and the like to every one that at a set day would appear and claim the Benefit of his Pardon before the Justice of Assize and Publick Justice for that purpose being setled in every Country it abated much of the Tyranny their Petty Lords had over them and made the Vulgar sort of them sensible of the Goodness of the English Laws of which before they had purposely been kept in Ignorance Being now for the most part freed from their Servitude and in the King 's immediate Protection so that if their Lords had a mind to Rebel they could not compel their Tenants to Rise as they had formerly done and Ireland being now divided into Shires the Circuits were erected in every Province and the English had their Lands alotted and more particular Colonies established so that Trade began to flourish and several Corporations of the City of London having purchased large Proportions of Land built a strong Town for their Securiâ—y against the Incursions of the Irish that might happen very advantageously situate on the Bank of a River and Lough which made a wonderful Change to all appearance in the face of Things but what can hinder a People from being miserable that will make themselves so as may not improperly say in spight of Providence the chief of the Irish were displeased at these Proceedings finding the English Improvement rendred such Plenty in the Kingdom as made their Land of little value and therefore many of them spightfully let them lye neglected to be over-run with Thistles and Briars cursing their Posterity if ever they had any Communication with the English or so much as Ploughed or Sowed by which their irreconcileable Hatred to us may be measured The ordinary sort of People notwithstanding their Lords Diâ—â—wasions finding they had not their former Power to compel perceiving Advantage to arise by this new Settlement inhabited very friendly with the English and by their Examples began to improve themselves in Industry and seemed averse to be stirred up as formerly upon every slight Occasion to Rebel insomuch that a long Peace ensued and that brought with it extraordinary Plenty but as nothing is certain or permanent upon Earth so in process of Time this golden Cord of Union between the two Nations was violently cut in sunder Troubles arising in the Year 1641. thro' a Mis-understanding and fomented Heats blown by secret Enemies and War being in prospect between England and Scotland several of the Native Irish Chiefs not finding the People prone to hearken to them incited the Popish Priests who by promising them Heaven for Obedience to their Commands and Damnation on the contrary with many other strange Stories and Things pushed them headlong on to one of the blackest Iniquities â—he Sun has for many Ages beheld and was too late discovered to be prevented for it happened that on the 23d of October the Irish headed by a great many of their Nobility and Gentry rose generally in Arms seizing upon divers strong Places Arms Ammunition and all that came to hand vowing the utter Destruction of all the English in Ireland to Extirpate them from the face of the Irish Earth both Root and Branch and this was discovered but one Night before it was to be executed by which Providence however Dublin and some other Places by the Imprisoning the Conspirators and Fortifying them with good Garisons were secured and became a Refuge to the Lives of many so that now one might every where behold Houses flaming the miserable People fly every where for their Lives whilst the Blood of many were mingled with Flames and the Earth made red by the Blood of those that were slaughtered in the Fields and Ways thousands were drowned in Rivers and Lakes till the Stream was glutted with the dead Bodies and they Bridged over the Waters many were ripped up alive and others tortured in a more cruel manner some were turned out into Snows and Frost and starved to death the Priests and Fryers going along with the Murtherers and beating them on to it with their Crucifixes telling them They were Hereticks and no longer to be suffered alive on the Earth and that it was so far from a sin to kill them that it was Meritorious and even Damnation it self to spare them giving the Sacrament to the more scrupulous of Conscience to confirm them in the Bloudy Enterprize so that in a short space before any Succour could come from England they destroyed by sundry barbarous ways 20000 Men Women and Children burnt most of their Houses and Villages killing their Cattel and suffering them to rot upon the Ground rooâ—ing up likewise their newly sprouted Corn as maliciously bent not only to destroy the People but in Hatred and utter Detestation all that appertained to them flattering themselves by the Inducement of old lying Prophesies to shake off the English Yoke and choose them a King from among their Country-men but Fate consented noâ— The King was at the beginning of this fatal Mischief in Ireland upon the Borders of Scotland labouring to compose the Differences recommending the Care of Ireland to his Parliament then sitting at Westminster who promised a speedy Relief and Assistance to the Protestants that were got together in Arms and stood upon their Defence Voting 50000 pound for to raise Forces and the Earl of Ormond was made Lieutenant-General of the Royal Forces in that Kingdom to joyn whom Sir Simon Harcourt was sent out of England with a Regiment So that the poor Remnant of the Protestants getting together made the Irish Papist that was so good at base and unmanly Murthers fly the Face of War But Troubles growing fast on in England by the Misunderstanding between King Charles the First and his Parliament and sprouting up into a miserable Civil War most of the guilty Persons at this time escaped unpunished But the small Force of the Proteâ—â—ants that were left being once united forced the Irish out of their strong Hold and restored the Face of Government yet about eighâ— Years after a Bloody Scene was acted for King Charles the First loosing his Kingdoms with his Life his Eldest Son Charles as his undoubted Right taking upon him the Kingly Dignity though in Exile England being cast as they termed it into a Model of a Free State or Republick the Marquess of Ormond Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was commissioned to Labour the Securing that Country to the behoof of his Master King Charles the Second and finding no other Means to do it in that Imergency he closed his Interest with the Chief of the leading Irish concluding a Peace in the King's Name with the most considerable of them upon Submission and Obedience to his Majesty there being a Concession of certain Articles on the part of the Marquess to be performed when being joyned by the Marquess of Clanricard and the Lord Inchequeen the Earl of Castlehaven c. Trim and Tredah or Drogheda upon a Defeat they gave the Forces that came from England surrendered
having been well tutored and of a graceful Carriage so well acted his part that not only the Lieutenant but a great many of the Irish Nobility sided with him raising considerable Forces to espouse his Quarrel Crowning him King in Dublin and not content to keep him there they brought him with a considerable Army into England landing in Lancashire and Proclaiming him But the King's Forces advancing they were in a Set-battel over-thrown and the Imposter taken Prisoner the Priest hanged c. They likewise in the King's Reign aided another called Perkin or Peter Warbeck who stiled himself Duke of York younger Son to Edward the Fourth but in this they had no better success than in the former a great many being killed the Impostor taken after several Attempts and bloody Encounters having engaged the Scots as well as Irish on his part marrying the Lady Catharine Gourdon Niece to that King he was first obliged to confess his Impostor how he was set on maintained and encouraged by the Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth and then being publickly punished was sent to the Tower from whence endeavouring to escape he was executed and with him the real Earl of Warwick who had been kept a Prisoner there a considerable time all that was alledged against him was that he attempted to make his Escape with Perkin to raise new Commotions In the Reign of Henry the Eighth great Commotions were stirred up which were at first suddenly appeased but the Earl of Kildare being Deputy the People exhibited their Complaints against him to the Court of England as the cause of many Disturbances by his severe using them and amongst other Articles they had this viz. All Ireland is not able to Rule this Earl Then said the King this Earl is the fittest Man to Rule all Ireland and thereupon he continued him Deputy it appeared this hatred against him proceeded only from the strict hand he had over them to keep them from rebelling And another was That he had caused to be burned the Cathedral Church of Cashal The Archbishop of that place being his chief Accuser and when every one would have denied it he humbly replied By Chreest I would never have done it had I not byen told the Archbishop was in it Which plain dealing made the King smile and the Archbishop storm and fret however the Earl was ordered to rebuild it at his own charge and so continued in his Deputyship but often fell into displeasure by reason of his plain downright dealing and Cardinal Wolsey now ruling all at Court for speaking too plain to him upon his Examination at the Council-Board where Wolsey sat as President he sent him to the Tower and ordered a Warrant for his Execution without the King's Knowledge of which the King having Notice by the Lieutenant was mightily incensed at Wolsey and that great Favourite soon after falling into Disgrace the Earl was released and sent to Ireland with one Sir William Sheington who was made Deputy however the O Moors fell into Rebellion but being opposed by Forces drawn out of Dublin they were dispersed and many of them killed and for that time the Tempest blown over however it lasted not long for the Earl of Kildare's Enemies having again upon many grievous Complaints prevail'd to have him sent for to England he was committed to the Tower whereupon his Son the Lord Thomas notwithstanding the Perswasions of the Chancellor to avert him from it fell into Rebellion and drew great Forces after him yet driven at last to extream Necessities he was perswaded by the Lord Grey then Deputy of the Kingdom to submit himself to King Henry's Mercy without hope of Pardon but some of his Followers having killed Alen Archbishop of Dublin he was upon his Arrival committed to the Tower and King Henry being informed That the Geraldine Family had vowed never to have Peace with him he sent for the Earl's five Brothers in Custody when one of them during their crossing the Seas demanded of the Master what the Name of the Ship was who replied The Cow Nay then said he looking on the rest with a dejected Countenance we are all lost Men for now a Prophecy comes into my head that says Five Brethren of an Earl should be carried into England in the Belly of a Cow and never come back again and I doubt not but all things hitting so pat we are they And indeed so it happen'd for being Accused of the late Rebellion though two of them were ignorant of it the Lord Thomas Son to the Earl was beheaded on Tower-hill and the five Brethren hang'd drawn and quartered at Tyburn and the Earl soon after died in the Tower of Grief which destroyed the Center of that Noble Family for although one Brother escaped yet travelling through many Countries he at last came to Naples and there died Childless Nor did the Lord Grey escape for being countermanded and accused of holding Correspondency with this Family though without any notable Proof he was Condemned for High-Treason and beheaded on Tower-hill The Kings of England the better to please the Natives of Ireland having been all this while only called Lords of Ireland the Parliament sitting at Westminster in the 33d year of Henry's Reign invested with the Title of King of Ireland whereupon the Earl of Tyrone and divers others rebelled but in some bloody Encounters being defeated the Earl was at last subdu'd and brought Prisoner for England yet upon his humble Submission released and sent over upon promise of keeping the Country in quiet which he pretty well observed during the short Reigns of King Edward the Sixth and Queen Mary only some petty Commotions happened that were soon quieted In the Year 1566. being the Seventh year of Queen Elizabeth's Reign one of the chief Lords of Ireland named Donald Mac Carti More upon some little stirs that happened came over and not only cleared himself to the Queen but delivered up to her all his Territories vowing perpetual Fealty but she in gratitude restored them again and made him Earl of Glencare giving him a considerable Sum to bear his Expences so that by his great Authority amongst the Natives it was thought the Kingdom would be kept quiet but it proved otherwise for after some private Conspiracies that never broke out were defeated the Earl of Desmond the Eleventh Earl of that Title who had great Territories and abundance of Followers broke into open Rebellion and did great damage to the English driving them out of many places killing divers Gentlemen in Revenge as he said of the Earl of Kildare and his Family being put to death and amongst others one with whom he had contracted a strict Friendship and usually called Father who when he saw him with his drawn Sword breaking into his Chamber and relying upon his former Friendship cried out What is the matter Desmon my Son to whom the bloody Earl sternly replied I am no longer thy Son nor thou my Father but
thou shalt surely die and thereupon they put him and all they found in the House to the Sword These Outrages allarmed the Lord Deputy who drawing out his Forces after divers Skirmishes put the Earl to the Rout who being forsaken of his Followers lurked for sometime in the Bogs and Mountains but miserable want driving him thence among the Cottages he was there found and slain by a private Souldier when his Head being conveyed to England was set upon London-Bridge and so fell this Eleventh Earl of Desmâ—nd But in his Grave the restless Spirits of the Irish were not buried for casting their Eyes on the Family of the Bourks they gave out they would have an eminent Person of that Family to be their King or Governour and many Tumults were raised but this prudent Queen notwithstanding some intestine Troubles at home took such care that she a long time by Policy and Force reduced the unruly Natives to their Obedience the former of which was particularly effected by driving away their Cattel and making them submit through extream necessity after they had been got together in the Woods about forty Days The Second was by the timely Notice the Deputy had of Two thousand Scotch Highlanders landing to joyn with the Irish and knowing nothing that they had laid down their Arms as to their greatest number they came on with such as fell in with them by the way in hopes to joyn the rest breaking into the Province of Connaught where indeed a great many of the Country Peasants took Arms on their part but the Lord-Deputy by speedy Marches towards them and finding they were got into Bogs and Fastnesses after he had encamped within sight a-while feigned a Retreat and they by reason of their over-numbring him supposing he had fled immediately followed but were no sooner trained on the firm ground e're the English fac'd about charged their Front and Flanks piercing the Array of their Battel and put them to utter rout and confusion so that not above eighteen of them escaped of upwards of Three thousand which crushed the Scots attempting to help them in their Rebellion These bad Successes shewing plainly the Hand of Heaven against them did not however make them sensible of their Misfortune in taking up Arms against a powerful Nation for perceiving themselves too weak to struggle in the Lyons Paws they began to tamper with other Nations alledging after the Reformation Religion as a ground to justifie their Rebellions though they were ever starting from their Allegiance when both Nations professed that of the Roman Catholick Communion but now taking this for a plausible pretext the Earl of Tyrone began undâ—r hand to deal with Philip the Second of Spain for Succours of Men and Ammunition promising to hold the Kingdom at his Devotion but this being about to be discovered by Hugh O Neale Tyrone in a rage clapped a Cord about his Neck and strangled him with his own hands Notwithstanding this it was known and he summoned to answeâ— it in the English Court and upon some assurance of Pardon he went submitting himself and making such plausible Protestations of Innocency that times running high by reason that the Spaniards were about to Invade England he was pardoned and sent over again but afterward proved Ingrateful and a very dangerous Enemy Much about this time one Mac Malcoon a leading Man among the Irish stirred up Commotions about paying Taxes for which he was taken tried and executed his Estate being given partly to his Family and partly to the English that living upon it they might curb and over-awe the rest Whereupon one Brian O Roch who had sided with him to prevent a present Punishment fell into an open Rebellion but upon the Rout that immediately was given him he fled into Scotland for Protection but the Queen's Influence was so great upon that Kingdom that she had him delivered up and being tried at Westminster he was there found Guilty and being carried to Tyburn he was there executed without being concerned at Death These things having been buzzed in the ears of the Multitude to have been done in an Arbitrary Way the Earl of Tyrone thought it a fit time to lay hold on their Discontents and raised all the Forces he could calling in the Spaniard and imploring the other Roman Catholick Nations to assist him as he pretended to prevent Heresies over-running that Kingdom nor was the Pope to whom he had sent one Steâ—â—ley an English Renagado as his Agent wanting to further his Design causing 600 Harquibussers to be levied in the Territories of the Church for the Service of Tyrone â— But Sâ—ewkley who commanded them coming into the Port of Lisbon with them at what time King Don Sebastian was going to invade Africa he retained them for his Service when at the fatal Battel of Alcazaz against the Moors they were all cut to pieces However Tyrone being very much strengthned gave the English a great Overthrow and put all Connaught Vlster and Munster in Arms and the War after that went on with doubtful Success sometimes one Party prevailed and sometimes another Here the famous Earl of Essex the great Favourite of Queen Elizabeth commanded but whilst he was fighting in Ireland he was undermined by his Foes at the English Court and being called home and some Misdemeanours in this War and other things charged against him he was confined to his House where falling into Discontent he after having imprisoned the Privy Counsellors that were sent to him from the Queen he broke out into open Violence for which he lost his Head on Tower-hill The Fall of so brave a Souldier proving afterward to small cause of Grief to the Queen and his Loss was greatly regretted by the People whose Darling he was The Lord Norrice being Deputy of Ireland in the stead of the Earl of Essex he followed his business so close that giving Tyronâ— several Overthrows and beating out the Spaniards that came to his Assistance he at last was left by his Followers who cursing him for bringing them into such Troubles shifted as they could so that after he had lurked up and down some Months suffering extream Necessity he came and surrendred himself to the Lord-Deputy upon promise he should be sent over to England there to throw himself at the Queen's Feet for Mercy and according he was sent over and committed to the Tower but the Queen dying before he could be brought to Trial King Iames the Sixth of Scotland and First of England coming to the Crown he was by an Act of Indempnity pardoned and set at Liberty he and all his Adherents promising exact Obedience for the future and that wise King knowing how to settle a troublesome Nation as having been brought up in one himself he knew it was best to prevent and lay aside Animosities and therefore by his Proclamation of Pardon he utterly extinguished all Offences not only against the Crown but between Subject and Subject as to particular Trespasses
behind them and happy they thought themselves in that Condition if they could pass the Seas either to England or Scotland for although several of the Protestant Nâ—bility and Gentry made Head in the North yet the Enemy having in their Posseâ—sion all the strong Towns they found themselves too weak to make any extraordinary Resistance against so mighty a Torrent as came roaring on however they gave several oâ— their Parties notable Overthrows fortifying London-Derry Slego and the â—â—le of Inniskilling and such other Places and Difficulties of Access as they found Opportunity for by this time Tyrconnel had given Orders for sâ—opping the Ports and made many large and plausible Offers to bring them over to his Party but they prevailed on a very few The Prince and Princess being proclaimed King and Queen of England France and Ireland on the 14th of February 1688. upon the Humble Address of both Houses of Parliament great care was taken for the speedy succouring the oppressed Protestants of Ireland and that the Papists in Arms against them might be left without Excuse a Proclamation was sent over offering among other things a Pardon and Indempnity for all that should in Obedience to it lay down their Arms and retire to their respective places of Abode and there peaceably behave themselves as obedient Subjects ought to do upon which Condition they should in full Freedom enjoy their Estates according to Law and that the Roman Catholicks upon such a Consideration should have all the Favour that the Law allows for the private Exercise of their Religion with a further Promise That a Parliament should be speedily called in that Kingdom But upon refusing to comply with the Royal Mandate to be esteemed as Rebels and Traytors to the Crown of England c. their Lands and Possessions to be Forfeited and disposed of by way of Distribution among those that should be Aiding and Assisting in the Reducing the Kingdom to its Obedience This Royal Concession though Tyrconnel laboured what in him lay to hinder its being dispersed wrought some good Effects notwithstanding that Earl to counter-ballance it put forth a Paper which he termed his Declaration not only therein insinuating what great Advantage the Kingdom would reap by â—anding out But that their Fears might be dissipated he promised speedy Aids and Succours from France and that they should not want for either Money or Provision and moreover the better to encourage them gave hopes of King Iames's speedy landing there with a numerous Army And the better to secure himself and keep up the Courage of his Party he sent out Detachments to secure divers Protestant Gentlemen in the Country and make Garrisons of their Houses But the greatest part of them having timely notice made their Escapes by which the Protestants grew stronger in the North however their Goods and Possessions were destroyed and harassed The Priests being the greatest Incendiaries to stir up those that were actually in Arms to Spoil and Rapine as being sure of a share as likewise to Arm the madding Multitude so that one might see Droves of the latter some half naked others tattered and all in miserable Rags armed with Pitchforks Bills Staves and what other merciless Weapons they could get on the suddain running like so many Furies to spoil and plunder and in their greediness of Prey not many times distinguishing Papists from Protestants And it was strongly reported That there was a great Debate in the Council to which some Popish Bishops were admitted about a General Massacre as the best Expedient to clear the Country of Hereticks But Tyrconnel let it be to his praise had the Generosity to oppose and detest it and put a stop in some measure to the mischievous progress of the Rabble yet when some of the Chiefs who had got Protections from him made their Complaints That they were notwithstanding plundered He only shook his Head and told them It was Necessity that made his Men to do it and he could no ways help or restrain it These violent proceedings made those that thought upon the Earl's Protection they might have some confidence in their continuance as to safety begin to make away for the Sea-coast and although the Masters of Ships were commanded on pain of Death to transport none yet many escaped to England and Scotland where they were well received and Provision made for them by way of Publick Brief and Collection c. About the latter end of March the Abdicated King landed in Ireland with a great Train of Officers but very few Forces and was received at Dublin with a mixture of Joy and Sorrow bringing with him as his Supervisor Monsieur D'Avaux with some French Generals The Recorder of Dublin made a long Speech to him upon his Arrival extolling him for Courage Conduct and all the Heroick Vertues imaginable above the Skies and a general Joy spread in the faces of the Roman Catholicks thinking now the day was all their own and not doubting to carry every thing by force or submission and more Soldiers were Listed and Regimented under the French Officers that came over and care taken to lay up Stores Money was every where extorted and the plundered Cattel Corn and Hay brought in and sold at inconsiderable Rates insomuch that they soon gathered an Army of between Forty and Fifty Thousand Men. Whilst these things were doing at Land the English Navy being out at Sea with a strict Charge to hinder Correspondence between France and Ireland the Squadron under the Command of Admiral Herbert had Notice by their Scout Ships that part of the French Fleet was abroad and stood away to the Irish Coast Whereupon he made all the Sail he could after them and the next Day found they stood into Bantry Bay a very spacious bearing in of the Sea and though for fear of the Shallows and other Difficulties that might offer it proved a work of Difficulty to enter upon them for they seemed no ways willing to come out to an Engagement notwithstanding they were much superiour in number yet the Admiral drawing his Ships into a Line and lying upon the stretch battered them extreamly from Ten in the Morning till Five in the Afternoon at what time the French Admiral tacked from us and stood farther into the Bay We killed them a great many Men and some of our Men declareâ— they saw one of their great Ships go to the bottom On our side we lost Captain Aylmer of the Portland with a Lieutenant and about Three hundred Seamen killed and wounded and could our Fireships have entred upon them most of their Ships which were Forty four in number to about Twenty eight of ours might have been destroyed Our Fleet after this Engagement came back to Portsmouth and there refitted whether the King of England went to take a view of them and Dining aboard the Admiral created him Earl of Torrington c. and distributed about Six thousand pound among the Seamen And now the French
During these Transactions divers Parties were abroad who hindered the scattered Irish from getting together Reducing some Castles Forts and other advantageous Fortresses and Posts to their Majesties Obedience His Majesty now resolving as is said to besiege the strong Town of Lymerick scituate on the River Shannon under the shelter of which the greatest part of the Enemies rallied Forces were retired being about 25000 strong Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas who had for some time blocked up Athlone was ordered to draw off and to joyn the Royal Army on its way The Garrison was composed of a mixture of French and Irish they had various Disputes about Surrendring that important Place upon honourable Terms but at last were prevailed with by the Earl of Tyrconnel to stand upon their Defence Whilst the Army prepared to march towards Lymerick and his Majesty to be present at that Siege had put off his intended passing over from England 50 of our Dragoons approaching the Town of Youghall the place surrendred To bring it to which the Contrivance was in this manner The Garrison that marched from Waterford was conducted by those Dragoons under the command of Captain Pownal to Youghall who telling the Governour of the Place who was the same that Surrendered up Carickfergus the precedent Year the certain Ruin he would bring upon himself if he thought of holding out and thereupon advising him to a Surrender he after some further Debate only desired him to expect his Answer till Ten at night at which time he privately marched out with Three Companies of Foot giving the Captain an unexpected possession of the Town where he found 14 Guns mounted and 2 without Carriages 350 Barrels of Oats 215 stone of Wooll and several other sorts of Provisions but neither Powder nor Ball. The King being thus far on his March a Deserter came out of Lymerick to our Camp and gave Information That the French had marched out of the Town with eight Field-pieces and took their way towards Galloway there if urgency required it to be ready for Imbarcation to France and not only those in the Town were unsettled and discontented and that others displeased at Tyrconnel 's proceeding were retired to the Mountains of Kerry and such Fear the Approach of our Army brought upon the Enemy made them break down the Bridges to retard their March However that hindered but little for where they found them in that Condition they forded the Rivers and that the People might be still assured of his Majesty's Clemency towards them another Declaration was published and also that a Blessing might attend his Arms a Fast was proclaimed to be observed through all the Provinces of the Kingdom under their Majesty's Obedience on the 15th of August and to be observed constantly during the War on Friday in every Week which was Religiously kept as well out of a due sense of God's Mercies and Favours already extended towards the late languishing Kingdom in a wonderful Deliverance as what they further expected The Approach of our Forces was no sooner known to Tyrconnel and Lauzun but they retired further into the Country leaving Monsieur Boisteau Governour in the Town with a very good Garrison and store of Provision the French retiring under the Walls of Galloway but the Inhabitants not liking such unfriendly Guest who sought their Master's Interest more than the welfare of Ireland shut their Gates and denied them Entrance However at last being received into the Town at the Instance of Tyrconnel and others they shewed their Resentments by dealing very severely with the Inhabitants and we had an account that they hanged up two of those that were most active in opposing their Admittance The Army approaching Lymerick found the Enemy strongly posted about a Mile from the Town and that they had lined the Hedges from whence they fired upon our Men but were soon dislodged and obliged to fly to their Main-guard and the English passed the River Shannon without any considerable Resistance the Enemy that guarded the further shoar flying at their approach and for haste left behind them several Tents and other Materials and encamping within the reach of their great Guns they raised Works to secure them from the shot though some were killed by random Bullets The Army was no sooner Encamped and Entrenchers made some Advance but the King sent to Summon the Governour to Surrender withal offering him very good Conditions but he utterly refused it returning answer That he was resolved to defend the place to the last Extremity Upon which the Trenches were opened and the great Guns being on their way to the Camp Colonel Sarsfield with a strong Party taking a great Compass set upon those that had them in Charge and over-powering the Convoy killed divers of the Waggoners not sparing their Wives with their Children in their Arms burning some of the Waggons and Carriages of the Cannon Nailing up part of the great Guns and breaking others But upon the approach of Captain Coningham with a Party of the Inniskilling-men they made a hasty Retreat yet the Captain fell in with their Rear killed some took other Prisoners and recovered a considerable Booty So that these and other great Guns being brought to the Camp Clonmel a small Fort near Lymerick Surrendred upon Discretion and the Garrison made Prisoners of War And now the Batteries being raised the Cannons spoke English Language in Thunder against the Town and the Trenches were Advanced within 300 Paces of the Wall and two Redoubts taken the which and other Successes of the like nature made them Advance towards another Redoubt Whenas Colonel Douglas mounting the Guard and the sign appointed given by firing 8 Guns for Attacking it those that were Detached for the Service being 150 besides Officers fell on with extraordinary Bravery and Entering the Fort drove out the Enemy killing about 40 possessed themselves of it though the Enemy from the Town made a vigorous Sally with Horse and Foot and the new Batteries being levelled against the high Towers soon laid them in Rubbish also the Bombs and Carkasses thrown in set a great many Houses on fire So that under the favour of these Consternations the Enemy were put unto our Men made their Advances within Thirty Paces of the Ditch and the Cannon still playing not only widened the Breach but beat down part of the Counterscarp and Palisado's so that an Attack was made on the Counterscarp begun by a detached Party of Granadiers seconded by other Detachments who soon gained it as also a Fort the Enemy had under the Wall but instead of lodging themselves as they were commanded thinking Fortune was altogether now on their side they pushed on to enter the Breach in pursuit of the Irish that ran thither but the Cannon being turned upon them charged with Cartridge-shot the greater part of those that were Advanced were cut off and some blown up by the springing of a Mine in the Ditch so that by computation 100 Men were killed and
and now Dublin wherein was a strong Garison commanded by Colonel Iones being the only place of strength that held out the Marquess laid Siege to it with a brave Army to appearance but it seems there were too many Irish in it for the Besieged taking the advantage of the carelesness of the Camp made at first very slender Sallies but finding the advantage they sallied with their whole strength and beating the Besiegers out of their Works followed them into their Camp which occasioned such Terrour and Confusion that the Irish fled and left the English and some few French to stand to it but being overâ—owered by the vigorous Attacks they at â—ength after a sharp and bloody Dispute gave â—way and were forced to raise the Siege whilst â—he Besieged became Masters of their Camp â—nd an extraordinary rich Booty and more Forces arriving from England Fortune went against them almost every where And now London-Derry being besieged that Siege was â—aised by Sir Charles Coot but what yet was a greater Terrour Cromwell a vowed and morâ—al Enemy to the Irish landed with seven Regiments of Foot four Regiments of Horse â—nd one of Dragoons bringing along with him â—he Title of Lord Governour or Lieuteâ—ant of Ireland and had to bring over â—hese Forces forty Sail of Ships with â—attering Pieces Mortars Ammunition â—nd all other Warlike Stores and Materials He staid a while to visit Dublin and â—hen marched with a compleat Army to â—esiege Drogheda wherein was a strong Garâ—ison of English and Irish it being upon â—he Rumour of his Approach reinforced with Two thousand five hundred Foot and Three â—undred Horâ—e and although it was stoutly â—efended yet it was carried by Force and by the too cruel Order of the General all were put to the Sword not respecting Age â—or Sex except a very few who hid themâ—elves for many Days till the Fury was over And here it is the more to be lamented beâ—ause this Brunt fell mostly upon many brave English Gentlemen who were got into the Place to Defend it for their King Otheâ— Towns were likewise taken by Storm anâ— treated at the like rate so that a bloody Vengeance seemed to fall heavy upon a great many that were Innocent for the Sins of the Guilty who had so lately polluted the Land witâ— Innocent Blood and now kept mostly out oâ— the way in the Mountains Bogs and Fastneâ—ses however being at last hunted from placâ— to place a great number fell by the Sworâ— Famine and Pestilence insomuch that the Lanâ— was greatly Depopulated a third part of thâ— People being wasted and had severe Task Masters over them that made them Groan â—nder their Burthens till Charles the Seconâ— came to lighten their Sholders and restoâ—â— them again their Peace and Eaâ—e by Accessioâ— to the Crown upon the Happy Restauration so that the People wearied with their formeâ— Miseries began to be out of love with Waâ— and Insurrections and seemed mightily inclinâ—ble to Peace And indeed the King too care to place such Ministers of State among them especially the Lords Lieutenants anâ— Lords Justices that they had no reasonablâ— cause to complain of their Usage either iâ— Affairs Civil or Military and indeed thâ— Tranquility the Kingdom enjoyed made thâ— People in a great measure forget what theâ— had suffered They traded to France anâ— Spain with the product of their Native Soil the Rivers and Lakes likewise affording theâ— plenty of Fish which they transported foâ— Wine and other Commodities Nor did theâ—â— Thoughts appear to be elevated above what was reasonable till the Death of the King But when King Iames the Second ascended his Brother's Throne and declared himself a Roman Catholick then it was the Irish Papists began to prick up their Ears and to expect Advantages beyond their Abilities publickly declaring The Day was their own and that the Protestant Religion must go down But it seems in this as in their other Aims they took such Measures as made them shoot wide of their Mark The Earl of Tyrconnel who had been raised by King Iames when Duke of York from a mean to a considerable Figure was looked upon as a fit Instrument to carry on the Design in that Kingdom and therefore upon the re-calling of the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon he was made Lord-Lieutenant and soon gave the Irish great Hopes of Superiority over the English in that Kingdom by first Cashiering the Protestant Soldiers and Officers that were in Arms and then the Officers and Ministers of Justice And though there were Complaints made against him at the English Court yet they were not regarded but he the rather encouraged in his Enterprizes insomuch that things run so high that many feared a fatal Event and divers left thereupon the Kingdom some going for Holland others for Scotland and England and in such a method Matters continued to be pushed violently on till News came of a purposed Invasion of the Kingdom of England by the Prince of Orange now our Soveraign then Tyrconnel beâ—tir'd himself to secure Ireland Imprisoning such as he suspected and Disarming others draining the Garrisons of the most expert Irish Soldiers that were Papists and sending them over to the number of Three thousand or thereabout to the Assistance of his Master but they did him far more hurt than good by increasing the Peoples Fears that were but before suggested And indeed the whole English Nation Revolting in a manner from King Iames and what was more remarkable a great part of the Army he had been so long Training up at a vast Expence Upon the Landing of the Prince with his Forces the Irish Forces that had been sent over in expectation of Mountains found that they were not only dwindled into less than Mole-hills but themselves in a miserable Condition not only at the point of starving when Disbanded with the rest of the Forces by the Earl of Feversham but almost exposed to the Fury and violent Resentment of the People who had conceived a Hatred against them so that at last submitting they were taken care of and most of them shipped for the Emperour's Service against the Turks Tyrconnel was not idle in Ireland upon the News he had from England of King Iames his Flight to France but calling a Council mostly of his Creatures told them That now it was their time to stand up for their Country and secure it against all Opposers and that for his part if even his Master should command him to deliver up the Sword he should think it in such â— Iuncture his Duty to Refuse it And immediately not only spread the News throughout the Country but caused the Irish every where to take Arms such as they could get â—o â—haâ— the Tumultuous Rabble getting together plundered the Protestant Houses drove away their Cattel fired their Stacks of Corn and Hay murthered some and barbarously used others insomuch that the Terrour working in all such as could fled for their Lives leaving their Substance