Arms Ammunition to Inniskillin The rest of our Men marched back to Inniskillin where the certainty of the Irish Army marching from Derry and burning the whole Country as they went off was assured them for our Men that were taken and kept Prisoners by the Duke of Berwick being now by Col. Woolsely exchanged returned Home who had seen the Irish Army march off Col. Woolsely upon this Intelligence sent a Troop of Horse under the Command of Lieut. William Charlton to observe the Enemies Motion in their March fearing lest they might make Incursion into our Countrey but he going as far as Castle-Caulfield saw the Rear of their Army pass that Place which is within seven Miles of Charlemont near 30 from us so returned and gave that Account We now having Quiet on all Hands from the Attempts of our watchful Enemies set a Day apart as it was our Duty to return Thanks to the great God of Heaven who had manifested his Power in our Weakness and so miraculously delivered us beyond all Human Probability being but a handful out of the Hands and Power of our numerous and merciless Enemies c. After this Maj. General Kirk sent to Col. Woolsely for 500 Horse and 200 Dragoons for the more safe marching the Foot under his Command to join D. Schonberg who was landed at Carickfergus and desired likewise that our Men should take 200 of the Irish Prisoners down to Derry to assist the poor People there in cleansing the Town and emptying the Store-ships Our Horse and Dragoons marched down according to the Maj. General 's Order taking the 200 Prisoners with them Upon our Mens arrival the Maj. General march'd to join the Duke by the way of Colraine and came to Carickfergus without any Opposition Col. Sarsfield after his leaving Bandruse stayed not long at Sligo for Col. Tiffany resolving to have him out of that not liking his Neighbourhood sends Lieut. Col. Gore with a Party of Horse and Foot to scour the Country as near Sligo as they could and if possible to discover what Strength Sarsfield might be of and how posted Lieut. Col. Gore upon his march takes an Irish-man Prisoner who he set at liberty again designedly to amuse the Enemy telling him that all the Forces that Maj. Gen. Kirk had brought out of England together with Derry and Inniskillin Men were marching to fall in upon Sligo This so alarm'd the Country that they all ran with their Cattle to Roscommon Galloway or Athlone and the Army under Sarsfield did the like taking little or nothing with them Sarsfield being forced to follow so Lieut. Col. Gore march'd into Sligo without Opposition getting there several of the Enemies Cannon and other things they had left behind In September D. Schonberg commands Col. Woolsely with all the Horse belonging to Inniskillin Col. Lloyd's Troop excepted Col. Winn's Dragoons Col. Lloyd's and Col. Tiffany's Regiments of Foot immediately to march to Dundalk Camp which they did Col. Woolsely first sending Col. Lloyd with his own Troop of Horse and six Companies of Foot of Col. Hamilton's Regiment with some of Sir Albert Cunningham's Dragoons to Sligo for the Defence of that Place Col. Lloyd had not been long there e're he received Intelligence that the Enemy were drawing to a Body at Abby Boyle a Town belonging to my Lord Kingston and as it was his natural Inclination never to be idle he resolves to give them a Visit and if possible to prevent their getting to a Head he to that purpose marched what Force he had from Sligo by Killowney so to Ballinafad and over the Curlues with as much privacy as he could marching in the Night and falling down near Boyle in the Morning early where he thought to have surprized the Town but in the place of that he found the Enemy both Horse and Foot drawn up in very good Order to receive him and far exceeding his Number he was not long e're he with his accustomed Fortitude engaged them and as soon put them to the Rout killing about 300 of their Foot and several of their Horse who he had the Pursuit of near to Roscommon Upon this Victory he march'd immediately to James-town where the Enemy had a Garison and took it together with Col. Mac-Donnel's House a strong House called Drumsnaw near to James town Here he got a vast Prey of black Cattle Sheep and Horses with all the Growth of the Country Col. Lloyd upon this sends an Express and acquaints D. Schonberg of his gaining so great a Part of the Country and desires to know what to do he having no Men to Garison these Places he had taken The Duke sends him a positive Command not to lose one Foot of Ground and that he should be soon supplyed with what he wanted Col. Lloyd in obedience to the Duke's Command was forced to divide his Men to Garison James-Town Drumsnaw and Abby Boyle going himself to Sligo sending several times to Inniskillin for Ammunition but none being sent him and the Duke not sending Supplies early enough our Men a while after being divided in so small Parties and not capable of getting together were beaten from all these Places by the Irish our loss of Men I confess was not great yet we lost one Lieut. Casbcart and Capt. Wiere commonly called Leird Wiere a valiant brave Fellow and indeed his loss was much lamented for we had not a more forward Man amongst us The Duke after sent a Detachment of Horse together with Col. Winn's Dragoons and some Foot and Granadiers under the Command of Coll. Russel to reinforce Sligo but Col. Sarafield making as good haste back as he had made away came up to Sligo eâ—e the Party sent by the Duke was able to get that length Col. Russel who had Authority to Command in Chief at Sligo with some few came in there late the Night e're Sarsfield came our Men drew out in the Morning to meet him what of them were there but they being so small a Number and wanting Ammunition Sarsfield with an overpowring Party being at least ten to one fell in with them and beat them back into Town Our Horse were forced to retreat to Ballishannon our Foot got into the Fort of Sligo Maj. Woodes having saved a small Cask of Powder for the last Extremity which he brought into the Fort with him they held out three Days killing abundance of the Enemy sallying out and bringing in Provisions for themselves by Force while at last they had what Conditions desired then they surrendred marching out with Drums beating Colours flying Arms loaded light Matches and every Man took along with him what he had Col. Sarsfield treated the Officers very kindly with a Dinner performing his Articles fully so sent them safe to Ballishannon and here ended the Actions of Inniskillin-men I know I might have enlarged this Discourse in several Places and upon several Occasions but here you have a Brief of all that happened with a great deal of Sincerity and Truth FINIS
Protestants of the said Province but however highly resents their taking and continuing in Arms the Affront done by them to Him and His Majesties Government thereby and by some Indignities done to the late Proclamation of Clemency issued and dated Notwithstanding whereof is willing to receive the said Province into Protection Provided they immediately deliver to his Army to His Majesties Use their Arms and serviceable Horses and provided they deliver to his Excellency these Three Persons Viz. 〈…〉 if they stay in the Kingdom and they may be had And for further manifestation of his Design to prevent Blood is willing to grant Safe Conduct even to the said Three Persons or any of their Party from his Excellency and to and from Lieutenant General Hamilton Commander of a part of his Army if they intend any Peaceable and Reasonable Treaty But withal will not upon the said Account or any other stop the March of that part of his said Army no not for an Hour And if it shall appear in such Treaty that they took up Arms meerly for Self-preservation he will pardon even the said Three Persons But is hopeless that any such thing can be made appear being many of them have accepted and received Commissions from the Prince of Orange and displayed his Colours in the Field as he is credibly informed If these Terms be not immediately agreed to he will with a part of his Army fight them which part he intends shall be at Nury on Monday the 11th of this Instant which will from thence march to Belfast and from thence to Colraine and Londonderry as his Excellency intends And that the Countrey Irish not of the Army Man Woman and Boy now all Armed with Half Pikes and Baggonets in the Counties of Cavan Managhan Tyrone and Londonderry c. will on the Approach of the said part of the Army and Resistance thereunto made immediately enter into a Massacre of the British of the said Counties which Force and Violence of the Rabble his Excellency says he cannot restrain These are the Heads of what I can offer to you from his Excellency's own Mouth But I intend to be at Hilsborough to Night Alex. Osburne These Two as I said before came inclosed in Col. Lundy's directed to Sir John Hame Bar. to be communicated to the rest of the Gentlemen in the County of Farmanagh Haste This you may believe put us upon our more strict Guard but Col. Lundy in place of moving as he mentions in his Letter ordered the Garrison then kept at Donganan to desert that place and march down to the Lagau Upon which all the British in that Country fled to Strabane the Lagau and Derry He likewise wrote Letters to us as he did to the County of Cavan Gentlemen that were then in Arms immediately to bring off the Women and Children and repair to the Lagau But we had fixed our Resolution otherwise being highly sensible that holding out that Place of Iniskilling was the only Let to hinder the Conaught Forces joyning with those of Vlster and consequently all the Support that Derry could expect For had we deserted that Place all Ireland then was in the Papists Hands save Londonderry which of it self could not possibly subsist or be able to hold out against the whole Power of the Irish Nation Whereas on the other Hand our keeping that Place would at least if we could not assist to relieve Derry be a great means of diverting their Force from uniting against it The Gentlemen of the County of Cavan about the 20th of March the Weather being very stormy and the Ways extreme deep scarce-passable all in a most distracted and confused manner deserted their Countrey and fled to Iniskilling telling us that they had received positive Orders from Col. Lundy so to do leaving the most part of what they had behind them And the poor People in a most starving and deplorable condition throng'd into our Town filling all Corners full so that there was above 200 Families forced to get into the Church the Sessions-house and School-house being likewise filled Their Officers used their uttermost endeavours to perswade our Governour to do the like Viz. to desert Iniskilling and indeed some that we expected better things from were likewise of Opinion that it was our safest way Which had this Advice been followed it would certainly have ruined the whole Protestant Interest in Ireland and given the Irish Army the opportunity of passing into Scotland or England at their pleasure but Major John Rider gave so weighty and forcible Reasons of the Necessity of holding that Place that he over-ruled all and confirmed several that were really wavering to be firm in our former Resolution But when we had fully pryed into the Reasons of the County of Cavan Gentry so deserting their Country being a good Party of Men and having several Strengths that they might have held out we found that it was more out of fear of a Party under the Command of the Lord Galmoy that had marched into their Country than any thing else that had brought them off altho I believe they had a Letter from Col. Lundy to that purpose The Lord Galmoy indeed with the best part of his Regiment of Horse some Dragoons with the Rabble of the Countrey came as far as Belturbet surprising by the way Dean Dixey's House taking his Eldest Son who was Capt. of a Troop of Horse and one Edward Charleton his Lieutenant Prisoners The County of Cavan Men stayed Three Days at Iniskilling in which time Lord Galmoy marched his Men as far as Lisnaskey a pretty Village within Ten Miles of us where there is a tolerable strong Castle belonging to Charles Belfore Esq The Night e'er he came there he sent a Summons to Iniskilling commanding them to deliver up the Place their Arms and serviceable Horses to him for the King's use who as he said was then in Dublin and to receive Protections Which if we refused he was come with an Army to reduce that Country to the King's Obedience which he would do by Force And if we now denied to receive these Conditions we should not be favoured with the like hereafter Upon Receipt of this Summons the Governour called all the Officers belonging to the Town together who with a unanimous Voice resolved to defend the Place to the utmost and return'd an Answer immediately to the Lord Galmoy That they owned no Power save Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary that they had lately Proclaimed and that for their use they would hold out the Town to the last Man Then we prepared as indeed it was ever our intention to meet Galmoy and fight him e'er he came near our Town desiring the County of Cavan men to joyn with us in giving him a Brush then if they had a mind they might march on to Derry but they absolutely refused it getting out of Town with all speed imaginable We then made by the Governour 's Orders Proclamation That
form Companies Captain Allen Cathcart William Mc-Carmick his Lieutenant Ralph Picking Ensign raising the first and Captain Malcome Cathcart the second most consisting of Nonconformists as they term them that party effectually espousing our interest and never declined us in the most dangerous times The Governour a Company of Foot in the Country where he had lived and a Troop of Horse in and about the Town At this time We were put to great toil in breaking the Ice round our Town every Day it standing in an Island and having no other Walls save the Water which Frose so extreamly up that Both Foot and Horse might March over it with safety Toward the latter end of December we had an Express from my Lord Blany with advice not rashly to admira Garison of Papists into our Town but rather to continue in the condition we were in while we knew what measures were taken by the Nobility and Gentry of the Counties of Antrim Down Ardmagh and Managhan and a Letter inclosed sent to his Lordship from Belfast which was this My Lord WE herewith send you a Copy of the Capitulation betwixt Lord Mountjoy and the City of Derry Whereupon that Place was put into the hands of Lieutenant-Collonel Lundy We also send your Lordship a Narrative of what past betwixt my Lord Mountjoy and a Gentleman we intrusted from hence to manage both with his Lordship and the City by all which your Lordship may perceive that Lord Mountjoy proposeth managing the Protestant Interest by less hazardous means than was intended And we are unwilling to suspect his Lordship's sincerity and think it may be prejudicial to us as yet to thwart his Lordship whereupon we think it most adviseable for us to defer putting any thing in execution till a new notice is given and that in the mean time we may take care that his Lordship be discoursed herein and we thereby judge what are the measures most proper for us to pursue We believe your Lordship hath wrote to Lord Granard and Lord Kingston and we now desire that you will with the utmost speed give them and other our Friends intimation of this our altering our resolutions with the motives thereunto we also desire that you would acquaint Lord Granard that we do however rely so much on him that if he judges our method best and either hath or will make any step towards countenancing thereof so as to think his Honour in the least ingaged that we will all unanimously stand by him Your Lordship perceives that it is likewise intended that Inniskilling submit as Derry hath done we refer it to your Lordship to consider if means ought to be used that they at least delay so doing and for your Lordship to Act therein or Prevent it as you think fit c. Belfast December 26. You see by this it was concluded That the Holding out Inniskilling was thought convenient and indeed we had firmly resolved it but wanting Ammunition Arms and Commissions we in January sent Mr. Hugh Hamilton and Mr. Allen Cathcart into England with an Address to the Prince of Orange hearing King James had left that Kingdom And in their way to Donoghadee where they were to take Shipping for Scotland toward their more secure passage to discourse the Lords and Gentlemen of the North-East to whom we wrote this following Letter My Lord. WHILST we and all the Protestants of this Kingdom groaned under the fear of approaching Misery and there was nothing but an universal dread of eminent Ruin suggested to our thoughts and that we see our Religion our Laws Liberties Lives and our all at stake so that nothing could be added to our danger but our willingness to lye under whatsoever was imposed upon us the Law of Self-preservation one of the Ancientest of the World constrained us rather to chuse an hazardous Vndertaking than a voluntary Slavery to which we were the more provoked by the Insulting Menaces of those who under pretence of Quartering upon us came to Pillage us and designed to make this their entrance to the Devastation of this part of the Province So that not being willing to be inslaved and help to make others so too this Pass being the only Inlet from Conagh to Ulster from whence as by an Inundation it must have been overflowed we stand upon our Guard and do resolve by the blessing of God rather to meet our Danger than expect it We doubt not but your own Considerations hath suggested thoughts of this Nature to you also which we do believe may induce you to a necessary Defence of your Selves and Neighbours and therefore do humby intreat your candid and sincere advice in the management of this great Affair which is too weighty for our weak Shoulders to bear alone since we are sure to be the first that shall meet with the dangerous and highly incensed revengful Hands of our Enemies our great hope is That God will incline you to our Assistance and give us Courage and Success in this so just an Vndertaking we intreat Credit may be given to our Messengers who are well-acquainted with the Proceeddings of those that shall not fail to continue To the Right Honourable the Earl of Mount-Alexander Lord Viscount Massarine Sir Arthur Reiden or any of them c. Your Lordships most Faithful Humble Servants Gustavus Hamilton and the rest of the Inhabitants of Innikilling We had a very kind and favourable return to this Letter from the Honourable Persons it was sent too we now diligently applied our selves in raising more men Capt. Rob. Clark Capt. Will. Browning Capt. Alex. Archison Capt. Robert Stevenson Capt. Robert Corry Capt. Hen. Smith Capt. Archibald Hamilton each raising a Company Sir John Hume who indeed did from the beginning effectually espouse our Interest raised and armed two Foot Companies and a good Troop of Horse joyning always with us when occasion Fortified and Victualled his own House so that it was capable of containing and maintaining a very considerable Garison and sent into England for his Eldest Son who had been formerly in the Army there a very hopeful young Gentleman who headed his Horse This Garrison was no small support to Inniskilling it lying three miles below the Town on Conaught side of the River and a great defence to the Country about it In the beginning of January we received a Letter sent us by Mr. Charles Lesly from Glaslough a place in the County of Monaghan where he lived it was in Characters and shew'd the Intentions of the Irish Priests and Friars whose restless spirits left nothing unattempted to drive on their Hellish designs against the poor Protestants The Letter was thus M17t27 McK2nn1 945r S2lf2 t4g2th2r 553th R4b2rt 34hn 7t51rt c1pti3n 453nd4n 553ll31m 224rth 1r2 15th4r3726 89 92 c45nc2ll 4f 658l341 t4 72372 5p4n ch1rl2s l27l32 1n6 34hn kn4k7 capt3ne 34hnst4n th2r2 1r2 1ll74 74m2 c4ntr3526 6273gn7 li36 3n pr1ct37 t4 75rpr372 92ch5rch22 4f 1rdm1gh l5rg1nl37n1g1r592 18452 4n 7c4r2 4f 92
this we issued this following Declaration WE the Inhabitants of Iniskilling with our Associates having regard to the great and eminent danger hanging over our Heads Receiving frequent Intelligence from all parts of this Kingdom of Ireland That the Irish Papists are with all Diligence and Celerity arming themselves as is believed to our destruction and being with the Assistance of Almighty God resolved to stand upon our Guards we thereunto encouraged by a Declaration set forth by the Nobility and Gentry of the Counties of Antrim Down and Ardmagh satisfying us That they have taken up Arms in their own defence we therefore think fit and do hereby admonish all Protestants of this County and the Countrey adjacent to do the same And for their future security and preservation we desire that all the Inhabitants of this County and the adjacent parts may assemble themselves here with their Arms and Horses on Monday next to joyn with us in this so necessary an Vndertaking and there to be inlisted to the end that Men may be appointed to Command them VVe further desire That all the Neighbourhood may bring in their Provisions to be secured for them in this Place as a sure Refuge for them to fly to in time of Trouble And those that do not now lay up Provisions for themselves and families shall not be admitted to inhabit here or relieved from hence hereafter Dated at Iniskilling the 27th of January 1688. A Copy of this together with the following Letter and a Copy of the Declaration of the Lords of the North-East was sent to all the Gentlemen in our Countrey SIR WE have here inclosed the Resolutions of all the Gentlemen of the Counties of Down Antrim and Ardmagh together with what we resolve to do This day we had by Express from an eminent Person in this Countrey Directions to be upon our Guard and ready in Twelve Hours warning Our earnest Request to you is That you may give the same Instructions through your Countrey and to appear here on Monday next with what force you can raise both Horse and Foot to the end they may be inlisted and Officers appointed where we will discover more to you and consult what further Measures may be taken for our preservation according to the Emergency of Affairs Your Diligence and Compliance in this is not doubted by SIR Dated Jan. 27. 1688. Your loving Friends GVST AVVS HAMILTON And the rest of the Inhabitants of Iniskilling According to our defire in the above-Letter we had a General Rendezvous of our whole Countrey that joyned with us where we had a very pretty Appearance Gustavus Hamilton our Governour continued Colonel and Mr. Thomas Lloyd was made Lieutenant Colonel of our whole Forces After this we enjoyed a considerable quiet endeavouring to carry on our Fortifications the most part of January and February notwithstanding the Winter All this time we had frequent Correspondence with my Lord of Kingston who had raised a very considerable Force both of Horse and Foot in the Counties of Roscommon and Sligo and had made Sligo his Garrison which he endeavoured with all diligence to fortifie with a firm Resolution of holding out that Place against all Opposition but Ammunition being scarce with him and receiving in February Encouragement from Colonel Lundy who at that time commanded all to desert Sligo and march his Men to Derry where he should be accommodated with Provisions for his Men and forage for his Horses He left Sligo and marched as far as Ballishanon towards Derry He had no sooner left his Garrison than the Enemy was in it but he brave Gentleman met Assurance at Ballishanon that there was not any forage to be had at Derry for his Horses therefore constrained to continue where he was quartering his Men along the Frontier upon the North side of Loughhearne while April following In March we had intelligence That King James was by the Convention of Estates in England Voted to have Abdicated and had placed King William and Queen Mary in the Throne who upon the 11th of March we Proclaimed with all the Joy and Solemnity we could Immediately upon this we received a Letter from Colonel Lundy with one inclosed from the Lords of the North-East Colonel Lundy's was in these Words Gentlemen THE Inclosed is accompanied with several Letters intimating the March of the Irish Army Northward To oppose which we are making all the Preparations possible altho our Scarcity of Arms Ammunition and Moneys render us not so fit as we ought for the Vndertaking But we will do what we can and leave the Issue to Divine Providence which orders all Events On this occasion it is likely that you and all our friends may be alarmed if not formally attack'd by their Forces were it but to keep you from affording us your help or from giving them diversion in their Attempts wherefore you would do well to be strictly on your Guards and if possible by Espials to open their Counsels and Designs and what you know pray communicate to your friends in this Countrey and round about you who we hope will observe the like Care and continue a constant Correspondence with all friends in these dangerous Times I am resolved to march hence within a day or two with what force I can raise in this Countrey to Donganan and desire you to have all Men ready to march that were designed for it that as soon as I write for them they may come immediately to the place assigned for our Rendezvous I remain For Sir John Hume and the rest of the Gentlemen of the County of Farmanagh These Gentlemen Your faithful Servant ROBERT LVNDY The inclosed from the Lord Mountalexander and other Gentlemen of the North-East to Colonel Lundy Dated at Lough-brickland March the 9th 1688. was as followeth SIR SInce our last to you dated the 6th we have this day received the inclosed and Mr. Osburne was here himself and confirms the Contents with several Circumstances which perswades us of the Truth of it And therefore we most earnestly intreat you to march up towards Nury with all possible diligence with what Men you can with as much Provisions and Necessaries as can be carried and let us know by Express of their March and their Numbers We remain Sir You are desired to give notice to all Friends To the Honourable Col. Lundy in Derry Your Humble Servants Mountalexander James Hamilton William Cunningham Richard Johnston Mar. Midleton Mr. Osburn's Letter to Lord Mountalexander ON the 6th instant I was introduced by my Lord Granard to my Lord Deputy's Presence in the Castle of Dublin I have his Pass to come and go through and back from Ulster And tho I have not his Excellencies express Commission yet I assure you I am at least permitted by the Lord Deputy to acquaint the Chief and others of the Ulster Association with his discourse to me which was to the effect following Viz. That his Excellency doth not delight in the Blood of the
protect and defend him and this Place with the Country adjacent together with the Protestant Religion and Interest with my Life and Fortune against all that shall endeavour to subvert the same and that I shall be Just and Faithful in giving my Sincere Opinion and Advice in all Counsels whereunto I am called for the General Good and Preservation of the Interest aforesaid So help me God The Oath of the Private Souldiers I D. H. do hereby Testifie and Declare and upon the Holy Evangelists Swear That I will Own and Acknowledge Gustavus Hamilton Esq Chief Governour of this Town of Inniskilling and shall give due Obedience to him and my Superiour Officers in all his and their Commands and shall to the uttermost of my Power and Ability defend him them and this Place with the Country adjacent together with the Protestant Religion and Interest with my Life and Fortune against All that shall endeavour to subvert the same So help me God and the Holy Contents of this Book These Oaths were Administred to every Individual person according to their respective posts and upon the 28th of April we hearing that there was a Garrison of the Irish put into the Castle of Ougher a very considerable strength with a good Baunwale and Flankers lying upon the Road to Charlemont eighteen miles from us we again were drawn out under the Conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Loyde and in one night marched to Ougher coming in early upon Sunday morning yet notwithstanding our private and speedy march the Enemy had notice of our approach and disserted their Garrison taking away with them what they could carry we seizing what Cattle they had not being able to overtake them Preyed their Country Burnt their Castle Levelled their Fortifications and so left Ougher Taking our way through the Mountains to a place called Shannake another strong House they kept Garrison in neer to Clownish belonging to Daniel Eccles Esq the Gentleman that first gave us notice of the two Companies approach to Iniskilling whose House we had a great desire to save and place a Garrison there of our own men upon Munday at night we came within a mile and a half of it being toyled with our long march and the boginess of the Mountains we rested three or four hours with a resolution of falling in upon the Enemies Garrison by break of day but they having notice of our approach by some of the Country Irish flying before us e're we could possibly fall in with them fled and set the House on Fire burning to the ground both it and all the Office houses belonging to it we pursued them hard into the County of Managhan but could not over take them we Preyed all the Country about fetching off both from the County of Managhan and part of the County of Canau a great deal of black Cattle many Horses which we loaded with the growth of the Country as Meal Malt Wheat Oats Butter Bedcloaths and the like a considerable number of Sheep and so return'd to Iniskilling the second day of May Black Cattle was not at all deer with us nor any other sort of Provision during the whole time of our Troubles but this made them much cheaper than formerly For now we could have bought a good milk Cow for sixteen or eighteen Pence and a dry one for six pence We had rested but one day when there came an Express from Captain Falliat Commander of Ballishanan a Town with a strong Castle twenty miles below us standing likewise upon the side of Loughcarne near the Sea that there was a considerable Party of Horse and Foot from Conaught sat down before it the Enemy had Summoned them to deliver the Town and Castle which Summons he sent to us desiring speedy relief Lieutenant Col. Lloyd marched next morning with a considerable Party both of Horse and Foot to raise the Seige The Enemy hearing of our approach drew off the greatest part of their Strength both Horse and Foot to a place called Bellick three miles nearer us and there posted themselves very advantagioufly there being but one narrow Pass by which they could be attacked a Bog running from the side of Loughearne all the way to Bandruse seven miles to the left hand not known to be passable in any place save where the Road led through it close to the Lough side this the Enemy had strongly barrocaded and before their Works had broke down a Bridg and so raised the way that it could not be passed Col. Lloyd espying this caused Faggots to be cut immediately for making the Bog passable and so drew up against the Enemy they making great Huzza's and inviting us to come on and fight them our Stomacks were as good as theirs if not better for that Trade and as we were advancing to force our way God Almighty sent a man from whence I know not that offered to lead us safe through the Bog towards our left Hand and that our Horse should not need to alight nor to use their Faggots he was as good as his word when we had past the Bog our advance Guard led by Capt. Atchison indeavoured to get if possible the Right Flank of the Enemy so to prevent their escaping to the Mountains but they espying it and our Body coming on began to move orderly towards their Right as if they designed to prevent their being flanked we observing their motion marched extream hard but e're we could come within shot the Enemies Foot broke and run clear away to the Mountains The Horse which were upon the Left of the Foot betwixt them and the Lough stood while our Horse were ready to charge them then wheeled to the left and so ran for it without firing a shot our Horse persued seven miles and had not the Night come on I presume few of them had escaped There was none that fought save one Fitzgerald who being overtaken upon his flight by one Lieutenant Moloye of our Party fired his three shot briskly upon him and had certainly killed him had he wanted his Armour but when his shot was spent they fought it with their Swords while some of our men came up and took Fitzgerald Prisoner he was very much wounded but because of his courage was carefully looked after and brought to Iniskilling and recovered There were killed in the persute and hundred and ninety Horse Our foot marched unto Ballishanon where they took about sixty Prisoners in the Fish Island and about it knocking some others on the head that were left to continue the Siege they not knowing that their Army was broke while our men came upon them we had the Plunder of their Camp which was but beggarly got several good serviceable Horses two small Canon some good Arms and a small quantity of Amunition and having fully done what we went about returned to Iniskilling this was the first Ingagement if it may be so called that we had with the Enemy where we lost not one man nor any wounded