having been well tutored and of a graceful Carriage so well acted his part that not only the Lieutenant but a great many of the Irish Nobility sided with him raising considerable Forces to espouse his Quarrel Crowning him King in Dublin and not content to keep him there they brought him with a considerable Army into England landing in Lancashire and Proclaiming him But the King's Forces advancing they were in a Set-battel over-thrown and the Imposter taken Prisoner the Priest hanged c. They likewise in the King's Reign aided another called Perkin or Peter Warbeck who stiled himself Duke of York younger Son to Edward the Fourth but in this they had no better success than in the former a great many being killed the Impostor taken after several Attempts and bloody Encounters having engaged the Scots as well as Irish on his part marrying the Lady Catharine Gourdon Niece to that King he was first obliged to confess his Impostor how he was set on maintained and encouraged by the Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth and then being publickly punished was sent to the Tower from whence endeavouring to escape he was executed and with him the real Earl of Warwick who had been kept a Prisoner there a considerable time all that was alledged against him was that he attempted to make his Escape with Perkin to raise new Commotions In the Reign of Henry the Eighth great Commotions were stirred up which were at first suddenly appeased but the Earl of Kildare being Deputy the People exhibited their Complaints against him to the Court of England as the cause of many Disturbances by his severe using them and amongst other Articles they had this viz. All Ireland is not able to Rule this Earl Then said the King this Earl is the fittest Man to Rule all Ireland and thereupon he continued him Deputy it appeared this hatred against him proceeded only from the strict hand he had over them to keep them from rebelling And another was That he had caused to be burned the Cathedral Church of Cashal The Archbishop of that place being his chief Accuser and when every one would have denied it he humbly replied By Chreest I would never have done it had I not byen told the Archbishop was in it Which plain dealing made the King smile and the Archbishop storm and fret however the Earl was ordered to rebuild it at his own charge and so continued in his Deputyship but often fell into displeasure by reason of his plain downright dealing and Cardinal Wolsey now ruling all at Court for speaking too plain to him upon his Examination at the Council-Board where Wolsey sat as President he sent him to the Tower and ordered a Warrant for his Execution without the King's Knowledge of which the King having Notice by the Lieutenant was mightily incensed at Wolsey and that great Favourite soon after falling into Disgrace the Earl was released and sent to Ireland with one Sir William Sheington who was made Deputy however the O Moors fell into Rebellion but being opposed by Forces drawn out of Dublin they were dispersed and many of them killed and for that time the Tempest blown over however it lasted not long for the Earl of Kildare's Enemies having again upon many grievous Complaints prevail'd to have him sent for to England he was committed to the Tower whereupon his Son the Lord Thomas notwithstanding the Perswasions of the Chancellor to avert him from it fell into Rebellion and drew great Forces after him yet driven at last to extream Necessities he was perswaded by the Lord Grey then Deputy of the Kingdom to submit himself to King Henry's Mercy without hope of Pardon but some of his Followers having killed Alen Archbishop of Dublin he was upon his Arrival committed to the Tower and King Henry being informed That the Geraldine Family had vowed never to have Peace with him he sent for the Earl's five Brothers in Custody when one of them during their crossing the Seas demanded of the Master what the Name of the Ship was who replied The Cow Nay then said he looking on the rest with a dejected Countenance we are all lost Men for now a Prophecy comes into my head that says Five Brethren of an Earl should be carried into England in the Belly of a Cow and never come back again and I doubt not but all things hitting so pat we are they And indeed so it happen'd for being Accused of the late Rebellion though two of them were ignorant of it the Lord Thomas Son to the Earl was beheaded on Tower-hill and the five Brethren hang'd drawn and quartered at Tyburn and the Earl soon after died in the Tower of Grief which destroyed the Center of that Noble Family for although one Brother escaped yet travelling through many Countries he at last came to Naples and there died Childless Nor did the Lord Grey escape for being countermanded and accused of holding Correspondency with this Family though without any notable Proof he was Condemned for High-Treason and beheaded on Tower-hill The Kings of England the better to please the Natives of Ireland having been all this while only called Lords of Ireland the Parliament sitting at Westminster in the 33d year of Henry's Reign invested with the Title of King of Ireland whereupon the Earl of Tyrone and divers others rebelled but in some bloody Encounters being defeated the Earl was at last subdu'd and brought Prisoner for England yet upon his humble Submission released and sent over upon promise of keeping the Country in quiet which he pretty well observed during the short Reigns of King Edward the Sixth and Queen Mary only some petty Commotions happened that were soon quieted In the Year 1566. being the Seventh year of Queen Elizabeth's Reign one of the chief Lords of Ireland named Donald Mac Carti More upon some little stirs that happened came over and not only cleared himself to the Queen but delivered up to her all his Territories vowing perpetual Fealty but she in gratitude restored them again and made him Earl of Glencare giving him a considerable Sum to bear his Expences so that by his great Authority amongst the Natives it was thought the Kingdom would be kept quiet but it proved otherwise for after some private Conspiracies that never broke out were defeated the Earl of Desmond the Eleventh Earl of that Title who had great Territories and abundance of Followers broke into open Rebellion and did great damage to the English driving them out of many places killing divers Gentlemen in Revenge as he said of the Earl of Kildare and his Family being put to death and amongst others one with whom he had contracted a strict Friendship and usually called Father who when he saw him with his drawn Sword breaking into his Chamber and relying upon his former Friendship cried out What is the matter Desmon my Son to whom the bloody Earl sternly replied I am no longer thy Son nor thou my Father but
going over a little before had raised they seized upon the Town of Wexford which was given to one Fitz-Stevens a Welch Gentleman according to Agreement upon his raising part of the Forces so that News of this and other Successes flying to England many Adventurers came over and although the Petty Kings joyned their Forces yet were they beat in divers bloody Battels and Dormat being restored had Dublin submitted to him inflicting grievous Punishments upon such of his Capital Enemies as he found there The Prince being now in Ireland greatly increasing in Strength that came over to him carried all before him which made King Henry who feared the Prince's aspiring upon such Successes and willing to have the honour of Conquering so large a Kingdom himself sent his Mandate to recall the English out of Ireland so that but a few being left with the Prince in Dublin and they reduced to a great streight by the Irish that had taken heart they nevertheless Sallied upon an Army of 30000 with not above 1500 Men and utterly routed them taking great Spoil and then coming for England he surrendered all the Cities and Forts he had taken into his Father's Hands for Dormat by this time was dead and in the Year 1172. King Henry landed with a Royal Army which brought such a Terrour upon Ireland that Roderick and most of the Petty Princes that were Independent or his Tributaries came witn their humble Supplications to intreat him That he would take the Government upon him as their Supream Prince and Lord So that at Christmas he made them a Noble Feast in Dublin and settled the Kingdom in Civil and Ecclesiastical Matters Reforming Abuses and Barbarities And soon after those that held out in Vlster were brought to submit from which time we may Date the Conquest of Ireland by the English under which Soveraignty it has ever since remained as a conquered Kingdom and now annexed to the Crown yet the Natives who are generally hot spirited uneasie and restless under Restraint have often strugled to break this Chain though to the Loss and Disadvantage mostly of themselves King Richard the First by reason of his Wars in the Holy Land his Imprisonment upon his Return in Austria and the Empire and other Disappointments he met with at home had no War with the Irish nor happened there any thing extraordinary but care and industry to settle the Government which was done with such tenderness that the Natives being more civilized began to think themselves happy in the change and that they were redeemed from perpetual War which when so many Princes governed as Absolute in their Dominions could not be avoided among so rough and stubborn a People But because King Edward the First had sent for Forces out of Ireland to help him against the Scots with whom he had mortal Wars the wilder sort of the Irish in Edward the Second's time invited them over and many of the leading Men of the Natives revolting ruining the Country but upon the English joyning Battel with them they were routed and about 11000 slain among whom was a King of Connought and one Okly a Lord of great Possessions but soon after the Lord Roger Mortimer being sent over as Lord Justice of Ireland he managed Matters so ill that the Scots were again called in under Edward Bruce Brother to the Scots King who taking several places by the Revolt of the Irish from the English Obedience caused himself to be Crowned King of Ireland But in a great Battel his Forces being routed and he labouring to restrain their flight was killed by one Morepass whom he likewise requited with Death before his Fall and the dead Bodies fell by that means on each other which happened in the Year 1320. However they were rather dispersed than broken doing considerable Mischief where they found an opportunity to fall upon the English that had settled themselves in the Towns and Villages near the Sea c. In the Year 1329. during the Reign of King Edward the Third the Irish in Leinster and Meath rebelled against whom the Earl of Ormond drew out what Forces he could but being over-poured in number was defeated and the Irish made great Spoils of the English Possessions and amongst other Barbarities burnt eighty of them in a Church where they had fled for Refuge but at last the English fortified themselves in Wexford and upon their approach to besiege it sallied out upon them with such Courage that Success crowned it and 4000 of the Irish were killed most of them that fled being hotly pursued were drowned in the River Slane which with some other Encounters where Victory declared on our side so quelled them that in this King's Reign they rebelled no more Anno 1398. in the Reign of King Richard the Second the Irish fell again into Rebellion and by Surprize fall upon the King's Lieutenant and divers Persons of Quality whom they slew which made the King with considerable Forces haste thither and Landing he put them in all parts to the Rout killing a great many and taking several of their Ring-leaders and keeping his Court of State at Dublin to him resorted the Nobility and chief of the Irish submitting and paying him Homage promising to keep the Country in quiet for the future but Troubles arising in England the King hastily left Ireland and was no sooner arrived in Wales but finding himself deserted he betook him to a Castle where he was seized by Henry Duke of Lancaster to whom he resign'd his Crown and was afterward inhumanly murthered Upon whose Death many Troubles and Contentions arose so that the English being embroyled at home Ireland was little minded the People there doing in a manner what they pleased But in the Reign of Henry the Fifth we being setled at home more care was taken to prevent the Outrages and Depradations of the Irish insomuch that several who had been formerly Offenders were punished and others fled amongst whom were divers of their great 0nes who notwithstanding the care of the Earl of Ormond then Lieuâ—enant of the Kingdom to repress them drew a great multitude of People into Rebellion but the Earl gave Battel at Redmore-Athy where the Irish under the Leading of O Moor stood stoutly to it as Men in despair but after a bloody Fight that coloured all the Ditches of the Fens with Blood the Battel swerved and the Irish were defeated with great slaughter Which quelled them in so terrible a manner that for a long time after they seemed out of Love with War So that nothing memorably occurs in History till the Reign of Henry the Seventh when the Earl of Kildare being Deputy one Richard Symons a Priest wheedled him into a belief that one Lambert a Youth whom he had brought up as his Scholar was really the Earl of Warwick Son to George Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward the Fourth that had escaped out of the Tower and was come thither for protection and the young Spark
and the like to every one that at a set day would appear and claim the Benefit of his Pardon before the Justice of Assize and Publick Justice for that purpose being setled in every Country it abated much of the Tyranny their Petty Lords had over them and made the Vulgar sort of them sensible of the Goodness of the English Laws of which before they had purposely been kept in Ignorance Being now for the most part freed from their Servitude and in the King 's immediate Protection so that if their Lords had a mind to Rebel they could not compel their Tenants to Rise as they had formerly done and Ireland being now divided into Shires the Circuits were erected in every Province and the English had their Lands alotted and more particular Colonies established so that Trade began to flourish and several Corporations of the City of London having purchased large Proportions of Land built a strong Town for their Securiâ—y against the Incursions of the Irish that might happen very advantageously situate on the Bank of a River and Lough which made a wonderful Change to all appearance in the face of Things but what can hinder a People from being miserable that will make themselves so as may not improperly say in spight of Providence the chief of the Irish were displeased at these Proceedings finding the English Improvement rendred such Plenty in the Kingdom as made their Land of little value and therefore many of them spightfully let them lye neglected to be over-run with Thistles and Briars cursing their Posterity if ever they had any Communication with the English or so much as Ploughed or Sowed by which their irreconcileable Hatred to us may be measured The ordinary sort of People notwithstanding their Lords Diâ—â—wasions finding they had not their former Power to compel perceiving Advantage to arise by this new Settlement inhabited very friendly with the English and by their Examples began to improve themselves in Industry and seemed averse to be stirred up as formerly upon every slight Occasion to Rebel insomuch that a long Peace ensued and that brought with it extraordinary Plenty but as nothing is certain or permanent upon Earth so in process of Time this golden Cord of Union between the two Nations was violently cut in sunder Troubles arising in the Year 1641. thro' a Mis-understanding and fomented Heats blown by secret Enemies and War being in prospect between England and Scotland several of the Native Irish Chiefs not finding the People prone to hearken to them incited the Popish Priests who by promising them Heaven for Obedience to their Commands and Damnation on the contrary with many other strange Stories and Things pushed them headlong on to one of the blackest Iniquities â—he Sun has for many Ages beheld and was too late discovered to be prevented for it happened that on the 23d of October the Irish headed by a great many of their Nobility and Gentry rose generally in Arms seizing upon divers strong Places Arms Ammunition and all that came to hand vowing the utter Destruction of all the English in Ireland to Extirpate them from the face of the Irish Earth both Root and Branch and this was discovered but one Night before it was to be executed by which Providence however Dublin and some other Places by the Imprisoning the Conspirators and Fortifying them with good Garisons were secured and became a Refuge to the Lives of many so that now one might every where behold Houses flaming the miserable People fly every where for their Lives whilst the Blood of many were mingled with Flames and the Earth made red by the Blood of those that were slaughtered in the Fields and Ways thousands were drowned in Rivers and Lakes till the Stream was glutted with the dead Bodies and they Bridged over the Waters many were ripped up alive and others tortured in a more cruel manner some were turned out into Snows and Frost and starved to death the Priests and Fryers going along with the Murtherers and beating them on to it with their Crucifixes telling them They were Hereticks and no longer to be suffered alive on the Earth and that it was so far from a sin to kill them that it was Meritorious and even Damnation it self to spare them giving the Sacrament to the more scrupulous of Conscience to confirm them in the Bloudy Enterprize so that in a short space before any Succour could come from England they destroyed by sundry barbarous ways 20000 Men Women and Children burnt most of their Houses and Villages killing their Cattel and suffering them to rot upon the Ground rooâ—ing up likewise their newly sprouted Corn as maliciously bent not only to destroy the People but in Hatred and utter Detestation all that appertained to them flattering themselves by the Inducement of old lying Prophesies to shake off the English Yoke and choose them a King from among their Country-men but Fate consented noâ— The King was at the beginning of this fatal Mischief in Ireland upon the Borders of Scotland labouring to compose the Differences recommending the Care of Ireland to his Parliament then sitting at Westminster who promised a speedy Relief and Assistance to the Protestants that were got together in Arms and stood upon their Defence Voting 50000 pound for to raise Forces and the Earl of Ormond was made Lieutenant-General of the Royal Forces in that Kingdom to joyn whom Sir Simon Harcourt was sent out of England with a Regiment So that the poor Remnant of the Protestants getting together made the Irish Papist that was so good at base and unmanly Murthers fly the Face of War But Troubles growing fast on in England by the Misunderstanding between King Charles the First and his Parliament and sprouting up into a miserable Civil War most of the guilty Persons at this time escaped unpunished But the small Force of the Proteâ—â—ants that were left being once united forced the Irish out of their strong Hold and restored the Face of Government yet about eighâ— Years after a Bloody Scene was acted for King Charles the First loosing his Kingdoms with his Life his Eldest Son Charles as his undoubted Right taking upon him the Kingly Dignity though in Exile England being cast as they termed it into a Model of a Free State or Republick the Marquess of Ormond Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was commissioned to Labour the Securing that Country to the behoof of his Master King Charles the Second and finding no other Means to do it in that Imergency he closed his Interest with the Chief of the leading Irish concluding a Peace in the King's Name with the most considerable of them upon Submission and Obedience to his Majesty there being a Concession of certain Articles on the part of the Marquess to be performed when being joyned by the Marquess of Clanricard and the Lord Inchequeen the Earl of Castlehaven c. Trim and Tredah or Drogheda upon a Defeat they gave the Forces that came from England surrendered
having violated the Peace and undeniably begun the War in invading Ireland the King delayed not to denounce the War against them by a Declaration to that purport bearing Date the Seventh of May 1689. and great Preparations were made for passing over to Ireland Forces were Levied in all parts of England and Money prepared for defraying the Charge of the Expedition which was the more facilitated upon the Estates of Scotland submitting their Crown to King William and Queen Mary and taking of them upon their being owned and invested King and Queen of that Kingdom which they did by their Commissioners who waited upon Their Majesties to that purpose in the Banquetting-House at Whitehall And the Viscount of Dundee who had headed the Rebel Highlanders and others in that Kingdom being killed in a fatal Battel near St. Iohnstown things began to go better and the Success of the Scotch Affairs gave way to a more speedy prosecuting those in Ireland where the Inniskilling-men being abroad pierced the Enemies Quarters and got great Booties defeating divers Parties and making themselves terrible to the Enemy Upon News brought that Maccarty was in those Parts with a strong Party plundering and ravaging the Country Lieutenant-Colonel Berry with three Companies of Foot eight Troops of Horse and three of Dragoons marched towards them but upon their approach found they were made stronger than they were reported by another Party that had joyned them and were much superiour to him in number which obliged him before he found himself sufficiently strong to attack them to send to Colonel Woolsey at Inniskilling for a Re-inforcement which he no sooner obtained but he charged them with much bravery killing a considerable Number taking some Prisoners and putting the rest to flight but the Flyers in their way being greatly re-inforced rallied and came to second Encounter which for a time continued bloody and doubtful they by reason of their advantageous Post much galling our Horse with their Cannon but the Defiles or dirty narrow Passages being resolutely passed by our Foot and Dragoons they made themselves Masters of the Cannon which gave our Horse the advantage to charge the Enemies Horse who thereupon deserted the Foot and fled and the Foot after them a great many being killed and some taken Prisoners by which Defeat the Country was freed from great Incumbrances This part of the Enemies Army that had a long time lain heavy upon it being by this means and in this Battel fell of the Enemy by the Sword and those that were drowned in desperately throwing themselves into the Lough to escape the Pursuers about Three thousand There happened likewise divers other Rencounters of lesser note wherein the Protestants for the greatest part gained the advantage Whilst these things were doing the Irish Army with King Iames at the Head of it marched towards London-Derry promising themselves the Terrour of their Arms would oblige it to a Surrender upon their first approach but found they were extreamly mistaken for although Colonel Lundy the Governour and the two Regiments sent from England under the Colonels Cunningham and Richards had withdrawn and slighted it as a place not tenable against an Army of Forty thousand Men with a Train of Artillery and divers Mortars Providence so ordered it became the Bulwark of the sinking Nation and gave the Enemy their first considerable check for divers Troops that were abroad mostly composed of undisciplined Soldiers throwing themselves into it they together with those that were found there were Regimented even the multitude seizing the Keys and undertaking with great alacrity to defend it having chose Mr. George Walker Minister of an adjacent Village their Governour and Major Baker his Co-adjutor or Assitant-Governour during the Siege And now those in Arms in the Town consisted of 117 Companies and every Company contained sixty Men being in all 7020 Common Soldiers and 341 Officers The next thing taken in hand was to view the Stores and ordering their better Security from any Embezling as resolving to defend the place to the last extremity having already rejected the Offers the Enemy made them in case they would readily submit which consisted of much promised Favour and Protection but the hard dealings others had met with who had put themselves into their hands made them deaf to all Proposals and their great Guns being mounted on the Wall they fired upon the Advance-Guard of the Enemy who had been promised to be received with open Arms by Hamilton and others who undertook to bring over the besieged which much consternated King Iames then within the reach of their Cannon and obliged him to remove to a place of more safety However seeing fair Words and Promises could not gain it they resolved to reduce it by force beginning within a day or two after their appearance before it to break Ground and run their Trenches drawing up a Demi-culverine within a Furlong of the Town with which they battered the Market-House and did some damage to other Houses but the Cannon from the Town playing among them did considerable Execution and to hinder their nearer approach the Besieged sallied and beat them out of their Trenches killing about Two hundred Men amongst whom was the French General Mamow and others of Note with little loss on our side and of Note only Lieutenant Mac Phedris was killed The Besiegers finding this way little availed them drew four Demi-Culverine into an Orchard adjoyning to the Town and kept continual Firing which hurt many People in their Houses and made some Impressions in the Walls Nor was the damage left unrequited from the Cannon of the Town which killed them a great many Men and some considerable Officers and a sudden shot took off two Fryars in their Habits as they were exhorting the Besieged to press on the Siege And now to do their Work more effectually they placed two Mortar-pieces and threw in divers Bombs which did some damage to the Houses and People whereupon the Besieged sallied and killed several of the Enemy at Penburn-Hill losing only two of their own and eighteen wounded The same day a Shot from the Town broke and dismounted one of their Pieces on the Battery and killed the Gunner whereupon they drew a Trench a-cross Windmil-hill from the Bog to the River and there raised another Battery lining the Hedge with Dragoons but at the same time the Besieged sallied in a considerable number and dividing one part made them Masters of the Trenches and advantageous Ground killing about two hundred whilst the other Party beat the Dragoons from the Hedges Which reiterated Losses so enraged the Enemy that having Captain Cunningham and Lieutenant Douglass upon some Sallies they after Quarter given put them to the Sword which served to confirm the Besieged in the belief of the Mercy they were to expect if they fell into their hands and made them more obstinate in a resolute Defence and alluring the Governour out under pretence of Treaty they fired a hundred Shot
â—riumph with their Prize in the sight of a â—umerous People who thought it for the most â—art safest to keep at a distance This Ship lay here to carry off some of the â—rotestants Goods that had been seized in Dublin but the Freighters by this means were â—isappointed of their expectations Colonel Woolsey being still abroad with a Party to observe the Enemies Motions having with him a Party of 700 Men out of the Regiment of Kirk Earl Grover and the Inniskilling Troops he ordered half oâ— them to make an Incursion towards Finagâ— under the Command of Lieutenant-Coloneâ— Creichtoune he with the rest marched to Kilislia a strong Castle between Belturbet and Cavan where he by secret marching came by break of day and brought his Men withiâ— Musquet shot of the Fortress under the shelteâ— of the Hedges and Ditches and immediately fixed his Miners to the Wall where they sooâ— finished a Mine and were ready to spring iâ— by Ten the next Morning whereupon thâ— Colonel sent to Summon the Garrison upoâ— which they sent out an Officer to treat and about two hours after the Conditions were agreed on Which were That the Garrison shoulâ— march out with their Arms and Baggage and accordingly the Castle Gate was delivereâ— about Noon and the Garrison commanded bâ— one Captain Darchy marched out within aâ— hour after consisting of 160 Men detacheâ— out of several Regiments and according tâ— Articles agreed on were guarded to Cavan so that this strong place was reduced with thâ— loss of three Men on our side and four or fivâ— wounded it being of great Importance tâ— their Majesties Affairs by reason it openeâ— a free passage into Connaught and all that parâ— of Leinster that lies on the Shannon and afteâ— having put in a Garrison of One hundred Men he returned to Belturbet and was there reinforced by a Battalion of Danes to enter upon further Action as he found it advantageous to the Service Insomuch the Irish Parties were so frequently met withal that they came not abroad so often as they were wont by which means our Men had the better leisure to get in Hay and Corn to the Magazines which they frequently adventured for in the Enemies Quarters and for the most part succeeded so well that they mainly encreased the Stores so that with that and what came from England the Camp and Out-Quarters were plentifully supplied and even the Papists chose rather to bring in their Provisions to our Camp than the Enemies so Self-interest by reason of the disproportion in the Money as taking valuable Coin in ours and only Copper and mixed Mettal at a vast disproportion in the other promised to be changed hereafter into better Coin though they knew not when nor cared to rely upon such uncertainties About this time the damp Fogs arising in the Country a great many Officers and Soldiers died in either Camp but the destruction light mostly on the French in comparison of their number who coming out of a warm dry Country could not so well endure the incommoding Vapours and cold Damps which the frequent Rains that fall in Ireland especially when the Season is any thing considerably advanced towards the Winter Quarter And now that the Blessing of God might be upon Their Majesty's Arms and Judgments averted the General caused his Proclamation to be published throughout the Camp and in other places strictly prohibiting Swearing Cursing and Prophaneness in the Officers and Soldiers on pain of Displeasure and such Punishments as might be inflicted which for a time stopped those Volleys of Oaths and Curses that were wont to be heard on every trivial occasion The General went out with a Party to view the Enemies Posts and Situation of the Country and upon his return to Lisburn where now his Head-Quarters were he received the welcome News That Colonel Woosley marching from Belturbet with Seven hundred Foot and Three hundred Horse notwithstanding his being discovered by the Centinels who gave the Alarm and the badness of the Weather he got thither half an hour after break of day and there contrary to his expectation found the Duke of Berwick arrived with Twenty five hundred Men which with the Garrison made up about Four thousand and these were drawn up in good order near the Fort yet the Colonel took Courage resolving to Charge them ordering his Men as the ground gave opportunity and soon they joyned in a fierce Encounter the Inniskilling-Men standing to it manfully so that notwithstanding the great odds in two hours time they beat the Enemy out of the Field with considerable slaughter in which Action the Duke of Berwick had his Horse shot under him and Colonel O Rely Governour of Cavan was killed as also two Lieutenant Colonels and divers other Officers of Note The Enemy beaten out of the Field our Men too eager of Plunder entered the Town before they had gained an entire Victory which the Irish perceiving rallied and those in the Fort sallied upon them so that in the scattered disorder they were in they had been mostly cut off had not the Colonel with a Reserve of Two hundred and fifty Foot and Eighty Horse hasted to their rescue and given them leave to get to their Arms and although he beat the Salliers into the Fort and made the others retire yet the Town being a Magazine and full of Plunder he could not get his Men out till he was forced to fire it about their Ears whereby great Stores of Provisions were consumed for most of the Houses were filled with Bread Meal Oats and the like being a Six Months Provision for the Garrison and by this Defeat and the Ruine of the Town the Duke of Berwick was disappointed of his Design which by his Orders was to Post there with Ten Thousand Men to be composed of a Detachment of all the Regiments and so to keep the Country in awe and make Incursions as he perceived it advantageous In this Action on our side were only Twenty Men killed of which number were Captain Armstrong Major Trahern Captain Mayo and Captain La Maugere but the Enemy lost above Three hundred and Two hundred taken Prisoners many that fled threw away their Arms and Baggage for haste Upon this Success Sir Iohn Lanier being at the Newry with a strong Party advanced to Dundalk and from thence to Bedlow Castle where was a Company of Foot consisting of between Thirty and Forty Men but the Dragoons soon stormed it killed divers of them and set the Castle on Fire and upon their return attacked Dundalk wherein the Enemy had a Garrison but they kept close and would not venture to sally and our Men not being strong enough for a formal Siege plundered the Houses thereabout and marched away with a considerable Booty About this time the Prince of Wirtemberg landed with the Danish Forces under his Command for their Majesties Service and in a short time joyned the Army Col. Callimot attempting to surprize the strong Fort of Charlemont
but being too soon discovered he was obliged to Retreat which he did with the loss but of one Man Spring coming on Lewis the Fourteenth was not altogether unmindful of his Promise but sent Five thousand French with some Cloaths and Ammunition in lieu of which Succours as many Irish were sent to France under the leading of Lieutenant General Maccarty who having been taken Prisoner by the Inniskilling-Men upon the great Overthrow had by this time made his escape for which Colonel Hamilton Governour of Inniskilling where he had been detained Prisoner was questioned but upon Trial producing a Letter from his Superiour Officer for what he had done the matter passed over Colonel Woosley about this time had the Castle of Killesandra delivered to him upon Summons the Garrison being terrified into a compliance upon Notice he was about to spring a Mine under it the Garrison consisting of 160 Men were conducted to Cavan and many other Castles and advantageous Places were frighted at the approach of our Forces or compelled to Surrender and great Plenty abounded in the English Camp by reason those that brought it received Silver Money when on the other side King Iames had caused Brass Money to be coined and an Order to pass it at certain Rates though it was not a Twentieth part of the value yet prohibited it in Payments in his Custom-house and Exchequer and having called a pretended Irish Parliament they anulled the Act of Settlement and all other Acts favourable to the Protestants relating to Matters Civil or Ecclesiastical so that Protestant Bishops and Ministers were out and Popish Bishops and Priests advanced to their Benefices and great Oppressions used on all hands but whilst this was doing Charlemont a strong Fortress of the Enemies that had been all the Winter blocked up finding no Succours of Provision though some of our Men got in over the Morass which hastened the consumption of their Provision beat a Parley and after some debate about Articles they were agreed upon they being in their Orders as followeth That all the Garrison viz. the Governour Officers Soldiers Gunners and all other Inhabitants the Deserters who run from our Camp since the first of September precedent only excepted and all other persons in the said Garrison shall have their Lives secured and march out with their Arms Bag and Baggage Drums beating Colours flying Match lighted and Bullet in Mouth each Officer and Soldier Twelve Charges of Powder with Match and Ball proportionable and their Horses without any molestation in their Persons and Goods now in their possession not belonging to the Stores upon any pretence whatsoever that the said Garrison may march the nearest way to Dundalk and not be compelled to march above 8 or 9 miles a day That all sick and wounded Officers and all other persons that are not able to march at present may remain within the said Garrison till they are able to march and then to have a Pass to go to the next Irish Garrison That none of the Army under his Grace the Duke of Schomberg's Command shall enter the said Fort except such as are appointed by him to take possession till the Garrison be marched clear out of the Gates That there shall be a sufficient Convoy appointed for the said Garrison to conduct it to the place before-mentioned That they shall deliver fully and wholly without any Embezelment or Diminution all the Stores belonging to the said Fort and that an Officer shall be immediately admitted to take an Account of them That the Fort shall be put into the possession of such Forces as his Grace shall think fit at Eight of the Clock on Wednesday the Fourteenth of May 1690. and the Garrison shall march out an hour before the outward Gate shall be delivered to such Forces as the General shall appoint in case a supply of one Months Provision for 800 men be not brought into the Garrison for Relief between the signing of these Articles and the time the place is articled to be delivered up That the above-mentioned Articles shall be inviolably performed on both sides without any Equivocation Mental Reservation or Fraud whatsoever according to the true Intent and Meaning thereof Lastly That all Acts of Hostility shall cease between the said Garrison and Army so soon as Notice can be given on both sides Thus after a long holding out this strong Place was forced into a compliance notwithstanding the Enemy had put such confidence in it that many of those abroad proposed it as a last Refuge if things came to a greater Extremity its Scituation and Strength giving them Incouragement to hope it was Impregnable and indeed it had baffled our Men in some Attempts they made on it and held out so long contrary to expectation however at last we find that was agreed to be Surrendred and accordingly it was Surrendred and the Governour Teague O Regan and the Garrison who had near consumed all their Provision marched out in number 800 they left 17 Pieces of brass Cannon 2 Mortars and a considerable quantity of Ammunition And this Place by Nature and Art being exceeding strong greatly availed to the keeping all that part of the Country in awe And what more exceedingly heartned the Soldiers was the News that the King of England had left Whitehall on the fourth of Iune and was coming for Ireland with a considerable Army great Sums of Money Stores of Ammunition and all things necessary for the vigorous carrying on and expediting the War Nor were they deceived in the Report for on the fourteenth of Iune he landed at Carickfergus and went from thence to Belfast where he was waited on by Duke Schomberg and many of the great Officers and with him came not only some of the Irish Nobility but a great many of that Country who had fled for England to avoid the Danger that threatned from the Papists and great was the Joy of the Protestants for his Arrival and as much on the other hand the Terrour and Consternation of the Papists His Majesty soon after his Landing ordered 200000 1. to be brought on shoar and fifteen Tun of Half-pence and Farthings of the new Tin coin and gave notice to all the Agents of Regiments to bring in their Accompts within three days that they might receive the Moneys due to the Soldiers and care thereupon was taken to clear their Quarters and discharge the Country The King thus landed to the great Joy of all the Protestants every one laboured who should be formost in shewing their humble Gratitude for his Exposing his Royal Person to so many Dangers for their Safety whereupon the Gentlemen of the County of Down c. presented this Address To the King 's most Excellent Majesty Great Sir WE the Sheriffs and Iustices â—f the Peace and Gentlemen of the County of Down and Antrim do most heartily Congratulate your Majesty's safe Arrival into this Kingdom and do humbly offer your Majesty our unfeigned Thanks for the great
them that defended it whilst our Horse and Foot took their Posts pouring in their Shot The Enemy drew down a great Body of Horse towards our Left and were so strongly possessed behind the high Banks of the Ditches that they held our Foot in dispute for 2 hours before they could gain any thing considerable upon them but at last we prevailed and forced them to give way notwithstanding fresh Recruits of Horse and Foot were sent to sustain them as they were pushed back and although three Battalions of Foot advanced on the Right over the Skirts of the Bog and a small Rivulet that discharged it self into the Sac where in a Corn field others of the Enemies Battalions and Squadrons stood firm to the Charge yet they notwithstanding maintained their ground till more of our Regiments and Squadrons advanced to support them and then Charging up the Hills where the Enemies Squadrons were posted gave them a warm Entertainment In the mean time our Left had opportunity to beat the Irish from their Ground and at the same time the Right pressing upon them disordered them to that degree that a general Rout of their Horse ensued and their Foot thereupon being hotly charged fell into disorder and though they had made a resolute Resistance they were obliged to quit the field and were pursued by our Army four Miles but then Night coming on and the difficulty of the ways hindred the further pursuit it being 6 in the Evening when the Armies engaged and near 9 before they broke and fled The Enemies Army was superiour to ours consisting of 20000 Foot and 8000 Horse and had by their Encampment all the advantage yet our Men gained an entire Victory 7000 of the Enemy being killed upon the place Among the slain of note were the Lord Galloway Colonel Moor Colonel Baker Colonel Gourdon a great many Captains Lieutenants Ensigns Cornets c. and more particularly Monsieur St. Ruth the French General who received here his Reward for the many Cruelties he used towards the Protestants in France Many of note were wounded of which many mortally and soon after died of their Wounds About 100 Officers and 500 Soldiers were made Prisoners and all the Enemies Provision Tents Baggage and Cannon fell into the hand of our Men with a great many Colours and Standards and most of the Arms of the Foot which to help their speed in flight they threw away This great and entire Victory was obtained with the loss of 600 Men on our side and of note Major-General Holstable Colonel Mongats Colonel Charles Herbert Major-General Petit Major Davenish Major Colt Major Cornwal Major Fox with divers Subalternate Officers The wounded of note were the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt the Lord Cutts the Lord George Hamilton Colonel Earl Lieutenant-Colonel Burdwell with several Subalternates The Enemy in this flight and total rout scattered their Arms and Baggage all the way they fled thinking as it may be by that means to stay the pursuit but it availed them little for such Trifles were not regarded in comparison of the Great Work that was in hand to subdue and bring the Kingdom under their Majesties Obedience by an entire Conquest insomuch that urged by the Sword behind and not finding way to escape through the press and throng that was before them a great many cast themselves into the Bogs and Water-plashes and of these not very many escaped Others that were more nimble of Foot and had got the start of the press scampered by known ways and never left running when the pursuit was given over till they got to the Woods or Mountains or into such Bogs where they thought it was impossible to follow them The French who were not so nimble as the Irish or if they had yet but very little acquainted with the Country came mostly by the worst on it where they were broken and scattered throwing away their Arms and crying for Quarter which in the heat of the Soldiers fury could not be always obtained Some of the Enemies Horse indeed retreated pretty indifferently keeping together as well as the Confusion would permit but thought it not safe to stay in the Countries thereabout for fear of being attacked by some of our Detachments the next day but being got at a great distance and those that were scattered coming to their Rendezvous they made a small Body under the Command of Colonel Sheldon and some other Officers but the Foot was so entirely dispersed that we heard little of them afterward unless such as got into the Places that yet held out and even there many of the Fugitives were refused the Garrisons being already filled up and straitned for Provision so that for a time lying under the Walls and hankering about without any thing wherewith materially to subsist many disbanded of themselves and others by the leave of their Officers as finding this great Blow had broken their Hopes and Interests in the Kingdom so far that they even despaired of piecing it together again by force and withal knowing no doubt that this would be such unwelcome News to France that although the late King resided in that Court to solicite on their behalfs they could expect but little Succours seeing all that had been already sent had turned to so little account and that the English heightned by this Success knew well enough how to take the advantage and push on to the Walls of Lymerick wherein as their last Refuge they had placed some hopes Whilst these things were employing the Enemies serious Consideration care was taken of our wounded Men and such Prisoners as had been secured who received very good Usage and what else was requisite till they should be disposed of as Prisoners of War The Victory thus entirely gained the Army encamped beyond the place of Battel and Brigadier Eppinger going out with a strong Party possessed himself of Portumney whereupon the Fort and Castle of Bavaher surrendred and many of the scattered Forces fled to Galloway and Lymerick As for the greatest part of the Standards and Colours taken in this Battel they were sent to England and there exposed to the publick view of the People as eminent Trophies of so signal a Victory The English Army upon the former Successes resolute to push on for the entire reducing the Kingdom to their Majesties Obedience after some refreshment marched towards Galloway Being before the place the General sent a Trumpet to the Lord Dillon Governour of the Town to offer him advantagious Terms in case he Surrendred before the Cannon were planted against the Walls But he returned for answer That Monsieur Ussone the French Lieutenant-General who commanded was of the same Opinion with himself and the rest of the Officers and that they were resolved to defend the place to the last Upon which the Approaches were made and on the 20th of Iuly by break of day a Fort or Ravelin on the Hill was attacked and our Granadiers that were ordered for that purpose marched