſily force our Camp without a great deal of hazard to themſelves, and that he believed they would ſcarce be brought to. And therefore about two a Clock, when the Enemy begun to draw off, the General ſent orders for the Soldiers to return to their Tents. My Lord Lisburne, and Collonel Woolſley made ſome proffers to beat the Enemy back; or with one thouſand men to beat up their Guards that night; but this was not ſo eaſy a Task as they made it; and the Duke refuſed it, conſidering if they did it, the Honour was theirs; but if they miſcarried, the diſadvantage was his. As the Enemy retired, a Party of Collonel Leviſon's Dragoons killed about four or five of them, and ſome of the Iniskillin-men ſtript themſelves, and purſued the Enemy, killing two or three more, tho ſome of themſelves fell in the attempt; but the Action of that day was very inconſiderable; for neither could they come at us, nor we go to them, without ſuch diſadvantages, as are to be well conſidered of in ſuch caſes: And that the General acted this day, as well as before and after, according to the Rules of Art and Prudence, and that too for the beſt, may partly appear towards the latter end of the Campaign. I had almoſt forgot to tell you, that the Late King was at the head of his Army that day, having come to the Camp ſome days before.

The Officers commanded to exerciſe their men. The Orders were that Night, That none ſhould forage, nor ſtir out of the Camp next day; and that the Brigades that did not mount the Guards, ſhould be exerciſed at firing at a Mark when it was Fair weather (as 'twas very ſeldom) for the Duke knew moſt of his men had never been in ſervice, and therefore he would have them taught as much as could be.

Part of the Iriſh Army remove. Next day, being Sunday, we had news that the Enemy was removed towards Drogheda, and had burnt their Camp; this was partly true, for they removed ſome of their Army, and formed a Camp hard by Ardee to the Eaſt, nigh the ſide of a Bog. My Lord Hewett's Horſe, and Sir Henry Inglesby's Foot came this day to the Camp (the latter being relieved at Carigfergus by Collonel Guſtavus Hambleton from Cheſter) and two French Granadeers were apprehended as they were going to the Enemy. A Plot diſcover'd. But next Morning there was a further diſcovery made: And firſt, Four Soldiers and a Drummer, then Sixteen more apprehended; ſeveral Letters were found about ſome of thoſe; as one to Monſieur d'Avaux, and, as they ſay, one to the Late King; thoſe it ſeems were writ by one Du Pleſſey, who ſerved as a private Soldier in M. Cambon's Regiment, and had for ſome time kept a Correſpondence with the Enemy; Enquiry being made into the thing, about Two hundred men, all Papiſts, in Callimot's, Cumbon's, and La. Millineir's French Regiments, were ſecured, diſarmed, and ſent with a Guard on Shipboard, and ſo for England; but what became of them afterwards, I know not.

Monday morning the Enemy came and burnt all the Forage that was left between our Camp and theirs (the General would not ſend out a party for fear of an Ambuſcade) and the Soldiers ſeemed to be pleaſed with it, becauſe, they ſaid, they could not get leave to fight them. The Weather for two or three days proved pretty fair, and the Soldiers were exerciſed with firing at Marks; but it was obſervable, that a great many of the new men who had Match-Locks, had ſo little skill in placing of their Matches true, that ſcarce one of them in four could fire their Pieces off; and thoſe that did, thought they had done a feat if the Gun fired, never minding what they ſhot at.

Tueſday, Two Granadeers of Coll. Beaumont's Regiment were Hanged for deſerting; and there was a Council of War deſigned between Major-General Kirk and Sir Henry Inglesby, about the buſineſs of Derry, the latter ſaying, That Derry might eaſily have been relieved much ſooner; with a great deal more to that purpoſe; but it came to nothing, and was no more talk'd of.

On the 25th. the Army was Muſtered, and ſeveral Regiments were grown pretty thin, by reaſon of the diſtempers then beginning to ſeize our Men.

Six Frenchmen Hanged. On the 26th. Six of the principal Conſpirators amongſt the French were Hanged, upon a pair of Gallows built for that purpoſe near the High-way, as we went from the Camp to the Town; They all died Papiſts, and confeſſed their deſign to take over as many to King James as they could, and that this was their intentions when they firſt Liſted themſelves; and that if we had engaged the Enemy the Saturday before, they were to have put our Army into Confuſion by firing in the Rear, and ſo deſerting. They prayed for Ring William and Queen Mary, and ask'd Their Pardons for their Treachery. Du Pleſſey, the chief of them, had been formerly a Captain of Horſe in France, from whence, they ſay, he fled for a Murder; but hearing what Regiments were to be raiſed in England, he came thither under the notion of a poor Refugee; and for what Service he propoſed to do the Late King, he both expected his Pardon from the King of France, and the Command of a Regiment in Ireland. He ſerved as a Private Centinal, the better to carry on his deſign. He was certainly one that knew his buſineſs, and amongſt other things, was a good Engineer; and the more to blind the World, he went often in the Trenches at Carigfergus, and being wounded, he would needs ſtay and encourage the Pioneers; ſo difficult it is to find the bottom of mens hearts, except by Chance, or rather Providence. The French before, were very inſolent, which made them hated at all hands; but this Treachery of their Countrey-men made them ſo odious, that the Soldiers wanted only ſome body to begin, and then they were ready to puniſh all for the faults of ſome. Collonel Woolſley ſome time before this, had ſent a Spy to Dublin, who had brought him a particular Account of all Affairs there; amongſt other things, the Iriſh had great hopes of the French revolting to them; this he acquainted the Duke withal, but he would not believe it till it diſcovered it ſelf; ſo good an opinion had he of thoſe people, who for all this were not ſo grateful to him as they ought to have been.

Coll. Lloyd defeats a Party of the Iriſh. Friday the 27th, We had News, That two days before, Collonel Lloyd, with about 1000 Iniskilliners had defeated a Body of the Iriſh that were going towards Sligo (conſiſting of about 5000), and had killed 700 of them, taken O Kelly their Commander, and 40 more Officers Priſoners, with a great booty of about 8000 Cattel, with the loſs only of 14 Men; upon which News, the General ordered all the Iniskillin Horſe and Foot that were in the Camp to Draw out, and Complemented them ſo far, as to Ride all along their Line with his Hat off; then he ordered the Dutch-Guards, and the Iniskillin-Foot to Draw into a Line to the Right of our Works, at the Weſt-end of the Town, where they made three Running-fires, which were anſwered by the Iniskillin-Horſe from their Camp, and by the Great Guns upon our Works, as alſo from our Ships that lay in the mouth of the River. The Enemy admired what all this rejoycing ſhould be for, and were in ſome trouble at firſt, ſuſpecting we had got ſome extraordinary News from England; or that there was an Army landed in the Weſt of Ireland (which they themſelves muſt have known before us); but when they underſtood the occaſion, they were not much concerned.

The 28th, The Officers were acquainted it was the King's poſitive Orders, that the Soldiers ſhould not be wronged in their Pay, nor neglected; and whoſoever was careleſs of his Company, ſhould be broke without Ceremony (that was, I ſuppoſe, without a Court Martial): Care was likewiſe commanded to be taken of the Sick, at Carlingford. An Officer was ſent out of every Regiment, to look after them, and ſee them paid; but for all this, a great many of them died miſerably, and ſeveral Officers did not take the care that was neceſſary; nor was there either Drugs, or indeed Chyrurgeons to look after the Sick. All Officers that had any Baggage on Shipboard, were commanded to take it off, becauſe the Ships were ſaid to go into Scotland for the Danes, though at that time they were in Denmark. All Papiſts commanded to diſcover themſelves. All that were Papiſts in the Army, were commanded to diſcover it on pain of Death; there were very few found but amongſt the French, who were put again under a Guard, and ſent to Carlingford, there being the Afternoon before two more French-men taken, one who had a Liſt of all the Army, and the Officers Names in moſt Regiments, as alſo a Scheme of our Camp; this was the occaſion of the former Orders: And alſo that the next night it was ordered, That a Liſt ſhould be given in from every Regiment, of the Officers Names, and where they were, with the Names of thoſe that were abſent, and all thoſe that had not received the Sacrament ſince they had their Commiſſions, were to prepare againſt the Sunday following (which was that day Seven-night.)

Next day Lieutenant-General Douglas exerciſed the Regiments of the firſt Line, teaching them how to fire by platoons, and then made Speeches to them about their pay, which pleaſed the Soldiers mightily, but not ſo well the Officers.

month October Brandy delivered to the Men. About the firſt of October, there was a good quantity of Brandy delivered out to every Regiment; and Orders were again repeated, That the Officers ſhould be careful of their men; the weather was then exceeding bad, and we who lay on wet, low, ground, had leave to remove our Tents a little higher, which we did, and after ſome time built our ſelves Huts according to former Orders.

And becauſe the French were yet ſo forward as to go out, and either buy, o • take the Proviſions that were coming to the Market, then exacting from the Engliſh at leaſt as much more as the thing was worth; this was the occaſion why the French were put upon the Guard whenever they could not give a good account of themſelves; upon which the General ordered that no French ſhould be ſtopt any more than Engliſh; but that none ſhould paſs the Out-Guards after Sunſet, nor buy any thing upon pain of death, till it come into Town to the open Market. And becauſe it was obſerved, that ſeveral Countrey people went between our Camp and the Enemies, giving Intelligence of our Condition, it was ordered, That all Countrey-men that were ſtopt at or beyond the Out-Guards, and could not give a reaſonable account of their buſineſs, they ſhould be brought before the General.

Ships come to Dundalk. Several of our Ships to the number of about 27, were now come to Dundalk, and anchored nigh the Shore to the South-weſt of the Town, but when the Tide was out, it was eaſie for the Enemy to come down on that ſide, and ruin them; therefore the General ordered a Guard of a 100 men to go on Ship-board, and to be relieved every 24 hours; he took all imaginable care likewiſe, that the Sick ſhould be well lookt after, and that thoſe that were well, ſhould have Bread, Cheeſe, Brandy, Beef, Peaſe, and Money; as alſo, That an Officer of a Company ſhould go out with a Party, and fetch in Fern for the Soldiers to lye upon; for a great many began now to be ſick, by reaſon of the extreme bad weather; and moſt of them were ſo lazy, that they would ſtarve rather than fetch Fern or any thing elſe, to keep themſelves dry and clean withal; which certainly was the greateſt occaſion of Diſtempers, Sickneſs, and Death it ſelf; and many of them when they were dead, were incredibly Louſie: This occaſioned the General to ſay one day when he came to the Camp, and found that the Soldiers had not Hutted according to Orders, That we Engliſh-men will Fight, but we do not love to work, (for he uſed to call himſelf an Engliſh-man, for all he loved the French ſo well.) About this time there was a Captain and Fifty men ſent to Moyery Caſtle, ſome Two miles behind our Camp, as well to ſecure what Proviſions were coming thither, as to keep the Rapp •… ees in awe, and prevent our men that were going backwards and forwards, from being murdered, as ſeveral had been; for a day or two before this, I ſaw a poor Soldier lying towards the mountains, who had his Head cut off, and laid between his Legs, and one of his Arms likewiſe, which lay at a diſtance from him; ſo cruel are thoſe Wretches, where they have an Opportunity or advantage.

On the 1ſt of October, Coll. Lloyd poſſeſt himſelf of James-town, a ſmall place near the Shannon, where the Enemy had a Gariſon of 80 men, that they had ſent thither a little time before; The Iriſh Army removes to Ardee. and on the 5th, we had news, That the Enemies Foot began to march at one a Clock in the morning, and their Horſe followed in the Rear, burning their Camp at the Bridg of Fane, and removing to Ardee. We had alſo an account, That the Duke of Berwick, with a conſiderable Body of Horſe, was gone towards Iniskillin, to reſcue Major General Maccarty, upon which a Detatchment of the Iniskillin Horſe and Foot, Coll. Ruſſels Horſe, and Eight Grenadeers out of every Regiment, mounted on Horſe-back, were ſent (on the 8th) to keep a Paſs between us and Sligo.

On the 9th, the General had an Account from one Hempſon, and Johnſton, with four more, (who came from Dublin in an open Boat on the 7th, and landed at Carlingford,) That King James had given Orders to victual that place for his Winter-Quarters, and that the diſcourſe was there of dividing the Army, in order to quit the Field, becauſe they thought it was impoſſible for us to attempt any thing that Winter, as indeed it was: That night a Party of 100 Horſe were ſent out towards Ardee, but coming near an old Caſtle, where the Enemy had poſted themſelves, they fired upon our men, which occaſioned ſome of the French Horſe to retreat; but all the harm that was done, was one of the Troopers had his Thigh bruiſed.

An Honourable Quarrel. About this time there hapned a Quarrel between two French Officers belonging to Duke Sconberg's Regiment of Horſe; they were afraid to fight nigh our Camp, leſt the General ſhould have notice of it, and ſo try them by a Court-martial; therefore they agreed to ride out towards the Enemies Camp, where they fought with Sword and Piſtol; and being both wounded, they told at their return, that it was the Enemy had done it.

Both Forage and Firing grew now very ſcarce, and the Weather was mighty bad, ſo that Mr. Shales had Orders to deliver out two Tuns of Coals to each Regiment. About the 8th or 9th Sir John Lanier's, Colonel Langſton's Horſe, and Colonel Hefford's Dragoons, with Colonel Haſting's Foot, landed at Carlingford from Scotland. We had an account that there were more landed with them; and that when they joined us, we ſhould march forwards: but now it was too late, and they did not come to the Camp, but were ordered to Armagh, Clowniſh, and Places thereabouts. The General gave Orders that no Colonel, or any one whatever, ſhould give Paſſes for any to go from the Camp: and that the Officers ſhould viſit the Souldiers Tents night and morning, to ſee what they wanted.

The Sick order'd on Board. On the 13th it was ordered, that all the Sick ſhould be ſent on Board; and that the Officers took care to ſee that thoſe who were well ſhould have Hutts made; and the Quarter-maſters were ordered to fetch Shoes, Bread, Cheeſe, Brandy and Coals. And all the Surgeons in the Army were appointed to meet Dr. Lawrence next day at 10 a Clock, to conſult (I ſuppoſe) what Methods could be taken to prevent the Flux and Feaver, which then were very violent. The General, Count Solmes, Lieut. Gen. Douglas, Maj. Gen. Kirk, and M. G. Scravenmore, (or ſome of them) were out every day, either to obſerve the Enemy, or view our own Camp. And on the 15th we were told by three or four Deſerters, that the Enemy had entrenched themſelves at Ardee, and deſigned to continue there for ſome time; but the firſt was a Miſtake, for it was the Town that they were fortifying whilſt they lay there, that they might leave a Gariſon in it when the Army went off to Quarters. A Colonel was ordered to go the Rounds every night, and a Brigadier once in three nights. And we had at this time about 105 Ships at Carlingford, beſides thoſe at Dundalk.

Our Horſe encamp at Carlingford. The 16th all our Horſe (except the French, the Inniskillin, and Col. Leviſon's Dragoons) march'd towards Carlingford for the conveniency of Forage: That day Capt. Ralph Gore was buried in Dundalk-Church; and the day following Col. Deering, (as had been ſeveral Officers before.) Sir Edward was very much lamented in the Army by all that knew him: He left a good Fortune in England, purely to ſerve the King in this Expedition, as did three more of his Brothers, one of which (viz.) Capt. John Deering died ſince at Taudrogee, being a very ingenious young Gentleman.

On the 17th a Party of Inniskillin Horſe, and ſome of Leviſon's Dragoons, were got ſo nigh the Enemy, that a Party of twenty Horſe came behind them, thinking to keep a Paſs, whilſt others charged them in the Front; Four Iriſh Men killed. but our Men diſcovering their Error, faced about, and charged thoſe in the Rear, whereof they killed four, and took ſix Priſoners. A Prieſt hanged for a Spy. The ſame day a Prieſt was hanged, who came from the Enemy as a Deſerter, but proved a Spy; he ſerved then in ſtation of a Captain. And to be even with us, they caught a Spy of ours ſome days after in Prieſts habit, and hanged him.

The 20th Capt. Withers of Maj. Gen. Kirk's Regiment was made Adjutant-General of Foot; and next day it was again ordered that all our Sick ſhould be ſent on board at Dundalk and Carlingford; though thoſe Orders were not executed till a fortnight after. We remove our Camp beyond the Town. However, we removed our Camps, ſome beyond the Town, and ſome towards the Artillery, leaving the Huts that we had made, full of ſick Men. I know not the diſtinct number of the Sick in every Regiment at that time; but beſides what were dead and gone to Carlingford before, as alſo ſome in the Town, we had 67 that were not able to march about twice twelve ſcore to freſh ground, whom we put into thoſe Huts, leaving the Surgeon with an Officer and twelve Men purpoſely to attend them: The Chaplain likewiſe went to ſee them once a day; but always at his going, found ſome dead. Thoſe that were alive, ſeemed very ſorry when the others were to be buried, not that they were dead, (for they were the hardeſt-hearted one to another in the World) but whilſt they had them in their Huts, they either ſerved to lay between them and the cold Wind, or at leaſt were ſerviceable to ſit or lie upon. And ſince the Enemy were now drawn off, the Guards were taken from the Ships, and from Mortimer's Caſtle, leaving only a Sergeant and twelve Men at the Gate that leads to Bedloes Caſtle; and becauſe ſome Companies were ſo thin, that there were ſcarce twelve healthful Men in them; it was therefore ordered, that every Company ſhould do Duty according to ſtrength.

Tueſday the 22d, great part of the Army were marched beyond the Town and encamp'd, ſome towards Bedloe's-Caſtle, and ſome down towards the Shipping, in ſo much that thoſe that went over were ordered to do Duty as three Brigades; and thoſe that ſtaid as one, the Chirurgeon of each Regiment was ordered to ſee the Sick on Board. An Officer was ſent to take care of them, and was to call on Mr. Shales for Proviſions: Every Officer was to ſee that none were ſent on Board but what were really Sick, and this was recommended to the Colonels as well as to the Brigadiers. This Afternoon there came a Drummer from the Enemy about the Exchange of Priſoners. Dutch Priſoners releaſed by King James. And three Dutch-men were taken as they were ſtragling in the Country, who being brought to King James, and ask'd, Who they belonged to? when he underſtood their Captain was the ſame that had the Care of him formerly at Rocheſter, he diſmiſſed them, with his Service to their Captain, giving each of them ſome Mony, becauſe, he ſaid, their Captain had been formerly civil to him.

The 23d ſeveral ſick Men having been ſent on Board, and not Ships enough for the reſt, Mr. Shales was ordered to bring more from Carlingford, and moſt of the Regiments went to encamp beyond the Town; I ſuppoſe the General was of Opinion the Ground whereon we lay was infected, or elſe he would not have removed us out of our Huts into our Tents again, eſpecially in ſuch boiſterous Weather.

A Trumpeter comes about the exchange of Priſoners. The 24th there was a Trumpeter ſent alſo about the Exchange of Priſoners: And it was ordered that the Officers ſhould give an Account of their effective Men, how many Sick, and where; as alſo of their ſpare Arms, and deliver them in to the Artillery, taking a Receipt for them; but what Arms were broke or loſt, the Captains were to be accountable for; and it was but reaſonable: nor did the Officers take that due care in this particular that was convenient; for if any Souldier is careleſs of his Arms, the Officer ought to puniſh him, by which the King will be both better ſerved, and freed from that unneceſſary Charge of ſupplying his Army anew every Year: but what with the Rain, and our own careleſneſs together, our Arms were often in that condition, that ſhould the Enemy have attaqued us on a ſudden, we had ſcarce one Muſquet in ten that was ſerviceable.

The 25th, 26th, 27th, all the reſt of the Army removed through the Town, and encamp'd on freſh Ground; the Weather ſtill continued very bad, and great Numbers, both of Officers and Souldiers, died. The General then gave Orders that no No Firings for the Dead. Firings ſhould be for the Dead, becauſe it encouraged the Enemy, who knew but too well our Condition, and yet could do us but little harm. Moſt People now began to murmur againſt the General, as if he had been the Cauſe of all their Misfortunes: but it is commonly a Fate incident to great Men, to be extreamly magnified upon Succeſs, and upon any notable Diſaſter to be as much reproach'd, and ſometimes neither juſtly, for he himſelf ſhared in the trouble of this Affair, but could not in reaſon be made the cauſe of it.

On the 27th, about 12 a Clock at Night, 200 of Col. Leviſon's Dragoons, a Party of Inniskilliners, and ſome French Horſe, were ſent towards the Enemies Camp, who went almoſt as far as Ardee, and brought back ſome Cattle and Horſes, took only a Serjeant Priſoner, and had a Lieutenant killed.

Next Morning there was a Party of 80 Granadiers mounted and ſent abroad, commanded by Lieut. Laton; but theſe returned with the above-ſaid Party: and frequent Trumpets were ſent to and fro about the Exchange of Priſoners. This Evening about nine a Clock, died Sir Thomas Gower of a Feaver, as did alſo Col. Wharton next Morning, and were both buried on the 30th in one Vault, (where a in Fortnight before Sir Edward Deering was laid) the Regiments being joined, and fired three times by particular Order.

Theſe two Gentlemen were very much bemoaned by the whole Army; Col. Wharton was a brisk bold Man, and had a Regiment that would have followed him any where, for they loved him, and this made him ready to puſh on upon all Occaſions. Sir Tho Gower, though he was but juſt in a manner entring upon the World, yet I believe few or none of his Age could out-do him; he was of a quick and ready Wit, as well as a ſolid Judgment, and made it his Buſineſs to know Men and Things; to this was joined a very good Education, together with a moſt ſweet and affable Temper; being withal a Man of a comely and handſom Perſon, (as was alſo Col. Wharton) that it made him truly bemoaned by all that knew him. A day or two after died C. Hungerford, a very hopeful young Gentleman, and of a conſiderable Fortune; with ſeveral other Officers, and great numbers of Souldiers, (as I have ſaid:) And many unthinking Mens Paſſions led them to cenſure the General as the occaſion of all this. They would ſay, that if he had gone on at firſt, he might certainly have got Dublin, and what he did was only to protract the War, and that he cared not how many died, ſo he was well himſelf; but at beſt, that he was ſo old that he was not fit for Action, for if he had but rid out, he would forget in two or three hours that he had been abroad that Day. But all thoſe were moſt falſe and ignorant Suggeſtions, as his Majeſty was very ſenſible of at that time; and it appeared to all conſidering People to be ſo afterwards. For beſides, prime Miniſters are not to level their Proceedings to the Capacities of all who pretend Vigilancy and Care of the State, and no Man living in publick Imployments can manage ſo as to have the good word of all People, neither indeed is it convenient or rational to endeavour or expect it.

On the laſt of October, all the Quarter-maſters had Orders to go on Board with each ten Men, and ſee the Ships cleared to make room for the Sick; they were all to have Tickets from their Colonels, and the Brigadeers were ordered to viſit them on Board: but if any were well enough to go to Carlingford, or the County of Down, they were to be taken care of; the Colonels, or Lieutenant-Colonels were to go with the Brigadier on Board, and every Adjutant was to give a Liſt next Morning of their Sick to the Adjutant-General, which was a very large one.

month November The Enemy Decamp. Friday the Firſt of November, greateſt part of the Enemies Army Decamped, and marched to Quarters, and it was ordered that Night, that two Granadeers out of each Engliſh Regiment, and three out of every French, ſhould be on Horſe-back at the White-Houſe early next Morning, to go out as a Party to obſerve the Enemy: the reaſon of this I ſuppoſe was, becauſe the ſmall number of Horſe and Dragoons that were left in our Camp were almoſt harraſſed to Death with continual Duty, the reſt being nigh Carlingford at Gr • ſs, as has been ſaid. All the Sick that were in any condition to March, were ordered to be at the Artillery by ſeven a Clock in the Morning; their Officers were to give them a Weeks Pay, and there was a Party appointed to conduct them to Newry.

The Inniskilliners Decamp. Saturday he 2d, the Duke ordered the Inniskilliners both Horſe and Foot to march towards Home, ſince News was brought to the Camp that Sligo and James-Town were taken by the Iriſh: For Sarsfield, with a conſiderable Body, coming that way, thoſe at James-Town, not thinking it tenable, quitted it, and marched to Sligo, loſing ſome of their own Party, and killing ſome of the Iriſh who preſt upon them in their Retreat. Sligo taken by the Iriſh. Sarsfield with his Army, next Day, came before Sligo, which made Colonel Ruſſel retreat to Balliſhannon, and he adviſed the Foot alſo to quit the Town. There was a French Captain, with the Detached Party of Granadeers that went from our Camp, and Colonel Lloyd with ſome Inniskilliners; theſe ſtaid in the Town, and from thence retreated to the two Forts at the end of it, Lloyd into one, and the French-man with his Granadeers into the other. Colonel Lloyd went away that Night, and loſt ſeveral of his Men in his Retreat: But the French Captain had carried in Proviſions, and found three Barrels of powder in the Fort. The Nights were dark, and he fearing the Enemy might make their Approaches to the Fort undiſcovered, he got a great many Fir-Deals, and dipping the Ends of them in Tarr, they made ſuch a Light, when ſet on Fire, and hung over the Wall, that he diſcovered the Enemy coming with an Engine they called Sow; but having killed the Ingineer and two or three more, the reſt retired, and he burnt the Engine. When Day appeared, the Enemy were forced to quit a ſmall Field-piece they had planted in the Street, our Men plyed them ſo with Shot from the Fort; and then making a Sally ſeveral of them were killed. But their Proviſions being gone, and there being little or no Water in the Fort, our Men ſurrendred it one the 3d Day upon Honourable Terms, viz. to march out with their Arms and Baggage. At their coming over the Bridg, Col. Sarsfield ſtood with a Purſe of Guineas, and proffered to every one that would ſerve King James, to give him Horſe and Arms with Five Guineas Advance; but they all made anſwer, that they would never fight for the Papiſhes (as they called them) except one, who next Day after he had got Horſe and Arms, and Gold, brought all off with him. So ſteadfaſt were the poor Men, in what they had undertaken, that tho they had indured a great deal of Hardſhip, yet would dye rather than be Faithleſs. There were ſeveral alſo that were taken Priſoners as they ſtragled from the Camp, or upon flying Parties; and tho they indured all the Miſeries of a ſevere Reſtraint, yet they could by no means be wrought upon to take up Arms againſt the Intereſt they had come thither to venture their Lives for: Nay even thoſe that were a dying in the Camp were wont to expreſs no other Sorrow, than Plague on theſe Papiſhes, that we muſt dye here and not have leave to go and fight them. The French Captain's Name, as I remember, was Monſieur de St. Sauvem, he died afterwards at Lisburn of a Feaverr. The Caſtle of Sligo is one of the moſt Ancient in Ireland, it was formerly the Seat of the O Connors, who would not for a great while yield to King Henry the Second, calling themſelves the Ancient Kings of Ireland.

But to return from this Digreſſion. On Saturday in the Evening it was ordered that a Colonel and a Brigadeer ſhould go the Rounds, and ſtay in the Camp all Night, to ſee the Guards all right, to enquire what Officers lay out of the Camp, and to acquaint the General with it; and becauſe they found there was abundance of ſick Men that neither could march, nor was there Room for them in the Ships, therefore Waggons were ordered to be ready at the Bridg-End next Morning to carry them all to Carlingford and Newry. The Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors of each Regiment were ordered to be there, and ſee their ſick Men taken care of, and to give them Money; there was alſo an Officer out of each Regiment appointed with a Guard to attend them.

A great many Sick. Next Morning the poor Men were brought down from all places towards the Bridg-End, and ſeveral of them died by the way, the reſt were put upon Waggons, which was the moſt Lamentable Sight in the World, for all the Rodes, from Dundalk to Newry and Carlingford were next day full of nothing but dead Men, who ever as the Waggons joulted, ſome of them died, and were thrown off as faſt. The General very ſeldom uſed to be from the Church, but that day he was for ſome hours at the Bridg-end, to ſee all the care taken for the Men that could be, and was very much diſpleaſed that all the Field-Officers were not ſo careful as he had given Command they ſhould. The Ships were then filling with Sick, and as many dying on that ſide: they were ordered to goe into Deep-water, and ſail with the firſt fair Wind for Belfaſt. The Weather all this while was very diſmal, and yet we were obliged to ſtay till both the Ships were got into Deep-water, and the ſick gone by Land, leſt when we were gone, the Enemy ſhould ſpoil our Ships, and kill our Men.

Monday the 4th of November it was ordered, that all who had any ſick Men on Board, ſhould ſend an Enſign with ten Men to take care of them; and if the Men wanted any thing, they were to ſend to Mr. Shales for it. The Tents that were by the Waterſide were to be taken on Board to keep the ſick Men warm, and every Regiment was to have the ſame number again that they brought thither. The Fifth it was confirmed that the Enemy were gone to Quarters, and the Sixth we had Orders to march. Next day Stuart, Herbert, Gower, & Zanchy (formerly my L. Lovelace's) towards Newry; Hanmer, Deering, Drogheda, Beaumont, Wharton, Bellaſis (before the Duke of Norfolk's) and Roſcommon, were to march towards Armagh; Maj. Gen. Kirk, and the Dutch, were to go by Newry, and ſo down to Antrim. The Souldiers were ordered ſix days Bread, and a Fortnights Subſiſtence. I remember next Morning, as we were marching off, word was brought to us that the Enemy was approaching; and, God knows, we were in a very weak Condition to reſiſt them, thoſe that were beſt being ſcarce able to carry their Arms; however they were very hearty, and began to unbuckle their Tents at the News, and ſaid, If they came, they ſhould pay for our lying in the Cold ſo long: but it proved only a ſmall Party who took two or three of our Men Priſoners as they were ſtragling.

Thurſday the 7th of November, the Regiments above-named marched; the Hills as we went along being all covered with Snow, (for what was Rain in the Valley, was Snow on the Mountains); ſeveral that were not able to march up, were forced to be left, and ſo died; and all of us had but indifferent Lodgings that Night, amongſt the Ruins of the old Houſes at Newry. So little did the poor Men value dying, that ſome of them being in a Stable over-night, the next day two were dead; and the reſt intreating me to get a Fire, which I did; coming about two hours after, they had pull'd in the two dead Men to make Seats of.

The ninth Day the reſt of our Army marched from Dundalk, the Duke giving Orders firſt to burn ſome Arms and Proviſions that could not be got off, becauſe the Waggons were imployed to carry the Men; and ſome few ſick Men were left that could not be removed, thoſe were at the Mercy of the Enemy, who did not uſe them ill, but buried ſeveral that were dead. At their firſt coming to Dundalk, they removed the Corps of our three dead Colonels out of my Lord Bedlow's Vault, and buried them nigh the Church-door, but did not abuſe them as was reported.

Some Men killed. As the Rear of our Army was marching off from Dundalk, a ſmall Party of the Enemy's Horſe came as far as Moyery-Caſtle, two Miles from the Town, where they killed the Adjutant of my Lord Kingston's Regiment, with two or three Souldiers that were behind the reſt; but a Party of our Horſe advancing, the Enemy retreated towards Dundalk, which they had poſſeſſion of within an hour after we had left it.

And that nothing might be wanting for the good of the Souldiers, the General before he left the Camp, viz. on the 23d of October, ſet forth an Order how all Subaltern Officers and Souldiers were to be ſubſiſted and cleared; according to which all Colonels and ſuperiour Officers were to take care that their Men were paid, as they would anſwer the contrary at their Perils.

A Remarkable Story. Sometime after our coming to Quarters, I was told a very remarkable Story relating to the manner of our decamping at Dundalk: It was by one Mr. Hambleton of Tollymoore, a Juſtice of Peace in his Country, and a ſober rational Man, which was to this effect; Himſelf and two other Gentlemen, with their Servants, coming from Dublin into the North, at leaſt a Year before our Landing; As they came towards Dundalk, about nine a Clock at Night, they eſpied ſeveral little twinkling Lights in the Air, with two larger than the reſt: They ſtaid ſome time in the Town, and deſigning for Newry that Night, Mr. Hambleton went a little before his Company, and ſaw the ſame Lights again, as nigh as he could gueſs, about the Ground where we afterwards Encamp'd: On the ſide of the Hill, as he was to go towards the Mountains, he turned about and look'd at them, and at the ſame time he heard the moſt diſmal and heavy Groans in the World. This ſtartled him ſomething, and preſently his Company came up, who all ſaw the Lights, and heard the Noiſe, which continued till they got almoſt to Newry; but the Lights they ſaw no more after they turned their Backs off the Plains of Dundalk. They have a great many Stories of this kind in Ireland: And the Inniskilling-Men tell you of ſeveral ſuch things before their Battels, but I have only the Reader's Pardon to ask for the trouble of this.

How our Army was quarter'd. The Army at our decamping, was diſperſed all over the North to Winter-Quarters, which were but very indifferent; and what with coming to warm Fire-ſides with ſome, and others having little or no ſhelter to ſecure them, and very little Proviſions, the Country being all waſted and deſtroyed, (nor was it poſſible to ſend Proviſions every where till Storehouſes were fixed): And then moſt of the Men being very weak before they left the Camp, and marching in the Cold and Wett to come to thoſe Places, we had more that died when they came to Quarters, than died in the Camp. I have a Copy of the Order by me which directed how and where all Regiments were to be diſpoſed, but it's needleſs to inſert it, only our Frontier Gariſons, were Green-Caſtle and Roſtriver, where quartered Beaumont and Stuart; Newry, where was Sir Henry Inglesby; Taudrogee, Sir Henry Bellaſis, and ſome of Leviſon's Dragoons; Legacory had ſome of the French, and at Armagh were Drogheda and Deering; at Clowniſh, Monohan, and thoſe places, were Haſtings and ſome of the Iniskilliners. The General had his Head-Quarters at Lisburn; and the Hoſpital was ordered to be at Belfaſt, which is a very large Town, and the greateſt for Trade in the North of Ireland; it ſtands at the head of the Bay of Carickfergus, and the Inhabitants have lately built a very famous Stone-Bridg, but the Wars coming on, it is not as yet quite finiſhed.

I doubt not but moſt People will be curious to know how many died this Campaign, and in Quarters, and what could be the occaſion of ſuch Mortality; as likewiſe how many the Enemies Numbers were when they lay ſo nigh us, and wonder why two Armies ſhould lie ſo near together (for our Front and theirs were for above a Fortnight not two miles aſunder) and yet ſo little of Action happen. The Reaſons of our Mens dying. As to the firſt, whatever the World may think, yet I can attribute thoſe Diſtempers amongſt us to nothing elſe but the Badneſs of the Weather, the moiſtneſs of the Place, the unacquaintedneſs of the Engliſh to hardſhips, and indeed their lazy Careleſsneſs: for I remember a Regiment of Dutch that Encamp'd at the end of the Town, were ſo well hutted, that not above eleven of them died the whole Campaign; but it's the ſame thing with the Engliſh whenever you take them firſt out of their own Country as it was here: and let Men be in other things never ſo happy, if they have Courage, and know the uſe of their Arms, yet when they come upon Duty, if they have not Bodies inured to hardſhips, they lie under a great diſadvantage. But in truth we could ſcarce have been more infortunate either in a Place or in the Weather than whilſt we were there; for it would often rain all Day upon us when there was not one drop in the Enemies Camp; this they uſed to call a Judgment, but it was becauſe we lay in a Hollow at the Bottoms of the Mountains, and they upon a high ſound Ground: the Enemy did not at firſt die ſo faſt as we did, becauſe they were born in the Country, and were uſed to bad lying and feeding, but before they decamped they were nigh as ill as we, and abundance died after they got to Quarters.

Chirurgions ill provided. One thing I cannot omit, and that is, that our Surgeons were very ill provided with Druggs, having in their Cheſts only ſome little things for Wounds, but little or nothing that might be uſeful againſt the Flux and the Feaver, which were the two raging Diſtempers amongſt us; and yet I cannot but think that the Feaver was partly brought to our Camp by ſome of thoſe People that came from Derry, for it was obſervable that after ſome of them came amongſt us, it was preſently ſpread over the whole Army, yet I did not find many of themſelves died of it.

Number of Men that died at Dundalk. As to the Number of our Men that died, I am ſure there were not above ſixteen or ſeventeen Hundred that died in or about Dundalk; but our Ships came from Carlingford and Dundalk about the 13th of November to Belfaſt, and there were ſhipt at thoſe two places 1970 ſick Men, and not 1100 of thoſe came a-ſhore, but died at Sea; nay, ſo great was the Mortality, that ſeveral Ships had all the Men in them dead, and no Body to look after them whilſt they lay in the Bay at Carickfergus. As for the Great Hoſpital at Belfaſt, there were 3762 that died in it from the firſt of November to the firſt of May, as appears by the Tallies given in by the Men that buried them: There were ſeveral that had their Limbs ſo mortified in the Camp, and afterwards, that ſome had their Toes, and ſome their whole Feet that fell off as the Surgeons were dreſſing them; ſo that upon the whole matter, we loſt nigh one half of the Men that we took over with us.

The Enemies Numbers. As to the Enemies Numbers, and the reaſon why ſo little Action happened; the Accounts that were given by Deſerters both as to the Enemies Numbers and Deſigns, were ſo various and diſagreeing, that the General himſelf was at a Loſs what to truſt to: (which, if well conſidered, will anſwer many of thoſe raſh Objections made to the management of that Campagne). I have ſeen a Liſt of their whole Army ſince; and the moſt agree that they had at Dundalk 17 Regiments of Horſe and Dragoons, with as many Foot as made them nigh forty thouſand, though their Foot were not all very well armed, but ſome had Scithes inſtead of Pikes: yet Lieut. General Hamilton denies that they were ever ſo many in the Field. And as for ſo little of Action happening in ſo long a time, the reaſon on the Duke's ſide (as I humbly conjecture) might be, that he found himſelf exceedingly out-done in the number of his Horſe: nor did the ſmall Body that he had, come all at one time, but ſtragling, by degrees: And therefore he was unwilling to venture a few, except he had enough to puſh for all, which he had not. And our entrenching our ſelves might make the Enemy think it was to no purpoſe to alarm us, ſince they believed it impoſſible to force our Camp, which it certainly was not, if we had had any other ſort of People to deal withal but Iriſh. But it may be they conſidered that Maxim, that the Invader is ſtill to proffer, and the Invaded to decline a Battel.

A Liſt of our own Army. The LIST of our own Army was as followeth. Horſe and Dragoons. Lord Devonſhire, 6 Troops Lord Delamere, 6 Troops Lord Hewett, 6 Troops Colonel Coy, 6 Troops † Colonel Langſton, 6 Troops Colonel Villers, 6 Troops † Sir John Lanier, 6 Troops D. Schonberg's French, 9 Troops Col. Woolſely's Inniskilliners, 12 Troops Mr. Harbord's Troop, 1 Troop Capt. Matthew White, 1 Troop Provoſt Martial's Troop, 1 Troop † Col. Hefford's Dragoons, 9 Troops Col. Leviſon's Dragoons, 6 Troops Sr. A. Cuningham's Dragoons, 6 Troops Col. Gwinn's Dragoons, 6 Troops

Theſe make in all 13 Regiments, (beſides three Independent Troops) 3 of which marked thus †, did not come to the Camp, and 2 more came late, ſo that we could not make above 8 Regiments of Horſe and Dragoons, when the Iriſh drew out upon us, and 3 of thoſe were Inniskilliners.

Foot. A Battalion of Blew Dutch. Carleſoon's White Dutch. Major General Kirk. Sir John Hanmer. Brigadier Stuart. Colonel Beaumont. Colonel Wharton. Lord Meath. Lord Kingſton. Lord Drogheda. Sir Henry Bellaſis. Sir Henry Inglesby. Lord Lovelace, then Colonel Zanchy's. Lord Roſcommon. Lord Luburne. * Colonel Hamilton. * Colonel Haſtings. Colonel Deering. Colonel Herbert. Sir Tho. Gower. Colonel Earle. La Millineir. Du Cambon. La Callimott. Inniskillin and Derry Foot. * Col. Guſtavus Hamilton. * Colonel Lloyd. * Colonel White. Colonel Mitchelburne. * Colonel St. Johns. Colonel Tiffany.

Note, that the Foot marked thus *, were not at Dundalk, but in Gariſon.

Theſe make in all (counting the Blew Battalion for one) thirty Regiments of Foot; but thoſe were all that we had in Ireland; there were ſome at Derry, and Col. Hamilton's Regiment at Carickfergus; ſome at Inniskillin, and others at Sligo (till the Iriſh took it from us.) Fifty Men were left upon a Party at Newry: There were alſo ſeveral killed at Carickfergus, and ſome left ſick and wounded at Belfaſt; beſides the two Hamiltons, Lloyd's, White's, St. John's and Haſtings's, never came to the Camp. Sir Henry Inglesby's and two Regiments of Horſe came not till our Camp was fix'd; and then Maj. Gen. Kirk's, Sir John Hanmer's, and Brigadier Stuart's Regiments had laid long on Ship-board, and had been haraſſed, ſo that they had loſt ſeveral of their Number. Some alſo were dead or ſick, and others run away. Put all theſe things together (I ſay) and we cannot ſuppoſe that the Duke had above 2000 Horſe and Dragoons, and not many more than 12000 Foot, when the Iriſh proffer'd him Battel.

I have no warrant from any body for what I am going to ſay, only I think my ſelf obliged to give an account of what I am perſwaded is true, in anſwering thoſe Objections which were made by the Army firſt, and then by ſeveral of the People of England that had loſt their Relations or Friends, (viz.) That the Duke was to blame he did not go on at firſt without ſtopping, for then we had got Dublin, and all the Kingdom would have fallen of courſe, without half that expence of Treaſure that England has been at: And that we loſt more Men by lying at Dundalk, than we could have done in a Battel; and alſo a year's time which might have been employed with an Army in the Heart of France. Theſe things, and ſeveral of the like nature, have been objected to the Conduct of that Great Man, who always thought it better to owe his Victories to good Management than good Fortune; ſince wiſe Counſels are ſtill within the Power of wiſe Men, but Succeſs is not. And what Man in the World would be thought wiſe, and his Actions entertained as the beſt, if only ſuch were ſo, againſt whom and which no Objection could be made? The Memory therefore of ſuch a Man ought not to ſuffer, who all his Life-long had been ſaid to act with the greateſt Prudence in the World: And for his management in this Affair, no doubt he could give very ſubſtantial Reaſons, yet becauſe thoſe are not, nor cannot be known to the World, I ſhall only offer ſome few that I have had from very good Hands, and which I know in the main to be true. It's an eaſy thing for Men to ſit at home by a warm Fire-ſide, and find fault with Affairs of the greateſt Moment, tho they know no more than the Man in the Moon what ſuch things mean: and if we get but into a Coffee-houſe, or over a Bottle in a Tavern, we can be greater Stateſmen and Generals in opinion than thoſe that are really ſo; and can do that in conceit in two hours, which the greateſt Men find a difficulty to perform in ſome years. The Duke therefore I humbly conceive had more Reaſons for what he did than I can think on, or poſſibly ever heard of. But what I have to offer are theſe, as,

The Reaſons why the General went no further than Dundalk. 1. Where the Fault lay I know not, but I was at Cheſter when the Duke had been above a week in Ireland; and all or moſt of the Waggon-Horſes, and ſome of the Train-Horſes were there then: nor did they come over till we had been ſome time at Dundalk. The Country, as we marched, was all deſtroyed by the Iriſh; ſo that by that time we got to Newry, I was forced to go and dig Potatoes, which made the greateſt part of a Dinner to better Men than my ſelf: and if it was ſo with us, it may eaſily be ſuppoſed that the poor Souldiers had harder times of it. This the Duke was very ſenſible of, and ſent for Mr. Alloway Commiſſary to the Train, and told him that he muſt ſend back his Horſes for Bread for the Men: And when the other urged, it was a thing never known that the Train-Horſes were employed to any other Uſe than what belonged to the Train it ſelf; the Duke replied, He knew the truth of that; but that he had rather break any Rules than his Men ſhould ſtarve; and accordingly ſome of the Horſes were ſent for Bread, as I have obſerved before.

2. For want of Horſes and Carriages the Duke was forced to ſhip the greateſt part of his Train, and ſeveral Neceſſaries for a Camp, at Carickfergus; and gave Orders that the Ships ſhould ſail with the firſt fair Wind for Carlingford-Bay: but though the Wind was very favourable, they did not ſtir in ten days after; nor did there any Ships come to Carlingford, till we had been at Dundalk at leaſt a week, and then only four came at a time. I have heard indeed that he who had the Sailing Orders, went ſome-where with them, and the Ships lay ſtill for want of them: but how true this is, I know not.

3. It was ſaid, that the General had aſſurance given him, before he left England, that an Army ſhould be landed in the Weſt of Ireland, at his marching through the North, (and accordingly we had it ſeveral times affirmed that it was ſo:) This no doubt would have diſtracted the Iriſh, and made the Duke's Paſſage to Dublin much more eaſy. But the General had an account I ſuppoſe that this could not be, and therefore he muſt ſtand or fall by himſelf. Nor would any that knew Duke Schonbergh believe he would ever come abroad with ſo ſmall an Army, and ſo ill provided: And I have heard ſay, that that Army was never deſigned to conquer Ireland, but to defend the North.

4. It was no difficult thing for him to march his Army as far as Dundalk, and that ſafely, by reaſon the Country was full of Mountains and Bogs; and the Enemies Horſe could not do him much harm, (though if they had pleaſed, they needed not have let us come paſt Newry, and yet their Horſe had then newly come from Derry, and were gone to recruit.) But if he had paſs'd that Place, it was a plain and open Country, and we might eaſily have been ſurrounded, and our Communication both from the North and alſo from our Ships cut off: for if we paſt Dundalk, we could have no more benefit of our Shipping till we had been Maſters of Drogheda, or elſe have gone to Dublin, and then we muſt have gone over the Boyne, which thrice our Number, and that too in a dry Seaſon in the midſt of Summer, found ſome difficulty in paſſing; and all this we muſt have performed in two or three days, or elſe have ſtarved.

5. Suppoſe that if we had marched on and made an halt at Dundalk, we might have gone to Dublin, the Iriſh Army not being got together, (for I have heard it was debated whether Drogheda ſhould have been ſurrendred if we advanced thither? and it was once carried in the Affirmative): But the Duke was not certain of the Enemies Condition; nor if he had, Would it have been any prudence to have gone on without Proviſions, without Ships, and a great many other things that were abſolutely neceſſary? He knew he was ſafe at Dundalk, and therefore he choſe to ſtay there and underſtand the poſture of the Enemy, and expect his own Things and Forces, rather than run the hazard of gaining that by meer Fortune, which if ſhe had frown'd, the Damage was certainly irreparable.

6. The General was a meer Stranger in the Country, and therefore he muſt look at a great many Things with other Mens Eyes, and ſome of thoſe were dim enough; nor had he any Counſel aſſigned him, but had the whole ſhock of Affairs upon himſelf, which was the occaſion that he ſcarce ever went to Bed till it was very late, and then had his Candle, with a Book and Penſil by him; this would have confounded any other Man, and was fit for no Body to undertake but Duke Schonberg, or his Maſter that employed him. Before the Duke could be ready therefore to march forwards, the Iriſh Army was come and ſat down by us, and then it was too late.

And why he did not fight the Iriſh Army. Nor do I think he was more to blame in refuſing Battel, when the Iriſh ſeem'd to proffer it; for though it's probable that the Iriſh at our firſt coming over, took our Numbers to be greater than they really were, yet by that time we had been a Week at Dundalk, they knew our Numbers and our Circumſtances as well as we our ſelves did, both by the Intelligence they had in the Country, and by ſeveral of the French that had a mind to betray us: For, all things conſidered, we had not above 14000 Horſe and Foot, and very few of thoſe Horſe; nor was the Duke to go according to our reputed Numbers, but to what we were in Reality. The Enemy had nigh four times our Number of Horſe and Dragoons, with double ou • Number of Foot: nor could we have drawn out upon them without a manifeſt diſadvantage, there being ſeveral Bogs and Cauſeys between us and them, that whoſoever gave the Attaque (all things elſe conſidered) it was odds againſt them: Beſides, moſt of our Souldiers were new Men, and had never ſeen a Sword drawn in Anger, nor a Gun fired in Earneſt in their Lives; and what ſuch Men will do till they be tried, there's none can tell. I believe the Men had as good Hearts, and were all as ready I am ſure to engage as was poſſible; but ſeveral of them were ignorant of the true uſe of their Arms, for when they came afterwards to fire at a Mark ſingly, they gave too great proof to any Man of ſenſe of their Unskilfulneſs. This is no Reflection upon the Officers, for it's ſcarce poſſible to make new-raiſed Men good Souldiers till they have ſeen ſome Action; and yet ſeveral Officers might have taken more care than they did. If it be objected, that the Enemies Men were far worſe in this reſpect than ours; I anſwer: Not, for a great many of them had been Souldiers for at leaſt four Years before: and if we had gone out into the Plain, and had our Foot charged by their Horſe at the rate we were afterwards at the Boyne, I know not what might have followed.

Beſides, we had an Enemy in our Boſom at that time undiſcovered, (I mean the French); and if thoſe at the beginning of an Engagement ſhould have fired in the Rear or Flank of our Army upon our own Men, and then run over to the Enemy as was deſigned, this might quickly have bred an appre • henſion of Treachery in the whole, that a Conſternation, and from this ſuch a Confuſion, that our whole Army might eaſily have been diſordered; for thoſe that underſtand Armies, know that a ſmall thing in appearance may do a great deal of Miſchief at ſuch a time. And ſome are of Opinion that the Iriſh did not deſign to fight that Day, but only drew out to ſee who would come over to them, (becauſe they were made believe that all the French, and a great many Engliſh would) for the Duke, who was a great Judg, often ſaid, when he ſaw the Enemy appear, That they did not look as if they would fight, (except once) but that they deſigned ſomething elſe: But, God be thanked, the Engliſh were ſtedfaſt and true to a Man, and they were diſappointed of their Foreigners too.

Upon the whole Matter, I doubt not but it will appear to any Man that pleaſes to conſider it, that the Duke did better in not hazarding that in a moment, which may be was not to be redeemed again in many Ages, ſince not only the Safety of theſe Kingdoms did in a great meaſure depend upon it, but a great part of the Proteſtant Intereſt in Europe had a Concern in it. And where the Fates of Kingdoms, and the Lives and Intereſts of Thouſands are at Stake, Men are ſtill to act on ſolid Reaſons and Principles; the Turns of a Battel being ſo many, and are often occaſioned by ſuch unexpected Accidents, which alſo proceed from ſuch minute Cauſes, that a wiſe and great Captain (ſuch as Duke Schonberg was) will expoſe to Chance only as much as the very Nature of War requires.

And as to what happened at Dundalk, by the Mens dying afterwards, this was not the General's Fault, for he could not march back till the Enemy was gone, (his Men then being ſo very weak, had all been cut off); nor could he foreſee what Weather it would be whilſt he ſtaid, nor how the Engliſh Conſtitutions would bear it. And as to his Care that they ſhould want nothing, let any but conſider the Orders through the Camp, and he will find it was ſcarce in the power of any Man to do more.

But I am affraid it will be thought impertinent, to indeavour the defence of ſo great a Man's Actions, and to do it no better; Former Misfortunes at Dundalk. I only add therefore, that this Town of Dundalk has by turns been unfortunate to the People of the three Nations. It was in Time paſt a Town very ſtrongly walled, which Edward Bruce, Brother to the King of Scots, (who had Proclaimed himſelf King of Ireland) burnt; but he was near this place afterward ſlain, with 8200 of his Men. Afterwards the Iriſh under Shan O Neal, laid ſiege to it, but were repulſed with very great loſs: Then in the Year 1641, my Lord Moore and Sir Henry Tichburn beat three thouſand Iriſh out of Dundalk, and killed a great many of them, having only 750 Foot and 200 Horſe. And the Misfortune of the Engliſh laſt Year was not inferiour to any of theſe.

But to return to Matter of Fact. 1700 of the Iriſh fall upon Newry. The Enemy had left eight Regiments at Ardee when they Decamped, out of which Regiments, ſo ſoon as we were gone to Quarters, they detached 1600 Men, and thoſe with 100 Voluntiers were to force the Paſs at Newry, and then go along the Line to deſtroy our Frontier Gariſons, (which at that time had been no difficult Task to have performed) they march'd all Night Saturday the 23 of November, and came on Sunday Morning, by break of Day (or before) to the other ſide of the Bridg at Newry; this Party was commanded by Major General Boiſleau, having with him a Brigadeer, three Colonels and other Officers proportionable; there was then in the Garriſon moſt of what were left of Colonel Inglesby's Regiment, which were not many above ſixty, and not forty of thoſe able to preſent a Muſquet; the Enemy ſent a Party of a 100 Men to paſs the River a little above the Bridg, and come in at the North-eaſt-end of the Town, whilſt the main Body marched over the Bridg, beyond which we had two Centinels placed at 100 paces diſtance from each other; the firſt challenged thrice, and then his Piece miſſed fire and he was killed, the next challenged and fired upon them, which alarmed the Gariſon: As they advanced near the middle of the Town, in a ſtrait place near the Caſtle, a Sergant and twelve Men being upon the Guard, drew out and fired, then retreated to the old Walls, charged and fired again; by this time all the Officers and Souldiers that were able to crawl were got into the Market-place, with ſome few Townſmen; the Enemy came in both ways, and fired, doing us ſome damage; the poor fellows that were not able to come out, fired their Pieces out at the Windows of ſome ſmall Houſes that were left ſtanding: others that could not do better, got their backs to the old Walls, and ſo were able to preſent their Muſquets: And are repulſed by an handful. After ſome firing on both ſides, the Enemy believing us to be a great many more than we really were, begun to ſhrink, which occaſioned our Men to Huzzah, and then the Rogues run away, many of them for haſte wading through the River up to their Necks, (the Tide being high at that time) they were followed down to the Bridg by a Captain and a very ſmall party of Men, and though they were both threatned and intreated by their Officers to rally again, yet all would not do. They had a Lieutenant-Colonel killed, and left ſix Men dead on the place; but afterwards we were informed they carried off twelve Horſes loaden with dead and wounded Men: we took only one or two Priſoners, and if we had had a party of Horſe or Dragoons to purſue them, not many had gone home to tell the News; thoſe that were kill'd had not above two Bandileers full of Powder a-piece, and the reſt full of Salt, which made us believe the Enemy at that time were ſcarce of Ammunition: they killed us two Captains and ſix Men, wounding a Lieutenant and Enſign. It was thought very odd that not ſo much as a Field Piece ſhould be left at that important Paſs of Newry, nor yet a party of Horſe: but the Reaſon of that might be, becauſe there were no Houſes left ſtanding to put them in, nor any Forage thereabouts for them. But after this the General ordered Detachements out of Colonel Viller's, Colonel Coy's and thoſe Regiments that lay moſt convenient, to go to Newry, and relieve by turns.

Col. Cambon views Charlemont. On the 26th of November, Colonel Cambon went to view the Gariſon of Charlemont, having 60 of Col. Leviſon's Dragoons along with him: the Iriſh had lined the Hedges nigh the place where he was to make his Obſervations, but were beat from thence by the Dragoons, who alighted and killed two or three; but about eight or ten of our Dragoons going too far from their main Body, were ſurprized and taken Priſoners, and moſt of them died before they could be relieved.

A Meeting of Country Gentlemen. Towards the latter end of November the General ſummon'd all the Gentlemen in the Country to meet him at Lisburn, where they preſented him with an Addreſs; and agreed upon Rates for all ſorts of Proviſions, which were commanded to be ſold accordingly by the Duke's Proclamation: but this was very diſagreeable to the Country People, who had made us pay trebble Rates before for every thing we had from them.

A party of the Iriſh Gariſon at Charlemont ſtole out one Night and burnt Duncanon, a ſmall Town ſome five miles off. And November 29, Brigadeer Stuart having Intelligence that my Lord Antrim's Regiment in Dundalk deſigned again to attack Newry, he with a party of about 250 Horſe and Foot, met them as they were coming, and killed about thirty, taking ſeventeen Priſoners, ſome of whom were Officers.

month December Belturbet Surrendered. December the 4th, Colonel Woolſely went in the Night with a party of Iniskilliners towards Belturbet, upon whoſe approach the Gariſon being ſurprized, they yielded (upon the firſt Summons) to be conducted to the next Gariſon, though they had fortified the place very well.

The Duke goes to view Charlemont. The 12th of December the Duke went to view Charlemont, they fired their Cannon upon him and his Party; but however, ſome of our Men took a Prey of Cattel from under the very Walls. And about this time the General gave out Orders to be obſerved by all the Army; which being very commendable in themſelves, if every one had endeavoured to put them in Execution, it will not be improper therefore to mention ſome few of them.

Some of the General's Orders. 1. That the Captain or Officer commanding each Company, meet at two a Clock at the Guard-Houſe each Tueſday to puniſh Offenders, and to conſider what may be for the Good of the Regiment, and that the Country have notice thereof, that if there be any Complaints againſt the Souldiers they may be heard.

2. That the Souldiers have ſtrict Orders to frequent Divine Service every Sunday; and that the Officers puniſh Swearing, and all other Vices, as directed by the Articles of War.

3. That the Souldiers that are to mount the Guard, be there by ſix of the Clock in the Morning, and exerciſe till Eleven; and that the Chaplain be there to read Prayers before the Guard be mounted.

4. That every Captain take care of the General's Orders for regulating the Foot, and the Major-Generals for Exerciſing; and diligently obſerve the ſame.

5. That an Officer twice a Week viſit the Sick, and a Serjeant twice a Day; and give the Chirurgeon and Chaplain notice that they may immediately repair to them.

And a great many more Orders there were to this purpoſe, but theſe are ſufficient to ſhow the Care of the General in every Thing, and that he was far from thoſe Imperfections ſome People were pleaſed to reproach him with.

About this time there was a great Booty of Cattel taken by Lieut. Col. Berry, who went from Clowniſh to Sligo with a Party, he ſaw no Enemy, but found their Cattel, and brought them Home with him. The Iriſh leſſen their Braſs Coin. And now the Iriſh begin to make the Coin of their Braſs Money leſs than it was at firſt: Calling in the large Braſs Half-Crowns, and ſtamping them a new for Crowns. they wanting Metal to go on with it as they firſt began: They ſay it was a Quaker that firſt propoſed this Invention of Braſs Money; but whoever it was, they did that Party a ſignal piece of Service, ſince they would never have been able to have carried on the War without it. However the Quakers have been very ſerviceable to that Intereſt, for I am aſſured by ſome in the Iriſh Army, that they maintained a Regiment at their own Coſt; beſides ſeveral Preſents of value that they made to the late King.

Mr. Shales a Priſoner. There were now great Complaints againſt Mr. Shales, and thoſe flew ſo high that he was ſecured by an Order from England; and was ſent with a Guard to Belfaſt, and ſo deſigned for London: He ſtayed ſome Days at Belfaſt before he could be ready, and in the mean time fell ill of a Feaver, recovering with a great deal of Difficulty: Yet afterwards he went over, but I heard of no Proceedings againſt him. We had Stories at Dundalk, and afterwards, that the Beef and Brandy, and what other things we received from the Stores, were all poiſoned; but all this was Stuff, and believed by no Body of Senſe. I heard indeed ſome Maſters of Ships (who had their Veſſels laden with Proviſions for Ireland) ſay, that he ſtop'd them all at High-Lake and Liverpool, threatning to ſeize them if they came over, for he had undertaken to provide the Army with every thing. I am a Stranger to Mr. Shales, and yet I believe him to be a Man of more Senſe than that comes to; and further I have heard ſome People ſay, that were near him in his Sickneſs, that he was not at all concerned, as being not conſcious to himſelf of any thing he had done which he ought not, but yet he uſed to ſay, that he would ſet the Saddle upon the Right Horſe.

A great Mortality. Col. Langſton dies at Lisburn in a Fever, and my Ld. Hewet and my Ld. Roſcommon of the ſame Diſtemper at Cheſter; and the Feaver was very violent at this time all the North of Ireland over, inſomuch that it was impoſſible to come into any Houſe but ſome were Sick or Dead, eſpecially at Belfaſt where the Hoſpital was. I have ſometime ſtood upon the Street there and ſeen ten or a dozen Corps (of the Towns People) go by in little more than half an Hour.

Major General Mackarty Eſcapes. Towards the latter end of December, Major General Mackarty made his Eſcape from Inniskillin, who had remained there a Priſoner ever ſince the Rout at Newtown-Butler; he had been Sick, and at that time writ to Major General Kirk to get leave of the Duke to have his Guard removed, which he complained of was troubleſome in his Sickneſs, this was done; but at his Recovery (they ſay) a Serjeant and ſome Men were put upon him again. The Town it ſeems ſtands upon a Lough, and the Water came to the Door of the Houſe where he was confined, or very near it. He found means to corrupt a Serjeant, and ſo got two ſmall Boats, called Cotts, to carry him and his beſt Moveables off in the Night. The Serjeant went along with him, but returned that Night to deliver a Letter, which, and Mackarty's Paſs, being found in the Lining of his Hat, he was the next Day ſhot for it.

The General was much concerned when he heard of Mackarty's Eſcape, and ſaid he took him to be a Man of Honour, but he would not expect that in an Iriſh-Man any more. Col. Hamilton, the Governour of Inniskillin, was blamed for his Negligence, but he came to Lisburn and deſired a Tryal, which could not be for want of Field-Officers till the 15th of March, at what time he produced Major General Kirk's Letter to him, by which he was cleared.

About Chriſtmas there happened an unlucky Accident at Belfaſt; Cranmer, Bowls and Morley, three Lieutenants in Major General Kirk's Regiment, happened to kill two Maſters of Ships, and being tryed by a Court-Marſhal, the thing appeared ſo ill, that they were all three Shot.

month January On the 8th and 10th of January there were ſeveral Regiments broke one into another, by reaſon of the fewneſs of Men in them, viz. The Regiments broke were my Lord Drogheda's, Col. Zanchy's, Sir Henry Inglesby's, Lord Roſcommon's, Col. Hamilton's; and the Officers were continued at h • lf Pay, till there could be Proviſion made for them in other Regiments. The 12th, 16th and 20th, ſeveral Officers went over into England for Recruits. And Sir Thomas Newcomb's Houſe, in the County of Longford, Sir Thomas Newcomb's houſe ſurrendred. was ſurrendred upon very good Terms, it being held out by his Lady againſt a great Party of the Iriſh; for the Houſe is ſtrongly ſituated, and ſhe got about 200 of her Tenants into it; who defended the Place till the Iriſh brought Field-pieces againſt it, tho it was above 20 Miles from any of our Gariſons. Of the Men that were in it one hundred of them were entertained by Sir John Hanmer in his Regiment, and the reſt were provided for by the Duke at Lisburn.

But though our Army had been much afflicted with Sickneſs and Mortality, yet this was little taken notice of by a great many who gave themſelves up to all the Wickedneſs imaginable, eſpecially that ridiculous Sin of Swearing: A Proclamation againſt Swearing of which complaint being made to the Duke by ſeveral of the Clergy then at Liſburn, and frequent Sermons preached againſt it; this occaſioned the Duke to ſet out a Proclamation, bearing date January 18. Strictly forbidding Curſing, Swearing, and Profaneneſs in Commanders and Souldiers; which, he ſaid, were Sins of much Guilt and little Temptation; but that ſeveral were ſo wicked as to invoke God more frequently to damn them than to ſave them; and that notwithſtanding the dreadful Judgments of God at that time upon us for thoſe and ſuch like Sins, fearing that their Majeſties Army was more prejudiced by thoſe Sins, than advantaged by the Courage or Conduct of thoſe guilty of them. And therefore he commanded all Officers and Souldiers in his Army from thence forward to forbear all vain Curſing, Swearing, and taking God's holy Name in vain, under the Penalties enjoined by the Articles of War, and of his utmoſt Diſpleaſure: Commanding alſo the ſaid Articles to be put in the ſtricteſt execution. For no doubt the Debaucheries in Armies are the high way to Ruin, ſince thoſe both obey and fight beſt that are moſt ſober.

Brigadier Stuart's Stratagem to fall upon the Iriſh. January 22. Brigadier Stuart with a Party of 500 Horſe and Foot went from Roſtriver and Newry beyond the Mountains towards Dundalk and Carlingford, burning moſt of the Cabbins where the Iriſh ſheltered themſelves, and took a conſiderable Prey of Cattle. The Iriſh had ſome People dwelt amongſt us, who had agreed upon giving them a Sign when any Party of ours was to march out, which was by making Fires in ſeveral Places: this the Brigadier underſtood by a Priſoner, and ſo made Fires three or four times, which alarum'd the Iriſh at firſt; but when they found it done ſeveral times, and no Party appear, they neglected the Sign: ſo that when our Party marched indeed, they took no notice of it, which gave the Brigadier opportunity of marching where he pleaſed, without oppoſition.

There came one Mr. King an Attorney from the Enemies Quarters, and gave the Duke an account how things ſtood at Dublin. And about this time the Iriſh had got a trick (having always good Intelligence) to come in the night, and ſurprize our Men in their Beds, as they quartered in the Country in ſingle Houſes They ſtole five or ſix of my Lord Droghedah's Men nigh Tondragee, which obliged the Officers to order all the Men to lie in the Town for the future. The 25th of January the Duke went from Lisburn to Legacory, and ſo to ſeveral Places on the Frontiers, as Lieut. Gen. Douglas had done before. And a great Store was ordered at Armagh is the Metropolitan of the whole Iſland, where S. Patrick the Iriſh Apoſtle ruled in his lifetime, and they ſay reſted after death, (tho there is as much Contention about his Grave as Homer's) in honour of whom it was of ſuch venerable eſtimation in that time, that not only Biſhops and Prieſts, but Princes paid their great Reſpects. Armagh, and ſeveral others up and down the Country, for the moſt conveniency to the adjoining Gariſons.

month February On Sunday Febr. 2. a Party of my Lord Drogheda's Regiment of 100 Men, with 20 Dragoons, and about 60 of the Country People marched from Tondragee and Market-hill: Their buſineſs was to ſurprize two Companies of Iriſh Foot, who lay nigh the Mountains of Slavegollion, and defended a great number of Cattel there. The Enemy had ſome notice of their coming, and ſeem'd to deſign fighting, but conſidered better of it, and ran away; 17 of them took to a Bog, in which were taken one Lieutenant Murphey and four more, one Man being killed only; our People brought home about 500 Cattel.

February the 8th, the General had an account that the Enemy were drawing down ſome Forces towards Dundalk, and that they had laid in great Store of Corn, Hay, and other Proviſions, in order to diſturb our Frontier-Gariſons from thence. The Duke ſent a Ship or two towards Dundalk, who burnt ſome of the Iriſh Gabbords: The General draws ſome Forces into the field. But the Report of theſe Forces obliged the General to ſend a conſiderable Body of Horſe and Foot that way; and he himſelf, February the 11th, went towards Drummore, in order to wait the Enemies Motion. (It was very obſervable how much the Men and Horſes were now recovered from what they had been two months before.)

Sir John Lanier and Col. La Millinier were ſent out with a Party, who went as far as Carlingford, and returned with an account that there were only 3 Regiments at Dundalk as formerly. But the Deſign of the Iriſh lay another way: for whilſt the Duke was upon this Expedition, Col. Woolſely had notice that the Iriſh had a deſign to fall upon Belturbet; to which purpoſe a conſiderable Number of them was come to Cavan, and more to follow in a day or two. Col. Woolſely to prevent them, marched from Belturbet with 700 Foot and 300 Horſe and Dragoons; he began his march in the evening, thinking to ſurprize the Enemy next morning early, (the diſtance between being about 8 miles;) but he met with ſo many Difficulties in his March, (and the Enemy had notice of his coming) that inſtead of being at the Place before day, as he deſigned, it was half an hour after day-break before he came in ſight of it; ſo that inſtead of ſurprizing them, the firſt thing our Men ſaw was a Body of the Enemy drawn up in good order, judged to be nigh 4000: this was ſevere, but there was no help for it, fight we muſt, for retreating was dangerous. Col. Woolſely encourages his Men, and tells them the Advantages of being brave, and the inevitable Ruin of the whole Party if they proved otherwiſe: they were as ready to go on as he to deſire it: And then he ſends an advance-Party of Inniskillin Dragoons towards the Enemy, who were preſently charged by a great Party of the Enemies Horſe, and beat back paſt the Front of our own Foot, who were ſo enraged at them, that ſome of M. G. Kirk's and Col. Wharton's Men fired, and killed 7 or 8: ſome of the Enemies Horſe purſued them ſo far, that many of them were kill'd by our Foot as they endeavour'd to get off. By this time the Body of our Party was advanced pretty near the Iriſh, who were poſted upon the Top of a riſing Ground not far from the Town: As our Men advanced up the Hill, the Iriſh fired a whoſe Volley upon them, and then ſet up the Huzzah, but ſcarce killed a Man, (for they ſhot over them;) our Men however went on till they were got within Piſtol-ſhot of them, and then fired, by which they galled the Iriſh ſo, that they immediately run towards the Town: We purſued, and they retired to a Fort; but Col. Woolſely's Men falling to plunder in the Town, the Iriſh ſallied out, and gave us a very fierce Attack. Col. Woolſely having 250 Foot and about 80 Horſe for a Reſerve, the Enemy was beat off again, their Horſe flying beyond the Town, and their Foot taking to the Fort. Our Souldiers got good ſtore of Shoes, and all ſorts of Proviſions, and about 4000 pounds in Braſs Money, a great deal of which the Souldiers threw about the Streets as not thinking it worth the Carriage; their Ammunition was blown up, and their Proviſions deſtroyed (for Col. Woolſely was forced to ſet the Town on fire to get his own Men out in the time of the Salley). The Colonel knew not what might happen, and therefore he drew off his Men, and marched homewards. The Iriſh they ſay were commanded by the Duke of Berwick, who had his Horſe ſhot under him; and in two or three days they were to have 10000 Men at Cavan to fall upon Belturbet, and other places. The Enemy loſt in this Expedition, Brigadeer Nugent, and as they ſay O Riley, Governour of Cavan, with a great many Officers, and about 300 Souldiers.

In this Action we loſt about thirty, with Maj. Traherne, Capt. Armſtrong, and Capt. Mayo, who were killed by purſuing too far; a French Reformed Officer, and Capt. Blood an Ingineer, were wounded. We took twelve Officers and about ſixty Souldiers Priſoners, who were brought ſoon after to Carickfergus. I have ſpoke with ſeveral Iriſh Officers ſince, and they will not allow their Loſs to be ſo great, or ours ſo little in this Action as we make them, yet give us the Advantage to a great degree.

At the General's return to Lisburn, he received an Account from Col. Woolſely of this Action, much to the ſame effect as I have related it. Sir John Lanier's Expedition to Dundalk. And on the 15th of February, Sir John Lanier, with a Party of 1000 Horſe, Foot, and Dragoons, went from Newry towards Dunkalk; it was in the Evening when he marched, and next Morning early, being Sunday, he appeared before the Town. The Enemy had Fortified it very well, ſo that the Major-General did not think fit to attaque it, (nor do I believe he had any Orders to do it) he drew up his Foot however on the ſide of an Hill, between the left of our old Horſe-Camp and the Town, a good Muſquet-ſhot from the Bridg; his Horſe he ſent nearer, ſomewhat to the Right at the ſide of the Lane. The Enemy at the Allarm appeared without the Town at firſt; but as we advanced, they retreated, till they got within their Works, from whence they fired inceſſantly. Whilſt the main Body was ſo poſted, Maj. Gen. Lanier ſent a party of Horſe and Dragoons beyond the River, who burnt the Weſt part of the Town, from Mortimer-Caſtle to Blake's Houſe, (being a great part of the Suburbs). At ſame time a Party of Col. Leviſton's Dragoons attaqu'd Bedloe's Caſtle, and took the Enſign that Commanded it, with 30 Priſoners; we loſt a Lieutenant and three or four Dragoons, and had four Horſes ſhot. Our Men brought from beyond the Town, and about it, nigh 1500 Cows and Horſes: The Enſign that was taken, was brought to Lisborn, and carried before the Duke into his Garden, where he commonly uſed to walk before Dinner: Before the Duke ask'd him any Queſtions, me-thought he gave him a pretty Caution to be ſincere in his Anſwers, (though the General knew at the ſame time, he being a Priſoner, was not obliged to ſay any thing); You (ſays the Duke) have a Commiſſion, and for that reaſon (if not otherwiſe) you are a Gentleman; this obliges you to ſpeak Truth, which if you do not, I can know it by examining of other Priſoners, and then I ſhall have no good Opinion of you. After ſome publick Queſtions, the Duke took him aſide, and talk'd with him nigh half an hour; but I ſuppoſe he could, or at leaſt would ſay little that was material.

month March The Danes arrive in Ireland. The beginning of March, came 400 Danes from Whitehaven to Belfaſt, and the Week following all the Foot arrived from Cheſter, with the Prince of Wittemberg their General: The Duke went down to ſee them, and was very well pleaſed, for they were luſty Fellows, and well Clothed and Armed.

Monſieur Callimot with his Regiment was poſted upon the Blackwater nigh Charlemont, and had kept them in very much on that ſide during Winter. On the 8th of March he took poſſeſſion of a little Village within leſs than two miles of the Caſtle; the Enemy at firſt pretended to diſlodg us, but having loſt three of their Men, they retired.

Monſieur Callimot's Deſign upon Charlemont Bridg. On the 12th at Night, Col. Callimot went, with a Party of his own, and ſome of Col. St. John's Regiment, being in all about 80 Souldiers and 20 Officers, with thoſe he deſigned to cut down the Bridg at Charlemont, (it being Wood) and ſo to prevent the Iriſh from making Excurſions in the Night as they uſed to do. In order to which, he put his Men into three Boats, and coming up the River within a mile of Charlemont, he landed his Men; and though they were diſcovered at a diſtance, yet he marched up to the Bridg and ſet Fire to it, taking a Redoubt at the Bridg-end, as alſo another near the Gate that leads to Armagh, killing about 20: But Day coming on, the Colonel thought it convenient to retreat, having loſt only five or ſix Men; but Major De la Bord was killed as he went off; Lieut. Col. Belcaſſel, and a Captain whoſe Name was Le Rapin, wounded. This Attempt was very brave, for the Caſtle it ſelf was within Muſquet-ſhot of the Bridg, and nearer to thoſe Works that we took. About this time were four Priſoners brought to Lisburn that were taken nigh Charlemont; they gave an Account, that the Gariſon had been relieved ſome time before, and that the Souldiers and Officers who came in lately, did not like Tongue O Regan's Government; that Bread and Salt were ſcarce within, and that they believed the Gariſon could not hold out long if they had not freſh ſupplys of Victuals. All this while the General was daily ſending up Proviſions to our Stores upon the Frontiers, ſo that our Men were pretty well ſupplied every where; but the Ways were very bad, and Carriages ſcarce, ſo that the Trouble and Charge were both extraordinary.

His Majeſty's Expedition into Ireland aſcertain'd. We had News before this, that his Majeſty deſigned to come in Perſon for Ireland againſt the ſucceeding Campagne; and now it was made certain, which was great Satisfaction to all, both Officers and Souldiers, and that upon ſeveral Accounts; ſome had been diſpleaſed, judging they had not fair play in their Preferments; others hoped to ſhow themſelves worthy the King's Notice by their future Actions; and moſt People expected a conſiderable Sum of Mony to pay off the Army.

Then every one knew his Majeſty's Induſtry, Courage, and Reſolution to be ſo great, that he would endeavour to make a quick diſpatch; and therefore, upon ſome account or other, all our Friends were pleaſed with it, and the greateſt of our Enemies daunted to hear the News.

The French Land at Kingſale. The 14th of March about 5000 French Foot landed at Kingſale with two Generals, Count Lauzun and the Marqueſs de Lery. K. James ſending back Maj. Gen. Mackarty with as many Iriſh. Our Fleet was then attending the Queen of Spain, which made this Undertaking very eaſy to the French.

The 23d of March Col. Woolſely ſent out a Party beyond Cavan to bring in ſome Cattel for the uſe of his Gariſon; they got 1000 Head, and were purſued by the Enemy, but they brought off their Prey, and kill'd about 20 or 30. Clothes, Arms, Ammunion and Proviſion, arrived daily at Belfaſt from England.

month April Killiſhandra taken. April the 6th Col. Woolſely, with a detach'd Party of 700 Men, went to Attaque the Caſtle of Killiſhandra, about ſeven miles from Belturbat; which after he had fix'd his Mines, and made ſome brisk Attaque on it, (the Men firing in upon the Enemy at their Spike-holes) they ſurrendered to him; there being 160 Men in it, commanded by one Capt. Darchey: We loſt about eight Men in this Action, and left 100 Men in Gariſon there. Near the time of Col. Woolſely's return, the General ſent a Battalion of Danes to reinforce him at Belturbet.

On the 8th Col. Cutts, and Col. Babington's, with a Regiment of Daniſh Horſe, and ſome Recruits, landed at Whitehouſe and marched to Belfaſt. And on the 10th Col. Tiffin ſent out a Party from Belliſhannon, who brought off a Prey from the Neighbourhood of Sligo, and killed about 16 of the Enemy as they purſued them.

Sir Clouſley Shovel's Expedition to the Bay of Dublin. Sir Cloveſly Shovel came on the 12 to Belfaſt, as Convoy to ſeveral Ships that brought over Neceſſaries for the Army; and there having Intelligence of a Frigat at Anchor in the Bay of Dublin, and ſeveral other ſmall Veſſels loaden with Hides, Tallow, Wools, ſome Plate, and ſeveral other things deſigned for France, he ſailed April the 18th, (being Good-Friday,) to the Mouth of the Bay of Dublin, and there leaving the Monk, and ſome more great Ships, he took the Monmouth-Yatch, and one or two more, with ſeveral Long-Boats, and went to Polebeg, where the Frigat lay, (being one half of the Scotch Fleet that was taken in the Channel the Year before) having ſixteen Guns and four Patteraroes. King James when he heard of it, ſaid, It was ſome of his Loyal Subjects of England returning to their Duty and Allegiance, but when he ſaw them draw near the Ship, and heard the firing, he rid out towards Rings-end, whither gathered a vaſt crowd of People of all ſorts, and there were ſeveral Regiments drawn out of it were poſſible, to kill thoſe Bold Fellows at Sea, who durſt on ſuch a good Day perform ſo wicked a Deed (as they called it). Capt. Bennet that commanded the Frigat, run her on Ground, and after ſeveral firings from ſome other Ships. of theirs, as alſo from that, when they ſaw a Fireſhip coming in (which Sir Cloveſly had given a Sign to) they all quitted the Frigat, being at firſt about 40, but they loſt ſix or ſeven in the Action. Sir Cloveſly was in the Monmouth-Yatch where Capt. Wright was very ſerviceable both in carrying in the Fleet, and in time of Action. In going off, one of our Hoys ran a-Ground, and was dry when the Tide was gone; the reſt of the Boats were not far off, being full of Armed Men; and a Frenchman, one of K. Jame's Guards, coming nigh the Boats to fire his Piſtols in a Bravo, had his Horſe ſhot under him, and was forced to ſting off his Jack-Boots and run back in his ſtockings to ſave himſelf; ſome of the Sea-men went on Shoar and took his Saddle and Furniture. When the Tide came in, they went off with their Prize to the Ships below. K. James went back very much diſſatisfy'd, and 'twas reported he ſhould ſay, that all the Proteſtants in Ireland were of Cromwel's Breed, and deſerved to have their Throats Cut: but whatever his thoughts might be, I ſuppoſe his diſcretion would not allow him to ſay ſo. However all the Proteſtants that walked that way during the Action, were ſecured in Priſon, and two made their eſcape to our Boats.

month May Relief put into Charlemont. May the 2d. Col. Mackmahon with a Detachment of between 4 and 500 Men got in the night over the Bogs into Charlemont, with Ammunition and ſome ſmall quantities of Proviſions. Mounſieur Daveſant, Lieut. Col. to Cambon, having notice of it, and that they would return in a ſmall time, he divided his Men into three Parties, and the third Night after their going in, they were marching out again (or at leaſt others in their ſtand); the Road they took was where one Capt. La Charry with forty Men was placed; he let their Van go paſt him, then fired upon their main Body, and killed eight, with an Officer, the reſt retired again to Charlemont, leaving for haſte 110 Muſquets, ſix Halbards, ſome Drums, and ſeveral other things behind them. They made a ſecond Attempt the ſame day, and at night they ſallied out again upon ſome of Col. Callimott's Men, who retreated to 40 of Col. Cutt's, and then beat in the Iriſh again, killing nine, and taking ſix Priſoners. An Account of this being given to the General, he ſent two more Regiments of Foot to aſſiſt at the Bloccade, and ſome ſay he knew of Mackmahons going in, and ordered they ſhould ſuffer him to paſs, for he knew their ſtay there preſently would bring the Garriſon ſo low, that they would be forced to Surrender. When old Teague O Regan ſaw his Party beat in again two or three times, he was ſo Angry, that he ſwore, If they could not get out, they ſhould have no Entertainment nor Lodging within: And he was as good as his word, for they were forced to make little Huts in the dry Ditch within the Palifadoes, and upon the Counterſcarp, few or none of them being admitted within the Gates of the Caſtle; ſo that what between Teague on one ſide, and our Army on the other, the poor Fellows were in a moſt lamentable Condition.

Supplies from England. During theſe Tranſactions, there came Ships every day from England with whatever was needful for the Army, and in the ſecond Week of May there landed a Regiment of Brandenburgers with three Dutch, and a great many Engliſh Regiments; and by this time all the Recruits were come, and the Regiments cloathed, ſo that we had an excellent Army, though there wanted as yet a great part of the Train, and ſeveral other things, which his Majeſty did not think fit to leave England till they were in a readineſs. The General had ſent ſeveral Regiments up towards Charlemont, who now take the Field, and encamp almoſt round it; Cannon, and Mortars were alſo ſent up that way, in order to force old Teague out of his Neſt if he would not quit it willingly.

The General had ſent him a Summons ſometime before, but he was very ſurly, and bid the Meſſenger tell his Maſter from Teague O Regan, that he's an old Knave, and by St. Patrick he ſhall not have the Town at all, (and God knows there was no Town ſtanding but the old Caſtle). The Duke only ſmiled at the Anſwer, and ſaid, he would give Teague greater Reaſons to be angry in a ſmall time. Our Forces now lying ſo near them, and two Detachments being kept there againſt their wills, made every thing ſo very ſcarce, that they were reduced to great Straits, and no hopes of Relief appearing, Charlemont ſurrendered. on the 12th of May the Governour (having got leave from the Officer Commanding without, and a Guard for them) ſent a Lieutenant-Colonel, and a Captain, with Terms of Surrender to the Duke, which with ſome Ammendments were agreed to, for the Duke had an Account that the place was very ſtrong, and therefore, he choſe rather to give them Terms, than to ſpend time about it, ſince greater Matters were then in hand, and his Majeſty was expected over very ſuddainly; the General ordered the Iriſh Officers to be treated very civilly, and then the Articles were ſigned as followeth.

The Articles. 1. THat all the Gariſon, (viz.) Governour, Officers, Souldiers, Gunners, and all other Inhabitants (the Deſerters who run from us ſince the firſt of September laſt excepted) ſhall have their Lives ſecured, and march out with their Arms, Bag and Baggage, Drums beating, Colours flying, lighted Matches, Bullets in their Mouths, each Officer and Souldier 12 Charges of Powder, with Match and Ball proportionable, and their Horſes, without any Moleſtation in their Perſons and Goods now in their Poſſeſſion (not belonging to the Stores) upon any pretence whatſoever. 2. That the ſaid Gariſon may march the neareſt way to Dundalk, and not be compell'd to march above eight or nine miles a Day. 3. That all ſick and wounded Officers, and other Perſons that are not able to march at preſent, may remain within the ſaid Gariſon till they are able to march, and then to have a Paſs to go to the next Iriſh Gariſon. 4. That none of the Army under his Grace's Command ſhall enter the ſaid Fort, except ſuch as are appointed by him to take poſſeſſion of the ſame, till the Gariſon be marched clear out of the Gates. 5. That there ſhall be a ſufficient Convoy appointed for the ſaid Gariſon to conduct them to the place before mentioned. 6. That they ſhall deliver fully and wholly, without any imbezzlement or diminution, all the Stores belonging to the ſaid Fort; And that an Officer ſhall be immediately admitted to take an Account of the ſame. 7. That the Fort ſhall be put into the poſſeſſion of ſuch Forces as his Grace ſhall think fit, at eight of the Clock on Wedneſday, being the 14th day of May, at which Hour the ſaid Gariſon ſhall march out; and an Hour before the outward Gate ſhall be delivered to ſuch Forces as his Grace ſhall appoint, in Caſe a ſupply of one Month's Proviſion for 800 Men be not brought into the Gariſon for their Relief, between the ſigning hereof and the ſaid time. 8. That the above-mentioned Articles ſhall be inviolably performed on both ſides, without any Equivocation, mental Reſervation, or Fraud whatſoever, according to the true intent and meaning thereof. Laſtly, All Acts of Hoſtility ſhall ceaſe between the ſaid Gariſon and Army, ſo ſoon as notice can be given on both ſides.

The Articles being ſigned, a Truce was publiſhed, and the General ſent Robert Alloway Eſquire, Commiſſary of the Train, to take an Account of the Stores in the Gariſon; and all the next day the Country People were buying Goods from thoſe of the Gariſon; ſome of our Officers were invited in, and ſome of theirs came into our Camp. At the time appointed they marched out; and then drew up before the Gate, four Companies of Col. Babington's Regiment marching in. Moſt of our Regiments that there-abouts were drawn up as the Iriſh marched along towards Armagh, being all well Clothed and Armed, which made the Iriſh a little out of Countenance to ſee it. The Colonel of the Brandenburgh Regiment ſeem'd very much concern'd, that he ſhould come ſo far to fight againſt ſuch Scoundrels as the Iriſh ſeem'd by their Habits to be; ſome few of the Detachments being only as yet well clothed, though their Arms look'd well enough, and moſt of their Army had new Clothes afterwards.

The General himſelf went that morning from Legacory to ſee the Caſtle of Charlemont; and after the Iriſh had marched about half a Mile from it, they drew up in two Battalions, (about 400 Men in each) and there ſtood, till the General came to ſee them; beſides the Souldiers, they had alſo above 200 Iriſh Women and Children, who ſtood in a Body by themſelves between the two Battalions. A Deſcription of the Governor. Old Teague the Governour was mounted upon an old Ston'd Horſe, and he very lame with the Scratches, Spavin, Ring-bones, and other Infirmities; but withal ſo vitious, that he would fall a kicking and ſqueeling if any Body came near him. Teague himſelf had a great Bunch upon his Back, a plain Red Coat, an old weather-beaten Wig hanging down at full length, a little narrow white Beaver cock'd up, a yellow Cravatſtring but that all on one ſide, his Boots with a thouſand wrincles in them; and though it was a very hot day, yet he had a great Muff hanging about him, and to crown all, was almoſt tipſy with Brandy. Thus mounted and equipp'd, he approached the Duke with a Complement, but his Horſe would not allow him to make it a long one, for he fell to work preſently, and the Duke had ſcarce time to make him a civil Return; the Duke ſmiled afterwards, and ſaid, Teague's Horſe was very mad, and himſelf very drunk. The General then viewed the Iriſh Battalions, who all, both Officers and Souldiers, (after they had made him a great many Legs) ſtared upon him as if they knew not whether he was a Man, or ſome other ſtrange Creature, for the Iriſh were generally wont to ask one another, what is that Shambear that all this talk is of? Of the Gariſon. The Duke ſeeing ſo many Women and Children ask'd the reaſon of keeping ſuch a number in the Gariſon, which, no doubt, deſtroyed their Proviſions? He was anſwered, that the Iriſh were naturally very hoſpitable, and that they all fared alike; but the greateſt reaſon was, the Souldiers would not ſtay is the Garriſon without their Wives and Miſtreſſes. The Duke reply'd, That there was more Love then Policy in it: and after ſome ſmall time returned to the Caſtle, which he rid round, firſt without the Paliſado's, and then within the Rampart.

And of the Caſtle. The Place is very ſtrong, both by Nature and Art, being ſeated upon a piece of Ground (not four Acres) in the middle of a Bog, and only two ways to come to it, which the Iriſh had partly broke down: They had alſo burnt and deſtroyed all the Country about it, being well inhabited formerly. The Town of Charlemont ſtood by the Caſtle, as we were told, but the Iriſh had ſo levelled it, that nothing remained to ſhow that ever there had been any ſuch thing; yet they had caſt up ſeveral Forts and Breaſt works to prevent our Approaches to the Caſtle, which of it ſelf is a very regular Fortification. It's firſt paliſado'd round, then a dry Ditch and Counterſcarp; within this a double Rampart, and next a thick Stone-wall, with Flankers and Baſtions almoſt every way; there are two Draw-bridges, and both well fortified; and within all ſtood the Magazines, with a large ſquare Tower, where Teague, his Officers, and a great many of the Souldiers dwelt. They had left no Proviſions in the Caſtle but a little dirty Meal, and part of a Quarter of muſty Beaf: And certainly they were reduced to great Neceſſity, for as they marched along, ſeveral of them were chawing and feeding very heartily upon pieces of dried Hides, with Hair and all on. In Teague's own Room I ſaw ſeveral Papers; amongſt the reſt a Copy of a Letter writ formerly to ſome about K. James, giving an Account of the State of the Gariſon; and withal, a very true Relation of our Proceedings in ſeveral things, which ſhewed they wanted not Intelligence. One thing tho was falſe, for there it was ſaid, that the Creights, by coming down, and taking Protections from the General, had furniſhed us with Cattle and Proviſions, when as we were ready to ſtarve before. But that was an Iriſh Fancy, for ſeveral of the Creights came down, and would have ſtaid; but we ſent them back becauſe they brought nothing with them; and as to our ſelves, we were well ſupplied, either from the Stores, or from the Country.

There were two Prieſts in the Gariſon, and there happened a pleaſant Adventure between one of them and a Dragoon of Col. Hefford's Regiment, as they were guarding the Iriſh towards Armagh: they fell into Diſcourſe about Religion, the Point in hand was Tranſubſtantiation; the Dragoon being a pleaſant witty Fellow, drolled upon the Prieſt, and put him ſo to it, that he had little to ſay: upon which he grew ſo angry, that he fell a beating the Dragoon; but he not being uſed to Blows, thraſh'd his Fatherhood very ſeveraly. Upon which complaint being made to Teague as he was at Dinner with our Officers at Armagh; all that he ſaid was, That he was very glad of it, What te Deal had he to do to diſpute Religion with a Dragoon? The Duke ordered every one of the Iriſh Souldiers a Loaf out of the Stores at Armagh; and the Officers were all civilly entertained, which made them go away very well ſatisfied with the General, and highly commending our Army. There were in the Caſtle 17 Guns, moſt of which were Braſs, one large Mortar-piece, Bombs, Hand-Granadoes, Match, and ſmall Bullets a great quantity; as alſo 83 Barrels of Powder, with a great many Arms, and other things of uſe.

I know a great many blamed the Duke for not taking this Caſtle before he went to Dundalk, for then he might have had it for asking; however, it was not good to leave it behind him; but it's a miſtake, for the Iriſh had then a good Gariſon in it, and the General could not at that time divide his Army, nor yet whilſt he lay at Dundalk was it ſafe to endeavour it.

Charlemont was built by Sir Charles Blunt Lord Deputy of Ireland, who in Q. Elizabeth's Time had ſeveral Skirmiſhes with O-Neal Earl of Tirone in this Country, and built this Fort a little below a former One that was called Mount-Joy, and this he called after his Chriſtian Name Charlemont. It was afterwards improved by the preſent Lord Charlemont's Grand-father, and ſold to the King, as being a Place of Strength and Conveniency to keep the Northren Iriſh in their Duty. It ſtands upon the Black-water, which runs from thence to Port-a-down, where in 1641 a great many Proteſtants were drowned by the Iriſh.

But to return. Bellingargy taken. The ſame day that Charlemont was ſurrendered, Col. Woolſely went with a Party of 1200 Men to a Caſtle called Bellingargy, in which the Enemy had a Gariſon of above 200 Men. This was ſeated in a great Water, ſo that our Men muſt wade up to the middle to come at it. Col. Foulks commanded the Foot, and marched at the Head of them through the Water. The Enemy fired and killed us ſeveral Men; however they ſaw we were reſolved to have it; and ſo after ſeveral Faſcins brought to fill up the Ditches, and ſmart firings on both ſides, they hung out their white Flag, and agreed to march away without their Arms. Col. Woolſely going down to encourage the Men, was ſhot in the Scrotum, but ſoon recovered. We had 17 Men killed, 43 wounded, beſides two Captains and an Enſign killed.

Three Gentlemen come from Dublin, with an exact Account of the Poſture of Affairs there. About the middle of May came one Capt. King, Mr. Wingfield a Lawyer, and Mr. Trench a Clergy-men, with five or ſix more from Dublin, in an open Boat, and gave the Duke a more exact Account than any he had formerly, how all things went with the Iriſh. As to the Civil Affairs, the Government was in the hands of Five, (viz.) my Lord Tyrconnel, Sir Stephen Rice Lord Chief Baron, Lord Chief Juſtice Nugent, Bruno Talbot Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir William Ellis. All Buſineſs in Matters Civil was done by them; and if a Proteſtant petitioned the late King, it was referred to thoſe, and never any anſwer given, except it was indorſed on the Back; this ſolicited by ſuch an One, who muſt be ſome eminent Papiſt, and then perhaps it was anſwered. Theſe Men ordered all the Proteſtants Goods to be ſeized, that were fit for Traffick, and ſent to France. The late King pretended to pay them the half value in Braſs Mony, but that was ſcarce ever got; and often if a Man was known to have Mony, he was ſent to Goal under pretence of High-Treaſon. Col. Simon Lutteril was Governor of Dublin. As to the Churches, the late King ſeemed to incline to continue Proteſtants in them; but what endeavours he made to reſtore Churches in the Country, they were fruſtrated; ſometimes under pretence that the King had no Power in thoſe Matters (and ſome ſay he never deſign'd they ſhould) and therefore his Orders were not to be obeyed, or elſe his Clergy had not ſo eaſily diſſwaded him from performing what he had promiſed, except in the Buſineſs about the Church of Limerick, wherein he obſerved, that when it was for the purpoſe of the Papiſts to have the Proteſtants turned out of Town, then they were very numerous, and conſequently dangerous; but when the contrary anſwered their Ends, as in the Inſtance of deſiring the Church of Limerick, then the Proteſtants were made very few, which he took notice of, and the Proteſtants at Limerick keep the Cathedral all this while. They gave an account alſo that our Churches were generally ſhut up, upon any Alarm from Sea, or Report from the Army, and the Proteſtants impriſoned.

As to the Military Affairs, they gave an Account, that the French about 5000. Men, came to Dublin ſome-time after their landing, being well armed and clothed. Soon after, the poſſeſſion of the Town and Caſtle were given to Lauzun, whom the French acknowledged to ſerve, and not K. James; and they were generally at free Quarter upon the Proteſtants; nor would Monſieur Lauzun ſet his Guards in Town till he had poſſeſſion of the Caſtle. That all care was taken to provide Clothes for the Army, by obliging the Clothiers to make ſo many Yards of Cloth a Month; the Hatters, Hats; the Shoemakers, Shoes, &c. And that they had conſiderable Stores of Corn and other Proviſions at Drogheda, Trim, Navan, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone and Limerick. The Method they propoſed to deal with K. William's Army, was, to make good the P • ſſes upon the Neury Mountains, and at Dundalk, to ſpin out the War, as by Order from France, and diſpute their Ground without a general Battel till they came to the Boyne, and there to defend the Paſs but ſtill without a Battel, if they could help it, they hoping in a ſmall time to hear ſome extraordinary thing from a Party for K. James in England, and from the French Fleet. Thoſe and ſeveral other things they gave an Account of, firſt to the Duke, and afterwards to the King.

Towards the latter end of May we had ſeveral ſmall Parties that went abroad, one to Finnah, and another to Kells, bringing off Horſes, Cattel, and ſome Priſoners. And the 6th of June Count Schonberg came to Belfaſt. At the ſame time arrived our Train, ſome Arms, Ammunition, and 200 Carpenters and other Artificers for the Service of the Army.

month June The King arrives in Ireland And now the general talk and expectation was of the King's coming over, who left Kenſington the 4th of June, took Shipping at Highlake the 12th, and on the 14, being Saturday, he landed at Carickfergus about four a Clock in the Afternoon. His Majeſty went through part of the Town and viewed it; and notice being given immediately to the General, (who had prepared Sir William Franklin's Houſe at Belfaſt for his Majeſty's Reception, and was there attending his Landing) his Grace went in his Coach, with all ſpeed, to wait on the King: Maj. Gen. Kirk, and ſeveral Officers that were there expecting the King's landing, attended the Duke; his Majeſty was met by them near the White-Houſe, and received them all very kindly, coming in the Duke's Coach to Belfaſt; he was met alſo without the Town by a great Concourſe of People, who at firſt could do nothing but ſtare, never having ſeen a King before in that part of the World; but after a while, ſome of them beginning to Huzzah, the reſt all took it (as Hounds do a ſcent) and followed the Coach through ſeveral Regiments of Foot that were drawn up in Town towards his Majeſty's Lodgings, and happy were they that could but get a ſight of him.

That Evening his Highneſs Prince George, the Duke of Ormond, my Lord of Oxford, my Lord Scarborough, my Lord Mancheſter, the Honourable Mr. Boyle, and a great many Perſons of Quality landed, only Maj. Gen. Scravenmore ſtaid at Cheſter till all things were come over, who has taken a great deal of pains in our Iriſh Expedition. There came alſo ſome Mony a-ſhore, but exceedingly ſhort of what was hoped for. Next day the King heard a Sermon preached by Dr. Loyſe, on Heb. 6. 11. Through Faith they ſubdued Kingdoms; and the ſame day came ſeveral of the Nobility, Officers, Gentry and Clergy to wait on his Majeſty; And on Munday Lieut. Gen. Douglaſs came from Hambleton's Ban where he had been Encamped for nigh a Fortnight, and Dr. Walker, with a great many more of the Epiſcopal Clergy, preſented his Majeſty with an Addreſs, being introduced by Duke Schonberg and the Duke of Ormond.

To the King's moſt Excellent Majeſty, The humble Addeſs of the Clergy of the Church of Ireland now in Ʋlſter.

An Addreſs preſented to his Majeſty. GReat Sir, We your Majeſty's Loyal Subjects, out of the deepeſt ſenſe of the Bleſſing of this Day with moſt joyful Hear to congratulate your Majeſty's ſafe Landing in this Kingdom. And as we muſt always praiſe God for the Wonders he hath already wrought by your Majeſty's Hands, ſo we cannot but admire and applaud Your remarkable Zeal for the Proteſtant Religion, and the Peace of theſe Kingdoms. We owe all imaginable Thanks to God, and Acknowledgment to your Majeſty, for the Calm and Safety we have enjoyed by the Succeſs of your Arms, under the happy and wiſe Management of his Grace the Duke of Schonberg. And we do not doubt but God will hear the Prayers of his Church, and crown your Majeſty's Arms with ſuch Succeſs and Victory, that thoſe happy beginnings of our Joy may terminate in a full Eſtabliſhment of our Religion, and our Peace, and with laſting Honours to your Majeſty, May Heaven bleſs and preſerve your Majeſty in ſuch glorious Ʋndertakings, give ſtrength and proſperity to ſuch generous Deſigns, that all your Enemies may flee before You; that your Subjects may rejoice in Your eaſy Victory, and that all the World may admire and honour You. Give us leave, great Sir after the moſt humble and grateful manner, to offer our ſelves to your Majeſty, and to give all aſſurance of a ſteady Loyalty and Duty to your Majeſty, of our Reſolution to promote and advance your Service and Intereſt to the utmoſt of our Power. And that we will always with the moſt hearty importunity pray, That Heaven may protect your Royal Perſon from all Dangers, that we may long enjoy the Bleſſings of your Government and Victories, and that after a long and peaceful Reign here, God may change your Lawrels into a Crown of Glory.

The King ſtaid at Belfaſt till Thurſday, where on the 19th he ſent out a Proclamation, encouraging all People of what perſwaſion ſoever to live at Home peaceably, commanding the Officers and Souldiers, upon no Pretext whatever, to Rob or Plunder them. That day the King dined at Lisburn with the General, and then went to Hillsburough, where he ſent out an Order on the 20th, forbidding the preſſing of Horſes from the Countrey People: And ſeeing that things did not go on ſo faſt as he deſired, he expreſt ſome Diſſatisfaction, ſaying, that he did not come there to let Graſs grow under his Feet. The Army takes the Field. And he made his Words good, for the whole Army now received Orders to march into the Field: on the 21th, ſeveral Engliſh Regiments met and encamped at Loughbritland, ſome being already at Newry with Maj. Gen. Kirk, and Lieut. Gen. Douglaſs, between Hambleton's Ban and Tandrogee with 22 Regiments of Foot, and eight or nine of Horſe and Dragoons. The Enemy had formed a Camp ſometime before this at Ardee, whither K. James came about the 18th, with 5000 French Foot, leaving Col. Latterel with about 6000 of the Militia in Dublin; who when the late King was gone, ſhut up all the Proteſtants in Priſon, ſo that all the Churches and publick Places were full of them. The Enemy at Dundalk. About the 19th or 20th the Enemies Army came and Encamped beyond the River at Dundalk all along where our laſt Camp had been the Year before.

A Party of ours falls into an Ambuſh. On Sunday Morning the 22d, a Party of Col. Leviſons Dragoons, commanded by Capt. Crow, and a party of Foot under Capt. Farlow, in all about 200, went from Newry towards Dundalk to diſcover the Enemy, and to ſee if the Ways were mended according to the Duke's Order. We had ſent out ſeveral ſmall Parties before, and the Enemy had notice of it, which occaſioned them to lay an Ambuſcade of about 400 Men at a place half-way, where they had caſt up ſome Works the Year before. In that next the Paſs they had placed part of their Foot, and had the reſt with the Horſe ſome diſtance off; the Morning was very foggy and favoured their Deſign, ſo that after greateſt part of our Foot were got over the Paſs, and the Dragoons advanced about 200 Yards beyond it, then the Iriſh fired from the Fort; and at the ſame time another party charged our Dragoons, who being ſome of them Recruits, retreated paſt our own Foot, but moſt of them advanced again, and the Engagement was pretty ſharp, yet our Party not knowing but the Enemy might have more Men in covert, retreated over the Paſs and there drew up; but the Iriſh did not think fit to advance upon them. Capt. Farlow and another Gentleman were taken Priſoners, and we had about 22 kill'd; but the Enemy loſt more, as we underſtood by ſome Deſerters that came off next Day.

The King comes to the Camp. that Afternoon His Majeſty, Prince George, the General, the Duke of Ormond, and all the great Men came to the Camp at Loughbritland. The King had given Orders before His coming, that we ſhould remove our Camp from the South ſide of the Town to the North weſt, that His Majeſty might take a View of the Regiments as they marched: the Weather was then very dry and windy, which made the Duſt in our marching troubleſome; I was of opinion, with ſeveral others, that this might be uneaſie to a King, and therefore believed that His Majeſty would ſit on Horſeback at a diſtance in ſome convenient place, to ſee the Men march by Him, but He was no ſooner come, than He was in amongſt the throng of them, and obſerved every Regiment very critically: This pleaſed the Soldiers mightily, and every one was ready to give what Demonſtrations it was poſſible, both of their Courage and Duty. The King and the Prince had their moving Houſes ſet up, Thoſe Houſes were made of Wood, but ſo convenient that they could be ſet up in an hours time. and never after lay out of the Camp during Their ſtay in Ireland.

His Majeſty loſt no time, but ſent Major General Scravemoor (who now was come over) that Evening with 500 Horſe and a good Detachment of Foot, commanded by Lieutenant Collonel Caulfield, to diſcover the Ways and obſerve the Enemy, they marched over part of the Barony of Phuſe, and almoſt to Dundalk, returning the 23d in the Evening: That Morning His Majeſty with a Party of Horſe went four Miles beyond Newry, and return'd towards the Evening to the Camp at Loughbritland: At His coming back ſome brought Him a Paper to Sign about ſome Wine, and other things for His Majeſty's own uſe; but He was diſſatisfied that all things for the Soldiers were not ſo ready as he deſired, and with ſome heat proteſted, That He would drink Water rather than His Men ſhould want. A little after His Majeſty received a Letter by an Aid du Camp from Major General Kirk, Acquainting the King, That the Party he ſent out that Morning went as far as Dundalk, and ſeeing no Enemy, the Officer Commanding ſent a Trooper to the Mount beyond Bedloes-Caſtle, from thence he could ſee a great Duſt towards a place called Knock-Bridge, by which he underſtood that the Enemy were marching off towards Ardee: His Majeſty when He read the Letter did not ſeem to be much concerned whether they had ſtaid or not. At the ſame time there were two Enſigns brought to Him, who had deſerted the Enemy, and gave an Account, that the Body which then was removed from Dundalk was about 20000. It was the diſcovery of our Advance Parties which made them draw off, and they gave it out that they would ſtay for us at the Boyne. Our Army advances. The King ſent Orders back to the Major General to march a Party next Morning over the Paſs towards Dundalk.

The 24th. in the Morning Lieutenant-General Douglas decamped and marched over the Paſs towards Dundalk: And that day His Majeſty ſet out a Proclamation to be read at the Head of every Regiment, That no Officer or Soldier ſhould forcibly take any thing from the Country People and Sutlers, nor preſs any Horſes that were coming to the Camp, that thereby we might be the better ſupplied with Proviſions. On the 25th. we marched from Loughbritland to Newry, where a Deſerter of Sir Henry Bellaſis's Regiment was ſhot. And on the 26th. towards Dundalk; on our march, we heard great Shooting at Sea, which we once lookt upon to be the French and Engliſh Fleets, but it was only our own Fleet coming towards Dundalk. We encamped that Night about a mile to the South-Eaſt of our laſt Years Camp: As we got near to Dundalk ſome of my Lord Meath's Men eſpied ſeveral of the Iriſh skulking, not far from the Road, to obſerve our march; they purſued them towards the Mountains, killed one, and took another, who proved a French Man that had deſerted from Hillsborough about three weeks before. On the 27th. we marched through Dundalk, and encamped about a mile beyond it, where the whole Army joyned, Engliſh, Dutch, Danes, Germans and French, Their Number. making in all not above 36000, though the World call'd us a third part more: but the Army was in all reſpects as well provided as any Kingdom in the World ever had one for the number of Men. That Afternoon a party of Epingar's Dragoons came within ſight of a party of the Enemies Horſe, who retreated towards their own Camp, which then was on this ſide the Boyne. I was told by a General Officer of theirs ſince, that whenſoever our Army moved, the Iriſh had a ſmall party of Horſe that knew the Country, and kept themſelves undiſcovered in ſome convenient place, to give them an Account of our motions and poſture. They had fortified Dundalk laſt Winter very regularly and well, not, I ſuppoſe, that they did deſign to maintain it in the Spring, but to ſecure the Garriſon from any attempts that we might make during the Winter: As we went through the Town we found ſeveral of the Iriſh that lay dead and unburied, and ſome were alive, but juſt only breathing. That evening a party of 1500 Horſe and Dragoons went out, and next morning early the King followed them. His Majeſty went as far as Ardee and viewed the Ground where the Enemy encamped laſt Year; He returned to His Camp that night, but left the party to make good that Poſt.

On Saturday morning the 29th. there hap'ned an Iriſh Man and a Woman to be near a Well that was by the King's Tent, they had got ſomething about them which the Soldiers believed was Poyſon, to ſpoil the Waters, and ſo deſtroy the King and His Army; this ſpread preſently abroad, and a great many Soldiers flocked about them, they were immediately both Judges and Executioners, hanged the Woman, and almoſt cut the Man in pieces.

That afternoon the King views the Daniſh Forces, We march to Ardee. and early next morning, being Sunday the 30th. of June, the whole Army marched in three Lines beyond Ardee, which the Enemy had likewiſe fortified, eſpecially the Caſtle; we marched within ſight of the Sea a great part of this day, and could ſee our Ships ſail all along towards Drogheda, which certainly muſt needs be a great mortification to the Iriſh: upon the Road as we marched there was a Soldier hanged for deſerting, and a Boy for being a ſpy and a murderer; A remarkable ſtory. the ſtory of this Boy is very remarkable, which was thus, About three weeks before we took the Field, one of my Lord Drogheda's Sergeants was gathering Wood-ſorrel nigh his Quarters at Tandrogee, this Boy comes to him and tells him, if he'll go along, he would take him to a place hard by, where he might get ſeveral good Herbs; he follows the Boy, and is taken by five or ſix Iriſh Men that were Armed, they take him to a little Houſe and bind him, but after ſome good words unty his Hands, but withal kept him a priſoner, deſigning to carry him to Dundalk next day; he endeavours in the night to make his eſcape, and did it, though they purſued him and wounded him in ſeveral places, the Boy himſelf being one of the forwardeſt. Next week the ſame Boy was at Legacory, where he was telling ſome Dragoons, that if they would go along with him, he would take them to a place where they might get ſeveral Horſes and a good prey of Cattle; they were very ready to hearken to him, when at the ſame time one of my Lord Drogheda's Soldiers going that way by chance, knew the Boy, (for he had been often in their Quarters) and having heard the ſtory of the Sergeant, told it the Dragoons; upon which the Boy was ſeized, and after ſometime confeſſed, that all the laſt Dundalk-Camp he had gone frequently between the two Armies, that he had trapan'd ſeveral, and had half a Crown Braſs money for every one that he could bring in; that he could obſerve as he went amongſt our Regiments how they lay, and what condition they were in, both as to Health and other matters; that he had lately ſtab'd a Dragoon, in at the Back, as his Father held him in talk, and that his Father would give him nothing but the Dragoons Hat and Waſte-coat, which he had then on: all this I have heard the Boy ſay, and much more to the ſame purpoſe, he ſpoke Engliſh and Iriſh both very well, he was brought priſoner to this place; and upon the march, after he had received Sentence of Death, he profer'd for a Braſs Six-pence to hang a Country Man that was a priſoner for buying the Soldiers Shooes; and when he came to be hang'd himſelf, he was very little concern'd at it.

The King was always upon Action; He obſerved the Country as he rid along, and ſaid it was worth Fighting for, and ordered the manner of Encamping that day himſelf: After that, with a ſmall party, His Majeſty before He eat or drank rid about four miles further towards the Enemy. As the Army was marching through Ardee, a French Soldier hap'ned to be very ſick with drinking Water, and deſpairing to live, pluckt out his Beads and fell to his Prayers; which one of the Danes ſeeing, ſhot the French Man dead, and took away his Muſquet, without any further Ceremony. There were none of the Iriſh to be ſeen but a few poor ſtarved Creatures who had ſcraped up ſome of the Husks of Oats nigh a Mill, to eat inſtead of better Food. It's a wonder to ſee how ſome of thoſe Creatures live; I my ſelf have ſeen them ſcratching like Hens amongſt the Cindars for Victuals; which put me in mind of a ſtory that I have read in the Annals of Ireland, where it is ſaid, that in the year 1317. the Ulſter Iriſh roved up and down the Kingdom in a Body, whilſt the Scots Army was down towards Limerick, and thoſe people were ſo hunger-ſtarved at laſt, that in Church-yards they took the Bodies out of their Graves, and in their Skulls boild the Fleſh and fed thereupon, and women did eat their own Children for hunger, ſo that of ten thouſand, there remained at laſt only three hundred, the reaſon of this plague the Superſtition of thoſe Times attributed to their eating of fleſh in Lent, for which this Curſe came upon them.

The Iriſh Army beyond the Boyne. By this time his Majeſty underſtood that all the Iriſh Army was marched over the Boyn, the night before, except flying parties, ſo that on Monday morning, the laſt of June, very early, our whole Army began to move in three Lines towards the Boyn, which was but eight ſhort miles off. Ours advance. The Enemy being near, our advance Guards of Horſe, commanded by Sir John Lanier, made their approaches very regularly, and by that time they had got within two miles of Drogheda, his Majeſty was in the front of them: Some of our Dragoons went into an old Houſe, where they found about 200 Scythes ſtretch'd out upon Beams, which the Iriſh, either had forgot, or had not time to carry over, they brought one of them to the King, who ſmiled, and ſaid it was a deſperate weapon.

His Majesty views their Army. A little way further there was an Hill, to the Eaſt of the Enemies Camp, and North from the Town; upon this His Majeſty went, from whence he could ſee the Town, and all the Enemies Camp which lay to the Weſt of the Town, all along the River ſide in two Lines, here his Majeſty had a great deal of diſcourſe with the Prince, Duke Schonberg, Duke of Ormond, Count Solmes, Major General Scravemore, my Lord Sidney, and other great Officers, who were all curious in making their Obſervations upon the Enemy, Major General Scravemore called them une petet Armee (for we could not reckon above five or ſix and forty Regiments that lay Encamped) his Majeſty Anſwered, that they might have a great many men in Town, that there was alſo an Hill to the Southweſt, beyond which they might have men Encamped, and that poſſibly they did not ſhew all their Numbers however he ſaid he was reſolved to ſee very ſoon what they were. Such a great Prince, knowing that to be warm in undertaking a great Deſign, and cool in juſtifying it, when it comes to a puſh, is ſeldom attended with Succeſs or Reputation, his Majeſty therefore went boldly on, and obtain'd both.

By this time our Horſe were advancing a pace, and the Enemy we could diſcern were all in a hurry, to get up their Horſes, which were many of them at Graſs, and to ſet all things in order; his Majeſty ſent out ſeveral parties of Horſe, ſome towards the Town of Drogheda, and ſome towards the paſs at Old Bridge, and then rid ſoftly along weſtward, viewing the Enemies Camp as he paſſed, he made a little ſtop towards ſome old Houſes and every one commended mightily the order of our Horſe marching in, here it was that the Enemy fired their firſt Guns, from a Batterey of ſix Canons, that they had a good way below, but they did no hurt; two of our Troopers, went to the very Ford, and took away an Horſe, as alſo a Barrel of Ale that the Iriſh had been taken over.

At Old Bridge. His Majeſty rid on to the paſs at Old Bridge, and ſtood upon the ſide of the Bank within Muſquet ſhot of the Ford, there to make his obſervations on the Enemies Camp and poſture, there ſtood a ſmall a party of the Enemies Horſe in a little Iſland within the River, and on the other bank there were ſeveral Hedges, and little Iriſh Houſes almoſt Cloſe to the River; there was one Houſe likewiſe of Stone, that had a Court, and ſome little works about it, this the Iriſh had filled with Souldiers, and all the Hedges, and little Houſes we ſaw, were lined and filled with Muſquiteers, there were alſo ſeveral Breſt works caſt up to the right, juſt at the Ford. However, this was the place thro' which his Majeſty reſolved to force his way, and therefore he and his great Officers ſpent ſome time in contriving the methods of paſſing, and the places where to plant our Batteries. After ſome time, his Majeſty rid about 200 yards further up the River, nigh the Weſt of all the Enemies Camp, and whilſt his Army was marching in, he alighted, and ſate him down upon a riſing ground, where he refreſhed himſelf, whilſt his Majeſty ſate there, we obſerved five Gentlemen of the Iriſh Army, ride ſoftly along the other ſide, and make their Remarks upon our Men as they marched in, thoſe I heard afterwards, were the Duke of Berwick, my Lord Tyrconel, Sarcefield, Parker; and ſome ſay Lauzun. Captain Pownel of Collonel Leviſons Regiment was ſent with a party of Horſe and Dragoons towards the Bridge of Slane, and whilſt his Majeſty ſate on the Graſs (being about an hour) there came ſome of the Iriſh with long Guns, and ſhot at our Dragoons, who went down to the River to Drink, and ſome of ours went down to return the favour; then a party of about forty Horſe, advanced very ſlowly, and ſtood upon a plowed field over againſt us, for near half an hour, and ſo retired to their Camp; this ſmall party, (as I have heard from their own Officers ſince) brought two Field Pieces amongſt them, droping them by an Hedge on the plowd Land, undiſcover'd; they did not offer to fire them, till his Majeſty was mounted, and then he and the reſt riding ſoftly the ſame way back, their Gunner fires a Piece, which kill'd us two Horſes and a Man about 100 yards above where the King was, but immediately comes a ſecond, which had almoſt been a fatal one, for it Graized upon the Bank of the River, and in the riſing ſlanted upon the Kings right ſhoulder, took out a piece of his Coat, and tore the Skin and Fleſh, and afterward broke the head of a Gentlemans Piſtol.

The King wounded. Mr. Coningsby (now one of the Lords Juſtices of Ireland) ſeeing his Majeſty ſtruck, rid up and put his handkerchief upon the place, his Majeſty took little notice of it, but rid on for about forty yards further, where there was an high Bank on either ſide, but it being open below, we returned the very ſame way again, the Enemies Canon firing upon us all the while, they did ſome damage amongſt our Horſe that were drawing up juſt before them, killing two of the Guards, and about nine of Coll. Coys Horſes with three Troopers, and alſo ſome few more out of Coll. Byerleys, and other Regiments, which made the King give orders for his Horſe to draw a little backwards, to have the advantage of a riſing ground between them and the Canon.

When the Enemy ſaw their great Shot diſturbed us, they ſet up a moſt prodigeous ſhout all over the Camp, as if our whole Army had been undone, and ſeveral Squadrons of their Horſe drew down upon a plain towards the River, but in ſuch a place as they knew it was impoſſible for us to come at them, the River being very deep and a Bank of nigh ten yards high on our ſide. I have often obſerved the Iriſh very fond of ſhouting and Hallowing before an Engagement, and there is a Tradition amongſt them, that whoſoever does not Shout and Huzzah as the reſt do in Battle, he's ſuddainly caught up from the ground into the Air, and ſo into a certain deſart vale in the County of Kerry, where he eateth Graſs and lapeth Water, hath ſome uſe of reaſon, but not of Speech, but ſhall be caught at length by Hunters and their Hounds, and ſo brought home, but this ſtory is a little too light for ſo grave an Author as Cambden, tho' he only relates it as a fooliſh fancy.

The King went to change his Coat, and get his ſhoulder dreſſed, and then rid about to ſee his Army come in, which were all this while marching, and encamping in two Lines. And here I cannot but take notice of a ſignal peice of Providence in the preſervation of the Kings Perſon, for whatever ill effects it might have had for the future, it would have been of fatal conſequence to the Army at that time, if he had fallen, ſince inſtead of our going to them, the Iriſh would have been ready to have come to us next morning, and how we would have received them there's none can tell. I have met with ſeveral that will not believe, that the King was touched with a Canon Bullet at all, and if ſo, that it was impoſſible it ſhould not kill him, but I was preſent when the thing hapned, and therefore can affirm the truth of it. I have ſeen a great many odd accidents in wounds with Canon Bullets, and yet the Parties live, particularly one of my Lord Drogheda's Men, who had all the Fleſh of his right Cheek ſhot from the bone without breaking his Jaw, and he's yet alive and very well. Tho it ſeems at the Court of France, they could not believe any ſuch thing, when they made Bone-fires for King Williams death.

But to go one with the Story, Our Guns arrive about three a Clock the firſt of our Field Pieces came up, and we loſt no time, but took two or three of them down towards the River, and Planted them on a Furry bank over againſt the paſs, the firſt ſhot (made by one Nelſon) we kill'd an Officer, that lay ſick in the Houſe beyond the River, and the ſecond or third, we diſmounted one of thoſe Field Pieces that the Iriſh had been ſo brisk withal, and then their Horſe that were drawn up towards the River made what haſte they could into the Camp; we continued all that afternoon pelting at them and they at us, their Canon did us little more harm, but our Gunners planted ſeveral Batteries, and threw a great many ſmall Bombs into their Camp, which obliged them to remove ſome of their Tents, one Bullet as we heard afterwards fell very nigh a Crowd of great Officers, that were at the late Kings Tent, and kill'd a Horſeman that ſtood Centinel, they then removed their Counſel to ſome other place, and were not admitted to crowd there any more. A French-Man of ours, that afternoon, run thro the River before our faces to the Enemy, When they ſaw him coming, a great many of them came down to receive him, and crowding about him to hear news, our Canon threw a Bullet amongſt the very thickeſt of them, which kill'd ſeveral, and as twas ſaid the Fellow himſelf, however the reſt made what haſt they could back again. We had ſome Deſerters alſo that came from them to us, but I heard of no more that left our Army, except that one man. There was one Deſerter that gave the King an account, that the Enemy were about 25000 Men, and that they had ſent away part of their heavy Baggage towards Dublin.

The King calls a Counſel of War. About 8 or 9 a Clock at night, the King called a Council of War, wherein he declared, that he was reſolved to paſs the River the next day, which Duke Schonberg at firſt oppoſed but ſeeing his Majeſty poſitive in it, he adviſed to ſend part of our Army that night at 12 a Clock, to paſs the River at, or near Slane-bridge, ſome three miles above, and ſo to get between the Enemy and the paſs at Duleek, which was about four miles behind them, but this advice was not taken. One thing under conſideration was, where to get Guides that were truſty and good, whilſt this matter was in queſtion, my Lord George Hambleton was by, who immediately brought four or five of his Iniskilling Officers that knew the Fords very well, and took upon them to Guide the Army next day, and here it was concluded how the Army ſhould March, and who ſhould Command at the different Poſts, which was ordered thus, Lieutenant General Douglas was to Command the Right wing of the Foot, and Count Schonberg the Horſe, who were to march early, towards the Bridge of Slane and other Fords above to flank the Enemy, or get between them and Duleek, my Lord Portland, and my Lord Overkisk had their Poſts here as Mareſchals de Camp, the left wing of our Horſe were to paſs between the Enemies Camp and Drogheda, whilſt in the mean time a Body of Foot forced their way at the Paſs at Old Bridge.

The Enemy held likewiſe a Council of War, wherein Lieutenant General Hambleton, adviſed to ſend a party of Dragoons to a Ford that was below the Town of Drogheda (which we either knew not of, or elſe did not regard) and all the reſt (being eight Regiments) with their whole left line towards the Bridge of Slane. King James's Anſwer was that he would ſend fifty Dragoons up the River, which the other ſeem'd to be Amazed at, the place to be defended, being of ſuch importance; however they reſolved to defend the Paſſes, and if it were poſſible to retreat with their Army towards Dublin, in order to which they drew off moſt of their Canon in the night.

Orders that night. Towards the cloſe of the Evening, the Canons ceaſed on both ſides, and Orders were given out, that every Souldier ſhould be provided with a good ſtock of Ammunition, and all to be ready at the break of day, to March at a minutes warning, with every man a green Bough or Sprig in his Hat, to diſtinguiſh him from the Enemy (who wore pieces of paper in their Hats) All the Baggage with the Souldiers great • oats, were to be left behind with a ſmall Guard in every Regiment to look after them. The word that night was Weſtminster, his Majeſty was not idle, but about 12 a Clock at night, rid with torches quite through his Army, and then

month July The Battle at the Boyn. Tueſday the firſt of July 1690. The day was very clear, as if the Sun it ſelf had a mind to ſee what would happen; about ſix a Clock, Lieutenant General Douglas marched towards the Right with the Foot, and Count Schonberg with the Horſe, which the Enemy perceiving, drew out their Horſe and Foot towards their Left, in order to oppoſe us: Our Right wing draws out. the Right wing at firſt were ordered to paſs all at Slane, but being better inform'd, ſeveral Regiments were Commanded to paſs at other Fords between our Camp and that place. As ſome of our Horſe marched to the River, there ſtood a Regiment of the Enemies Dragoons (ſent thither over night) nigh the Bank on the other ſide who fired upon us, and then thought to have retreated to their main Body, but before they could do that, they were flanked in a Lane, and about ſeventy of them cut off; we met with little more oppoſition in paſſing the River but marching forwards we found the Enemy drawn up in two lines: we had then twenty four Squardons of Horſe and Dragoons, with ſix Battalions of Foot, thoſe being too few, Lieutenant general Douglas ſent for more Foot, and in the mean time we drew up in two lines alſo, my Lord Portland adviſing for the more ſecurity to mix our Horſe and Foot, Squadron with Battalion; (this is no new way of managing, but was firſt practiced by Caeſar at the Battle of Pharſalia againſt Pompey, for he there quite altered the manner of embattleing amongſt the Romans, covering one of his Flanks with a ſmall River, and then placing ſeveral Battallions of his beſt Foot amongſt his Squadrons in the other, by which he ſoon routed Pompeys Horſe, and then falling into the Flanks, and Rear of his Enemy, obtained the Victory.) However more Foot coming up, our great Officers altered the firſt Figure, and drew all the Horſe to the right, by which they outflanked the Enemy conſiderably. But as our men were advanceing, they met with a great deal of difficulty in the Ground, for there were large Corn Fields, with great Ditches, and thoſe very hard to be got over, (eſpecially for the Horſe, who were obliged to advance in order, when they were in the face of an Enemy,) and beyond all thoſe, there was ſuch a Bogg, as few of our men ever ſaw before; the Horſe tho' went to the right of it, but the Foot being Commanded to march through, found it as great an hardſhip as Fighting it ſelf, yet when the Enemy ſaw our men take the Bog, inſtead of charging them in it, they retreated in haſt towards Duleek, which Count Schonberg ſeeing, fell in amongſt their Foot with his Horſe and kill'd a great many.

The King did not know of this diſadvantage of Ground, but computed the time when he thought our right wing was got well over, and then he ordered his Foot to attack the paſs at Old Bridge; during all which a great part of the Enemies Horſe and Foot were ſtill marching towards Slane, (where every one expected the main Battle would be,) and in their march, our Canon plaid continually upon them, yet tho we kill'd ſeveral it did not diſorder their Trops. The blew Dutch guards poſt being to the right, they were the firſt that took the River at Old Bridge: The Iriſh had lined the Houſes, Breaſtworks, and Hedges beyond the River, with my Lord Tyrconnels Regiment of Foot Guards, and ſome other Companyes; they had poſted alſo ſeven Regiments of Foot, about 150 yards backwards, who ſtood drawn up behind ſome little hills, to ſhelter them from our Canon, which played all this while, beſides theſe, were 2 Troops of Guards, 4 Troops of my Lord Tyrconnels, and 4 Troops of Parkers Regiments of Horſe, poſted in the ſame manner, (tho if they had poſted the French here inſtead of the Iriſh it would have been more to their advantage, but the reaſon of this was, the Iriſh Guards would not loſe the poſt of Honour.) The Dutch Guards take the River. The Dutch beat a march till they got to the Rivers ſide, and then the Drums ceaſing, in they went, ſome eight or ten a breaſt, being preſently almoſt up to the middle in the Stream (for they ſtopt the Current by their ſudden motion, and this made it deeper than uſual) the Enemy did not fire till our Men were towards the midſt of the River, and then a whole peal of Shot came from the Hedges, Breaſt-works, Houſes, and all about, yet we could not perceive any fall except one, and another ſtagger'd; he that was formoſt was a Lieutenant of Granadeers, who as he got footing on the other ſide, drew up two files of men, then ſtoopt, and they fired over him at the next hedge, which was not fifteen yards from them, at which fire thoſe in the Hedge quitted it, which the reſt ſeeing, all left their Poſts, and were followed with a Volley of Shot from our men that were Advancing. And are charged by a Squadron of Horſe. The Iriſh Foot run ſcattering into the next Field, and before the Dutch could get well over, and draw up, they were charged very bravely by a Squadron of the Iriſh Horſe, who came down in a full carreer, but were quickly beat off again. One would have thought that Men and Horſes had riſen out of the Earth, for now there appeared a great many Battalions and Squadrons of the Enemy, all on a ſuddain, who had ſtood behind the little Hills. We had two French Regiments, and Collonel St. John's, who paſſed the River near the ſame time the Dutch did, but about 100 Yards below; which Lieutenant-General Hambleton perceiving, (who commanded at the Paſs) he Advanced with a party of Foot to the very River, and himſelf with ſome others went into it, giving orders at the ſame time for my Lord Antrim's Regiment, and ſome more, to go and Flank Sir John Hanmer and Count Naſſaw's Regiments, who were paſſing about 200 Yards further down; but neither would his men ſtand by him, nor could the other be perſwaded to come near Hanmer: however, as Hambleton retreated a Sqadron of their Horſe charged our French ſo bravely, that about forty of them broke quite through Monſieur La Callimot's Regiment, and wounded himſelf mortally: thoſe muſt go back the ſame way, or elſe paſs through the Village and ſo wheel to the Left, to recover their own Men; they choſe the latter, but were ſo paid off by ſome of the Dutch and Inniskillin Foot, that not above ſix or eight of them got beyond the Village, moſt of their Horſes ſtragling up and down the Fields.

Our Foot Advance beyond the River. The Dutch and the reſt of our Foot advanced all this while, and then the Iriſh Foot quitted a ſecond Hedge that they were perſwaded to rally to; another Body of Horſe came down upon the Dutch, who neglected the Hedges and met them in the open Field, but keeping ſo cloſe that it was impoſſible to break them; but as the Iriſh came on, the Dutch begun to fire by Platoons, and both flanked and fronted the Horſe, by which they killed a great many (though not without ſome loſs to themſelves) before this party drew off: Are Charged again. By this time ſome of the French and Inniskilliners were got into the Field, from whence the Enemy diſturb'd us with their Canon the day before, and then a freſh Squadron of Horſe coming down upon the Dutch, thoſe two Regiments ſtopt them, and obliged them to Retreat with conſiderable loſs. Much about this time there was nothing to be ſeen but Smoak and Duſt, nor any thing to be heard but one continued Fire for nigh half an hour; and whilſt this Action laſted, another party of the Iriſh Horſe Charged Sir John Hanmer as he paſſed the River, (nigh a place where the Enemy the day before had a Battery of ſix Guns, but now they were gone, as was moſt of their Artillery:) It was the Duke of Berwick's Troop of Guards; and as they advanced, one that had been formerly in Sir J. Hanmer's Regiment came out ſingly and called one of the Captains by his name; who ſtepping towards him, the other fired both his Piſtols at him, but was taken Priſoner: this Troop was beat off again with the loſs of only three of Sir John Hanmer's Men.

All our Horſe went over to the Right and Left except one Squadron of Danes, who paſſed the River whilſt our Foot were engaged, and Advancing to the Front, Hambleton ſent out ſixty Horſe, who charged the Danes ſo home that they came faſter back again than they went, ſome of them never looking behind them till they had croſſed the River again. The want of Horſe was ſo apparent at this place, that the very Country People cry'd out Horſe, Horſe; which word going towards the Right, and they miſtaking it for Halt, ſtopt the Right Wing nigh half an hour; which time, well ſpent, might have done ſervice. This and the Iriſh breaking through the French Regiment hap'ned much about a time; The General killed. which, I am apt to believe, was the occaſion of Duke Schonberg's going over ſo unſeaſonably, for in this hurry he was killed near the little Village beyond the River: the Iriſh Troopers as they rid by, ſtruck at him with their Swords; and ſome ſay that our own Men Firing too haſtily, when the Duke was before them, ſhot him themſelves; however it was, his mortal wound was through his Neck, and he had one or two cuts in the Head beſides, he fell down and did not ſpeak one word; and Captain Foubert was ſhot in the Arm as he was getting him off; Doctor Walker going, as ſome ſay, to look after the Duke, was ſhot a little beyond the River, and ſtript immediately; for the Scotch-Iriſh that followed our Camp were got through already, and took off moſt of the Plunder.

This Action begun at a quarter paſt Ten, and was ſo hot till paſt Eleven that a great many old Soldiers ſaid they never ſaw brisker work: but then the Iriſh retreated to a riſing Ground, and there drew up again in order, both Horſe and Foot, deſigning to Charge our Party again that had paſt the River. Whilſt this Action at the Paſs laſted, the Left Wing of our Horſe (conſiſting of Danes and Dutch, with Collonel Woolſley's Horſe and ſome Dragoons) paſſed the River at a very difficult and unuſual place: And the Daniſh Foot, with Collonel Cutts's and ſome others, went over a little above them. My Lord Sydney and Major-General Kirk went from one place to another, as the poſture of Affairs required their preſence. His Majeſty paſſes the River with the Left Wing. His Majeſty, during thoſe Tranſactions, was almoſt every where; before the Action begun He rid between our Army and theirs with only one Dragoon, and had ordered every thing in other places as well as poſſible, He paſſes the River with the Left Wing of His Horſe, and that with as much difficulty as any body, for His Horſe was Bogg'd on the other ſide, and He was forced to alight till a Gentleman helpt him to get His Horſe out. As ſoon as the Men were got upon the other Bank, and put in order, His Majeſty drew His Sword (which yet was troubleſome to Him, His Arm being ſtiff with the Wound He received the day before) and marched at the Head of them towards the Enemy, who were coming on again in good order upon our Foot that had got over the Paſs, and were Advancing towards them, though they were double our Number; but when theſe two Bodies were almoſt within Muſquet ſhot of one another, the Enemy eſpied the Left Wing of our Horſe marching towards them, at which they made a ſuddain Halt, faced about, and ſo retreated up the Hill to a little Church and a Village called Dunore, about half a mile from the Paſs; our Men marched in order after them; and at this Village the Enemy faced about and Charged; our Horſe were forced to give Ground, though the King was with them: His Majeſty then went to the Inniskilliners and askt what they would do for Him? and Advanced before them; their Officer told his Men who it was, and what Honour was done them: And Charges ſeveral times at the Head of his Men. At the Head of thoſe Men the King received the Enemies Fire, and then wheeling to the Left, that His own Men might have liberty to Advance and fire, they all wheeled after Him and retreated above 100 Yards; the King then went to the Left, to put Himſelf at the Head of ſome Dutch that were Advancing; and the Inniskilliners being ſenſible of their miſtake, came up again, doing good ſervice: ſome of Duke Schonberg's French Horſe were here alſo, who behaved themſelves well, and took one or two of King James's Standards. Another party, Commanded by Lieutenant-General Ginkel, Charged in a Lane to the Left, but the Iriſh being two many for them they retreated; which a party of Sir Albert Cunningham's Dragoons, commanded by his Lieutenant-Collonel, and another of Col. Leviſon's, commanded by Captain Brewerton, perceiving, the Officers ordered their Men to alight and Line an Hedge, as alſo an old Houſe that Flankt the Lane, from whence they poured in their Shot upon the Enemy. Lieutenant-General Ginkel ſtaid in the Rear of his Men, (being much vext at their retreating) and was in ſome danger by our own Dragoons; for the Enemy being cloſe upon him, they could not well diſtinguiſh; however the Dragoons did here a piece of good ſervice in ſtopping the Enemy, (who came up very boldly;) and our Horſe Rallying both here and to the Right, after near half an hours diſpute the Enemy were again beat from this place, and a great many of them killed. Lieutenant-General Hambleton finding his Foot not to anſwer his expectation, he put himſelf at the Head of the Horſe, and Lieutenant-General Hambleton taken Priſoner. when they were defeated he was here taken priſoner, having received a wound on the Head. When he was brought to the King, His Majeſty asked him, Whether the Iriſh would fight any more? Yes, (ſaid he) an't pleaſe Your Majeſty, upon my Honour I believe they will, for they have a good Body of Horſe ſtill. The King lookt a little aſide at him when he named his Honour, and repeated it once or twice, Your Honour? Intimating (as He always ſays a great deal in few words) that what the other affirmed upon his Honour was not to be believed, ſince he had forfeited that before in his ſiding with my Lord Tyrconnel; and this was all the Rebuke the King gave him for his breach of Truſt. There were ſeveral other priſoners taken here alſo, but not many of note.

How things went to the right of our Army. Now, you muſt know, that whilſt all this hap'ned here, our Men on the Right were making their way as well as they could over Hedges, and Bogs towards Duleek, and as they Advanced the Enemy drew off, till they heard what had hap'ned at the Paſs, and then they made greater haſte, yet they could not retreat ſo faſt but ſeveral of them were killed, eſpecially of their Foot, amongſt whom a party of our Horſe fell in; but they preſently ſcatter'd amongſt the Corn and Hedges till they got beyond a great Ditch, where our Horſe could not follow. Collonel Leviſon, with a party of his Dragoons, got between ſome of the Enemies Horſe and Duleek and killed ſeveral, yet if they had not minded retreating more than fighting he might have come off a loſer. When moſt of them were over the Paſs they drew up and fired their great Guns upon us; and we ours upon them, though we could not eaſily come at them with our ſmall Shot, (for there are ſeveral Boggy Fields with Ditches at Duleek, and in the midſt of theſe a deep ſtrait Rivulet, very ſoft in the bottom and high Banks on each ſide, there is only one place to get over, and there not above ſix can go a breaſt.)

Their confuſion, however, was ſo great that they left a great many Arms, and a conſiderable quantity of Ammunition in that Village of Duleek, and, indeed, all the Country over; but our Men were ſo fooliſh as to blow up the Powder wherever they met with it, and few or none of the Men eſcaped that came in their Hands, for they ſhot them like Hares amongſt the Corn, and in the Hedges as they found them in their march.

Reaſons why ſo few killed. By that time therefore a Body of our Horſe was got over the Paſs, that was ſufficient to Attack the Enemy, they were gone at leaſt a mile before, their Horſe and Artillery in the Rear, and their Foot marching in great haſte and confuſion; we went after them for at leaſt three miles, but did not offer to Attack them any more, becauſe of the Ground. Then night coming on, the King, with ſome of the Horſe, return'd to the Foot that were Encamping at Duleek; but the greateſt part of them remained at their Arms all night, where they left off the purſuit.

The Number of the dead. On the Iriſh ſide were killed my Lord Dungan, my Lord Carlingford, Sir Neal O Neal, with a great many more Officers; they loſt at the Paſs, at Dunore, Duleek, and all the Fields adjoyning, between 1000 and 1500 men; one thing was obſervable, that moſt of their Horſe-men that charged ſo deſperately were drunk with Brandy, each man that morning having received half a Pint to his ſhare; but it ſeems the Foot had not ſo large a proportion, or at leaſt they did not deſerve it ſo well.

On our ſide were killed nigh four hundred. The Dutch Granadeers told me, before we got to the Church at Dunore, that they had loſt ſeventeen, and the reſt proportionably; the French alſo loſt ſeveral, but all this was nothing in reſpect of Duke Schonberg, who was more conſiderable than all that were loſt on both ſides; whom his very Enemies always called a Brave Man, and a Great General. I have heard ſeveral reaſons given for the Dukes paſſing the River at that juncture: but, doubtleſs, his chief deſign was to encourage the French, whom he had always loved, and to rectifie ſome miſtakes that he might ſee at a diſtance: However 'twas, this I'm certain of, that we never knew the value of him till we really loſt him, which often falls out in ſuch caſes; and ſince it was in our Quarrel that he loſt his life, we cannot too much Honour his Memory, which will make a conſiderable Figure in Hiſtory whilſt the World laſts. He was certainly a Man of the beſt Education in the World, and knew Men and Things beyond moſt of his time, being Courteous and Civil to every Body, and yet had ſomthing always that lookt ſo Great in him, that he commanded reſpect from men of all Qualities and Stations. Nor did we know any fault that he had, except we might be jealous he ſometimes was too obliging to the French: As to his perſon, he was of a middle ſtature, well proportion'd, fair complexion'd, a very ſound hardy man of his age, and ſate an Horſe the beſt of any man; he loved conſtantly to be •… at in his Clothes, and in his Converſation he was always pleaſant: he was fourſcore and two when he died, and yet when he came to be unbowelled, his Heart, Intrails and Brain, were as freſh and as ſound as if he had been but twenty; ſo that it's probable he might have lived ſeveral Years, if Providence had not ordered it otherways. Monſieur Callimot, an honeſt worthy Gentleman, died ſoon after him of his Wounds, having follow'd that great Man in all his Fortunes.

Some who pretend to more skill than poſſibly they are really Maſters of, will needs affirm, that there were two overſights committed at this time; one in not purſuing the Enemy cloſſer after they were once broke, which had been leſs hazardous, conſidering all things then what followed afterwards; my Lord of Oxford and my Lord Portland were for ſending three thouſand Horſe, with each a Muſqueteer behind him, to fall upon them in the Rear as they retreated, which might have done great matters; for the Enemy were in ſuch a Conſternation that they marched all that night in great fear and confuſion, expecting us at their Heels every minute. But thoſe that have ſeen the Ground at Duleek, and thereabouts, will ſay that it's ſcarce poſſible to make an orderly purſuit at ſuch a place; for whilſt an Enemy continues in a Body, there's no going after them as if Men were a Fox-hunting, ſince nothing encourages, even a flying Enemy more to rally and fight again, than to ſee a diſorderly purſuit of them: The Paſſes therefore were ſo narrow and troubleſome, that before we could get over a Body of Men, ſufficient to attack the Enemy, they were got a mile or two before us, and new difficulties between us and them: nor was the caſe the ſame with them, for they got over any where as well as they could, except the Rear, who kept their order as far as we could ſee them. As for his Majeſty himſelf, he choſe the Field, drew up his Army, gave his General Orders to his Officers, and the beſt Orders wherever he was in Perſon; but the greateſt Captain that ever was, or will be, is not, nor can be, of himſelf ſufficient, to redreſs all Diſorders, or lay hold on all Advantages in an inſtant, when Armies are once ingaged. And further, his Majeſty having committed a conſiderable part of his Orders to the care of his General, the death of him muſt needs be a diſadvantage to the whole Army.

Another thing they pretend to find fault with was, in not ſending ten thouſand Men immediately from the Boyne towards Athlone and Limerick, ſince we were as nigh thoſe places here as at Dublin; and if we had gone behind them, Limerick and Galloway would certainly have yielded, for it was at leaſt a fortnight before any number of their Army got thither, and then (they ſay) the Iriſh Army muſt either have fought again in the Field or elſe ſubmitted, ſince Dublin is not to be kept by thoſe that are not Maſters of the Field. But there are very good reaſons why this was not done, for his Majeſty knew at this time that the French Fleet was hovering nigh the Engliſh Coaſt, and therefore would not divide his Army, nor draw them from the Sea; nor did his Majeſty know as yet whether the Iriſh would not ſtay for him between that and Dublin, and ſo fight again. And before he was aſſur'd of it, the News of the French Fleets ſucceſs at Sea, altered both his and the Iriſh Peoples meaſures; for this put them into heart again, eſpecially when it came with a report (ſpread a broad, I ſuppoſe, on purpoſe) that King William was dead, as well as Duke Schonberg, and that the Dauphin of France was landed with an Army in England. But though there was little of Truth in theſe reports, yet they animated the Iriſh, (who of all men living are the ſooneſt diſcouraged, but up again with the leaſt hopes,) and to work they went in making proviſions to defend their Towns, eſpecially beyond the Shannon; but this I'm afraid will be thought impertinent, at leaſt it's out of order, and therefore to return.

King James's Carriage at the Battle and after. King James, during part of the Action at the Boyn, ſtood at the little old Church upon the Hill called Dunore, but when he ſaw how things were like to go, he marched off to Duleek, and from thence towards Dublin: the firſt news that went to that place, was, That K. James had got the day, our General killed, and the Prince of Orange (as they call'd him) taken priſoner; this was very afflicting to the poor Proteſtants who were ſhut up in Priſons all over the Town: but towards night they obſerved ſeveral Officers come to Town in great confuſion, ſome wounded, and others looking very dull upon the matter, which they thought were no ſings of Victory, and then begun to hope better things. About nine a Clock King James came to Dublin, with about two hundred Horſe with him, all in diſorder. My Lady Tyrconnel met him at the Caſtle-gate, and after he was up-ſtairs, her Ladyſhip askt him what he would have for Supper? who then gave her an Account of what a Breakfaſt he had got, which made him have but little ſtomach to his Supper: He ſtaid all Night in the Caſtle, and next Morning ſending for the Lord Mayor and ſome others, he told them, That in England he had an Army which durſt have fought, but they proved falſe and deſerted him; and that here he had an Army which was Loyal enough, but would not ſtand by him; he was now neceſſitated to provide for his Safety, and that they ſhould make the beſt Terms for themſelves that they could, and not to burn or injure the Town; and immediately after took Horſe, and with about twelve in Company went towards Bray, and ſo to Waterford, where he took Shipping for France. The Iriſh Horſe came moſt of them into Dublin that Night, and moſt of the Foot next Morning. And before Night on Wedneſday they were all gone, taking the City Militia along, who were all Papiſts; but they releaſed all the Priſoners, not out of love to them, but for fear leſt we had been at their Heels.

Some ſay that K. James ſent Sir Patrick Trant, and another Gentleman towards Waterford to provide Shipping for him beforehand, for fear of the worſt, but I have not heard the certainty of it: However this was not the way that Heroes uſed formerly to take in England, for the Romans burnt their Ships when they landed there, that their Men might have no hopes of a Retreat, but to conquer or die: And ſo did the Duke of Normandy, who ſoon after got the name of Conquerour. King Williams. But King William gave his Army better proofs of his Courage and Conduct, nor can I pretend to be able to give his Majeſty the juſt commendation his merit forces from his very Enemies, only this I am ſure of, that he dare do any thing, and has not a Soul ſubject to fear, or any thing thats below a Prince, never had an Army a better opinion of a King, than ours of him, their only fear was that he would expoſe himſelf too far, and whatever difference happens between him and them can be only this, that they deſire to ſtand between his Majeſty and all danger, But he alwayes has a mind to put himſelf between them and it, may we long therefore have ſuch a General in a King, and he not only Souldiers, but Subjects of all profeſſions, that love him as well. Prince George accompanied his Majeſty in moſt of his dangers; and in the greateſt of them, was always near him, and nothing but the bravery of ſuch a King, could hinder him, of the greateſt Charracter in this Account. As to our Engliſh Forces, there were few of them, that had an opportunity at this place, to ſhew themſelves, but thoſe that had, acquitted themſelves very well, the French and Iniskilliners did good ſervice, and to give the Dutch Guards their due, they deſerve immortal honour for what they did that day. I enquired at ſeveral, who they were that managed the retreat, the Iriſh made that day ſo much to their advantage, for (not to ſay worſe of them then they deſerve) it was in good order ſo far as we could ſee them, (I mean with the Horſe, and French Foot,) whatſoever they did afterwards, but I could hear of none in particular, only Lieutenant Gen. Hambleton ſays, it was my Lord Gilmoy, who is not thought an extraordinary Souldier; but this is certain that the French were towards the left of their Army that day, and ſo did little or no ſervice, except it was in the retreat, whereas if they had poſted them, inſtead of the Iriſh Foot, at the Paſs, we had found warmer work of it: But Providence orders all things, and amongſt thoſe the Counſels of the greateſt.

The night after the Battle we lay upon our Arms at Duleck, and next morning were ſent a Party back out of every Regiment, to fetch up our Tents and Baggage from beyond the Boyn: As likewiſe Brigadeer La Millinier was ſent with a Party of a thouſand Horſe and Dragoons, about three hundred Foot, and eight peice of Canon to ſummon Drogheda.

Drogheda ſurrendred. The Governour received the firſt Summons very indifferently, but then he had word ſent, that if he forced the Canon to be fired on them, they ſhould have no quarter: The Governor at length conſidered better of it, and believing the Iriſh Army to be totally routed, he ſurrendred upon Condition to be conducted to the next Garriſon, which was Athlone. And the next day about 1300. of them marched out without their Arms, having a Convoy according to Agreement. Colonel Cuts's Men took poſſeſſion of the Place, where they found good ſtore of wine and other things that were conſiderable, and took great care to preſerve the Town from any violence of the Souldiers. This Town is one of the beſt in Ireland, unto which King Edward the Second, for Theobald Verdens ſake, granted Licenſe for a Market and Fair, and ſucceeding Kings confirmed many and great Priviledges to it, amongſt others that of a Mint: Cromwel at his firſt landing in Ireland took it by Storm, and put above 2000. men to the Sword in it. The River Boyn runs thro' the Town, which takes its name from ſwift running, for Boin both in Iriſh and Brittiſh ſignifies Swift, as the Learned ſay: Its a great and rapid River, and whatever it has been formerly it will be famous in ſucceeding Ages for this Action: I have ſhewn the ſpot of ground to ſome who deſign to erect a Pillar where the King eſcaped ſo narrowly, to perpetuate ſo memorable an Action. Near the ground, where we encampt, ſtands Mellifont-Abby, founded in the year 1168. by Donald King of Uriel, and is much praiſed by St. Bernard, it was given afterwards by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Edward More of Kent, for his good ſervice in the Wars both at home and abroad, and is now the Seat of the Earl of Drogheda.

But this I'm afraid will be thought a little out of my preſent rode, and therefore Wedneſdy, the 2 of July, we marched not above a mile, to convenient Ground, and there pitched our Tents: I remember we had a kind of Alarm that afternoon, and ſome ſay it was five Troops of Horſe, and three Regiments of Foot, that came from Munſter to joyn King James's Army, who appeared in the flank of us, but ſending two Spies to diſcover who we were, they were taken and hanged, tho the Party marched off untouched. Mounſieur Cambon had almoſt ſet his own and my Lord Drogheda's Regiment by the Ears by ordering a Detachment of his men to take away by force the Graſs from the Rear of the other Regiment: The matter came ſo high, that both Parties were charging their Peeces, but my Lord Drogheda ordered his men to their Tents, and Lieut. Gen. Douglas ordered Mounſieur Cambon to deſiſt from his pretenſions, this might have been of dangerous conſequence, and yet my Lord was ſo kind to Mounſieur Cambdon, as not to acquaint the King with it.

King William marches toward Dublin. On Thurſday the 3. of July, his Maieſty marched forwards with his Army to a place called Bally Brighan, and there encamped; on his march he had an account by one Mr. Sanders, (whom the Biſhop of Meath, Dr. King, Captain Fitz Gerald, and other Proteſtants, that had taken upon them, the protection of the City, had ſent for that purpoſe) that the Iriſh had left Dublin: towards which the Duke of Ormond marched with 1000 Horſe, and found Captain Farlow Governour, who two days before had been a Priſoner. The Dutch Guards were ſent alſo, who took poſſeſſion of the Caſtle, as the Duke of Ormond did of the out Guards of the Town with his Horſe, next day we lay Encamped, and above 300 Citizens came out from Dublin, to wait upon the King, and to welcome our Army, and abundance of people flocked from all places, to ſee our Camp. The Country all hereabouts, is moſt of it Inhabited with old Engliſh, and is called Fingal, that is a Nation of Foreigners: Its ſcarce worth the Relating what is writ in the Iriſh Annals of a Country man nigh this place, that in the year 1341, found a pair of Gloves, in drawing on of which, he Barked like a Dog, and from that preſent, the Elder in that Country Barked like big Dogs, and the young ones like Whelps, and this continued with ſome for eighteen dayes, with others a month, and with ſome for two years, and entred alſo into ſeveral other places; and they tell you likewiſe of the men in the County of Tipperarys being turn'd into Wolves at a certain time of the year; but theſe are trifles, for they are commonly Dogs or Wolves in their Nature, but no otherways.

Encamps at Finglaſs. Saturday the 5 of July, we marched to Finglaſs, two miles wide of Dublin, his Majeſty did not go to the City, but ſtaid in the Field with his Army, yet next day being Sunday, he went to St. Patricks Church, and returned on Horſeback to the Camp to dinner. A Deſcription of Dublin. This City of Dublin, is by much the Largeſt and Beſt in all Ireland, and inferiour to none in England, except London, moſt of the Houſes and Streets, are very Regular and Modern, and the people as Faſhionable as any where. Its called by Ptolomy Eblana, the Iriſh call it Bala Cleigh, that is the Town upon Hurdles, becauſe they ſay it was built upon a Fenny, Boggy place, but whatever it has been, the Ground about it is now very ſound, and the Air wholſome, it was much afflicted in the Daniſh Wars, and afterwards came under ſubjection of Edgar King of England, then the Norvegians poſſeſſed themſelves of it, and we read that Harold of Norway, after he had ſubdued the greateſt part of Ireland, built Develin. And hither King Hen. 2. after he had gain'd a great intereſt in this Kingdom ſent over a Collony of Briſtow men, who were the firſt Engliſh Inhabitants of this City. In the year 1220. was the Caſtle of Dublin built, by Henry Londres, Arch-Biſhop of that Sea. And in the Reign of King Ed. 2. Alexander de Bicknor Arch-Biſhop of Dublin, began to incourage the profeſſion of Learning, having obtained from Pope John the 22. the priviledges of an Univerſity to the Colledge of Dublin, which he builtin the place, where of old ſtood the Monaſtry of All-hallows, the firſt Maſter hereof was Fryar William Hardite. In times of War, and Tumult, it was defac'd, but rebuilt in Queen Elizabeths time, and endowed with ſeveral priviledges, being ever ſince a Nurſery of Proteſtants, till they were turn'd out by King Jams's Souldiers, and it made a Guard Houſe, but now at King Williams coming, reſtored to the Proteſtants with their other poſſeſſions.

Monday, the 6. Several parties of Horſe, were ſent up and down the Country, and next day the Biſhop of Meath, the Biſhop of Limerick, and all, or moſt of the Clergy, then in, or near the City of Dublin, waited upon the King; the Biſhop of Meath made a Speech, telling his Majeſty, The Biſhops and Clergy Addreſs the King. That they came not to Beg his Protection, for he had given ſufficient demonſtrations of his affection towards them, by ventring his Royal Perſon for their deliverance, but they came to Congratulate his Arrival, to pray for the continuance of his good ſucceſs, and to give his Majeſty all the aſſurance poſſible of their Loyalty and Obedience, intreating his Majeſty not to think worſe of them for ſtaying in Ireland, and ſubmitting to a Power that it was impoſſible for them to reſiſt, ſince they had been as ſerviceable to the Churches intereſt and his Majeſties by ſtaying, as they could have been otherwiſe; with a great deal more to that purpoſe. The King made Anſwer, that as he had by the bleſſing of God ſucceeded ſo far, he doubted not, but by Gods Aſſiſtance, to free them abſolutely, and that in a ſmall time, from Popiſh Tyranny, which was his deſign in coming. Then the Biſhop of Limerick deſired his Majeſty to give them leave to appoint a day of publick Thankſgiving, and to compoſe a Form of Prayer upon that Occaſion, to which his Majeſty aſſented.

Money left in the Treaſury. The Iriſh went away in ſuch haſte, that they left 16000 l. Braſs mony in the Treaſury, and a great quantity of French peices called Souſes. I enquired of ſome People concern'd in the Treaſury in King James's time, and they told me, that there had not been much above 1100000 l. Braſs mony Coyned during all the time it paſſed.

On Tueſday, July the 7. the King ſent out his Declaration, to the Iriſh, aſſuring all under ſuch a Quality of his protection, and becauſe the not obſerving of it has ſince done a great deal of prejudice, not only to his Majeſties affairs, but alſo to all ſorts of People belonging to that Country, it will not be improper here to inſert it.

The Declaration of William and Mary King and Queen of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, &c. To all Our People of Our Kingdom of Ireland whom it may concern. William, R.

K. Williams Declaration. AS it hath pleaſed Almighty God to bleſs Our Arms in this Kingdom with a late victory over Our Enemies at the Boyn, and with the Poſſeſſion of Our Capital City of Dublin, and with a general diſperſion of all that did oppoſe us; we are now in ſo happy a proſpect of Our Affairs, and of extinguiſhing the Rebellion of this Kingdom, that We hold it reaſonable to think of Mercy, and to have Compaſſion upon thoſe whom we judge to have been ſeduced: Wherefore We do hereby declare We ſhall take into Our Royal Protection, all poor Labourers, Common Souldiers, Country Farmers, Plowmen, and Cottiers whatſoever: As alſo all Citizens, Trads-men, Towns-men, and Artificers, who either remain'd at home, or having fled from their dwellings, ſhall by the firſt of Auguſt next repair to their uſual places of abode, ſurrendring up what Arms they have to ſuch Juſtices of the Peace as are or ſhall be appointed by Ʋs, not only to receive the ſame, but alſo to Regiſter the Appearance of ſuch of the ſaid Perſons as ſhall come and ſubmit to Our Authority. For Our Royal Intention is, and We do hereby declare, That We will not only pardon all thoſe ſeduced people as to their Lives and Liberties, who ſhall come in by the time aforeſaid, for all violences they have committed by the command of their Leaders during the time of the War: But We do alſo promiſe to ſecure them in their Goods, their Stocks of Cattle, and all their Chattels perſonal whatſoever, willing and requiring them to come in, and where they were Tenants, there to preſerve the Harvest of Graſs and Corn, for the ſupply of the Winter. But foraſmuch as many of them have a Legal Right to the Tenancy of ſeveral Lands, ſome holden from Proteſtants, and ſome held from Popiſh Proprietors, who have been concern'd in the Rebellion againſt Us. Our Will and Pleaſure is, that all thoſe who held from Our good Proteſtant Subjects, do pay their Rents to their reſpective Landlords: and that the Tenants of all thoſe who have been concern'd in the Rebellion againſt us, do keep their Rents in their hands, until they have notice from the Commiſſioners of Our Revenue, unto whom they are to account for the ſame. And as we do hereby ſtrictly forbid all violence, Rapine and Moleſtation, to any who ſhall thus come in and remain Obedient to us: We do hereby Charge and Require, that they be not diſquieted in any ſort, without Our particular Command. For the deſperate Leaders of this Rebellion, who have violated thoſe Laws, by which this Kingdom is united and inſeparably annexed to the Imperial Crown of England; who have called in the French, who have Authorized all Violences, and depredations against the Proteſtants, and who rejected the Gracious Pardon, We offered them in Our Proclamation of the 22 of February, 1688. As we are now by Gods great favour in a Condition to make them ſenſible of their Errours, So are we reſolved to leave them to the Event of War, unleſs by Great and Manifeſt demonſtrations, We ſhall be convinced that they deſerve Our Mercy, which We ſhall never refuſe, to thoſe that are truly penitent.

Given at Our Royal Camp at Finglaſs neer Dublin, the 7th. of July, 1690. In the Second year of Our Reign.

This Declararion was publiſhed in the Camp two days after, and had it been punctually obſerved according to the intent of it, we had had fewer Enemies at this day by at leaſt 20000: For tho' the King was punctual in his obſervance of it, ſome Officers and Soldiers were apt to neglect the Kings Honour, and the Honour of our Country and Religion, when it ſtood in Competition with their own profit and advantage. July the ſeventh and eighth, the King took a view of his Army by diſtinct Regiments, and though it often Rain'd very faſt, yet his Majeſty ſate on Horſeback in the midſt of it, and ſaw each Regiment march by him, enquiring the Officers names, and what other things concerning them he thought fit: The Commiſſaries taking an exact Liſt of all the private Men, both Horſe and Foot, that appeared in the Ranks: And it was obſervable, that with Heat, Duſt, Marching, and other inconveniencies, moſt people in the Army had got very ſore Lips, nor was his Majeſty himſelf exempt from this inconveniency for he had toild and labour'd as much as the beſt of them.

Becauſe ſeveral people may be curious to know what Number of Men we had at the Boyn, and alſo how many the Enemy were, I have here inſerted the Exact Number of our own Horſe and Foot, as it was taken at Finglaſs. And likewiſe a Liſt of the Iriſh Army, as it was delivered, firſt to the Duke at Lisburn, and afterwards to the King.

An Abſtract of the Private Men of his Majeſties Army which appeared at the Review taken at Finglaſs the 7th. and 8th. of July 1690.

Regiments. Men. Engliſh Horſe. Firſt Troop of Guards 140 Granadeers 47 52 unmounted 5 Third Troop 133 Granadeers 40 43 unmounted 3 Earl of Oxfords 368 Sir John Laniers 357 360 unmounted 3 Colonol Villers 244 245 unmounted 1 Col. Ruſſel 242 Col. Coy 236 Col. Byerley 244 Col. Langſton 225 Count Schonberg 242 Duke Schonbergs French 387 395 unmounted 8 Col. Woolſley 423 Captain Harbords Troop 38 Dutch Horſe. Troop of Guards 143 145 unmounted 2 Lord Portland 351 357 unmounted 6 Monopovillans 168 171 unmounted 3 Leuten. Gen. Ginkel 148 152 unmounted 4 Col. Scholks 157 167 unmounted 10 Van Oyens 161 164 unmounted 3 Reideſſels 173 174 unmounted 1 Bancour 176 178 unmounted 2 Nyenhuys 174 175 unmounted 1 Danes Horſe. Col. Jewel 264 268 unmounted 4 Col. Donop 250 263 unmounted 13 Col. Scheſcad 267 281 unmounted 14 Total of Horſe 5881 Dragoons. Col. Matthews Royal Reg. 406 Col. Leviſon 246 Col. Gwinns 260 Sir Albert Cuningham 337 358 unmounted 21 Col. Eppingers Dutch 618 621 unmounted 3 Total of Dragoones 1870 Engliſh Foot. Major General Kirk 666 Brigadeer Trelawney 553 Colonel Beamont 526 Brigadeer Stuart 660 Sir John Hanmer 593 Colonel Brewer 571 Col. Haſtings 606 Earl of Meath 678 Col. Fouks 439 Col. Guſtavus Hambleton 560 Sir Henry Bellaſis 628 Lord Lisburn 611 Lieutenant Gen. Douglas 648 Earl of Drogheda 660 Col. Earl 693 Briggadeer La Millineer 529 Col. Cambon 640 Col. Callimot 562 Col. Mitchelburn 664 Col. Tiffin 625 Col. St Johns 589 Lord George Hambleton 583 Total of Engliſh Foot 13335 Dutch Foot. C. Solms 3 Battali. 1850 1931 2 Compan. of Cadets 81 Count Naſſaws Regiment 652 Brandenburg 631 Col. Babington 416 Col. Cutts 543 Col. Grobens 490 Total of Dutch Foot 4663 Danes Foot. Regiment of Guards 698 Queens Regiment 634 Prince Fredericks 555 Prince Chriſtans 547 Prince George's 547 Zealand Regiment 527 Juitland Regiment 554 Findland Regiment 519 Total of Danes Foot 4581 Dutch Foot 4663 Engliſh Foot 13335 Foot 22579 Dragoons 1870 Horſe 5881 Total of Horſe, Foot, and Dragoons 30330 Reform. Officers of Horſe 111 Reformed Officers of Foot 372 Total 483

Colonel Deering. Colonel Herbert. Colonel Hambleton. Colonel White. Were all in Garriſon and not included.

And note, that neither Officers nor Serjeants are included in the former Liſt, nor yet thoſe that were ſick or abſent, as ſeveral were, but theſe all marched in the Ranks before the King, ſo that the compleat number was much greater.

A Liſt of the late King James's Army taken Apr. 9. 1690.

Regiments of Horſe. Duke of Tyrconel 9 Troops in a Regiment 53 Men in a Troop Lord Galmoy Col. Sarſefield Col. Sutherland Six Troops in a Regiment, 53 Men each. Lord Abercorn Col. Henry Lutterill Col. John Parker Col. Nicholas Purcel

Horſe Guards. Lord Dovers Troop 200. each Troop. Duke of Berwicks Troop

Troop of Granadeers. Col. Buttlers 60

Dragoons. Lord Dungan 8 Troops in a Regiment, 60 men each. Sir Neal O Neal Col. Simon Lutterel

Regiments. Col. Robert Clifford Six Troops in a Regiment, 60 Men each. Sir James Cotton Col. Tho. Maxwel Lord Clare

Regiments of Foot. Royal Regiment 22 Companies, and 90 each. Earl of Clancarty. Col. Henry Fitz James. Col. John Hambleton. Earl of Clanrickard. Earl of Antrim. Earl of Tyrone. Lord Gormanstown. Lord Slane. Lord Galloway. Lord Louth. Lord Duleek. Lord Killmallock. Lord Kenmare: Sir John Fitz-Gerald. Sir Maurice Eustace. Col. Nugent. Col. Henry Dillon. Col. John Grace. Col. Edward Butler. Col. Thomas Butler. Lord Bophni. Col. Charles Moor. Col. Cormach O Neal. Col. Arthur Mackmahan. Earl of Weſtmeath. Col. Cavenaugh. Col. Uxbrough. Col. Mac. Carty Moore. Col. Gordon O Neal. Col. John Barret. Col. Charles O Bryan. Col. O Donavan. Col. Nicholas Brown. Col. O Gara. Sir Michael Creagh. Col. Dom. Brown. Col. Bagnal. Col. Mackellicut. Lord Inniskillin. Col. Hugh Mac Mahon. Col. Walter Bourk. Col. Felix O Neal. Lord Iveagh. Col. O Keyley.

Theſe 44 Regiments were 13 Companies in each, and 63 Men in each Company.

Regiments from France. The Red Regiment. The Blew Regiment. Two White Regiments, each divided into ſeveral Battalions, being in all about 5000 Men. Regiments that were ſent to France in Exchange. Lord Mountcaſhels. Col. Richard Butler's. Col. Daniel O Bryan's. Col. Fielding's. Col. Arthur Dillon's. Regiments that were Raiſed and never taken into pay, but Diſbanded. Lord Castle Connel. Col. Roger O Connor. Col. Charles Geoghagan. Col. John Brown. Col. James Butler. Col. Manus O Donnel. Col. O Cahon. Col. Edward Nugent. Col. Charles Kelly. Col. Brian Mack Dermot. Col. James Talbot.

Theſe laſt are all meer Iriſh, and conſequently good for little, ſo that no wonder if they were broke: But theſe were all the Forces that the late King had in Ireland; and a great many were in Garriſon in Munſter and other places: but as to their Numbers at the Boyn, ſome of their own Officers call them five and twenty, and others ſeven and twenty thouſand.

About the eighth or ninth of July the King had an Account of the misfortune of the Dutch and Engliſh Fleets; and Wedneſday the ninth he divided his Army, and went himſelf with the greateſt part of it beyond the Town of Dublin, in order to go Weſtwards: ſending at the ſame time Lieutenant-General Douglas with three Regiments of Horſe, two of Dragoons, and ten of Foot towards Athlone, which is fifty miles North from Dublin: The Regiments that went upon this Expedition were theſe; Horſe, Langſton, Ruſſel, and Woolſley: Dragoons, Sir Albert Cunningham, and Gwin: Foot, the Lieut. Generals own Regiment, Sir Hen. Bellaſis, Sir Jo. Hanmer, C. Babington, L. Droheda, C. Guſt. Hambleton, C. Mitchelburn, C. Tiffin, C. St. John's, and L. Geor. Hambleton. I ſhall leave, therefore, his Majeſty going Weſtwards, and give an Account of L. G. Douglas's Affairs till he joyns the King at Cariganliſs, within five miles of Limerick. Lieutenant-General Douglas goes to Athlone. Lieut. Gen. Douglas and his party Encamped that Night nigh Chappel-Iſſard; and next day at Manouth; Friday we Encampt at Glencurry, about five miles further, and we had not got this length till we begun to plunder, though the General gave ſtrict Orders to the contrary. Saturday the 12th. we marched to Clenard Bridge, here we ſtaid all Sunday, and Lieutenant-General Douglas took an account of every Man in his party, that he might have Bread provided accordingly; the Soldiers went abroad and took ſeveral things from the Iriſh, who had ſtaid upon the Kings Declaration; and frequent complaints came already to the General, but Plundering went on ſtill, eſpecially amongſt the Northern Men, who are very dextrous at that ſport. Sunday morning Captain Aughmouty, of Colonel Woolſley's Regiment, went with a party of Horſe towards the County of Longford. And Munday the 14th. they met the Army at Mullingar, (whither we marched) and ſeveral of the Iriſh came in for Protections, though when they had them they were of little force to ſecure their Goods or themſelves.

Two Spies taken. The party that was ſent out brought in a great prey of Cattle from the Enemies Quarters, and took two Spies with Letters from Athlone; one was, to Adviſe one Tute to Defend an Iſland nigh Mullingar, in which he had ſtore of Horſes, and ſeveral things of value; Another Letter was from an Officer at Athlone, to his Father in the Country, telling him, that my Lord Tyrconnel, the Duke of Berwick, and ſeveral more great Officers were come to Limerick with a good Body of Horſe, and that all their Army would be there in two or three days, ſo that they would make either a Hog or a Dog on't, (as he expreſt it) That the Dauphin was landed in England with a great Army; that the French had beat the Engliſh and Dutch Fleets; that Duke Schonberg was dead; and it was ſaid the Prince of Orange was ſo too; that their King was gone for France, but it was no great matter (he ſaid) where he was, for they were better without him. Then he adviſed his Father not to take a Protection, becauſe thoſe that did were lookt upon as Enemies. And after his Letter was ſealed, he had writ on the out-ſide, Juſt now we have an Account, by a Gentleman that's come to us from Dublin, that Orange is certainly dead, ſo that all will be well again. Such were their Hopes and Expectations at that time: But though they believed moſt of thoſe things, yet they did not certainly know what to make on't, for they had no good opinion of the late King, as may appear by a great many inſtances; for Sarcefield ſometime afterward, ſpeaking of the Action at the Boyn, ſwore if we would change Kings they would fight it over again and beat us. For, certainly, the Courage and Countenance of the Chief Commander in Armies is a material Point in the ſucceſs of the Action, and eſpecially in Kings; for he that has a Genius to the War has Advantages above other Men; that makes his Gentry, Nobility, and Officers ſtrive to imitate his Example, by which he is better ſerved, and commonly more fortunate.

The 15th. we remained Encamped at Mullingar, and about 500 Creights came from the County of Longford, with their Wives, Children, Cattle, and every thing that they could bring away; their buſineſs was to procure the Generals Protection, which was granted them, and they moved homewards as the Army marched forwards, but were moſt of them plundered afterwards. There had been a Friery at Mullingar during the late Kings Reign, but the Friday before we got thither the Fathers thought fit to go a Pilgrimage into Conaught. This Evening a party of Col. Ruſſel's Horſe went towards Athlone, and came within three miles of the place, but did no feats worth the mentioning; next day we marcht to Ballimoor, where ſtands a ſtrong Houſe at the ſide of a Lough, which the Enemy has ſince fortified: Athlone Beſieged. And Thurſday, July 17th. we came before Athlone, and encamped within a quarter of a mile of the Town; the Enemy playing their great Guns upon us as we marched, but did us little dammage. The General ſent a Drum to Summons the Town; but old Colonel Grace, the Governor, fired a Piſtol at him, and ſent word thoſe were the Terms he was for. The Town it ſelf ſtands on a narrow Neck of Land between two Bogs, (one on either ſide the Shannon,) and you cannot come to it, much leſs paſs the River any where, up or down, within ſix or eight miles except at the Town, through the midſt of which the River Shannon runs, and is both very broad and deep, being by much the greateſt in theſe three Kingdoms. Ptolomy calls this River Senus; Giraldus Flumen, Senenſe; but the Iriſh call it Shannon, that is, the Ancient River. It ariſes out of Theru Hills in the County of Letrim, and running through an excellent Country, and ſeveral Towns, (particularly Limerick and Athlone,) it falls into the Sea beyond Knock-Patrick, a Mountain upon which St. Patrick conjured all the Venomous Creatures in Ireland, and threw them into the Sea, inſomuch that nothing of that kind has appeared, or will live, in that Kingdom ever ſince, (if you'll believe what the Iriſh do;) however, this River is Navigable for above twenty Leagues. That part of Athlone ſtanding on the South-ſide the Shannon is called the Engliſh Town, and that on the other, the Iriſh Town, where ſtands a very ſtrong Caſtle. Athlone is the head Town in the County of Roſcommon, and was formerly the Barony of the O Kelly's. There is a very good Stone-Bridge between the two Towns, which was Built by Sir Henry Sidney in Queen Elizabeth's time, and becauſe this is commonly accounted the Center of Ireland, that Queen once deſigned to make it the Reſidence of the Lords Juſtices. The Engliſh Town not being ſo eaſie to defend, the Iriſh Burnt it the day before our coming, and broke down the Bridge. They had ſeveral very convenient opportunities to diſturb us in our march to the Town, becauſe of the Bogs, Woods, and Paſſes that lay very advantageous for that purpoſe, but they retired over the River, to defend the other ſide; about 200 Yards above the Town they had raiſed ſome Breaſt-works; on the River ſide, nigh the end of the Bridge, they had caſt up ſeveral Redoubts, and other Works, and had planted two Batteries of two Guns a piece, beſides what were in the Caſtle.

Friday we ſpent in contriving our Batteries, and our Works, and on Saturday we planted two Field-Pieces, which did the Enemies Guns ſome damage; then one hundred and fifty Men out of each Regiment were ordered to make and carry Faſcines; and in two days more we had a Battery of ſix Guns finiſhed, nigh the Bridge-end, which plaid upon the Caſtle, and made a ſmall Breach to wards the top. On Sunday the 20th. the General ſent a Detachment of Horſe, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Barry, and 150 Granadeers mounted, commanded by Major Morgiſon and Captain Carlile, towards Lanesbrough Paſs, but they returned the next day, without doing any thing that was Remarkable; the Enemy having a Fort well mann'd towards the Bridge, and four Companies of Foot in the Town. That day one Captain Mackgill, a Voluntier, was kill'd at our Battery with a Canon-ſhot from the Caſtle. Our Train at Athlone was only two twelve Pounders, ten leſſer Guns, and two ſmall Field Mortars; which, when planted againſt the Caſtle, did it little or no damage: (This was a misfortune that Lieutenant-General Douglas found Athlone ſtronger than he expected, for it's ſaid, he had what Guns and Men he deſired to reduce it withal.) The firing continued, however, on both ſides; and on Tueſday one Mr. Nelſon, our beſt Gunner, was killed with a ſmall Shot. On Wedneſday we had news that Sarcefield, with 15000 Men, was coming to raiſe the Siege; which made the General ſend all his ſick and wounded Men towards Mullingar. Next Morning early, the Beſieged hung out a Bloody Flag, which occaſion'd ſmart firing; and in the Evening the General called all the Colonels to a Council of War, where he told them the neceſſity of Removing from the Town; for we had very little Bread all the while, and there was ſome reaſon to believe the Iriſh Army would cut off our Communication from Dublin. So that we had Orders to be ready to march at twelve a Clock that Night; we begun at the time appointed to ſend away our Baggage, and at break of Day, or a little after, we marcht off, the Enemy not ſo much as firing one Gun at us.

Reaſons why it was not taken. I know that whilſt we lay here there were ſome that profferr'd to paſs the River at a Ford a little above the Bridge, and ſo beat the Iriſh out of their Works; but this was ſooner ſaid than done, for the Ford is naturally very deep and dangerous; beſides, the Iriſh had fortified the other ſide with Breaſt-works, two Batteries, and a conſiderable Fort: And then if we had forced our way over, and could not have taken the Caſtle in a ſmall time, we muſt have been obliged to fight the greateſt part of the Iriſh Army, which was then drawing down upon us. Nay, if we had been Maſters of the Town and Caſtle, the Iriſh might ſo have ordered it, as to have cut off our Communication from Dublin, and ſo ſtarved us, for we were already glad of a very ſmall Allowance of Bread.

Colonel Grace, the Governor, had been very active on the Iriſh ſide in the laſt Wars, but was now very old, and this was the third time that he had burnt that Town; the Enemy had in it three Regiments of Foot, nine Troops of Dragoons, and two of Horſe, and more lay encamped not far off. During our ſtay here (which was from Thurſday the 17th. to Friday the 25th.) the Country People, of all Perſwaſions, begun to think us troubleſome.

This muſt be ſaid for Lieutenant-General Douglas, that both whilſt he ſtaid here, and all along on his march, he conſtantly gave out very ſtrict Orders againſt Plundering or Stragling from the Army. But it were better that good Rules were not made, than when they are ſo, they ſhould not be obſerved, and the breakers eſcape puniſhment. For ſome Peoples taking liberty to break Rules, encourage others to loſe their Reverence to them. Example always goes further than Precept, and moſt Men ſee better than they underſtand; ſo that whatever Rules are made in an Army by a General, they are to be obſerved by every one; elſe with what juſtice can one be puniſhed for the breach of thoſe Orders, which others make no Conſcience in obeying.

What Men loſt there. We loſt in this Expedition not above thirty Men before the Town, and the Enemy very few; but in our march too and again, what with ſickneſs, hard marching, the Rapperees ſurpriſing as they ſtraggled, and ſeveral other diſadvantages, we fell ſhort of our Number three or four hundred; though before we got to the Kings Army we killed and took Priſoners a great many thouſands, but more of theſe had four Feet than two.

All the poor Proteſtants thereabouts were now in a worſe condition than before, for they had enjoyed the benefit of the Iriſh Protections till our coming thither: and then ſhewing themſelves Friends to us, put them under a neceſſity of retreating with us; which a great many did, leaving all their Harveſt at that time ready to cut down, &c. and yet were hardly uſed by our own Men.

On our firſt Days march backwards, the General received an Expreſs from the King, (ſome ſay it was to draw off and joyn the Army, and that he had poſitive Orders before not to paſs the Shannon at all:) And at the ſame time we had an Account of a Conſpiracy in England againſt the Queen, and that ſome French were Landed there, having burnt ſome Towns on the Coaſt: And it was reported alſo that the late King was Landed in that Kingdom. We marched back that Day to Ballimore, where we ſtaid four Days; on one of which there hap'ned the greateſt Thunder and Lightning that has been heard of in thoſe parts. And about this time ſeveral of the Iriſh that had taken Protections, when they could not have the benefit of them, began to turn Rapperees, ſtripping and ſometimes killing our Men that they found ſtraggling.

Lieutenant General Douglas marches to joyn the Kings Army. On the 30 of July, Colonel Babington's Regiment marched from Ballimore towards Dublin, and the ſame day Leiutenant-General Douglas marched with all the reſt of his party to Stony-Croſs, (which is out of all publick Rodes from Dublin, and ſo were moſt of our future marches, till we joyn'd the Kings Army, which was one reaſon why we had little or no Bread for almoſt four days together, and after that but a very ſlender allowance.) From this place, we marched to Balliboy, and as we went a long, the General ordered one of his own men to be Shot immediately, for Morodeing (as they called it.) The General had given out orders, that none ſhould ſtir out of their Ranks on pain of Death, however this poor Fellow and four more were not ſo obſervant of their duty as they ought to be, which the General eſpying cauſed them to be ſeized immediately, and throw Dice for their lives. month August We had an Account at Ballyboy, that the Enemy was at Banoher Bridge, with a very ſtrong party to diſturb our march, which made us next day ſtrike to the left, to Roſcreaugh, inſtead of going to Bur as we deſigned, for that way was full of Woods and narrow Paſſes, where the Enemy had great Advantage of us. We ſtayed at Roſcreaugh, the ſecond of Auguſt, and on the third in the Morning, came twelve Troopers from the Kings Army (who lay then at Goulden Bridge) to haſten our march, for the King expreſt himſelf to be in trouble, leſt the Enemy ſhould be too many for us in that place. That day we marched beyond the Devils Bit, and all along as we paſſed, we could ſee the Rapparees looking upon us from the Mountains, but we had now ſo many Cattle, Horſes and Attenders, on our marches, as made us look as big nigh hand as the other part of the Army, and the Souldiers uſed to ſay, that the Cattle and Sheep themſelves could tell by their different tones to whom they belonged. From this place all down to Caſhel, and ſo towards Clonmel and Waterford one way, and towards Tipperary and Limerick another, is one of the fineſt Countries I ever ſaw, if it had Inhabitants accordingly. (Great part of it is called the Goulden vale.) On the 4 Colonel Woolſleys Horſe, Colonel Tiffins and St. Johns Foot marched back from hence towards Mullingar, to ſecure the Country, they came ſo far leſt the Enemy ſhould attack us, and now we being ſecure, they marched back another way.

We marched on the 5. to Holy-Croſs, nigh Thurles, which of old enjoyed ſeveral peculiar Priviledges and Freedomes granted in Honour of a piece of Chriſts Croſs there found (as the Story goes) This place by K. Henry 8. gave the Title of Barons to the Buttlers. The General I believe, had heard that ſeveral people had enjoy'd great priviledges at this place in the days of old, and therefore he gave his Souldiers liberty this afternoon, to take what they pleaſed for their ſuſtenance, but the true reaſon was, becauſe we had no Bread. The 6. we marched to a Village called Dundrum, a little to the North of Caſhel, one of the moſt Ancient Cities in Ireland, famous of old, for the Preaching of St. Patrick, where afterwards was built a very conſiderable Cathedral, it was made an Archepiſcopal dignity by Eugenius the third Biſhop of Rome, and had under it in times paſt, many Biſhopricks and Suffragons. As you go up to this Church, there is a Stone upon which Antiently all the Kings of Munſter uſed to be Crowned. (I ſuppoſe it was after the ſame manner with the Ulſter Kings, which was by throwing an old ſhoo • over their heads, and ſometimes by killing a white Cow, &c.) There are ſeveral Monuments of good Antiquity in this Church, In the year 1318. The Archb. of Caſhel was both Lord Justice, and Lord Chancellor and it was remarkable in the late Wars, for my Lord Inchiqueens killing all the Prieſts that were got into it, and pretended with a Body of the Iriſh, to defend the place, which naturally is pretty ſtrong, and its called at this day, the Rock, becauſe it ſtands on the top of one. On the 7. We marched to Cullen, and on the 8. to Carriganliſs, whither the Kings Army was gone from Goulden-Bridge. Its therefore convenient, that I ſhould give the beſt Account I can of their march from Dublin thither.

month July The Kings march towards Limerick. On the 9. of July, His Majeſty, with his Army Encamped at Cromlin, within two miles of Dublin weſtwards, where he ſettled the method of granting Protections according to his Declaration. And gave a Commiſſion to the Biſhop of Meath, my Lord Longford, Dr. Gorge, Captain Fitz Gerald, Mr. Coughland, Dr. Davis and Captain Corker, to ſave all forfeited goods; and to ſee that thoſe, and the Corn upon the Eſtates of all Abſentees, were ſafely kept, or diſpoſed on for the Kings uſe. The Biſhop of Meath, whether out of diſlike to the proceedings of the reſt, or averſeneſs to buſineſs, ſoon forbore his Attendance at their meetings, the reſt went on in their Buſineſs, but in ſuch a method as was neither to the Kings advantage nor ſatisfaction, and not much to their own Credits. The 10. in the morning his Majeſty ſet forth a Proclamation, to put a ſtop to the paſſing of Braſs mony, only at the valuations following, viz. Every large half Crown, and new ſtampt Crown at a penny, the ſmall half Crown at three farthings, the large Copper Shilling at an half penny, the ſmall Shillings and ſix pences at farthings, &c. And the ſame day, the Army Encampt between the Neſs and Racoole. Little hapned remarkable, except the Kings great care to keep the Souldiers from Plundring the Country, and every night, it was given out in orders that on pain of death, no man ſhould go beyond the line in the Camp, or take violently to the leſt value from either Proteſtant or Papiſt. The 11. the Army marched to Kill Kullen Bridge, the King this morning paſſing by the Neſs, ſaw a Souldier Robbing a poor Woman, which inraged his Majeſty ſo much, that he beat him with his Cane, and gave orders that he and ſeveral others guilty of the like diſobedience ſhould be Executed the Monday following, ſome people were ſo wicked as put a bad conſtruction on this Action of the Kings but it had ſo good an effect upon that part of the Army, that the Country was ſecured from any violence done by the Souldiers during that whole march, two of the other Sufferers, were Iniskillin Dragoons. On Sunday the Army reſted, and on Munday they marched to Tommalin, ſeveral of the Country people and ſome Gentlemen that were Papiſts coming in, to whom the King ordered Protections. We heard all long on our march of the Confuſion the Enemy was in, and had Accounts daily, of their reſorts to Limerick, and other ſtrong places; whilſt we were here, ſeveral came to us from Killkenny, who gave his Majeſty an Account of the State of that Garriſon, that part of the Enemies Horſe and Foot were there ſtill, but with thoughts of quitting the Town upon our approach, and at their going off they made the Inhabitants give them a ſum of mony, to ſave the Town from plundring. From Tommalin we marched to Caſtle-Dermot, where ſtood in old time, two or three Religious Houſes, the Ruins of which as yet remain; one of theſe was of the Fryars Minors, Sackt and Plundred by the Scots, under Bruce, in the year 1316. In which year, the Iriſh were here alſo overthrown by Edward Bottilar (or Buttler) Lord Juſtice of Ireland. Here the King received ſome Packets from England, giving him a further Account of his Fleet, and Sea affairs, which was eaſily underſtood not to be very grateful, and as is ſuppoſed was the occaſion of our ſlow marches. Several Proteſtants every day came to the Camp, all expreſſing their great Joy and Satisfaction for his Majeſties Preſence and their Deliverance. We had alſo an Account here, of ſome that took Protections, and yet in the night made their eſcape to the Enemy, having only got thoſe Protections thereby to procure a better opportunity of going off with what they had, upon which parties were lent out on all hands to clear the Mountains and Woods near the Army, which kept the reſt at home, from hence Colonel Eppingar, went with a party of 1000 Horſe and Dragoons, to ſecure Wexeford, which ſome time before was deſerted by the Iriſh Garriſon, this Town was firſt taken by Fitz Stephen, in the Reign of King Hen. 2. And hereabouts were the firſt Engliſh planted in Ireland, they were a Colony of Weſt-Country men, and retain their old Engliſh Tone and Cuſtoms to this day. I am credibly informed that every day about one or two a Clock in Summer, they go to Bed the whole Country round, nay the very Hens fly up, and the Sheep go to Fold as orderly as it were night.

The Duke of Ormond goes with a party to Killkenny. The Army reſted a day at Castle Dermot, and the next day marched beyond Carlow, ſending forwards a party of Horſe, under the Command of the Duke of Ormond to take poſſeſſion of Kill Kenny, and to ſecure the Proteſtants, and other Inhabitants in the Country about, from being Plundred by the Enemy, for by this time ſome of them adventured to look behind them, and to return to take along what they had not time nor conveniency to carry off at firſt, here the Army ſtaid a day alſo, and the next day marched to a place called Kells, two miles beyond Loughlind Bridge, and the day following to Bennets Bridge, three miles to the Northeſt of Kill-Kenny upon the ſame River.

The 19. his Majeſty dined with the Duke of Ormond, at his Caſtle of Kill Kenny, this Houſe was preſerved by the Count de Lauzun, with all the Goods and Furniture, and left in a good Condition, not without the Cellars well furniſhed with what they had not time to drink at their going off. Killkenny ſignifies the Cell or Church of Canick, who for the Sanctimony of his Solitary Life in this Country was highly Renowned; this was one of the beſt Inland Towns in Ireland: the Iriſh Town has in it the ſaid Canick's Church, now the Cathedral of the Biſhop of Oſſory. The Engliſh Town was built by Randolph the third Earl of Chester, and fortified with a Wall on the Weſt ſide, by Robert Talbot a Nobleman, and this Caſtle by the Buttlers, Anceſtors to the preſent Duke of Ormond.

On Sunday the 20th. They marched ſix Miles farther, and Encamp'd at a Place called Roſſed-Narrow upon the Eſtate of one Mr. Read, where the King had an Account of one Fitz Morrice, Sheriff of the Queens County, that was under Protection, and afterwards went off in the Night with his Family and all his Stock: the King had alſo News that the Enemy had quitted Clonmel, whither Count Schomberg marched with • Body of Horſe. This is one of the ſtrongeſt Towns in Ireland, and coſt Oliver Cromwel at leaſt 2000 Men in taking it: the Iriſh made ſome Pretenſions to hold it out now; in order to which they levelled all the Suburbs and Hedges, but all they did was to make the Inhabitants pay them 300 l. to ſave the Town from being burnt or plundred: it ſtands upon the River Sure, in a pleaſant and fruitful Country. Here my Lord George Howard, and ſome more, came in and ſubmitted, who had Protections.

The Army goes to Carruck. Monday the 21ſt. The Army marched to Carruck, ſituate upon a Rocky Ground, whence it took its Name (being called from Carruck Mack Griffin) the Habitation formerly of the Earls of Ormond; which together with the Honour of Earl of Carruck King Edw. II. Granted unto Edward Boteler or Buttler, whoſe Poſterity (the preſent D. of Ormond) ſtill enjoy it. There the King received an Account of the State of Waterford (by ſome that eſcaped from thence) and of the Reſolution of the Gariſon to hold out. There alſo the King had ſome Intelligence of the Condition of the City of Cork and that County, with great Sollicitations from the Inhabitants to haſten to their Relief, which at that time they repreſented as a thing very eaſie.

On the 22d. Major General Kirk with his own Regiment, and Colonel Brewers; as alſo a Party of Horſe went towards Waterford, more Forces deſigning to follow. Waterford ſummon'd, The Major General ſent a Trumpet to Summon the Town, who at firſt refuſed to ſurrender, (there being Two Regiments then in Gariſon) their Refuſal however was in ſuch civil Terms, that we eaſily underſtood their Inclinations; for ſoon after they ſent out again to know what Terms they might have, which were the ſame with Drogheda; but not liking thoſe, they propoſed ſome of their own; which were, That they might enjoy their Eſtates, The Liberty of their Religion, A ſafe Convoy to the next Garriſon, with their Arms and proper Goods: thoſe would not be Granted, and then the heavy Cannon were drawn down that way, and ſome more Forces ordered to march; And Surrendred. but the Iriſh underſtanding this, ſent to ask Liberty to march out with their Arms, and to have a ſafe Convoy, which was granted them; and accordingly on the 25th. they marched out with their Arms and Baggage, being conducted to Mallow.

In the mean time the Fort of This Fort was alſo given John Talbot Earl of Shrewsburry, but afterwards by Act of Parliament it was annexed to the Crown for ever. Duncanon, Seven Miles below Waterford, was ſummon'd. This is a Strong and Regular Fortification, being at that time Commanded by one Captain Burk, and well furniſhed with Guns, and all other Neceſſaries: the Governour required Seven days to Conſider of it, which being denied him, he ſaid he would take ſo much time; but upon the approach of our Forces, and the appearing of ſome Ships before it, he ſurrendered upon the ſame Terms with Waterford.

The day that Waterford Surrendred, the King himſelf went to ſee it, and took great care that no Perſons ſhould be diſturbed in their Houſes or Goods. Here we found my Lord Dover, who was admitted to a more particular Protection, he having formerly applyed himſelf when the King was at Hillsborough, by a Leter to Major General Kirk, to deſire a Paſs for himſelf and Family into Flanders. The City of Waterford was built firſt by certain Pyrates of Norway, and afterwards won from the Iriſh by Richard Earl of Pembrook: The Citizens hereof had large Privileges granted them by King Hen. 7. for demeaning themſelves Loyally againſt Perkin Warbeck. It was Granted by Patent from King Hen. 6. to John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and his Heirs, who by the ſame Patent were to be Seneſcals of Ireland. But this City afterwards was annexed to the Crown.

The King ſpeaks of going for England. At the King's returning to the Camp, His Majeſty held a Council, wherein he declares his Reſolution to go for England; In the mean time our Horſe Encamped between Carruck and Clonmell, and the Earl of Granard came to wait on His Majeſty; he receiving at the ſame time an Expreſs from Lieutenant General Douglaſs, who gave but an indifferent Account of that Expedition.

On the 27th the King left the Camp at Carruck, and went towards Dublin, in order for England, which occaſioned various Conjectures, and ſome Apprehenſions that the Affairs of England were in no pleaſing Poſture. Count Solmes left General. His Majeſty left Count Solmes Commander in Chief, and went that night to Carlow, where he met with ſome Accounts from England, upon which he expreſt himſelf doubtful whether to go over or return to the Army. However he went on as far as Chappel Izard, and there he was employed for about Three days in hearing Petitions; ſome of which related to the violation of Protections, and the Outrages committed by Lieutenant General Douglas's Party: As alſo others about Abuſes and Inconveniences from the late Commiſſion; and ſeveral Complaints were made againſt Col. Trelawney's Regiment then in Dublin. Here the King gave Orders that Count Sehomberg's Horſe, Col. Mathews's Dragoons, Col. Haſting's and Col. Trelawney's Foot, with one Troop of Guards ſhould be ſhipt for England; A ſecond Declaration. and on the firſt of Auguſt publiſhed a Second Declaration, not only confirming and ſtrengthning the former, but alſo adding, That if any Foreigners in Arms againſt Him would ſubmit, they ſhould have Paſſes to go into their own Countries, or whither they pleaſed. And another Proclamation came out, dated July 31. Commanding all the Papiſts to deliver up their Arms; and thoſe who did not were to be look'd upon as Rebels and Traytors, and abandoned, to the diſcretion of the Soldiers. A Proclamation for a Faſt. And at the ſame time was likewiſe publiſhed a Proclamation for a General Faſt to be kept conſtantly every Friday during the War, in all parts of the Kingdom under his Majeſty's Obedience, for asking God's Pardon for our Sins, and imploring a Bleſſing upon Their Majeſties Forces by Sea and Land. At this time alſo Mr. Poyne, Mr. Reves, and Mr. Rothford, Lords Commiſſioners of the Great Seal, began to act, and received Inſtructions from the King how to proceed.

And now the King received a further account from England, that my Lord Torrington and ſeveral more were ſecured, and that ſeveral wicked Deſigns were diſcovered and prevented; That the Loſs at Sea was not ſo great as was at firſt reported; and that the French had only burnt a ſmall Village in the Weſt of England, and gone off again; month August ſo that the danger of this being partly over, His Majeſty reſolved to The King returns to the Army. return to the Army; he leſſened his Baggage and Retinue, giving his ſpare Horſes to the Train; and then, on the 2d of Auguſt went back towards his Army, which he found then at Goulden Bridge; on which day a Soldier was hang'd for mutining. Here the King ſtay'd a day or two, and had Accounts from ſeveral Deſerters of the Preparations the Enemy was making for their own defence and ſafety. On the 6th, the King with his Army march'd to Sallywood, having the day before ſent a Party of Horſe towards Limerick. And on the 7th his Majeſty march'd to Carigallis, within five miles of Limerick. Upon our approach thither the Enemy burnt and levell'd all the Suburbs; as alſo ſet fire to all the Houſes in the Country between us and the Town. A Party ſent toward Limerick. On the the 8th of August early in the Morning my Lord Portland, and Brigadeer Stuart were ſent towards Limerick, with about Eleven hundred Horſe and Foot, who advanced within Cannon ſhot of the Town, but met with little oppoſition from the Enemy; and before they returned his Majeſty went out with about Three hundred Horſe, being accompanied with Prince George, the Heer Overkirk, Major General Ginkle, and ſeveral other great Officers. When theſe went nigh the Town, a Party of the Enemies Horſe advanced toward them: But Captain Selby, of my Lord of Oxford's Regiment having the Advance Guard, drew towards them, with a deſign to charge them; which they perceiving, thought fit to draw homewards, their Cannon firing from the Town ſeveral times. Then in the Evening Lieutenant General Douglaſs with his Party join'd the Kings Army,

The 9th of Auguſt in the morning early, the King ſends three Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons, with a Detachment of One Thouſand Foot, commanded by Sir Henry Bellaſis (as Brigadeer) my Lord Drogheda, and Colonel Earle, as an Advance Guard to make the firſt approach, The whole Army make their Approach. and all the Army both Horſe and Foot followed in order. About ſix a Clock our Advance Party diſcovered ſome of the Enemy upon the top of an Hill, three Miles on this ſide the Town: our Men drew up, and then marched ſlowly forwards; and as we proceeded the Enemy diſappear'd by degrees, till they were all gone off the Hill: We drew forwards; and about half a mile further we cou'd ſee a great part of the Town from a riſing ground, but could not diſcover the ways to it, nor who were between us and it, becauſe of a great many thick Incloſures and Lanes; in one of which the Enemy appeared again. Our Men halted a little till the Pioneers had cut •… wn the Hedges to the right and left; which done, they advanced, and the Enemy drew back. This took ſome time a doing, and therefore the Front of our Army, both of Horſe and Foot came up: The King was here at firſt, riding from one place to another to order Matters, as his Cuſtom always was. We cut the Hedges in a great many places, and went forwards, and the Enemy they drew homewards, till they came to a narrow Paſs between two Bogs, within half a Mile of the Town. The Neck of Land between theſe Bogs is not above 150 Yards over, and this full of Hedges, with a large Orchard, a Stone Wall, and alſo the Ruines of a great Houſe upon the Lane-ſide, which the Iriſh had burnt the Day before. But there were Three Lanes that led this way towards the Town, the middlemoſt being the broadeſt, the Iriſh Horſe ſtood in it, on the Paſs beyond this old Houſe; and whilſt our Pioneers were at work, the Front of our Horſe went up ſo cloſe, that there were ſeveral little Firings, but not much damage done on either ſide: To the Right and Left of the Iriſh Horſe, the Hedges were all lined with Muſqueteers, of whom our Foot were got now within leſs than two hundred Yards. The Pioneers laboured at the Hedges all this while, and the Army made their Approaches in excellent Order: The Detached Party of Foot was upon the Advance towards the Centre, the Horſe a little to the Right of them, followed by the Earl of Drogheda's Regiment, and Lieutenant General Douglas at the Head of them (my Lord Drogheda himſelf being upon the Advance Guard). The Danes were towards the Left, led on by the Prince of Wirtemberg, and Major General Kirk: The Blue Dutch, and ſeveral Engliſh Regiments, were upon the Right: All thoſe were lined with Horſe, and theſe ſupported again with more Foot: So that all Men that underſtood it, ſaid it was a moſt curious ſight; for though the Hedges were very thick and troubleſome, yet it was ſo ordered, that the Front kept all on a Line, except the advance Party, who went always ſome diſtance before. Whilſt things were going on thus, the King ordered Two Field-Pieces to be planted towards the Left, where they could bear upon the Enemies Horſe. Theſe fired ſeveral times, and the Enemy ſoon quitted that Poſt. Our Engliſh Foot were ſo little concern'd, that though they knew the Enemy to be in the next Hedges, yet whilſt the Pioneers were at work, they would ſit them down, and ask one another, whether they thought they ſhould have any Bread to day? (for they began to want their Breakfaſts, though ſome few of them went to the next World for it.) The Danes to the Left ſtood with all the Care and Circumſpection in the World; but obſerving the Poſture of ſome of our Men, and hearing what they ſaid, they believed we had no mind to fight; yet no ſooner were the Hedges down, and our Front advancing in a narrow Field, but the Iriſh fired a whole Volley upon them from the Neighbouring Hedges; which our Men ſeeing, ſome of them cry'd aloud, Ah ye Toads, are ye there? we'll be with you preſently: And being led on by my Lord Drogheda and Colonel Earle, they ran along the Field directly towards the Hedges where the Iriſh were planted; which the others ſeeing, immediately quitted, and then our Men fired upon them as they retreated to the next Hedges, and ſo beat them from one Hedge to another, even to the very end of the Suburbs, which then were all burnt and levelled. During this Action the Danes advanced in the Left, and the Blue Dutch with the Engliſh on the Right, the Horſe coming on in the Centre. So that in leſs than half an hour from the firſt Volley, the Iriſh were driven under their very Walls; nor did we loſe a Dozen Men in all this Action: When as if the Iriſh had managed this Advantage of Ground, and fortified the Paſs, as well as Ireton's Fort on the Right of it, (which was built by Ireton on his firſt coming before Limerick: It ſtands on a Riſing Ground, and over-looks the Paſs on one ſide, and the Town on the other: (This we commonly called Cromwel's Fort) they might have kept us ſome Days from approaching the Town; at leaſt, they might have kill'd us a great many Men: But the truth is, they had not time for all this: They had drawn up, however, ſeveral Companies of Men in the Fort, but when they ſaw us coming on, they retreated towards the Town without ever firing a Shot.

The Cannon play. We were not as yet ſaluted with one Great Gun from the Town, becauſe their own Men had been between them and us, but as ſoon as they retreated under the Walls, they let fly amain amongſt us, and kill'd ſeveral as they marched in; amongſt others, a French Captain had both his Legs ſhot off, and died preſently. We drew Four Field-Pieces immediately to Cromwel's Fort, playing them upon the Town and the Outworks; and before Five a Clock in the Afternoon, all our Army was marched in, and moſt of them encampt within Cannon-ſhot. In a Siege the firſt two things that are to be regarded, is the ſafe encamping our Men, and the drawing the Line of Countervallation, to prevent the Enemy from Sallying; but the latter of theſe we did not much mind, becauſe I ſuppoſe we did not much fear any deſperate Sallies; and the former was in ſome meaſure prevented by the ſituation of our Camp. The Danes encampt to the Left, where they found an Old Fort built by their Anceſtors, which they were very proud of; and from thence they fired Three or Four Field-Pieces upon the Iriſh that lay entrenched between them and the Town. The Detached Party kept an Advance Poſt till they were relieved about Nine a Clock, and the Lord Drogheda's Regiment was placed next the Town, nigh Cromwel's Fort, where they were to ſtop the Enemies Career, if they attempted a Sally.

The Town Summon'd. As ſoon as our Army was poſted, the King ordered a Trumpet to be ſent with a Summons to the Town; and, as we underſtood ſince, a great part of the Garriſon were for Capitulating, but Monſieur Boiſeleau, the Governour, the Duke of Berwick, and Colonel Sarsfield oppoſed it with a great deal of Heat, telling them, that there were great Diviſions and Inſurrections in England; That the Dauphin was landed there with Fifty Thouſand Men, and that the Prince of Orange would be obliged ſoon to draw home his Army into England. The Trumpeter was ſent back from Monſieur Boiſeleau, with a Letter directed to Sir Robert Southwell, Secretary of State (not ſending directly to the King, becauſe he would avoid (I ſuppoſe) giving him the Title of Majeſty), The Anſwer. That he was ſurpriſed at the Summons, and that he thought the beſt way to gain the Prince of Orange's Good Opinion, was by a vigorous defence of that Town which his Maſter had entruſted him withal. That Evening a Party of Dragoons was ſent to view the Paſs at Annaghbegg, Three Miles above Limerick, where Six of the Enemies Regiments of Foot, Three of Horſe, and Two of Dragoons were poſted, on the other ſide of the River, where there ſtood a large New Houſe, with a great many Brick Walls about it, and ſeveral convenient Hedges were adjoyning to the River: They fired from thence upon our Men, but did little or no Execution, and that Night they marched off to the Town. The Cannon play'd on both ſides till it grew dark, A Party paſs the River. and next Morning early, being Sunday, the 10th, the King ſent Eight Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons, Commanded by Lieutenant General Ginkle, and Three Regiments of Foot, under Major General Kirk, who paſſed the River without any oppoſition, and immediately His Majeſty went thither Himſelf: The Stream was very rapid and dangerous, though the River has not been known to be ſo low theſe many Years. The King at his Return, left Major General Kirk, with his own, Brigadeer Stuart's, and my Lord Meath's Regiments, who encampt one beyond the Ford, and two on this ſide, having a Party of Horſe (relieved every Twenty Four Hours) to ſupport them.

A Cornet this Morning deſerted the Enemy, who told the King, That a great many in Town were for ſurrendring, but prevented by Sarsfield and Boiſeleau; That Count Lauzun, with the French, were encampt nigh Galloway, the Iriſh refuſing to receive them into Town (becauſe themſelves had done ſo with the Iriſh ſome time before at Limerick): That my Lord Tyrconnel, with moſt of the Iriſh Horſe, and ſome Foot, were encamped on the other ſide, about Six or Eight Miles from Limerick: That there were Fourteen Regiments of Foot, with Three of Horſe, and Two of Dragoons then in Town. The King ſent that Afternoon a ſmall Party of Horſe to diſcover my Lord Tyrconnel, but 〈◊〉 was then removed about Ten Miles further off towards Galloway.

The Town deſcribed. But it will be convenient that I here give as good a Deſcription of the City, and its Situation, as I can of a Place that I had not the liberty to go into, though I have been ſometimes very near it. It's therefore for Circumference one of the largeſt in that Kingdom, except Dublin, and the Houſes are generally built very ſtrong within the Walls, being made moſt of them Caſtle-ways, with Battlements: It ſtands upon the River Shanon, and though it be nigh Sixty Miles from the Sea, yet Ships of Burden can come up to the Bridge; for the River below the Town looks like an Arm of the Sea. One part ſtands on Munſter ſide, and is called the Iriſh Town, being compaſſed about with a very ſtrong Stone Wall, and without this a Counterſcarp with Palliſado's, and alſo ſeveral Forts and Baſtions; and on the in-ſide the Wall they had caſt up a vaſt Ditch, with an huge Bank of Earth and Stones, having only a place left to go in and out. The River about a quarter of a Mile above the Town, ſplits it ſelf in two, and between the Branches lies a moſt pleaſant ſpot of Ground, called the King's Iſland, being about Two Miles Circumference, on the lower end of which ſtands the greater part of Limerick, where there is a Caſtle, and a Cathedral Church. This alſo is inveſted with a Stone-Wall, and is called the Engliſh Town, between which and the Iriſh Town there is a very large Stone-Bridge; and beyond the Engliſh Town, upon the further Branch of the River, there is another Bridge that leads into the County of Clare, near which ſtands a conſiderable Fort of Stone, and the Iriſh caſt up ſeveral more of Earth, and made great Fortifications in the King's Iſland, at which they were buſie all the while we continued there: Here the Iriſh kept continually a ſtrong Guard, having alſo during our ſtay Two or Three Regiments entrenched, oppoſite to the Danes on Munſter ſide, towards the Weſt of the Iriſh Town.

This Place was firſt won from the Iriſh by Reimond the Groſs, an Engliſhman, and Son of William Fitz Gerald, but afterwards burnt by Duvenald, an Iriſh Petty King of Thoumond; and then in proceſs of time Philip Bruce was infeoffed of it, and it became an Engliſh like Town, being fortified with a Caſtle, and wall'd, by King John. In the late times Cromwel was called over into England before his Army reached that Place, and Ireton managed the Seige, who died here afterwards. He laid a great many Months before it, and did not take it at laſt. Colonel Fennel, and others of the Iriſh, in ſome reſpect, betray'd the Town to him; for againſt the Governour's Conſent they drew up Articles, and ſending them to Ireton's Camp, on the 27th of October 1651. they received Two Hundred Men at St. John's Gate, and more into another Fort, called Price's Mill; next day getting poſſeſſion of the Town, Ireton hang'd ſeveral of thoſe that were ſtill for defending of it.

But to come again to our buſineſs: The Iriſh erect Forts. The Iriſh began alſo to make Two ſmall Forts between us and the Iriſh Town, one nigh the South Gate, about the middle of the Suburbs, where ſtood Two Chimneys, and it had that Name; the other towards the Eaſt, nigh that part of the Wal where we afterwards made a Breach: They had a Citadel towards the Weſt, whereon they had ſeveral Guns, which plagued us till we kill'd that Gunner, and then we were more at eaſe from that Quarter. There was a Spur at the South Gate, whereon the greateſt of their Guns were planted, and at another ſmall Gate, with a Sally-port (called St. John's Gate) towards the Eaſt, they had alſo a Battery of Three Guns, which from its Colour we called the Black Battery: This was juſt under the place where we made our Breach. Our Camp was ordered thus: The King's Camp was to the Right, in the Second Line; next him the Horſe Guards, and Blue Dutch; then ſome Engliſh and Dutch Regiments, then the French and Danes, and behind all were the Horſe, though after ſome time we rather encamped conveniently than regularly.

Whether it was that His Majeſty was made believe the Town would ſurrender upon Summons, or what elſe was in it I know not; but when we ſate down before Limerick, we had only a Field-Train, though we had been a Month in our March from Dublin thither; and whether it be uſual to go before a Town without ſufficient Materials to force it, I am no Competent Judge: However, there were Six Twenty Four Pounders, Two Eighteen Pounders, a great quantity of Ammunition, much Proviſions, our Tin Boats, and abundance of other things all at this time upon the Road from Dublin, under the Care of Two Troops of Colonel Viller's Horſe.

Notice of our Guns coming up, by a Deſerter. The Day after we got to Limerick, a Frenchman, (as was reported) a Gunner of ours, run away from us into Town, and gave the Enemy an account where our Train lay, as alſo of thoſe Guns, and other things that were coming up, the manner of our encamping, and where the King's Tents ſtood, with all the Particulars that were material for them to know. They had always a plaguy ſpight at our Guns, and therefore on Monday Morning early they play'd theirs moſt furiouſly towards the place where our Train lay. I hapned to be not far from the place that time, and in leſs than a quarter of an hour I reckon'd Nineteen or Twenty great Shot that fell in a manner all in a Line. This place grew preſently ſo hot, that we were obliged to remove our Train beyond an Hill further off. They fired alſo all this day, and the next, at the places where the King's Tents ſtood, killing ſome Men, as alſo Two of the Prince of Denmark's fine Horſes: His Majeſty was adviſed to remove to ſome more convenient and ſecure Ground, which he did.

Monday the 11th. in the Morning, we planted ſix Twelve Pounders at Cromwell's Fort, which diſmounted one of the Enemies beſt Guns upon the Spur, and did further damage to the Houſes in the Town. The ſame Morning came one Manus O Brian, a ſubſtantial Country Gentleman to the Camp, and gave notice that Sarsfield in the Night had paſs'd the River with a Body of Horſe, and deſign'd ſomething extraordinary: Sarsfield paſſes the River. For when Sarsfield heard what the Frenchman had told, he was pretty ſure, that if thoſe Guns, Boats, and other Materials came up to us, the Town would not be able to hold out; and therefore he reſolves to run a hazard, and deſtroy them in their March if it were poſſible; if he ſucceeded, then he broke our Meaſures, but if not, he then deſign'd for France, if he did but ſurvive the Attempt: In order to which, he takes all the beſt Horſe and Dragoons that were in Town, and that very Night marches over the Shannon, at a Place called Killalow, a Biſhops See on the Shannon, Twelve Miles above our Camp. The Meſſenger that brought the News was not much taken notice of at firſt, moſt People looking upon it as a Dream; A great Officer however called him aſide, and after ſome indifferent Queſtions, askt him about a Prey of Cattel in ſuch a Place; which the Gentleman complain'd of afterwards, ſaying, he was ſorry to ſee General Officers mind Cattel more than the King's Honour. But after he met with ſome Acquaintance, he was brought to the King, who to prevent the worſt, gave Orders that a Party of Five hundred Horſe ſhould be made ready, and march to meet the Guns; but whether His Majeſties Orders were not delivered to the Officer in Chief that was to Command the Party, or where the fault lay, I am no competent Judge, but it was certainly One or Two of the Clock in the Morning before the Party marched, which they did then very ſoftly, till about an hour after they ſaw a great Light in the Air, and heard a ſtrange rumbling Noiſe, which ſome conjectur'd to be the Train blown up, as it really was. For on Sunday night our Guns lay at Caſhell, and on Munday they marched beyond Cullen, to a little old Ruinous Caſtle, called Ballenedy, not Seven Miles from our Camp, and directly in the Rear of it, where they Encamped on a ſmall Piece of plain green Ground, there being ſeveral Earthen Fences on one ſide, and the old Caſtle on the other: If they had feared the leaſt danger, it had been eaſie to draw the Guns and every thing elſe within the Ruins of that old Caſtle, and then it had been difficult for an Army, much more a Party, to have touched them; Nay, it was eaſie to place them and the Carriages in ſuch a Figure upon the very Spot where they ſtood, that it had been certain Death to have come nigh them; but thinking themſelves at home, ſo nigh the Camp, and not fearing an Enemy in ſuch a Place, eſpecially ſince they had no notice ſent them of it; they turn'd moſt of their Horſes out to Graſs, as being wearied with marching before, and the Guard they left was but a very ſlender one, the reſt moſt of them going to ſleep; but ſome of them awoke in the next World; The Guns ſurpriſed. for Sarsfield all that day lurked amongſt the Mountains, and having notice where, and how our Men lay, he had thoſe that guided him through By-ways, to the very Spot, where he fell in amongſt them before they were aware, and cut ſeveral of them to Pieces, with a great many of the Waggoners, and ſome Country People that were coming to the Camp with Proviſions. The Officer Commanding in Chief, when he ſaw how it was, Commanded to ſound to Horſe, but thoſe that endeavoured to fetch them up, were killed as they went out, or elſe ſaw it was too late to return: The Officers and others made what reſiſtance they could, but were at laſt obliged every Man to ſhift for himſelf, which many of them did, though they loſt all their Horſes, and ſome of them Goods of a conſiderable value: there was one Lieutenant Bell, and ſome few more of the Troopers killed, with Waggoners and Country People, to the Number in all of about Sixty: Then the Iriſh got up what Horſes they could meet withal, belonging either to the Troops or Train; ſome broke the Boats, and others drew all the Carriages and Waggons, with the Bread, Ammunition, and as many of the Guns as they could get in ſo ſhort a time into one heap; the Guns they filled with Powder, and put their Mouths in the Ground that they might certainly ſplit; what they could pick up in a hurry they took away, and then laying a Train to the reſt, which being fired at their going off, blew all up with an Aſtoniſhing noiſe; the Guns that were filled with Powder flying up from the Carriages into the Air, and yet two of them received on damage, though two more were ſplit and made unſerviceable: every thing likewiſe that would burn, was reduced to Aſhes, before any could prevent it. The Iriſh took no Priſoners, only a Lieutenant of Colonel Earl's being ſick in a Houſe hard by, was ſtript and brought to Sarsfield, who us'd him very civilly, telling him, if he had not ſucceeded in that Enterpriſe, he had then gone to France. Our Party of Horſe that was ſent from the Camp, came after the buſineſs was over, in ſight of the Enemies Rear; but wheeling towards the Left, to endeavour to intercept their Paſſage over the Shanon, they unhappily went another way; ſince if our Party had been Fortunate, they had a fair Opportunity firſt to ſave the Guns, and then to Revenge their loſs, and if either had been done, the Town had ſurrendred without much more Battering. Sir Albert Cunningham's Dragoons were abroad alſo, who met with ſome of the Iriſh, kill'd a Major, one Captain James Fitz-Gerrald, and about Fifteen more, but the Main Body marched off ſecure. Colonel Villers went alſo with another Party of Horſe towards Bryans Bridge, but the Enemy did not return that way.

This News was very unwelcome to every body in the Camp, the very private Men ſhewing a greater concern at the loſs, then one could expect from ſuch kind of People; the loſs of the Guns was not ſo great, as that of the Horſes and Ammunition; but to make the beſt of a bad Market, the Duke of Wyrtemberg, and ſeveral Great Officers, ſent their own Horſes, and every Foot Regiment furniſhed ſo many Garrons, to bring up the Guns and broken Carriages; as alſo to bring up two great Guns and a Mortar that were coming from Waterford. The Seige g • ts on. We went on with the Siege however, and planted ſeveral more Guns, and Fireings continued briskly on both ſides, all the Army both Horſe and Foot being ordered to make ſuch a number of Faſcheenes a day, and bring them to the Heads of their reſpective Regiments; to which end we cut down moſt of the Hedges and Orchards about.

Caſtle Connel taken. On Tueſday the 12. Brigadeer Stuart, with a Detachment of his own and my Lord Meath's Men, went towards Caſtle Connel with Four Field-Pieces: the Beſieged ſubmitted, and were brought Priſoners to the Camp, being 126 in number, commanded by one Captain Baluwell. This is a ſtrong place upon the River Shannon, Four Miles above Limerick, built by Richard the Red Earl of Ulſter. (Queen Elizabeth gave the Title of Baron Caſtle Connel to William Bourk, for killing James Fitz Morice, who was a Rebel in thoſe Days.) Here we kept a Gariſon till the Siege was raiſed, and then it was blown up. During theſe Tranſactions ſeveral Parties of Horſe were ſent abroad; and Wedneſday the 13. Lieutenant Colonel Caulfield was ſent to Cullen, with a detacht Party of 300 Foot mounted upon Garrons, there to remain as a Guard to thoſe who paſſed to and from the Camp; as alſo to ſcour the Country, the Rapperees (upon the miſcarriage of the Guns, and being partly plundered contrary to the Kings Orders) beginning to diſturb us. Next day there came an Expreſs from Youghal, giving an Account, That they had killed ſome of the Iriſh thereabouts that robbed and plundered the Country. (This Place was ſurrendred to us about 10 days before, and had now a Gariſon of 80 Foot and Dragoons.)

Upon ſome complaints from the North of Ireland, on the 15th, the King ſends out his Proclamation, Commanding all to pay Tythes as formerly. Theſe troubleſome Times have fallen heavy upon the Clergy of Ireland (who lived very plentifully before) and yet it will be a great while ere they be ſo poor as their Predeceſſors: For they ſay in times paſt they had no other Rents or Revenues but three Milch Kine a-piece, which the Pariſhioners exchang'd for others new, when they went dry; as Adam Brenenſis, a German tells the Story from themſelves, as they returned that way on a time from Italy. Tho I ſuppoſe the People were then as ignorant as the Clergy poor; but now the Caſe is altered, and they want neither Encouragement nor Reſpect.

Sunday the 17. Monſieur Cambon, our Quarter-maſter General, was very diligent, in order to have the Trenches opened that night; and all things being prepared, Seven Battalions, conſiſting of Engliſh, Danes, Dutch, and French Foot, commanded by the Prince of Wyrtenberg Lieutenant General, Major General Kirk, Major General Tettau, and Sir Henry Bellaſis Brigadeer. The King I ſuppoſe, by this mixture, thinking to raiſe an Emulation in his Soldiers; or further, that they might inſtruct one another, ſeveral Regiments having never been in Trenches before: they were commonly Seven Battalions on at a time, and relieved at Twelve a Clock at night: but this method was altered, for a reaſon to be given afterwards. This night we advanced our Trenches, and attackt the Iriſh at the two old Chimneys, the Granadeers threw in their Granades, and then endeavoured to get over: this occaſioned a general firing from our Trenches, and alſo from the Town; the King himſelf was at Cromwells Fort to ſee what happen'd (as he was conſtantly every night.) The Iriſh in the Fort made no great reſiſtance; but after once firing they cry'd out Murder, and Quarter, but made the beſt of their way toward the Town; thoſe that ſtay'd in the Fort were knock'd on the head: The firing from the Walls and Trenches continu'd for at leaſt two Hours longer, by which time we had ſecured this Fort from the Enemies retaking it.

A Battery planted. Next day, being Monday the 18. we planted a Battery below the Fort, to the right of our Trenches, and diſmounted ſome of the Enemies Cannon. All that day the Guns plaid briskly on both ſides; and at night the Trenches were relieved by Lieutenant General Douglas; my Lord Sidney, and Count Naſſau, as Major Generals, and Brigadeer Stuart. We made our Approaches toward the Fort without the Wall; and Lieut. Gen. Douglas's, and Brigadeer Stuart's Regiments were poſted towards the right: It was dark when they went on, and they did not perceive the Enemy to be ſo near them as they really were; for there was at that time ſcarce Twenty yards diſtance between them: they were ordered to lye down upon their Arms; which they did, and a great part both of the Officers and Soldiers fell aſleep: The Enemy perceived this, and attack'd them, which put them preſently into a Confuſion, and ſeveral of them gave ground, but preſently recovered themſelves and fired, but they did not know at what: The Danes to the left took our own Men for the Enemy ſallying, and ſo fired upon them; they believed the Danes to be the Iriſh; and ſo return'd the Complement. The Iriſh fired upon both, and they at one another. This Confuſion laſted nigh two hours; in which time ſeveral were killed; nor did the King, or any body elſe know what to make of it. At laſt our Men found their miſtake, and the Iriſh were beat in, crying quarter and murder, as they uſed to do. After this his Majeſty ordered the Trenches to be relieved in the day; and our Men marched always in and out, in the very Face of their Cannon.

The ſtory of the Iriſh Deliverer. About this time we had an Account of one Balderock Rho O Donnel, of the ancient Family of Tyrconnel: this Man was born and educated in Spain. But there being a Prophecy amongſt the Iriſh, that he ſhould free his Country from the Engliſh, doing great matters in his own Perſon, and more by his Conduct; he was ſent for on purpoſe, and came to Limerick. It's incredible how faſt the vulgar Iriſh flocked to him at his firſt coming; ſo that he had got in a ſmall time Seven or Eight thouſand Rapparees, and ſuch like People together, and begun to make a Figure; but after a while the Buſineſs cool'd, and they were weary of one another: and he is only now a Colonel in Limerick. They had another Prophecy alſo, That we ſhould come to the Field above Cromwell's Fort, where ſtands an old Church, where on a Stone hard by we ſhould pitch our utmoſt Colours, and afterwards be undone; with a thouſand ſuch like Fopperies, not worth the naming.

Tueſday the 19th. our Battery plaid upon the Walls, and alſo the Guns from Cromwell's Fort upon the Houſes in Town: And the Enemy were not idle; for their Shot flew very thick, His Majeſty had a narrow eſcape. inſomuch that the King riding ſoftly up towards Cromwell's Fort, directly as His Horſe was entring a Gap, a Gentleman ſtaid His Majeſty to ſpeak to him, and in the very moment there ſtruck a Twenty four pounder in the very place, which would have ſtruck His Majeſty, and Horſe too, all to pieces, if His uſual good Angel had not defended Him; it ſtruck the Duſt all about Him however, tho' He took little notice of it, but alighting, came and laid Him down on the Fort, amongſt all the Duſt. That Night we planted Four Twenty four pounders at the Angle of our Trenches, near the South-eaſt corner of the Wall, where we made the Breach afterwards.

A Fort taken from the Iriſh. Wedneſday the 20th. Colonel Cuts's Granadeers, commanded by Captain Foxon, and my Lord Meath's, by Captain Needham, were placed conveniently in the Trenches for an Attack; and at Two a Clock in the Afternoon (the Signal being given by firing Three Pieces of Cannon) they leapt over the Trenches, and ran ſtraight to the Fort which the Enemy had to the Right of us, at St. John's Gate. The Enemy fired from the Fort, and from the Walls; our Men did the like from the Trenches; and the Great Guns went to work on both Sides. The Granadeers threw in their Granades, and Captain Foxon made an Attempt to climb up, but was thrown down again; but entred at the ſecond Trial, and his Men with him: So did my Lord Meath's Men, with Captain Needham; and in a ſmall time we were Maſters of the Fort. There were about Fifty kill'd in it, and Twelve with the Captain taken Priſoners, and ſome made their Eſcapes to the Town. The Firing continued however on both Sides for above an Hour, and all poſſible diligence was uſed to bring down Faggots, wherewith to make up that ſide of the Fort that was open to the Town. Before the Attack, a Party of our Horſe were drawn up in a Lane, to the Right of the Trenches, to prevent the Enemy from ſallying, upon which the Enemies Cannon plaid; ſo that after the Fort was ours, they drew back beyond an Hill for their Security. They ſally. About an Hour after, ſome Friend in Town gave notice that the Enemy were going to ſally, which they did immediately, both Horſe and Foot, from St. John's Gate: Their Horſe came up very nigh the Fort, tho' our Men fired from thence, and the Trenches, as faſt as they cou'd: Then the ſmall and great Shot on both ſides began afreſh again. Major Wood of Colonel Byerley's Regiment commanded an Advance Party of Twenty four French and Twenty ſeven Engliſh Horſe: At the Noiſe he advanced with this Party, and leaping a Ditch, he engaged immediately a Squadron of the Iriſh Horſe, and broke them. Then came in Lieutenant Colonel Windham, and Captain Lucy, as alſo ſome Dutch and Daniſh Horſe: Theſe charged the Iriſh that ſallied, and beat them back, following them almoſt to the very Gate. But we being expoſed to all the Enemies Shot from the Walls, loſt ſeveral in coming off; amongſt the reſt, Captain Lucy, a Gentleman much lamented by all that knew him. The King ſaw all this Action, (as indeed he did moſt things that hapned, going often into the Trenches, and never without danger) expreſſing Himſelf to be in pain for Major Wood, when he ſaw him and his Party in ſuch danger, loſing the greateſt part of them. Captain Needham, after all was over, and he leading his Men off, was ſhot by a Chance-Bullet, and died immediately. We loſt at the taking of the Fort, and at the Sally afterwards, 58 Foot kill'd, and 140 wounded; Horſemen, 21 kill'd, 52 wounded; 64 Horſes kill'd, 57 wounded; beſides the Danes. Theſe Men ſold their Lives dear, and you may eaſily believe the Enemy gain'd nothing by this Afternoons Work; for the next Morning two Drummers made their Eſcape out of Town, who told us, the Enemy had loſt above 300 Men; and in two Hours after came a Cornet and four Trumpeters from the Enemies Camp. That Afternoon Captain Bourn was kill'd, as he was marching down to relieve the Trenches; and Major Morgiſon was wounded with a Cannon-bullet as he lay in Bed, of which he died in two days.

A new Battery. The 22d. we raiſed a Battery of Eight Guns, moſt Twenty four pounders, nigh the Fort that we took the day before, from whence we beat down Two Towers that ſtood upon the Wall, out of which the Enemy fired upon our Trenches. That night we threw good ſtore of Bombs and Carcaſſes into Town, which diſturb'd the Enemy very much, moſt of them having never ſeen ſuch things before.

The 23d. there was a Drum ſent, and a Truce towards the Evening, for the Burying the Dead kill'd on both ſides at the taking the Fort. When our People came to look amongſt the Dead, they found a French Officer wounded, and his Horſe lying upon him, and yet the Gentleman was alive, and, as I heard, he recover'd, tho' he lay from Wedneſday till Saturday in the Evening. I cannot omit a pleaſant Adventure that fell out at the taking the Fort, between a Chaplain in the Army and a Trooper. This Chaplain hapned to go down after the Fort was taken, and ſeeing a Trooper mortally wounded, in all appearance, he fancy'd himſelf obliged to give him his beſt Advice: The other was very thankful for it; and whilſt they were about the matter, comes the Sally. Our Horſe came thundring down, at which the Clergyman making haſte to get out of their way, he ſtumbled and fell down. The wounded Trooper ſeeing him fall, judg'd he had been kill'd, and ſtept to him immediately to ſtrip him, and in a trice had got his Coat off on one ſide: The other call'd to him to hold, and ask'd him what he meant. Sir, (ſays the other) I beg your pardon; for I believed you were kill'd, and therefore I thought my ſelf obliged to take care of your Clothes, as well as you did of my Soul.

This Afternoon were Eighty four Priſoners brought to the Camp, from a Caſtle ſome twelve or fourteen Miles off, called Nignagh Round: Theſe kept out the Caſtle for Twenty four hours againſt Major General Ginkell and his Party of about 1500 Horſe and Dragoons; they kill'd us Fourteen Men; Nignagh Caſtle taken. but ſeeing two Cannon come, and the Soldiers very buſie in bringing Faggots for a Battery, they ſubmitted to Mercy. Their Commander was one Captain O Bryan. This Afternoon alſo one of Colonel Leviſon's Dragoons was hanged, for deſerting. In the Evening our Bombs and red-hot Balls began to fly, which ſet part of the Town on fire, which burnt all that night, deſtroying a great quantity of Hay, with ſeveral Houſes. I remember we were all as well pleaſed to ſee the Town flaming as could be, which made me reflect upon our Profeſſion of Soldiery, not to be overcharg'd with Good-nature.

Another Battery. The 24th. we fired pretty ſmartly, but our Guns only ſtruck the top of the Wall off, and therefore we raiſed a new Battery within ſixty Yards of the Wall, and that Night drew the Angle of our Trenches within twenty Yards of the Counterſcarp; Thirty Voluntiers out of a Regiment working very diligently, and had Two ſhillings apiece for their pains; ſeveral Wooll-ſacks being carried down to ſecure our Men from Shot as they were at work. Monday morning we began to fire from our new Battery, and the Breach in the Wall began to be conſiderable; which the Enemy ſeeing, brought abundance of Woolſacks, to damp the force of our Cannon. This was like Joſephus's defending his Towns in Gallilee, who filled large Sacks full of Chaff, and hung them over the Walls, to defend them from the Battering Rams of the Romans; for Cannons were not then invented.

The Breach appears. The King ſent his Gunners ſome Drink down to the Batteries, which made them ply their Work very heartily; and for all the Wool-ſacks, the Wall began to fly again; and early that Morning were two Cannon planted about 300 Yards to the right of our Trenches, in order to beat down the Bridge: But we were too late a beginning this Work; the Iriſh ſeeing what we intended, were very much afraid of the Bridge, and and therefore they planted two Guns without the Town, in the King's Iſland, which plaid upon our Battery, and alſo flankt their own Counterſcarp. You muſt know, that two or three days before this, it had rain'd ſo violently for nigh twenty four hours together, that the Soldiers were almoſt up to the Knees in the Trenches. This look'd very ill, and therefore we were obliged to haſten our Work, leſt the Rains ſhould force us to deſiſt. That Night therefore a Council of War was held, whether we ſhou'd make an Attack upon the Counterſcarp next day; and it was deferred till Wedneſday, becauſe as yet the Breach was not wide enough: Monſieur Cambon was for deferring it for two or three days longer, which had been a great happineſs if it had; and yet this could not well be, for our Ammunition began to ſink.

Tueſday the 26th. we ply'd the Breach ha • d all day with nigh Twenty Cannon from ſeveral Batteries, and in the Night ſaluted the Town after the uſual manner, with Fireballs, Bombs, and Carcaſſes. And on

The Town ſtormed. Wedneſday the 27th. a Breach being made nigh St. John's Gate, over the Black Battery, that was about Twelve Yards in length, and pretty flat, as it appear'd to us, the King gave Orders that the Counterſcarp ſhould be attack'd that Afternoon; to which purpoſe a great many Wool-ſacks were carry'd down, and good ſtore of Ammunition, with other things ſuitable for ſuch a Work. All the Granadeers in the Army were ordered to march down into the Trenches, which they did. Thoſe being above Five hundred, were commanded each Company by their reſpective Captains, and were to make the firſt Attack, being ſupported by one Battalion of the Blue Dutch on the Right, then Lieutenant General Douglas's Regiment, Brigadeer Stuart's, my Lord Meath's, and my Lord Lisburn's, as alſo a Brandenburgh Regiment. Theſe were all poſted towards the Breach; upon the left of whom were Colonel Cutts and the Danes. Lieutenant General Douglas commanded, and their Orders were to poſſeſs themſelves of the Counterſcarp, and maintain it. We had alſo a Body of Horſe drawn up, to ſuccour the Foot upon occaſion. About half an hour after Three, the Signal being given by firing three Pieces of Cannon, the Granadeers being in the furtheſt Angle of our Trenches, leapt over, and run towards the Counterſcarp, firing their Pieces, and throwing their Granades. This gave the Alarm to the Iriſh, who had their Guns all ready, and diſcharged great and ſmall Shot upon us as faſt as 'twas poſſible: Our Men were not behind them in either; ſo that in leſs than two Minutes the Noiſe was ſo terrible, that one would have thought the very Skies ready to rent in ſunder. This was ſeconded with Duſt, Smoke, and all the Terrors that the Art of Man could invent, to ruine and undo one another; and to make it the more uneaſie, the Day it ſelf was exceſſive hot to the By-ſtanders, and much more ſure in all reſpects to thoſe upon action. Captain Carlile, of my Lord Drogheda's Regiment, run on with his Granadeers to the Counterſcarp, and tho' he received two Wounds between that and the Trenches, yet he went forwards, and commanded his Men to throw in their Granades; but in the leaping into the dry Ditch below the Counterſcarp, an Iriſhman below ſhot him dead. Lieutenant Barton however encouraged the Men, and they got upon the Counterſcarp, and all the reſt of the Granadeers were as ready as they. By this time the Iriſh were throwing down their Arms, and running as faſt as they could into Town; which our Men perceiving, entred the Breach pellmell with them, and above half the Earl of Drogheda's Granadeers, and ſome others, were actually in Town. The Regiments that were to ſecond the Granadeers went to the Counterſcarp, and having no Orders to go any further, there ſtopt. The Iriſh were all running from the Walls, and quite over the Bridge, into the Engliſh Town, but ſeeing but a few of our Men enter, they were with much ado perſuaded to rally; and thoſe that were in, ſeeing themſelves not followed, and their Ammunition being ſpent, they deſigned to retreat; but ſome were ſhot, ſome taken, and the reſt came out again, but very few without being wounded. The Iriſh then ventured upon the Breach again, and from the Walls and every place ſo peſter'd us upon the Counterſcarp, that after nigh three hours reſiſting Bullets, Stones, (broken Bottles, from the very Women, who boldly ſtood in the Breach, and were nearer our Men than their own) and whatever ways could be thought on to deſtroy us, our Ammunition being ſpent, it was judged ſafeſt to return to our Trenches. When the Work was at the hotteſt, the Brandenburgh Regiment (who behaved themſelves very well) were got upon the Black Battery, where the Enemies Powder hapned to take fire, and blew up a great many of them, the Men, Faggots, Stones, and what not, flying into the Air with a moſt terrible noiſe. Colonel Cutts was commanded by the Duke of Wyrtemberg to march towards the Spur at the South Gate, and beat in the Iriſh that appeared there; which he did, tho' he loſt ſeveral of his Men, and was himſelf wounded: For he went within half Musket-ſhot of the Gate, and all his Men open to the Enemies Shot, who lay ſecure within the Spur and the Walls. The Danes were not idle all this while, but fired upon the Enemy with all imaginable fury, and had ſeveral kill'd; but the miſchief was, we had but one Breach, and all towards the Left it was impoſſible to get into the Town when the Gates were ſhut, if there had been no Enemy to oppoſe us, without a great many Scaling-ladders, which we had not. From half an hour after Three, till after Seven, there was one continued Fire of both great and ſmall Shot, without any intermiſſion; inſomuch that the Smoke that went from the Town reached in one continued Cloud to the top of a Mountain at leaſt ſix Miles off.

When our Men drew off, ſome were brought up dead, and ſome without a Leg; others wanted Arms, and ſome were blind with Powder; eſpecially a great many of the poor Brandenburgers look'd like Furies, with the Misfortune of Gunpowder. One Mr. Upton getting in amongſt the Iriſh in Town, and ſeeing no way to eſcape, went in the Crowd undiſcovered, till he came at the Governour, and then ſurrendred himſelf. There was a Captain, one Bedloe, who deſerted the Enemy the day before, and now went upon the Breach, and fought bravely on our ſide; for which His Majeſty gave him a Company.

The King ſtood nigh Cromwell's Fort all the time, and the Buſineſs being over, He went to His Camp very much concern'd, as indeed was the whole Army; for you might have ſeen a mixture of Anger and Sorrow in every bodies Countenance. The Iriſh had two ſmall Field pieces planted in the King's Iſland, which flankt their own Counterſcarp, and in our Attack did us no ſmall damage, as did alſo two Guns more that they had planted within the Town, oppoſite to the Breach, and charged with Cartridge-ſhot.

The Loſs at this Attack. We loſt at leaſt Five hundred upon the Spot, and had a thouſand more wounded, as I underſtood by the Surgeons of our Hoſpitals, who are the propereſt Judges. The Iriſh loſt a great many by our Cannon, and other ways; but it cannot be ſuppoſed that their Loſs ſhould be equal to ours, ſince it's a much eaſier thing to defend Walls, than 'tis by plain Strength to force People from them; and one Man within, has the advantage of four without. Nor poſſibly may it be amiſs to inſert the Liſt of the Officers kill'd and wounded at the Attack, in the Five Engliſh Regiments that were upon Duty, as it was taken exactly next day.

In Lieutenant General Douglas's Regiment. Wounded. Sir Charles Fielding. Capt. Roſe, mortally wounded. Capt. Guy. Capt. Trevor. Capt. Roſe junior. Capt. Wainsbrough. Lieut. Wild, mortally wounded. Lieut. Wybrants. Lieut. Lacock. Lieut. Rapine. Lieut. Lloyd. Enſign Goodwin. Enſign Burk. Kill'd. Major Hambleton. Lieut. Ennis. Lieut. Moriſon. Enſign Tapp. Enſign Pinſent.

In Colonel Cutts's Regiment. Wounded. Colonel Cutts. Capt. Newton. Capt. Foxon. Capt. Maſsham. Lieut. Levis. Lieut. Barrock. Lieut. Cary. Lieut. Trenchard. The Adjutant. Mr. Hows, a Voluntier. Kill'd. Capt. Hudſon. Enſign Mead.

In the Earl of Meath's Regiment. Wounded. The Earl of Meath. L. C. Newcomb, mort. wounded. Lieut. Blakeney. Lieut. Hubblethorn. Kill'd. Lieut. Latham. Enſign Smith.

In Brigadier Stuart's Regiment. Wounded. Brigadier Stuart. Major Cornwall. Capt. Pallferey. Capt. Galbreth. Capt. Stuart. Capt. Caſſeen. Lieut. Stuart. Lieut. Cornwall. Lieut. Cary. Enſign Stuart. Kill'd. Capt. Lindon. Capt. Farlow. Lieut. Ruſſell.

In my Lord Lisburn's Regiment. Wounded. Major Allen. Capt. Adair. Capt. Holdrich. Capt. Hubbart. Lieut. Hillton. Lieut. Goodwin. Enſign Hook. Kill'd. Capt. Wallace. Capt. Weſt. Enſign Ogle.

Theſe make in all Fifty nine, whereof Fifteen were killed upon the Spot, and ſeveral dyed afterwards of their Wounds; the Granadeers are not here included, and they had the hotteſt Service: Nor are there any of the Forreigners, who loſt full as many as the Engliſh; ſo that I'm afraid this did more then countervail the loſs that the Iriſh had during the whole Seige, at leaſt in the numher of Men.

Next day the King ſent a Drummer, in order to a Truce, that the Dead might be buried, but the Iriſh had no mind to it; and now the Soldiers were in hopes that the King would make a ſecond Attack, and ſeem'd reſolv'd to have the Town or dye every Man. But this was too great a hazard to run at one Place, and they did not know how ſcarce our Ammunition was, it being very much waſted the day before; this day however we continued Battering the Wall, and it begun to Rain; and next day it was very Cloudy all about, and Rain'd very faſt; ſo that every Body began to dread the Conſequences of it. The King therefore calls a Council of War, wherein it was Reſolv'd to quit the Town and Raiſe the Siege, which as the Caſe ſtood then with us, was no doubt the moſt prudent thing that could be done. The Siege Raiſed. We drew off therefore our heavy Cannon from the Batteries by degrees: And on Saturday Auguſt the 30. we marched greateſt part of them as far as Cariganliſs, the Guard being the Earl of Drogheda's and Brigedeer Stuart's Regiments. The Rain which had already fallen had ſoftned the ways, and we found ſome difficulty in getting off our Guns, eſpecially ſince for the moſt part we were obliged to draw them with Oxen, a part of our Train Horſes being diſpoſed of to the Enemies uſe before; and this was one main Reaſon for Raiſing the Siege; for if we had not (granting the Weather to continue bad) we muſt either have taken the Town, or of neceſſity have loſt our Cannon, becauſe that part of the Country lies very low, and the Ways are deep. Therefore on Sunday the laſt of Auguſt, all the Army drew off, (having a good Body of Horſe in the Rear): As ſoon as the Iriſh perceived we had quitted our Trenches, they took Poſſeſſion of them with great Joy, and were in a ſmall time after over all the Ground whereon we had Encamped; two days before we Raiſed the Siege, a great many Waggons and Carriages were ſent towards Caſhell and Clonmel, with ſick and wounded Men, which was the Reaſon that we were forced to leave a great many Bombs, Hand Granades, and other things behind which we buried in the Artillery Ground, but with a Train to blow them up; ſo that when it took Fire the Iriſh were mightily afraid, and thought we were beginning a new Seige from under Ground: But yet they dug up moſt of our dead Officers and Soldiers, only to get their Shirts and Shrowds.

month September The Army removes. The Army Encamped that day at Cariganliſs, and then the Artillery marched forwards to Cullen, whither the Army followed the day after: but as ſoon as the Proteſtants, that dwelt in that Country, underſtood that the Army was drawing off, they prepared to march along with Bag and Baggage, which moſt of them did, and lookt ſomething like the Children of Iſrael, with their Cattle, and all their Stuff, footing it from Aegypt; though moſt of thoſe poor People had no Promiſed Land to retire to, but were driven into a Wilderneſs of Confuſion; for I ſaw a great many both Men and Women of very good Faſhion, who had lived plentifully before, yet now knew not which way to ſteer their Courſe, but went along with the Croud, whither Providence ſhould direct them.

In a day or two after we were removed from before Limerick, Monſieur Boiſleau the Governour made a Speech, and told the Iriſh, Monſieur Boiſeleau's Speech to the Iriſh. That with much ado he had perſwaded them to defend the Town, which with Gods help they had done; but aſſured them it was not Fear, but Prudence and Policy that had made the Enemy quit the Siege, as might appear by their ſlow Marches; and withal he told them his Opinion, that the next time the Enemy came they would have it: Which ſaid, he took leave, and went to the French Forces then at Galloway, and deſigning for France.

His Majeſty goes for England. His Majeſty, that day we Raiſed the Siege, went to Cullen, and ſo to Clonmel, from thence to Waterford, in order to take ſhipping for England, accompanied with the Prince, the Duke of Ormond, and ſeveral of the Nobility. From Waterford His Majeſty ſent back the Right Honourable Henry Lord Viſcount Sidney, and Tho. Conyngsby Esq to the Camp; Lords Juſtices Appointed. they, with Sir Charles Porter, having a Commiſſion to be Lords Juſtices of Ireland: The King ſet Sail with a fair Wind for England, where he was received with an univerſal rejoicing; and the Two Lords Juſtices on the Fourth of September came to the Camp, then at Cullen, where they ſtaid till the Sixth; in which two days, they, and the General, Count Solmes, ordered all Affairs relating to the Army. And here we received Money, which was very acceptable, for it had been very ſcarce all the Campaign, both with the Officers and Soldiers, and yet every body were content, and our Wants were no Obſtruction to our Duties; as His Majeſty was pleaſed to take notice afterwards in His Speech to the Parliament From Cullen we marched on the Sixth to Tipperary, blowing up a ſtrong Caſtle when we Decamped, and the two Lords Juſtices took their Journey towards Dublin, in order to enter upon their Government.

Some that are Men already prejudiced, will pretend to be Judges in this Affair (though they never ſaw the Place or the Country) and affirm, that the Iriſh made never a falſe ſtep, but one, during this whole Siege, and that was, in not Fortifying the Paſs, and Cromwell's Fort without; as alſo in not drawing a large Trench from the River towards the Eaſt, and then runing it round that part of the Town, on which they might have raiſed ſeveral Forts and Breaſt-works; from whence they might have retarded our Approaches; but indeed they had not time for all this, though they had done ſomething of that kind towards the West, where they keept Men Encampt all the while we lay before the Town; and they had made alſo ſome Forts towards the Eaſt, but they could not put Courage in their Men to defend them, eſpecially when Walls were ſo near to fly to.

Objections againſt the Siege at Limerick. What Objections they make againſt us were theſe, that we ought to have divided our Army, and ſent a part beyond the River; as alſo to have broke down the two Bridges, one between the two Towns, and the other on the County of Clare ſide; by which means we had prevented the Iriſh Communication between the two Towns, and alſo from without; the greateſt hazard that we could run, being to Attack a Town that had one ſide open, to bring in what Men and things they pleas'd. All theſe, and a great many more inconveniencies were ſeen into at that Inſtant; but the dividing the Army was impracticable, becauſe that when one Part had been over the River, they muſt have marched ſeveral Miles to the Right, and then down again, before they could come nigh the other ſide of the Town, by reaſon of a vaſt Bog that runs from the Town a great way croſs the Country, and then it was no eaſie thing to bring Proviſion to thoſe: and beſides, if the Rains had fallen (as it often threatned us) that part of the Army which had gone over, muſt have run the hazard either of ſtarving, or fighting their whole Army, or both; for the Shanon riſes all on a ſudden, and the leaſt ſwelling in the World, would have made it impaſſible for the Army, ſince it was with great difficulty that ſingle Regiments could get over as it was, and it never has been ſeen ſo low in many years. Nor had we Men enough, to make what Works were convenient, to ſecure both Parts of the Army from Sallies or Aſſaults from without, if we had been divided. We know Caeſar at the Siege of Alexia, ſhut in Eighty thouſand Guals; made a Line of Countervallation of Eleven Miles Circumference; and one of Circumvallation that was Fourteen, Fortifying both theſe with Sharp Stakes, and vaſt Holes in the Ground, ſlightly covered over; by which, he both reduced that great Army within to his Mercy, and kept off a much greater, that deſign'd to Raiſe the Siege. But his Army were Men of Fatigue and Labour, as well as Courage, and his Numbers ſix times as great as ours. And though we were Commanded by a Prince of as great Courage and Reſolution as ever Caeſar was, and he had Men that were as willing, yet ſeveral of them were beginning to be ſick, and were not able to endure the Fatigue; except both our Time had been longer, and the Seaſon better; and though Kings are Gods in Wiſdom as well as Power, yet there is one in Heaven that limits them.

Lieutenant General Douglaſs Decamps. September the 7th, Lieutenant General Douglas, with his own Regiment, Brigadeer Stuart's, Sir Henry Ballaſyſe's, Lord George Hambilton's, a Derry Regiment, the Third Troop of Guards, Colonel Ruſſel's Horſe, and Guinn's Dragoons, marched from Tipperary towards the North, to Winter-Quarters, and the reſt lay encamped.

September the 8th. my Lord Lisburne, with a Party of Foot, being about Four Hundred, and Monſieur La Foreſt, with a Party of Five hundred Horſe, were ſent to Killmallock, a Place between Cork and Limerick, where the Enemy had a Garriſon of about two hundred Men, who when they ſaw our Party, and Four Field-Pieces, which they brought along, they yeilded upon the firſt Summons, and had Conditions to march out with their Arms and Baggage.

From the 8th to the 13th nothing of Moment hapned, except the General's ſending out ſeveral Parties unto all the little Towns and Caſtles thereabouts, having Engineers along to ſee what could be done in order to their Defence, on which account Dr. Davis, Dean of Roſs, was very ſerviceable, who underſtood the Countrey thereabouts very well.

And Major General Kirk, with the reſt of the Engliſh. This took up time till the 13th, when Major General Kirk, with Seven Foot Regiments, (viz.) Kirk, Hanmer, Meath, Cutts, Lisburne, Earle, and Drogheda's; and Sir John Lanier, with his own, Lord of Oxford's, Langſton's, Byerley's Horſe, Leviſon's Dragoons, and part of Cunningham's, marched towards Bir; Which way we heard that Sarsfield was making, being then with a Body of about Five Thouſand Horſe, Foot and Dragoons, at a place called Banohar-Bridge, not Eight Miles from Bir. The ſame Day Major General Scravemore, and Major General Tatteau, with Twelve hundred Horſe and Dragoons, as alſo Two Regiments of Daniſh Foot, went towards Mallow, in order to go to Cork, where we had a Report, that my Lord Marlborough deſigned to land. There were ſome Deſerters alſo that came from the Enemy, that gave us an Account, that my Lord Tyrconnel, Count Lauzun, Monſieur Boiſeleau, with all the French Forces, were gone from Galloway towards France; for hearing of my Lord Marlborough's Fleet coming abroad, they made more haſte than they deſigned, and ſo left ſeveral of their Men ſick at Galloway: They brought an excellent Field-Train in the Spring out of France, which they took along with them when they returned.

The reſt of the Army remove to Caſhel. September the 14th, the reſt of the Army removed to Caſhel, and from thence were diſperſed to Quarters; part of the Danes and Dutch went towards Waterford, ſome to Clonmell, and others ſtaid at Caſhel: The French went towards the County of Carlow: And ſo the Army was diſperſed. Count Solmes commanded the Army from His Majeſties Departure, till the Camp broke up, and then he went to Dublin, in order to go for England. On the Day following a Captain of Colonel Leviſon's Dragoons, with his Troop, routed a Body of Iriſh Rabble that were got together, and a Party of Horſe were ſent after a Company of Rapparees that had kill'd ſome of our Men as they were a forraging. Lieutenant General Ginkle was now Commander in Chief of the Army, and went towards his Head Quarters at Killkenny.

Sarsfield beſieges Bar. At Major General Kirk's coming to Roſcreagh, he underſtood that Sarsfield • nd his Party had beſieged the Caſtle at Bir, in which was only a Company of Colonel Tiffin's Regiment: The Enemy had brought ſeveral Pieces of Cannon, one of which was an Eighteen Pounder, with which they did the Caſtle ſome damage; but however the beſieged defended it ſtoutly, and killed them ſeveral Men.

Relieved by Major General Kirk. Tueſday the 16th, Major General Kirk, and his Foot, marched from Roſcreagh towards Bir, and joyned our Horſe (who went that way the Night before, Commanded by Sir John Laneir), ſome Three Miles ſhort of the Town. There we underſtood that Sarsfield's Party in Bar was very ſtrong, and Major General Kirk thought it was too great a hazard to engage with thoſe Men he had; ſo ſent an Expreſs to Lieutenant General Douglas, who was then at Mary-Borough, ſome Twenty Miles off: We returned to Roſcreag that Night, and next Morning being re-inforced with Douglas's Horſe, we marched forwards towards Bir again. The Enemy then had left the Town, and encamped Three Miles from it towards the Shanon; but their Out-Guards were within a Mile of Bir, and could over-look our Camp. The General ſent out all the Granadeers, who took the ſhorteſt way over the Bog, towards the Hill where the Enemy ſtood; and at the ſame time ſent out a Detachment of Horſe, who beat the Enemy off; Thurſday the 18th, our Army encamped beyond the Town, and one Lieutenant Kelly, of Leviſon's Dragoons, as he was diſcovering the Enemy with a Party, being ſurrounded, was taken Priſoner: He is ſince exchanged, and gives us an Account of the Preſent State of Limerick, which is ſomething different from the Publick.

Friday the 19th, the Enemy decamped, and marched to Banohar-Bridge, though that Night a party of their Horſe beat in our Out-Guards.

Saturday the 20th, our Army begun ſome Fortifications in Town, it being only an open place before, and part of them ſtayed here encamped for Ten or Twelve Days. Some ſay alſo, that here was a good opportunity loſt, in not falling upon the Enemy in their Retreat towards Banohar; for they marched off in great Confuſion: But during our ſtay here, the Soldiers, either by the bad Example of others, or making the Scarcity of Bread a Pretence, they •… gun to ſtrip and rob moſt of the Iriſh that had got Protections; which made it natural for them, after this, to turn Rapparees, and do us all the Miſchief they could. And it did not ſtop here; for there was ſcarce any diſtinction made of Papiſt or Proteſtant in this Affair.

Lords Juſtices come to Dublin. Towards the middle of September my Lord Sidney, and Tho. Coningsby, Esq Lords Juſtices, came to Dublin, and on the 15th they took the uſual Oaths of Chief Governours of that Kingdom, before the Commiſſioners of the Great Seal, with all the accuſtomed Formalities, the People by their Bonefires, and other Signs of Joy, expreſſing their ſatisfaction for the reſtoring of the Civil Government. One of the firſt things they did, was to conſider of the Settlement of the Militia, in ſuch hands as might be moſt for the King's Service, and the Countries Intereſt; and in ſome ſmall time after, gave out Commiſſions accordingly. The ſame Day they ſent out a Proclamation, to encourage all People to bring in their Goods to the Market at Dublin, forbidding any Officers or Soldiers to preſs ſuch Peoples Horſes, which has been a trick too frequent in that Country. And whereas the Rapparees began to be very numerous in ſeveral places, the Lords Juſtices iſſued out a Proclamation, requiring all Papiſts to remain in their reſpective Pariſhes, at least not to go Three Miles farther, and only then to Market. This bears date the 18th. And becauſe the hardſhips that the Soldiers had endured, occaſioned a great many of them, at the breaking up of the Camp, to ſteal from their Colours, and make the beſt of their way for England, a Proclamation came out the 19th, Forbidding all Maſters of Ships, or Seamen, to tranſport any Officers or Soldiers, or other Perſon whatſoever, except known Merchants, and Perſons of known Quality, not belonging to the Army, without a Paſs from the Lords Juſtices, or the General of the Army. The Papiſts on the Frontiers were very angry at us, and gave conſtant Intelligence to the Enemy of all our Affairs; by which means our Men, in ſmall numbers, were often ſurprized and murdered, and ſeveral other Inconveniencies fell out; ſo that a Proclamation came out on the 26th, Forbidding all Papiſts to dwell within Ten Miles of the Frontiers: And another bearing the ſame Date, Commanding all the Wives, Children, and Dependants upon any of the Iriſh in King James's Army, or of thoſe who had been kill'd, or taken in that Service, to remove beyond the River Shanon, by ſuch a Day, or elſe to be proceeded againſt as Enemies and Spies. And accordingly moſt of them went, having a Guard to conduct them to our Frontiers. And a Third there was dated that day alſo, Forbidding any of the Protected Iriſh to Harbour any that belonged to the late King's Army, or that robb'd and plundered the Countrey in the Night. And becauſe Coals were now very ſcarce at Dublin, and other Firing not coming in ſo plentifully as formerly, ſome Days before this, there was a Proclamation publiſhed, Promiſing Protection to all Ships and Mariners that ſhould be imployed in tranſporting Coals from any part of the Kingdom of England, or Wales, to the City of Dublin. One there came out on the 30th, Forbidding all people to buy any Goods but in open Markets, becauſe ſeveral Abuſes were committed by the Soldiers, taking peoples Goods, and ſelling them at an undervalue. And on the 7th of October there was another Proclamation, Forbidding any to pretend to be Soldiers in Colonel Fouks, and Colonel Herbert's Regiments, that were not; Thoſe two Regiments being then in Town, and ſeveral Abuſes committed that way; and ſome of the Soldiers affronting the Militia, had like one Night to have made a great deal of Miſchief; upon which the Alarm was beat, and ſeveral people wounded, one or two being kill'd out-right.

All the Army in Quarters. By this time the Soldiers every where had got to Quarters, and it was propoſed by ſeveral Juſtices of the Peace, and Deputy-Lieutenants in the Countrey, That if the Soldiers would be quiet, and not take things at their own hands, the Countrey ſhould find them with Meat and Drink, with whatever elſe they could reaſonably think on; which was very well liked by ſome Colonels, but others, for their own Gains ſake, ordered the Countrey-people to bring in moſt of their Corn to ſuch and ſuch places, and ſecured it for their own private uſe, allowing the Soldiers in the mean time to do what they would. This made the Iriſh and Engliſh both plundered at all hands; and if by chance an Engliſhman had any thing left, the Rapparees being ſtript of what they had themſelves, were ready to come in the Night, and ſteal that; by which things were not in ſuch order as good Men could have wiſhed.

But before I go any farther this way, it will be convenient to look back, and ſee how Major General Scravemore, and his Party went on, and how the buſineſs of Cork and Kingſale was managed.

On the 17th of September Major General Scravemore and Major General Tatteau, ſent Colonel Donap to burn the Bridge of Mallow, and to view the Caſtle; which he did, and brought an Account of a Body of Rapparees, to the number of about Three Thouſand, that were not far off; upon which they ſent out a Party of an Hundred Horſe, and Fifty Dragoons, under Major Fittinkhoft, deſigning themſelves to follow; but he ſucceeded ſo well, that he routed the Iriſh, and kill'd near Three Hundred of them, getting a great many Silver-hilted Swords, and ſome fine Horſes amongſt the Plunder.

My Lord Marlborough lands at Cork, joyned by Major General Scravemore. . On the 21ſt of September the Earl of Marlborough came into Cork-Road with the Engliſh Fleet, having on board Brigadeer Trelawney's, Lord Marlborough's Phuſileers, Princeſs Ann's Regiment, Colonel Haſtings, Colonel Hales, Sir David Collier's, Colonel Fitz-Patrick's, an Hundred of the Duke of Bolton's, and Two Hundred of the Earl of Monmouth's, under Major Johnſton, my Lord Torrington's, and my Lord Pembroke's Marine Regiments; and ſending an Expreſs to Major General Scravemore, and Major General Tetteau, they marched immediately to joyn his Lordſhip.

The 22d the Lord Marlborough, with his Fleet, entred the Harbour, receiving ſome Shot as they paſſed, from a Fort of Eight Guns; but ſending ſome Boats a-ſhore, the Enemy were obliged to quit their Battery, and the Guns taken.

The 23d, in the Morning the Army landed, and on the 24th Five or Six Hundred Seamen, and others, of the Marine Regiment, were imployed to draw the Cannon along, and to mount them before the Town, which they did with great chearfulneſs, and the Duke of Grafton at the Head of them, tho' Two Troops of Dragoons, and a Body of Foot appeared without the Town; but our Men firing ſome Field-Pieces upon them, they retired. That Day the Duke of Wirtemberg ſent Dean Davis to my Lord Marlborough and Major General Scravemore, to give them an account, that he was marching to joyn them with a Detachment of Four Thouſand Foot. There was then a Report, that the Duke of Berwick deſigned to raiſe the Siege, and therefore Major General Scravemore ſent the Dean back to haſten the Duke's March, and the next day ordered a Party of Horſe to go and cover the Duke's Foot. The ſame Afternoon Major General Tatteau, with a Party of a Thouſand Men, having drawn down ſome Cannon to the Fair Hill; reſolved to attack one or both of the New Forts, and New Shanon Caſtle; but no ſooner were his Men poſted in order to that Deſign, but the Enemy ſet Fire on the Suburbs between him and them, and having deſerted both the Forts and Caſtle, retired in haſte into the City.

And the Duke of Wyrtemberg. On the 26th the Prince of Wyrtemberg, with his Danes, and a Detachment of Dutch and French Foot, came, and encampt on the North ſide the Town.

A Battery planted at Cork. We now being in poſſeſſion of Shanon Caſtle, planted our Guns there, and played them both into the Fort and Town; and Major General Scravemore, with his Horſe, took up his Quarters at Cill Abbey.

The 27th, the Enemy having deſerted their Works at the Cat-Fort, without a blow ſtruck, we were Maſters of it, and planted a Battery there, playing our Bombs into the City, and our Guns upon the Fort, from the Friars-Garden, and another Battery above the Fort, near the Abby. There was alſo a Church in our poſſeſſion, into the Steeple of which Major General Scravemore ſent Lieutenant Townſend with a Party (laying Boards croſs the Beams for them to ſtand upon), who did good Service in galling the Iriſh within the Fort. Another Battery of Three Thirty Six Pounders was made by Red Abby, which playing againſt the City-Wall, made a Breach; whereupon they came to a Treaty, whereon a Truce was granted till next Morning.

The 28th, the Enemy not accepting the Conditions that were propoſed, our Cannon began to play very furiouſly, which made a conſiderable Breach; and when the Enemy began to appear on the Wall near it, they were raked off by our ſmall Ordnance from the Cat. Laſt Night a Captain, Lieutenant, and Forty Men, were poſted in the Brick-Yard, near Cill Abby, to hinder the Enemy from making their Eſcape that way through the Marſh; and accordingly ſome attempting it about Midnight, Captain Swiney, and Four more were kill'd, and Captain Mackertey taken, (being wounded,) and the reſt forced to retire to the City again. About One a Clock that Afternoon, the Danes from the North, and Four Regiments of Engliſh from the South, under Brigadeer Churchil, paſſed the River into the Eaſt-Marſh, in order to ſtorm the Breach that was made there in the City-Wall: They paſſed the Water up to the Arm-pits; the Granadeers under my Lord Colcheſter led the Van, and marched forwards, expoſed to all the Enemies Fire: There went on Volunteers with this Detachment, the Duke of Grafton, the Lord O Brian, Colonel Granvill, and a great many more. Immediately the Van poſted themſelves under the Bank of the Marſh, (which ſeemed to be a Counterſcarp to the City-Wall,) in which Approach the Duke of Grafton received a mortal Wound on the point of his Shoulder. The Salamander alſo, and another Veſſel, which came up the Morning-Tide, lay at the Marſh-end, directly before the Wall, playing their Cannon at the Breach, as likewiſe throwing Bombs into the City. The Garriſon ſurrend'red. In the midſt of which Puther my Lord Tyrone, and Lieutenant Colonel Rycatt came out, (having beat a Parley before) and made Articles for its Surrender; which were theſe:

I. That the Garriſon ſhould be received Priſoners of War, and there ſhould be no prejudice done to the Officers, Soldiers, or Inhabitants. II. That the General would uſe his endeavour to obtain His Majeſties Clemency towards them. III. That they ſhould deliver up the Old Fort within an Hour, and the Two Gates of the City the next Day at Eight in the Morning. IV. That all the Proteſtants that are in Priſon, ſhall be forthwith releaſed. V. That all the Arms of the Garriſon, and Inhabitants, ſhould be put into a ſecure place. And VI. That an exact Account ſhould be given of the Magazines, as well Proviſion as Ammunition.

In the Evening the Fort was ſurrendred, and the Proteſtant Priſoners ſet at Liberty.

On the 29th in the Morning, many Seamen, and other looſe perſons, entred into the City through the Breach, and other places, and plundred many Houſes, eſpecially of Papiſts. But as ſoon as the Bridge could be mended, the Earl of Marlborough, Duke of Wyrtemberg, and Maj. Gen. Scravemore entred, and took much pains to ſave the City from further Damage. In the Afternoon all Papiſts were ordered by Proclamation, on pain of Death to deliver up their Arms, and repair to the Eaſt Marſh, where all that had been in Arms were ſecured, and put under Guards, the Officers in the County Court-Houſe, The Number of the Priſoners. amongſt whom were the Earls of Clencarty and Tyrone, Colonel Mark Ellicat, the Governour, Lieutenant Colonel Rycat, &c. the reſt, to the number of between Four and Five Thouſand, were ſecured in other places.

The County of Cork was formerly a Kingdom, and is the moſt fertile Country in Ireland: This Kingdom was granted in the Time of Henry the Second, to Sir Robert Fitz Stephen, and Sir Miles de Cogan, in theſe Words, Know ye that I have granted the whole Kingdom of Cork (excepting the City, and Cantred of the Ouſtmans) to hold for them and their Heirs, of Me, and John My Son, by the Service of Sixty Knights. At Cork was born one Briork, a Famous Saint in the Days of Old.

The ſame Afternoon a Party of about Five hundred Horſe were ſent under Brigadeer Villars to infeſt Kingſale; he ſent a Trumpeter at his Approach to ſummon the Town, but the Governor threatned to hang him up for bringing ſuch a Meſſage, and then ſet fire to the Town, and retreated to the Old Fort; which our Horſe ſeeing, rid in, and quenched the Fire, killing ſeven or eight of the Iriſh that they found in Town.

On the 30th. a Party of our Foot marched to Five-mile-Houſe towards Kingſale, and the Magiſtrates of Cork reaſſuming their Places, proclaim'd King William and Queen Mary, and put the Place into ſome order.

month October The Army marches to Kingſale. On the Firſt of October the Earl of Marlborough marched out of Cork to Five-mile Bridge, and the next day came near the Town, then in the poſſeſſion of our own Men: Towards the Evening the Lord Marlborough poſted his Men towards the New Fort; and Major General Tetteau, with 800 Men, the next morning early paſſed the River in Boats, & ſtormed the Old Fort, in which he ſucceeded very well: Several Barrels of Powder at the ſame time accidentally taking fire, blew up nigh Forty of the Enemy; the reſt flying into an old Caſtle in the midſt of the Fort, were a great many of them kill'd before they got thither, and all that made reſiſtance, as we ſcaled the Walls were cut in pieces: The Old Fort taken. So that of 450 Men in this Fort, about 200 were blown up and kill'd, and the reſt ſubmitting to Mercy, were made Priſoners. Some endeavoured to eſcape to the New Fort by Water, but were moſt of them kill'd from the Shore. The Governor and ſeveral Officers that would have prevented our Men from coming over, were killed upon the Ramparts.

The New one beſieged. My Lord Marlborough having gained this Fort, reſolves to make as quick work as he could with the New one; for the Weather was now very bad, and Proviſions were growing ſcarce; and withal, his Men began to fall ſick, which made him judge it was the beſt way to attack the Place briskly, in which he was like to loſe fewer Men, than if by lying long before it, he ſhould have it ſurrendred: He ſends a Summons however to the Governor to ſurrender, who return'd him anſwer, That it would be time enough to talk of that a Month hence. Batteries raiſed. Whereupon the Cannon being planted, we began to batter the Fort in two Places, the Danes on the Left, and the Engliſh on the Right. On the Fifth of October the Trenches were opened, and on the Ninth we were got nigh the Counterſcarp. On the Twelfth in the Morning Six Pieces of Cannon were mounted at the Danes Attack, and Two Mortars at the Engliſh, which fired all day, and the Mortars continued all night. On the Thirteenth Two Guns of Twenty four pound Ball were planted on the Engliſh Battery, and on the Fourteenth Three more; for the Danes on their ſide had made a pretty large Breach. We then ſprung a Mine with very good ſucceſs, and were preparing to ſpring another; and being Maſters of the Counterſcarp, on the Fifteenth the Cannon plaid all the Morning, and every thing was ready to lay our Galleries over the Ditch: But at one a Clock the Enemy beat a Parly, and deſired a Treaty about the Surrendry of the Fort; The Fort ſurrendred. which being done, the Articles were agreed to and ſigned, by which the middle Baſtion was to be delivered up next Morning, and the Garriſon (being about 1200 Men) to march out the day after, with their Arms and Baggage, and be conducted to Limerick. We had kill'd and wounded in our ſeveral Attacks about 200; but a great many more were ſick and dead by reaſon of bad Weather. In this Fort we received a very conſiderable Magazine, and great plenty of all ſorts of Proviſions, ſufficient to have ſupported a thouſand Men for a Year; there were 1000 Barrels of Wheat, 1000 Barrels of Beef, Forty Tuns of Clarret, a great quantity of Sack, Brandy, and ſtrong Beer. My Lord Marleborough did a conſiderable piece of Service in reducing thoſe Places, which will be of great advantage to the next Campagn.

(In October, 1601. Don John d' Aquila landed at Kingſale from Spain, with an Army to aſſiſt the Iriſh againſt Queen Elizabeth, calling himſelf Maſter General and Captain of the Catholick King in the War of God, for holding and keeping the Faith in Ireland: But by the Courage and Induſtry of Sir Charles Blunt Baron Mountjoy, then Lord Deputy, the Iriſh were defeated, and the Spaniards forced to go home upon diſhonourable Terms.)

But to return again to Dublin, and the Affairs of that part of the Kingdom. On the 18th of October the Blue Dutch Guards ſet ſail for England, and a day or two afterwards landed Colonel Mathews's Dragoons and Count Schonberg's Horſe from thence. And now after the taking of Cork and Kingſale, part of the Iriſh Army that was in Kerry made ſeveral Incurſions, and burnt all the Towns and Villages of the Counties of Cork, and Limerick, that had hitherto eſcap'd. My Lord Duke of Berwick dined in Charlevil-houſe, one of the Second-rate Houſes of theſe Kingdoms, built by the late Earl of Orrery, and after Dinner order'd it to be fir'd, and ſtaid to ſee it in Aſhes. And thoſe of the Iriſh Army that lay between Limerick and Athlone, burnt Balliboy, wherein were Six Companies of my Lord Drogheda's Regiment: The thing was thus. Lieut. Col. Briſtow was at the Breaking-up of the Camp at Birr ordered to Kilkormack Caſtle, a conſiderable Paſs, and within Two Miles of Balliboy; but he liking Balliboy better, as a Place of more Forrage and Shelter for the Men, quitted the other, and took moſt of his Men into that open Village; which the Iriſh having notice of, came in the night, and lay in the Hedges nigh the Town. Our Men had heard of the deſigned Attempt the day before, and deſired Colonel Briſtow to deliver out Ammunition; but he apprehending no danger, took no care to prepare for ſuch a Miſchief: However, our Men ſate up all that night, and ſent out a Lieutenant, with Twenty Men mounted, to learn Tidings of the Enemy, who returned without diſcovering any, for they were all this while cloſe in the Hedges. After Revallia, the Officers and Soldiers, thinking all ſafe, went to their Lodgings, all but the ordinary Guard: They had not been diſperſed half an hour, till the Iriſh ſet both ends of the Town on fire. The Officers and Soldiers made what haſte they could to a Mount towards the middle of the Town, where they ſtaid till a Party of Dragoons came from Birr to their Relief; for the Iriſh after ſome ſmall time drew off, and would not adventure to force them from the Mount, tho' they were four times our number. We had about Twenty eight kill'd, and ſome wounded: And Captain Henry Gore, as he was going towards the Mount, had a Rencounter with ſome of the Iriſh Granadeers, in which with Club-Musket he had his Jaw-bone broke, and ſeveral Wounds on the Head; but he is ſince recover'd. We kill'd ſeveral of the Enemy, both in the Streets, and in the Houſes that they went to plunder.

The 21th. ſome of the Rapparees march'd towards Philipſtown in the King's County. A Party of ours going out to diſcover them, took two of their Officers and hanged them. And the 23d. being the Anniverſary of the former Iriſh Rebellon, was kept with great Solemnity; a Proclamation being iſſued out the day before, commanding the Sixteenth of November to be kept as a day of Thankſgiving, for preſerving the King, and reducing three entire Provinces: Which accordingly was obey'd.

On the 28th. there came an Account from Meerſcourt in the County of West-Meath, that part of the Enemies Forces advanced from Lanesborough in the County of Longford, and came within ſix Miles of Meerſcourt, but retreated without any harm done to either ſide. If I am not much miſtaken, when we left Limerick, it was our Buſineſs (and Advice was given accordingly) to ſecure all the Paſſes upon the Shanon; which had been eaſie at that time, our Army being together, and in the Field; for theſe, and the Caſtles all along by the Shanon ſide, might eaſily have been made tenable, where our Men might have been ſecure, and had a very plentiful Country at their Backs for their Relief; and then might have made Incurſions into Conaught when they pleaſed: But in ſtead of that, we retired further into the Country, and left them all the Paſſes and Forts upon the Shanon; by which means they are not to be kept in their own Province, as they might have been, but can both keep us out, and alſo come amongſt us when they have a mind to it.

Several Proteſtants come from Limerick. About this time the Enemy gave leave to ſeveral Proteſtants to come off, who gave account, that all things were very ſcarce amongſt them, Wheat being generally about Ten pound (Braſs Money) a Barrel; Malt, Nine pound; Brandy, Three pound a Quart; Ale, Two Shillings ſix pence; Mens Shooes, Thirty ſhillings; Salt, Twenty ſhillings a Quart: And that the Iriſh Army were in a very miſerable condition in all reſpects. And yet it was not ſo bad as 'twas reported. This Week the Lords Juſtices had an Account, That one Captain Long, formerly Maſter of a Ship, was in February laſt ſurpriſed in the Bay of Killibeggs in the North of Ireland, and taken Priſoner to Galloway; A Ship brought off from Galloway. but whilſt he was there he ſo ordered the Matter, as with the help of ſome Proteſtants he ſeiſed upon a Frigat, and brought her from Galloway to Carigfergus: She had Twelve Guns and Four Patereroes. month November And about the beginning of November, a French Ship of thirty Tuns, loaden with Brandy and Salt, ſailed into the Port of Kingſale, coming to an Anchor under the New Fort, believing that Place ſtill to be in the Hands of the Iriſh: but the Ship was ſoon boarded by our Men, and made a Prize.

His Majeſties Birth-day. The Fourth of November, being His Majeſties Birth-day, was obſerved with all the Splendour that Place could afford, Dublin Militia.all the Town Militia were drawn out, being 2500 Foot, two Troops of Horſe, and two of Dragoons, all well Cloathed and Armed; and at night the Lords Juſtices made an Entertainment for the moſt Conſiderable Perſons in and about the Town: The next day alſo being the Fifth of November, was obſerved according to the Act of Parliament. By this time Commiſſions being given out for Lords Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants; as alſo for Officers of the Militia in the Country, they had got Arms, and were in a pretty good Condition. And on the Firſt day of the Term, Mr. Sergeant Osburn, Their Majeſties Serjeant at Law, moved the Court of King's Bench, for Writs of Certiorari, to remove all Indictments of High Treaſon, found in ſeveral Counties of this Kingdom, againſt thoſe in Rebellion againſt the King and Queen, which was granted, and Writs Iſſued out accordingly; Propoſals were made alſo by the Commiſſioners for the Forfeited Eſtates, to ſet Leaſes for a year of all Lands, that are Forfeited in this Kingdom, but I did not hear of many Tenants; for amongſt other things there Propoſed, the Farmer muſt give in an Exact Account of the Acres both Arable and Paſture, of the Farm he deſigns to take contains; and if upon view it appears to be more, than to pay 28 s. for every Acre of Arable, and 5 s. for every Acre of Paſture that was over-plus; this indeed is a good way to get an Account of all the Lands, but not to make any Benefit to the King of them, for I'm afraid ſeveral Acres will not yield 20 s. in many years.

An Exploit of Captain Archer's. On Tueſday the 13th. of November, Captain Archer, one of the Militia, had a ſcuffle with the Raparees in the County of Wicklow, kill'd about Five, and took Twenty three Priſoners, with the loſs of Five or ſix of his own Men; and about this time the Enemy burnt Philip's Town (the chief Town in the King's County; ſo called from King Philip, as Mary Borough is from Queen Mary; for in this Reign thoſe two Counties were ſettled, and part of them given to Thomas Ratcliff Earl of Suſſex) though we had a Garriſon in it; for they came from a great adjacent Bog in the Night, and having ſet the Town on Fire, retreated thither again. The General comes to Dublin. At this time Lieutenant General Ginkle, who Commands in Chief over His Majeſties Forces in Ireland, came to Dublin, and on the Thirteenth Publiſhed ſeveral Orders and Rules; how the Army ſhould be ſubſiſted, and the Country paid and ſecured, which are too long to inſert, but very Commendable if they had been obſerved. And the General and Lords Juſtices conſulting together, the Juſtices ſend out a Proclamation the Fourteenth, for regulating the Quartering the Army, and aſſertaining the Rates of things; as what ſhould be paid by each Soldier for all ſorts of Proviſions, and Confirming the General's Orders Publiſhed the day before. We had News brought from Limerick, by a Lieutenant that deſerted, of ſeveral Inconveniencies the Enemy were put to, but theſe were only true in part: there was a Report alſo, that a ſupply of Arms, Ammunition, and Money was come from France, and this was true in ſome reſpect; for at that time there was a Ship with Arms, Ammunition, and ſome Proviſions on Board, with about Sixty Officers deſigned for Limerick, but caſt away in that River, and all the Men loſt.

The Rapparees all this while were very buſie about Caſhall and Clonmel, and did a great deal of miſchief: this occaſioned ſome of our Army to joyn part of the Militia, who went towards Cullen, and burnt the Corn, bringing away a good Booty without any oppoſition.

The Fifteenth of November Colonel Byerly's Horſe marched from Dublin to Mount Naelick, a Village towards the Frontiers; and on the 19th. the Lords Juſtices Publiſh a Proclamation, Declaring, That if any of their Majeſties Proteſtants Subjects had their Houſes or Haggards burnt; or were Robb'd or Plundred by the Rapparees, ſuch Loſſes ſhould be repaid by the Popiſh Inhabitants of that County. And in regard the Popiſh Prieſts had great Influence over their Votaries, it was ordered, That if any Rapparees exceeding the Number of Ten were ſeen in a Body, no Popiſh Prieſt ſhould have liberty to reſide in ſuch a County. And it was further declared, That the Government would not give Protection to any Perſon that had a Son in the Enemies Quarters, unleſs ſuch Son return to Their Majeſties Obedience, before the Tenth of December next following. And in regard at this time the Government was apprehenſive of ſome danger nigh Dublin it ſelf, they Publiſh a Proclamation the 22d. That all Papiſts, who have not been noted Houſe-keepers in the City of Dublin for Three Months laſt paſt, were within Forty eight Hours to depart, at leaſt Ten Miles from the City, or elſe to be proceeded againſt as Spies; and that not above Five Papiſts ſhould meet together upon any Pretext whatever.

A Plot diſcovered. About the 24th. there was great talk of a Deſign diſcovered to the Lords Juſtices, of ſending a Supply, of Meal Salt, Tobacco, Brandy, and ſeveral other things, from Dublin to the Enemies Quarters. Thoſe who were carrying theſe things were purſued, and overtaken in the County of Kildare, upon a By Road: they all made their eſcapes however; but one of them being a Woman, dropt a Petticoat, in which was found a Letter, and alſo another in a Rowl of Tobacco, which gave grounds to believe, that a Correſpondence was kept between the Papiſts in Dublin and the Enemy beyond the Shanon; and therefore on Sunday Night the 30th. of November a general ſearch was made through the City, and moſt of the Papiſts ſecured. This Piece of Service the Militia performed very dextrouſly, without noiſe or ſuſpicion, till the thing was done.

A Liſt of the Privy-Council. The laſt Packquets from England, brought a Liſt of the Privy Council, appointed by His Majeſty for the Kingdom of Ireland, as alſo of ſeveral of the Judges: The Council were, The Lord Primate, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Treaſurer, Archbiſhop of Dublin, Duke of Ormond, Earl of Meath, Earl of Drogheda, Earl of Longford, Earl of Renelah, Earl of Granard, Viſcount Lisburn, Biſhop of Meath, Robert Fitz-Gerrald Esq the Vice Treaſurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chief Juſtice of the King's Bench, Chief Juſtice of the Common Pleas, the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Maſter of the Rolls, Secretary of State, Maſter of Ordance, Sir Henry Fane, Sir Charles Merideth, William Hill of Hillsborongh Eſquire. On Monday the Firſt of December, ſeveral of the ſaid Perſons attended the Lords Juſtices at the Council Chamber, and there took the uſual Oaths of Privy Councellors. The Judges named for the Reſpective Courts in Dublin were, Sir Richard Reynoll, Lord Chief Juſtice of the King's Bench, Sir Richard Stephens, one of the Juſtices of the ſame Court, Mr. Juſtice Lindon being formerly ſworn there: In the Common Pleas, Mr. Juſtice Jetfordſon, Mr. Juſtice Cox being formerly ſworn there: In the Exchequer, Jo Healy Esq Lord Chief Baron, and Sir Standiſh Hartſtone one of the Barons of the Court, Mr. Baron Ecklin being formerly ſworn there. This day we had News of the Enemies paſſing the Shanon at ſeveral Places, and Orders were ſent to our Frontiers to be in readineſs; and Colonel Guſtavus Hambleton ſent a Party from Birr towards Portumna, who met with a Party of the Enemy, which they routed, killing ſome, and brought off two Officers, with Eleven Priſoners being Dragoons and Foot.

month December December the 2d. A Proclamation was iſſued out by the Lords Juſtices and Council, forbidding all Their Majeſties Subjects of Ireland, to uſe any Trade with France, or to hold any Correſpondence or Communication with the French King or his Subjects: This was the firſt that was Signed by the Council, and theſe were preſent, viz. Fran. Dublin, Drogheda, Longford, Granard, Lisburn, Robert Fitz-Gerald, Anth. Meath, Charles Merideth.

We had at that time an Account from Cork, that on the 22d. of November laſt there were 60 of our Horſe and Foot, who met with near Five hundred of the Rapparees, in the Barony of Weſt Carberry near Castlehaven; our Men at that diſadvantage Retreated towards Caſtlehaven, the Enemy followed in the Rear, and fired at a diſtance ſeveral times, our Party facing about killed Nine; and afterwards being Attackt again, they killed one Brown an Enſign of the Enemies. Caſtletown Beſieged. The Enemy next day Beſieged Caſtletown, an Houſe near Caſtlehaven; they were Commanded by O Donavan, O Driſcoll, and one Barry: As they approached the Houſe, our Men killed Twelve of them; this put them into an humour of Retreating, though one Captain Mackronine with his Sword drawn endeavoured to hinder them; but he and ſome more of the Party being kill'd, the reſt got away as well as they could. Several of them had Bundles of Straw faſtned upon their Breaſts inſtead of Armour; but this was not Proof, for about Thirty of them were killed upon the Spot, amongſt whom were young Colonel O Driſcol, Captain Tiege O Donavan, beſides ſeveral that went off Wounded; we loſt only two Men.

Rapparees defeated. At this time Colonel Byerley being at Mountmelick with part of his own Regiment, and ſome of Colonel Earl's Foot, he was frequently Allarumed; as well by Parties of the Iriſh Army, as by Conſiderable Numbers of the Rapparees, who had a deſign to burn the Town, as they had done ſeveral others thereabouts; but the Colonel was very watchful, and kept good Intelligence (a main Matter in this Aſſair.) He was told of a Party that deſigned to burn the Town; and he took care to have all his Men, both Horſe and Foot, in readineſs to welcome them; but they heard of his Poſture and durſt not venture; however on the Third of December he had notice of a Body of Rapparees, that were not far from the Town, and deſigned him a miſchief; he ſends out Lieutenant Dent with Twenty Horſe, and ordered each Horſeman to take a Muſqueteer behind him; when the Horſe came almoſt within ſight of the Rapparees, they dropt their Foot, who marched cloſely behind the Hedges unperceived by the Enemy. When the Enemy eſpied ſo ſmall a Party of Horſe, they Advanced from the ſide of the Bog towards them; the Horſe ſeem'd to Retreat a little, till the Rapparees were Advanced within Muſquet-ſhot of our Foot, who firing amongſt them, kill'd feveral, and then Lieutentant Dent fell in with his Horſe; as alſo the Foot Charged them a ſecond time, that after ſome reſiſtance they kill'd Thirty nine, and took Four, whom they hanged without any further Ceremony. The reſt eſcaped to the Bogs, and in a moment all diſappeared; which may ſeem ſtrange to thoſe that have not ſeen it, but ſomething of this kind I have ſeen my ſelf; and thoſe of this Party aſſured me, that after the Action was over, ſome of them looking about amongſt the Dead, found one Dun a Serjeant of the Enemies, who was lying like an Otter, all under Water in a running Brook, (except the top of his Noſe and his Mouth;) they brought him out, and although he proffer'd Forty Shillings in Engliſh Money to ſave his Life (a great Ranſom as he believed) yet he was one of the Four that was hanged. How the Rapparees conceal themſelves and their Arms. When the Rapparees have no mind to ſhow themſelves upon the Bogs, they commonly ſink down between two or three little Hills, grown over with long Graſs, ſo that you may as ſoon find a Hair as one of them: they conceal their Arms thus, they take off the Lock and put it in their Pocket, or hide it in ſome dry Place; they ſtop the Muſsle cloſe with a Cork, and the Tutch-hole with a ſmall Quil, and then throw the Piece it ſelf into a running Water or a Pond; you may ſee an hundred of them without Arms, who look like the pooreſt humbleſt Slaves in the World, and you may ſearch till you are weary before you find one Gun: but yet when they have a mind to do miſchief, they can all be ready in an Hours warning, for every one knows where to go and fetch his own Arms, though you do not.

Boats fitted up to be ſent to the Shanon. About this time the Lords Juſtices Ordered Four Long Boats, like Men of Wars Pinnaces, to be fitted up with Pattereros and little ſmall Guns, the Sides to be fortified with Boards and other Materials, and thoſe to be filled with a hundred Choice Men, commanded by Captain Hoord, who had been Provoſt Martial, but turned out for ſome Irregular things, and was reſolved to do ſome deſperate Service to be readmitted. Theſe Boats were to be drawn upon Carriages to the Shanon, and there put in; the Deſign was very plauſible, and might have done Service if purſued; for there are ſeveral Iſlands in the Shanon, wherein the Iriſh have very conſiderable Riches; and beſides, Hoord and his Men deſigned to make Incurſions into the Enemies Country, and to burn and deſtroy all before them; if a ſmall Party appear'd, then they would fight them, but if a great Body, then they could retreat to their Fleet, and go away to another Place: And further, one deſign of thoſe Boats, was to carry over a part of our Army (at leaſt their Neceſſaries) that ſhortly deſigned an Expedition beyond the Shanon; but the Boats were ſtopt beyond Mullingar and ordered to go no further.

A Spy ſeized. Nigh this time, one Kirowen, an Iriſh Officer; came from Athlone to Mullingar, he pretended to be a Deſerter, and told a fair Story; but next day a Proteſtant that made his eſcape, gave an Account, that he was a Spy, and had ſome bad Deſigns; upon which being examined and ſearched, he had on a Pair of Breeches, made of the Petticoat of a Gentlewoman whom he had murdered, and upon ſtrict examination of his Boy and others, it appear'd, that he was ſent on purpoſe to burn the Garriſon, ſo was the Saturday following hanged for his pains. There was alſo a Diſcourſe, as if the Papiſts had a deſign to burn Dublin when the Iriſh Army was to approach, which they expected every day: this was diſcovered by a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Woogan's Lady to him in Limerick: the Letter was intercepted, and gave an Account, that the Protected Papiſts were ready to join with the Iriſh Army in doing us what miſchief they could; upon which moſt of them were ſecured (as I have ſaid) but however thoſe of them that would take the Oath of Allegiance to K. W. and Q. M. were releaſed (but the refuſers kept in Priſon,) yet were Ordered by a Proclamation from the Lords Juſtices and Council December the Eight, to obey the former Orders, in removing from Dublin, and all Their Majeſties Garriſons on the Frontiers. And ſeveral of the Papiſts who had Sons in the Enemies Quarters, having made Application to the Lords Juſtices, for further time to bring them in, purſuant to a Proclamation November the 19th. they ſet out another December the 8th. allowing them time till the Tenth of January; but for all this, I heard of very few that came over. Another Proclamation was Dated the ſame day, Ordering all the Laws in that Kingdom, for the Reſtraining the Exportation of Wooll, to be put in Execution, except to England and Wales only, and this with Licence after the uſual manner.

We had an Account from Clonmel, that Captain Archer, with a Militia Troop, met with a Party of the Iriſh, kill'd Twenty five, and took a Booty of Three hunder'd Cows, with ſeveral other things. And Colonel Woolſley ſent word, that what Proviſions and Ammunition were ſent to the North, were ſafely arrived, his Men having kill'd Eight of the Iriſh the day before, and hang'd Three Spies. And about the middle of December, we had News from Limerick by a Deſerter, that all things were very ſcarce, the Soldiers wanting both Meat and Cloaths. But Leiutenant Kelly, who was taken Priſoner at Birr, and now releaſed, ſays the Iriſh are not in ſo very bad a Condition, becauſe they have got nigh Ten thouſand Horſe load of Corn out of the County of Kerry this Winter, which poſſible we might as well have had as they, if we had been as diligent.

Nigh this time one Mack Finin, one of the Priſoners that eſcaped from Cork (as they ſay a great many did by ſiniſter means) marched with a Party of about 400 of the Army and Rapparees towards Iniskeen in the County of Cork, and finding it guarded, they went to Caſtletown, where there was a Lieutenant and Thirty Dragoons; they defended the Place bravely for ſome time, killing Ten of the Enemy, but their Ammunition being ſpent, and having Five of their Men kill'd, they were forced to ſurrender upon Quarter, but the Lieutenant was afterwards murdered, though a Party coming from Iniskeen from Major Culliford, ſet upon the Iriſh, kill'd Twelve, and took Five Priſoners.

The Lords Juſtices and Council now fearing, that in thoſe Houſes where there dwelt Papiſts, if any publick Trade was kept, as to the ſelling of Ale, Wine, Coffee, &c. they might be Plotting and Contriving Miſchief; therefore they Publiſh a Proclamation, December the 12th. That no Papiſt ſhall keep a Publick Houſe in or about the City of Dublin, after the 25th. of December next. And now His Majeſty deſigning for Holland, and having thoughts of making my Lord Sidney one of the Secretaries of State, ſent for him over, who on Monday the 15th. of December Embarqued with a Fair Wind for Cheſter, leaving every one ſorry for his departure, in that by his Affable and Courteous Demeanor, and his Diligence in His Majeſties Service, he had gain'd the Hearts of all People. And on the 24th. Sir Charles Porter, one of the Lords Juſtices came from England, who on the 29th. was ſworn Lord Chancellor, receiving the Purſe and Great Seal from the late Commiſſioners.

Part of the Army march to Lanesborough. We had now a part of our Army on their March towards Lanesborough-Paſs, Commanded by Major General Kirk and Sir John Laneir; the Foot were my Lord Lisburn's Regiment, my Lord George Hambleton's, part of Col. Brewer's, ſome of Major General Kirk's, and ſeveral others: A Party of the Militia alſo were ordered from Dublin, and thoſe in the Country were to be up on all hands. At the ſame time Lieutenant General Douglas was to march towards Sligo, and fall upon the Iriſh on that ſide.

On Wedneſday, the 31ſt of December, part of our Army under Colonel Brewer, went towards Lanesborough: The Enemy appeared on the Bog on this ſide the Town, being, as they ſay, nigh Three Thouſand, and had cut ſeveral Trenches croſs the Cauſeys that go through the Bog towards the Town; theſe they diſputed for ſome time, but loſing ſome of their Men, they retired into Town, and from thence to beyond the Shanon, defacing the Fort on this ſide, and breaking the Bridge behind them: (You'll ſay they were not very cloſely purſued that had time to do all this) However, our Men took poſſeſſion of the Town and Fort, as they had left it; and if we had had the Boats, we might have gone over, the Enemy quitting the other ſide for at leaſt Three Days; but then we were too ſmall a Party: and before the reſt of our Men came up, Three Regiments of the Iriſh were poſted on the other ſide the River; and then little hapned of moment, only ſome ſmall Firings, and ſometimes they made Truces, Colonel Clifford, and the other Iriſh Officers drinking Healths over to our Men, and thoſe on our ſide returning the Complement.

When this Party marched to Lanesborough, there was a Detachment of 300 Men out of L. Drogheda's, Sir Jo. Hanmer's, and Col. Hambleton's Regiments, ordered from Bir to joyn them; and ſo to croſs the Country from Bir to Mullingar: But in their March they were ſet upon by about Fifteen Hundred of the Iriſh Army, and Rapparees: Our Party had but Thirty Dragoons with them, and the Enemy brought ſeveral Squadrons of Horſe; and though we were attack'd for at leaſt Five Hours together, and that at ſeveral places of great diſadvantage, yet they fought their way through, and went that Night to Mountmelick, having loſt only Six Men, and Captain Jeffreys, of Sir John Hanmer's Regiment: but the Iriſh got all our Baggage. This Party was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Briſtow, and Major Caulfield.

Rapparees in the Bog of Allen. The Rapparees by this time were got to the end of the Bog of Allen, about Twelve Miles from Dublin (this Bog is the largeſt in Ireland; for it reaches through a great part of the Country, from hence as far as Athlone, and is at leaſt Forty Miles in length, having ſeveral Iſlands full of Woods in the midſt of it): Theſe robb'd and plundered the Country all about; for they had an Iſland on this end of the Bog, which they fortified, coming out in the Night, and doing all the Miſchief they could. This being ſo nigh Dublin, it made a great noiſe; ſo that Colonel Fouks, with his own Regiment, part of Colonel Cutts's, and ſome of the Militia, marched out towards them; and coming near them in the Night, at a place called Tougher Greggs, at the entrance of the Bog of Allen; he ſtay'd there till it was light, and then advanced upon the Cauſey, (having Three Field-Pieces along with him.) Defeated by Col. Fouks. The Iriſh at firſt ſeem'd to defend the Place, but as we went forwards, they quitted their Poſts, leaving our Men to fill up the Trenches they had made croſs the Cauſey, (being Twelve in number.) Colonel Fouks marched his Horſe over, and ſo went to the Iſland of Allen, where he found Lieutenant Colonel Piper, who had paſſed thither on the other ſide at the ſame rate: The Iriſh betook themſelves to the Woods, and we only got ſome little things they had left. It's thought they had a Thouſand Foot thereabouts, beſides ſome Horſe, though moſt of them that made this Diſturbance at this place, were only Two Hundred Boys, with an old Tory their Commander.

Who were admitted to adminiſter the Oath, and why. And now the Lords Juſtices, and Council, iſſue out Two more Proclamations, one forbidding all Perſons whatſoever, except the Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Sheriffs of Dublin, to adminiſter the Oath, or give Certificates to the Papiſts: Becauſe ſome took upon them, for Money, to certifie they had ſworn when they did not, or elſe gave them the Oath without the word Allegiance, as did Sir Humphrey Jervace, who was impriſoned, and fined Three Hundred Marks for it afterwards. The other Proclamation required all that had bought any of the Train-Horſes, or Utenſils, to bring them in by ſuch a Day: For the Carters and Waggoners were very careleſs, and either ſold the Horſes, or ſuffered them to be ſtole.

Maj. Gen. Tetteau marches from Cork with a part of the Army. About the time that Lieutenant General Douglas, and Major General Kirk, marched from the North and South, Major General Tetteau marched alſo in the Weſt towards the County of Kerry; and if they all had puſht forwards at one time, it had been a great advantage to our Affairs next Campaign: All things ſeem'd to favour the Attempt, eſpecially the Weather, better never being ſeen for the Seaſon. Major General Tetteau marched from Cork December 28. and on the 29th was joyned by Brigadeer Churchill, Sir David Collier, Colonel Coy, and a part of Colonel Matthews's Dragoons; and the day following they marched through the Country, which the Iriſh had for the moſt part burnt, after they had carried away whatever they could.

month January On New Years-Day our Men attackt a Fort at a place called Scronclard, which was intended to hinder their paſſage that way: We took it in Two Hours, though it's ſaid, the Enemy imploy'd 500 Men for Two Months to build it. (This ſhow'd their Diligence, though not their Courage; theſe Two Vertues are ſometimes divided between us and them, but not always both on either ſide.) Near Brewſter's Field we diſcovered ſome of the Enemies Scouts; whereupon Seventy of Eppingar's Dragoons, and Colonel Coy's Horſe having the Advance-Guard, came near a Party of the Enemy of One Hundred and Sixty: Theſe were mounted upon ſmall Horſes, and retreated, as did alſo their main Body, burning the Country. Our Men then went towards Roſs, wherein the Enemy had a Garriſon of Six Hundred Men, commanded by Colonel Mackartey: We did not think fit to attack the Town, but went towards a Fort near it, which we attacked with Fifty Danes, and Fifty of the Kingſale Militia: We carried the Fort, in which were Seventy Seven Men, of whom Fourteen ſwam towards a Rock, Five were taken, and the reſt kill'd; Captain Baenburg, and Captain Caroll, the Commanders, were both wounded, the former with a Granade, and the other ſhot through the Leg. Goes to Tralee. From thence we marched towards Tralee, which the Enemy deſerted, having therein Twenty One Troops of Dragoons, and Seven of Horſe, Commanded by Colonel Sheldon. The Enemy were much alarm'd on this ſide, and if they had been preſſed home on the other, it had been much for our Intereſt. But I heard of nothing further remarkable at Lanesborough, except of one Captain Edgworth's defending a Paſs with One Hundred Men againſt a much greater Body of the Iriſh; and after our Men had laid there in the Cold for nigh a Fortnight, they were ordered back, being much haraſſed with Cold and Hunger. The Boats were never brought to the River; and Lieutenant General Douglas went as far as James-Town, and then retired again into the North, without doing anything remarkable. This indeed is to be ſaid for both ſides, That ſuppoſe our Men had paſſed the River at Lanesborough, they muſt have gone Three Miles forwards before they could have ſeen any thing but Bogs and Woods: The Iriſh no doubt knew of their coming, and would have let them advance ſome Miles at leaſt, and then reſolved, with all the Force in their Power, to attack them; nor could Lieut. Gen. Douglas joyn them on a ſudden; ſo that ſeeing our Men were inferiour to theirs in number, it was not the ſafeſt to go into the midſt of their Troops; and yet any that will but conſider the Circumſtances of the preceeding Story, and put things together, will find, that it has been partly our own faults that Ireland has not been reduced already.

A ſhort Deſcription of the former State of Ireland. The Soil of this Country is in all reſpects as good, if not better than that of England: And as to the People, though this Country was in the Infancy of Chriſtianity, called Sanctorum Patria, yet in proceſs of Time the Iriſh did very much degenerate, and did in a manner turn perfect Barbarians, till at length they were partly civilized by the Engliſh Conqueſt of that Country: and yet as the Nature of Man is apter to decline than improve, inſtead of Reforming the Iriſh, a great many of the Engliſh did dwindle into meer Iriſh, both in Cuſtoms and Habit, and are the very People that we are ſubduing at this juncture, not One in Ten of them being of ancient Iriſh Extraction. Moſt part of the North of Ireland is at preſent inhabited by People from Scotland. The Reaſon of this may be, becauſe of the Vicinity of thoſe Two Nations at that place, they not being Three Hours Sail aſunder; or elſe it is, becauſe in the Ninth Year of King James the Firſt, the North of Ireland being then in Rebellion, that King invented a New Title of Honour both in England and Scotland; for all ſuch (the Number not exceeding, as I remember, Two Hundred in each Nation) as would maintain Thirty Soldiers a piece, for Three Years, at the rate of 8 d. per diem, in the Service of Ireland (and yet they were to be Gentlemen, and worth 1000 l. per annum), thoſe he called Barronets, and made this Title Hereditary, adding to each Man Phternal Cont the Arms of Ulſter, which is in a Canton, or an Eſcatcheon, which they pleaſe, in a Field Argent, a Siniſter Hand Cooped at the Wriſt, Gules. But this, however, was more taken notice of by the Scots than the Engliſh; at leaſt, a great many of them went over themſelves in Perſon into Ulſter, and after the Rebellion, had Lands aſſigned to them and their Followers, whoſe Poſterity enjoy them ſtill.

As for the other Provinces in Ireland, (viz.) Lemſter, Munster, and Conaught, they were generally inhabited with Engliſh and Iriſh intermixt, though the Iriſh were in a manner Slaves to the Engliſh, and every Landlord was as abſolute as a Prince amongſt his own Tenants, but in all other reſpects they had the Engliſh Laws and Cuſtoms, and lived more plentifully than they did in any place of England. Some may juſtly wonder to hear of all thoſe multitudes of Cattle which have been at ſeveral times taken from the Iriſh; but as they went off from any place, they ſtill drove along all the Engliſhment Stocks; and certainly the Country affords abundance, becauſe it has never been throughly inhabited; for thoſe places that might be improved and tilled, are, for want of People, ſtoct with Sheep or Cattel, which was the Reaſon that in Queen Elizabeth's Days we read of one ſurly Boy in the North of Ireland, who had a Stock of Fifty Thouſand Cattel to his own ſhare.

Of the Preſent State of the Iriſh Army. But in ſhort, my humble Opinion of the Affairs of that Kingdom at preſent, is, Firſt, as to the Iriſh, they are naturally a fawning flattering People, they'll down upon their Knees to you at every turn; but they are rude, falſe, and of no Courage (as D. Aquila complain'd, when he came out of Spain with an Army to their aſſiſtance in Queen Elizabeth's Reign): Give them but Encouragement, and then there's no People ſo inſolent: So that as Slaves, there's no way to deal with them, but to whip them into good Manners; and yet many of the Vulgar Iriſh have been abuſed in what they had, who thinking our Soldiers in the fault, they cut their Throats whereever they can get the upper hand. As to their Army, their Condition is not in ſome Reſpect much worſe than it was before: For, 1. Their Men have ſeen more Service, and underſtand the uſe of their Arms better, being made good Fire-men at Limerick and Athlone. 2dly, They are now in a much narrower compaſs, which is eaſilier defended, and they may in a ſmall time draw their whole Army to any corner; when as we are diſperſed up and down, and cannot ſo eaſily be got together upon any ſudden occaſion: They have alſo moſt of the Paſſes upon the Shanon in their poſſeſſion, which could not eaſily be taken from any but Iriſhmen. 3dly, They are very watchful and diligent, having always good Intelligence, which is the Life of any Action; and yet it's plain there is no ſuch way to deſtroy the Iriſh, as to imploy ſome to ruine the reſt, which they will certainly do their own Fathers for Money. But then after all this, they have a vaſt Crowed of People, and will not, nor cannot have convenient Subſiſtence for one half of them in a ſmall time: And further, the French are retired, and it's to be ſuppoſed without deſign of returning; elſe they would not have gone away: Suppoſe therefore the Iriſh fortifie all thoſe Places in their poſſeſſion, and have Arms and Ammunition, with whatever elſe is needful from France, yet all this will neither put Courage into them, to defend thoſe Places, nor is it altogether in the power of France to ſupply them with neceſſary Proviſions.

And laſtly, Of our own. But, Secondly, As to our own Army, I doubt not but we have ſeveral that are indifferent whether the War be quickly at an end or not; for they find the Iriſh to be an eaſie ſort of Enemy, and if the War were done here, they muſt expect hotter Service ſomewhere elſe. They look upon it however as an Enemies Country, which is the reaſon that great Spoils are made, and Outrages committed; nay, which is worſt of all, no Diſtinction made of Papiſt or Proteſtant. This, it's to be fear'd, may bring a Famine; and then all Peoples Condition in that Kingdom will be very ſevere: For tho' there be Plenty enough in England, yet the People of Ireland being poor, no body will be at the pains to carry their Goods into a Country where there is nothing to be got in return of them.

But then whatſoever pains the Iriſh take in fortifying their Towns, we take as much in carrying things to beat them out of them; for there is a vaſt quantity of Bombs of the largeſt ſize, with all things convenient for ſuch a Deſign, daily brought to Dublin. And as to our Army, our Numbers are the ſame as laſt Year, (except Two Regiments that are broke:) they are alſo much healthfuller, and better acquainted both with the Country and their Arms; and to encourage us the more, the Parliament has granted His Majeſty a conſiderable Fund to carry on the War, as alſo to Equip His Fleet, which we were in both defective laſt Summer. Beſides, we have now at leaſt Twelve thouſand of the Militia in good order, either to defend our Garriſons behind us, or aſſiſt in our Army upon occaſion; for one ſhould think that there is no body ſo fit to fight for their own Country, or indeed to be entruſted with it, as thoſe People whoſe Concern it is. And more than all this, we ſhall have a great many Proteſtant Rapparees from the North and other Places, that we can at leaſt ſet againſt theirs; for the Northern People are moſt of them arm'd, either from our Men that died laſt Year, or by ſome means or other; ſo that I hope we ſhall have no want of Men.

If therefore we have a mind to retrive our Loſſes, we muſt encourage ſuch as do well, and reward them for their Valour and Conduct; but puniſh Offenders, though their Station be the greater. And as to the Arrears of the Army, they are not ſo very great as ſome People make them; for though we have not had our Accounts ſtated for ſome time, yet we have ſtill received Money upon Account, and the Soldiers have conſtantly been ſupplied with Bread and other Proviſions. But it's uſual with a great many, that when they can have no other Excuſe for their Extravagancies, then they'll ſay, the King owes them ſo much; but ſay not a word of what they have received. And as to what the preſent Iriſh War both has coſt, and is like to do, both as to Men and Money; it is not to be named with that in Cromwell's time, which any may ſee, that will but read Burlace's Hiſtory: Nor can there be any Compariſon between the preſent Government and that; for then both Law and Religion were trampled upon, but now they run in their due Channel.

But after all, the Reaſon why Ireland was not reduc'd laſt Year, was our late taking the Field; and the Occaſion of that, was becauſe the Affairs of the Army could not be put in a compleat Poſture any ſooner: For England has a long time been uſed to Peace and Eaſe, and therefore unprovided of thoſe things that are abſolutely neceſſary in time of War, which were to come from abroad. The King did as much as was poſſible in the time, as any who have ſeen the Country may know; for if Ireland were as well Peopled and Mann'd as the Soil it ſelf will bear, it may defie all the World beſides: You cannot ſee a Town or a ſmall Caſtle, but where there's either a Bog or a River, or both; all Places being fortified as well by Nature as Art: And in War there's no doubt but time muſt be allow'd to regulate ſuch Miſtakes as may happen, ſince no Man is infallible in that Art. Nor was there a ſufficient Fund of Money the Year paſt, to ſupply the real Neceſſities of ſo great a Work; which Inconveniency being now removed, a fair Concluſion may be rationally hoped for.

As to the Charge of maintaining a competent Army there, when Ireland is reduced, the Country will night do that of it ſelf, ſince the Cuſtoms in that part of the Kingdom now in our poſſeſſion, amounted to Sixty ſeven thouſand five hundred twenty ſix pound for the Six Months laſt paſt; and what muſt the whole Kingdom come to in Times of Peace and a ſetled Eſtabliſhment? I have only this to add, That when our Armies go out to defie our Enemies, and yet at the ſame time in their Practice defie the Living God; or if we ſhould ſtay at home, and faſt and pray for their good Succeſs never ſo heartily; yet God will neither hear us, nor help them, if we are negligent in our Duty towards him. If therefore we deſire that our Armies and Fleets may make a conſiderable Figure in the World, let us not grudge at and cenſure every thing our Betters do, but be careful to do our Duty to God and Man, then after the enduring for a Seaſon the Inconveniencies of War, we may hope to be happy in a laſting Peace. Amen.

FINIS.