Lord Mountjoy's Regiment being gone the care of the City was committed to John Buchanan Deputy Mayor to the Irish Corporation a Person of no good Reputation in the Town who modell'd the Town Guards as he thought fit But the News of this new Regiment of the E. of Antrim's being intended to quarter there was very unwelcome to the Inhabitants They had a certain Account that they were all of them intirely Papists and many both of the Officers and Souldiers the offspring or near Relations of those who in the Rebellion of 1641. had so deeply embrued their hands in British and Protestant blood And they had too just reason to believe that these Rake-hells who were the very scum of the Countrey had the hereditary inclinations as well as the Blood of their Ancestors running in their veins And their particular aversion to this Regiment was heightened by the apprehensions which they generally had of some mischievous Project hatching among the Irish Papists against the whole Body of British Protestants And these fears did not want very probable Grounds to support them some of which it will not be improper to suggest Many of their Priests at their ordinary Masses had declared publickly to their People That they had some great design in hand which would highly concern them and all their Nation whereof they should have particular notice as soon as it was convenient that 't was their indispensible duty at the Peril of their Salvation to do whatever their Priests should direct and enjoyn them requiring 'em in the mean time to buy and furnish themselves with the best Weapons they cou'd And the stories of this kind told by some of the Irish themselves gain'd the more Credit when it was observ'd that generally through the whole Kingdom not only the Men but the Women and Boys too began to furnish themselves with skeanes and half-pikes it being the great business of the Irish Smiths in the Countrey to make this sort of Arms for them These were afterwards called Rapparee's a sort of Irish Vultures that follow their Armies to prey on the spoil I shall not mention the many bold and threatning Discourses that often dropt from many of 'em especially when good Liquor had a little warm'd their Blood or upon occasional quarrels But I must not omit that as several Consultations of the Irish Clergy were discovered particularly in the County of Donegal not far from Derry where the great Debates were said to arise betwixt the Priests and Fryars about the execution of some great Design so a particular Sermon preach't by a certain Fryar in Derry it self to the Popish part of the Garrison in the open Market-house October 1688. did not a little allarm the Protestants there some of whom were out of curiosity his hearers The main subject of his Discourse was about Saul's destroying the Amalekites where he shewed how dangerous it was to spare one of those whom God had devoted to destruction God having deserted Saul taken the Kingdom from him and ruined both him and his Family for that very reason as he certainly wou'd all that were guilty of the like disobedience And that they were obliged always as then from Samuel to take their directions from their Clergy as from God and punctually observe the same at the Peril of their Souls The Application was thought very easie and obvious Some of their Clergy also were observed to buy up Fire-Arms and procured several Chain-bridles to be made some whereof were accidentally found and seized by George Phillips Esq And thô the News of the Prince of Orange's landing in England Nov. 5th gave the Protestants a reviving Prospect of the happy change of the Government of that Kingdom Yet it rather increas't their fears of their present Danger because they concluded if the Irish should make any Attempt while England was in a Combustion they cou'd expect little relief from thence But that which made the deepest Impression on 'em was a a Letter dropt at Cumber Decemb. 3d in the County of Down where the E. of Mount-Alexander then resided The superscription thus To my Lord This deliver with hast and care The Letter was as follows December 3d. 1688 Good my Lord I Have written to you to let you know that all our Irish men through Ireland is sworn That on the ninth day of this Month they are all to fall on to Kill and Murder Man Wife and Child And I desire your Lordship to take care of your self and all others that are judged by our men to be Heads for whosoever of 'em can kill any of you they are to have a Captains place so my desire to your Honour is to look to your self and give other Noblemen warning and go not out either night or day without a good Guard with you and let no Irish man come near you whatsoever he be So this is all from him who was your Fathers Friend and is your Friend and will be tho I dare not be known as yet for fear of my Life There was no Subscription and the ill writing as well as the style seem'd to argue 't was penn'd by one of the meaner sort of the Natives There were Letters written to others to the same purpose as Mr. Brown of Lisburn and Mr. Maitland of Hillsborough besides divers Informations Whether the first Letter was really intended by some well-meaning Irish man as a warning or was a Contrivance I shall not dispute But the next day after this Letter was dropt Sir W. Franklin Arthur Upton Esq W. Conningham Esq and Mr. Tho. Knox sent an Express to Dublin with Copies of it not only to alarm the Protestants in that City but to give 'em the opportunity of communicating the notice of it to all other parts of the Kingdom Letters were also dispers'd to the Dissenting Ministers of the adjacent Counties to allarm the Countrey And accordingly the Copies of it thus spread thro the several parts of the Kingdom added to the strong presumptions that the forementioned passages gave of such a Design frighted a great number of Protestants out of it especially about Dublin and other parts that were more entirely under the power of the Irish The Memory of the miseries of 41 was fresh and they were loth to trust themselves in the same hands that seem'd to have now more power and better pretence to act those barbarities over again The Copy of this Letter was sent by Will. Cunningham Esq from Belfast inclosed in a Letter of his own to George Canning Esq desiring him to send this to Derry with all expedition Mr. Canning sent to Alderman Tomkins a Gentleman meeting with this Messenger was inform'd of it and sent his Information to George Phillips Esq of Newton Limavadâ—â— on the 6th of Decem. on which Day a great part of the new Irish Regiment came to Quarter in that Village Mr. Phillips late that Night sent a Messenger to the City with what account he had heard of the forementioned letter
Irwin II. Captain Alexander Leckey Lieutenant James Lennox Ensign John Harvey III. Captain Matthew Cacken Lieutenant Henry Lâ—ng Ensign Francis Hunt IV. Capain Warham Jemmet Lieutenant Robert Morison Ensign Daniel Sherrard V. Captain John Tomkins Lieutenant James Spaight Ensign Alexander Coningham VI. Capt. Thomas Moncreiff Lieutenant James Morison Ensign William Mackee December the 11th Mr. Cairns went for London The same day Governour Philips went to Newtown and in a few dayes return'd with about 3 or 400 Horse William Hamilton of Moyagh brought near 200 more which they tendered to our service Soon after Letters from Dublin inform us that the Lord Tyrconnel had ordered the Lord Mountjoy and Lieutenant Collonel Lundy with six Companys of their Regiment to come down and reduce this City to its former Obedience But our Friends there caution'd us against the receiving of 'em and the City was generally averse to it and yet that their actions might not be mis-interpreted they endeavoured to represent the reasons of 'em in a Declaration which they Published about this time See in the end When the Lord Mountjoy came to Omagh he sent Captain Mac-Caustand with a Message to this City desiring two or three of their Number to meet him at Rapho upon which Captain Norman and Mr. John Mogredg were sent to hear his Proposals who at their return gave assurance of his Lordships being fully impower'd to Capitulate and that he would on the surrender of the Garrison with our Arms procure a Free and General Pardon for what was pass't these Terms our two Envoys did earnestly sollicit us to accept tho in vain But because these two had no power to Conclude any thing his Lordship desired there might be Commissioners with full power to treat with him at Mount-Gavelin Accordingly the Governour George Phillips Esq Captain Alexander Tomkins Horace Kennedy Esq Lieutenant William Crookshanks and Lieutenant James Lennox were impowr'd by the City to treat and conclude who after a full hearing of his Lordships Proposals would comply on no other Terms than the getting a Protestant Garrison and liberty to keep their Watches and Arms as formerly as also a free and General Pardon under the Great Seal which his Lordship declared he could not grant and so they parted without any Conclusion his Lordship then saying he wou'd next Morning come to the Gates and demand Entrance They returning with the report of these passages we began to examine again the Stores of Amunition and found only six Barrels of Powder a few Arms unfix'd and most of the Guns unmounted for want of Carriages Soon after his Lordship appears at the Bishops-Gate where for some time he was made to stand upon a warm debate within whether he should be admitted At length out of respect to his Lordship he was suffered to enter who being very importunate for an Accommodation there were Eleven persons of the City and Country appointed to treat with him viz. George Phillips Governour Horace Kennedy Esq Captain Alexander Lecky Captain Warham Jemmet Captain John Forward Captain George Canning Lieutenant Henry Long Lieutenant James Lennox William Coningham Esq and James Steward His Lordship after some debate that he might prevent any more Forces coming down upon us was at last prevail'd on to agree to such Articles as the City proposed which Articles are annext in the end Upon the Perfection of these Articles his Lordship for our better Satisfaction ordered Leiutenant Collonel Lundy to repair to Strabane there to stop his six Companies till the full Moyety being Papists were turned off and some Officers of the City were sent to see it done and Protestants inlisted in their stead Yet there were but two Companies all Protestants under Command of Leiutenant Collonel Lundy and Captain Stewart received at first into the City The other four consisting of one half Papists were ordered to quarter at Strabane Newton Stewart and Rapho till throughly reform'd Which so fully satisfied us that the Protestant Interest would be much strengthned by the interposition of the Lord Mountjoy that our Governour freely resign'd his charge to him and we all resolv'd to follow his orders and directions Accordingly his Lordship heartily Concurr'd with the Citizens advis'd 'em to repair the Carriages of the Guns fix the old Arms that lay in the Stores and every thing else that might be found necessary for the preservation of the City Whereupon there was a meeting in the Guild-hall of all the Inhabitants in orto the Levying of Moneys for that purpose And a voluntary Subscription being there made about 100 l. a select number was chosen to dispose thereof as also to regulate the Concerns of the City viz. Samuel Norman Alderman Alexander Lecky Alderman Matthew Cocken Alderman Horace Kennedy Sheriff Mr. Francis Nevill Mr. Frederick Coningham and Mr. James Lennox to whom Mr. John Mogredg was Secretary The Lord Massareene also some time after freely Contributed a considerable sum of Money towards the defence of the place They studied all possible means for the preservation and safety of the City and Countrey and since they still apprehended a Desscent of the Irish they kept up a good Correspondence with the Neighbouring Counties in what concern'd their Common Interest And that our Friends in the Country might be incouraged with a speedy supply of Powder and Arms Money was freely advanced by Horace Kennedy Esq Edw. ard Brooks Esq Lieutenant Henry Long Will. Crook shanks Ensign William Mackee Ensign John Harvey Ensign Francis Hunt Alexander Gordon Hugh Davey and William Maxwell Merchants and sent with James Hamilton Merchant to Scotland to buy Powder and Arms. He cou'd procure no more than 42 Barrels of Powder which except 10 left in the County of Down happily came and was secured in the Magazine Being also informed that a small Bark which was sent from Dublin with 30 Barrels of Powder for the Earl of Antrim lay Wind-bound at Killagh in the County of Down there were persons appointed to seize and bring the same about for our use who did so and leaving a share in some trusty hands for the Countries Service brought the remainder being about 20 Barrels to this City But all being too small a quantity pressing Letters were dispatch't to our Agent at London to sollicit their Majesties for Succours The Lord Mountjoy is sent for to Dublin by the Lord Tyrconnell His Friends here all disswade him from going up But the advice of some in Dublin prevail'd more upon him Upon his Coming there it was proposed to him by the Lord Tyrconnell that he should go with Lord Chief Baron Rice on a Message to King James in France to desire leave of Treating with England for that Kingdom upon which he procured the following Articles on our behalf to be perfected a Copy of which he sent down to the North with the ensuing Letter which I shall here add because it discovers how miserably he as well as many other well meaning Gentlemen were imposed upon by Tyrconnel who
from these Ulster Enemies that will never be obedient when they have power in their hand Your Lordship's Kindness herein will be a perpetual Obligation on the Inhabitants of this City and Neighbourhood and very much tend to his Majesties service in preserving the Lives of thousands of his good and innocent Subjects that were design'd for slaughter We remain London-Derry Dec. 9. 1688. Your Lordships Most Obedient humble Servants John Campsie Samuel Norman c. The Letter to the Society at London sent from Derry by Mr. Cairns Right Worshipful IN our sad Calamity and under the greatest Apprehensions of our total excision by the Irish in these parts of the Kingdom which border upon us we thought it necessary for us immediately to dispatch David Cairns Esq a very worthy Citizen of this City and lately a Member of this Corporation into England to report our Case to you and to use his endeavours by all just means for our speedy Relief And we have eternal Obligations laid on us to bless God whose Mercy and Providence rescued us from the Designs of wicked Men that conspired our ruine without any Provocation on our parts whose Inclinations as well as Interest it was to live peaceably with all Men. On Fryday the 7th Instant several intimamations came to several hands hereabout that on the Sunday following a Massacre was designed by the Irish in Ulster and although it caused great thoughts of Heart to the most assured amongst us yet none of the more aged and grave came to any other Resolution than to submit to the Divine Providence whatever the event might be And just in that juncture whilst the younger and more inconsiderate were consulting their own safety and it seems had resolved on the means a part of the Earl of Antrim's Regiment newly levied and all composed of Highlanders and Ulster Papists came to the River side and their Officers came over into the City to the Sheriffs for quarters and lodgings for them We confess our fears on the occasion became more pungent but we still remained silent except our Prayers and Devotions But just as the Soldiers were approaching the Gates the Youthhood by a strange impulse ran in one Body and shut the Gates and put themselves in the best posture of defence they could We blamed but could not guide or perswade them to any less Resolution that night and so the Soldiers retired and were quartered in the Neighbourhood where although they did not murther or destroy any yet many threats they uttered and outrages they committed The next day we hoped to prevail with those that assumed the Power of the City to open the Gates and receive the Garrison but the News and Intimations of the general Design came so fast so full from all quarters that we then blessed God for our present escape effected by means unforeseen and against our wills In the general hurry and consternation of not us only but all the neighbouring Counties when we have but scarce time to hear the repeated Informations of our Danger it is not possible for us to furnish the Bearer with all requisite Testimonials to evince this sad truth nor will it consist with our safety to protract his stay 'till it can be done the Vessel that carries him being just ready for sail We must refer you to his Report and Copies of Papers carryed over by him sign'd by us for your further satisfaction in particulars but do most humbly and heartily beseech you as you are Men of Bowels and Charity to assist this Gentleman how best you can to secure us from the common Danger and that we may peaceably live obeying his Majesty and the Laws doing injury to no man nor wishing it to any Your Interest here is now no Argument worthy to engage you the Lives of thousands of Innocent Men Women and Children are at stake If you can and will not now afford your help to the utmost we shall never be able to use a Motive to induce you or to prevail upon you May the Lord send Deliverance to us and preserve you all in Peace and Tranquility is the hearty Prayer of London-Derry Dec. 10. 1688. Gentlemen Your most Obedient Servants George Phillips John Campsie Samuel Norman Alexander Tomkins Matthew Cotken c. A Letter from Inniskillin directed to David Cairns Esq or the other Officers commanding in chief now in London-Derry Gentlemen THe frequent Intelligence we have from all parts of this Kingdom of a general Massacre of the Protestants and two Companies of Foot of Sir Thomas Newcom's Regiment viz. Capt. Nugent's and Capt. Shurloe's being upon their March to Garrison here and now within ten Miles hath put us upon a Resolution of refusing them entrance our desire being only to preserve our own Lives and the Lives of our Neighbours this Place being the most considerable Pass between Conoght and Ulster and hearing of your Resolutions we thought it convenient to impart this to you as likewise to begg your Assistance both in your Advice and Relief especially in helping us with some Powder and in carrying on a Correspondence with us hereafter as we shall with Gods Assistance do with you which is all at present from From Inniskillin Dec. 15. 1688. Gentlemen Your faithful Friends and fellow Christians The Inhabitants of Inniskillin We are not now in a Condition to spare Men for a Guard therefore must entreat your Assistance in that Allan Cathcart Will. Browning Tho. Shore William Smyth Arch. Hamilton Malc Cathcant Ja. Ewart Robert Clarke The DECLARATION of the Inhabitants of Derry TO all Christian People to whom these Presents shall come the Mayors Sheriffs and Citizens of the City of London-Derry send greeting Having received Intimation from several Credible Persons That an Insurrection of the Irish was intended and by them a general Massacre of the Protestants in this Kingdom and the same to be acted and perpetrated on or about the 9th day of this instant December And being confirmed in our fear and jealousie of so horrible a Design by many palpable Insinuations dubious Expressions monitory Letters and positive Informations all conducing and concurring to beget in us a trembling Expectation of a suddain and inevitable Ruine and Destruction We disposed our selves to a patient and tame Resignation to the Divine Providence quietly hoping for some Deliverance and diversion of this impending Misery or to receive from the hand of God such measure of Constancy and Courage as might enable us to possess our Souls in patience and Submissively to wait the issue of so severe a Tryal Accordingly when on the seventh instant part of the Earl of Antrims Forces advanced to take possesion of this place tho we looked on our selves as Sheep appointed for Slaughter and on them as the Executioners of Vengance upon us yet we contrived no other means of escape than by Flight and with all Precipitation to hurry away our Families into other Places and Countries But it pleased the Lord who watcheth
A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF London-Derry Or the late Memorable Transactions OF THAT CITY Faithfully Represented To Rectifie the Mistakes and supply the Omissions of Mr. Walker's Account By JOHN MACKENZIE Chaplain to a Regiment there during the Siege The most Material Passages relating to other Parts of Ulster and Sligo are also inserted from the Memoirs of such as were chiefly concerned in them With Allowance LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by Richard Baldwin in the Old Baily 1690. THE PREFACE THE small City of London-Derry having been the last Year the Scene of so great and remarkable Actions 't is hop'd that an impartial Account of 'em will not be unacceptable to the publick Gratitude to Almighty God obliges us to record so many signal Instances of his Power and Goodness in the preservation of that People And it is no more than Justice to those who either lost or eminently hazarded their Lives in that Cause to transmit the Memory of those Services by which they have so generously express'd their Zeal for the Protestant Religion and their affection to the present Government 'T is true indeed an Account of the Siege has been publisht several Months ago and had there not been besides several material Mistakes in it many Passages entirely omitted that were of great Importance to set those Affairs in their true and native light or had those faults of that account been since fairly corrected instead of being vindicated it would have superseded my labour in preparing this Narrative for the publick view in the writing whereof I am so far from being conscious to my self of being byass'd by any affection to a Party that I have been sparing in representing some matters of fact with all the Advantage they were capable of least they should have that aspect I have in this Narrative of Derry inserted the most material passages in other parts of Ulster except Inniskillin of which a distinct Account has been given by another hand and of Sligo from the Memoirs of some Persons of Quality and others that were Actors in 'em A piece of Justice due to the Nobility and Gentry in those parts who with so great expence of their Fortunes and some of 'em with no less hazard of their Lives endeavoured the preservation of their Countrey For by this Account the Reader may see they did all that could be expected from them and the chief Causes to which their ill success must be ascribed were their too great confidence in Collonel Lundy's Promises and Conduct and their too early expectations of Relief from England And the behaviour of those of them that stayed in Derry and made up almost the whole of that Garrison is sufficient to put that reproach of Cowardise out of Countenance which some out of design to exclude them from being employed in the Reduction of Ireland have been so industrious to load them with I have added in the end his Majesties Letters and Instructions because they so fully manifest his Royal Care and Concern for the preservation not only of Derry but of the whole Kingdom In the Account of the Siege it self I have not only compared others Diaries with what I was an eye-witness of but for fuller satisfaction offered this part of the Narrative to be review'd by such of the Officers of Derry as are now in Town several of whom as Collonel Crofton Collonel Murray Lieutenant Collonel Blair Captain Alexander Sanderson c. having heard it read in the presence of Sir Arthur Rawden Sir Arthur Langford Collonel Upton and several other Gentlemen and being desired upon every material paragraph to object against any thing either misrepresented or omitted in the relation freely profess'd their assent to it and Dr. Walker was acquainted with the Design of publishing it some time before he left the Town I foresee indeed that some who are concern'd may be offended with several Passages that seem to reflect on some particular Persons especially Coll. L Dr. W and M. G. K to which I need only say That as I have mention'd nothing relating to 'em but Matters of Fact that are capable of all the Demonstration that can be reasonably expected so this Narrative would have been palpably imperfect and defective without ' em What is said of Coll. L is no more than what was necessary to vindicate the Forces at Clady from the imputation of Cowardise with which he endeavour'd to palliate his own Conduct to give the true Reason why the chief Officers left the place and to justifie the Multitude in casting off his Authority when they saw him resolv'd on giving up the Town to K. James I may alledge the same as to Dr. W it was necessary to take Notice of the Articles against him because they occasion'd that material Change in the Government by the establishment of the Council of 14. And the other Passages were no more than requisite to disabuse the World that had been so grosly imposed on in the ridiculous Attempts us'd to make not only a chief Governour in the Garrison but a mighty Hero of that Gentleman not only in the Account publish'd in his own Name but in the Papers of others who wrote their Panegyricks upon him I shall only produce one Instance of this kind out of the Observations printed on Mr. W 's Account for among other Links in the Author's Chain of Miracles as he calls it this is the sixth The unanimous Suffrage of the People in electing and constituting Mr. George Walker their Commander in chief than whom they cou'd not have pitch'd on a Person more compleatly adapted to so capricious an Employment being a Man of exquisite Parts having a neat dexterity in accommodating the humour of the Rabble a discreet temper in moderating the diversity of Perswasions a prudent Managery of the Common Provisions a vigilant Care in the Order of Guards Watches and Exercise and an undaunted Courage in leading 'em on to the most dangerous Enterprizes A very eloquent Paragraph that gives us the true Idea of a compleat Governour only the Author had done better to bestow it on Dr. W in some part of the World where he is not yet so well known for if all the other links in his Chain of Miracles were like this I am afraid that even in London as well as at Derry it wou'd be mistaken for a small Legend For he does not seem so much in this Character to have considered what was true as what wou'd represent his imaginary Governour and General as great and extraordinary But since Governour Baker has been thus injuriously pilfer'd of several of his deserved Plumes and Dr. W adorn'd with 'em it was but common Justice to restore 'em to the right owner For what M. G. K did after the Siege it could not be omitted without disappointing the just expectations of the Reader to know what treatment the greatest part of that deserving People met with from him especially when so very different from
of their Concurrence for their common Defence and Safety To which Letters they received various Returns some approving the Action and promising their Assistance Others discouraging what they thought so bold an enterprize Besides these one Letter came afterwards directed to Mr. Cairns from a Nonconformist Minister in Iniskilling which because it shews how early the Inhabitants of that Town agreed with those of Derry both in their Resolutions and the Reasons of 'em I shall here insert Inniskillin Decemb. 15. 1688. SIR AFter an Allarm of an intended Massacre there are two Foot-Companies sent to be quartered in this small place and though we be deserted by our Magistrates yet we intend to repulse 'em You are therefore intreated in this common Cause to look on our Condition and if we come to be made a leading-Card sit not still and see us sink The bearer can more fully inform you of our Condition The Lord direct and preserve you and us who intend hurt to none but sinless self-preservation This from Yours c. Robert Kelso About the same time the principal Inhabitants of Inniskillin wrote a Letter to the same purpose to their Friends at Derry Which see at the end Others in the Town wrote to the Government to excuse themselves and lay the blame on the Mobile I should add here that the Potent being more narrowly inspected was found defective for 't was in the body of it to provide Quarters for the Captains hereafter named and their men whereas there was no Capt. named at all And thus ended this remarkable 7th of December Good Guards are kept within and without the Walls that night And the next day the 8th of December since they wanted both Arms and Ammunition they broke open the Magazine and took out thence about 150 Musquets with some quantity of Match and one Barrel of Powder and Bullets proportionable There was in the Magazine at that time but about 8 or 9 Barrels of Powder in all and about 2 more in the Town 2 or 3 of those in the Magazine were not fit for use There were but few Arms fixt and those design'd for the Irish Regiment the rest being about a thousand more were much out of order The Bishop that day left the Town and went to Rapho But the sight of several from the neighbouring Parts of the Countrey whom the fear of an intended Massacre drove thither for security the rumour of a design among the Papists in Town to fire the City and the rude Carriage of some of the Irish Souldiers in their quarters over the Water drew many more of the Town to joyn with the Mob for their common Preservation And yet I must add that when towards the better setling of their Guards they took an exact Account of all within the Walls able to bear Arms they did not in all amount to 300 so depopulated was the Town at that time the Suburbs were not numbred but it was believed they could not make near so many more This day the City was clear'd of the greatest part of the Papists in it and a Convent of Dominican Fryars pack'd off The Earl of Antrim lodg'd that Night at Newton Limavady with Mr. Philips whom he carried with him next day in his Coach towards Derry being the 9th the fatal day for the expected Massacre The Post-Letters that Morning brought the News of the Prince of Denmark and the Duke of Ormond's c. going over to the Prince of Orange which gave us no small encouragement and Alderman Tomkins by the assistance of Mr. Gordon's influence on his People sent in a considerable number into Town under the Command of young Mr. Tomkins as their Captain For joy of their good News from England the Gunner was order'd to discharge two of their best Guns which he accordingly did this put the Irish Souldiers on the other side of the Water into no small Consternation about the same time one George Cook a Butcher drew up 50 or 60 Boys on the shore at the Râ—rry-Key whom the Irish took for Laganeers famous for the Victories they obtained over the Rebels in 1641. soon after Mr. Tomkins and Mr. Gordon appear on a Hill near 'em with about 30 or 40 Horse having no design of disturbing ' em But all these Circumstances so unluckily concurring to heighten their fears of some suddain destruction coming on 'em put 'em on so hasty a flight that many of their Officers left their Boots and Soldiers their Coats behind them Their Collonel the Earl of Antrim accompanied by Mr. Philips met 'em about a Mile off the Town and having heard from his men a very frightful story thought fit to send Mr. Philips into Town before him to bring him word whether they wou'd admit himself and who commanded the Town Mr. Philips as coming from the Enemy was with some difficulty admitted under a Guard but finding he was no way disaffected to the Design but rather inclined to joyn with 'em in their own defence the Guard was taken off yet upon his desire to Mr. Cairns who then commanded in Town that some colour of force might be put upon him in what he did he was publickly threatned with Confinement if he did not concurr with 'em He was permitted to acquaint the Earl with his being detain'd there whom in his Letter he discouraged from coming thither upon receipt thereof the Earl went back to Colerain where he endeavour'd to rally his scatter'd Regiment And the City considering their own Circumstances to encourage the Gentlemen in the Country whose aid they expected and to engage Mr. Philips the more to their Interest with Mr. Cairns his concurrence bestowed on him the Title of their Governour which he accepted In the mean time it was thought expedient to write up to the Lord Mountjoy then at Dublin in whose friendship they had great Confidence some account of what had past that he might interpose with the Lord Tyrconnel on their behalf and do his utmost to allay his resentments and accordingly they sent his Lordship a Letter which because it confirms the foregoing Relation I have annexed at the end expecting that he wou'd communicate it to the Lord Deputy On the 10th Captain Forward and Mr. William Stewart brought about 2 or 300 Horse into the City and Mr. John Cowan of St. Johns Town a Company of Foot which they offer'd to our Service But finding the need not only of more Men but chiefly of Arms and Ammunition the City unanimously chose David Cairns Esq to send over as their Agent to England giving him a large Letter of Credence and full Instructions under the hands and seals of the chief then in Town He had with him also a Letter to the Society in London which I have in the end inserted a private Key was also contrived to hold Correspondence with ' em This day the Townsmen were form'd into six Companies of Foot under the Command of I. Captain Samuel Norman Lieutenant William Crooksbanks Ensign Alexander
tho he was sufficiently afraid of the Issue of things yet was doing all he cou'd by the encrease of his new Levies to defend King James his interest there even while he pretended to others that he was ready to surrender the Sword to any Commission'd to receive it And this Intreigue of sending to King James is said to be the Contrivance of Rice and Neagle to amuse and divert others of the Popish Party in the Council whose fears inclin'd 'em to an earlier submission January 10th 1688 9. Until his Majesties pleasure be further known it is humbly proposed to your Excellency 1st That no more Levies be made in this Kingdom no more Arms given out nor no Commissions signed 2d That all the new rais'd Forces be kept in their present Quarters if no Enemy lands here and that the Kingdom is quiet and that no more Troops be commanded into Ulster than are at present there 3d. That no Nobleman Gentleman Officer or common Man in the Kingdom shall be imprisoned seized or in any wise molested for any tumultuous Meetings arming of Men forming of Troops or attempting any thing that may be called Riotous or Rebellious before this present day 4th That no private Gentlemans House shall be made a Garrison or Soldiers quartered in it Dublin January 10th 88 9. YOu have had an Account how long I stopt on the way after I left you and the Reasons which made me since come forward and whatever my Jealousies were at my first Arrival I am now fully satisfied with my coming and with Gods Blessing hope it will come to good to us all As soon as I saw my Lord Deputy he told me he intended to send me to the King joyntly with the Lord Chief Baron to lay before him the State of the Kingdom and to tell him If he pleased he would ruine it for him and make it a heap of Rubbish but it was impossible to preserve and make it of use to him and therefore to desire his leave to Treat for it The Objections I made to this were two My being not so well qualified for this as another Roman Catholick one to whom in all likelihood the King would sooner give Credit and the Improbability of being able to perswade the King who is now in the French hands to a thing that is so plainly against their Interest To the first of these I was answered what is not fit for me to repeat and the other was so well answered that all the most knowing English men here are satisfied with it and have desired me to undertake this matter which I have done this Afteenoon My Lord Deputy having first promised me upon his Word and Honour to perform the four particulars in the enclosed Paper Now because a thing of this nature cannot be done without being censured by some who perhaps would be sorry to have their Wishes by quiet means and by others who think that all that Statesmen do are tricks and that there is no sincerity among them I would have such consider that it is more probable I and the most intelligent men in this place without whose advice I do nothing should judge righter of this than they who are at a greater distance and it is not likely we should be fooled So I hope they will not believe we design to betray them our selves and our Nation I am Morally assured this must do our work without Blood or the misery of the Kingdom I am sure it is the way proposed in England who depend so on it that no Forces are appointed to come hither and I am sure what I do is not only what will be approved of in England but what has its beginning from thence I do therefore conjure you to give your Friends and mine this Account and for the love of God keep them from any Disorder or Mischief if any had such a Design which I hope they had not I shall write to this effect to some other parts and I desire you would let such in your County as you think fit see this let the People fall to their Labour and think themselves in less Danger than they believ'd His Lordship went soon after together with Chief Baron Rice to France where instead of obtaining an Order for the Irish to lay down their Arms he was made a Prisoner in the Bastile The Lord Tyrconnel designing to muster up all his strength against us orders Lieutenant Collonel Lundy to send up the four Companies which were not brought into the City as well as the other two But rather than lose so many good Arms we were induc'd to receive 'em and having well purg'd 'em of Papists we unanimously concur and keep our joynt-Guards by detachments out of these 6 Companies and our own 6 Town-Companies which the Lord Tyrconnel being advertised of issues a Proclamation to all parts of the North discharging the Brittish therein from assembling together by way of Troops and Companies c. But the Protestants were too sensible of the necessity of defending themselves to pay any great Deference to such a Proclamation And particularly at Derry they went on with their preparations for their own Safety having been early encouraged thereto by the Nobility and Gentry of the Counties of Down and Antrim who by a Message sent 'em by Will. Conningham Esq declared their Approbation of what they had done and assured 'em of their utmost Assistance But they were not altogether pleas'd with Lundy's management of Affairs He had against the mind of the Committee for the City chose Mr. Norman Lieutenant Collonel and one Hill Major to his Regiment He soon after discharged the City Companies from keeping their Guards and refused 'em Ammunition And when upon complaint made he restor'd 'em he would but allow one City Officer to the Guards and endeavour'd to bring 'em under the Command of his own Officers These things disgusted the City but they thought it not a fit time to Contend about ' em Having given this brief Account of what pass'd at Derry from the first shutting the Gates till the Descent of the Irish Army it will not be improper to give some Relation of the most material passages that happened in other parts of Ulster before they approach'd those Walls The News of the Prince of Orange's landing was very acceptable to the Generality of the Protestants of Ireland whose success they hop'd would soon alter the scene of Affairs in that Kingdom The Presbyterian Ministers in the Province of Ulster with several Gentlemen of good Note there were the first that agreed to send an Address to the Prince To this end they impowered Mr. Osborn and Mr. Hamilton being then at Dublin to fix on the Person who sent Dr. Cummin Decemb. 8th the purport of the Address wherein they desired nothing in particular for themselves was To Congratulate his Arrival and Success hitherto in so glorious an Undertaking To represent the Deplorable Condition of the Protestants in that Kingdom
Seal of Ireland Provided always that no person or persons now in Arms against the King in or about Inniskillin Bellishanny Donegall or Killebeggs that will accept of these or the like Articles before the said 26th day of July shall have the benefit of them they or their chief Commanders having eight days notice of these Articles before the said 26th of July by having delivered to them Copies of them which are to be sent them by the said Lieutenant General by some of his party and some of this Garrison 16. That a convenient number of persons be appointed as Commissioners in this City and in each County of the said Provinces before the 26th of July by the said Lieutenant General and the Governours Commanders Offâ—cers and Soldiers of this Garrison with sufficient Authority to see these Articles made good and performed 17. That Hostages be given by the said Lieutenant General to the Garrison of Derry to be kept there or on Board of the English Ships now in the River of Foile viz. And for the Garrison of Derry to be given as Hostages and kept in their Camp or at Strabane Lifford or Raphoe 18. That during the time of Treaty and until the said 26th day of July if in the mean time no Army shall come to relieve the City there shall be a Cessation of Arms between the Besiegers and the Besieged and that no Acts of Hostility shall be committed by either side provided that none of either party but such as shall have Licenses shall come within the Lines of the other 19. That as well the Persons that are in this Garrison or shall be there the 26th of July as shall embarque or Ship for England or Scotland as those that go to the Country shall at their departure hence have Horses and Boats allowed them for carrying the Officers Sickmen Women and Children home to their several Habitations or places whither they have a mind to resort Provided always that these Articles shall not be binding on either Party in case the said City shall be relieved by the English or some other Army before the said 26th day of July and if it shall be so relieved that then the said Hostages delivered on both sides shall be delivered to each other in safety The COMMISSION TO all Christian people to whom these presents shall come Know ye that we the Governours Commanders Officers Soldiers and Citizens now in the City and Garrison of London-Derry have nominated constituted appointed and authorized and by these presents do nominate constitute appoint and authorize Collonel Hugh Hamil Collonel Thomas Lance Captain Robert White Captain William Dobbin Matthew Cockins Esquire and Mr. John Mac-Kenzey as Commissioners for us and in our Name to repair to and treat with the Right Honourable Lieutenant General Richard Hamilton now encamped against London-Derry with an Army of his Majesty's King James the Second besieging the said City and Garrison or to somewhere near the said Camp and City or to Collonel Dominick Sheldon Coll. Gordon O Neal Sir Neal O-Neal Sir Edw. Vaudry Lieutenant Collonel Skelton and Captain Francis Marow Commissioners nominated constitutted appointed and authorized by the said Lieutenant General Hamilton and there to treat with him or them concerning the rendering up of the said City and Garrison to the said Lieutenant General for his Majesties use with all the Stores Ammunition Artillery Arms Implements and Habiliments of War according to the annexed Instructions and Articles and such other Instructions and Articles as you shall from time to time have from us and on such other Articles matters and things as shall be proposed to you our said Commissioners by the said Lieutenant General or by his said Commissioners And on such Treaty to conclude on such Articles matters and things for the delivering up of the said City to the said Lieutenant General or whom he shall appoint with the said Stores Ammunition Artillery Arms Implements and Habiliments of War for his Majesties use and for the giving and receiving of Hostages for the performance of what shall be stipulated and agreed upon And the same to reduce into Writing and Sign and Seal and to receive the counterpart thereof Signed and Sealed by the said Lieut. Gen. or the said Commissioners for us and in our behalf And what Articles Matters and things you shall agree upon and reduce into Writing and Sign and Seal for us and on our behalf We by these Presents bind and oblige our selves to observe keep and perform entirely In Witness whereof we hereunto put our Hands and Seals at London-Derry this 12th Day of July 1689. Signed and Delivered in the Presence of Francis Hamilton Robert Cockrane James Young Stephen Herd David Ross Robert Wallace Christophilus Jenney Arth. Noble Adam Downey Arch. Hamilton Henry Arkwright Tho. Ash Theophilus Morison Will. Ragston Will. Hamilton Warren Godfreâ— Geo. Holmes Jâ— Henderâ—on Hercules Burleigh * George Walker John Mitchelbâ—rn Richard Crofton Adam Murray Hemy Monroe Stephen Miller Alexander Stewart John Crooks Will. Campbell Will. Draper James Grabame John Cockrane Fran. â—brey John Crofâ—on John Thompson Will. Mare Richard Aplin * I should not take notice of so trivial a thing as Mr. Wâ—â—â—er's signing first if it had not been improved into an Argument of his being Governour of the Garrison as well as the Stores But as the foremenâ—ioned Debates about this very Commission as well as the whole Story of the Seige evidently shew the contrary So to obviate this Objection against the Truth of those passages I am obliged to add That Mr. Walker's signing first in some Papers during the Siege was partly owing to the Modesty and Complaisance of Governour Baker and afterwards Governour Mitchelburn but much more to the forward Temper of Collonel Walker who when Governour Baker or Mitchelburn sign'd first seldom failed to croud in his Name before them Of which I could produce several notorious Instances but shall only mention a late one Several Certificates were sign'd by Mitchelburn in Nov. last to some Officers of Baker's Regiment which when brought here he not only thrust in his Name above him but blotted out of each of these Certificates these words Collonel Baker Governour of the said City THese are to Certifie all whom it may concern That the Bearer hereof Robert Louther served during the late Siege of London-Derry in the Station or Post of a Lieutenant in Captain Nicholas Holmes 's Company under the Command and Regiment of Collonel Henry Baker late Governour of the foresaid City and also after under the Command of Collonel St. John and continued in the said Regiment till the 9th Day of October during which Siege he behaved himself with good Conduct and Courage both in the Sallies that were made against the Enemy and the Preservation of the said City Given under my hand at London-Derry the 27th Day of November 1689. George Walker I. Mitchelburn And how far he was from being esteem'd as Governour of the Garrison even after Governour