A JOURNAL OF The Three Months Royal Campaign OF His MAJESTY IN IRELAND Together With A True and Perfect Diary OF THE Siege of LYMERICK By Samuel Mullenaux M. D. LONDON Printed for P. Lee in Westminster-Hall near the Common Pleas M.DC.XC The Journal Of His Majestys Royal Campaigne In IRELAND c. INTRODUCTION THE Heroick Actions of William III. in His Three Months Campaign in Ireland is a Subject of so sublime a Nature worthy only of those celebrated Authors of Antiquity that sung the Praises of their Gods And as none but the greatest Masters were allowed to draw the Pictures of any of the Caesars so it is to be wished there might arise among the Writers of this Age some Pen equal to the other famed Pencils that may be capable to hand down to Posterity such Actions of King William as the Ages to come will hardly have faith to believe The King in this Campaign in Ireland made good the Axiom of that learned Soldier Zenophon That a Prince ought to be the Soul of his Army And if ever the Naturalists Definition of a Soul could admit of a favourable Sense it was then when His Majesty was to His Army All in All and All in every Part in the several Actions of the Campaign where Honour and Necessity both did call Him on that Memorable Day of the Boyne in the Trenches and under the Walls of Lymerick His Majesty behaved Himself to that Astonishing height of Courage as to be able to say with as much Reason or rather more than he of Old who was pleased to say of Himself How many do you reckon me I remember the same great Person in his Life of Cyrus tells us There is something of Emanation that from the Soul of a Hero communicates it self to those about them This appears true of our Forces in Ireland and the Presence and Example of their Royal Leader seem'd to infuse into them a Courage as extraordinary as the Cause for which they fought His Majesty has so far imitated that Northern Hero Gustavus Adolphus that 't is evident he designs to surpass the Original In One of that King's Letters to Chancellor Oxersterm who had kindly chid him for exposing his Person in Battle he tells him If ever a Prince be obliged to shew the greatness of his Courage he must do it at the beginning of a Conquest 'T is then says he he must provide a happy period to the War by a fortunate Beginning and in order to do this he must conquer as soon as possible and he must conquer in Person His Renown continues he must go a great way before his Ensigns and he must level the Walls and open the Gates of Towns by the alone Terror of his Name Those who after the Example of Alexander adds this brave King do quit their own Country to seek Glory and Empire in other Nations must venture all and by their Personal Valour must put a distinction betwixt them and other Princes that live at home Thus far Gustavus Adolphus And never was there a nearer Parallel than betwixt his Famous Action at the Isle of Rugen which gave so great a Reputation to his Arms at his first entry into Germany and that of His Majesty at the Bovne The first made way for a Glorious Chain of Victories which have gained the King of Sweden an immortal Name and this last has made way for an intire Conquest of Ireland and for other Laurels yet to come The many Advantages that attend this Summers Successful Campaign in Ireland we have seen in a considerable part already but what innumerable Ones are yet remaining a little time will discover in a Meridian Light Who can be able to count up the Thousandth part of the Advantages the poor Protestants of Ireland have heap'd by one single Victory They only are fit to represent them who are the one day penn'd up in dark Prisons every Minute expecting that the first opening of the Door would usher in upon them Harbingers of Death and who the very next day thereafter had those Doors set wide open at the approach of their Illustrious Deliverer In fine none can fathom the vastress of the Change that one single Day has produc'd in Dublin but he who having his Head laid down upon the Block without hopes of taken it up again has had a Pardon delivered him at the very nick of time when the fatal Axe was lifting up to give the blow It 's hard to determine whether this Island of Britain or that of Ireland has gain'd most by this successful Campaign As they out-vied one an other in the greatness of the hazard they were in so they now out vye one another in the greatness of their Deliverance the Dangers that this Island was lately in is so well known that there is the less need of delineating them And I think no true Lover of his Country can look back upon them but with such a horror as the now safe Passenger does from the Shoar behold the raging Billows that threatned him some hours ago with an inevitable Death And I am persuaded that His Majesties Success in Ireland has not only put Englands late sinking Bark within the shelter of a Bay but placed her in a safe Harbour In short this three Months Successful Campaign in Ireland has been to King William what the fam'd Rubican was to Caesar But with this difference that instead of Caesar's Design to enslave Rome that of our truly invincible Monarch is to give Liberty to Europe Assistance to his Allies safety and repose to his Subjects and to acquire a never-dying Glory to Himself The JOURNAL c. ON Wednesday June 12 in the Morning His Majesty accompanied with His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark and several other Persons of Quality embarked at High-lake and the same afternoon went out to Sea but the Wind wavering made not much way that day but on Friday the 14th the Wind proving fair made amends for the slowness of the two former days Sailing and on Saturday about three in the Afternoon His Majesty came into the Lough of Carrickfergus with the whole Fleet that attended Him His Majesty on His Landing immediately mounted and rode on Horse-back through the main Street of the Town which was lined on both sides with innumerable Crouds of People who bid His Majesty wellcome with continual Shouts and Acclamations At the White-house half-way betwixt Carrickfergus and Belfast His Majesty was met by the Duke of Schenbergh in his Coach and Six Horses the King was pleased to a-light and go into the Duke's Coach attended only with one Troop of Horse and a few Gentlemen and immediately drove over the Strand to Belfast The uncertainty of the time and place of His Majestys Landing and the suddenness of the News was such that few of the Multitude that Flocked to Belfast to see it had their ends the Generals motion was so quick yet before they got into the Town there were
de la Meloniere gave Protections to a great many Papists who expected to have been plundered and marched to joyn the Army whom we shall leave for a little time and give the Reader here an account of the Movements of the late King and his Troops and the Affairs in and about Dublin and the Protestants therein Friday June 13. The Protestants in Dublin receiv'd the certain Account of King William's Landing Before this a Camp had been laid out by the Irish about Atherdeâ— and the late King James had ordered his Army to Rendezvouz there from several parts of the Kingdom On Monday the 16th King James marched out of Dublin to joyn them with about 6000 French Foot most old Soldiers excellently well Arm'd and Clad one Regiment of these were Dutch and Protestants and were observed carefully for fear of Deserting The whole Irish Army encamped made about 36000 all well Clad and in good heart both Horse and Foot The same day King James left Dublin there marched in 6000 of the Countrey Militia and Collonel Luterel and Mac Gillicuddy as his Assistant were left Governors It was expected the Irish would have been much cast down upon King James's leaving Dublin and the certain News of King Williams's Landing but they were much the contrary they Triumphed and rejoyced as if they had got King William in a Pound and the Day were their own They were assured either that the French Fleet would cut of King William from England or that an Insurrection would be made there for we were told that an hundred thousand Men were ready to rise under the Notion of declaring for a Common-wealth The Protestants in Dublin knew not what to think of these things for they were kept as Prisoners of War and suffered to know no more nor enjoy any more than what the others pleased But this the Protestants feared most because the Irish spoke least of it that some desperate Persons had undertaken to Destroy King William as soon as he should come ashoar For the great assurance of the Irish could not be imputed to any other thing than this Some were so open as to tell their Protestant Friends very lately That they would be glad to go to Mass within this Twelve Month with several other Expressions of the like nature The great concern of the Protestants in Dublin was how they should be preserved from being Plundered and Burnt in case of the Defeat of the Irish Army this they thought could be done only by the English pursuing the Victory close for by a particular Providence the Irish had neglected all this time to fortifie Dublin or else by sending a Party by Sea to Land at the Bay at the time of the Engagement neither of which as it afterward happen'd was done But God alone preserv'd the Protestants of Dublin by an extraordinary Deliverance On Thursday June 19. After King James was gone to Encamp about Twelve at Noon the Governour ordered all Persons walking the Streets without Swords or Bayonets which was the Badge of Protestants to be taken up and secured in Parades At Night he pickt out whom he thought fit and sent them to several Prisons where they were considerably incommoded After this followed a Proclamation That not above Five Protestants should meet in any place above the Family on pain of Death By which they were from that time shut out from our Churches which by an extraordinary Providence they had enjoyed all these times except Christ Churh Most of them were frequented twice every Day at Prayers The Church-men who stayed in the City though they had lost all their Subsistance by the Irish Parliament except what People voluntarily contributed acquitted themselves with a great deal of Zeal and Diligence being particularly influenc'd by the Bishop of Meath and Dr. King Dean of St. Patricks who have been the Bulwark of the Protestants in these sad times On Tuesday 24. Dr. King was clapt up in the Castle and many other of the principal Protestants in the College which was now a Garison and other publick places The Galway Protestants being about 200 these were they of Sir Thomas Southwel's party which were lately brought to Dublin 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 near stifled The Prisoners of War were brought from Kilmainham to St. John's Church the publick Contributions which hitherto had been very liberal every Lord's Day to their Relief were now intercepted and the Poor began to suffer much few Protestants daring to walk the Streets Saturday the 28th News came to Dublin That the Irish Army retreated and the English Army were come towards Droghedah and seemed to press forward for Dublin On Sunday the 29th the Irish Army came on this side the Boyne and King James as it should seem distrusting the Issue Sir Patrick Trant First Commissioner of the Revenue and another Gentleman were ordered to go from Dublin on Monday Morning to Waterford to prepare Ships July 1st Early in the Morning the Protestants in Dublin were wakened by an Alarm and the News that there would be a Battle The Gates of the City were kept strictly Guarded and the Protestants kept their Houses The Issue they expected with the greatest apprehensions Several Reports were spread abroad every Hour one while that the French Fleet were in the Bay another that a French Express was come from Waterford with the news of taking the Isle of Wight by the French and of their being gone to Dover then that the English Right Wing was quite routed then that the P. of Orange was taken Prisoner But at Five that Afternoon some that had made their escape on tired Horses told the Protestants The Irish were much worsted and others at Six That they were totally defeated from hence till One that Night all the Entries of the Town were filled with dusty wounded and tired Soldiers and Carriages perpetually coming in After these several of King James's Horse Guards came in stragling without Pistols or Swords and could not tell what was become of himself Near ten that Night he came in with about 200 Horse all in disorder The Protestants concluded now that it was a total rout and that the English Army were just ready to come into Town but were greatly Surprised when an hour or two after they heard the whole Body of the Irish Horse coming in in very good order with Kettle-Drums Haut boys and Trumpets and early the next Morning the French and a great Party of the Irish Foot These being a little rested Marched out again as they gave out to meet the Enemy which were supposed to draw nigh Wednesday July 2d About five this Mornning King James having sent for the Irish Lord Mayor and some Principle Persons to the Castle made a Speech to them to this purpose Gentlemen I had a very good Army in England and when I had the greatest occasion for them they
deserted Me and went to the Enemy and finding a total Defection against Me there I retired and went to France where I was kindly received by that King and had all the Assurances imaginable from Him to Re-establish Me in My Throne In some time after I came to this Kingdom and found My Roman Catholick Subjects here as well equipp'd and prepared to defend My Cause as their Abilities could bear And tho' I have often been told That when it came to the Touch they would never bear the brunt of a Battle I could never credit the same till now when having a good Army and all Preparations fit to Engage any Forreign Invader I found the total Truth of which I had been so often Cautioned And tho' the Army did not desert Me here as they did in England Yet when it câ—me to a Tryal they hasely fled the field and left the spoil to My Enemies Nor could they be prevail'd upon to Rally tho' the Loss in the whole Defeat was but inc nsiderable So that henceforward I never more determine to Head an Irish Army and do now resolve to shift for My self and so Gentlemen must You It has been often debated in case such a Revolution should happen whether upon deserting the City of Dublin the same ought not to be Fired I therefore Charge you on Your Allegience That you neither Rifle the City by Plunder nor Destroy it by Fire which in all Kingdoms will be judged very Barbarous and must be believed to be done by My Orders and if done there will be but little Mercy expected from an Enemy thus Enraged He told them Tho' he quitted Dublin He did not quit his Interâ—st in it He told his Menial Servants That he should have now no farther Occasion to keep such a Court as he had done and that therefore they were at Liberty to Dispose of themselves And so with Two or Three in Company he went to Bray and along by the Sea to Waterford having appointed his Carriages to meet him another way 'T is said he did not sleep till he got on Ship-board and having been once driven in again is since clear gone off All this day being Wednesday nothing was to be seen in Dublin but Officers and Carriages and the Principal Persons of the Town their Wives and Families going away others coming in dusty and weary getting away as fast as they could About tour in the Afternoon the Protestants were affrighted with the appearance of the Irish Horse which were drawn out of the City early in the morning and which they hop'd had been quite gone entering into the Town followed by the French and Irish Foot in a full Body but they onâ—y marched through the Town to go farther the Militia that kept the City followed them only the Governour remained At last he resolved to march also and to drive two or three hundred of the Principal Prisoners before him but while they were preparing for this a false Allarm was spread that a Party of the English being Landed at the Harbour were just at the Towns-end it was too dusky to disprove this by View and they had not leasure to send a Meâ—â—enger but in hast shifted for themselves The Protestants now began to look out not knowing well in what Condition they were in but venturing to the Castle they found Capt. Farlow who had been a Prisoner there keeping Garrison alone Upon this Captain Robert Fitz-Gerald and several others who had been Prisoners went immediately from the Captains own House towards the City taking their way by the Council Chamber and Custom-house which he found by the care of Mr. Francis Babe lately Survey r General of the Revenue were both secured and continued the Keys of both places to his Trust setting Guards on each From thence the Captain with the rest repaired to the Castle which they found Deserted by the Papists and on which they seized for their Majesties Service having made Sir Robert Gore who was till then a Prisoner in the Castle Governour for that Night And having set strong Guards on all Places Convenient in the Castle they passed through the Iron-Gate into the Castle Yard to secure what Stores were left as well of Arms and Amunition as Provisions where a great Rabble had met and forcing open the Store-house Doors had committed very great Outrages but upon their appearance and some other Persons of Quality that came to their Assistance by their Prudent Government this Tumultuous Rabble were dispersed and they forc'd out of the Castle-Yard and having well Secured by strong Guards the Castle-Yard and Stores Committing the Stores to the Charge of Captain Farlow till they returned to the Castle and leaving the same in charge with Sr. Robert Gore they marched to the Main-Guard where were a Guard of the Militia who declared themselves for King James but were by their fair Perswasions prevailed upon to surrender their Arms and deliver up the Guards and left the Main-Guard that Night under Command of Captain Slaughter a Worthy Protestant and lately Disbanded Having secur'd the Main-Guard they went with Captain Slaughter to the several City Gates and set Guards on them They pass d through the several Streets of the City to prevent any Disorders they then return'd to the Castle and finding all things there in great Quiet and Security they took a March into part of the Suburbs and Commanded others with a Guard to secure the Remote Parts of the Suburbs and took the other Round through the City and Castle and all things being very safe they Selected out a certain number of their Company as the Bishop of Limerick Dr. King Dean Bourk the Captain Mr. Witchet Councellor Dixon Francis Babe and others to consult what was then fit to be done and about Six a Clock they sent out Proclamation by Beat of Drum for Regulating all Disorders and forming a Protestant Militia and sent away Express to the King by Councellor Dixon and Mr. Francis Babe with their Letters to His Majesty at the Camp These Gentlemen found him Marching up to Dublin in two Lines expecting to meet the Irish at Swords at the same time that they gave His Majesty an Account of Dublins being at Liberty News came of the Surrender of Drogheda which he had left a Party to Besiege and in which they had Pinnioned all the Protestants and Prisoners and placed them under that part of the Wall which was to be Battered but this was not known till after the Surrender Till Afternoon this Thursday July the 3. the Protestants in Dublin did not hear a word of the English Army in the mean time they had reports That the Irish and French were coming back and very near them which gave a damp to their briskness but this blowing over and the certain account of the English Army being come they then perceived themselves at Liberty The Protestants ran about saluting and embracing one another and blessing God for this wonderful deliverance as
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
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