them Talk with their damn'd Irish Brogue on their Tongues but they were separated from us by a Bog which was very deep and so scituated that we could not possibly Attack them This Night it was resolved at a Council of War that the Army should March towards the Town in order to Battle for we understood as you have heard That the Country being very close and full of Hedges and Ditches the Enemy had lined them to defend the approaches to the Town Accordingly the next day being the 9th our whole Army Decamped by Five in the Morning Colonel Earl leading the Van with Two Hundred Horse and Dragoons and One Thousand chosen Foot out of all the Regiments in the Army both English and Forreigners Upon our approach we found the Enemy drawn up within Two Miles of the City of Lymerick whereupon Colonel Earl ordered his advanced Troops to make a Halt until the rest were come up Then our Horse pushed them for near a Mile their Horse at first made a shew as if they would make vigorous Resistance and stood our first Charge but soon afterwards gave way when they threw themselves behind the Hedges and Fired so from thence that our Horse could not come to them Upon which we brought some small Field-Pieces to Fire upon them and at the same time the 1000 Detached Foot were ordered to Attack them Accordingly about One a Clock Colonel Earl led on his Foot who run on with that Bravery tho' the Enemy made a great Fire through the Hedges and continued this sort of Fighting for Two Hours advancing within Four Hundred yards of the Town and possessing themselves of Two advantagious Posts called Ireton's-Fort and the Old Kirk and such was the Bravery Courage and Resolution of our Men that their Officers could hardly stop them there notwithstanding they were told it was His Majesty's Express Order Then the Besieged began to Fire from the Town with their Great Guns which killed us some Men but in all this days Action we had not above 35 Killed and Wounded tho' above 250 of the Enemy were Killed in their several Retreats among which were several Officers of Note besides divers taken Prisoners Our Pioneers were imployed most part of the Afternoon in levelling the great number of Trenches the Enemy had cast up for their Defence Between Six and Seven in the Evening His Majesty ordered a Trumpeter to be sent with a Summons to the Town and as the Deserters hath since Informed us a great part of the Garrison with some of the Officers were for Capitulating but Monsieur Boiseleau who is Governor Duke of Berwick and Colonel Lutterel c. resolutely oppos'd it making a Speech to the Garrison of the great Divisions there were in England and that 50000 French had made a descent and said the Prince of Orange would be obliged to draw off His Army in few days to defend the Kingdom of England and thereupon prevailed upon them to stand to their Arms. The Trumpeter was sent back with this Answer from Monsieur Boiseleau the Governor That as King James had intrusted him with that Garrison he would recommend himself to the Prince of Orange by a vigorous Defence About Eight at Night the King went to his Camp a little Mile from the Town having been on Horseback from Four in the Morning giving the necessary Orders and exposing himself amidst the greatest of dangers wherein His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark did every where accompany His Majesty The Cannon ceas'd not all the while to Play from the Town several of the Shot coming over His Majesty's Tent and some falling near it The same Evening a Party of the Royal Regiment and other Dragoons was sent to view the Ford at Annaghbeg a place about Two Miles above the Town where Six of the Enemies Regiments of Foot Three of Horse and Two of Dragoons Commanded by Berwick and Lutterel were Posted on the other side of the River with a Breast-work to cover them who all Fired upon our Men but being such extraordinary Marksmen they neither Killed nor Wounded any of them The Enemy being thus posted so very advantagiously that we expected to have met with great difficulties and opposition in passing the River which is very Rapid and the bottom Stony but the Enemy in the middle of the Night abandoned their Station with great precipitation so that Lieutenant General Ginkle and Major General Kirk who were Commanded by the King with a Detachment to force their way over passed the River the next Morning early being the 10th with about Five Thousand Horse Foot and Dragoons selected out of the several Regiments the Horse and Dragoons first and the Foot afterwards who went almost to the middle in Water and yet the River is shallower now than has been known for many Years About Eight a Clock the King went over in Person accompanied with His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark and the Heer Bentink Earl of Portland and Monsieur Overkirk c. and Three Regiments of Foot with some Pieces of Cannon were posted there About Four in the Afternoon His Majesty upon the Information he had receiv'd by some Deserters That the Lord Tyrconnel was with a small Camp about Six Miles from Lymerick in the Road to Galway sent out a Party of Horse under the Command of a Lieutenant Colonel to get a farther account of them but they were retired from thence before our Men came up We had likewise an account this Night brought to our Camp by a Deserter That the Count De Lausun lay with his Men near the City of Galway the People there refusing to receive them into the Town The 11. was spent in visiting the several Posts and giving the necessary Orders about the Siege The 12. His Majesty Commanded Brigadeer Stewart with a Detatchment and Four Pieces of Cannon to go early this Morning and Attack Castle Connel which is of considerable Strength scituated on the Shannon about Four Miles from Lymerick There were in it above 140 Men Commanded by Captain Barnwel who had refused to Surrender upon the Summons sent him the Night before but no sooner saw the Cannon but submitted at Discretion The same day Advice came into our Camp That General Sarsfield having with 5 or 600 Horse and Dragoons passed the Shannon Nine Miles above Lymerick had about Two that Morning surprised near a place called Cullen Eight Pieces of our Cannon of 18 Pound Ball which were coming with some Waggons laden with Powder and Ball from Kilkenny under the Guard of a Squadron of Horse and a small Party of Foot The Enemy Killed all they met Men Women and Children in all about sixty the rest escaping the Women and Children that belonged to the Wagoners and Gunners they Murdered most Barbarously in their Beds they Blew up the Powder which burst Two of the Guns the other Six with the Pantons being left intire and fit for Service and they likewise Burnt some of the Carriages
abundance that met them and coming to the North Gate He was received by the Magistrates of Belfast in their Formalities a Guard of the Foot-Guards and a general continued Shout and Shouts of God Save the King God Bless our Protestant King God Bless King William His Majesty went directly to the Castle which had been some time before prepared for him where he alighted and went into an Apartment appointed for him immediately gave Orders for the bringing ashore 250000 l. with several Tons of Tin Half-pence and Farthings and Expresses were sent to the Agents of all Regiments to bring in their Accompts by the 19th in order to receive their Men's Pay c. In order to which His Majesty concerted measures how to clear all Quarters and discharge the Country and gave Orders for the Train of Artillery to be ready to March in eight Days His Majesty was waited upon and Addressed by Dr. George Walker late Governour of Londonderry and about Twelve of the Episcopal Clergy At Night the Streets were filled with Bonfire-works which were no sooner lighted but the Allarm Signal was given by discharge of Guns so Planted that from one place to another of the Armys several Winter-Quarters throughout the whole Country in our hands in a few Minutes all places had notice of the King's Arrival and in a very few Hours made Bonfires so thick that the whole Country sâ—em'd in a Flame so that the Enemy could not but see and conjecture the cause to their eternal grief On the 1 6th Lieutenant General Douglas came to Belfast as likewise a great number of Presbiterian Ministers who came to wait on His Majesty and presented him with a Loyal Address A little after the King 's Landing at the Lough betwixt Carrickfergus and Belfast it seem'd to be like a Wood there being in it between six and seven hundred Sail of Ships most loaden with Provisions and Ammunition The Plenty and Order of all things there was most wonderful and not credible to any but those that saw it no Army in Christendom the like and yet all Goods held a good Rate His Majesty continued at Belfast concerting Matters and giving the necessary Orders for the opening the approaching Campaign 'till the 19th at which time he went to Lisbourn and Dined with the General the Duke of Schonberg and the same Night he went to Hilsbrough accompanied with Prince George Lord General Douglas the Earl of Oxford and a great many other Nobility and Gentry June 20. This day Landed at the White-House 2500 Horse from Scotland a Camp was this day begun to be formed near Tanderagee about 20 Miles from Lisbourn and on the very Frontiers between Ardmagh and the Newry whither all the Army is marching The 21th This day was wholly taken up in forming the Camp The 22th His Majesty went from Hilsbrough to the Town of Newry where he viewed the part of his Army that was Encamped there consisting of 24000 Horse Foot and Dragoons His Majesty being informed by His Scouts there That the Irish Forces with their King were come to a Pass within four Miles of the Newry betwixt that and the Town of Dundalk His Majesty sent a Trumpeter to acquaint the Irish That in case they burnt any more Houses He had given Order to His Army That they should not give Quarter to a Man either French or Irish they should meet with And that very Night His Majesty gave Order for 500 Horse and Dragoons to be detached under the command of Lieutenant-General Schravemore to march towards Dundalk and mark out a place to Encamp in The Irish seeing some of the Horse that were the advanced Guard appear and they thinking the whole Army was approaching immediately quitted their Pass and Fled to Ardee burning their Tents for haste but left the Town standing being apprehensive that the King would be as good as His Word some of our advanced Party marched so near the Enemy that they plainly saw them set Fire to their Tents and the confusion they were in The Passes being clear His Majesty immediately advanced with the Forces from the Newry towards Dundalk and sent Orders for General Douglas and the other Forces to change their march before designed them and immediately to march and joyn him at Dundalk On the 27th we Encamped on the Plains of Dundalk where we rested the next day and understood that the Enemy were retired from Ardee and had Posted themselves on the South side of the River Boyne The King went himself the next day with a select Party of Horse beyond Ardee to view the Ground and on the 29th we marched with the Army to Ardee which we found miserably Plundered by the Enemy they leaving nothing but the Houses with bare Walls except some sick old bed-ridden People for murdering four of which in cold Blood a Scotch Soldier and Woman was here hanged On the 30th His Majesty Encampad in sight of the Enemy the River Boyne being between us and them the King's Tent was pitched about a Mile short of the Boyne and as much above Drogheda His Majesty at His Arrival near the River about Noon rode in full view of the Irish Army which lay encamp'd on the other side The Enemy soon discovered it must be His Majesty who was so attended which made them draw down two Pieces of Six Pound Ball from the Forts a little higher and planted them opposite to the place where our Horse were drawn up they presently began to fire and one of the Balls passed so close to His Majesty that it took away a piece of his Coat Waste-coat and Shirt raised the Skin on the blade of his Right Shoulder and drew a little Blood but a Plaister being put on His Majesty continued on Horseback without the least concern till four in the Afternoon when he Dined and in the Evening was on Horseback again though he had been up from One in the Morning The Enemy spent about two hundred Balls and killed us four or five Men and about ten Horses Here it was that our Horse stood the Shot of the Enemy every Man on foot by his Horse several hours while they pass'd the shot before mentioned At last when the King had said Now I see my Men will stand some Guns were sent to our Horse and about five in the Evening we brought some of our Guns to bear upon the first discharge of which among the Irish Horse they retreated from their Battery and stood farther off we dismounted some of the Enemies Guns on their Battery and with our Bombs beat down several Tents next adjoyning to those of the late King James and the Count de Lazun His Majesty rested very well all Night and at Eight the next Morning being July 1. ever memorable for poor Ireland was again on Horseback and while the great Bullets were flying the Prince of Dermstadt's Horse was shot in the Neck We understood by a Protestant Deserter that swam over the River last Night That the Enemy
were 25000 strong that they had sent away some of their heaviest Baggage in order as they gave out to Fight us The King command the Count de Schonberg to march with all the Horse and Dragoons of the first and second Line of the Right Wing in all about 5000 and the Brigade of Trelawny and to pass the River about four Miles from the Camp further up the River by Slane where had been a Battery of the Irish but they were drawn off and only 800 Dragoons guarded the Ford this was done in order to take the Enemy in the Flank while the rest of our Army pass'd it nearer Drogheda over against their Camp which the Enemy perceiving they marched part of their Army to oppose the Count de Schonberg who had already broke some of their Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons that advanced to hinder his passing the River and drew them up in Battalia about a Mile and a half from the place where he had pass'd the River In passing this Ford our Men were forced to go down a verp steep Hill and uneven way yet the Irish Horse and Dragoons at the foot of the Ford only once fired and retreated to a greater Body who were coming to their assistance The King being informed of what had passed on that side sent Lieutenant General Douglas with two Brigades of Foot to reinforce the Count de Schonberg who thereupon changed his Order of Battle making a Wing of Horse on his Right and another on his Left and placing the Foot in the middle In this posture he marched towards the Enemy after some small resistance put them into disorder and followed them fighting as far as the Village called Duleek The Earl of Portland and Monsieur Overkirke had part in this Action as Mareschals de Camp mean time the King caused the rest of the Foot of the first Line consisting of the Brigades of la Meloniere which was on the Right of Hanner and the Danes to march to the Ford wheae Douglas was posted the day before on the Right over against the Village before mentioned near Drogheda which at this time had a Garrison of 800 Irish The three Battalions of the Dutch Guards were at the head of them and pass'd the Ford on the Right over against the Village before-mentioned from whence they beat the Enemy that were posted there The Battalion of la Melionere followed them on the Left and these four Battalions being the first that passed the River suffered pretty much of the latter there were five Officers killed and eight wounded and about Sixty Soldiers killed and wounded Monsieur Calimote followed the Dutch Guards with his Detachment of 600 Men whereof mention was made before and after them the Regiment of Cambon And here it was that Colonel Calimote receiv'd a Shot of which he is since dead and several of his Officers were killed upon the place Duke Schonberg headed the Dutch Foot Guards and the King the Inniskilling Horse telling them they should be his Guards that day Some of the Irish Horse oppos'd the Dutch Foot who fought up to the middle in Water and were almost born down before some Horse which they long called for could come to their relief It was in passing this Ford that Dr. Walker famous for the Siege of Derry was killed The Brigade of Hanmer passed next the Count de Nassau being at the head of them as Major-General and the Danes passed on their Left Commanded by the Prince of Wirtembergh After these passed the Horse of the Left Wing but in the mean time some of the Enemies Squadrons as before mentioned advanced and Attacked our Foot And a Squadron of the Enemies Guard du Corps pierced with great Vigour as far as a little Villige where we lost our great General his Grace the Duke of Schonberg who advanced thither to observe the Enemies motion Those that were about his Grace had before done all they could to perswade him to retire from thence but they could not prevail with him He was killed with a Carbine shot in the Neck and three Cuts over the Head and one on his Face Captain Foubert who was next to him and had likewise receiv'd a Wound in the Arm got from his Horse to help the Duke but he died immediately without speaking a word By this time the King had got over the River who in passing it with his Horse himself engaging in the thickest met with the like opposition The Danish Horse once gave way but the King went himself and brought them up again and at the head of the Horse Charged the Enemy who after some resistance retired Fighting Commanded by Lieutenant General de la Hoquelle and Lieutenant General Hamilton Monsieur de Lazun being with the Body who made head against the Count de Schonberg the late King James himself not Engaging but standing at the Reer of them on a rising ground out of harms way The Enemy retreated from Defile to Defile our Horse pursuing them as far as Duleâ—k where the King with the Forces he had with them joyned those of the Count de Schonberg The Enemy retired about three Miles farther and there posted themselves in every advantageous place and the King followed them with his Horse and Dragoons and Orders were given to Attack them there but it being very late and the Fight having lasted from Ten in the Morning till Nine at Night His Majesty did not think fit to engage the Troops any farther but ordered the Horse and Dragoons to remain in Arms all Night He returned to Duleek where the Foot Encampt But in the Night the Enemy retired in great Confusion we took their Baggage and eight Pieces of Cannon July 2. The King sent Monsieur de la Meloniere Brigadier General with a Detachment of 300 Foot and 1000 Horse with 8 Pieces of Cannon to invest Drogheda Being arrived there the Governour receiv'd the first Summons with great Contempt but the King sending him word That if they forc'd his Cannon to be fired on them he would not give them any Quarter This so frighted the Governour that having kept the Trumpeter some time he returned this Answer That he would Surrender the place upon fair Capitulation viz. To March out with Arms and Baggage Colours flying c. but otherwise he would defend the place to the last Extremity Meloniere sent him word That his Orders were only to suffer them to march out without Arms and that he must quickly resolve whether he would accept of this Offer In the mean time Monsieur de la Meloniere had caused two Batteries to be raised which would be ready the next Morning by break of Day But the Officers of the Garrison after having consulted together resolved to yield and the Capitulation being Signed they delivered up a Gate and marched out about an hour after between thirteen and fourteen hundred Men and were conducted to Athlone the Officers being permitted to wear their Swords After which Monsieur
into our Camp we understood that the Earl of Tyrconnel who since K. James's leaving of Ireland stiles himself Lord Lieutenant of Ireland having some jealousie of the Earl of Trone Governor of Waterford sent for him to Lymerick and made Old Collonel Lacy Governor in his stead and that the Enemy had in it about 1600 Men. Collonel Eppinger who was sent from Dublin with a small Party by Sea towards Wexford that being Deserted as you have heard took Possession of the Place and secured a Garrison in it he found a Considerable quantity of Provision there and his Men a little after took 400 Head of Cattle from the Raparees who had taken them a little time before from the Countrey People on whom they have ever since the Battle of the Boyne committed many Outrages and done much Mischief July 12th We came to a place called Bennets-bridge within 16 Miles of Waterford where we Encamped Here we understood that on the 18th the Enemy quitted Cloâ—mel notwithstanding it is a very Considerable Pass lately strengthned by the addition of several new Fortifications and Major-General Sarsfield was Posted there with 5000 Irish but on the approach of our Army in it's Neighbourhood he retired towards Lymerick This day four French Officers came over to us they gave an account That the Earl of Tyrconnel and the Count de Lauzun were Fortifying of Lymerick the remains of the Army being in that Neighbourhood but in a very ill Condition having lost all their Baggage This day the King dined with the Duke of Ormond at the Castle of Killkenny On the 20 th We Decamped from Bennets-Bridge and Marched about 7 Miles to a place called Rossen Narrow and the next day being the 21 th We came to Carick His Majesty Commanded a Trumpet to be sent to Summon Waterford requiring them to Surrender the Place They desired time till the next Morning when they sent out Articles but the King not approving thereof let them know that they should go out with their own Arms and Baggage only and that if they did not accept thereof but stayed till they were Attacked he would give them no Quarter However they sent some of their Scruples again the next day and Major-General Kirk was sent thither with five Regiments and several Pieces of Cannon to answer them the next day in the Afternoon the Capitulations were Signed and the next day after the Garison Marched out with their Arms and Baggage the Number of 1600 and were conducted to Mallow 12 Miles in their way to Lymerick The Garrison would not have had so good terms only His Majesty had Compassion on 300 Protestant Families in the Town Several Officers staid behind in the Place and Prayed His Majesties Protection The same day the Lord Dover and Lord George Howard with several others submitted themselves to the King The French when they first came to Lymerick took Possession of it with their Infantrey under the Command of the Count de Lauzun and they would not suffer any of the Irish to come into the Town so that the Lord Tyrconnel and General Sarsfield with their Irish where forc'd all to Encamp without the Town July 25th The King viewed the Walls of Waterford without entering into the Town and returned back to the Camp which was about three Miles distant where all things were ready for an Attack His Majesty dined in the Camp and then returned to Carick that Night From Waterford His Majesty sent a Summons to the Governour of Duncannon Fort Captain Michael Burk offering the same Capitulation which had been granted to Waterford and letting him know if he refused or delayed to Comply he must expect no Mercy He insisted upon six days to consult the Lord Tyrconnel which being refused he declared he would take that time whereupon the Cannon was ordered down in order to an Attack but the next day being the 26th In the Evening Sr. Cloudsly Shovel appearing with Sixteen Frigats in View it so terified them that the Governour writ to Major-General Kirk that they would accept of what had been offered which His Majesty being made acquainted with he was pleased to order That they should still have the Benefit of the Articles that were at first propos'd and the Fort was accordingly Surrendred whereby we are possessed of a very advantagous Post which commands the River of Waterford On the 27th His Majesty left the Camp and set forward for Dublin resolving to return immediatly for England On the 29th The King arriv'd a Chappel-Izod where He Published his Second Declaration as followeth William and Mary King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland To all the People of Our Kingdom of Ireland whom it may concern William R. ALthough Our former Declaration of the 7th of July last past hath not hitherto produced those Effects of Gratitude and Obedience from several of Our Rebellious Subjects which We justly expected Yet being willing to Compassionate those who are misled and to extend Our farther Grace as well in granting unto some a longer time to lay hold of the Advantages already offered as to enlarge Our Clemency unto others We do now farther Declare That as to all poor Labourers Common Soldiers Country Farmers Ploughmen and Cottiers whatsoever As also to all Citizens Townsmen Tradesmen and Artificers who remained at home or who having fled from their Dwellings shall by the Five and Twentieth Day of this Instant August repair to their usual place of Abode surrendring up what Arms they have to such Justices as are or shall be appointed by Us not only to receive the same but to Register the Appearances of such as shall submit to Our Authority We do hereby Declare That We will not only Pardon them as to their Lives and Liberties for all Violences they have done and committed by Authority of their Superiors during the Rebellion but We do also promise to secure them in their Goods their Stocks and Cattle and all their Chattels personal whatsoever Willing and Requiring them to come in and where they were Tenants there to preserve the Harvest of Grass and Corn for supply of the Winter But forasmuch as many of them had a legal Right to the Tenancy of several Lords some holden from Protestants and some held from Popish Proprietors who have been concerned in the Rebellion against Us Our Will and Pleasure is That all those Tenants who hold from our good Protestant Subjects do pay their Rents to their Respective Landlords And the Tenants of all those who have been in the present Rebellion against Us do keep their Rents in their hands until they shall have notice from the Commissioners of Our Revenue unto whom they are to Account for the same But whereas we are farther Advertiz'd that several of these Ranks aforementioned who have adhered to Our said Declaration do complain of ill treatment from our Soldiers and of the loss of Goods and Stock on pretence that such Stock and Goods were formerly by them Plundered
Order and Appoint that Friday the Fifteenth Day of August Instant be solemnly Observed and Kept as a Day of Publick Fasting Prayer and Humiliation in and throughout all the Parts of this Our Kingdom under Our Obedience for supplicating Almighty God for the Pardon of Our Sins and for imploring His Blessing upon Us and upon Our Forces by Sea and Land and that constantly during the War Friday in every Week be set apart for the same Ends and Purposes And to the end Our good Subjects may be the better prepared for the said Work and instructed in their Duty when they are Assembled to perform it We have thought fit to Direct and Appoint the Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdom to Compose a Form of Prayer proper for the Occasion to be made use of in all Churches and Chappels and other Publick Places of Worship in this Our Kingdom And We do hereby strictly Charge and Require all Our Loving Subjects to Assemble together in their Respective Parish Churches or Publick Places of Worship at the Times and to the Ends aforesaid And We also Charge and Require all Parsons Vicars Curates and Others that have Care of Souls that they Officiate accordingly in their Respective Churches Chappels or Places of Worship and that they give Notice hereof by Reading this Our Proclamation every Sunday during the Present War Given at Our Court at Chapple-Isard this First Day of August 1690. In the Second Year of Our Reign The Journal of the Siege of Lymerick from the first of Aug. 1690. to the time of Raising the Siege HIS Majesty receiving an Express at Chappel-Izard from the Camp That the Enemy had drawn together most of their scattered Troops about Lymerick were grown very Impudent and seem'd to have new Life and Vigour put into them upon His Majesty's retiring from the Camp and that they were resolv'd to make a desperate Defence of the City of Lymerick when-ever Besieged On which His Majesty altered His Resolutions resolving to return to the Camp the better to dispose of things for the pushing on the Siege and sent Order to Lieutenant General Douglas to March from Athlone and joyn the Count De Solmes On July 27. We Marched from Carick under the Command of the Count De Solmes His Majesty as aforementioned having left the Camp and came the same day to the Town of Clonmel which is Eight very long Miles This Place seems to be very strongly Scituated and doubtless might have held out for some time had it been Garrisoned by any but Irish-Men The 28. We Marched Seven Miles farther and the next day being the 29. We Encamp'd at a place called Goolin-Bridge which is about 23 Miles from Lymerick Here as soon as we Arriv'd we had the confirmation That the French had possess'd themselves of the City of Lymerick and that they would not suffer any of the Irish Forces to come into it having turned out those few that were in Garrison there On the 30. and 31. We lay quiet in our Camp and refreshed our selves August the first A Detached Party of the Inniskilling and Danish Horse c. Marched from our Camp and advanced within sight of the Enemy near Lymerick who upon the approach of the advanced Parties were in great consternation and they brought an account That the Gross of the Irish Army consisting of about 27000 Men were upon the hearing of the Advance of our Army retired from beyond the Shannon August 2. Advice was brought into the Camp of the Surrender of the Town of Youghal August 3. A Deserter came into our Camp from Lymerick and told us That yesterday Morning the second Instant he saw the French Infantry March out of the Town about 3500 strong with Eight Field Pieces leaving several of their Ingineers and other Officers in the Town and that the common report was That they were going to Galway to Embark there for France that being a more convenient Port for their taking Shipping than Lymerick Galway being but Nine Miles from the Mouth of the Bay and Lymerick is Sixty And that as soon as the French had quitted the Place and were marched out Three Regiments of Irish Auxillaries under the Command of Colonel Lutterel marched in and took Possession of it This Advice afterwards confirm'd as well by our Parties that had been sent out as by other Deserters August 4. The Regiments that were sent to reduce the Town of Waterford and Fort of Dancannon under the Command of Major General Kirk joyned our Camp August 5. A Detachment of Six hundred Horse were sent from our Camp to reinforce the Garrison of Youghal and prevent any Design the Enemy may have upon it and this Evening Lieutenant General Douglas joyned us from Athlone On the 6. Our Army consisting now of 38500 Effective Men decamped from Goolen-Bridge and Marched in Two Bodies towards Lymerick the Infantry taking their way by a place called Sallawood and the Cavalry marched the other Road by way to Cullen On the 7th About Noon we came to a place called Carickellish which is between five and six Miles from Lymerick and here our Horse and Foot joyned in one Body again and in the Afternoon some small Detached Parties were sent to observe the Posture and Motions of the Enemy but on the approach of our Men the Enemy retired in great precipitation from place to place and in the Night burnt a great many small Houses and Cabins within Three Miles of the Town and this Evening was held a great Council of War in the presence of His Majesty where Resolutions were taken to Attack the Irish Forces early the next Morning which were Encamped and had Intrenched themselves in all the Defiles leading thereto having first Plowed up the Ground made great numbers of small Forts threw Timber and Trees across and did all that possibly could be done to obstruct the Passage of the King's Forces leaving the Hedges Gardens and other places for Five Miles together with Musqueteers in the nature of an Ambuscade On the 8. At One in the Morning His Majesty sent out Nine Hundred Horse and Two Hundred Foot Detached out of the Regiments of Oxon Trelawny Cuts Laneer Lloyd and Danes under the Command of the Heer Bentinck Earl of Portland and Brigadeer Stewart c. who advanced within Cannon Shot of the Town notwithstanding the opposition made by Three Regiments of the Enemies Foot one of Horse and another of Dragoons who stood but one Firing tho' they had the covert of the Hedges through which they Fired About Four hours after this Detachment returned to our Camp and gave the King an account of the posture the Enemy were in And about Seven a Clock His Majesty went himself with a fresh Party of 200 Select Horse being accompanied with Prince George Major General Gnickle the Heer Overkirk and other great Officers they approached within Two Miles of the Town The Enemy were come so near with some of their Out-guards that we could hear
Their hast and disorder was so great that they could carry nothing away with them but left behind them several things untoucht as also the Carriage Horses which were loose at Grass Sir Albert Cunningham with part of his Regiment of Inniskilling Dragoons that lay not far from thence being timely Alarm'd by a Deserter march'd immediately towards the Enemy charged them killed about Twenty with a Major and a Captain and pursued them as far as was safe Sir John Lanier who upon the news of Sarsfield's March was by the Kings Order sent from the Camp with a Detatchment of Horse came within Three Miles of them and being informed of what had happened struck off to Kilcullen Bridge to cut off their Retreat but the Enemy retired by the way of Athlone This accident hindred us five or six days which we spent in preparing our Batteries and put all things in a good posture for a vigorous Attack of the Town On the 14. An Express came to our Camp from Youghal giving an account that the Garrison there consisting of 50 Foot and 36 Dragoons hearing what mischief the Raparies did in the Country and that there was a great number of them at Castle-Martyr the Officers that Commanded drew out both the Horse and Foot and Marched to Attack them but the Foot not being able to March so fast as the Dragoons the latter met near Castle-Martyr 300 Raparies Horse and Foot and immediately Routed them killing 60. and taking 17. Prisoners and the Foot being come up they Summoned the Castle which Surrendred upon Liberty to go to Cork but without their Horses and Arms which being done the Soldiers took the Horses and the Arms were given to the Protestant Inhabitants and so they returned to Youghal While this was doing Captain Price and Captain Whetstone Commanders of the Bristol Men of War who were then at Youghal being informed That there were Two Ships in Cork Harbour Laden with Hides and Tallow for France they Sailed to the Harbours Mouth and sending in their Boats brought away the Two Ships and carried them to Waterford August 16. This Morning was Published in the Camp the following Proclamation A Proclamation by the King and Queens most excellent Majestieâ— William Rex WHereas We are informed That divers Persons either through Disaffection to the Clergy of the Church of Ireland as by Law Established or from a Design to take advantage of the present Disturbances in this Kingdom do delay or refuse to pay their Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Duties to the aforesaid Clergy as by Law they ought to do We having a gracious Regard to the distressed condition of the Church and Clergy and being stedfast in Our Resolution to preserve the benefit of the Law to all Our Subjects in the due Execution thereof do hereby strictly Command and Require all Our Loving Subjects of what Rank or Condition soever That they yield set forth and pay unto the Archbishops Bishops Deans Arch-deacons Prebends Rectors Parsons Vicars Curates and all others that have Ecclesiastical Dignities or Cure of Souls the Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Duties that are or shall become due or payable to them respectively according to the Laws and Customs of this Our Realm of Ireland Given at Our Royal Camp before Lymerick this Fifteenth day of August 1690. In the Second Year of Our Reign On the 17th The whole day was spent in making the necessary Preparations and getting all things ready for the opening of the Trenches which in the Evening was put in Execution the Trenches were opened with Seven Battallions consisting of English French and Danish Infantry Commanded by the Prince of Wirtemberg Lieutenant General Major General Kirk Major General Petteau and Sir Henry Bellassis Brigadeer We advanced this Night about 300 paces and took Two Redoubts from the Enemy from whence they might have disturbed our Workmen The 18th about 10 at Night the Trenches were Relieved by Lieutenant General Douglas my Lord Sidney and Count Nassau Major Generals and Brigadeer Stewart with Seven Battallions of Foot and this Night we made our regular approaches towards another strong Redoubt of the Enemies notwithstanding the Night was exceeding dark that had it not been prevented by the extraordinary care and dilligence of the Officers our Men had certainly fallen foul on one another thro' mistake The 19. The Trenches were Reliev'd by the Prince of Wirtemburg Lieutenant General Major General Kirk and Petteau and Sir Henry Bellassis Brigadeer and we continued our Approaches towards the said Redoubt which the King gave Order should be Attack'd the next day The 20. The Trenches were Reliev'd by Lieutenant General Douglas my Lord Sidny and Count Nassau Major Generals and Brigadeer Stewart the Signal was given by Three Guns about Two in the Afternoon when our Men that were Detached for this Service to the number of about 150 choice Select Men besides Officers immediately fell on and with extraordinary Courage entred the Fort and drave out the Enemy killing about 40 of them After we had been about half an hour in possession of the Fort the Enemy made a great Sally Horse and Foot in all about Two Thousand but they were so warmly receiv'd by our Men that after a short Dispute they were beaten back our Horse pursuing them to the very Walls of the Town The 21. We carried on our Trenches and finished them to that degree so as to hinder any more Sallies The 22. We raised a Battery of Eight Guns and Twenty four pound Ball and two of Eighteen against the Enemies high Towers from whence they Fired upon our Men and we have quite levelled them The Night following we threw great numbers of Bombs and Carcasses into the Town and Burnt many of the Houses The 23. This Morning one of Gilmey's Troopers came over to us and brought with him a Boy and Four very good Horses About Noon Two Captains a Lieutenant a Priest and Seventy common Soldiers of the Enemy were brought in Prisoners from Nighua a considerable Castle Two Miles from our Camp where General Gnikle Marcht with Two Thousand Horse Six Hundred Dragoons a Regiment of Foot and Two Guns the Castle indured a Siege of Twenty Four hours and then Surrendred on Discretion This Afternoon Two French-Men came over to us and brought with them Two as good Horses as any in our Army they gave us an account that the Rogues in the City are in a miserable condition for want of Bread and Drink but that Meat is plenty among them This Night about Seven in the Evening we Played furiously into the Town with our Bombs Red hot Balls and other Fire-Engines which Fired the Town in several Places one fell into their great Magazine of Hay which was consumed and several Houses Burnt the Fire lasting there about Six hours another set Fire to a place near the Church which was not consumed till Five the next Morning and as that was quenched we Fired another place which was Blown up by the Enemy The
24. This Morning our Guns Fired very briskly at the Walls but being too far off did little Execution so that Two new Batteries were this day made within Eighty Paces of the Wall and our Trenches were carried on by the indefatigable labour of our Men within Pistol-shot of the Counterscarp and our Guns were carried this Night down to the said Batteries first against the Wall of Eight half Cannon the other of Two Eighteen Pounders against the King's-Island This Night a Deserter came over to us who says our Fire Utensils and great Shot have done them much damage destroying at least Thirty People The 25. This Morning about break of day we began to Fire from our new Batteries against the Wall but it Rained so hard till Three in the Afternoon that our Men could not work the Guns however on any intermission of the Rain our Guns Play'd violently against the Walls and from Three we fired at least 300 Shot with good Success against the Wall had not this day proved so wet we had Stormed the Counterscarp however we advanced our Trenches within 30 yards of the Ditch A Deserter that came out of the Town inform'd us That the day we took the Redoubt the Enemy lost above 300 Men. The 26. We widened the Breach we had made the day before in the Wall of the Town and beat down part of the Enemies Pallisado's on the Counterscarp This Night we set Fire to the Town again which Burnt very vehemently A Deserter gives us an account That Colonel Darington Colonel Gar. More Sir Maurice Huestas and Colonel Lutterel were Killed in the Sally The 27. The King ordered an Attack to be made on the Counterscarp which was begun about Three in the Afternoon a Detached Party of Granadeers made the onset and was seconded by other Detachments who went on with that Heat and Courage that having gained the Counterscarp and a Fort which the Enemy had under the Walls instead of lodging themselves there as they were ordered to do and not to advance any further they mounted the Counterscarp following the Irish that fled that way and some were entring into the Town but the Enemy being Intrenched behind the Breach and having Planted Cannon against it they were cut off The Fight lasted Three hours during which the Enemy were still supplied with fresh Men and they sprang a Mine in the Ditch but with little Effect but in conclusion our Men having lost the opportunity of Lodging themselves it was thought fit to retire to our Trenches What Men we have lost in these several Actions we cannot precisely say but by the best Computation and nicest Scrutiny of the most Intelligent Observers it 's thought we may have lost about 700. Killed and Wounded since the beginning of the Siege The 28. At Night we advanced our Trenches about 20 Yards notwithstanding it had Rained most part of the Day it continued to Rain all this Night and all the next day to the 30th almost without Intermission On which a Council of War being Called where as is said the following Reasons among others being urged His Majesty thought fit to give Order for the raising the Siege First That the Rain that had fallen and in all probability was likely to fall would in a little time so moisten the Ground about Lymerick that it would be impossible to draw off the Cannon and heavy Baggage Secondly That the River Shannon began so to swell that if they did not suddenly Pass the same the Communication with the other part of the Army would be cut off Thirdly The Watry Season would undoubtedly bring the Country Distemper on our Army and so more dye of it than by the hand of the Enemy in the same manner they did the last Campaign at Dundalk Fourthly That the Garrison of Lymerick being very numerous if they abide any Assault which on the account of the Weather must be made with great disadvantage we should lose a great many Men. The 30. In the Afternoon the Cannon and heavy Baggage were sent from the Camp On the 31. Five Thousand Horse being ordered for a Rear-Guard to Repress any Sallies the whole Army Decamped and marched off in very good Order and without any disturbance from the Enemy towards Clonmel from whence a strong Detachment under the Command of Lieutenant General Douglas and Major General Kirk was ordered towards Cork and Kin-sale His Majesty having given the necessary Orders disposed the Army and named the Lord Viscount Sidney and Thomas Coningsby Esquire to be Lords Justices of Ireland went accompanied with the Prince of Denmark to Duncannon-Fort And on the 5th in the Afternoon the Wind proving fair they Embarked and Sailed out of the Bay of Waterford accompanied with Three Yatches Two Men of War and several small Tenders On the 6th About Five in the Evening His Majesty Arrived safely in Kings-Road His Majesty being come a Shore lay that Night at Kings-Weston not far from Bristol On the 7th being Sunday in the Morning His Majesty went to Bath and lay the Night following at the Duke of Beaufort's at Badminton Monday 7th His Majesty lay at the Duke of Somerset's at Marlborough Tuesday 8th His Majesty lay at the Castle of Windsor Wednesday 9th About Four in the Afternoon His Majesty came to Kinsinton attended by the great Officers of the Court and other Persons of the chiefest Quality who went to meet him His Majesty was receiv'd in all the places he passed through with most zealous Demonstrations of Duty and Affection and Joy for His Safe and Happy Return POST-SCRIPT 'T IS equally hard to determine whether His Majesty in the Action of the Boyne or in His Decamping before Lymerick has shewed most of a General In the one he gave inimitable proofs of His Courage and Bravery and to it alone we ow'd the Victory But in Rising before Lymerick when Three of the Four Elements conspired to the utter undoing of His Army if He had staid He has given yet a Nobler Proof of a consummated Prudence Wariness and Conduct seldom or never to be found in Company with so boundless a Courage In this He has imitated Zenophous Cyrus who valued himself more upon the Title of the Father of his Soldiers than all the great Names his Persian Admirers bestowed upon him and who was heard often to say He had rather Save one of his own than Cut off a Thousand of his Enemies One of the greatest Men of the last Age in his Dying Advice to his Son who was to Succeed him in the Kingdom of Spain tells him 'T is one of the truest Politicks of a King or a General to know the Critick Moment wherein 't is fit to abandon the Enterprise for want of which fore-sight on the one hand adds Philip II. the greatest Misfortunes have befallen them as on the other hand the exact observance of it has produced in the end the greatest and happiest advantages Thereafter he gives his Son several incident Circumstances that ought to determine a King or a General when 't is time to leave off the present Execution of a Design whereof this is one When Nature and Things not in our Power do concur to render the Attempt either impossible of it self or not able to counter-balance the Expence though it should succeed One would almost think that in these Words Philip by I know not what Instinct should have meant this Advice to the great Grand-child of his inveterate Enemy William of Orange rather than to Philip the III. for it meets in every Act with His Majesties Case before Lymerick It was the swelling of the Shannon the falling down of the Buckets of Heaven the nature of the Soil and the approaching Season of the Year all of them things not lying within our Power that rendred the Enterprise upon Lymerick either impossible or if at all Successful not capable to Counterbalance the certain inconveniences and Losses that must have attended it 'T is certain That in all the Actions of War there is none wherein a General has occasion to shew more of his Wisdom than in Besieging of Towns and to determine whether to continue or raise a Siege many times is the truest Touchstone of his Skill both in War and Politicks How many dismal Examples could there be instanced from the Greek and Roman Historians of continuing a Siege too long in spite of just reason to the contrary A famous instance of which we have in the preceding Age which occasioned the loss of a Battle to the French Army of the Dutchy of Millan to the French Crown and of his Liberty to a French King Francis I. having forced his Passage into Italy in order to recover his pretended Right to the Dutchy of Millan he came at first to lay Siege to the Strong Castle of Pavie with a very brave and numerous Army At first the Enterprize seemed very favourable but a little after partly by the swelling of the River partly by the continual Rains and partly from the Season of the Year the French Army began to diminish daily and then the hopes of Taking the Town every day grew less Notwithstanding all these Circumstances which ought in reason to have determined Francis I. to raise the Siege of Pavie as the very like has wisely determined His Majesty to raise that of Lymerick That Prince would not be prevailed with by all the Insinuations of his best Officers to give it over for that Juncture In short he lay before the Town till he was forced to a Battle the most Fatal the French have Fought near these Three Ages in which he was taken Prisoner and had the Mortification to be carried to Madrid in that Quality FINIS