he admitted my Lord Dover to a more particular Protection than ordinary because he had applied himself formerly by a Letter to Major-General Kirk to desire a Pass for himself and Family to go into Flanders His Majesty at his return to the Camp declared The King intends for England his Resolution to go for England and leaving Count Solmes Commander in Chief he went as far as Chappel-Izard nigh Dublin with that Intention ordering one Troop of Guards Count Sconberg's Horse formerly my Lord Devonshires Collonel Matthews's Dragoons Brigadier Trelawny's and Collonel Hastings's And sends some Forces thither Foot to be shipt off for that Kingdom And on the first of August His Majesty published a Second Declaration not only confirming and strengthening the former but also adding That if any Foreigners then in Arms against him in that Kingdom would submit they should have Passes to go into their own Countries or whither else they pleased A Proclamation was also published for all the Irish in the Countrey to deliver up their Arms and those who refused or neglected to be abandoned to the Discretion of the Soldiers As also another Proclamation for a Weekly Fâ—st And then His Majesty appointed Richard Pine Esq Sir Richard Reves and Robert Rochfort Esq Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal who began now to act accordingly But the King received a further Account from England But returns to the Camp That the loss at Sea was not so considerable as it was at first given out and that there was no danger of any more French Forces landing in that Kingdom they having already burnt only a small Village and so were gone off without doing any further damage The danger of that being therefore over His Majesty returned to the Army which he found encamped at Golden Bridge nigh Cashell and about seventeen miles from Limrick where His Majesty had intelligence of the Posture of the Enemy in and about that City August the 8th Lieutenant-General Douglas and his Limerick Besieged Party from Athlone joined the King's Army at Cariganlis And on the 9th the whole Army approached that strong Hold of Limerick without any considerable loss the greatest part of their Army being Encampt beyond the River in the County of Clare His Majesty as soon as his Army was posted sent a Summons to the Town which was refused to be obeyed by Monsieur Boiseleau the Duke of Berwick Sarsfield and some more though a great part of their Army were even then willing to Capitulate Next Morning early the King sent a Party of Horse and Foot under Major-General Ginckell and Major-General Kirk to pass the River which they did near Sir Samuel Foxon's House about two miles above the Town The same day some Deserters from the Enemy gave his Majesty an account of their Circumstances and one of our own Gunners did as much for us who informed the Enemy of our Posture in the Camp as also of Eight Pieces of Cannon with Ammunition Provisions the Tin-Boats and several other Necessaries then upon the Road which Sarsfield with a Party of Horse and Dragoons had the luck to surprize two Some of our â—â—ns surprized days after at a little old Castle called Ballynedy within seven miles of our Camp killing about Sixty of the Soldiers and Waggoners and then marched off with little or no opposition tho his Majesty had given Orders for a Party of Horse to go from the Camp and meet the Guns the night before Tuesday the 12th Brigadier Stuart went with a Party Castle Connel taken and four Field-Pieces to Castle-Connel a Strong-hold upon the Shannon four miles from Limerick the besieged being 126 under one Captain Barnwell after some time submitted and were brought Prisoners to the Camp Sunday the 17th at night we opened our Trenches Our Trenches opened which were mounted by Seven Battalions under the Duke of Wirtenbergh Major-General Kirk Major-General Tetteau and Sir Henry Bellasts beating the Irish out of a Fort nigh two old Chimneys where about Twenty were killed and next night our Works were relieved by Lieutenant General Douglas my Lord Sidney Count Nassau and Brigadier Stuart with the like number and the day following we planted some new Batteries which his Majesty going to view as he was riding towards Ireton's Fort he stopt his Horse on a sudden to speak to an Officer a Four and twenty pound Ball the very moment grazing on the side of the Gap where his Majesty was going to enter which certainly must have dash'd him to pieces had not the commanding God of Heaven prevented it who still reserves him for greater matters This I saw being then upon the Fort as I did that other Accident at the Boyne before Wednesday the 20th we attack'd a Fort of the Enemies A Fort taken nigh the South East Corner of the Wall which we soon took and killed 50 taking a Captain and twelve men Prisoners and about an hour after the Enemy sallyed with great Bravery thinking to regain the Fort but were beat in with loss there being killed in the Fort and the Sally about Three hundred though we lost Captain Needham Captain Lacy and about Eighty private men A PROSPECT of LIMERICK BEARING DUE WEST Exactly shewing the Approaches Batteries Breach ct Sold by R. Chiswell in St. Pauls churchyard Next day the Soldiers were in hopes that his Majesty would give orders for a second Attack and seemed resolved to have the Town or lose all their lives but this was too great a risque to run at one place and they did not know how our Ammunition was sunk especially by the former day's work we continued however our Batteries and then a storm of Rain and other bad weather begun to threaten us which fell out on Friday the 29th in good earnest upon which his Majesty calling a Council of War it was concluded the safest way was to quit the Siege without which we could not have secured our heavy Cannon which we drew off from the Batteries by degrees and found much difficulty in marching them five miles next day Sunday the last of August all our His Majesty raised the Siege Army drew off most of the Protestants that lived in that part of the Countrey taking that opportunity of removing further into the Countrey with the Army and would rather leave their Estates and all their Substance in the Enemies hands than trust their persons any more in their power His Majesty seeing the Campaign nigh an end went towards Waterford where he appointed Henry Lord Viscount Sidney Sir Charles Porter and Tho. Conningsby Esq Lords Justices of Ireland and then setting And returns to England sail with a fair Wind for England his Majesty was welcomed thither with all the Joy and Satisfaction imaginable CHAP. III. September 1690. The French Forces quit Ireland Birr besieg'd by the Irish who draw off towards Banoher Bridge Count Solms 's Answer to the Duke of Berwick 's Letter Lieutenant-General
Drogheda's Regiment who finding themselves very much outnumbred and the Village no ways Tenible they retired all to a Mount nigh the middle of the same Village which they defended till the Irish were obliged to quit the place have killed us about 28 themselves leaving 16 dead upon the Streets besides several more that were killed in Plundering the Houses And several such Accidents hapned up and down the Kingdom most of which are already related in the former part of this History Towards the beginning of December his Majesty for the A Privy-Council appointed in Ireland better ordering the Affairs of that Kingdom appointed a Privy-Council and gave out new Commissions to supply the places of several Judges as yet awanting in the respective Courts of Judicature But though the Irish in and about Limerick and indeed in most other places within their Line were reduced to great necessities both as to Provisions and Cloaths yet this did not prevent them from having a very good opinion of themselves nor blunt the Edge of that Vain-glorious Boasting so peculiar to that sort of People as may appear by a pretended Declaration of the then Brigadeer Dorington's who after several invective Expressions against his Majesty and the English Government and Wheedling Insinuations to all Foreigners and others who he pretends were drawn in at unawares he promises to protect and receive into Pay all Officers or Souldiers that would forsake their Majesties Service and advance them according to their Merit or those that had no mind to serve should be Transported into France having all necessary Accommodation and be provided for in the mean time Dated at Limerick the 13th of December 1690. and Signed W. Dorington But this worthy Declaration had no other effect than to shew the folly and vanity of the Publisher only I cannot but observe what a scurvy Return those Officers and Souldiers of King William's to whom he addresses himself made him for his kind proffer since instead of going to him for his Pass into France they soon after sent his Worship himself Prisoner into England Monday the 15th of December Henry Lord Viscount My Lord Sidney goes for England Sidney being appointed one of the Secretaries of State for England set Sail for that Kingdom And on the 24th Sir Charles Porter another of the Lords-Justices came from thence being Sworn Lord Chancellour of Ireland on the 29th and then received the Purse and Great Seal from the late Commissioners We had now a part of our Army on their March towards Part of our Forces move towards the Shannon Lanesborough Pass Commanded by Major General Kirk and Sir John Lanier Lieutenant General Douglas was also upon his March towards Sligoe as was Major General Tetteau in Munster towards the County of Kerry The first Detachment beat the Irish from their Works on this side the River and staying there some time returned to Quarters as did also Lieutenant General Douglas Major General Tetteau Marched towards Ross taking a Fort called Screnelarld in his way after which the Irish set most of the Country on Fire and retreated He took also another Fort wherein were 80 of the Irish who being attacked by fifty Danes and fifty of the Kinsale Militia our Men carried the place and put most of the Enemy to the Sword Then our Party Marched towards Tralee where Lieutenant General Sheldon bad been with 21 Troops of Dragoons and 7 of Horse but with his Men had deserted the Town and made what haste they could towards Limerick resolving to force their way through Lieutenant General Ginckel's Troops who then was abroad also with a Party if they were not very much stronger or otherways to kill all their Horses and save themselves by crossing the Shannon in Boats But not being informed of this our Men returned without securing a considerable quantity of Provisiâ—â—â— then in Trallee which the Irish got afterwards to supply the Garrison of Limerick The Rapparees by this time were got to the end of the Rapparees in the Bogg of Allen. Bogg of Allen within 12 miles of Dublin and there Robb'd and Plunder'd the Country all about Fortifying an Island in the Bogg to secure their Prey which being so nigh Dublin it made a great noise So that Collonel Foulks with his own Regiment part of Collonel Cutts's and a Detachment of the Dublin Militia as also three small Field-Pieces Marched out towards them The Irish at first seemed to defend the place but as our Men advanced they quitted their Posts leaving us to fill up the Trenches they had made cross the Causeway which done Colonel Foulks Marched over into the Island of Allen where he met with Colonel Piper who had come in at the other side but the Irish betook themselves to the Woods and we only got some small Booty which they had left I have heard that my Lord Baltimore at his coming over from Ireland in King James the First 's time to give his Majesty an account of the State of that Kingdom amongst otherthings told the King That the Irish were a wicked People but had been as wickedly dealt withal I make no Applications of the Expression to our selves tho' most people that have been in that Country know how to do it But as to any publick Action little of moment hapned for some time after we returned to our Winter Quarters tho' the Rapparees being encouraged by our withdrawing were very troublesome all the Country over nor will it be amiss once for all to give you a brief Account how the Irish managed this Affair to make the Rapparees so Considerable as they really were doing much more mischief at this Upon what account the Rapparees were servicable to the Irish time o' th' year than any thing that had the face of an Army could pretend to When the Irish understood therefore how our Men were Posted all along the Line and what advantage might be hoped for at such and such places they not only encouraged all the protected Irish to do us secretly all the mischief they could either by concealed Arms or private Intelligence under the pretence of their being Plundered and abused but they let loose a great part of their Army to manage the best for themselves that time and opportunity would allow them to all these they gave Passes signifying to what Regiment they belonged that in case they were taken they might not be dealt withal as Rapparees but Souldiers These Men knew the Country nay all the secret Corners Woods and Boggs keeping a constant Correspondence with one another and also with the Army who furnished them with all necessaries especially Ammunition When they had any Project on Foot their method was not to appear in a Body for then they would have been discovered and not only so but Carriages and several other things had been wanting which every one knows that's acquainted with this Trade Their way was therefore to make a private appointment to meet at
being done with the Duke's consent who took Mackarty for a man of Honour the Governor was acquitted The beginning of January our Regiments being all very thin and it appearing a little difficult to recruit them in England most people being then out of humour for the loss of their Relations and Acquaintance nor altogether that number of Voluntiers appearing then as formerly therefore several Regiments were broke one into another and the supernumerary Officers continued at half-pay till Provision could be made for them in other Regiments Sir Tho. Gower being dead my Lord Drogheda's Regiment was broke into his and his Lordship made Collonel of it my Lord Roscommon's Regiment was broke also into Collonel Earl's and Collonel Zanchy's formerly my Lord Lovelace's Sir Henry Inglesby's and Collonel Hambleton's of Inniskilling were broke into other Regiments and about the 12th 16th and 20th most of the Officers designed for that Service went from Lisburne towards England for Recruits to the Army January the 18th A Proclamation was published strictly forbidding Cursing Swearing and Prophaneness in Officers or Soldiers under the Penalties enjoined in the Articles of War and his Grace's utmost Displeasure but neither this nor yet the Judgments of God then hanging upon us for those and a great many other sins had that effect that the General and other good men heartily wished for and no doubt of it the Debaucheries in Armies are the high-way to Ruin since those both obey and fight best that are the most sober The 22 d. Brigadier Stuart went with a Party of Five hundred Horse and Foot towards Dundalk destroying several Cabins amongst the Mountains where the Irish used to shelter themselves and his Party brought in a considerable Prey at their return The 25th the General went from Lisburne in order to visit our Frontier Garisons and appointed stores of Bread Cheese Shooes and other Necessaries at several places especially at Armagh the Metropolis of the whole Island On the 11th of February a part of our Army being The Irish Army in motion drawn together to attend the Enemy's Motion who we understood were then in a Body towards Dundalk The General himself went to Drummore and so to Loughbritland in order to give the Enemy Battel if they advanced our Men and Horses having recovered by this time from their late Diseases to a Miracle Sir John Laneir and Brigadier La Mellionere advanced with a Party towards Carlingford but returned with an Account that there were only three Regiments at Dundalk as formerly but the Design of the Irish lay another way For whilst the Duke was abroad on that side Collonel Woolsley had notice that the Enemy were resolved to fall upon Belturbet where he then commanded to which purpose they had already crouded a Garison of theirs called Cavan eight miles from Belturbet at what place they expected a greater Force in a day or two but Collonel Woolsley to be before-hand with their visit marched from Belturbet on the 12th about Four in the Afternoon with Seven hundred Foot and Three hundred Horse and Dragoons hoping to surprize the Enemy next Morning early but he met with so many Difficulties in his march that instead of being at the Place before day as he designed it was fair day-light before he came near it the Enemy had also taken the Alarm and were so far from being surprized that instead of the usual Garison which we only as yet expected there the first thing that our men saw was a Body of the Enemy's drawn up in good order and judged to be about Four thousand It was rather therefore a surprize upon us than them however we fought and routed The Battel of Cavan them killed Brigadier Nugent with several other Officers and about Three hundred Soldiers taking Twelve Officers and Sixty private Men Prisoners burnt the Town and returned with a good Booty having lost Major Trahern Captain Armstrong and Captain Mayo with about Thirty private Men and double the number wounded And to let the Enemy see that we were ready Sir John Lanier goes to Dundalk with a Party for them on all sides Sir John Lanier marched again on the 15th towards Dundalk with a Party of One thousand Horse Foot and Dragoons he came before the Place early next Morning which the Enemy had fortified very regularly And placing some of his men near the Works on the North-east Side towards the Bridge he sent a Party of Collonel Leveson's Dragoons cross the River who took Bedloe's Castle an Ensign and Thirty men surrendring themselves Prisoners In the mean time another Party marched in at the South-west End of the Town and burnt most of what was left without the Works in which Service we lost a Lieutenant and two or three Dragoons our Men returning with a Prey of Fifteen hundred Cows and Horses The beginning of March landed the Duke of Wertenberg The Danes land in Ireland with Six Thousand Danes being proper men very well Cloathed and Armed On the 12th Colonel Callimot with a Party endeavoured to burn the Wooden Bridge at Charlemont which he set fire to and killed about Twenty of the Enemy lost his own Major with about Six men and so returned March the 14th Five thousand French Foot under 5000 French land in Ireland Count Lauzune and the Marquess de Lery landed at Kinsale in order to join the Late King's Army for whom in exchange Major-General Macharty and near the same number of Irish were sent into France our English Fleet then attending the Queen of Spain made this Undertaking more easie to the French April the 6th Collonel Woolsley with a Party of Seven hundred men attacked the Castle of Killyshandra seven miles from Belturbet where the Enemy had a Garison of One hundred and sixty men commanded by one Captain Darcy after some Mines were fixed and a brisk Assault or two made upon their Works in which we lost Eight men the Besieged surrendred and we left a Garison of One hundred men in the Place Nigh which time a great many Recruits as also Collonel Cutt's Collonel Babington's with a Danish Regiment of Horse landed at White-House April the 18th Sir Clousley Shovell went into the Bay Sir Clousley Shovell takes a Frigat out of the Bay of Dublin of Dublin and brought from a Place called the Salmon Pool a Frigat of Sixteen Guns and Four Pattereroes loaden with Hides Tallow some Plate and other Rich Moveables designed for France the Late King and several of his Irish Regiments marching as far as Rings-End where they were all Witnesses of so wicked an Action as they called it done on so good a Day it being Good-Friday May the 2 d Lieutenant-Collonel Mackmehon with Relief put into Charlemont about Four hundred men Ammunition and some small quantities of Provisions got into Charlemont in the Night but our French and other Regiments posted thereabouts watched him so narrowly that though he made two or three Attempts yet he could not
Ginckel made Commander in Chief of the Army Lords Justices begin their Government The Earl of Marlborough sent with a Fleet into Ireland Cork and Kinsale taken The Irish make Attempts upon our Frontiers Part of our Army move towards the Shannon Rapparees in the Bog of Allen Those People serviceable to the Irish Interest and how My Lord Tyrconnel returns from France Sarsfield made Earl of Lucan The Irish defeated at the Mote of Greenoge Several Adventures with the Rapparees and Parlies of the Irish Army Some of our Regiments take the Field at Mullingar ON the sixth of September our Army marched to Tipperary about fourteen Miles from Limerick where they begun to disperse towards their respective Quarters And we had an Account by some Deserters that my Lord Tyrconnel and all the French Forces were Ship'd off at The French leave Ireland Gallway for France The reason of this was also enquired after by a great many that the French shou'd absolutely quit Ireland at a time when we had raised our Siege which might have given them hopes of re-gaining the next Year what they lost this at least to defend the Province of Connaught against us and so protract the War beyond what they cou'd have hoped for if the Town had been taken and that if the want of Provisions was an Objection it was easier to carry those to the Men than bring the Men to their Provisions But the reason that I have heard given for their departure was That the late King appearing very unexpectedly in France at a time when all People were over-joyed with the News of the Battel of Flerus won at Land and a Victory also gained at Sea to palliate matters therefore as to himself he laid all the blame upon the Irish that they wou'd not fight but many of them laid down their Arms in such order as if they had been Exercising which indeed some of them did Upon which the Fr. K. concluding that all was lost in that Kingdom he sent Orders to Count Lauzun to make the best of a bad Market and so come off for France as well as he could with all his Men. But the Irish taking heart of grace at our Fleets and the Dutch Armies misfortunes they held out beyond expectation And those Orders of the French Kings not coming till after His Majesty had raised the Siege of Limerick Count Lauzun waited about twelve Days for a Countermand but that not appearing he set sail for France tho' he met with contrary Orders at Sea but then it was too late For His Majesty had been a Fortnight at London before they heard at Paris that the Siege of Limerick was raised which shewed that whatever good Intelligence they might have from England or Ireland at other times they wanted it now but whether the Wind was cross or what else was the reason I am uncertain About the fourteenth we heard that Sarsfield with a part of the Irish Army had marched over the Shannon at Banoher-Bridge and besieged the Castle of Birr wherein Birr besieged by the Irish was only a Company of Colonel Tiffin's Foot who stoutly defended the Castle the only temble place but Major-General Kirk marching thither with a part of our Army the Enemy quitted the Siege and marched off At this time Count Solms who commanded in Chief was at Cashel where he received a Letter by a Trumpeter from the Duke of Berwick then at Limerick complaining that they heard of a Design of ours to send all those Prisoners we had taken at several places to be Slaves in the Foreign Plantations and withal threatning ours with the French Gallies But this was only a trick of the Irish Officers themselves to prevent their Soldiers from deserting making them believe there was a Contract to sell them all to Monsieur Perara the Jew for so much Bread which made the name of the Jew very terrible to the Irish But this was a mere Story of their own framing and therefore Count Solms sent the following Answer to the Duke's Letter Henry Count de Solms General of Their Majesties Army in their Kingdom of Ireland HAving never before heard of a Design to send those Numbers Count Solms's Answer to the Duke of Berwick's Letter of your Men we have Prisoners to the Foreign Plantations we detained your Trumpeter here for some Days in hopes we might have been able to trace this Report which you send us word is spread about of such our Intentions but no enquiry we have made giving us the least light therein we have reason to think that neither those Prisoners we have of yours need fear so long a Voyage nor those few of ours in your hands be apprehensive of yielding a small Recruit to the French King's Gallies However we think fit to declare that your Men shall severely feel the effects of any ill usage you shall offer to ours for which they may reckon themselves obliged to their Generals Given at our Head-Quarters at Cashel the 21st Day of September 1690. To the Duke of Berwick or the Officer in Chief commanding the Enemies Forces Soon after this Count Solms went for England and the Lieutenant-General Ginckel made Commander in Chief Baron de Ginckel was made Lieutenant-General and Commander in Chief of the Army who went to his Head-Quarters at Kilkenny Towards the middle of September Henry Lord Viscount Sidney and Thomas Coningesby Esquire two of the Lords-Justices went to Dublin where they took the usual Oaths of Chief Governors of that Kingdom before the Commissioners of the Great Seal and immediately begun their The Lords-Justices go to Dublin work of putting the Country in as good a condition of Safety as the nature of the times would bear Whilst the King was imployed in the Field with his Army against the Town of Limerick it was first proposed by the Earl of Nottingham to my Lord Marlborough and afterwards approved of in Councel as very Advantageous to Their Majesties Affairs to send a Party from England who joyning with a Detachment from the King's Army might reduce those two important Garrisons of Cork and Kinsale and provisions were made accordingly But not being ready so soon as was designed His Majesty upon His return for England sent the Earl of Marlborough with his own Regiment of Fusiliers Brigadier Trelawny's Princess Ann's Earl of Marlborough sent into Ireland Colonel Hastings's Colonel Hales's Sir David Collier's Colonel Fitz-Patrick's one hundred of the Duke of Bolton's and two hundred of the Earl of Monmouth's with my Lord Torrington's and Lord Pembrook's Marine Regiments CORK CITY After the taking of those two Towns the Irish that lay October 1690. in the County of Kerry made several Incursions and burnt some small Villages in the County of Cork and near the same time another Party burnt Balliboy a Village 8 miles The Irish make some attempts upon our Quarters from Birr wherein there was then six Companies of the Earl of
this Declaration as others before it of like nature had not the wished-for effect since the Irish are generally of that Temper as to think you are most afraid of them when best Terms are proferr'd This made the Irish Peasants value themselves mightily upon King William's first Declaration after the Rout at the Boyne who then look'd upon themselves to be the most considerable part of the Irish Nation because they had Terms proferr'd before the Great Ones The sixth a Proclamation was published by the Lords-Justices A Proclamation prohibiting the destroying Improvements and Council prohibiting all Officers and Soldiers to plunder or take away the Goods either of Protestants or Papists nor cut down Improvements as some unreasonably went about nor to take the Horses and Cattle out of the Plough or to exact and levy Money Of all which there had been frequent Complaints and therefore the Soldiers were commanded to pay their Quarters with their Subsistence which was ordered them and the Officers too from the first of January Nigh this time Francis Sheldon and John Green two Commissioners sent over to build Ships in Ireland that were Skilful in the Art of Building Ships were both sent over in equal Commission by Authority of the Navy-Board in England to build Ships for Their Majesties Service at Waterford or Wexford nigh which Places and in the County of Wickloe there is good store of suitable Timber and other Advantages for building Ships at easier Rates than in England but what progress has been made herein I am uncertain February the 8th Colonel Brewer and Major Boad with a Party of 150 Horse and 200 Foot march'd from Mullingar towards Meers-Court to Relieve that and some other Garrisons with Provisions and some Men which having done Colonel Brewer went with a Party towards Ballymore to view the Posture of the Enemy at that place he met with a small Party of them at a Pass a Mile on this side the Fort whom he put to flight and pursued to the Garrison nigh which he kill'd six or eight and burnt the House at the Pass when he returned bringing the Owner away Prisoner February the 10th Sir Richard Reynolds Lord Chief Justice of the King's-Bench came from England and sate as Judge in that Court being afterwards sworn of the Privy-Council And nigh the same time we had an account that considerable Numbers of Recruits both for Horse and Foot lay ready at Bristol to be ship'd for Ireland The Montague and Dover Frigats bring into Kinsale a Privateer of St. Maloes of 24 Guns and six Pettereroes A Party of our Army quartering at Bally-Hooly in the County of Cork went into the Enemies Country and kill'd 25 Rapparees and soon after Major Kirk kill'd 16 more taking two Officers Prisoners yet for all this the Enemy watched all opportunities of Advantage killing our Men by surprize in a great many places but especially keeping Correspondence with the protected Irish in all corners of the Country they stole away our Horses The Irish steal away our Horses to Recruit their own Army sometimes in the Night and often at Noon-day when our Men least suspected it by which means they recruited their own Horse considerably and did us no small disservice nor is it probable unless they had made use of some such ways they could have brought any Body of Horse into the Field worth taking notice of the succeeding Campaign whereas we were sensible afterwards that their Horse were once not contemptible The 9th two Officers and a Soldier desert from Limerick and come to Cashel And a Day or two afterwards about 100 Protestants are permitted to come away who all agree that the Irish were more dissatisfied since my Lord Tyrconnel's Landing than before since the Money and Cloaths brought them from France were both in themselves very contemptible the one for quantity and the other for quality We had also an Account that Sarsfield was made Sarsfield made Lord Lucan Earl of Lucan and Lieutenant-General of the Army Dorington Major-General and Barker General of the Foot One Langton was Hanged at Kilkenny for endeavouring to seduce a Souldier of Count Nassau's Regiment and some others And at Birr the Rapparees killing one of Colonel Hamilton's Souldiers drew out his Guts and mangled his Body after amost barbarous and unusual manner Several Ships arrive at Waterford with Meal Bisket Corn and other Provisions for their Majesties use and a great many Merchant Ships come to that and other Ports with Victuals and other conveniencies for the Army and Country On the 13th about 400 of the Irish Army Commanded A Party of the Irish burn Edenderry by Lieutenant Colonel Conner came to Edenderry and burnt greatest part of it killing 7 Men and a Woman and had 11 of theirs kill'd by a Militia Troop then in Town who were obliged to defend the strongest Houses and the Irish returning by Phillips-Town burnt Bally Brittan And now the Civil Government begun to look with a Judges appointed to go their several Circuits better countenance than formerly for February the 17th the Judges were appointed for their several Circuits viz. Munster Circuit Lord Chief Justice Reynolds Mr. Justice Cox Leinster Circuit Lord Chief Justice Pyne Mr. Justice Jefferson North-East Circuit of Vlster Lord Chief Baron Healy Mr. Justice Lyndon North-West Circuit Mr. Baron Eclyn Mr. Serjeant Ryves These all went their districts accordingly and found things much out of order in several places by reason of the looseness of the Times and the general inclination of most people to a disorderly way of living February 24th a large French Pinck bound from Bourdeaux to Connaught with Wine Brandy Salt c. was driven by stress of Weather into Arcklow-Haven the Men being made Prisoners the Ship and Cargo were seized for The Duke of Berwick and others of the Irish Army go for France their Majesties use And nigh this time we heard that the Duke of Berwick and some other great Officers of the Irish Army were gone off from Limerick to France being discontented as 't was said at my Lord Tyrconnel's way of Proceeding in the Government The 25th Lieutenant Colonel Lillingston went from Roscreagh with a Party to Monogall where he surprised a Company of Colonel Oxburrough's Regiment and several Rapparees kill'd 35 and took 5 Prisoners with one O Conner who Commanded The 26th in the Morning Lieutenant General Ginckel and Sir John Lanier having drawn a considerable Body both of Horse and Foot together they advanced from Streams-Town towards Athlone The Enemy never wanted Intelligence of our Motions by reason of their Friends always amongst us and therefore as we approached we found a Body of Horse and Foot to the number of about 2300 Commanded by Brigadeer Clifford drawn on at a Pass 4 miles from Streams-Town the place it self was of great advantage its natural situation being improved by Art but as soon as a Party of ours under Captain Pepper of The
indeed the Militia were as active to suppress them However the White Serjeant with one Mackabe and Cavenagh were very troublesome nigh Kildare Those were three Fellows all under the same Circumstances who running away from the Irish Army they got small Parties of Rogues together and haunted the Bogg of Allen and other places of the Country thereabouts which were particularly well known to them and by that means gave the Inhabitants no small disturbance They were hunted by the Militia nigh this time and three of the White Serjeant's men Shot at one time and two of Mackabe's at another and soon after three more were killed near Murney And our publick Accounts tell us of a hundred and ten Rapparees killed by Captain Baggott's Militia Dragoons since the beginning of this Month in several Parties But Cavenagh and his Men being afraid to trade any more in the Bogg of Allen they remove towards the Mountains of Wicklow where Lieutenant Cooly met with them and killing fifteen took their Captain upon which the rest dispersed or joyned with Mackabe and the White Sergeant May the 20th Mark Baggot formerly spoke of Mark Baggâ— hanged being condemned and reprieved till now was this Day hanged having said nothing to the purpose but that our best places to pass the Shannon were Melick and Banoher May 24. Major Welden of the Militia and Captain Phillips of Colonel Earls's Regiment kill thirteen Rapparees near Montmelick Captain Vnderhill of my Lord Lisburn's Regiment with sixty Foot and ten Dragoons goes to Ballenderry May the 26th where they met with a Party of nigh three hundred of the Irish Army whom they engaged killing Captain Geoghagan and four more Officers and as the Account was fifty private Men. Next Day the same Captain went out with only twenty four Men and kill'd twelve but being set upon by a good Party of the Irish commanded by Colonel Geoghagan he made his retreat to Dunore Castle having only one Man kill'd and another wounded The same Day some Dutch Horse being come to the Camp now at Mullingar a Party of them went abroad kill'd several Rapparees and brought in thirty Prisoners At this time Lieutenant-General Douglas was marched Lieutenant-General Douglas encamps with a Party at Ardagh out of the North with a Body of Men and encamped at a place called Ardagh in the County of Longford twelve Miles from Mullingar And the Duke of Wirtenberg was gone towards Thurles where the Foreigners that quartered last Winter in Munster were ordered to Rendezvouz and to be ready to joyn the rest of the Army nigh Banoher where our Great Men had some thoughts at that time of passing Our Train of Artillery was also upon their march from Dublin to Mullingar being such an one as never had been seen before in that Kingdom Major-General Ruvigny is now at the Camp at Mullingar Our Great Officers take the Field whither went Major-General Mackay on the 28th who came lately from Scotland Major-General Kirk and Sir John Lanier go for England and land at Neston on the thirtieth And much about the same time the Duke of Leinster's Regiment of Horse formerly my Lord Devonshire's landed in England and march'd towards Coventry Major-General Talmash being sent by His Majesty to assist the other Great Officers this Campaign in Ireland landed at Dublin the latter end of May having with him Sir Martin Beckman chief Ingineer and in a Day or two he went towards the Camp About this time the Gentlemen of the County of East-Meath meeting at Trim agreed to scoure the Red Bog nigh that place where the Rapparees haunted and had done much mischief during the last Winter the issue was that thirty five were kill'd and six more fairly hanged Some were also kill'd by the Militia of the County of Waterford and others near Kilmallock by Parties that advanced so far By Packets from England the General had an Account by Letters from Monsieur de Opdam Lieutenant-General of the Horse in Holland who went to Breda about the exchange of Prisoners taken at the Boyne Cork Kinsale c. with the Dutch taken at the Battle of Fleur that the French refused to release the Irish Officers under such Characters as they gave themselves but left them under very ill Circumstances upbraiding them in terms very disrespectful tho' they released the Irish Soldiers and sent them to Thoulon Marseilles c. for the Sea-service This Month now draws towards an end and all People that had any business towards the Camp are resorting thither in order to which the Lords-Justices set out a Proclamation Commanding all Sutlers and others to carry no Ale or other Liquors to the Camp but what was good and well brewed and to be at least six Days old to prevent Fluxes and other Distempers There was also another Proclamation Commanding all Persons that designed to be Sutlers to come to Dublin for Licenses and to renew those each Journey But this being found inconvenient for the Army it was recalled May the 30th Lieutenant-General Ginckel went The General goes to the Camp from Dublin and lying that Night at Tycroghan next Day his Excellency came to the Camp at Mullingar where he found Foot viz. Major-General Kirk's Lord Meath's Lord Lisburn's Lord Cutts's Colonel Foulks's Colonel Brewer's Lord George Hamilton's and Colonel Earls's Horse Sir John Lanier's Brigadier Villers's Colonel Langston's Rydesel's Roucour's and Monopovillon's with Colonel Leveson's Dragoons who before his coming over was made a Brigadier by His Majesty The Soldiers every Day in one Regiment or another began to appear fine in their new Cloths and before the Army took the Field the Lords-Justices with the Advice of the General appointed several Officers that had been or were actually then in the Army to Command the Militia in different places of the Kingdom not as being Absolute but rather Superintendents of the whole As in the County of Cork Major Stroud was imployed in the Counties of Wickloe and Wexford Major Brooks and Captain Phillips as were also Major Tichburn Lieutenant-Colonel Toby Caulfield and others in several other places CHAP. V. June 1691. The Fortifications at Mullingar contracted into a narrower compass A Stratagem of the Irish to get Horses The Irish march towards Athlone Our Army goes towards Ballymore That place besieged Its Situation described Four Batteries planted The General 's Message sent in writing A Parley beat The Fort surrendred Ballymore better fortified The Army march towards Athlone and joyned by the Duke of Wirtenberg We approach the Town Batteries planted The order of the Attack The English Town taken Batteries against the Irish Town The Enemy ruin our Works A design to pass the Shannon The Enemy burn our close Gallery A Councel of War held A Party ordered to pass the River The Town stormed An Express sent to St. Ruth A part of our Army left in the Country and why Major Culliford surprizes some of the Irish Inniskeen fortified JVne the 1st Very
delivering up their Arms a very small return being made through the whole Kingdom they keeping as yet some thousands of all sorts of Arms still concealed which I hope will effectually be taken care of in time The weather was now so violent that the Adventure of London was cast away going to Dublin and several other Ships lost in and about that Bay And the Swallow one of Their Majesties Ships was forced a ground nigh Charles-Fort at Kingsale and there foundred tho' all the Men were saved except two February the 12th John Stone Esq being dead and Captain South imployed elsewhere in the Army a new Commission was granted putting in their Places Colonel Foulks and William Palmer Esquires Commissioners for stating the Accounts of the Army And nigh the same time the Commissary General was sent into England with all the Muster Rolls February 16. the weather breaking up part of my Lord Oxford's Horse driven back by stress of weather Lieutenant General Ginckel's and Major General Ruvigney's Horse with the Princess Anns Foot were all Shipp'd for England The same day Lieutenant General Scravemore went on Board as did Brigadier Leveson in a day or two after Colonel Coy's Horse also are Shipp'd off at Belfast and the Garison of Athlone that had been very uneasie to the Officers and Souldiers all Winter by reason they had no shelter except some small Hutts of their own making was now relieved February the 20th the Commissioners of the Ordnance Arms and Ammunition sent for England had an Order directed to them to send all the Stores of Amunition and other Stores of War that cou'd be spared out of the Magazines for England to be employed elsewhere in Their Majesties Service and accordingly March 1692. a vast quantity of Arms and other Utensils of War were Shipt off February 28 Captain Townsend of the Earl of Meath's Regiment took eight or ten French Men Prisoners who had come a Shoar from a Privateer nigh Castle-Haven and we had an Account from England that His Majesty had Created Lieutenant General Ginckel Baron of Aghrim and Earl of Athlone February 26 An Order was directed to Colonel Foulk to break my Lord George Hambleton's Regiment which was done accordingly in some days after 150 ' of the Men being sent for England and the rest entertained in the Earl of Drogheda's Brigadier Stuart's Sir Henry Ballasis and Colonel Foulk's Regiments March the first a Pass was given out for a Ship to The Hostages go from Cork to France go to France with the Hostages left at Cork and other sick Officers and Souldiers according to the Articles of Limerick And on the third another Order was granted to Colonel Foulk for the raising five Companies of 100 Men in each of the Irish all the subaltern Officers to be of those Reformed in Colonel Wilson's and O Donnel's Battalions and the whole to be commanded by my Lord Iveigh and employed in the Emperor's Service And March the fifth an Order was directed to Mr. Foliot Sherigly chief Deputy Commissary to Disband the Troop of Provoes which was done accordingly March the 17th Lieutenant-General Ruvigny Landed Lieutenant General Ruvigny lands in Ireland from England being made Commander in chief of the Army left in Ireland and Created by his Majesty Lord Viscount Galway and two days after his Lordship and the Lord Viscount Blessington were Sworn of Their Majesties Privy Council as the Bishop of Kildare had been some time before And March the 23 d. the following Proclamation was Published declaring the War of Ireland to be at an end 1692 WILLIAM REX WHEREAS by An Act made in Our Parliament A Proclamation declaring the Wars of Ireland ended at Westminster in the First Year of Our Reign Intituled An Act for the better Security and Relief of Their Majesties Protestant Subjects of Ireland it was among other things Enacted that all and every Person and Persons whatsoever of the Protestant Religion should be absolutely Discharged and Acquitted of and from the Payment of all Quit-Rents Crown-Rents Composition-Rents Hearth-Money Twentieth Parts Payments and other Chief Rents arising or Payable out of any Houses Lands Tenements Hereditaments Rectories Tyths or Church-Livings incurring or becoming due to us at any time after the Five and Twentieth Day of December in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Eight until the said Kingdom of Ireland shou'd be by us declared to be reduced and the War and Rebellion there ended We have now pursuant to the said Act of Parliament thought fit by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council to Issue this Our Royal Proclamation hereby Declaring that the said Kingdom of Ireland is reduced to Our Obedience and the War and Rebellion there ended And We do hereby Will and Require that all and Singular such Rents and Payments and all other Duties payable to the Crown which shall henceforth grow incur and become due be duely answered and payed to us in such manner and under such Penalties and Forfeitures as if the said Act had not been made Given at Our Court at Kensington the Third Day of March 1691 2. in the Fourth Year of Our Reign God save the King and Queen After which time little of moment happened save March 1692. that the Lords Justices by Directions from Their Majesties appointed a time for those that pretended to the Benefit of the Articles of Limerick or Galway to give in their Names and make good their claims by the 20th of February which time was by Proclamation enlarged to the first of April and afterwards to the 15th Wednesday the sixth of April was appointed the first Day to begin upon those Claims all those concerned being to enter their Names sometime before with the Clerk of the Council which Names were to be posted up at least ten Days before their Cause was to be heard their Claims being to be made out by at least three Credible Witnesses one of which was to be a Protestant Accordingly on the sixth of April the Council met upon this Affair and continued every Monday Wednesday and Friday so to do which was a much easier way and more to the Interest and Advantage of the Irish than any Court of Claims erected only for that purpose cou'd have been CHAP. XI A brief Account of the former and present Circumstances of Ireland The Division of it into Provinces and Counties Bishopricks and Parishes The Soil of Ireland Sir John Davis his Reasons why Ireland was so long in being entirely subjâ—cted to the Crown of England What Tanistry is This a reason why the Irish did not improve their Country Of Fosterings and Cosherings A Brief Estimate of the Expence of the former Wars of Ireland An Essay towards the reckoning the Charge of this last The former evils still remain The Interest of the King and People of England in general to advance the Power and Trade of the English in Ireland The Interest also of the Roman Catholicks
ten Granadiers who are to take to the Left and clear the Rampart of the Enemy 5. After these fifty Work-men whereof Twenty-five are to follow the Lieutenant-Colonel to the Right and Twenty-five to go after the Major to the Left with Hatchets Pick-Axes Shovels and Hammers 6. After them shall follow the two Battalions of Stuart and Prince Frederick whereof Stuart is to go to the Right and Prince Frederick to the Left and the Officers are to take care that the Men do not press on too fast but cover themselves from the Enemies Fire as soon as they can 7. After these two Battalions two hundred Foot to carry Fascines and each of them to carry Tools along with them 8. After these shall follow the Regiments of Brewer to sustain Stuart and Count Nassau to sustain Prince Frederick 9. The Work-men are to open as soon as possible the two Gates of the Town that the Horse and Foot may come in that way 10. The Lieutenant-Colonels or Major or both that shall come first to the Ford on the left of the Bridge is to take care to prevent the Enemies Sallying that way and also that their Men do not fire one upon another 11. All these foregoing Detachments are to be Commanded by Major-General Mackay and the Brigadiers Stuart and Vittinghoff To sustain all these a good Body of Horse were got ready and a Lieutenant of Colonel Cambon's Regiment according to Orders having the Advance Party of thirty Men went under Covert of certain Hills within a hundred and fifty Yards of the Breach then Advanced upon the Plain before his Men and the rest of the Detachments following the Enemy fired upon us very smartly but our Men went on and kept their fire till they were at the Breach which the French Lieutenant first mounted throwing his Granade and firing his Piece ordering his Men to do the like and with great bravery encouraged his Party though he lost his Life in the Action Our Granades so galled the Enemy and the Men pressed so fast upon the Breach that the other quit their Works and run towards the Bridge whither we pursued them and even to the foot of the Draw-Bridge the The English-Town taken Irish in their hurrying over the Bridge crowded forwards so fast that several were crushed to death and not a few forced over the sides of the Bridge who were either kill'd or sore bruised When our Men had possession of the Town they rung the Bell and covered themselves at the Bridge foot We lost not above twenty men and had about double the number Wounded the Enemy had about sixty killed and more wounded Brigadier Stuart was Wounded in this Action and one Captain with three private men of the Enemies taken Lieutenant-Colonel Kirk of Brigadier Viller's Regiment was unfortunately killed by a great Shot from the Town as he lay viewing the Action upon the side of an Hill That Evening our three Guns were drawn off from the Ford and nine Guns from the Battery into the Town June the 21st several Detachments of Horse were Batteries planted against the Irish-Town sent abroad one Commanded by Colonel Woolsley went towards Ballymore to meet the eleven Guns and three Mortars that were upon the Road and also to hasten the Pontoons This Evening a Battery was begun at the foot of the Bridge to the Right for five Twenty-four Pounders and a Floor made for six Mortars The 22d about five in the Morning our Batteries were finished and by six the Cannon and Mortars begun to play very briskly on the North-East side of the Castle where it was weakest and by seven in the Evening a large Breach appear'd in the Wall In the Afternoon a French Lieutenant-Colonel was brought off by our Men who had laid under the Bridge since the Attack he was sore bruised and his Back almost broke but seemed not to be so much afflicted with his own private Misfortune as in being engaged with a People who were like to prove but very indifferent defenders of his Master the French King's Interest in that Kingdom The 23d our Guns and Mortars continued firing all Night with that success that by five in the Morning the whole side of the Castle was beaten down and our Bombs had that effect upon it as to make it very unserviceable to the Enemy who were now forced to make an Hole on the West-side of the Wall to get out and in though in a day or two they had no business there at all About two that The Tin Boats come up Afternoon our Tin Boats Floats and other Materials came to the Camp with Colonel Byerley's and my Lord of Oxford's Regiments and a great many People were set to work to repair those Boats that were spoiled the Year before nigh Limerick for there being more New ones expected from England than really came and what we had being judged too few those Old Boats were brought out of a place where they had been thrown by and so were fitted up to lay next the Shore which occasion'd a Report that they were concealed on purpose by the Store-keeper but the thing was as it is here related The same Afternoon a Prisoner was taken nigh the Bridge who gave an Account that Sixty-four Men were in a Mill upon the Bridge which being fired by our Granades and those within not being able to quench it nor get thence they were all consumed with the Fire except the Prisoner and one more that escaped by leaping into the Water A Drummer comes to the General from the Town with an Answer of his Letter sent the Day before about the exchange of Prisoners The 24th was spent in raising three Batteries one below the Bridge another above it and a third without the Town-Wall by the River-side opposite to a Bastion the Enemy had made on the other side the River That Evening one of my Lord Lisburn's Men going under the Bridge to see for Plunder found a pair of Colours amongst the dead Men and tho' the Enemy fired a great many Shot at him yet he brought them off flying and presented them to the General who rewarded the Soldier with five Guinnea's We begin now to contrive Methods of passing the River and a Lieutenant of Horse was commanded with a Party to a Ford towards Lanesborough where the General was informed there might be an easie and undiscovered Passage for most of our Army whilst our Cannon amused the Enemy at the Town This Party went and found the Pass according to Information but tho' he was positively ordered to return as soon as he had passed the River yet such are the powerful Charms of Black Cattle to some sorts of People that the Lieutenant espying a Prey some distance from him on the other side must needs be scampering after them by which means our Design was discovered and the Enemy immediately provided against it by throwing up strong Works on the other side The Lieutenant I beard was afterwards try'd and
day about 10 a Clock their Reer Guard of Horse stood on the other side of Melahy their Foot vanishing out of sight toward Balynasloe for Monsieur St. Ruth being out-done in so considerable a matter as the losing Athlone he was resolved to retrieve his loss or Dye since he could not be answerable to his Master that imployed him for what had already happened and therefore he used all the means possible to strengthen his Army find out a convenient place of advantage to try his Fortune in since he saw that we were not shye in affording him opportunities now he begins to be very kind to and familiar with the Irish Officers whom formerly he had treated with Disrespect and Contempt and to Caress the Soldiers tho a little before he would Hang a Dozen of them in a morning for very slender faults as they thought he draws therefore his Army into the most convenient posture he could to watch our Motions The first thing our General did after the Town was The Dead about Athlone Buried taken was to order the Dead in and about the Town to be buryed and in the Evening all our Army was drawn up and 41 pieces of Cannon fared three rounds being seconded by the Horse and Foot and then followed Bonfires for Joy that the Town was taken which had cost us 12000 Cannon Bullets 600 Bombs nigh 50 Tun of Powder and a great many Tun of Stones shot out of our Mortars But after the Town was taken the Soldiers were many of them unruly and committed several outrages therefore it was given out in Orders that night that no Soldier should go to the Town or over the Water on pain of Death and the Sutlers that went to Dublin were ordered to go to the Hospital and take up the sick and wounded Men. And here let me observe once for all that we had much better conveniencies for our Sick and Wounded this Campaign than formerly having a great many large Tents set up in form of a Quadrangle with Quilts and other conveniencies for every Soldier nor was Dr. Lawrence Physitian to the Army Charles Thomson Esquire Chirurgeon General Mr Thomas Proby and the rest of the Chirurgeons wanting in their careful industry to recover and heal the Sick and Wounded which no doubt must be a great incouragement to the poor Soldiers when they know that if any misfortune attends them they shall undoubtedly be taken care for The Enemy Resolve to give us Battle July the 2 d. We had an account by some Deserters that the Enemies Foot were gone beyond Balynasloe and their Horse were Encampt on this side of it that they resolved to stay thereabouts and Fight us tho at present they were in a great Consternation and seem'd doubtful of their own performances A great many of the Country people and Deserters came hourly in and the General gave them all protections assuring them that they shou'd be kept Inviolable against any of our Army or others resolving to punish the Offenders with Death but on the other hand expected all conformity of dutiful Subjects to their Majesties from them and if any were found to carry Intelligence to the Enemy or harbour succour or conceal them they should suffer Death for it This day the General had an account from one Capt. Aughmouty that the Enemy had quitted Lanesbourgh and that he with his Troop had possest himself thereof July the 3 d. The General commanded his Army The Works of Aâ—hlone repaired to begin the repairing the Works of Athlone which were strangely shattered by our Cannon and not one House left whole in all the Town Especially the Castle which was beat down to the ground on the Southeast side as was also the Tower within it we fell to work therefore and put some few shattered Houses in a condition to hold our Magazines and Stores which were daily coming up from Dublin and Mullingar and without which we could not march forwards That morning William Robinson Esquire one of the Pay-masters to the Army came with Money as also many Waggons and Carts with Ammunition and other Mecessaries A Trumpeter returns with an answer of a Letter sent to the Enemy about the exchange of Prisoners The Fourth proved very Rainy yet our Men were imployed in clearing the Streets repairing the Breaches and mounting four of the Enemies Guns taken in the Town upon some of our spare Carriages That Evening a Party of 20 Horse and ten of Kirk's Granadeers A party of our Horse surprized mounted were sent out to view the Enemies Camp being Guided and Commanded by one Higgins a Converted Priest but they fell into an Ambush of 400 of the Enemies Horse in the Woods of Clanoult our men defended a Bridge and fought stoutly for some time but were at last broke 15 kill'd and 4 taken Prisoners the rest escaping with Higgins who was sadly Wounded The 5th Major General Maxwell and other Prisoners were sent towards Dublin but some of them make their escapes Three out of Col. Parker's and as many out of My Lord Antrim's Regiments deserted to us The 6th The Prisoners sent to Dublin one of our men taken Prisoner two days before was released by Lieutenant General Sheldon and that Evening it was given out in Orders to be ready to march by 5 in the morning the left Wing over the Pontoons and the right Wing over the Bridge which was now repaired and every Soldier was to have 15 shot of Powder The 7th the Army marched over the River and a Prisoner that had made his escape going to Mullingar was taken nigh Banoher and having stole a Horse he was hanged with a Rapparee guilty of the like Fact Capt. Villers returns with 30. Horse from viewing the Enemy still at Balynasloe and the Militia possess some Passes upon the Shanon And because a Declaration published this day by the Lords Justices by direction from England made a great noise both in the Enemies Camp and ours as also all the Kingdom over during the remainder of the Campaign being that upon which the Articles of Galway and Limerick and all the Irish Capitulations were afterwards founded it will not be amiss here to give you the Declaration it self at large as it was Published By the Lords Justices of Ireland a Proclamation Charles Porter Tho. Coningsby SInce it hath pleased Almighty God to give so great Success to their Majesties Arms toward the Reduction of the Kingdom of Ireland that in all probability the whole must in a short time be brought under Their Majesties Obedience with great Effusion of Blood and Destruction of Their Majesties Enemies Their Most Excellent Majesties in Compassion to their Seduced Subjects to avoid further Effusion of Blood and that nothing on Their Majesties part be wanting to Incourage and Invite all who are now in Arms against Them to subject themselves to Their Obedience and Government have Commanded us And we the Lords Justices of this Kingdom
of the Irish Officers came again and dining with the Duke of Wirtemberg they went all afterwards to the General 's Tent where the following Articles Articles signed were interchangeably signed The former about the Surrender of the Town signed by the Generals and the latter about the Privileges granted to the Irish signed by the General and Lords Justices jointly being afterwards ratified by their Majesties Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England in Form following The Civil Articles of Limerick GVlielmus Maria Dei gratia Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Regina Fidei Defensores c. Omnibus ad quos praesentes literae nostrae pervenirint salutem Inspeximus Irritulament quorund literarum patenttum de Confirmatione geren dat apud Westmonasterium vicessimo quarto die Februarii ultimi praeteriti in Cancellar nostr Irrotulat ac ibidem de Record remanen in haec verba William and Mary by the Grace of God c. To all to whom these Presents shall come greeting Whereas certain Articles bearing Date the third Day of October last past made and agreed upon between our Justices of our Kingdom of Ireland and our General of our Forces there on the one Part and several Officers there commanding within the City of Limerick in our said Kingdom on the other Part Whereby our said Justices and General did undertake that we should ratify those Articles within the space of eight Months or sooner and use their utmost Indeavours that the same should be ratified and confirmed in Parliament The Tenor of which said Articles is as follows viz. Articles agreed upon between Lieutenant General Ginckell Commander in Chief of the English Army on one Side and the Lieut. Generals D'usson and De Tesse Commanders in Chief of the Irish Army on the other Side and the General Officers hereunto subscribing 1. THAT all Persons without any Exception of what Quality or Condition soever that are willing to leave the Kingdom of Ireland shall have free Liberty to go to any Country beyond the Seas England and Scotland excepted where they think fit with their Families Houshold-stuff Plate and Jewels 2. That all General Officers Colonels and generally all other Officers of Horse Dragoons and Foot-Guards Troopers Dragoons Souldiers of all kinds that are in any Garison Place or Port now in the Hands of the Irish or encamp'd in the Counties of Cork Clare and Kerry as also those called Rapparees or Volunteers that are willing to go beyond the Seas as aforesaid shall have free leave to embarque themselves where-ever the Ships are that are appointed to transport them and to come in whole Bodies as they are now composed or in Parties Companies or otherwise without having any Impediment directly or indirectly 3. That all Persons above-mentioned which are willing to leave Ireland and go into France shall have leave to declare at the Times and Places hereafter mentioned viz. the Troops in Limerick on Tuesday next at Limerick the Horse at their Camp on Wednesday and the other Forces that are dispersed in the Counties of Clare Kerry and Cork on the 8th Instant and on none other before Monsieur Tameron the French Intendant and Colonel Withers and after such Declaration is made the Troops that will go to France must remain under the Command and Discipline of their Officers that are to conduct them thither and Deserters on each Side shall be given up and punished accordingly 4. That all English and Scotch Officers that serve now in Ireland shall be included in this Capitulation as well for the security of their Estates and Goods in England Scotland and Ireland if they are willing to remain here as for passing freely into France or any other Country to serve 5. That all the Generals French Officers the Intendant the Engeneers the Commissaries of War and of the Artillery the Treasurer and other French Officers Strangers and all others whatsoever that are in Lymerick Sligo Ross Clare or in the Army or that do Trade or Commerce or are otherways imployed in any kind of Station or Condition shall have free leave to pass into France or any other Country and shall have leave to Ship themselves with all their Horses Equipage Plate Papers and all their Effects whatever and that General Ginckel will order Pasports for them Convoys and Carriages by Land and by Water to carry them safe from Lymerick to the Ships where they shall be Embarqued without paying any thing for the said Carriages or to those that are imployed therein with their Horses Carts Boats and Shallops 6. That if any of the aforesaid Equipages Merchandize Horses Money Plate or other Moveables or Houshold Stuff belonging to the said Irish Troops or to the French Officers or other particular Persons whatsoever be Robbed destroyed or taken away by the Troops of the said General the said General will order it to be restored or payment made according to the Value that is given in upon Oath by the Persons so robbed or plundred and the said Irish Troops to be Transported as abovesaid and all Persons belonging to them are to observe good Orders in their March and Quarters and shall restore whatever they shall take from the Country or make restitution for the same 7. That to Facilitate the Transporting the said Troops the General will Furnish fifty Ships each Ship Burthen two hundred Tuns for which the Persons to be Transported shall not be obliged to pay and twenty more if there shall be occasion without their paying for them and if any of the said Ships shall be lesser Burthen he will furnish more in Number to countervail and also give two Men of War to Embarque the Principal Officers and serve for a Convoy to the Vessels of Burthen 8. That a Commissary shall be sent forthwith to Cork to Visit the Transport Ships and see what Condition they are in for Sailing and that assoon as they are ready the Troops to be Transported shall March with all convenient Speed the nearest way in order to Embarque there and if there shall be any more Men to be Transported than can be carryed off in the said fifty Ships the rest shall quit the English Town of Lymerick and March to such Quarters as shall be appointed for them Convenient for their Transportation where they shall remain till the other twenty Ships are ready which they are to be in a Month and may Embarque on any French Ships that may come in the mean while 9. That the said Ships shall be furnished with Forage for Horse and all necessary Provisions to subsist the Officers Troopers Dragoons and Souldiers and all other Persons that are shipt to be Transported into France which Provision shall be paid for assoon as all are disembarqued at Brest or Nantz upon the Coast of Brettany or any other part of France they can make 10. And to secure the return of the said Ships the danger of the Seas excepted and the payment for the said Provisions
Men had Orders to march into the Irish Town that Night but it was after Sun-set before the Articles We take possession of the Out-Works were signed and therefore Major-General Talmash that was appointed to take possession of the Town did not think it convenient to march in the Night but commanded Count Nassaw's and Colonel Gustavus Hamilton's Regiments to take possession of the Stone-Fort and all the Out-Works of the Irish-Town And on the fourth five of our Regiments march'd in and took possession of the Irish Town wherein we found 14 pieces of Canon and a Church heap'd full of Oats which the Irish had â—nd of the Town the Benefit of according to the Articles The Works were all exceeding strong and the Town as dirty the Irish had left very little else in it however but carried every thing away that might do them the least Service Our Regiments in Town were relieved every day as long as the Army staid because the Place was so disordered that we could not abide long in it till things were in some measure better disposed of At our going in we planted a Guard at one end of Balls-Bridge as the Irish had at the other October the Fifth One hundred Men out of each Foot-Regiment Our Batteries levelled were ordered to level the Works that we had cast up against the Town and about Ten a-Clock the General received a Letter from a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Irish Army complaining that he was imprisoned A Lieutenant-Colonel imprison'd for denying to go with the Irish into France for denying to go with them into France which the General took so very ill that he ordered four Guns to be carried immediately down and planted upon Balls-Bridge saying with some heat that he would teach them to play Tricks with him which my Lord Lucan hearing of for so we may venture to call Lieutenant-General Sarsfield now since the Articles do it he came out to our Camp and several sharp Words passed my Lord Lucan saying at last that he was then in the General 's Power Not so replies the other but you shall go in and then do the best you can but he endeavoured to excuse the thing by saying there were Prisoners of War and Prisoners of State for some Misdemeanors against their Government some of those though not obliged by the Articles they had set at liberty who coming warm from our Camp afterwards they begun to rail and speak dis-respectfully of the Irish Officers for which this Lieutenant-Colonel was imprison'd and not for desiring to leave them so that after some other Replies all things were quiet and the Prisoner enlarged The General however sent ten Field-Pieces and six Canon into the Irish Town and in the Afternoon ordered the following Declaration By Lieutenant-General Ginckel Commander in Chief of Their Majesties Forces THeir Majesties having sufficiently manifested to the World their Intention of bringing this Kingdom into a state of Quiet and Repose and to the flourishing Condition it formerly was in and for that Reason have extended their Grace and Favour to those that till now have been in Arms against them We cannot but let the Officers and Soldiers of the Irish Army know how willing we are to indulge and provide for them that by remaining in this Kingdom or serving Their Majesties abroad had rather promote the British and Irish Interest than the Designs of France against both And do therefore promise and declare that all Officers and Soldiers of the said Army that have a mind to return to their homes shall have leave to do so with all their Goods and Effects and there be permitted to live quietly and peaceably under the Protection and Encouragement of the Government And although by the Capitulation all the Troopers of that Army besides the six hundred that have License to go beyond Sea were to deliver up their Horses without payment to such Persons as shall be appointed to receive the same yet we do hereby give the said Troopers and Dragoons leave to sell their Horses to whom they think fit and will pay them for their Arms upon their giving them up to the Officer commanding the Train of Artillery either in the Irish Town of Limerick or the Camp As also to the Foot-Soldiers they shall likewise be paid for their Arms they bringing them in As for those Officers and Soldiers that are willing to take Service under Their Majesties they shall have Quarters immediately assigned them and receive Subsistence till Their Majesties further Pleasure for which end they may send two Officers of their own to England or elsewhere to receive from Their Majesties themselves what further Orders they shall please to give herein And whereas it has industriously been spread about that such of the Irish as enter into Their Majesties Service will be sent into Hungary and other remote Parts contrary to their Inclinations and Desires We assure them they shall not be obliged to serve in any Place against their Wills no more than be constrained to take Service here or return to their homes they being at full and entire liberty to chuse what part they will take but if once they go into France they must not expect to return into this Kingdom again Given at the Camp by Lymerick the 5th of October 1691. Baron De Ginckel That Afternoon my Lord Lucan and Major-General Waughop made Speeches to the Irish Souldiers in Town and in the King's Island telling them that though they were under indifferent Circumstances at present yet next Spring or soon after they would either be landed in England or else in Ireland with a powerful Army every Officer amongst them keeping their present Posts at least and would always be upon an English Establishment and receive English Pay even in France it self and a great many other Advantages were laid before them which would have seem'd improbable to any but Irish-Men who easily believe what they wou'd have but are as soon dejected at any frivolous Misfortune And whilst they were at this Work the General was settling the Quarters of several of our own Regiments who now had endured a very long and active Campaigne The Sixth in the Morning a Sermon was preached to each Irish Regiment by their Priests declaring the Advantages to them and their Religion by adhering to the French Interest and the Inconveniences nay certain Damnation of joining with Hereticks and then a good Quantity of Brandy given them to wash it down After that the Bishops gave their Blessings and then the whole Body of the Irish Foot were drawn out on the County of The Irish Foot drawn out and put to the trial who would go or stay Clare-side being at least Fourteen thousand Men by Poll. The Lords-Justices and General went over the River to view them Adjutant-General Wythers being appointed to acquaint them with the Advantages of our Service above that of France and how unnatural it was for them to chuse to go serve in a
for England with the Lords Justices and most of the Nobility and Gentry in and about Dublin went to Ringsend and there taking leave he went on board the Monmouth-Yacht which sailed next Morning for England The 6th several of the Transport-Ships that went with The Transport-Ships return from France the first of the Irish Forces to France returned to Cork having Landed the Men at Brest and the Week following about Twenty more came back to Dublin they all spoke well of the French Treatment of them in accommodating them with several Necessaries which they extreamly wanted but that the Irish did not find themselves so very welcome as they expected to have been though at their Landing an Express was sent to the late King to St. Germains to give him an Account of it he seemed to be very well pleased with their coming and sent the following Letter to Lieut. General Sheldon then the Officer in Chief with the Irish JAMES Rex HAving been informed of the Capitulation and Surrender of Limerick and of the other Places which Remained King James's Letter to the Irish to us in our Kingdom of Ireland and of the necessities which forced the Lords Justices and the General Officers of our Forces thereunto We will not defer to let you know and the rest of the Officers that came along with you that we are extreamly Satisfied with your and their Conduct and of the Valour of the Souldiers during the Siege but most Particularly of your and their Declaration and Resolution to come and Serve where we are And we assure you and Order you to assure both Officers and Souldiers that are come along with you that we shall never forget this Act of Loyalty nor fail when in a Capacity to give them above others Particular Marks of our Favour In the mean time you are to Inform them that they are to Serve under our Command and by our Commissions and if we find that a Considerable number is come with the Fleet it will induce Vs to go Personally to see them and Regiment them Our Brother the King of France hath already given Orders to Cloath them and furnish them with all necessaries and to give them Quarters of Refreshment So We bid you heartily Farewell Given at Our Court at St. Germaine the 27th of November 1691. But how good soever the Late King's Intentions towards Their Reception in France his Irish might be yet it was and is the French King who Orders every thing in his own Dominions as he Pleases nor had the French any good opinion of the Irish at their Landing as appeared by the Quarters of Refreshment assigned them which were at first only the Lanes and Hedges about Brest not admitting any of them into the City and at the same time this Letter was sent from the Late King there came Orders from his Brother of France to Reduce all or most of the Irish Officers the Colonels to Captains and the Captains to Lieutenants and Ensigns and the Subalterns to Sergeants or private Centinels and no wonder for what ever the Irish might hope for before their departure yet it was very improbable that they who only were put into such Posts in Ireland upon point of necessity because they could get no better should be continued so in France which is one of the most Warlike and Refin'd Nations in the World however this ill Treatment as the Irish took it to be did so exasperate them that several would gladly have returned into Ireland and offered largely for their Passage but were prevented by the strict Guards that were set upon them But they wrote to several of their Friends in Ireland giving an Account of their severe usage which made several Desert from my Lord Lucan that were not as yet gone as more would have done had he not soon after this Advice put them on Ship-Board One of those Letters sent from France after their first Landing since it gives a full Account of their Reception and Usage I think it worth my Pains to Transcribe SIR NEver People that left their All to come hither to Serve were so meanly received as those miserable Irish were here they have been much longer than necessary in Disimbarking them and will be at least Three days more though the Intendant has been pressed with great earnestness to take them a Shoar when they are Landed they lye in the Fields a Night or two at least before they are sent into their Quarters and then they get neither Money nor Cloaths and but little of any thing else The Major Generals are made Colonels the Colonels Captains the Majors Lieutenants and the Captains Serjeants and many of them but Private Men insomuch that as I pass along the Streets the Souldiers wish they had died in Ireland before they came here and many of the Officers express themselves to the same purpose and are extreamly dejected and melancholly some of them hope this will be Regulated tho' I see no great reason for it for this day there came a frivolous Complaint against some of Colonel Nugent 's Men and the Intendant threatned to break him for it and I do not doubt but he 'll be as good as his word in a short time For upon all occasions he uses their Officers with the greatest Insolence and Contempt imaginable Some of them having complained and told him they hoped to have been advanced here rather than thus reform'd he told them if they did not like it they might go back the Ships were in the Harbour that brought them tho' at the same time the Owners on Board the Transport Ships were ordered not to take any of them on Board again upon pain of Death This is all matter of Fact and a great deal more such usages they meet with too tedious to relate c. This News spreading abroad in the Country on Several desert that were not yet Shipt off Tuesday the 8th of December Colonel Mackdermot's and Colonol Brian Oneal's Regiments and a day or two after Colonel Foelix Oneal's who were part of the Irish Forces designed for France they quitted their design and refused to go on Board returning to Clare where some of them delivered up their Arms to Colonel Tiffin and went homewards in order to their living peaceably in the Country and the rest were subsisted as the other Irish Forces were Those that were now Embarquing had not much The Irish severely dealt withal at their Embarquing better usage on this side the Water for a great many of them having Wives and Children they made what shift they cou'd to desert rather than leave their Families behind to starve which my Lord Lucan and Major General Waughop perceiving they Publish a Declaration That as many of the Irish as had a mind to 't should have Liberty to Transport their Families along with themselves And accordingly a vast Rabble of all sorts were brought to the Water-side when the Major General pretending to Ship the
some of O Donnel's Men then in that Country which was done accordingly There hapned about this time two Violent Flashes of Lightning and Claps of Thunder at Kinsale by the latter of which the Portsmouth Frigatt suffered great damage having her Main To and Main Yard broke to pieces and the Main Mast split for twelve foot downwards breaking throw the Larboard side of the Ship twelve foot in length and did some other mischief tho only one Man was hurt by it Nigh the same time the Officers belonging to the Train of Artillery The Waggoners and others of that Society were broke as being no farther useful in this Kingdom And January 23 being the first day of the Term the The Oaths taken according to the new Act of Parliament Lords Justices came to the Court of King's-Bench and there took the Oaths to Their Majesties and Subscribed the Declaration required by the late Act of Parliament in England as did also several of the Nobility Whence the Lord Chancellor returned to his High Court of Chancery where the Judges of the several Courts Masters of Chancery King's Councel the Lawyers and several other Persons of different Qualities and Imployments took the prescribed Oaths c. For the Act of Parliament being Reprinted at Dublin and spread abroad by the Lords Justices Order and requiring all Persons whatever in any Imployment within Thirty Miles of that City to take the said Oath and subscribe the Declaration before the end of Hillary Term January 1692. and no exception being made or excuse allowed for Men's being Sick or otherwise disabled several were brought up to Town with great difficulty and the Courts daily throng'd 'till the Term was over Great quantities of Wheat and other Grain were ordered from Cork and Kingsale to furnish the Stores of Limerick that part of the Countrey being now very much put to it for want of Bread as being the seat of War this two years past The 25th Colonel Mathew's Dragoons were Shipp'd at Belfast as Sir John Lanier's Horse had been some time before and on the 27th my Lord Portland's Horse were Shipp'd at Passage near Waterford A Declaration was Publish'd by the Lords Justices A Declaration forbidding the buying Debenters or Arrears forbidding any Officer Clerk or other Person whatever belonging to imploy'd in or depending on their Majesties Treasury either by himself or any other directly or indirectly to buy any Arrears or Debenters due to any Officer or Souldier or any other Persons who have been imploy'd in Their Majesties Service during this present War upon pain of losing the benefit of such Contract or Agreement as also of being dismissed their Imployments and of being declared uncapable of being Imployed in the Treasury for the future The buying of such Debenters being adjudged dishonourable to Their Majesties Service and Government and to the loss of the persons to whom the same are payable And nigh the same time another Order was sent Another Order to turn out all the Irish Papists out of our Regiments out Commanding all Colonels and others in Their Majesties Army who had entertain'd any Irish in their respective Regiments Troops or Companies forthwith to dismiss them and not to keep any one Irish Papist under their Command upon pain of having January 1692. such Regiments broke where any such were found A great Frost began January the 19th and is now so violent that Multitudes of the poor People and especially of the Irish perish for Cold The Lords Justices and Council very Charitably order all the Poor then in and about the City of Dublin to be taken up and put into sveral Convenient Houses being in all 640 odd who were provided for with Meat and Fire without which Care several hundreds must have perished in the Streets And yet a great many of them had been so used to that Trade of Begging that the being provided for with Necessaries and Confin'd to a Place was uneasie to them so that several stole out and fell to Begging again But this Charitable Care was not taken in other parts of the Kingdom so that a Man might every where see a great many Objects of Pity and Misery and they continue so to this very day Some time before this the Danes were Shipp'd as is said having four Men of War and 46 other Vessels to Transport them but being driven back by contrary Winds and kept in the Harbour by stress of weather a new supply of Provisions was Ordered them Two Proclamations were Publish'd at Dublin one Commanding all Persons that were not qualified by the Articles of Limerick and Galway which were Noble-Men and Gentlemen who were House-keepers and have Estates of Freehold of one Hundred Pounds a year which by the said Proclamation was declared to be the qualification of the Persons Compriz'd in the said Articles to deliver up their Arms of all sorts before the Tenth of March and if they failed therein to be prosecuted with the utmost severity of Law And whosoever shou'd discover any Fire Arms so detain'd after the 10th of March shou'd have Ten Shillings Reward February 1692. and Five Shillings for every discovery of other Arms to be paid him by the Sheriff of the City or Justice of the Peace to whom such Discovery shou'd be made the same to be repaid by the Sheriff of the County and allowed in his Accounts in the Exchequer And the Persons in whose Custody such Arms are found shall lose the benefit of the said Articles and be bound over to the next Assizes or Sessions which shall first happen And all Persons who had Arms before the first day of November last being not qualified to keep them and shall not give a satisfactory Account how they have disposed of them shall be look'd upon as guilty of a Contempt against the said Proclamation And the Sheriffs of the respective Counties were to give an Account from time to time of what Arms were brought in to the Clerk of the Council or his Deputy And that all Persons that were qualify'd to keep Arms might wear the same without being affronted or have the same taken from them on any pretence each Person was to apply himself to the Lords Justices for a License for that purpose which was to be granted without any Fee or Reward whatever Which Proclamation was to be publish'd three Market-days successsively in each Town in Ireland and then affixed Dated the 4th of February 1691 2. The other Proclamation was to forbid all Justices of the Peace Mayors Sheriffs and other Magistrates whatever to presume so far upon their Authority as to meddle with the Property Right Title or Possession of the Estate or Goods of any of Their Majesties Subjects other than as by due Course of Law they are required or can justifie By which Proclamation some of the Irish that had been wronged were set to rights and satisfied tho' they were not so forward in obeying February 1692. the former in
nihil for the Affairs of the State and those of the Army spent all and that all was not sufficient In the Reign therefore of King Edward II. Maurice Fitz Thomas Earl of Desmond as his Ancestor was the first of English Race that took part with the Irish against his Native Country Men he being now Commander in Chief of the Army against the Scots then Invading Ireland he only changed the name of the Ancient Irish Custom called Bonaught but began to practice the thing it self under the names of Coigne and Livery and Pay that is he and his Army took Horse Meat and Mans Meat and also Money at their pleasure without any satisfaction so much as of a Bill And this afterwards proved the general fault of all the Chief Commanders in this Kingdom for finding the advantage of this way of proceeding they begun to oppress the Poor English heavily who rather than endure it would give them a part of their Land to have the rest free which Land so given the Lords put Irish Tenants upon and incouraged them in several particulars that so they might pay their Rent And then the Kings of England not being at leisure to attend the War in their own Persons they could do no less in Honour than give a great part of the Land to those that Conquered it But those Scopes of Land given at first to the English Adventurers were generally too large and the Priviledges so great that they begun to set up for themselves no fealty being reserved to the Crown by the Tenants but only to their Lords which first made them Proud and then Contentious Upon which account to strengthen their Parties they Allyed themselves with the Irish and drew them in to dwell amongst them and not having English Tenants enough for their Lands they were obliged to take Irish By living amongst whom and having their Servants and Nurses generally of such they and their Children by degrees became of the same stamp and having no other means to pay or reward the Irish that were of their Faction they suffered them to take Coygne and Livery from the English Freeholders which Oppression was so intolerable as that the better sort were forced to quit their Free-holds and flye into England never returning more though Laws were made in both Kingdoms to remand them and the rest that remained soon became degenerate and meer Irish Then the English Lords finding the Irish Exactions to be more profitable than the English Rents and Services and loving the Irish Tyranny which was tied to no Rules of Law or Honour better than a just and lawful Seigniory did reject and cast off the English Laws and Government and some with the Irish Customs assuming their very Names also which Customs of theirs were all Enemies to the English Interest in this Countrey Whether it was that called Tanistry What Tanistry signifies that is when any of their Chieftains or Heads of Factions died then the Goods of the whole Sept or Family were to be divided a-new nor did the Sons always succeed but such of the Kindred as could purchase the Election by strong hand by which there cou'd be no encouragement either to Build or Plant or indeed to have any thing but from hand to mouth since they knew not who might reap the fruits of their Labour For tho' it 's said the Irish received the Christian Faith above twelve hundred years ago and were lovers of Musick Poetry and all kinds of Learning Possessing also a Countrey abounding with all things necessary for the life of Man yet did they never build Reasons why the Irish did not improve their Countrey formerly Houses of Brick or Stone before the time of King Henry II. some few poor Religious Houses excepted and when afterwards they saw the English build Castles they only did it for their Chiefs and not for themselves nor endeavoured they to imitate the English in any sort of Improvements which being against all common Sense and Reason must needs be imputed to their Customs in making all their Possessions incertain and wou'd have hindred the improvement of their Countrey to the Worlds end if those Customs had not been abolish'd by the Law of England The Irish had also Cosherings Visitations and Progresses Cosherings made by their Chief and his Followers among his Tenants Sessings for his Horses Dogs and Boys Cuttings Tallages and spendings at his pleasure which made him an absolute Tyrant and his Vassals poor Slaves Add to these their Fosterings the Irish of all Fosterings People having the greatest inclination to Nurse other Mens Children because Fostering amongst them is always reputed a stronger alliance than Blood and when once they have Nursed a Child in any Family they think themselves so near Related thereto that they are obliged to perform whilst they live all the faithful Services in their Power and from whence ever after they expect a Supply of what Necessaries they have occasion for and as often as they have a mind to call for them Then they had Gossipred or Compaternity which tho' by the Canon-Law a Spiritual affinity yet no Nation ever made so Religious account of it as the Irish Now these and many other such like Customs made strong Parties and Factions whereby the Great Men were enabled to oppress their Inferiours and to oppose their Equals Besides which their frequent Divorces their Promiscuous Begetting of Children and neglect of Lawful Matrimony were no small Temptations for vitious Minds to degenerate and fall into the like Extreams Those were the Irish Customs which the English Collonies did embrace after they had rejected the Civil and Honourable Laws of England which especially fell out in the later end of King Edward the Second and the beginning of King Edward the Third proving of very Fatal Consequence to the English Interest in that Kingdom the degenerate English being always harder to subdue than the Natives for tho' their Minds and Manners were alter'd yet they had so much English Blood left in their Veins as gave them English Courage and Resolution whereby the Fitz Geralds and Earl of Desmond's Rebellions were worse than those of meer Irish Then Sir John Davis proves out of several Records that in former times most of the Inhabitants were not the King's Tenants but derived their Titles from the Irish and English Noblemen who kept an awe and dependance upon them for tho' the Kings of England were formerly owned as Lords of Ireland yet the Lords of Irish Lords formerly stiled Kings Ireland Ruled as Kings and were so stiled by the Kings of England themselves as appears by the Concord made between Henry 2. and Rotherick O Connor King of Conaght in the Year 1175 Recorded by Hoveden in this Form Hic est finis Concordia inter Dominum Regem Angliae Henricum filium imperatricis Rodoricum Regem Conactae scilicet quod Rex Angliae concessit praedicto Roderico Legeo Homini suo ut sit