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
delighted Nations from the Storms of Discontent and Trouble From all which we may conclude That if Ireland ever was desirous to be in a prosperous state the time is come that puts that Opportunity into the hands of her Inhabitants to become a happy People When on the other hand had things succeeded as too many of them unadvisedly wished some few Months since they might instead of being at perfect Liberty been the Sons and Daughters of Slavery and the most severest of Bondages under the French Tyranny which how easie that Yoke is to bear the Subjects of France have fatally experienced in the Reigns of many of their former Kings but more especially under Lewis XIV to avoid which the more discerning part have undergone a voluntary Exile and become a scattered People over the Face of the Earth finding better usage in barbarous Nations This I hope may suffice to warn the Irish to consider where their Interest lies and to embrace their Majesties Protection as their true Asylum A TRUE and IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF THE Kingdom of Ireland DESCRIBING Its Situation Ancient Inhabitants Manners Customs and the State it was found in at the Time it was Invaded and Conquered by the English in the Reign of King Henry II. c. THE Kingdom of Ireland is of no mean Extent but rather very large and considerable It is an Island it is bounded on the East with England and Scotland on the West with the main Ocean on the South with part of France and Normandy and on the North with the Ducalidonian Sea It is as all other Islands surâ—ounded with Water containing in Length 40â— and in Breadth 200 Miles and is especially parted or divided into four Provinces viz. Munster which is again divided into the Counties of Limerick Kerrey Waterford Cork Desmon and the Holy Cross in Tipperary 2. The Province of Leinster divided into the Counties of the East and West Meaths Kilkenney Caterlough King's County Kildare Wexford Dublin and Wicklow 3. The Province of Connoâ—â—â—â— divided into the Counties of Clare Thumond Majo Sligo Letarim and Roscomon 4. The Province of Vlster divided into the Counties of Tyrconnel Tyrone Cavan Coleraine Monaghan Antrim Down Armah and Lough and these are for the most part at this day replenished with many considerable Cities and Towns of which I shall have occasion to speak in the Series of this History as they shall fall in their proper places The Country is naturally very fruitful and seems by the Soil always to have been so though the Natives have not appear'd very active in improving it as being naturally given up to floath or to live by War and Rapine As for the first Peopling it after Noah's Flood it remains very much if not altogether in the dark the Natives having been imposed on by Monks and Bards a sort of Rimers and Fortune-Tellers with Fables for Reality though it is conjectured by the Learned that this Island was Peopled upon the Confusion of Tongues at Babel soon after the Flood and the Irish Historians of the best account tell us That one Bastolenus encouraged by the Example of Nimâ—od in Syria settled his Monarchy in the Western Islands and amongst others peopled this yet where he kept his head Residence no mention is made but that his three Sons ruling there had War with Giants that grew up in the Land and rebelled against them and that afterward divers Scythians roving to seek Adventures got footing there and so they go on in the doubtful Paths of Uncertainty a great way farther But true it is that according to our own Histories and those of other Nations the Irish began very early to rove abroad and in their Boats and such kind of Ships as they had coming frequently ashore in England and Scotland and other Places did great Mischief by Burning and Plundering but were frequently met withal and a great many of them killed Nor do we find that the Romans when they conquered Britain extended their Arms to Ireland It is held they were Converted to the Christian Religion by St. Iames the Apostle and some give large grounds for it but their Authors will have it done by one Palaâ—inus sent thither to that purpose by Pope Celestine but more especially perfected by St. Patrick to whom they ascribe a thousand Incredibilities But to leave these Conjectures that are not greatly pertinent to our Matter we now come nearer to that for which we have more Warrant and Certainty The first Acquaintance that the English had with the Irish as to any thing that is remarkable was in the Reign of Henry the Second of England their chief Communication being with France whether they sent several Bands of Soldiers to help them against the English who were Waring there under their King for the Recovery of his Right in the Provinces that were his Grand-father's which he having pretty well settled turned his Thoughts upon Ireland where he heard they were at Variance among themselves the whole Land being divided under many Petty Princes when it luckily happened a business fell out that gave him an easie Inlet to the Conquest of it for in the Year 1167. the Eastern Part of the Island along the Sea being possessed by Dormat Mac-mur King of Leinster his Cruelties had highly incensed his Subjects against him and what more raised their Fury was the Injury he did to Morice King of Meath by wheedling away his Queen and living with her in Adultery so that the inraged Husband seeking Reparation and Revenge invaded his Countries by the Assistance of Roderick O Conor King of Connaught at the Terror of whose Approach Dormat being detested by and forsaken of his Subjects was forced to flie to England and there implored Protection which upon taking an Oath of Fidelity and Obedience to the King was freely given him and Henry with a Sum of Money procured leave of Pope Adrian an English-man promoted to St. Peter's Chair that he might Conquer Ireland promising moreover throughly to establish the Christian Religion and bring it to an Acknowledgment of the See of Rome but whilst he was preparing to pass the Seas new Troubles arose in his French Territories that required his Presence yet by his Letters Patents he gave Leave with Encouragement to his Nobles and such others as were willing to go for Ireland Dormat impatient of his Exile mainly upon this Concession solicited Richard the King's Son promising not only his Daughter a very beautiful young Lady in Marriage but great Possessions in the Country when he should be restored and all his Territories after his Death The young Prince being of a Warlike Temper and thirsting after Glory resolved though his Father was absent to undertake this Expedition and early the next Spring sailed from Bristol with divers Ships on Board which were thirty Knights sixty Esquires and three hundred Archers the first English-men ever known to land in a Hostile-manner in Ireland and being met by Dormat with such Forces as he
going over a little before had raised they seized upon the Town of Wexford which was given to one Fitz-Stevens a Welch Gentleman according to Agreement upon his raising part of the Forces so that News of this and other Successes flying to England many Adventurers came over and although the Petty Kings joyned their Forces yet were they beat in divers bloody Battels and Dormat being restored had Dublin submitted to him inflicting grievous Punishments upon such of his Capital Enemies as he found there The Prince being now in Ireland greatly increasing in Strength that came over to him carried all before him which made King Henry who feared the Prince's aspiring upon such Successes and willing to have the honour of Conquering so large a Kingdom himself sent his Mandate to recall the English out of Ireland so that but a few being left with the Prince in Dublin and they reduced to a great streight by the Irish that had taken heart they nevertheless Sallied upon an Army of 30000 with not above 1500 Men and utterly routed them taking great Spoil and then coming for England he surrendered all the Cities and Forts he had taken into his Father's Hands for Dormat by this time was dead and in the Year 1172. King Henry landed with a Royal Army which brought such a Terrour upon Ireland that Roderick and most of the Petty Princes that were Independent or his Tributaries came witn their humble Supplications to intreat him That he would take the Government upon him as their Supream Prince and Lord So that at Christmas he made them a Noble Feast in Dublin and settled the Kingdom in Civil and Ecclesiastical Matters Reforming Abuses and Barbarities And soon after those that held out in Vlster were brought to submit from which time we may Date the Conquest of Ireland by the English under which Soveraignty it has ever since remained as a conquered Kingdom and now annexed to the Crown yet the Natives who are generally hot spirited uneasie and restless under Restraint have often strugled to break this Chain though to the Loss and Disadvantage mostly of themselves King Richard the First by reason of his Wars in the Holy Land his Imprisonment upon his Return in Austria and the Empire and other Disappointments he met with at home had no War with the Irish nor happened there any thing extraordinary but care and industry to settle the Government which was done with such tenderness that the Natives being more civilized began to think themselves happy in the change and that they were redeemed from perpetual War which when so many Princes governed as Absolute in their Dominions could not be avoided among so rough and stubborn a People But because King Edward the First had sent for Forces out of Ireland to help him against the Scots with whom he had mortal Wars the wilder sort of the Irish in Edward the Second's time invited them over and many of the leading Men of the Natives revolting ruining the Country but upon the English joyning Battel with them they were routed and about 11000 slain among whom was a King of Connought and one Okly a Lord of great Possessions but soon after the Lord Roger Mortimer being sent over as Lord Justice of Ireland he managed Matters so ill that the Scots were again called in under Edward Bruce Brother to the Scots King who taking several places by the Revolt of the Irish from the English Obedience caused himself to be Crowned King of Ireland But in a great Battel his Forces being routed and he labouring to restrain their flight was killed by one Morepass whom he likewise requited with Death before his Fall and the dead Bodies fell by that means on each other which happened in the Year 1320. However they were rather dispersed than broken doing considerable Mischief where they found an opportunity to fall upon the English that had settled themselves in the Towns and Villages near the Sea c. In the Year 1329. during the Reign of King Edward the Third the Irish in Leinster and Meath rebelled against whom the Earl of Ormond drew out what Forces he could but being over-poured in number was defeated and the Irish made great Spoils of the English Possessions and amongst other Barbarities burnt eighty of them in a Church where they had fled for Refuge but at last the English fortified themselves in Wexford and upon their approach to besiege it sallied out upon them with such Courage that Success crowned it and 4000 of the Irish were killed most of them that fled being hotly pursued were drowned in the River Slane which with some other Encounters where Victory declared on our side so quelled them that in this King's Reign they rebelled no more Anno 1398. in the Reign of King Richard the Second the Irish fell again into Rebellion and by Surprize fall upon the King's Lieutenant and divers Persons of Quality whom they slew which made the King with considerable Forces haste thither and Landing he put them in all parts to the Rout killing a great many and taking several of their Ring-leaders and keeping his Court of State at Dublin to him resorted the Nobility and chief of the Irish submitting and paying him Homage promising to keep the Country in quiet for the future but Troubles arising in England the King hastily left Ireland and was no sooner arrived in Wales but finding himself deserted he betook him to a Castle where he was seized by Henry Duke of Lancaster to whom he resign'd his Crown and was afterward inhumanly murthered Upon whose Death many Troubles and Contentions arose so that the English being embroyled at home Ireland was little minded the People there doing in a manner what they pleased But in the Reign of Henry the Fifth we being setled at home more care was taken to prevent the Outrages and Depradations of the Irish insomuch that several who had been formerly Offenders were punished and others fled amongst whom were divers of their great 0nes who notwithstanding the care of the Earl of Ormond then Lieuâ—enant of the Kingdom to repress them drew a great multitude of People into Rebellion but the Earl gave Battel at Redmore-Athy where the Irish under the Leading of O Moor stood stoutly to it as Men in despair but after a bloody Fight that coloured all the Ditches of the Fens with Blood the Battel swerved and the Irish were defeated with great slaughter Which quelled them in so terrible a manner that for a long time after they seemed out of Love with War So that nothing memorably occurs in History till the Reign of Henry the Seventh when the Earl of Kildare being Deputy one Richard Symons a Priest wheedled him into a belief that one Lambert a Youth whom he had brought up as his Scholar was really the Earl of Warwick Son to George Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward the Fourth that had escaped out of the Tower and was come thither for protection and the young Spark
having violated the Peace and undeniably begun the War in invading Ireland the King delayed not to denounce the War against them by a Declaration to that purport bearing Date the Seventh of May 1689. and great Preparations were made for passing over to Ireland Forces were Levied in all parts of England and Money prepared for defraying the Charge of the Expedition which was the more facilitated upon the Estates of Scotland submitting their Crown to King William and Queen Mary and taking of them upon their being owned and invested King and Queen of that Kingdom which they did by their Commissioners who waited upon Their Majesties to that purpose in the Banquetting-House at Whitehall And the Viscount of Dundee who had headed the Rebel Highlanders and others in that Kingdom being killed in a fatal Battel near St. Iohnstown things began to go better and the Success of the Scotch Affairs gave way to a more speedy prosecuting those in Ireland where the Inniskilling-men being abroad pierced the Enemies Quarters and got great Booties defeating divers Parties and making themselves terrible to the Enemy Upon News brought that Maccarty was in those Parts with a strong Party plundering and ravaging the Country Lieutenant-Colonel Berry with three Companies of Foot eight Troops of Horse and three of Dragoons marched towards them but upon their approach found they were made stronger than they were reported by another Party that had joyned them and were much superiour to him in number which obliged him before he found himself sufficiently strong to attack them to send to Colonel Woolsey at Inniskilling for a Re-inforcement which he no sooner obtained but he charged them with much bravery killing a considerable Number taking some Prisoners and putting the rest to flight but the Flyers in their way being greatly re-inforced rallied and came to second Encounter which for a time continued bloody and doubtful they by reason of their advantageous Post much galling our Horse with their Cannon but the Defiles or dirty narrow Passages being resolutely passed by our Foot and Dragoons they made themselves Masters of the Cannon which gave our Horse the advantage to charge the Enemies Horse who thereupon deserted the Foot and fled and the Foot after them a great many being killed and some taken Prisoners by which Defeat the Country was freed from great Incumbrances This part of the Enemies Army that had a long time lain heavy upon it being by this means and in this Battel fell of the Enemy by the Sword and those that were drowned in desperately throwing themselves into the Lough to escape the Pursuers about Three thousand There happened likewise divers other Rencounters of lesser note wherein the Protestants for the greatest part gained the advantage Whilst these things were doing the Irish Army with King Iames at the Head of it marched towards London-Derry promising themselves the Terrour of their Arms would oblige it to a Surrender upon their first approach but found they were extreamly mistaken for although Colonel Lundy the Governour and the two Regiments sent from England under the Colonels Cunningham and Richards had withdrawn and slighted it as a place not tenable against an Army of Forty thousand Men with a Train of Artillery and divers Mortars Providence so ordered it became the Bulwark of the sinking Nation and gave the Enemy their first considerable check for divers Troops that were abroad mostly composed of undisciplined Soldiers throwing themselves into it they together with those that were found there were Regimented even the multitude seizing the Keys and undertaking with great alacrity to defend it having chose Mr. George Walker Minister of an adjacent Village their Governour and Major Baker his Co-adjutor or Assitant-Governour during the Siege And now those in Arms in the Town consisted of 117 Companies and every Company contained sixty Men being in all 7020 Common Soldiers and 341 Officers The next thing taken in hand was to view the Stores and ordering their better Security from any Embezling as resolving to defend the place to the last extremity having already rejected the Offers the Enemy made them in case they would readily submit which consisted of much promised Favour and Protection but the hard dealings others had met with who had put themselves into their hands made them deaf to all Proposals and their great Guns being mounted on the Wall they fired upon the Advance-Guard of the Enemy who had been promised to be received with open Arms by Hamilton and others who undertook to bring over the besieged which much consternated King Iames then within the reach of their Cannon and obliged him to remove to a place of more safety However seeing fair Words and Promises could not gain it they resolved to reduce it by force beginning within a day or two after their appearance before it to break Ground and run their Trenches drawing up a Demi-culverine within a Furlong of the Town with which they battered the Market-House and did some damage to other Houses but the Cannon from the Town playing among them did considerable Execution and to hinder their nearer approach the Besieged sallied and beat them out of their Trenches killing about Two hundred Men amongst whom was the French General Mamow and others of Note with little loss on our side and of Note only Lieutenant Mac Phedris was killed The Besiegers finding this way little availed them drew four Demi-Culverine into an Orchard adjoyning to the Town and kept continual Firing which hurt many People in their Houses and made some Impressions in the Walls Nor was the damage left unrequited from the Cannon of the Town which killed them a great many Men and some considerable Officers and a sudden shot took off two Fryars in their Habits as they were exhorting the Besieged to press on the Siege And now to do their Work more effectually they placed two Mortar-pieces and threw in divers Bombs which did some damage to the Houses and People whereupon the Besieged sallied and killed several of the Enemy at Penburn-Hill losing only two of their own and eighteen wounded The same day a Shot from the Town broke and dismounted one of their Pieces on the Battery and killed the Gunner whereupon they drew a Trench a-cross Windmil-hill from the Bog to the River and there raised another Battery lining the Hedge with Dragoons but at the same time the Besieged sallied in a considerable number and dividing one part made them Masters of the Trenches and advantageous Ground killing about two hundred whilst the other Party beat the Dragoons from the Hedges Which reiterated Losses so enraged the Enemy that having Captain Cunningham and Lieutenant Douglass upon some Sallies they after Quarter given put them to the Sword which served to confirm the Besieged in the belief of the Mercy they were to expect if they fell into their hands and made them more obstinate in a resolute Defence and alluring the Governour out under pretence of Treaty they fired a hundred Shot
at him yet none of them had the power to hurt him by reason upon their first presenting he sheltred him behind the ruines of an old House and retired into the Town cautious how he trusted them any more The Besiegers by this time grown weary of continual Duty and the danger they were exposed to drew off their main Body and encamped on a Hill about two miles from the Town yet left it entirely besieged On the Fourth of Iune a Squadron of Voluntier Horsmen who promised upon Oath to do great things supported by a Detachment of Foot made an Attack upon the Windmil-work resolving to force the Line coming on with loud Shouts and Huzza's but were frustrated in their Enterprize being beat off with considerable loss Four hundred of them were accounted to be killed and to secure their Retreat the Foot carried Faggots at their Backs and those that had none hoised the dead Bodies and carried them away on their Backs to dead the shot On the part of the Besieged the loss was very inconsiderable only Captain Butler pressing too eagerly after the Enemy was taken Prisoner and a few killed by a great shot coming over the River These sevâ—â—al Defeats and Disappointments of taking a place they before had thought so easie that the French General upon the first view swore he would beat down the Walls with Pot-Guns so enraged the Enemy that they were resolved to make all the effort imaginable and the next night played Bombs some of them 273 pounds which broke up the Streats beat down several Houses and killed divers Persons which occasioned some consternation and the more when their Stores of Provision began to fail and Famine to encrease so that they needs must have been disheartned had they not been encouraged by the discovery of Thirty Sail of Ships in the Lough which were sent to their Succour from England under the Command of Major-General Kirk with Provision Men and Ammunition But the River being chained up with a floating Boom a-cross it and Batteries of the Enemy on the Bank he could not only for several days get up but had much ado to have Communication by Letter yet the hope of Relief so near at hand kept up the Spirits of the Besieged and encouraged them to a vigorous Defence though many died daily for want Monsieur de Rosen the French Marshal by this time arrived in the Enemies Camp and understanding the little progress they had made in carrying on the Siege fell a swearing By the Belly of God he would not only demolish the Town but bury the Besieged in their own Ruins But upon the Attacks he made found no better Success than the rest and the Lord Clancarâ—y who they said was destined by an old Prophecy to take the Town making an Attack and being beat off with great loss Lieutenant-General Hamilton who had falsified his Trust to King William and revolted to the Enemy upon his being sent from England to pacifie Matters in the beginning came to make large Offers but was rejected by the Besieged with Indignation nor was Rosen's Promises and Threats regarded Whereupon he pitched upon a French Politick imagining that would infâ—deâ—â—ly do viz. he caused all the miserable Protestants to be gathered out of the Countries round about and driven half naked and starved there to perish if the Besieged refused to succour them whose Wants though they pierced their Hearts having very slender Provision in the Town they could not relieve and therefore kept the Gates shut against them yet fired among the Enemies Party that drove them four or five of them fell dead with the Shot And now there being several Prisoners in the Town who had several Relations of Note and Command in the Enemies Camp the Governour and the rest caused a Gallows to be set up in the sight of the Enemy threatning to hang the Prisoners thereon if those miserable People were not suffered to return to their Habitations yet leave given them to write to their Friends to know what they would do on their behalf Rosen returned them no Answer but Hamilton returned them a slight one However this Stratagem prevailed and the People were permitted to return which proved advantageous to the Garrison for amongst them five or six hundred poor Starvlings were shuffled out and some able Bodies taken in Another Stratagem they had to shoot Letters into the Town in the dead Shell of a Bomb viz. not filled with Powder as imagining the Governour and other Superiour Officers kept their Proposals from the Soldiers but this enraged them the more and it was ma 〈…〉 th so much as to discourse of a Surrender About the Thirtieth of Iune Major Baker died yet the Defence continued as vigorous as ever and divers Sallies were made though the Garrison through Famine Diseases and Loss was lessened near one half and the Famine increased so fast that Horse-flesh was fold for Eighteen pence the pound and but little of that to be had A Quarter of a Dog that fead upon the dead Irish at Five shillings and six pence his Head at half a crown a Cat at four shillings and six pence Rats Mice Tallow Greves and all noysome things that could be possibly eaten proportionably so that in the whole Town there was but nine lean Horses left and a pint of Meal and a little Tallow to each Man when Providence so ordered whilst they were at their Devotions News came that Ships were making their way up the River which to their great Joy and Comfort proved true for Major-General Kirk having notice that the Town could hold out no longer ordered the Mountjoy and Phoenix and Mountjoy guarded by the Dartmouth to force their way at any hazard which they did through the Showers of the Enemies Shot and found the Boom broke one of them however struck upon a shelve yet the Stock of her Guns set her free again and they came safe to the Town bringing Life to a dying People which the Enemy perceiving thought it to no purpose of staying longer before it least they should receive worse disgrace but in some confusion raised their Camp firing Culmore and divers other Places in their Retreat breaking for haste some of their great Guns and had a Party of the Inniskilling-Men and some of the Garrison upon their Rear who cut off or took Prisoners the Sâ—raglers with some Booty the former having before defeated Lieutenant-General Maccarty they likewise threw about twelve Care load of Arms into the River for want of Carriages to bear them off and lost before the Town in a Siege of one hundred and five Days for so long it lasted between 18 and 19000 Men and among them 100 of their best Officers And now pardon me Reader for insisting so long upon this particular which I could not slightly pass over since if we consider the Weakness of the Place few of the Men that defended trained up in War and Scarcity it endured and the time it held
divers Places on fire whereat the General was so incensed that he sent to tell the Commanders of those Parties That if they desisted not from using such French Tricks they must expect no Quarter if they fell into his hands which made them upon quitting Dundalk leave it intire The Duke finding the Plains of Dundalk commodious to Encamp on and the Winter Season approaching caused the Tents to be pitched whilst the Enemy's Army between 40 and 50000 fortified and entrenched about Ardee Slego being still in the hands of the English a Party of the Enemy consisting of about 5000 Horse and Foot advanced that way in hopes by Force or Surprize to make themselves Masters of it But Colonel Lloyd who Commanded the Inniskilling-Men having notice of their Design drew out about a 1000 Horse Dragoons and Foot and Lining the Hedges of the LaneÌ„ of Boyle where they were to pass with his Foot he drew up his Horse on a rising ground and charged the Enemy so suddenly that after a smart Engagement he put them to Flight in great Confusion and taking a nearer way with his Horse and Dragoons got into Boyle before the Enemy and charged them again in the Front whilst the Food did the like in the Rear so that 700 were cut off and about 400 taken Prisoners with O Kelly their Commander and forty other Officers of note and by this Rout 8000 Head of Cattel were recovered which the Enemy in their Ravaging the Country had got together also a great many Arms Ammunition and Provision so that those Parts continued in quiet a long time after so that the Enemy perceiving Force in vain undertook to ruine our Affairs by treacherous Policy buâ— they failed in that as in all the rest The Project was thus It happened that 4 Regiments of French Protestants were raised in Englanâ— for the Service and amongst them divers were listed that came over just then by the way oâ— Holland which being done in haste the Colonels had no time strictly to examine them so that amongst these there was one Du Plessey who had been formerly a Captain in France and fled thence for a Murther but now served as a private Soldier this Man sent â—â— Monsieur D'Avaux to let him know That if he would get him his Pardon in France anâ— let him have the Command of such as 〈◊〉 brought over he would inveagle the Papists that had been unwittingly Regimented to the Irish Camp Which upon his Trial before a Council of War appearing by his intercepteâ— Letter and Confession he with four others hiâ— Accomplices were found Guilty and executed and upon a strict Scrutiny a great many Papists were found in those Regiments and sent Prisoners to England Providence by thiâ— timely Discovery frustrating the Design they might have to Revolt and endeavour the turning the Scale of Victory if it came to a Battel The Plains of Dundalk by reason of the Fogs and Wetness of the place incommoding â—he Camp with Sickness and Inconveniency about the middle of November it broke up and marched away to the Newry Pass and beatâ—ng out the Enemy possessed themselves of â—he Town and upon their Attempting to recover it were beaten with considerable loss Brigadier Stewart falling upon them with 250 Horse and Foot so resolutely that they fell â—nto Confusion thirty being killed on the place â—nd about eighteen taken Prisoners and among the number five Officers And Colonel Woolsey took Belturbet upon the first Summons Nor did only the Men but the Women â—affle the Courage of the Irish for a strong Party of them attempting to make themselves Masters of the Lady Newcomens House that Heroick fortified it and garrisoned with her Tenants beating off the Enemy and killing â—everal in the Attacks they made though she â—ad no great Guns and but a few small shot â—hereupon they found themselves obliged to â—ring some Cannon and a Mortar before it â—hich caused her to Surrender in consideraâ—ion That dismissing the Garrison to march â—ith their Baggage to Lisnigarvy she and her â—omesticks might continue there in quiet â—ut this was not virtually observed for getâ—ing into her House they took away many â—â—ings of value Whilst these things happened at Land someâ—hing remarkab1e and not amiss to be recited was done on the Water in the Bay oâ— Dublin in spight of all the Power and Forâ—â— of the Irish that then possessed that Greâ—â— City Sir Clously Shovel being on that Coast afteâ— cruising thwart the Bay he stood into it anâ— could then perceive a Ship a Mile within thâ— Bar whereupon resolving to fetch her out if possible he came to an Anchor and weâ—â— on Board the Monmouth Yatch and at a littâ—â— more than half Flood the Wind being Noâ—therly he with that Yatcht two Men of Waâ— Hoys a Catch and the Pinnace got over thâ— Barr whereupon the Ship being aware of hâ—â— coming weighed Anchor and moved up 〈◊〉 Salmon-Pool about a Mile nearer to Dublâ—â— and there run a-ground within shot of 〈◊〉 French Man of War of twelve Guns and tâ—â— or three English Ships that lay a-ground fillâ—â— with Soldiers who continually kept firing 〈◊〉 our Vessels however they followed the Aâ—tack and after some dispute Sir Clously Sâ—â—vel made a sign for the Fireship to enter aâ—â— bear up which when the Enemy perceiveâ— they left their Ships and got away in thâ— Boats whereupon our Men went on Boarâ— her and having somewhat lightned her brought her off in turning out the Wind â—â—ring out of the Sea one of Sir Clously's Hoys râ—â— a-ground and could not be got off before tâ—â— Water fell away from her so that the 〈◊〉 were forced to lye by her and get out her â—â—chors ready to heave off when the Tyâ—â—â— should return and the Hoy being upon 〈◊〉 â—round thousands of People came upon the â—trand among which was King Iames with â—is Guards as Spectators of what might hapâ—en and two Protestants that had escaped â—rom Dublin got to our armed Boats and with much supplication intreated to be taken â—n However a French Trooper to shew his Bravado came riding up within half Musquet â—hot and reviling our Men as well as he could â—abble English by the Epithets of Rebels c. â—e had so much Courage as to discharge his Pistol at that distance but a shot from the Boat that lay next the Shoar killed his Horse whereupon Monsieur pulling off his Boots left â—hem to our Men betaking him to his heels as â—ast as he could run for fear an unwelcome Messenger should overtake him and make him â—ay dear for his Vain-glory. The Ship thus taken was the Pellican the â—iggest of the two Scotch Frigots taken by the â—rench the precedent Summer carrying aâ—out twenty Guns Three or four of those â—hat were aboard her were killed by the Fiâ—ing of our Men and found dead upon the Deck besides those that were carried off as â—ell killed as wounded and our Vessels haâ—ing done what they came for returned in
but being too soon discovered he was obliged to Retreat which he did with the loss but of one Man Spring coming on Lewis the Fourteenth was not altogether unmindful of his Promise but sent Five thousand French with some Cloaths and Ammunition in lieu of which Succours as many Irish were sent to France under the leading of Lieutenant General Maccarty who having been taken Prisoner by the Inniskilling-Men upon the great Overthrow had by this time made his escape for which Colonel Hamilton Governour of Inniskilling where he had been detained Prisoner was questioned but upon Trial producing a Letter from his Superiour Officer for what he had done the matter passed over Colonel Woosley about this time had the Castle of Killesandra delivered to him upon Summons the Garrison being terrified into a compliance upon Notice he was about to spring a Mine under it the Garrison consisting of 160 Men were conducted to Cavan and many other Castles and advantageous Places were frighted at the approach of our Forces or compelled to Surrender and great Plenty abounded in the English Camp by reason those that brought it received Silver Money when on the other side King Iames had caused Brass Money to be coined and an Order to pass it at certain Rates though it was not a Twentieth part of the value yet prohibited it in Payments in his Custom-house and Exchequer and having called a pretended Irish Parliament they anulled the Act of Settlement and all other Acts favourable to the Protestants relating to Matters Civil or Ecclesiastical so that Protestant Bishops and Ministers were out and Popish Bishops and Priests advanced to their Benefices and great Oppressions used on all hands but whilst this was doing Charlemont a strong Fortress of the Enemies that had been all the Winter blocked up finding no Succours of Provision though some of our Men got in over the Morass which hastened the consumption of their Provision beat a Parley and after some debate about Articles they were agreed upon they being in their Orders as followeth That all the Garrison viz. the Governour Officers Soldiers Gunners and all other Inhabitants the Deserters who run from our Camp since the first of September precedent only excepted and all other persons in the said Garrison shall have their Lives secured and march out with their Arms Bag and Baggage Drums beating Colours flying Match lighted and Bullet in Mouth each Officer and Soldier Twelve Charges of Powder with Match and Ball proportionable and their Horses without any molestation in their Persons and Goods now in their possession not belonging to the Stores upon any pretence whatsoever that the said Garrison may march the nearest way to Dundalk and not be compelled to march above 8 or 9 miles a day That all sick and wounded Officers and all other persons that are not able to march at present may remain within the said Garrison till they are able to march and then to have a Pass to go to the next Irish Garrison That none of the Army under his Grace the Duke of Schomberg's Command shall enter the said Fort except such as are appointed by him to take possession till the Garrison be marched clear out of the Gates That there shall be a sufficient Convoy appointed for the said Garrison to conduct it to the place before-mentioned That they shall deliver fully and wholly without any Embezelment or Diminution all the Stores belonging to the said Fort and that an Officer shall be immediately admitted to take an Account of them That the Fort shall be put into the possession of such Forces as his Grace shall think fit at Eight of the Clock on Wednesday the Fourteenth of May 1690. and the Garrison shall march out an hour before the outward Gate shall be delivered to such Forces as the General shall appoint in case a supply of one Months Provision for 800 men be not brought into the Garrison for Relief between the signing of these Articles and the time the place is articled to be delivered up That the above-mentioned Articles shall be inviolably performed on both sides without any Equivocation Mental Reservation or Fraud whatsoever according to the true Intent and Meaning thereof Lastly That all Acts of Hostility shall cease between the said Garrison and Army so soon as Notice can be given on both sides Thus after a long holding out this strong Place was forced into a compliance notwithstanding the Enemy had put such confidence in it that many of those abroad proposed it as a last Refuge if things came to a greater Extremity its Scituation and Strength giving them Incouragement to hope it was Impregnable and indeed it had baffled our Men in some Attempts they made on it and held out so long contrary to expectation however at last we find that was agreed to be Surrendred and accordingly it was Surrendred and the Governour Teague O Regan and the Garrison who had near consumed all their Provision marched out in number 800 they left 17 Pieces of brass Cannon 2 Mortars and a considerable quantity of Ammunition And this Place by Nature and Art being exceeding strong greatly availed to the keeping all that part of the Country in awe And what more exceedingly heartned the Soldiers was the News that the King of England had left Whitehall on the fourth of Iune and was coming for Ireland with a considerable Army great Sums of Money Stores of Ammunition and all things necessary for the vigorous carrying on and expediting the War Nor were they deceived in the Report for on the fourteenth of Iune he landed at Carickfergus and went from thence to Belfast where he was waited on by Duke Schomberg and many of the great Officers and with him came not only some of the Irish Nobility but a great many of that Country who had fled for England to avoid the Danger that threatned from the Papists and great was the Joy of the Protestants for his Arrival and as much on the other hand the Terrour and Consternation of the Papists His Majesty soon after his Landing ordered 200000 1. to be brought on shoar and fifteen Tun of Half-pence and Farthings of the new Tin coin and gave notice to all the Agents of Regiments to bring in their Accompts within three days that they might receive the Moneys due to the Soldiers and care thereupon was taken to clear their Quarters and discharge the Country The King thus landed to the great Joy of all the Protestants every one laboured who should be formost in shewing their humble Gratitude for his Exposing his Royal Person to so many Dangers for their Safety whereupon the Gentlemen of the County of Down c. presented this Address To the King 's most Excellent Majesty Great Sir WE the Sheriffs and Iustices â—f the Peace and Gentlemen of the County of Down and Antrim do most heartily Congratulate your Majesty's safe Arrival into this Kingdom and do humbly offer your Majesty our unfeigned Thanks for the great
wounded yet they came not off without leaving the Marks of their Valour upon the Enemy But by this time the Army having the Elements to contend with as well as the Enemy by reason of the stormy Winds and incessant Rains which not only made the River over-flow but filled the Trenches knee-deep with Water and would in a short time in all probability have cut off the Communication and hindered the Forrage from coming in his Majesty upon mature deliberation thought fit to raise the Siege and refer it to a more seasonable opportunity So that on the 30th of August the heavy Cannon and Baggage were sent away and the next day the Army decamped and marched off in good Order strong Detachments being sent towards Cork and Kingsale And the King having appointed the Lord Viscount Sidney and Sir Thomas Conningsby Governourâ— of the Kingdom and setled the other Affairs as advantageously as might be sailed for England and landed at Bristol where as in other places he was received with a general Joy Upon the King's departure the Irish Garrisons thought themselves safe for the Winter at least but found in a short time they were deceived for other measures were taken The English Fleet had orders to stand away to the Coast of Ireland and soon arrived in Cork Harbour and upon notice of their Arrival the Land Forces drew down to joyn them upon their Landing Upon which the Duke of Berwick who stiled himself Lord General of Ireland drew off Lauzun and Tyrconnel being already gone to France Lieutenant-General Douglas followed after the Duke with a strong Party to fall upon his Rear but he Encamped so advantagiously behind the Bogs that it was not thought feasible to attempt the forcing his Camp A Battery of 8 Guns was raised to hinder the Landing of our Men but two or three armed Boats forcing ashoar those that were to manage and guard the Guns fled and our men dismounted them throwing the Carriages into the Sea so that on the 24th of September 5 or 6000 Seamen Gunners and Carpenters were detached to be employed in raising the Batteries and mounting the Cannon against the Town of Cork and divers Boats of armâ—â— Men were sent to assist the taking it by water so that upon the approach of the Army the Enemy set fire to the Suburbs and the Earl of Marlborough who commanded the King's Forces in chief having taken a view of its Scituation and finding the Enemy had quitted a Post called Cats-Fort sent a Detachment to take possession of it and then advanced his Camp within Musquet shot of the South-side of the Town which occasioned the Enemy to set fire to the Suburbs for fear our Soldiers should lodge themselves in it yet our Men advanced to the Ruins and played upon the Old Fort from two Batteries they had raised and the next day made a Breach in the Wall so wide that the Besieged fearing our Men would Enter by Storm and dreading the consequences of Delay they beat a Parly and sent out an Officer to Capitulate and Hostages were Exchanged but the besieged standing high upon Terms four Regiments under the Command of Brigadier Churchil were ordered to get into the Island near the Wall where the Breach was made which they performed by fording it to the middle the Granadiers commanded by the Lord Colchester leading the Van being exposed to all the Fire of the Enemy Amongst those that attempted this were a great many noble Voluntiers as the Duke of Grafton the Lord O Brian Colonel Granvil Captain Leighton Captain Cornwal Captain Nevel Captain Fairborn and others but it proved fatal to the Duke for by a shot he received he soon after died and his Body being carried for England was there honourably interred The Besieged finding that our Men would not enter as not being above 20 Paces from the Breach beat another Parley but could have no other Conditions than to be Prisoners of War to which with some difficulty they agreed and the Capitulation was signed which in the Articles was to this purpose viz. That upon the Garrisons being received as Prisoners of War no prejudice should be done to the Officers Soldiers or Inhabitants but that the General should make it his Endeavour to obtain his Majesty's Mercy and Favour towards them That the Old Fort should be delivered up within an hour and the two Gates the like by 8 in the Morning the next day That all the Arms of the Garrison and Inhabitants should be put into secure places and the Protestant Prisoners immediately released That a due Account should be given of the Magazines as well of Provision as Ammunition And the same Night 200 Men took possession of the Old Fort and the next Morning of the Town the Garrison between 4 and 5000 being made Prisoners of War and of note amongst them were the Earls of Clancarty and Tyrone Colonel Macgillicot the Governour and divers others This place thus taken and put into trusty hands the Army immediately marched towards Kingsale and took their Posts about the New Fort whilst Major General Teteau was Commanded with 800 Men to make an Attack upon the Old Fort whereupon passing the River in Boats he on the 3d of October gave an Assault and Entered it by Storm making at the same time to divert the Enemy a false Attaque and our Men at one and the same time giving the Bastions some Barrels of Powder took fire and destroyed about 50 of the Enemy and in the heat of Fury many were killed Those that Escaped some fled unto the Old Castle in the midst of the Fort and some endeavouring the New Fort by the help of a Boat the Tide being against them they were mostly killed by the shot of our Men from the shoar the Governour and several Officers were killed in defending the Ramparts and found dead in the places where they fell and the Soldiers got considerable Plunder The Old Fort thus Entirely won the General sent a Summons to the New Fort to demand its immediate Surrender but the Governour sent back word That it would be time enough to talk of that a Month after But the General not to be dallied caused the heavy Cannon to be mounted and two Attacks were ordered to be made by the English on the right and the Danes on the left and the more to amuse the Enemy a false Attack was made and on the 15th of October the Cannon played all the Morning and the Galleries were preparing to lay over the Ditch when about One of the Clock the Enemy beat a Parly proposing that Hostages might be Exchanged in order to a Treaty which done Articles were agreed on and signed about Midnight and pursuant thereto the middle Bastion was to be delivered up the next Morning and about 1200 men of which the Garrison consisted were to march out the day after And the principal of the Prisoners taken here and at Cork were shipped for England but some of them met with a
made many Attacks upon our Men to force them from their Strength yet they sustained their firings with little hurt but in returning it killed a great many of the Enemy who were commanded by Brigadier Carrol and Sir Iames Cotton which so discouraged them that after they had offered our Men Quarter upon Surrendring and it was refused that they marched off carrying away the wounded and most noted of those that were killed yet they left behind 3 Captains and 10 Troopers slain and Major Slingsby desperately wounded which they thought were too near our shot to be carried off and in all they had between 40 and 50 killed and wounded and of ours 10 were killed and 5 wounded and Major Slingsby was carried Prisoner to Cork And much about this time one Walter Brown who had been High Constable of the Barrony of Delwin being taken as a Spy was Executed and Captain Pallasor being abroad with a Party of our Men consisting of about 40 Firelocks of the Army and 20 of the Militia was by the subtil Insinuation and Treachery of one Terence Megral drawn into an Ambush of two of the Enemies Regiments of Foot and some Troops of Horse which in that Exigency made him betake to the Ruins of an old Castle where he caused his Men to fortifie and defend themselves which they did continually firing upon the Enemy till all their Powder was spent and then prayed for Quarter and having it granted them they were carried Prisoners to Nenagh yet the Militia and others under the Command of Col. Piper had good success in clearing the Country in dispersing the Rapparees and dispossessing the Enemies Regular Troops of such advantageous Posts from whence they might annoy By-Inroads the Countries under Their Majesties Obedience so that they began to shrink together into a narrower Circumference Now great Stores coming daily from England and a Recruit for our Army every day expected The time for Action drawing near the Lords Justices that nothing might be wanting that was conducing to Their Majesties Service caused their Proclamation to be published for the Armies better Accommodation the Substance being in the following manner viz. WHereas the Army is now to draw into the Field where it will be necessary that Provisions be brought in from time to time for its supply and that in order thereunto all due Encouragement be given to Sutlers and other Persons that shall repair thither for that purpose they do strictly Charge and Command all Officers Civil and Military and Soldiers of their Majesties Army not to disturb or molest any Sutler or other Person that shall have a Warrant from the Colonel of any Regiment or leave from the Lords Iustices or the Commander in chief of their Majesties Forces to follow the Camp for this Service that they do not presume to take any thing from them or use any Violence towards them upon pain of being proceeded against with the utmost Severities And all Colonels and other Officers in chief are to take care that the Officers and Soldiers ad pay for all such things as they shall be furnished with by the Sutler according to the Rates that shall from time to time be settled And that the Forces may be more plentifully supplied and and those unnecessary Persons prevented from following the Camp who are only an Incumbrance to it and it being found by experience that the Country has suffered extreamly by them they have not only robbed and plundered it themselves but have inticed the Soldiers to do the same for the preventing of it for the future and that the Quarters may be the better secured whilst the Army is in the field from Rapparees and other disaffected People the Lords Iustices do hereby order and direct all their Majesties Protestant Subjects as well as Papists to stay at or repair to their respective Habitations for the preservation and improvement of the same and that no person or persons whatsoever except such as come thither with Provisions for the use of the Army or upon some lawful occasion approved of by the Commanders in chief do follow the Camp upon pain of Death And that the People whom this War had scattered into divers places leaving many destituâ—â— of Habitations might again be settled anotheâ— Proclamation was issued out to this effect That all the Inhabitants of the Counties of Wâ—terford and Tipperary do retire within Three daâ— to their respective Houses or Habitations or to somâ— adjacent Garrison if they could not go home witâ— security And those belonging to the Counties of Cork Lâ—â—merick and Kerry are forthwith to repair eitheâ— to their own Houses or Habitations if they have aâ—â— or else to some of the Garrisons there to be employâ—â— in the Militia for the defence of the Country whâ— the Army is in the field according to such 〈◊〉 Orders as shall be given them for the Publick Seâ—â—vice And Lieutenant-General Ginkle Command in chief of their Majesties Forces in Ireland 〈◊〉 to be behind or wanting in any thing exhibiâ— an Order to this effect viz. That all Officers and Soldiers and other Persâ—â—â— whatsoever were strictly charged not to press 〈◊〉 Horse Carts or Carriages without Licence first 〈◊〉 from the Lords Iustices or himself in writing And whereas that the Militia being to be in Arms for the Defence of the Country whilst the Army remained in the field no Person should press any Horse actually listed in the said Militia under any pretence whatsoever About this time some other Transport ships arrived from England and brought a great quantity of all sorts of Military Provisions and about Twenty thousand Arms also Ordinance and Stores whilst the Enemies great expectaâ—ion of the like supply from France failed â—hem in great measure that King seeming now â—o grow weary of a War that proved so expensive to him without profit and expecting â—o be sharply pressed this Summer in Flanders by the Confederate Army under the Command of the King of England send indeed some Officers and a few Clothes and such like matâ—ers but seemed frugal in husbanding his Troops for a shelter from a Storm he expected â—earer home which did not a litte discouâ—age the Irish and made them again to desert 〈◊〉 numbers and their falling off had been â—reater had not their Priests taken them to â—ask and insinuated how meritorous it was to â—â—ght with and destroy the Hereticks While these things passed Captain White of â—â—e Lord George Hamilton's Regiment detach'd 〈◊〉 hundred Men under the Command of Captain Iohnston who marched to Belnamona in Tings County and surprized by break of day â—wo Troops of Dragoons of Brigadier Clifford's and three Troops of Horse of the Lord Merriony's Regiment killing Lieutenant Archibald Quarter-Master Barnwell and 15 Dragoons took 2 Ensigns and 9 other Prisoners The Governour of Clonmel marching from that place with a Detachment of Horse and two Troops of the Militia Dragoons came by Night into the Enemies Quarters towards Michael's Town but not finding them
them that defended it whilst our Horse and Foot took their Posts pouring in their Shot The Enemy drew down a great Body of Horse towards our Left and were so strongly possessed behind the high Banks of the Ditches that they held our Foot in dispute for 2 hours before they could gain any thing considerable upon them but at last we prevailed and forced them to give way notwithstanding fresh Recruits of Horse and Foot were sent to sustain them as they were pushed back and although three Battalions of Foot advanced on the Right over the Skirts of the Bog and a small Rivulet that discharged it self into the Sac where in a Corn field others of the Enemies Battalions and Squadrons stood firm to the Charge yet they notwithstanding maintained their ground till more of our Regiments and Squadrons advanced to support them and then Charging up the Hills where the Enemies Squadrons were posted gave them a warm Entertainment In the mean time our Left had opportunity to beat the Irish from their Ground and at the same time the Right pressing upon them disordered them to that degree that a general Rout of their Horse ensued and their Foot thereupon being hotly charged fell into disorder and though they had made a resolute Resistance they were obliged to quit the field and were pursued by our Army four Miles but then Night coming on and the difficulty of the ways hindred the further pursuit it being 6 in the Evening when the Armies engaged and near 9 before they broke and fled The Enemies Army was superiour to ours consisting of 20000 Foot and 8000 Horse and had by their Encampment all the advantage yet our Men gained an entire Victory 7000 of the Enemy being killed upon the place Among the slain of note were the Lord Galloway Colonel Moor Colonel Baker Colonel Gourdon a great many Captains Lieutenants Ensigns Cornets c. and more particularly Monsieur St. Ruth the French General who received here his Reward for the many Cruelties he used towards the Protestants in France Many of note were wounded of which many mortally and soon after died of their Wounds About 100 Officers and 500 Soldiers were made Prisoners and all the Enemies Provision Tents Baggage and Cannon fell into the hand of our Men with a great many Colours and Standards and most of the Arms of the Foot which to help their speed in flight they threw away This great and entire Victory was obtained with the loss of 600 Men on our side and of note Major-General Holstable Colonel Mongats Colonel Charles Herbert Major-General Petit Major Davenish Major Colt Major Cornwal Major Fox with divers Subalternate Officers The wounded of note were the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt the Lord Cutts the Lord George Hamilton Colonel Earl Lieutenant-Colonel Burdwell with several Subalternates The Enemy in this flight and total rout scattered their Arms and Baggage all the way they fled thinking as it may be by that means to stay the pursuit but it availed them little for such Trifles were not regarded in comparison of the Great Work that was in hand to subdue and bring the Kingdom under their Majesties Obedience by an entire Conquest insomuch that urged by the Sword behind and not finding way to escape through the press and throng that was before them a great many cast themselves into the Bogs and Water-plashes and of these not very many escaped Others that were more nimble of Foot and had got the start of the press scampered by known ways and never left running when the pursuit was given over till they got to the Woods or Mountains or into such Bogs where they thought it was impossible to follow them The French who were not so nimble as the Irish or if they had yet but very little acquainted with the Country came mostly by the worst on it where they were broken and scattered throwing away their Arms and crying for Quarter which in the heat of the Soldiers fury could not be always obtained Some of the Enemies Horse indeed retreated pretty indifferently keeping together as well as the Confusion would permit but thought it not safe to stay in the Countries thereabout for fear of being attacked by some of our Detachments the next day but being got at a great distance and those that were scattered coming to their Rendezvous they made a small Body under the Command of Colonel Sheldon and some other Officers but the Foot was so entirely dispersed that we heard little of them afterward unless such as got into the Places that yet held out and even there many of the Fugitives were refused the Garrisons being already filled up and straitned for Provision so that for a time lying under the Walls and hankering about without any thing wherewith materially to subsist many disbanded of themselves and others by the leave of their Officers as finding this great Blow had broken their Hopes and Interests in the Kingdom so far that they even despaired of piecing it together again by force and withal knowing no doubt that this would be such unwelcome News to France that although the late King resided in that Court to solicite on their behalfs they could expect but little Succours seeing all that had been already sent had turned to so little account and that the English heightned by this Success knew well enough how to take the advantage and push on to the Walls of Lymerick wherein as their last Refuge they had placed some hopes Whilst these things were employing the Enemies serious Consideration care was taken of our wounded Men and such Prisoners as had been secured who received very good Usage and what else was requisite till they should be disposed of as Prisoners of War The Victory thus entirely gained the Army encamped beyond the place of Battel and Brigadier Eppinger going out with a strong Party possessed himself of Portumney whereupon the Fort and Castle of Bavaher surrendred and many of the scattered Forces fled to Galloway and Lymerick As for the greatest part of the Standards and Colours taken in this Battel they were sent to England and there exposed to the publick view of the People as eminent Trophies of so signal a Victory The English Army upon the former Successes resolute to push on for the entire reducing the Kingdom to their Majesties Obedience after some refreshment marched towards Galloway Being before the place the General sent a Trumpet to the Lord Dillon Governour of the Town to offer him advantagious Terms in case he Surrendred before the Cannon were planted against the Walls But he returned for answer That Monsieur Ussone the French Lieutenant-General who commanded was of the same Opinion with himself and the rest of the Officers and that they were resolved to defend the place to the last Upon which the Approaches were made and on the 20th of Iuly by break of day a Fort or Ravelin on the Hill was attacked and our Granadiers that were ordered for that purpose marched
â—â—o had been so mainly Instrumental in reâ—â—oring them that Peace they had so raâ—â—ly â—orfeited and had leisure during almost a â—ree Years to repent of the trouble they had â—â—ven the Kingdom and of the Losses themâ—â—lves sustained Whilst this Joy lasted care was taken to â—â—der the Garrisons and provide them with â—â—ch Necessaries where they were wanting as â—ight serve for the Winter Stores and put the â—oldiers in a good plight Nor was the Joy 〈◊〉 these Successes bounded in this Island but â—read into remote Countries so that in the â—amps of the Allies the Cannon was fired â—nd all other Demonstrations of a high satisâ—â—ction for the Success of their Majesties â—â—ms were set on foot though the French Commanders especially in their Camps laboured to extenuate these brave and vigorous Undertakings crowned with such ample Success least it could dishearten and abate the Courage of their Men who already by their frequent deserting seemed to grow weary of a War wherein they too plainly found that instead of what they formerly gained by Plundering and laying defenceless Places waste they must expect nothing but Blows and severe Treatment On the First of November following these Transactions the Irish Entirely left the English Town of Lymerick Embarking oâ— the Transport-ships in the Shannon wheâ— Sailing for France one of those Ships having on Board Four hundred Men besideâ— Stores and Furnitures of divers kinds running foul on a Rock overset and about Onâ— hundred Men were drowned though nâ— diligence was wanting to endeavour theiâ— preservation Upon the marching out of the Irish ouâ— Soldiers marched in and Garrisoned thâ— English Town and now Sir David Collieâ— was made Governour of the City of Lymerick and the Lord O Brian of thâ— County of the said City And on the Sixâ—â— of this Month the French Squadron consisting of Eighteen Men of War Six Fire-ships and Twenty Transport-ships who brought about Ten thousand Arms Wine and Brandy for Sale and much Provision fell down about Two Leagues below Scaltery viz. the Men of War but their Transport-ships were suffered to remain nearer to take in Provisions and other Necessaries for Transportation of the People they were to take on Board And Major-General Talmash having settled and ordered things to the best Advantage in the City gave place to the new Governour and departed for Dublin where he was received with many Expressions of Joy according to the true merit of his Courage and Conduct in this War Upon this great turn of Fortune many of their Ringleaders going away in the French Ships the Rapparees found themselves abandoned and in great Distress so that they were constrained to come in and submit so that the face of things appeared to be strangely changed Uproar and Confusion being turned into a calm Peace so that most of the English and Dutch Regiments c. prepared to Embark for England where they soon after Arrived and passed for Flanders where they were for the Winter Season quartered advantagiouâ—ly in divers Towns to hinder the Incursiâ—ons of the French The General having put an end to the War of Ireland being highly caressed and treated in Dublin Embarked for England on the Monmouth Yatch where he received the Applause and high Commendations of the People in all places where he passed The King received him very graciously and Created him Earl of Athlone c. The Parliament likewise sent their Thanks to him for the good Service he had done desiring him to Communicate the same to all the Officers that had served under him in this Expedition And he together with them was highly Entertained at a Noble Treat by the City of London The Soldiers now returning a Proclamation was Issued forth for their well abearing and behaving themselves in their March Quarters and making due Payment And so great was the Joy of the Irish Nobility and Gentry for restoring that Kingdom to Peace and Tranquility that in humble Gratitude they made the following Address to his Majesty viz. WE Your Majesties Most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects crave leave in the first place to offer our most humble Thanks to the Divine Majesty by whom you Reign for having Raised and Inspired your Majesty for the Deliverance of these Oppressed Nations and for preserving Your Royal Person so frequently exposed to danger but never in greater than in the Kingdom and Cause of the Protestants in IRELAND What was then so graciously undertaken by Your Majesty in Person is now so happily finished by the Success of Your Arms that we owe to Your Majesty's Courage and Conduct next to the Divine Providence the Restoration of our Religion and Civil Rights and Liberties We beseech Your Majesty to Accept this Recognition as the first Fruits of our Redemption till we are able to make a more Solemn and Parliamentary Acknowledgment to Your Majesties Iust Title to our Allegiance not only in Right of this Crown but in Gratitude to our great Deliverer and Conqueror of Your Majesty's Enemies We are sure Your Majesty will effectually preserve those You have so generously Delivered and we hope Your Majesty shall never have occasion to doubt the steady and united Affections of the Protestants of IRELAND in the Service of your Crown and Dignity from Principles of Inclination Duty and Interest all which makes us unanimously and heartily to pray for the Sacred Person Victorious Arms and Iust and Gentle Government of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY with Peace and Continuance over us On the Two and twentieth of December Sarsfield having got together Two thousand six hundred Men Women and Children set Sail from Cork for France he thought to have carried a greater Number but was deceived by their Deserting him as did the whole Regiments of Mac Dermo Brian O Neal and Colonel Felix O Neal upon the Advice they received of the ill Treatment of the Irish that were already Landed in France where the Officers were generally displaced or made to serve in lower Stations even to Common Soldiers and French Men set over them Ireland being now in a fair way to a Settlement Colonel Foulk Governour of Dublin had Orders to Disband the Irish Regiments that came over to us upon the Surrender of Lymerick except Fourteen hundred which were appointed for the Emperour's Service the which though they prosessed a great willingness to serve their Majesties they submitted to and had Two Cobs a Man given them Gratis most of them going to their Habitations or Employments On the Three and twentieth of Ianuary being the first day of the Term the Right Honourable Sir Charles Porter Lord Chancellour and Thomas Conningsby Esquire Lords Justices of the Kingdom came to the Court of Kings Bench accompanied by divers of the Privy Council and other Persons of Quality where they took the Oaths and Subscribed the Declaration required by the late Act of Parliament made in England After which the Judges of other Courts and Persons of different Quality and Employments did the like About this time
Pains and Hazard your Majesty does undergo in restoring us to our Religion Liberties and Properties and do not doubt but as God has made your Majesty miraculously Instrumental in re-establishing those Blessings in the Kingdom of England so he will in this distressed Country which that he may do and grant your Majesty a long and prosperous Reign over us is the hearty wish and prayer of Your Majesty's Faithful and most Obedient Subjects and Servants c. On this Occasion likewise the Clergy of the Churches in the Province of Ulster presented their Address as did the Presbyterians and those of their Perswasion in the North of the Kingdom The like from the Mayor Aldermen c. of London-Derry and another from the Soveraign Burgesses and Inhabitants of Belfast which created a high Satisfaction and more general Rejoycing And here it was that Mr. Walker that so bravely defended London-Derry accompanied with divers of the Clergy waited upon his Majesty and Congratulated his happy Arrival in the Kingdom And Parties were sent out to observe the Motions of the Enemy The King intent upon the great Affair he came about stayed not for many Ceremonies and Complements but being well refreshed went to Hilsbourgh and from thence to Newry where a great part of the Army that had been under the General lay of which he took a view and ordered all things to the best Advantage for carrying on the War nor was the Measures taken slow in Executing And now whilst this is doing let us turn a little towards Dublin and see how Affairs stand in the Metropolis of the Kingdom It was not to be doubted but upon the King 's landing with an Additional Army the Papists would have been more concerned than they were but I know not upon what false Topick they grounded their Hopes their Concern was not so great as might have been expected from so eminent a Danger whether it was to abate the Courage of the Protestants and startle them into a Mistake of some private Design they had against the King or that they had some old Prophesies which they too much relied upon for their Success or that they trusted to the number of their Army remains doubtful but however they kept up their Courage beyond expectation The Protestants in Dublin guessed it proceeded from the false News that 100000 men were ready to rise in England and recall King Iames or declare for a Common-wealth and that the French Fleet being very powerful at Sea would not fail to intercept the King of England's Return and so they fancied they had him as it were in a Trap. And indeed in this immergency the Affronts the Protestants every where received without any hope of Redress made them not know what to think of their Condition nor was it long e're the Chief of them were imprisoned and the rest were told They would be glad e're long to go to Mass in a short time And they were put into frequent frights of having their Houses fired about their Ears or at the least to be plundered of all they had And it seems it was debated That if it came to a Battel and the Irish were worsted the City should be set on fire if not the Protestants massacred But it is said King Iames opposed it and on the 16th of Iuly marched out of Dublin to joyn with about 5000 Foot sent from France and one Regiment of them being Dutch and mostly Protestants great care was taken to keep them from startling and the whole Irish Army was composed of about 40000 men besides 15000 that remained in Garrisons and 6000 of the Militia under the Command of Colonel Luttrel and Mac Gillicuddy who was ordered as his Assistant in the Government of the City And hereupon a hasty Order came out that all who walked the Streets without Bayonets or Swords should be seized And thereupon a great many Protestants who could not get such Weapons were taken up and many of them Imprisoned And another Order That upon pain of Death not above five Protestants besides the Family should meet together So that the Churches which had till this time been kept open were shut up and Dr. King Dean of St. Patrick's imprisoned Yet such was the Zeal of the Protestants in these dangerous times that they gathered considerable Contributions for the Maintenance of the dispos sest Clergy and for such as were Prisoners till they were forced to desist all the Goals and many of the Churches being crowded with Prisoners not only Citizens but such as had been brought from Galloway Kilmainham and other places many of them were stifled by crowding and wanting of Air and others almost famished for want of Sustenance It would be too tedious to enumerate all the particular Sufferings of the Protestants their frequent Allarms Fears and many other Disturbances Therefore let it suffice that though sorrow lasted for a night Joy came in the morning as by the Sequel will be Evident The two Armies being now in the Field the Irish however declined fighting all they could and it was given out That King Iames designed to lead them about the Banks of the River Boyne to weary out the English as thinking they could not pass that Stream if defended on the other side and after he had so done to cross the Country and go for Limerick However least the English should push on and give him Battel he resolved to provide for the worst and therefore ordered Sir Patrick Trant the first Commissioner of his Revenue to have shipping ready at Waterford to carry him off if things came to Extremity for at last he found unless he abandoned Dublin which was proposed to be defended he could not avoid fighting above ten days for the King of England impatient of delay possessed himself of almost all the Passes and Posts that were advantageous to bring the Enemy to a Battel and many Skirmishes happened between Parties abroad wherein our men gained the advantage The Enemy by this time being Encamped near Dundalk and strongly guarding a Pass call'd Four-mile-Bridge which was very difficult to force it was resolved that our Army should march to Market-hill and therefore to fall into the great Road that leads from Armagh to Dundalk whereupon Major Scravenmore was sent out with a Detachment of 300 Horse and 20 Dragoons to view the Road and Passes and find a convenient place to Enâ—â—mp in and discover if possible the posture of the Enemy which was so well performed that a small Party of theirs seeing this Detachment betimes in the Morning marching towards Market-hill supposed it to be the Vauntguard of the whole Army and therefore gave the Alarm to their Camp that our Army was almost upon them which without sending to know the certainty put them into such a fear that they fired their Camp and marched away which being certified to the King it appeared so strange that it could not presently gain credit But being in a short time confirmed from all
there thâ— Rapparees upon his Return fired out of thâ— Wood which he immediately causing to be surrounded so ferreted them about that 30 oâ— them together with Casheen their Ring-Leadeâ— or Captain were killed And 250 Foot and 20 Horse commanded by Lieutenant-Coloneâ— Hodson marching from Mountmelick he posted them at Kilkapog by break of day where thâ— Foot entred the Woods and Bogs and thâ— Horse securing the skirts they hunted out and killed about 18 of the Enemy that lay lurking there to surprize such as passed that way anâ— indeed these sort of Enemies were more dangerous and cruel where they mastered thaâ— the Regular Troops but so cowardly withaâ— that they would not stand a Charge if theâ— perceived the Match was but any thing neaâ— equal an Instance of which may be observeâ— in this viz. A Party of Colonel Brewer's Men being upon their March towards Kiâ—negad a great Body of Rapparees lay in Ambush yet durst noâ— come out for fear of being worsted though ouâ— Men were much inferiour to them in number but let them pass when so it happened thougâ— very unfortunately that a Serjeant and 4 Soldiers of this Party lagged behind a considerable way upon these the Rapparees seized and though on their knees they begged for Quarter yet they murthered them and not satisfied with their Deaths they bored out their Eyes and mangled their dead Bodies but the next day three of the Murtherers were taken and brought to Mullingar where one of them accused the other two of the Fact they were upon such Conviction immediately hanged up â—nd Captain Poyn soon after falling upon the whole Knot of them with a Party of 110 Men of the Garrison of Mullingar put to the rout and dispersed throughout the Country killing â—etween 40 and 50 of them And now since â—e have had occasion to speak so much of these Rapparees in the Series of this History some â—ay be inquisitive to know what manner of â—eople they are To which I answer They are a sort of Vagabonds and Thieves â—ot caring to Work or take any Employment â—pon them a mixture of Irish with other Naâ—ions who herding together take all opportuâ—ities where they are strongest to plunder â—urn and murther their hands being against â—ll and the hands of all against them to deâ—troy as Beasts of Prey They rejoyce at Wars â—od Troubles because then they have liberty â—hey think to do what they please Their Dwelâ—ings for the most part are Cabins or moveable Houses and their skulking places Bogs Woods â—nd Mountains They are not held as Soldiâ—rs nor included in the Articles of War but lie at the mercy of those that take them without their being obliged to give them any Quarter though they crave it Their Apparel unless they rig themselves by Plunder is so misserable that they go in a manner naked Yet these hopeful Sticks the Commanders of the Irish Army encourage and put Weapons into many of their hands to harress and destroy the Countries under their Majesties Obedience Yet they have been so often met with upon their Incursions that about 4000 of them have come short home since this War begun And furthermore to encourage the People to be vigilant and to discourage such Rakeshameâ— the Lords Justices and Council of Ireland puâ— forth a Proclamation in these words or to thiâ— effect THat to prevent the Robberies wilfâ—â— Burnings of Buildings Corn and Hayâ—â— Murthers and Insurrection with which thâ— parts of the Kingdom under their Majestieâ— Obedience was threatned by the Rebels anâ— their Adherents during the time their Majesties Army should be upon their march tâ— the Frontiers or in the Quarters then poâ—sessed by the Rebels they have thought it nâ—cessary and do thereby publish and declare That the Popish Irish Inhabitants of the râ—spective Baronies under their Majesties Obâ—dience where any Rebels commonly callâ—â— Rapparees shall commit any such Robberies Burnings or Murthers or where any such Insurrection shall happen if they do not immediately give Notice of such Rapparees and Insurrections respectively to the Iustice of Peace or chief Officer of the Militia next to their Habitations and assist him in the taking and destroying them and in the suppression of Insurrections that then they where such Fact shall be committed neglecting their Duties shall be deemed Confederates with the said Rebels and Enemies of their Majesties Government And by Order to be given by the Lords Iustices as occasion shall require shall be proceeded against with the utmost severity of Military Execution And they do further Order That no protectted Irish Papist shall be abroad out of his or their Dwelling-place of Abode after the hours of Nine at Night or before the hours of Four in the Morning under the Pain and Penalty of being put out of their Majesties Protection And if after the Thirtieth of May 1691. any Arms or Ammunition shall be found upon the persons or in the possession of any such Irish Papists he or they shall be looked upon as Rebels and punished accordingly And as they intend severely to punish all such as shall offend in the particulars above-mentioned so they do assure all those Irish Papists who live under their Majesties protection that they behaving themselves as becomes good Subjects shall have the benefit thereof These Proceedings made many of the Papists stir to prevent the mischief who before stood laughing in their sleeves at the Damages their Protestant Neighbours sustained though to curry favour in a dissembling manner they often shewed them a fair Countenance and seemed to pity their Losses And Major O Neal and some others came over from the Enemy and took the advantage of their Majesties Protection But whilst these things were transacting one Mark Baggot apparelling himself in Womens Clothes made it his business to spy into our Quarters and the manner of Affairs but his too much inquisitiveness discovering him he was seized and being sentenced by a Court Marshal he was executed at Dublin on the 20th of May. The Season thus far in a forwardness gave a favourable Invitation to the Army for their taking the field when a Party of the Irish Army consisting of 150 Men thinking to be early at it and do some notable Exploit to be talked on came to Castle-Lions and took thence a few of the poor peoples Cows but Colonel Donep with about 20 Danes and a like number of the Militia Dragoons pursued over-taking them at Ballyderdawn where a Lieutenant with 8 Danes and 6 Dragoons beat off 60 of them who had lined the Hedges in which Action the Lieutenant was killed but the Colonel coming up with his Party and being reinforced with 50 fresh Men he still pursued them killing about 50 of them of which 2 were Commission Officers took 40 Horses and his Men got indifferent store of Plunder This was followed with other Successes of the like nature nor could any great Actions be expected by reason the Armies were not as yet in the field our staying for the
arrival of more Ships from England and the Irish upon the like account from France And about the latter end of May 8 Ships with 500 Carriage-Horses and other Necessaries for the Army came to Dublin and Lieutenant-General Scravenmore Major-General Mackay and Major-General Ruvigny came likewise on Shoar And now the Train of Artillery consisted of 39 Pieces of Cannon 12 Field-pieces and 6 Mortars And in the mean while the French General St. Ruth proceeded to model the Irish Army and give Commissions in his Master's Name ordering things with an Absolute Power where their Troops drew together at Loghera in Connaught And in the beginning of Iune all things on our part was in a manner in a readiness the Soldiers by this time being well recruited of the hardships found many of them in their Winter Quarters and being often out in Parties The Army indeed lay still longer than the Irish expected which made them promise themselves more success than they were like to meet withal for the General intending to make a vigorous War and push on for speedy Victory and the reducing all places that yet held out and had refused to submit to their Majesties Obedience took care so effectually to provide for all things necessary for enterprizing so great an Undertaking that nothing might be wanting to retard in the least the progress of their Majesties Arms and because the Stores laid up the Year before as to Forrage and other things of that nature whereby the Army might subsist in its March it was prudently taken into Consideration that Nature should have time to do her part in furnishing the Earth with such a sufficiency as might supply what was wanting if any delays by cross Accidents should happen that so every thing that could be expected might contribute to the sudden and effectual reducing the Kingdom and putting an end to so chargeable a War whereby the Forces upon so happy a Conclusion as must be at leisure to oppose the grand Disturber of Europe in a more sensible manner seeing it was concluded his main Policy in assisting the Irish was only to divert those Troops he otherwise could not without reason expect would make him an unwelcome Visit upon his own Frontiers and joyntly labour to plant the Rightful Monarch in the Field of Golden Lilies These Considerations I say being of weight presaged the unparallel'd Success in a great measure that attended and crowned them to our wishes The Irish and the French in Confederacy with them held several strong Towns such as were not thought easily to be reduced as Balâ—ymore the two Towns of Athlone Galloway and Lymerick besides a numerous Army that had already taken the field and promised to themselves great matters from their Valour and Conduct as now supporting themselves better disciplined than the Year before for they had amongst them a great many French Officers who laboured to exercise and train them up in the Arts and Methods used in the French Army And indeed had they had to do with any other Nation but the English they might have come off better than they did in the oppositions they made but the ancient British Valour revived in so short a War took again its insuperable vigour resolving to overcome all Difficulties and stick at no Danger but furiously press on where the least glimmering of Victor presented and so like a rapid Torrent forcing the opposing Dams carrying all before it and Crown their Monarchs with sprouting Laurels and Triumphs But not longer to detain the Reader from matter of Fact which is mainly the intended Scope of this History The Supplies expected from England being seasonably arrived and every thing that was thought necessary in a readiness there wanted but Orders to march which were not delayed for now as is said the Army being ready to take the field our Forces were commanded to Decamp and accordingly Decamped from Mullingar and the same day the Army was joyned by Lieutenant-General Douglas with the Northern Troops and on the Seventh of Iune came before Ballymore seizing upon all the Enemies Out-posts which they quitted upon the approach of our Men but being taken the Serjeant was hanged for firing after the Communication was then cut off between him and the Town In the Afternoon a Battery of four Field-pieces was bent against the Fort and five Batteries were raised the Night following from whence our Cannon rent the Walls and Curtains and the General sent to the Governour to let him know That if he and the Garrison would Surrender within two hours he would save their Lives and make them Prisoners of War if not they must expect no Quarter To which the Governour made no direct Answer but reply'd He hoped to get better Terms Our Cannon having made two great Breaches and four Boats brought from Mullingar put into the Water the fear of a present Storm made the Besieged hang out a white Flag and Colonel Bourk with several Officers came and submitted to the General at discretion So that Colonel Earl with 400 Men marched in and took possession of the place in which there was a Garrison of 780 Soldiers besides 259 Rapparees well armed and about 1000 Women and Children In this Action we had 8 Men killed and the Enemy above 150. This important place thus reduced and the Prince of Wirtemberg having joyned the Army with about 12000 Horse and Foot the March was directed towards Athlone On the Nineteenth our Men came before the place where they had put up the French Colours in four parts of the Town to make us believe there were a great many French ingarrisoned in it but this hindred not for by Ten in the Morning a Battery of Ten eighteen Pounders was finished and playing upon the Great Bastion in a short time the Face-flank and Curtain were laid in Rubbish and the General ordered the Assault to be made in this order First there advanced 300 detach'd Granadiers Then 50 Pioneers with more Faggots Then 200 Feusileers supported by two Regiments of Foot After them 200 Pioneers with more Faggots Then 20 Men with Axes to cut the Barrocades if any opposed So that about Six in the Evening on the Twentieth of Iune the Signal was given to fall on which was the Discharge of all the Cannon in Battery At first the Enemy seemed resolved to defend the Breacb but upon the first flight of the English Granadoes they scattered and fled in much confusion over the Bridge to the Irish Town on Connaught side some leaping into the Shannon for haste and there perished in the Waters Our Men immediately entred the English Town but lying somewhat open to the Enemies shot on the other side the River some few were killed and others wounded but the Engineers soon raised Blinds to shelter them On our part of note Lieutenant-Colonel Goar and Lieutenant-Colonel Kirk of Villier's Regiment were killed one entring the Breach and the other surveying the Town from a Hill The Siege was carried on against