a Detachment of Collonel St. John's making in all about 20 Officers and 80 Soldiers whom he caused to embark in Three Boats when being come within half a mile he Landed and leaving a Guard with the Boats marched bravely to the Town though they were discovered at a good distance the Moon then shining yet they passed the Ditch and made themselves Masters of the main Guard dividing themselves in two Parties one marching towards the Gate of the Castle to hinder the Enemy from Sallying and the other to attack a Redoubt that covered their Bridge within Thirty paces of the Counterscarp being guarded by 15 men and a Serjeant and after some resistance entred killing Six and taking the rest Prisoners and whilst this was doing Monsieur de la Borde took another Redoubt with 30 men and plundered and burnt the Houses as far as Armagh which the Enemy had abandoned but day coming on our men retired with much Booty their Drums beating and Colours flying and in this Enterprize the Enemy lost 50 men besides wounded and taken Prisoners on our side Major la Borde was killed with a Cartridge-Shot of the last Cannon Two more Officers wounded and one Soldier killed nor were other Parties idle so that several small places were taken and other Blocked up till the Season grew more ripe for Action In Scotland Affairs went pretty well the Rebels since the Death of Dundeâ— and the defeat of his Party daily dwindled insomuch that those who had been concerned in it began to think of making their escape and the Heads of the Highland Clans grew so discouraged that they laid down their Arms and dismissed their Followers making an Interest to have the Benefit of the King's mercy and under Promise and Obligation to live peaceably and obedient to their Majesties and their Government many of them obtained it however several that were making their escape to the late King in Ireland were taken amongst which were the Two Sons of the Provost Bell of Glasgow one Forrester a Clergy-man and one Dunbar that had been a Gunner in the Castle of Edenburgh but upon their Submission and Promise of discovery were admitted to Bail or other ways set at Liberty and the Countess Dowager of Arrol removed at her Request to â—enburgh Castle the Lord Bellcarrus was likewise Bailed with many others that submitted and made a Resolution to be obedient to the Government so that those restless People seeing their Error in disturbing the Government under which they may live peaceably will no doubt give over their Pretensions to defend they know not what and we may expect to hear that Kingdom free from Broils and Incumbrances of War so that Matters being at this pass his Majesties High Commissioner and the Lords of the Privy Council in pursuance of his Majesties Pleasure signified to them by his Letter issued out a Proclamation about the latter end of March for continuing the Adjournment of the Parliament from the 27th of March to the 15th of April ensuing Certifying all the Members that the Parliament would then Sit. Many of our Ships being abroad tho' no considerable Action yet a great many considerable Prizes were brought in and great Preparations madefor Stores and Manning of the Ships a great number of Voluntier Seamen coming in or entring themselves on Board and the Land Forces were recruited with great diligence sp that the Face of things appeared very active and chearful and now the Season advancing the Army in Ireland moving towards the Enemy they retreated so that Collonel Tiffuny Commanding at Ballishannon taking the advantage sent out 200 Fire-Locks of his own regiment and 20 Dragoons Commanded by his Lieutenant Collonel with Orders to advance within two miles of Sligo where the Enemy kept all their Cattle and accordingly they arrived there before day and brought away Cattle Sheep and Horses to the value of 2000 Pounds but the Enemy taking the Alarm pursued them and disputed it for a time but having lost a Captain and 16 Soldiers they retired in disorder and our men went off with the Booty The Parliament of England now sitting at Westminster his Majesty came to the House of Lords with the usual Solemnity and being in his Royal Robes seated on the Throne and the Commons attending he passed an Act For Granting their Majesties a Subsidy for Tonage and Poundage and other Sums payable upon Merchandize Exported and Imported An Act For Enabling the Sail of Goods distrained for Rent in Case the Rent be not paid in a reasonable time An Act To Enable Algernoon Earl of Essex to make a Wife a Joynture and for raising of Monies for the Payment of 60000 Pounds borrowed to make up the Lady Morpeth's Portion and to make a Settlement of his Estate on his Marriage An Act To make some Provisions for the Daughters and younger Sons of Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury with several other private Acts of the like Nature His Majesty in his Princely Wisdom considering that the Trade from England to Ireland was necessary to such parts as we possessed was pleased to pass this Order in Council viz. It is this day ordered by his Majesty in Council that the late Embargo be and it is hereby suspended and taken off from all Vessels Trading along the Coasts of this Kingdom and from all Ships with provision bound for such parts of Ireland as are under Obedience to their Majesties the respective Masters and Owners of such Vessels given security to the Officers of the Customs in the Ports from whence they shall set Sail not to Trade under pretence of this Liberty unto any Foreign parts or into any part of Ireland that is not now under Subjection to their Majesties This greatly encouraged industrious Persons to send over such Necessaries as wonderfully relieved the Army and put it in heart for vigorous Action insomuch that the Enemies advance parties were beaten and forced to quit several advantagious Posts but leaving this Kingdom a while and return to Scotland to consider the Affairs of that Nation not yet thoroughly quieted from the Attempts of some restless men who resolved to be buried in the Ruins of their tottering Fortunes and so it happened that on the 4th of May the Lords Commissioners and the Privy Council received from Sir Thomas Levingston Governour of Inverness an Express of the defeat of the Highland Rebels who were drawn together to make a descent into the Lowland Country as follows Sir Thomas Levingston being informed that the Rebels had appointed their General Randezvous at Siratspey and that Collonel Buchan and Collonel Cannon were already arrived there with 2000 men and that they expected within four days to be four Thousand strong he thereupon drew together his own Regiment of Dragoons Two Troops of Horse Commanded by Captain Hays and Captain Burnet Six Companies of the Laird of Grant's Regiment 400 men of Sir James Lesley's and a Company of Highlanders commanded by Captain Mackay and with these Forces he marched towards the
in France surprised at Dundalk yet this gave the Protestants an apprehension of their Houses being burnt and plundered in case the Irish Army was worsted of whose Success they had not the least thought as knowing their Cowardice where they came upon equal terms for they had neglected at all times to fortifie the place and on the 19th when the late King was gone to encamp the Governour ordered all People walking the Streets without Bayonets or Swords to be taken up for the Papists had a secret notice not to go without them so that this fell upon the Protestants only and accordingly many were secured out of which they culled those they suspected and sent them to divers Prisons and then they put out a Proclamation That not above Five Protestants should meet in any place above the Family upon pain of Death and thereupon the Churches were shut up which by an extraordinary Providence had been kept open except Christ-Church and frequently twice every day at Prayers for although the Protestant Clergy that remained there had lost their Subsistance by an Act of the Irish Parliament yet the People voluntarily contributed with great Zeal and Diligence so that they acquitted themselves bravely being particularly influenced by the Bishop of Meath and Dr. King Dean of St. Patricks but the latter was on the 24th of June made Prisoner in the Castle and many other Protestants of note in the College now made a Garrison and other publick places The Galloway Protestants being about 200. having been those of Sir Tho. Southwell's Party brought up in order to be exchanged were removed from White Fryars to the Round Church and all the Newgate Prisoners were put to them where they were almost stifled as for those that had been made Prisoners of War they were brought from Kilmainham to St. John's Church insomuch that the liberal Contributions raised every Sabbath-day for their relief was intercepted and they reduced to great Extremity few Protestants daring to walk the Streets This was the Case of the Citizens of Dublin before the Battel of the Boyne and it was given out That the late King resolved as much as in him lay to avoid Fighting designing to weary out the English by walking them along the River supposing it was impossible for them to pass it seeing his Forces as he thought were sufficiently strong to defend the Banks at such a disadvantage and after he had done that to cross the Country to Limerick However as it appeared he distrusted the Issue for to provide against the worst he sent to Sir Patrick Trant first Commissioner of the Revenue and another Gentleman for Waterford there to prepare Ships for carrying him off if the Army was defeated as apprehending by reason of the violent pushing on of the English towards Dublin he could not prevent coming to a Battel within Ten days unless he abandoned the defence of that City which he then seemed resolute to defend yet soon after advancing further and changing his Measures divers Councils were held to various purposes Some light Skirmishes happened in divers parts of the Kingdom and our Party abroad brought in considerable Booties the main Body of the Army still watching the motion of the Enemy so that they had little rest and every day grew nearer to a Battel so that nothing was wanting to draw it on but the Enemies standing a Field which was wished by our Soldiers full of Courage and Vigour bearing the fatigue of much Duty and frequent Marches promising in their Looks and Behaviour a prosperous Event Now the Enemy being encamped at Dundalk and having secured it as likewise the Bridge called Four-mile-Bridge which made it difficult for our Army to force the passage it was resolved the Forces should March to Market-Hill and from thence to fall into the great Road that leads from Armagh to Dundalk whereupon his Majesty ordered Major Scravemore with a Detachment of 300 Horse and 200 Dragoons to observe the Road and visit the Passes also to find out a convenient place to Encamp in approach as near as possible to Dundalk to discover the posture of the Enemy which succeeded so well that a small Party of the Enemy seeing this Detachment marching early towards Market-Hill supposed it had been the Vanguard of our Army and gave that Account whereupon the Enemy immediately decamped and marched off their whole Army and a Party of 25 Dragoons and 50 Troopers went so near as to discover all their Motions and see them set fire to their Camp and returned with that News which was so surprizing that it not easily gained Credit however it being confirmed His Majesty thought fit to change the March and Orders were sent immediately to the Forces at Armagh and Tenargee to begin their March by the great Road towards Dundalk and a Detachment of 50 Dragoons and 200 Foot going from the Newry towards Dundalk were drawn into an Ambush of 500 Horse which the Enemy had laid for them between whom a sharp Encounter happened and in it we had 20 of our Men killed or wounded and the Enemy lost as many with the Officer that Commanded their Party whose Horse our Men brought back with them And now the King resolving to push oâ— and oblige the Enemy to fight or retreaâ— marched on the 13th of June by breaâ— of day from his Camp at Ardee towards Drogheda where he found thâ— late King's Army encamped along thâ— River Boyne above the Town but it being late before the Foot and Artillerâ— arrived his Majesty could do no moâ—â— that day than visit the posture of the Enemy and the Fords thereabouts which he found to be very difficult to pass whereupon he encamped his Army with in reach of their Cannon which had almost given us the must fatal blow iâ— the World his Majesty receiving a Shâ—â— on his right Shoulder with a Six Pounder the Wound was large but not deepâ— rasing only the Skin and as soon as 〈◊〉 was Dressed he took Horse and continued on Horse-back four hours and iâ— the Evening Commanded Count Schomberg with the Right Wing of Horse and two Regiments of Dragoons of the Left Wing Trelawney's Brigade of Foot and 5 small Field-pieces to go early in the Morning to Two or three Fords about Three miles beyond the Camp and there endeavour to find a passage and either attack the Enemy in the Flank or oblige them to decamp The Count upon his arrival found 8 Squadrons ready â—o receive him but in a little time without much resistance he be at them off passed the Ford driving them before him and drew up his men on the other side ready to march towards the Enemy so soon as he should receive the King's Orders to whom he had sent the News of the advantage he had gained Upon this the Enemy detached a great number of their Troops who put themselves in order as if they would give Battle which his Majesty perceiving and that the Right Wing had passed
to work with and about a 11 in the Morning the Ground growing dry a great many distressed Protestanta came thither with their Cattle to hinder which a Party of the Enemiea Horse came to the opposite Shoar but as they attempted to pass the Strand they were beaten back and Lieutenant Collonel St. John's coming in with 200 fresh men they retired and 〈◊〉 men having fresh Assistance and Supplies fortified themselves in that Island raising a Battery of four small Pieces which kept the Enemies Horse at a distance they having posted 5 Troops of Dragoons as if they intended to make an Attack upon the Works before they could be brought to perfection and a Ketch was sent to Fern Lough to setch off 40 Irish Protestants who were retired into a small Island and Cattle taken from the Enemy sent to the Fleet in Lough Derry and on the 12th some of the Enemies Troops of Horse came upon the Strand and made a halt about half way drawing up likewise on the other side Three Troops of Horse and Dragoons but our men drawing up Tow Field-pices and Firing amongst them they divided and fell into a strange disorder and by this means they were beaten to the foot of the Hills so that more Forces coming Time was allowed to finish the Batteries and Redoubts joyning them by Lines of Communication and in a while Ten Companies were compleatly formed and the Duke of Berwick with 1500 Horse attempting a Party of our men at Ralfemullin they Barrocaded the Streets and so stoutly de fended themselves that he was beat off with the Loss of 240 men and on our fide Lieutenant Cuningham and an Ensign was wounded and now the Enemy having for several days past made motion of attacking our men were nevertheless kept in awe by our Guns and still our Works were vigorously carried on and Forces increased The French General Rosne upon his approach was wounded in the Leg and his Horse in the Body Stones were beaten up by a Cannon Bullet and Two Troopers near him killed and Parties daily sent out brought in so many Cattle that in that small Island they had no less than a 1000 Head and subsisted in spight of the many Attempts that were made upon them the miserable People flowing from all Parts for Succour and Refuge On the 13th of August the Duke of Schomberg Landed at Carickfergus with all the Forces under his Command and sent Two Regiments to Belfast and after a reasonable Refreshment of himself and his Army proceeded to settle the Affairs of that disordered Kingdom passing on by slow Marches after he had secured the Passes and caused the Enemy to retire before him so that the Country came in on all hands to bring Provisions for the Army and offer their Services amongst the Enemy so that a great many Gentry and others were Listed and Entertained Provision appearing to be very plentiful and the Town of Carrickfergus wherein the Irish had Garrison refusing to surrender Seven Regiments of Foot were commanded to invest it and the Cannon was brought before it the Ground broke c. which the Enemy seeing desired to come to a Parley but that granted and they requiring time to know the late King's Pleasure and have his Leave to surrender it broke off and the Cannon and Bombs played against the place battering the Lord Dungal's House where the Besieged had planted Two pieces of Cannon as likewise against the Half Moon and the Trenches were carried on with great Diligence very fierce Firings of great and small Shot being continued on both sides in which we lost a Captain and a Lieutenant with some few Soldiers and on the 22 of August 50 Ships came into the Lough having on Board four Regiments of Foot and one of Horse and the Siege being vigorously carried on the Besieged on the 23d desired another Parley agreeing to surrender it if they might march with part of their Baggage but no other Conditions than to be made Prisoners of War would be granted so that after a very great Havock made with the Cannon and Bomb which beat down and set several places on Fire they on the 27th hung out a White Flag and surrendred on the Condition to march on to the next Irish Garison and kell their marching out Sir Henry Ingol was Regiment was put into the Townly that the Army being augmented by mor Forces from England marched towards Belfast and on the Second of September were Two miles beyond Lisnegarny whilst the Enemy in their retreat set divers places on Fire which so incensed the General that he sent to let them know if they desisted not he would give them no Quarter which caused the saving Dundalk for the Enemy abandoned it without setting Fire to it on whose Plains our Army incamped expecting the heavy Cannon and other necessaries whilst the Enemy between 40 and 50000 strong fortified themselves with Trenches about Ardee Flying Parties being now abroad a Body of the Enemy about Conaught to the number of 5000 Horse and Foot intending to make themselves Masters of the Town of Sligo Collonel Lloyd drew up the Iniskilling-men and other Forces to the number of 1000 Horse Dragoons and Fooâ— and lining the Hedges of the Lane of Boyle with his Foot posted his Horse on a rising Ground Charged the â—â—emy so sudden and unexpectedly that 〈◊〉 a hot Dispute they were put o 〈◊〉 and the Collonel taking a Cirâ—â—â—erence with his Horse and Diagoons got unto Boyle Through which the Enemy needs must pass and Charged them in the Front whilst the Foot fell in their Rear so that after a Bloody and obstinate Fight about 700 were killed on the place and near half as many taken Prisoners amongst which O Kelly who commanded them and 40 other Officers and the Plunder was very great for besides Arms and Ammunition 8000 Head of Cattle were taken from them which they had taken from the poor Country People This Victory created such Joy in the Camp that the Guns by Order of the General were Fired round During this Success in Ireland the Affairs in England and Scotland were carried on very prosperously several very Loyal Addresses were presented to their Majesties the People every where chearfully expressing their Resolutions to oppose the Enemy with their Lives and Fortunes And as our Arms were Successful against the Rebels in Ireland so were they in Scotland for on the 22d of August a Party of the Rebels assisted by the Athlone-men came towards Dunkell where the Lord Angus's Regiment was posted who received them so warmly that they were driven back to the Hills with the Loss of 115 killed and several taken Prisoners on our side Lieutenaâ—â— Collonel Cleeland was killed with 7 meâ—â— and Major Henderson with about 14 moâ—â— wounded upon which Major-Generaâ— Mackay resolved to march into Athoâ—â— This smart Encounter put such aâ— effectual stop to the Incursions of thâ— High-landers that many of them oâ—â— of Love with their Trades dispersed anâ—
time put a stop to that so unnecessary and unprofitable Wickedness too much reigning amongst Officers and Souldiers and the Army was supplyed with Provisions and Stores from England bearing the Ill conveniencies of the Weather which were great without the least Regret though several died of the Distempers of the Country Wherefore to keep them in Action the better to prevent it about the middle of February upon Advice the Enemy was in motion near Dundalk he drew out a strong Party and marched to Dramore whilst Collonel la Melionere and Sir John Lanier who advanced as far as Carlingford returned with an Account that only three Regiments of the Enemy were at Dundalk that Garrison as likewise Drogheda containing their former Garrisons without any Reinforcement upon which most of our Troops were commanded back only a flying Party of 500 Horse and Dragoons with a like number of Foot were sent abroad to observe the Motions of the Enemy and keep them from plundering the Country between whom and the Out-Parties some Skirmishing happened The General being returned to his head Quarters at Lisburn received an Account from Collonel Woosly of a great defeat he had given the Enemy at the Town of Cavan the Particulars were That Marching from Belturbat with a Detachment of 300 Horse and 700 Foot he passed the River at Night two Miles beyond Calyhay's but it was not done so secretly but the Enemies Scouts discovered it and gave the Alarm by firing their Muskets and making a great fire upon the Hill However notwithstanding the badness of the Ways he got to the. Town about half an hour after day-break when contrary to expectation he found the Duke of Berwick arrived that Night with 2500 men making with the Garrison about 4000 drawn up in good order near the Fort but the Collonel disposing of his men as the Ground would give a Conveniency he charged the enemy and after an hours hot dispute beat them out of the Field in which Action the Duke of Berwick had his Horse shot under him and Collonel O Rely Governour of Cavan was killed on the spot with two Lieutenant-Collonels and divers others of Note Whereupon our men entered the Town and fell to plundering which the Enemy perceiving made a strong Sally from the Fort and had cut off a great many of them in that Disorder had not the Collonel came opportunely in with a fresh Reserve of about 250 Foot and 80 Horse and to get his Souldiers out of the Town he found himself constrained to set it on Fire and having quitted it and joyned those that were fighting the Enemy about 150 strong were beaten into the Fort with considerable loss but the Army being tired out in the Action it was not thought convenient to attack it at that time and this firing the Town proved very disadvantageous considering the Plunder that might have been had for all the Houses were full of Bread Meal Oats Beans and the like Stores to suffice the Garrison for six Months And here it was reported by the Prisoners that the Duke of Berwick was to command a Body of 10000 men to be detached out of all the Regiments and so to make Incursions as he saw Opportunity but by this defeat the design was frustrated for all the Ammunition that was in the Town was blown up In this Action we lost about twenty men and amongst them Major Trahern Captain Armstrong and Captain Mayo with one Captain La Maugere a French reformed Officer and Captain Blood an Engenier were wounded though the loss of the Enemy is computed at no less than 300 and amongst the others four Captains five Lieutenants two Ensigns one Quartermaster and about 200 taken Prisoners and those that fled the Field were many of them desperately wounded and scattered all the way with the Arms they threw down for the greater speed and pushing on this Success Many other Places of Note were gained and good Booties of Cattle daily brought in by the flying Parties though the Season proved somewhat sharp and intemperate About this time the Queen of Spain being on Board under a Convoy of a Squadron of English-men of War and being upon our Coast the Duke of Norfolk was sent to Complement her Majesty in the Name of Their Majesties of England and it was performed with much Ceremony and Grandeur and the Wind soon after coming about fair she arrived safe in the Groin and so passed to Madrid and the English Ships after having this Honour were dismissed with liberal Gratitude to the Commanders And now Elections for Members of Parliament went on apace every one contending to chuse Loyal and worthy Gentlemen to undertake a Trust on which the welfare and safety of the Nation depends and the King put out a Proclamation for a General Fast to implore the Protection of Almighty God in the Preservation of his Majesties Sacred person and Prosperity of his Arms in Ireland and the Naval Forces to begin the 12th day of March and be Religiously observed every Third Wednesday in the Month and accordingly it was observed till his Majesty returned from Ireland Crowned with Victory and Success and then it was turned into a Day of Thanksgiving On the 20th of March the Parliament Pursuant to his Majesty's Writs of Summons met at Westminster and his Majesty being in his Royal Robes seated on the Throne in the House of Peers attended with the usual Solemnity the Commons were sent for by the Black-Rod who attended at the Bar of the Lords Sir Robert Atkins Knight of the Bath Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer by his Majesties Command signified to them That they should forthwith proceed to the Choice of a Speaker and present him to his Majesty the next Morning after which they returned to their House and made Choice of Sir John Trevor Knight and the next Morning he was approved by his Majesty and his Majesty proceeded to make a very Gracious Speech telling them amongst other things his Resolution was to go foâ— Ireland his Presence being necessarily required for the Reducing that Kingdomâ— further signifying his Presence to leave the Government in the Queens handâ—â— during his absence and accordingly before his Departure an Act passed to that end and the Right Honourable Sir John Lowther of Lowther-House Baron Vice-Chamberlain to his Majesty's Household Richard Hambden Esquire Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer Sir Stephen Fox Knight and Thomas Pellam Esquire were appointed Lords Commissioners of the Treasury And now the rest of the Danish Forceâ— Landing in Ireland our Army grew very formidable so that the Garrison of Charlemont being Blocked up Collonel Cullimotte possessed himself of a small Village within a mile of it upon notice of which the Enemy came out with about 300 men yet were repulsed with considerable Loss and the next day our men cast up Works to stop the Sallies the Enemy was obliged to abandon their Out-Works and Collonel Cullimotte marched with a party of his Regiment and
the Ford and were posted over against the Enemy commanded three Attacks to be made the First at a good Ford before a small Village which was advantagiously possessed by the Enemy at the Second the Foot waded to the Armpits and at the Third the Horse was forced to Swim The Dutch Regiment of Foot-Guards passed over first wading to the middle sustaining all the Enemies Fire and not returning it till they came up close whereupon all that were in the Village and behind the Ditches gave back but before the Third Battalion of that Regiment had passed the Ford five of the Enemy's came up at the dâ—â—stance of a Pikes length to beat 〈◊〉 back but our men Fired so thick upoâ— them that they were forced to retreaâ— in disorder with the loss of many meâ— and one of their Colours but our meâ— advancing beyond the Village weâ—â— twice vigorously attacked by the Enemies Horse but to no purpose 〈◊〉 the mean time the Danes came up tâ— the Left as also the Brigades of Haâ—more and Melionere on the Right thâ— first was attacked only by the Dragoons and the other by the Horse but neither of them could do much by reason they had no Pikes In the mean time 30 of the Officers anâ— others of the Enemies Life-Guard comâ—ing fiercely up were all killed but 〈◊〉 who endeavouring to escape through the Village unluckily met with thâ— Duke of Schomberg who was there killed with a Pistol-shot in the Neck anâ— divers Cuts over the Neck with Swordâ— falling form his Horse without speaking a word and a French Captain who alighted to relieve him waâ— Shot in his Arm he had not above 300â— behind him when the Enemies Horse made a desperate Charge in which he received two Cuts in the Forehead but not very considerable the French beâ—ind him Firing very furiously it is thought he received from one of them the Wound of which he died and yet more to allay the Glory and Joy of Victory so near at hand Doctor Walker who behaved himself so gallantly in defence of London-Derry having passed the Ford received a Shot in the Belly of which he died Upon this the King marched with the few Horse he had about him and 17 Battalions of Foot to the Assistance of those Troops that were engaged with the Enemy who in the mean time had not advanced much towards the Right Wing whom his Majesty re-inforced with 12 Battalions of Foot and 9 Squadrons of Horse and with them marched against the Enemy who without staying his Approach retired before him in much Confusion and our Horse pressed on to overtake them in such haste that they left the Foot behind them taking only 5 Field-pieces which did some Execution after which our Dragoons backed by the Horse attacked their Rear-Guard at which time the King appearing with his Troops upon the Mountains they all fled and the Country being full of Bogs and narrow Passes they the more easily escaped our Foâ—â— pursued them but to Duleek four Milâ— from the place of Battel where thâ— King stayed but the Horse followed thâ— Chace four Miles further till Nighâ— came on and parted them and theâ— the King sent to Command them to return to the place where the Foot remained and sent to the Camp at Drogheda for Tents and Baggage intending tâ— encamp there and rest his Troops for a day most of the Enemies Baggage feâ— into the hands of our Men as Chariots Tents Cannon Ammunition Arms and the Arms of one whole Regiment was found Regimentally laid the Owners being run from them without striking a stroke the number of the Slain was very considerable not being accounted less than three or four thousand and amongst them many of Note Lieutenant General Hamilton was taken Prisoner Upon this great Defeat of the Enemy the King sent Collonel De Melionere to summon Drogheda and let them know that if they forced him to bring his Cannon they must expect no Quarter which so terrified the Governour that he renâ—â—ed up the place The late King retreating with part of â—â—is broken Army staid not till he reached Dublin where sending for the Maâ—istrates and calling a Council he told â—â—em that he had a very good Army in England which had deserted him when â—â—e expected most from it altho' they â—â—ad not quite deserted him yet their not â—â—anding for the greater part of them a â—ingle Charge but cowardly flying had â—urned it much to the same effect as to â—is Interest saying amongst other Expressions He would never trust himself â—t the Head of an Irish Army again and that now he must shift so must they but Commanded them not to fire the Town â—s had been before deliberated in Council in case things came to extremity and having staid there one Night filling the place with Fear and Confusion he went away the next Morning with the Duke of Berwick the Earl of Tyrconnel and the Marquess of Powis The Count de Lauzun who Commanded the French Horse had not left with him above 3500 the rest being killed and wounded As soon as the late King had quitteâ— Dublin the Protestants were releaseâ— who possessing themselves of the Militâ— Arms which were easily yielded to them and with the assistance of the Bishops oâ— Meath and Limerick formed a Committee to take care of things senâ— Letters to the King to give him an Account of what had passed and humbly to pray his Majesty to Honour the City with his Presence for most of the considerable Papists upon News of the Defeat and the hasty departure of the late King fled from Dublin and we afterwards had an Account that the late King having discharged a great part of his menial Servants went to Bray and so along by the Sea to Waterford where he took shipping for France and got out to Sea but was driven in again yet continued restless till he got clear off so that the Terrour of Popish Cruelty which they had a long time apprehended vanished from the Protestants yet some disorders happened by the Rabble's getting together and had perhaps ended in the plundring and pulling down the Papists Houses and outraging their Persons had not Captain Fitz-Gerald and others stayed their Fury by Threats and Entreaties getting together some well affected persons to secure the Castle and guard the Stores for the King's use and kept things in good order till a Troop of Dragoons entered who were received with unspeakable Joy by the Protestants and on the 4th of July the Duke of Ormond and Monsieur Overkirk where sent by the King with Nine Troops of Horse and his Majesty following after and encamping near Finglas came to St. Patrick's Church the Sunday following and heard a Sermon Preached by Dr. King the Substance being about the Power and Providence of of God in protecting his People and defeating their Enemies Sermon ended His Majesty went back to his Camp to Dinner suffering only his Guards and some prime Commanders to enter
whereupon his Majesty sent to Summon the Commander 〈◊〉 to surrender and offered advantagious Conditions on that Consideration but he sent back word in a Letter to his Majesties Secretary because he would wave giving the King the Title of Majesty wherein he wrote that the Town was intrusted to his keeping by Persons whom he was obliged to obey and therefore that the P of Orange would have a very mean opinion of him if he should surrender before so much as a Gun was fired at him wherefore he was resolved to defend the place to the last Extremity whereby he hoped to gain his Highness's Esteem Upon this the Trenches were opened and the great Guns were impatiently expected at the Camp to batter the Walls but the Convoy that guarded them together with divers Waggons laden with Ammunition and Provision were surprized by a numerous Party under the Command of Collonel Sarsfield who killed several before they could put themselves into a posture of defence not sparing the Waggoners Wives and Children they brought in their Arms they likewise burnt some of the Waggons and Carriages of the Cannon nailing up some of the great Guns and broke others but the Allarm being taken by the English Forces lying there about the Chevalier Cunningham who Commanded the Iniskilling men having notice of it marched directly towards them with a considerable Party but the Enemy made a hasty retreat yet being pursued many of them were killed and a great Booty recovered about 20 of them being killed with a Major and a Captain and by a Party sent to aâ—tack Tyrconnel who lay hovering with his Forces about 7 miles from the City of Limerick he was obliged to march higher into the Country so that the 15th of August the King's Army encamping before Limerick laid hard Siege to the place having made themselves Masters of the Enemies Out Works and killed about 80 of their men yet for want of having Cannon some time was spent without making any considerable advances for the great Guns were to come from Waterford by Sea In the mean time the Besiegers made themselves Masters of a small Fort near Limerick called Clonmel the Garrison surrendring at Discretion and being all made Prisoners of War by which means they opened a Passage into a wide Campaign Country abounding with Forage which was the main thing they wanted By this time the great Guns being come up the Batteries were raised and all things made ready for making Breaches in the Walls on the 17th .... â—â—e Prince of Wirtemberg Lieutenant-General Major General Kirk and Petâ—au Sir Henry Bellasis Brigadiers with even Battalions entered the Trenches â—nd advanced 300 paces and took two Redoubts from the Enemy on the 18th â—hey were relieved by Lieutenant-General Douglas Lord Sidney and the Count â—f Nassau Major-Generals and Brigaâ—ier Stewart who approached another strong Redoubt of the Enemies On the 19th they were relieved by the Prince of Wirtemberg and others who continued to advance towards the said Redoubt and on the 20th Lieutenant Douglas c. being on the Gaurd the Sign was given by 8 Guns about two in the Afternoon forattacking the said Redoubt and our men detached for this Service being about 150 besides Officers immeately fell on with such extraordinary Vigour and Bravery that they entred the Fort and drove out the Enemy killing about 40 of them and a Deserter who made his escape told us that the Enemy lost about 300 men this day About half an hour after we had the Redoubt the Enemy made a great Sally with Horse and Foot but the next day we finished the Trenches so as to hindeâ— any more Sallies of that Nature and oâ— the 22d raised a great Battery against their high Towers and levelled them and in the Night-time threw several Bombs and Carcasses into the Town setting many Houses in a Flame which took up a considerable time to quench and on the 23d continued to throw Red-hot Balls and Bombs which did great Execution in Firing putting the Besieged into a mighty Consternation as being no where safe from the Force of these deadly Engines nor could they not extinguish the Fires in the space of Six hours On the 24th all our Battery were finished and 30 pieces of Cannon mounted on them and the Trenehes the next day advanced within 30 paces of the Ditch on the 26th the Shot widened the Breach that was made in the Wall they day before and beat down part of their Counter scarps and Palisadoes On the 27th the King ordered an Attack to be made on the Counterscarp which was begun about Three in the Afternoon a detached Party of Granadiers made the Onset and were seconded by other Detachments who with great Resolution gained they Counterscarp and a Fort the Enemy had under the Wall â—ut in the heat of Action instead of Lodging themselves as they were ordered seeing the Breach open they rashly attempted to enter the Town following the Run-away Irish that mounted the Breach so that the Besieged turning their Cannon on them with Cartridge-shot a great many of them were cut off and some blown up or hurt by a Mine sprung in the Ditch the Dispute lasted for the space of Three hours mostly against the Old French Soldiers and in it is supposed we had killed and wounded about 100 and of the Enemy though their Loss could not be known to us no doubt as many On the 28th at Night our Trenches were advanced about 20 Yards and we had enlarged the Breaches and every one was in Expectation of a general Assault but the Rains falling so excessively and the Rivers beginning to over-flow the Garrison being withal extremely strong this Siege proved not so Successfull as was expected for his Majesty to spare his men and avoid the many Ill conveniences he foresaw by reason of the Advancement of the Season thought fit on the 30th to send away the Cannon and heavy Baggage and the next day the Army decamped and marched off in good Order towards Clonmel from whence a strong Party was detached towards Cork and Kingsale And indeed there appeared on all hands a very great Reason for the raising this Siege for by reason of the Water his Majesties Forces could not attack it on all sides so that the Besieged were not constrained to divide their Forces and the Walls were of such an extraordinary Thickness and Hardness that the Cannon made the Breaches with much Difficulty and moreover Tyrconnel had taken Care before the coming of our Army to lay the Country as much Waste as he could for several miles round so that onâ— men were constrained to go a great way for Forage and Provision and the continual Rains and bad Weather that happened about that time had so moistened the Ground that the Camp was all in a Quagmire up to the Ancles anâ— to the Knees in some places a great deâ— of Water was in the Trenches anâ— the River Shannon began to swell anâ— overflow which afterward quite filleâ—
entered the Harbour receiving some Shot from a Battery of eight Guns but having sent two or three Armed Boats on shore the Enemy were forced from their Guns and they being dismounted their Carriages were thrown into the Sea the following day about four in the Morning the greatest part of the Land-Forces were sent up to the Passage six Miles from Cork the rest marching in the Afternoon so that the 24th between 5 and 600 Seamen Gunners and Carpenters were Detached to be employed in mounting and placing the Cannon to batter the Town and then before day divers Boats with Armed Men were sent up to assist in attacking the place Stores and Provisions for their Subsistance arriving from Waterford and upon our encamping within a Mile of the Town the Enemy drew out but upon our Firing some small pieces of Cannon upon two Troops of their Dragoons they all retired and that Evening 1000 Men were detached with Orders to possess themselves of several Advantagious Posts within Musquet-shot of the Town upon which the Enemy set Fire to the Suburbs and thereupon the Earl of Marl borough with several Officers went to take a nearer view and found the Enemy had quitted a place called Catts-Fort of which an advanced Detachment immediately took Possession and then the Camp advanced within Musquet-shot on the South and the Danish Forces under the Command of the Prince of Wirtemberg did the like on the North so that on the 26th of September our Guards were advanced unto the Ruins of the Suburbs played upon the Old Fort from two Batteries and the next day made a Breach in the Wall from Two Batteries of 24 Pounders and Three 18 Pounders so that fearing our men would enter by Storm they beat a Parley in the Evening sending out an Officer to Capitulate and Hostages were exchanged but the Enemy not agreeing to the Terms proposed on the 8th in the Morning Four Regiments were appointed under the Command of Brigadier Churchill to pass to the Island lying near the Wall where the Breach was made which passing through the Water they performed with great Courage although at Low-tide it was up to the Armpits the Granadiers Commanded by the Lord Colchester having the Van marched forward exposed to all the Enemies Fire through the Island within 20 Yards of the Town-wall Among the Voluntiers who went on with the first Detachment were the Duke of Grafton who was dangerously wounded with a Shot of which soon after he died the Lord O Brian Collonel Granville Captain Cornwall Captain Leighton Captain Fairborne Captain Neville and several other Sea-Officers and immediately after this the Enemy beat a Second Parley but the Lord Marlborough would allow them no other Conditions than to be Prisoners of War and to that they agreeing the Capitulation was Signed And was to this Effect viz. That the Garrison should be received Prisoners of War that there should be no prejudice done to the Officers Soldiers or Inhabitants that the General would use his endeavour to obtain his Majesties Clemency towards them that they should deliver up the Old Fort within an hour and the Two Gates of the City the next day at 8 in the Morning that all the Protestant Prisoners should be immediately released that all the Arms of the Garrison and Inhabitants should be put into a secure place and that an exact Account should be given of the Magazines as well Provision as Ammunition and accordingly the same Night we put 200 men into the Old Fort and the next Morning took Possession of the Town the Garrison which consisted of between 4 and 5000 men being made Prisoners of War according to the Articles of Agreement among whom of Note were the Earls of Clancarty and Tyrone Collonel Maâ—gillicot who was Governour with several other Officers and in the taking this Important place on our part not above 50 men were killed Upon this great Success the Enemies flying Army retired farther and a Detachment of Horse and Dragoons were sent out of our Camp to Summon the Town and Forts of Kingsale a very advantagious Sea-Port and things being put in order here the Army soon followed for on the 1st of October the Earl of Marlborough marched out of Cork to Five-mile-Bridge and the next day came near the Town which was possessed by an advanced Detachment who prevented the Enemy from burning it in their retreat to the Forts and towards the Evening he encamped and took his Posts about the new Fort and Major General Tetteau was ordered with 800 men to attack the Old Fort in which the Deserters and others reported there were but 150 in order to which he passed the River in Boats he found there which prevented his going ten miles about and by break of day on the 3d. of October stormed the place making a shew of attacking it where it was weakest whilst in the mean time he a caused Detachment to make an Assault in another place where the Enemy least apprehended it and this succeeded so well that our Men all at once gained the Bastions at what time several Barrels of Powder took fire and blew up above 50 of the Enemy and many others were killed by our men the rest flying into an old Castle in the midst of the Fort for instead of 150 as had been reported there were about 450 men in the place of which about 220 were killed and blown up and the rest submitting were made Prisoners During this Consternation some endeavouring to escape to the New Fort by Water and the Tide being against them they were mostly killed in their Boats by our Shot from the Shoar as for the Governour of this Fort and several Officers they were found dead upon the Ramparts and our Soldiers got a great deal of Plunder This Fort being intirely won the Lord Marlborough sent to Summon the New Fort that yet held out to which the Governour sent word that it would be time enough to Talk of that a Month hence whereupon the heavy Cannon coming up two Attacks were ordered to be made by the English on the Right and the Danes on the Left and continued from the Batteries raised to play against the place with great fury Whilst these breathing Thunders were shaking our Enemies out of their strong Holds a thing very unusual in these parts a terrible Earthquake happened at Dublin and in divers parts of England giving at one and the same instant very terrible shocks On the 5th of October the Trenches were opened against the new Fort and on the 9th they had advanced them to the Counterscarp but the ill Weather hindered the coming up of our Cannon â—ill the 11th at what time part of it arrived and on the 12th in the Morning Six pieces were mounted at the Danes attack and two Mortars at the English which Fired all that day on the 13th Two 24 Pounders were placed on the same Battery and on the 14th the rest of the Cannon arrived three of which were placed
on the English Battery for the Danes on their side had made a reasonable large Breach and the Night following to disturb the Enemy they made a false attack on the 15th the Cannon played all the Morning and every thing was prepared to have laid our Galleries over the Ditch but at One a Clock the Enemy beat a Party and desired Hostages might be exchanged in Order to a Treaty about the surrender of the Fort which being done the Articles were Agreed and Signed about Midnight by which the middle Bastion was to be delivered up the next Morning and the Garrison consisting of about 1200 men to march out the next day after with their Arms and Baggage and to be conducted to Limerick in taking this place there were killed and wounded in the several attacks about 150 men and now there having been divers Persons made Prisoners of War at this place Cork and other places several of the Principal of them were sent Prisoners to England amongst others Collonel Ricaut who escaped out of the Tower of London but we hear since he was taken in Kent upon his applying himself to a Justice of Peace for a Pasport to go to Holland and recommitted to the Tower About this time we had a very full Account of the proceedings of ou◠Forces against the French in the West-Indies or Leeward Islands of which it will not be amiss to set down a brief Account for the Satisfaction of those that have Relations there or Trade thither viz. As soon as the Fleet commanded by Captain Lawrénce Wright arrived at Nevis the Governour raised the Forces of that Island and of Antigoa and Montferrat and Embarking set Sail towards St. Christopher's and came to Frigats-Bay with a Design to Land some Forces but finding the Coast Guarded by about One thousand men that had strongly intrenched it it was resolved that Sir Timothy Thornhill with between Four or five thousand men should Land the following Night in another small Bay about half a mile from that and fall upon the Backs of the Enemy in their Trenches and by that means facilitate the Landing of the rest at Frigats-Bay and accordingly about one in the Morning they were all Landed and were guided over the Mountains by a Negro and by break of day they met a Party of the Enemy but soon routed them and beat them to their main Body so that in this Consternation General Codrington Landed with about 600 men and attacked the Enemy on the other side who after a resistance of Two hours were beaten from their Trenches and put to flight and during the heat of this Action the rest of our Forces landed and pitched their Colours in the the French Trenches and being put in Order marched towards Backstar but in about 4 miles march they found the Enemy that had Rallied and posted between Two Hills so that a hot Dispute began but our men advancing close upon them after an hours fighting put them to flight and so marched to Backstar without Interruption whereupon Captain Wright weighed with his Squadron and Sailed down to Backstar Road with a Resolution to batter the Town and Fort but the Enemy spared him that trouble for they had abandoned them before his coming and fled to the Mountains leaving part of the Town on Fire and in the mean time the General continued his March with the Land-Forces and Lodged them on a plain about a mile beyond the Town near the Jesuites College having sent a Party to the Town to quench the fire which they quickly did In these Actions we had about 130 men killed and wounded and some of them of Note and of the Enemy about 200 were killed however the General resolved to follow the Enemy and the Fleet thereupon set Sail into Old Road near which the Land Forces then encamped and brought several Guns on shoar it was resolved that a Battery should be raised against a Fort the Enemy had there and after a considerable Battery and forcing the main Body of the Enemy to retire that then lay encamped at a small distance the Fort desired a Truce for Three days and the next Morning sent Articles about surrendering being allowed to march out with all the Baggage they could carry and about Forty Gentlemen with their Arms this Garrison at the beginning of the Siege consisted of 480 men but 60 were killed and wounded in the Siege Upon this Surrender Sir Timothy Thornhill with his Regiment marched to the Island of St. Eustacia where he Landed without any resistance they had in that Island a strong Fort which upon the sight of our Land-Forces and Fleet beat a Parley and though at first they came to no Agreement yet seeing our great Guns mounted they upon a Second Partly surrendered upon the Terms given those of St. Christopher's and in this Fort there were about 80 men so that the scattered Remains of the French Army seeing all lost fled to the Woods and Mountains having for the most part sent their Wives and Children to other Islands On this occasion so serviceable to the Crown of England General Codrington Captain Wright Admiral of the of the Fleet Collonel Holt Commander of the Duke of Bolton's Regiment Sir Timothy Thornhill who commanded the Militia of those Islands with all other Officers and Soldiers in general behaved themselves with great Conduct and Bravery in their respective Stations shewing great Resolution and Affection to their Majesties Service And now divers Addresses were presented to his Majesty to Congratulate his Safety and happy Return and the Parliament was not slow in considering ways to raise a considerable Fund of Money to carry on vigorously the War at Land and Sea for although a great part of Ireland was reduced by the Success of his Majesties Arms yet those that held out were not so contemptible but they might be doubted And indeed soon after the taking Kingsale the Enemy with 1500 Horse and Dragoons advanced to Macrone the rest of their Troops being reckoned in all between 8 and 10000 men not being above Five miles behind but upon notice that Lieutenant Ginkle was marching towards them with the Forces quartered about Cashel they decamped and hastened towards Limerick and in their retreat plundered and burnt several Towns and Villages though they wanted where with all to subsist On the 12th of October the Breda Frigat took fire in Cork Harbour and blew up so that most of the men were lost Captain Tennet the Commander was taken up alive and died within two hours after and of 26 Irish Officers and Soldiers who were Prisoners on Board not above 4 or 5 were saved soon after this we had the Account of Lieutenant General Douglas who had taken the Castles of Bahom and Rea in which Baldarock O Donnel had put a 100 men who were all made Prisoners of War so that by reducing these two important places the Irish were confined to the Province of Vlster yet they continued Roving about in Parties and
advanced nearer and our Cannon began to Play so that for about two hours they made no Motion but about six they came down from the high Ground in several Lines and when they were within the reach of our Cannon they left the middle of the Plain and caused their Infantry to File off to the Right towards Winden and Larre and on the Left towards near Landen sustained by Horse marching on both sides of the Plain causing a Body to pass on the other side of the Rivulet of Landen to make a shew as if they would fall on our Left Wing whilst they should make the greatest Effort on our Right Which about seven hours after they Attacked The Fight for several Hours Lasted with doubtful Success the Enemy advanced and were three times repulsed and some Squadrons that got over the Rivulet below Larre and came into our Camp were mostly cut off whilst these things passed the Elector of Bavaria gave order to the Right Wing to charge advantageously so that thereupon the Enemy gave way and were driven into the Plain and Brigadeer Ramsey who had been forced to give Ground regained his Post as did the duke of Hanover with his Infantry also the Prince of Brandenburg with his Foot The French never theless remained in some parts of the Village of Winden but finding they could not force the Right Wing they Attacked near Landen on our Left where having been beaten back after a very furious Fight they renewed their Attack with fresh Troops which obliged the King to come from the Right to give the necessary orders at the Left where the Fight was Renewed every warmly with small shot which continued about an hour and then we became Masters of the Village so that the Enemy beaten out carried their Troops to their Left and our Right yet keeping part of the Village of Winden and the Hedges of the rising Ground which laied the Flank of our Retrenchement open to them The King who was in every place where his presence would be useful after having given necessary Orders on the Left returned to Winden and brought up twice to our Retrenchments the English and Scotch Foot where they behaved themselves as they had done every where else with great resolution and Courage The Elector of Bavaria the mean while disposed two Battalions on the Enemies Left Flank whilst three others Attacked them in the Front but before this could be put in Execution the Enemy strengthned with new Forces became masters of the Passage into the Village and made an overtur through which the Horse began to pass sustained by the Foot that lay behind the Hedges the Horse that passed that first were beaten back but our Foot at the Retrenchment not being able any longer to endure the Fire in their Flank retired and our Cannon on that side abating its Fire the Enemies Horse crouded through the passage and began to extend them towards their Left all along the Hedges which were possessed by their Foot As soon as they had formed their Squadron they Attacked the Troops of Hanover and Brandenburg on the Left of the Right Wing and forced them to retire by taking the advantage of the Motion of part of them as also they did the Spanish Troops and Hanover Horse His Majesty to rectify these disorders caused part of the Left Wing to Advance but being far off the Enemy did not give them time to form themselves but having beat the Dutch Horse on the Left before the English had got into the Line they after having fought desperately were quire Encompassed So that the King finding the Enemy over-powered us himself this day having led up nine times the Battalions and Squadrons to Fight and wonderfully Preserved among showres of Bullets He sent Orders to the Generals of Foot and those of the Left Wing to retire to Leewen a Fort near the Camp and the King's Dragoons and Granadiers made their Retreat through Dormel the Foot and part of the Horse Right Wing by Orsmel The King by this time having given the necessary Orders and finding himself in a manner Encompassed on all sides thought fit to go over the River and passed with great difficulty the Bridge that had been made near Hespen where he found his Guards and other Troops Rallied by the Elector of Bavaria In this great and long Continued Battle the Enemy lost about 13000 Men of their best Officers and Soldiers many Persons of great note our loss being Computed about 6000. The Renowned Duke of Ormond was taken Fighting Valiantly and we took the Duke of Barwick for whom he was afterward Exchanged and so our Army retired towards Brussels Upon this Retreat the Duke of Wirtemberg was immediately sent for with the Forces under his Command and other Recruits coming in the Army was made up to near 80000 Men so that the French having had a fatal Experience of English Valour durst attempt nothing further on that side yet in Savoy Monsieur Catinat gave Battle to the Dukes Army where in an obstinate sight of 7 hours a great many of the French Nobility were slain and some on our side especially the Valiant Young Duke of Schomberg who being perswaded to retire would not leave the Head of his Battalion but charging into the thickest of the Enemy and doing wondrous Acts of Chivalry was at last over-powered with Numbers and slain and though the Duke of Savoy's Army retired from the Field the French bought the Bloody Victory at a dear rate and in repassing the Mountains late in the Season many thousands of them perished in the Snow with some Waggons Canon and Ammunitiou-Carriages And thus as to what is memorable concluded the Campaign of the year 1693. In the opening the Campaign 1694. the Enemy by reason of their great Losses and Diseases among their Horses were slower than usual in taking the Field so that the Confederates had time to get together and become very formidable and his Majesty on the 5th of May embarqued Fubs Yacht attended by 8 Dutch Men of War and sailed for Holland and from thence passed to the Army in Flanders where he was joyfully received About this time the Elector of Saxony dyed at Dresden by whose Death the French gave out they should reap great â—â—nefit but were disappointed for Prince Frederick Augustus his Brother succeeding him in that Principality confirmed to the Confederates all the deceased Elector had agreed to and entred into a strict League with them and the great Master of the Teutonick Order who stood in Competition with Prince Lewis of Bavaria for the Bishop of Liege dying the French Party at Rome endeavoured to hinder the Confirmation of the lâ—tter But the Pope to whom it was referred declared in favour of that Prince and our Naval Forces being abroad under the Command of Admiral Russel destroyed a great Fleet of French Ships in conquest Bay laden with Corn and Naval Stores from Sweden Denmark c. and the French main Fleet being gone into
accordingly took the Oaths and a Correspondency in the Army being discovered to be held with the Rebels Lientenant Collonel Levingston and other Officers were seized and made Prisoners so that a timely Discovery defeated the whole Design and being brought upon their Tryals before a Council of War and severally confessed their Crime throwing themselves upon the King's Mercy and a Proclamation published for apprehending the Viscount Dundee and others his Associates with a Reward of a 8000 Marks Scotch Money to such as should apprehend Dundee and deliver him to any of His Majesties Officers dead or alive and indeed he survived not long after for on the 26th of July Major-General Mackay marching from St. Johnstoun with about 4000. Foot and 40 Troops of Horse and Dragoons Two Mile on this side the Blaye of Athol came within sight of the Enemy and drew up his Men to attack them and on the 27th the Fight began about Five in the Afternoon and continued very hot for some time so that being exceeded in number some of our Regiments gave way however Dundee Charging furiously at the head of the Highlanders to encourage them was slain by a Shot although he had Armour which so discouraged his Party that they suddenly retreated and after that Collonel Cannon who had been sent out of Ireland with some Forces took upon him the Command and rallied the scattered Rebels As for the Body of the Viscount Dundee it was afterward exposed in Blaire Church and then decently buried and with him his Party lost the Prime of their Courage never after being able to make any considerable Head though the Earl of Dumferling and others undertook to manage them for many of the Highlanders scattered and went home and some of the Heads of their Clans submitted During these Transactions in Scotland the Army in England marched from all parts towards Chester and Highlake to embark on the Ships appointed under the Command of the Duke of Schomberg consisting of between Five and Twenty and Thirty Thousand effectual Men great Stores of Ammunition Provision and considerable quantities of Moneys were Shipped off and his Majesty appointed a Camp to be on Hounslow-Heath on the 14th of August to be composed of such Forces as remained but it continued not above three or four days and in the mean time a Declaration of War against France was published in Scotland During these Transactions the Iniskilling-men being in Arms made many Incursions into the Enemies Quarters beat several of their Party and possessed themselves of a great deal of Plunder and upon notice that one Maccarty was abroad with a strong Detachment marching towards Lisnaskea Lieutenant Collonel Berry early the next day marched out with 8 Troops of Horse 2 of Dragoons and 3 Companies of Foot but upon a serious search finding the Enemy with whom another Party was joyned much superiour in Number he sent to Collonel Woosly at Iniskilling for Relief and after a brisk Encounter killing a considerable Number put the rest to flight but they rallying again upon new Reinforcements another hot Engagement happened near Newtown Butler where having posted themselves advantageously they gauled our Horse with their Cannon but our Foot and dragoons passing the Defiles drove them from their Posts and seized their Cannon whereby the Horse having advantage to come up the Enemies Horse upon the first charge deserted the Foot and they finding themselves in a great strait fled likewise many being killed and taken insomuch that that Party that had so long hazâ—rded the Country was by this means quite broken and disordered 3000 being computed to be killed and lost in the Lough into which they desperately threw themselves to escape the Sword London-Derry was a place extreamly aimed at and not doubted to be won yet they found themselves mistaken in their Account as in the Relation of that Siege though but briefly will even to a wonderful Providence be manifested indeed upon the first Approach they made themselves Master of the Castle of Culmore where were only 3 pieces of Cannon and the Garrison distressed for Water and although they made Conditions to march out with their Swords yet were they plundered by the Irish And now to wave Interruption in the Thread of History though many things intervened take a brief Account of this famous Siege the greatest considering the Situation and weakness of the place against a numerous Army that has been perhaps in many Ages This City was built by divers Companies of the City of London upon their Settlement of Collonies in Ireland as a Fortress against the Incursions of the Irish and named by its Original Founders London-Derry and so prosperously is succeeded that it has hitherto baffled their most strenuous Attempts and as if Providence had so ordered to defeat the Councils of Tyrconnel Upon the first News of the Invasion all the Irish Forces were drawn out of it being mostly Papists and sent into England to assist the late King insomuch that the Protestants without much Difficulty took Possession of it when they were forced from other places and when Collonel Lundy and others despaired of holding it as a place not Tenable against such a numerous Army as drew down against it though considerable Forces were sent from England and safely arrived under the Commands of the Collonels Richards and Cunningham it being abandoned by those Commanders the enraged People resolved to defend it against the utmost Efforts of the Enemy and thereupon proceeding to choose Mr. George Walker a Minister and Major Baker their Governours during the Siege they chose Colonels and Regimented their men in all amounting to 117 Companies each Company consisting of 60 men the total 7020 Soldiers and 341 Officers and then a View being had of the Stores and necessary Orders given all Offers made by the Enemy of Favour and Protection were refused so that finding a defence was resolved upon they drew up a Demi-culverin within 118 Pearches of the Town and played without any considerable Damage unless to the Market-house whereupon a Sally was made and 200 of the Enemy killed together with Mamow the French General and other Officers of note and although the Enemies Horse came up furiously yet no more of our side than four private Soldiers and Lieutenant Mac Phedris were killed but the Besiegers not seeing this available planted four Demi-culverins at the lower end of an Orchard and those playing Incessantly hurt divers People in their Houses and other places but the Cannon playing as furiously from the Town killed a great many of their men and several Officers of note as Lieutenant Fitz Patrick Lieutenant Collonel Oneas c. together with two Fryars who were zealous in the Cause And to make more effectual work they placed some Mortars and threw in divers Bombs which did little or no Execution but to prevent further mischief â—he Besieged made another vigorous Sally and killed several of the Enemy at Penniburn-Hill in which Action they lost only 2 men and had
He threatned likewise to burâ— and lay waste all the Country if there should appear the least probability of any Troopâ— coming to their Relief yet if the Garrisoâ— would become Loyalists as he termed it 〈◊〉 and surrender the Town on any tollerablâ— Condition he would protect them from aâ— Injuries and give them his Favour But these Threats and Promises were received with Contempt and Indignationâ— which put the French-man into an extraordinary heat though to no purpose This Intriegue failing a dead Sheâ—â— or Bomb without Powder was thrown into the Town wherein was a Letter to let the Souldiers know what termâ— had been proposed as if the Governour had keep them in Ignorance but their Resolutions were firm and iâ— availed not notwithstanding some treacherous Persons dispersed Copies to the like purport and so unanimous they were that it was made Death so much as to discourse of a Surrender And now the Cruelties of the Besiegers appeared for they drove the poor halâ— naked Protestants that they had gathered in the adjacent Countries under the walls like so many Beasts for slaughterâ— of all Ages and Sex yet Providence so ordered it that in firing from the Walls by mistake as not knowing the meaning of such a Croud the Bullets hit only two or three of those that were driving them nor would the Besiegers suffer those miserable People to retire till the besieged set up their Gallows threatning to hang the Prisoners they had taken even those Prisoners themselves confessing they could not blame the besieged in putting them to death seeing their People exercised such Severity and Cruelty upon the Protestants that were under their Protection and desired leave to write to Lieutenant-General Hamilton which was allowed having written to Rosne before and received no Answer And although they had now but a slight Answer returned the Intercession of their Friends prevailed and the miserable Protestants had leave to repair to their Habitations with this Advantage that some able Persons were got into the Garrison and other â—ck or weak Persons shifted amongst them and great Industry was used secretly to incense the Soldiers against the Governour as intending for his Advantage to betray the Town but it little availed for upon a right understanding it dissipated Yet through Sickness occasioned by Famine and the many Sallies that were made on the 25th of July the Garrison was reduced to 4892 effectual men yet the same day a vigorous Sally was made the maiâ— design being to bring in some Cattlâ— the Enemy had feeding within sightâ— whilst the Action continued and sâ— well it succeeded that three hundreâ— of their men were killed besides Officers but no Cattle gained and the Garrison now being reduced to 445â— men the Famine daily increased insomuch that Horse-flesh was sold for 1 s. 8 d. the Pound the quarter of a Dog for 5 s. 6 d. a Dogs-head 2 s. 6 d. a Caâ— 4 s. 6 d. and so of other things proportionably as Rats Mice Tallowâ— Greves and all things noisome and one fat Man thinking they had an Eyâ— upon him to eat him concealed himself for some time for fear But now when even hope it self began to failâ— and nothing expected but to fall into the hands of a merciless Enemy Providence worked in a Miracle for oâ— the 13th of July an hour after Sermonâ— some Ships in the Lough were discovered making to wards the City for Major General Kirk finding the place could not hold out much longer ordered them to force their way in spite of all opposition in which they succeeded and the Mountjoy and Phoenix laden with Provision convoyed by the Dartmouth and other Men of War came up with little loss though the Enemy fired from the Shore without intermission And thus the besieged were relieved with Provision when they reckoned but upon two days Life having only 9 lean Horses left and one pint of Meal to each man 4200 men being left whereof a fourth part were rendered unserviceable The Enemy perceiving this seasonable Relief on the the last of July raised the Siege in some disorder burning and plundering as they retreated but were pursued by the besieged and some Parties of the Iniskilling-men that were abroad and many of them cut off yet they made a Halt at Straban but having notice that the Iniskilling-men had defeated the Forces under Lieutenant General Maccarty they removed their Camp breaking for haste four of their great Guns and casting twelve Cart Load of Arms into the River And thus after 105 days close Siege was this City delivered the Enemy losing between 18 and 19000 meâ— before the Walls and 100 of their beâ—â— Officers Upon the coming of Major General Kirk to this City he was received with great Joy and it was agreed that Mrâ— Walker should go for England and present their Majesties with an humble Address in the Name of himself and the Principal of those that had been in the place during the Siege in reference tâ— all the Inhabitants and upon his Arrival he was very Gracioussy received His Majesty as a mark of his special Favour ordering him Five thousand Pounds and promised him a further continuance of his Royal Goodness and he was courted admired and treated by the Nobility Clergy c. and since we have dwelt so long upon this memorable Siege that in Point of time has carried us beyond many other notable Transactions it will be convenient to look a little back and see what was done in other parts of the Kingdom Major General Kirk has been related coming with a Resolution and express Orders to relieve the besieged seeing if he longer delayed it it must fall into the Enemies hands after the Provision ships had been sent up to endeavour its relief he hasted to the Isle of Inch and found all things in a very good order and there it was he had the News of the raising the Siege and that the Enemy were marched over Clandy having blown up Kilmore Castle and Red Castle with all the Houses down the River and set the Country for Ten miles in a Flame and since we are got to Inch let us sâ— what happened in those parts being the chief Refuge of the Protestants from the 7th of July to the raising the Siege of Derry On the 7th of July a Detachment was sent of 600 men under the Command of Collonel Stewant and on the 9th he got up with the Island of Inch and there had the Luck to hear that the Irish kept at a place called Tully Six miles from Ralfemullin whereupon he sent a commanded Party of 60 Musqueteers who were put ashoar in the Night-time and on the 10th in the Morning Captain Richards the King's Engineer Landed with an Ensign and 20 men in the Isle of Inch and had scarce marched a mile before he come to the great Strand much overflowed with the Tide yet staked out a redent Work with Redoubts sending for some Field-pieces as also more Men and Instruments
went home and Collonel Cannon retired with his men to Loughabar the Laird James Murray and the young Laird oâ— Ballacan demanded the Benefit of the King Indemnity for themselves and the Father of the latter and many of the Marquess of Athol's Vassals came in with their Cattle and Substance submitting themselves and taking the Oaths Whereupon Collonel Cannon who made the only Figure for the late King retreated towards the Isle of Mull doubtful whether be should continue longer or go to Ireland and the Major-General the better to keep those parts under put a Garrison in the Castle of Blaire and upon his March Northward most of the Leading men of the Highland Clans came in and took the benefit of the Indemnity and delivered up their Arms upon which he returned to Edenburgh accompanied with the Earl of Argyle and the Lords of Levingston and Duffus with the Earl of Collendar were set at Liberty having together with the Earls of South-Esk Brodalbane and the Lord Strathmore c. taking the benefit of the Indemnity and gave sufficient Sureties for the Securities of the Peace so that several Troops of the King's Forces in that Kingdom were embarked for Ireland and the Face of things appeared very Calm and Serene in that Kingdom so that on the 1st of October a Proclamation was published for the Adjournment of the Parliament from the 8th of October to the 20th of December ensuing and the Major General took great care to view the Garrisons in the North to be the better provided in the Spring against any Commotions that might happen by new Insurrections On the 20th of September the Parliament met at Westminster pursuant to a late Adjournment where his Majesties Pleasure was signified that they should Adjourn further to the 19th of October ensuing and that he intended they should then sit whereof he had ordered Notice to be given by Proclamation and accordingly the Two Houses Adjourned and about this time we had a very good Account from the Western Plantations that the English stood upon their Guard and had in most Places gotten the better of the French driving them off the Islands and possessing themselves of many Important Places in the Particulars of which we shall be somewhat large hereafter During the glorious Success of our Arms in Ireland there wanted not a treacherous Design but it was happily discovered for a Captain of one of the French Regiments being informed that four Souldiers and a Drummer who were Papists designed to go over to the Enemy he caused them to be secured and found Letters about one of them to Monsieur D' Avaux and upon strict Examination he declared he had the Letters from one Du Pleshy aâ—â—apist who served as a private Souldier in one of the French Regiments though he had been formerly a Captain of Horse in France from whence he was forced to retire upon the Account of a Murther and this Person being seized he did confess that he had written to the late King and D' Avaux giving them an Account that there were divers Papists in the French Regiment and promising to bring them over to the Irish Camp upon Condition he might have the Command of them and his Pardon in France upon which Confession he and his Accomplices were tryed before a Council of War and being Sentenced were accordingly Executed After which the three French Collonels made strict enquiry what Papists were in their Regiments and found about an 150 which by the Generals Order were secured and sent Prisoners to England most of them having this Summer deserted the French Service and came for England by the way of Holland upon notice such Regiments were raising but what their further Intentions were remains doubtful however if Treachery was their design of entering the Service it was by this timely discovery defeated and frustrated The beginning of November a Party of the Army decamped from the Plains of Dundalk where they had lain about eleven weeks and soon after the Duke of Schomberg marched away with the remainder to Lisnegarny and so to Lisburn no extraordinary Action happening in the Field during this Incampment the Enemy declining giving any opportunity of that kind though their Army was near one half superiour in Number Yet soon after they sent out a select Party to Newry as soon as the day began to dawn in hopes to surprise some of our advanced Parties but the greatest Execution they did was to kill the Out Centinels though they gave warning by two Discharges and although they got into the Town they were soon beaten out by a Party of Collonel Ingoldsby's Regiment in which dispute a Captain and six or seven Souldiers were lost and a Lieutenant and an Ensign wounded Yet soon after they rallied and got over the Bridge but again they were beaten and divers slain they carrying off several Officers dead to prevent their loss coming to our Knowledge And now the Garrison of Charlemont being a curb upon those Parts some Parties were sent out to view the Place but found all the Hedges and advantageous Passes lined by the Enemy yet they were forced from thence by our Men and several of them killed and soon after Brigadie Stewart receiving notice that some Parties of the Enemy were scouting about with a design to surprise the Town and Pass at the Newry he drew out the Horse and Foot he could hastily get together making about 250 and at the head of them attacked the Enemy so vigorously that they fell into rout and disorder thirty being killed on the Place and 17 or 18 taken Prisoners of which five were Officers And by this Defeat a considerable Booty of Cattle were taken Nor were other of our Parties idle for Collonel Woosly commanding a Party of the Iniskilling-men marched with much secresie in the Night to Belturbat which brought such a Terrour upon that Garrison as made them surrender upon the first Summons agreeing to be conducted to the next Garrison Whilst these things were doing a strong Party of the Irish went out to plunder and possess themselves of the Lady Newcomen's House of which she having timely notice fortified it against them with a Garrison of her Tenants only and beat off the Enemy in several Attacks till such time as they brought Bombs and Field-pieces to play upon it and then aâ—ter some further resistance capitulated That she and her Servants should continue in the House without molestation but that the Garrison should march out to Eisnegarny with their Arms and Baggage And now a further Eye being had upon Charlemont the General went to view it with a small Party and without any Opposition brought away 50 Horses that were feeding under the Carmom of the Garrison And for the better ordering the Army and that a more immediate Blessing might be upon it the General caused his Proclamation to be published forbidding Cursing Swearing and Prophaneness in Commanderâ— and Souldiers under pain of Displeasure and other Punishments This for a
Rebels and getting Intelligence of their number and how they lay encamped he came about the middle of the Night to Ballagh Castle and having notice there were Two Fords one near the Enemies Camp where they had posted a strong Par y in a Church another further up the River which was not Guarded so that slighting the former he passed the latter with the greatest part of Troops and ordered the rest to attack the Enemy in the Church who upon the first Firing fled to their Camp which our Horse and Dragoons entered about the same time and put those they found there into so great a Consternation and Confusion that they immediately betook them to flight but e'er they could recover the Hills many were slain in the pursuit the Computation being no less that 400 and 100 taken Prisoners most of them Gentlemen and Officers Collonel Cannon and Collonel Buchan escaping very narrowly not having had time to put on their Cloaths After this Sir Thomas Levingston sent a Party to attack the Castle of Lethindy in which the Enemy had a Garrison under the Command of Collonel Buchan's Nephew who surrendered at Discretion and our Men besides Arms Ammunition and 400 Bowls of Meal took the Standard designed to be set up for the late King James and in this extraordinary Action it is not known that one Man was killed on our side nor above four or five wounded On the 13th of May Don Pedro de Ronquillo Ambassador Extraordinary from the King of Spain had a publick Audience of his Majesty to notifie thâ— Marriage of the King his Master from whom as also from the Queen Mother of Spain he delivered Letters to his Majesty wherein they thanked his Majesty for sending a Squadron of his Ships with the Queen and expressed the great Esteem they had for his Majesty's Royal Person and Friendship And now after a long Blockade and the Reducement of the Stores of Charlemont in Ireland that Garrison being pressed by our Troops found it self necessitated to capitulate though it was strongly situated and on the 11th of May the Governour demanded a Parley which was allowed with leave to send to the Lieutenant General the next day the Lieutenant a Governour and a Collonel came from thence and the same day the Articles were agreed on for the Surrender of the Place very Advantagious and Honourable to his Majesty and in pursuance of the Capitulation the Governour Tege O Regan and the Garrison who had in a manner consumed all their Provisions marched out 800 strong leaving in the Place a good quantity os Ammunition 17 pieces of Brass Cannon and two Mortars And the Duke of Schomberg upon this Surrender went to Legacory to see the Garrison as they marched away and afterward visited the Place which is very strong and considerable by its Situation being one of the strongest Places the Rebels held in these Parts so that it gave a Prospect to the future Success of intirely subduing the Kingdom Whilst these Affairs went forward in Ireland the Parliament was active in England and great Preparations were made for his Majesty's passing over to facilitate the Irish War in order to which on the 20th of May his Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act For the Exercise of the Government by her Majesty during his Majesty's Absence An Act For Reversing the Judgment in Quo Warranto against the City of London and for Restoring the City of London to its Antient Rights and Priviledges An Act To declare the Right and Freedom of Election of Members to serve in Parliament for the Cinque Ports and several private Acts. And now the Season advancing for Action the Forces moved apace towards High-Lake and other advantagious Ports in order to their Embarking for Ireland nor did the King delay this great and glorious Undertaking which proved Successfull to the three Kingdoms as in the Sequel will appear for all things being in a readiness he left White-hall on the fourth of June with a very splendid Equipage and the next day arrived at Litchfield where he was received as in all other Places through which he passed with a great Concourse of the Gentry and all possible Demonstrations of Duty and Affection from all sorts of People and having stayed some time at Chester and about the Coast he Embarked on the Fleet attending him and stood over for the Coast of Ireland arriving on the 14th at Carrickfergus and from thence by Land he went to Belfast the Duke of Schomberg and divers great Officers waiting on him his Reception being with General Joy and the Loud Acclamations of the People His Majesty at his Arrival found his Forces in a very good Condition Provisions plentiful and the Ground full of Corn and Grass well grown with all things to his Satisfaction And on the 19th his Majesty went from Belfast to Hilsburg and from thence to Loubricklin and the Newry the Forces marching in two Bodies And soon after they Encamped on the Plains of Dundalk In the mean while a considerable Body of the Enemy lay about Ardee there Intrenching themselves as if they were bent upon a desperate Opposition Since we have made this Progress in Affairs it may not be amiss to look a little back and consider what happened in relating to Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland upon King William's Arriving in that Kingdom The Camp before his Landing had been laid out about Atherdee and the late King had disposed his Army to Randesvouz there from divers parts of the Kingdom and oâ— the 16th of July he marched out oâ— Dublin to joyn them with about 6000 French Foot most old Soldiers well Armed and Clad One Regiment of these were Dutch Protestants who were narrowly observed for fear oâ— deserting The whole Irish Army was composed of about 36000 men besides 15000 which remained in Garrisons â— and the same day the Late King left the Town there marched in 6000 of the Country Militia and the Collonels Luttrel and Mac Gillicuddy as his Assistants were left Governours It was expected the Irish would have been disheartned upon the News of King William's Landing and the late Kings leaving the Town but on the contrary boy'd up with vain hope they rejoyced as if they had got the King of England in their Possession and the day their own being too fondly assured the French Fleet would cut off his return or that an Insurrection would be made in England as being told that 100000 men were ready to rise under the Notion of declaring for a Common-wealths so that the Protestants knew not what to think being mostly Imprisoned or under Restraint and the Irish Papists were so assured of Success that some of them told their Protestant Friends they would be glad to go to Mass within a Twelve-month and this hope afterward appeared to be grounded on the little Intelligence the English had of the strength of the Irish Army as was manifested by the Letters of Tyrconnel to the late Queen
them up and drowned the Fields round about so that at least the Communication of Quarters would have been hindred if not many men destroyed by the Innundation as has often happened by the overflowing of that great River All these pregnant Reasons obliged his Majesty to abandon the Siege and refer the reducing Limerick to a more favourable Season and Opportunity so that after he had raised the Siege and found that the Season would not permit him the undertaking of any Consideration meriting his Presence he resolved to return for England constituting the Lord Viscount Sidney and Sir Thomas Conningsby Governours of Ireland and having as well as could be expected settled the other Offices and Trusts in confiding hands and giving all necessary Orders his Majesty embarked Accompanied by the Prince of Denmark and attended by his men at Duncannon and arrived safe at Kingsroad near Bristol and so having Dined at a Farmer's-house by the way to put off the many Invitations of the Nobility that time would have delayed he came to Windsor to the extraordinary Joy and Rejoycing of the whole Kingdom for his safe Return and Success in Ireland and now having been so long detained in Ireland let us look a little back into the Affairs of England The Queen in whom the Regency was placed during the King's absence managed the weighty Affairs of Government with extraordinary Prudence and Conduct as appeared in the raising the Militia and keeping a strict Eye over such dissaffected Persons as perhaps wanted but an opportunity to rise in Arms had they found the French forward to Land but her Majesties Care and the good Order she took for every thing broke all their Measures and prevented the mischiefs that threatned the Kingdom so that the French Fleet as strong and numerous as they were durst attempt nothing considerable on the Coast the Militia of London shewed their willing and chearful Resolution to oppose the Attempts of the Enemy in a gallant appearance in Hide-Park before her Majesty to her great Satisfaction being between 9 and 10000 effectual men well Armed and appointed and the whole Militia of England up in Arms in their respective Counties were computed to be about 150000 Horse and Foot Upon Complaints against the Earl of Torrington for the Miscarriage in the Fleet he was sent for in Custody of Messengers and appeared before the Council at White Hall by whom in regard there were strong presumptions against his Lordship he was committed to the Tower and carried thither by Water to prevent perhaps any Rudeness that might have been occasioned by the incensed Rabble The wounded of Dutch and English Seamen came daily to London where they were provided for in the several Hospitals the People all the way they came bestowing Money on them and when they were recovered Care wasta ken to send the former into Holland and as soon as we had certain information that the French Fleet had quitted the Coast and were gone into their Harbours the Trained-Bands and other Militia were sent home in the mean time a great many Hands were set at work to Rig and Equip the Fleet with all speed so that 32 Men of War rode at Spithead and the Dutch had recruited again to 28 stout Ships and came to to the Gunfleet having immediate Orders to joyn the English and eight Regiments were embarked at Portsmouth not counting the Marine Regiments Commanded by the Earl of Marlboróugh in Chief as General and Mr. Trelawney as Major-General there was shipped likewise all manner of Warlike Ammunition and in brief whatever is necessary for the Field or the Siege of Towns so that it being not certainly known on what design they were bent at such a season of the Year the Peoples Conjectures were various but it soon appeared they were bound for Ireland and what they did there you 'll find in the sequel of this History About this time we had News of the great Success of the English over the French in America and that they had beaten them out of the Isle of St. Christophers and many other places of Note and taken great Booties of Cattel Corn and others Stores and Provisions And from America we have further notice that a great number of French were according to the Articles agreed on sent to Martinico and that the English had reduced the Fort on the Island of Statie and farther Advice that two of our Privateers fell in with Twelve Merchant Ships on the Coast of England bound for St. Maloes under the Convoy of a Frigat of Twelve Guns and took four of them forcing the rest on shore about Cherbourg where they were all shipwracked except the Frigat and most of the Men drowned On the Eighth of September the Parliament met at Westminster when after a short continuance the House of Peers adjourned to the Friday following and the Commons till the ensuing Thursday and His Majesty was pleased to order in Council a Commission to be prepared for the Proroguing the Parliament to the second day of October ensuing and a Proclamation was issued out to give notice that the Parliament should then sit and to require the Peers of this Realm and the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons to give their Attendance on the said second day of October accordingly and no sooner was the notice of His Majesties Glorious Atchievements spread abroad but the Ambassadours and Ministers of Forreign Potentates congratulated his Success and Universal Joy filled the Courts of the Neighbouring Princes The Parliament of Scotland sitting gave their Majesties a new Subsidy of three Months Cess on Lands and layed a Tax of Fourteen Pence upon every Fire-Hearth Hospitals and such as live upon Charity only accepted and a discovery was made that the Collonels Buchan and Cannon intended to go Northward and joyn the Earl of Seaforth and the rest of those of the Name of Mekenzy to have surprized the Garrison of Inverness but they marching over the Hills and coming within Eighteen Miles of Sterling where the Earl of Drumlanerig was posted with 3000 Horse and Foot he attacked them and the Major-General Mackay being in the Rear as in pursuit upon the Advice that had been given the design was altogether frustrated and the Rebels obliged after a long fatigue to shift for themselves receiving a considerable Loss insomuch that they being daily discouraged again dwindled away notwithstanding the fair promises that had been made them of extraordinary supply of Men and Money and the wiser part or such as had other ways wherewithal to subsist withdrew and left the more obstinate to strive against the Stream that would in all probability drive them back to their Ruine and perhaps after the many Attempts of open Force our Enemies might have proceeded to have given us the most fatal blow in the world by base and ignoble ways and villainous attempts We shall for once begging his pardon in this matter quote the New Observator an Author of Credit
a Prisoner The Week following Mr John Ashton was Executed at Tyburn dying resolutely and appearing by Words and a Paper he delivered to justifie himself in the Wicked Undertaking But the Lord Preston on his humble Submission found gracious Mercy and Elliot also escaped Nor was this any shallow layed Plot many Persons of Note being concerned in it â—oâ— upon the Discovery of it Francis Turner late Lord Bishop of E'y fled as it 's thought beyond the Seas it since as credibly reported appearing he had writ a Letter to the Late King to encourage him to make an Attempt on the Kingdom as also did one Graham and others whereupon the King issued out his Proclamation to apprehend them and so for this time their Projects failed and the great Expences in managing the Plot were utterly lost This seems to have been earlier begun and consequently as deeply layd as their Policy cou'd contrive for a good while before one Mr. Crone a Retainer to the Late King was Tryed at the Old Baily for High-Treason and there it was proved against him That he with divers other wicked and disaffected Persons had held a Correspondence with the French to subverr the Government c. of which upon a fair Hearing he was found guilty of High Treason but Reprieved and so plain it early appeared That Heaven declared again â— the Enemies of this Nation and securely guarded His Majesty's Sacred Life as appeared by a wonderful Preservation for the King going early over in the Spring to give necessary Orders and head the Forces in Flanders the Season being advanced and he in the Field in sight of the Enemy as he stood under a Tree to view them they supposed by his Attendants it must be the King and therefore levell'd a Piece of Cannon against him taking the better Aim by the help of the Tree when to save the most Precious Life in the World Heaven so ordered it that it came into his mind to step from thence and give some necessary Orders which he had not done above a Minute before a Bullet came and split the Tree in the Place where he had stood So exceeding is the Care of Providence over Good Princes And now finding their main Designs would not take they began to practise small Games of Treachery for their Confederates the Turks being routed by Prince Lewis of Baden in Hungary Ten Pieces of their Canon taken with all their Baggage and Ammunition and about 23000 of them killed with the Loss of about 4000 Germans the Mareschal of Luxemburg finding his Success likely to be little this year in Flanders if he relyed on main strength proceeded to stratagem viz. To Bribe some of the Persons attending our Ammunition-Waggons to set them on fire and by that means destroy the Bombs and Powder and accordingly it was begun by Lighted Matches being put among the Bombs and Barrels of Powder but so timely prevented that only two or three Bombs went off and so luckily a Design of this Nature fell out that one of the Parties concern'd in it was apprehended who confessed he bad been a little before in the French Campaign was hired to do it by the Duke of Luxemburg and thereupon was sentenced to have his Right Hand cut off half strangled and then burnt Which Sentence was put in Execution to deter others from this or any such Treacherous Attempts After this the French sustained considerable Losses though no great Action by Land presently ensued But this discouraged not their Designs on England as longing to reap the Spoils of so fair a Harvest whereupon in the Year 1692 the late King was encouraged to make a Descent and in order to it he publish'd his Declaration dated at St. Germains the 20th of April wherein he promised great Advantages to the English that should submit to him yet excepted divers from the Lord to the Fisherman who misused him on his going from Whitehall to Feversham But on his departure conferred Honours on divers Persons Knighting the Pretended prince of Wales and inversing him with the Order of the Garter and so on the 24th of April arrived at Cane in Normandy where he stayed some days and so departed to Haverdegrace in the Company of the Mareschal d' Bellfonds The Randevouz of the Souldiers that were to embarque were appointed between Cherbourg and La Hogue which he found to be about 20000 Men 15000 of which were to make the Descent and the rest to Guard the Coast The Duke of Berwick Colonel Graham Buchanon Cannon and some Scotch Lords came to the Camp on the 29th and on the 30th the Souldiers began to Embarque but the Vessels that crossed from Haverdegrace to La Hogue meeting with foul Weather were many of them driven on shoar and suffered much damage yet the Forage Places were made for four Regiments of Horse counting into the Number one of Dragoons but they were not to set sail till D'Estres arrived with his Squadron and Monsieur Torville had fought some of our Squadrons of the Lesser Rates which they thought only abroad and that the greater Ships being deceived by their Advice could not get out in any considerable time They flatter'd themselves likewise with some part of our Fleet coming over to them and as it is said had a Dependance on Rear Admiral Carter on that occasion but he gave them an unexpected Welcome in the Language of his Canon as will appear hereafter Whilst these Projects were in hand D' Estres's Squadron was disabled by stress of weather and could not suddenly joyn them On the Third of May Tourville was in the Road of Bertaume not being able to stir out and other ships were forced to put into Bell Isle by stress of weather and the ship Le Mode Villete of an hundred Guns was so rudely handled by the Tempest that she was looked upon as unserviceable for that year Monsieur Nesmond being put to Sea with his Squadron was driven in again and two of his ships ran foul one losing her Boltsprit and the other her Mast so that they were constrained to put into Harbour and refit Two long Barks laden with Canon were funk and about Thirteen other Transport Vessels laden with Provision and Ammunition are said to be lost passing from Grandville to Haverdegrace insomuch that the Officers and others had Orders to leave the greatest part of Horse and Baggage behind them But this vast Preparation was disappointed by Heaven and came to nothing For though the King was Warring in Fâ—â—nders the Queen having the power of Governing in his Absence had no sooner the News of this intended Invasion but disdaining to fear she prepared to oppose it sensing Orders to all the Ports to hasten out the Fleet and to the Deputy Lieutenants to have the Militia in a readiness and six Regiments of Regular Troops not yet gone over Count râ—manded and Reinforcements sent to the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey to oppose the Enemies Attempts on that side and
the Streights to favour the Duke D' Nouailes Warring in Catalonia the English Admiral joyned by divers Dutch Men of War followed and blocked Tourville up in Touloâ—n altogether disappointing him of his Design In the mean while the Lord Barky with a Squadron and some Land Forces on Board Commanded by Lieut. General Talmash made a Descent at Cameret Bay under the favour of 7 Men of War battering the Fort but the French being strongly entrenched with Horse and Foot they were constrained to Retreat the Lieut. General being wounded in the Thigh which gangreening he dyed of that Wound soon after at Plymouth yet our Canon ruined the Enemies Batteries and killed them a great many men But about the middle of July Diep a considerable Sea-Port in Normandy was bombed by the English and Dutch almost all consumed by Fire the great Magazine being blown up and some Ships in the Harbour were burnt On the 17th of July they came before Hacerdegrace an other eminent Sea-Port Town and found the Shoars strongly guarded and although the Enemy fired furiously from their Batteries the Bomb Boats stood in and burnt with their Bombs a great part and the rest had followed the same fate had not the Sea grown high by reason of a strong Wind. The next day the Lord Berkley sailed towards La Hogue alarming all the French-Coast Towns in his way and soon after he made an Attempt upon Dunkirk with a great Machine filled with Bombs and Carcasses which being fired rent and shattered their Out-works in a dreadful manner and afterward bombed Callis not any of the French Men of War daring to stir out of the Harbour Whilst things passed thus at Sea the King took Huy in Flanders and Prince Lewis of Balen Commanding the Imperial Army on the Rhine together with the Saxon Troops entered the French Countries forced their Army to a Retreat cutting off many in the Rear and brought away a great Booty having put the Country for many miles under Contribution and to strengthen the Alliance the Elector of Bavaria Marryed the King of Poland's Daughter After this happened many Skirmishes by Parties during the Campaign in which the Enemy for the most part were put to the worst â—nd many of the French deserted and came over with Horse and Arms declaring the great Scarcity that was in the French Camp The French this year set upon the Island of Jamaica but were beaten off again by the Inhabitants after they had surprisingly committed some Outrages hoping at this time for success upon the Account of the ill condition they supposed the Island to be in by the shocks of a violent Earthquake that had ruined Port-Royal and destroyed many People and the Vaudois in the Valley of Lucern and other places falling on the French that came to surprize them killed many and took more Prisoners The Turks and Tartars that came with a great Convoy to the Relief of CÃ menic were overthrown by the Poles losing 5000 Men and 5000 Wagons laden with Oyl Rice and other Provisions Our Fleet in the Streighâ—s pressed hard on the French blocking them up in their Harbours so that they could not get out to sail for Brest the great Ships were disarmed and the Seamen compelled to travel over Land leaving only a few to Man some Cruizers And thus as to Material Action this Summer ended and the King returning by way of Holland having received the Thanks of the States General returned for England and was met by the Queen with unexprerssible Joy But as all things on Earth are Transitory so this hâ—ppened But in the mean while the Parliament sitting the King told them among other things that a stop had been this Year put to the Torrent of the French proceedings which had altogether put them to a stand and was a happy Omen of Future Success and that nothing might be wanting on his part to oblige his loving Subjects an Act passed for the frequent meeting of Parliaments to the high satisfaction of the Kingdom But now a sad and Melancholy Cloud of Sorrow Over-spread the Nation for on the 22 of December the Queen was taken with a Vomiting and Pain in her Back and Head which soon after turned to the Small-Pox of the worst sort upon which she was Prayed for in the Churches and Chapples But the prevaling Disease to Rob three Nations of so Vertuous and Pious a Princess deriâ—ing Art she much lamented Died on the 28 of the same Month and was laid in State at White-Hall her Corps being brought thither from Kinsington and a considerable time after was with all Funeral Pomp conveyed to King Henry the Seventh's Chappel and Intrered among her Royal Ancestors a stately Mausoleum being raised for her Remembrance in the Abby of Westminster where it was observed that a Bird called a Robin-Red-Breast perched daily on it and at certain Hours Sung Melodiously to the Numerous Spectators and to shew their Affection to the Deceased Queen not only ours and most People of note in the Nation went into Mourning but all the Courts of the Confederates In the beginning of the Year 1695. the Parliament having given the King Liberal supplies greater Preparations than the last were made and the Confederates were in a considerable Posture so that the King early in the Spring went by the way of Holland to Flanders attended with divers Nobles and put the Army in such a Posture as not to fear the Attacks of the Enemy but rather to seek them and dare them to Battel Indeed the Duke of Luxenburg was dead however the French King Nominated the Duke de Villeroy in his stead as General of his Army in Flanders though wanting his Experience in Martial Affairs Therefore the French Court doubting the success of their Arms in the open Field underhand Treatchery at the beginning of the Campagne was used Dixmâ—yde and Demse was thereupon surrendered to them contrary to the Minds of his Garrison Officers and Soldiers in General for which Monsieur D' Ellenburg was afterward Beheaded and others concerned in so base an Action suffered disgrace However the French for a time retaind the Garrison Soldiers and compelled most of them to Enter into their Service against their minds This much dissatisfied the King of England and thereupon after many Skirmishes that happened between Parties he laid Seige to Namure a City that Commanded a large Province where the French had geathered great Riches and accordingly on the third of July it was Invested and the Siege carried on with all imaginable Vigor by the Duke of Bavaria and other Princes so that the City was taken but then the Marsschal de Boufflers who had thrown himself into it retired to the Castle on the other side the River upon Articles signed the fourth of August by the Elector of Bavaria and Count Guiscard Governour of the place a Second Siege in a manner was laid to the Castle being very strongly Fortified and in it a numerous Garison yet such was the Courage