augmented and all manner of Caution and Circumspection used that might prevent in any probability the threatned Danger Dâ—ring these Transactions those Troops we had abroad were not idle but often marching many Miles into the Enemies Quarters not only beat them from their Posts and killed a great many of them but gave the Villages opportunity to rest in quiet under their Majesties Protection and freeing them from those Ravagements wherewith before they were distressed so that many who before stood out for fear of being plundered or destroyed came in and joyfully laid hold of the gracious Pardon offered them so that the face of things seemed to put on a Calm considering the Tempest that a little before had in a manner disjointed and put them out of Frame The Enemies Regular Troops missing of the Advantages they expected now gave way to the Outrages of the Rapperees more than ever having before a little restrained their Insolencies that the Advantage of Plunder might accrue to themselves so that they committed many barbarous Murthers in Villages and Loan-houses where their Force prevailed being mainly incited thereto by the revengeful Priests who shared with them in their Booty which made our Troops though the Season was very incommodious for marching by reason of the rains and quagginess of the ground and incroach upon them and frequently surprize them in their Randezvous beating them out of their Cabins and firing them over their Ears And now his Majesty providing for the Civil Affairs the Privy Council were the Lord Primate of Ireland the Lord Chancellour High Treasurer and Archbishop of Dublin for the time being the Duke of Ormond Earls of Meath Drogheda Longhford Ranelagh Granard and Viscount Lisburn the Bishop of Meath the Vice-Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Chief Justices of the King's Bench Common Pleas Chief Baron of the Exchequer Master of the Rolls Principal Secretary of State and Master of the Ordnance for the time being Robert Fitz-Gerrard Sir Henry and William Hill Esquires The Judges appointed by his Majesty were for the King's Bench Sir Richard Raynel Mr. Justice Lyndon Sir Richard Stephens for the Common Pleas Mr. Justice Cox Mr. Justice Ieffersdon for the Exchequer Lord Chief Baron Hely Mr. Baron Echlin Sir Standish Harstrong Nor was the Civil Settlement alone considered but likewise the Ecclesiastical Promotions for the good and tranquility of the Protestant Churches of Ireland viz. Dr. March Bishop of Feras was advanced to the Archbishoprick of Cashel Dr. Tenison Bishop of Killala to be Bishop of Cloglier Dr. William King to be Bishop of London-Derry Dr. Digly Bishop of Lymirick to be Bishop of Elphin Dr. Vigorâ— Dean of Armagh to be Bishop of Ferus Dr. Wilson Dean of Rapho to be Bishop of Lymerick Dr. Fitz-Gerrald Dean of Cloim to be Bishop of Cloufort Dr. Lloyd Dean of Achonry to be Bishop of Killala So that now the face of things began to look pleasant however though it was in the dead of Winter our Troops abroad found some Action for one of our advanced Parties setting upon the Enemy near Castle-Town they killed 22 of them and took 5 Prisoners and Colonel Foulks gave a considerable Defeat to about 1500 Rapperees and trained Soldiers killing many of them and taking some Prisoners near the Bogg of Allen. Whilst these Successes were carried on with a high hand Colonel Brewer possessed himself of the Forts and Town of Lansborough and defeated about 3000 of the Enemy Soon after Major-General Tetteau heightned with his frequent Success and the beating some small Parties of the Enemy he marched his Forces towards the strong Town of Ross which had in it a Carrison of 600 Men under the Command of Colonel Maccarty the Lords Coursey and Slane and others of Note were also in the place upon the approach of our Men but not thinking themselves secure enough they poasted away for Lymerick and thereupon our Approaches being made 50 Danes and 50 of the Detachment out of Kingsale were ordered to storm a Fort cut out of a Rock which they did with so great a Resolution that they froze the Enemies Courage and soon made themselves Masters of it putting most they found therein to the Sword and many of those that endeavoured to swim from thence to another Rock were killed in the Water and marching thence to Tralee General Sheldon abondoned it with such speed that they had no time to set it on fire and so it fell entire into our hands and we having a small Fort at Fermoy-Bridge in the County of Cork the Enemy advanced with about 2000 Horse and Foot under the Command of one Carrol who upon his Approach sent to have it Surrendred Declaring that he knew the strength of the Place and that it was not tenable But upon his approach found such a warm Reception that after divers firings he being kill'd upon the place his Men took to their heels and that they might glory of something they burnt one House in their return Soon after this Defeat and the routing divers Parties of the Rapparees Colonel Brewer and Major Board went out with a detached Party of 150 Horse and about 200 Foot from Mullengar to relieve Marescourt and Mayvore with Provision and that done they took their way towards Ballymore and dislodged the Enemy on those Passes opening and freeing the Country and then returned to their Stations without the loss of any Men and soon after this Lieutenant Taylor defeated 400 of the Irish near Endery Lieutenant-General Ginkle upon notice that a great Body of the Enemy was gathering and some of them advancing towards Athlone he and Sir Iohn Lanier drew out a Party to oppose them who upon their approach retired in great confusion but being pursued by our Horse and Foot they were beat from the Retrenchments they had made as their last Refuge and the Chace being continued about 200 of them were killed and wounded and several taken Prisoners and our Men got a great Booty of Horses for the Enemy in their flight being hard pressed in the Rear quitted them and got into the Woods Colonel Hamilton being abroad meeting with a Party of the Enemy as they were Ravaging the Country near a place called Bautrey set upon them and at the first Charge put them into Disorder and soon after to open flight killing about 70 of them and taking some Prisoners with Booty c. And Captain Derby defeated another Party of them at Birre And now the Rapparees being more terrible to the Country People than the Enemies Regular Forces a Party was sent out to suppress them so that being frequently met withal a great many of them were killed and some that were taken Prisoners were Executed and lighting on a Party of about 400 Irish though he had then 100 Foot and 34 Horse having lessened his number by Detachments sent to find out the Rapparees he however drew up and Charged them with such Bravery that during the Action some more of his Men
â—â—o had been so mainly Instrumental in reâ—â—oring them that Peace they had so raâ—â—ly â—orfeited and had leisure during almost a â—ree Years to repent of the trouble they had â—â—ven the Kingdom and of the Losses themâ—â—lves sustained Whilst this Joy lasted care was taken to â—â—der the Garrisons and provide them with â—â—ch Necessaries where they were wanting as â—ight serve for the Winter Stores and put the â—oldiers in a good plight Nor was the Joy 〈◊〉 these Successes bounded in this Island but â—read into remote Countries so that in the â—amps of the Allies the Cannon was fired â—nd all other Demonstrations of a high satisâ—â—ction for the Success of their Majesties â—â—ms were set on foot though the French Commanders especially in their Camps laboured to extenuate these brave and vigorous Undertakings crowned with such ample Success least it could dishearten and abate the Courage of their Men who already by their frequent deserting seemed to grow weary of a War wherein they too plainly found that instead of what they formerly gained by Plundering and laying defenceless Places waste they must expect nothing but Blows and severe Treatment On the First of November following these Transactions the Irish Entirely left the English Town of Lymerick Embarking oâ— the Transport-ships in the Shannon wheâ— Sailing for France one of those Ships having on Board Four hundred Men besideâ— Stores and Furnitures of divers kinds running foul on a Rock overset and about Onâ— hundred Men were drowned though nâ— diligence was wanting to endeavour theiâ— preservation Upon the marching out of the Irish ouâ— Soldiers marched in and Garrisoned thâ— English Town and now Sir David Collieâ— was made Governour of the City of Lymerick and the Lord O Brian of thâ— County of the said City And on the Sixâ—â— of this Month the French Squadron consisting of Eighteen Men of War Six Fire-ships and Twenty Transport-ships who brought about Ten thousand Arms Wine and Brandy for Sale and much Provision fell down about Two Leagues below Scaltery viz. the Men of War but their Transport-ships were suffered to remain nearer to take in Provisions and other Necessaries for Transportation of the People they were to take on Board And Major-General Talmash having settled and ordered things to the best Advantage in the City gave place to the new Governour and departed for Dublin where he was received with many Expressions of Joy according to the true merit of his Courage and Conduct in this War Upon this great turn of Fortune many of their Ringleaders going away in the French Ships the Rapparees found themselves abandoned and in great Distress so that they were constrained to come in and submit so that the face of things appeared to be strangely changed Uproar and Confusion being turned into a calm Peace so that most of the English and Dutch Regiments c. prepared to Embark for England where they soon after Arrived and passed for Flanders where they were for the Winter Season quartered advantagiouâ—ly in divers Towns to hinder the Incursiâ—ons of the French The General having put an end to the War of Ireland being highly caressed and treated in Dublin Embarked for England on the Monmouth Yatch where he received the Applause and high Commendations of the People in all places where he passed The King received him very graciously and Created him Earl of Athlone c. The Parliament likewise sent their Thanks to him for the good Service he had done desiring him to Communicate the same to all the Officers that had served under him in this Expedition And he together with them was highly Entertained at a Noble Treat by the City of London The Soldiers now returning a Proclamation was Issued forth for their well abearing and behaving themselves in their March Quarters and making due Payment And so great was the Joy of the Irish Nobility and Gentry for restoring that Kingdom to Peace and Tranquility that in humble Gratitude they made the following Address to his Majesty viz. WE Your Majesties Most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects crave leave in the first place to offer our most humble Thanks to the Divine Majesty by whom you Reign for having Raised and Inspired your Majesty for the Deliverance of these Oppressed Nations and for preserving Your Royal Person so frequently exposed to danger but never in greater than in the Kingdom and Cause of the Protestants in IRELAND What was then so graciously undertaken by Your Majesty in Person is now so happily finished by the Success of Your Arms that we owe to Your Majesty's Courage and Conduct next to the Divine Providence the Restoration of our Religion and Civil Rights and Liberties We beseech Your Majesty to Accept this Recognition as the first Fruits of our Redemption till we are able to make a more Solemn and Parliamentary Acknowledgment to Your Majesties Iust Title to our Allegiance not only in Right of this Crown but in Gratitude to our great Deliverer and Conqueror of Your Majesty's Enemies We are sure Your Majesty will effectually preserve those You have so generously Delivered and we hope Your Majesty shall never have occasion to doubt the steady and united Affections of the Protestants of IRELAND in the Service of your Crown and Dignity from Principles of Inclination Duty and Interest all which makes us unanimously and heartily to pray for the Sacred Person Victorious Arms and Iust and Gentle Government of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY with Peace and Continuance over us On the Two and twentieth of December Sarsfield having got together Two thousand six hundred Men Women and Children set Sail from Cork for France he thought to have carried a greater Number but was deceived by their Deserting him as did the whole Regiments of Mac Dermo Brian O Neal and Colonel Felix O Neal upon the Advice they received of the ill Treatment of the Irish that were already Landed in France where the Officers were generally displaced or made to serve in lower Stations even to Common Soldiers and French Men set over them Ireland being now in a fair way to a Settlement Colonel Foulk Governour of Dublin had Orders to Disband the Irish Regiments that came over to us upon the Surrender of Lymerick except Fourteen hundred which were appointed for the Emperour's Service the which though they prosessed a great willingness to serve their Majesties they submitted to and had Two Cobs a Man given them Gratis most of them going to their Habitations or Employments On the Three and twentieth of Ianuary being the first day of the Term the Right Honourable Sir Charles Porter Lord Chancellour and Thomas Conningsby Esquire Lords Justices of the Kingdom came to the Court of Kings Bench accompanied by divers of the Privy Council and other Persons of Quality where they took the Oaths and Subscribed the Declaration required by the late Act of Parliament made in England After which the Judges of other Courts and Persons of different Quality and Employments did the like About this time
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
sad Disaster on the Coast for being put on Board the Breda by what means is uncertain her Powder taking fire she blew up and most of those who were on Board were desteoyed the rest of the Fleet returned in Safety The Irish that yet kept the Field were not above 10000 yet they promised themselves great Recruits against the Spring In the mean while the Protestants conceived great Joy at this Success and in a grateful Acknowledgment to his Majesty who had been so signally instrumental in the Hand of Heaven for their Deliverance his Birth-day being the Fourth of November Old stile was observed in the reduced Places in an extraordinary manner but especially at Dublin where the Militia consisting of 2500 Foot and two Troops of Horse and as many of Dragoons were drawn out and gave several Vollies and in the Evening there was very fine Fireworks before the Lords Justices House on Colledge-Green and by their Order Claret was distributed to the People who drank their Majesty's Healths with all the Expressions of Duty and Loyalty and most of the Nobility and Gentry in and about the City were invited by the Lords Justices to a splendid Entertainment and Banquet the Day concluding with ringing of Bells and the Night with Bonefires and Illuminations as also other Publick Demonstrations of Joy and Triumph The Fifth of November being the Anniversary of the Popish Powder-Plot the Lords Justices attended by the Nobility Judges and other Persons of Quality in the Town with the King and Herauld at Arms and the Ensigns of Honour carried before them went to St. Patrick's Church and after their Return the Lords Justices gave the Nobility and Gentry another splendid Entertainment their Majesties Titles being at the second Course proclaimed in Latin French and English by the King at Arms the great Guns in the Castle continually thundring the general Joy in their roaring Language And that the Common People might not be wanting in sharing of their Bounty a whole Ox and an Hogshead of strong Bear was dealt out amongst them and at Night the general Joy was concluded with Bonefires and other Demonstrations of Publick Satisfaction The Soldiers being now mostly in their Winter-Quarters that they might have good usage and the Inhabitants of those Towns where they were quartered at the same time receive no damage the Lords Justices thought it neccessary to give their Orders concerning those Matters and accordingly issued out their Proclamation for regulating the Quarters of the Army and ascertaining the Rates to be allowed for the Soldiers Diet the Prizes of Provisions and the manner how the Inhabitants that trusted them should be paid for what they delivered out to them The Rapparies having already been fairly warned to desist from their Ravages and Burnings in the Countries under Obedience they notwithstanding enterprizing the like Captain Archer upon Notice that a Party of them were abroad marched against them with about Twenty of the Militia but upon his approach finding them much stronger than he had been informed after a hot dispute he found himself obliged to retire with the loss of four of his Men however not giving it over he immediately raised more of the Militia and the next Morning by break of day fell upon them a second time with better success for having put them to rout he killed about Twelve of them and took Twenty Prisoners enriching his Men with such Booty as those People had scraped together in those Countries where they had been for a considerable time doing much mischief And now the Lords Justices and Councel having reason to suspect that several dangerous Persons coming to the City of Dublin as Spies from the Enemies Quarters and upon other wicked Designs were sheltered in that City by Papists Natives who kept Taverns and other Publick Houses and there frequently met to continue as much as in them lay the Subversion of Their Majesties Government and the Ruin of their good Subjects of the Kingdom of Ireland thought fit to put out their Proclamation to prohibit and forbid all Papists Natives of the Kingdom to sell any Wine Beer Ale or other Liquors by Retail after the 25th of Decemb. 1690. upon pain of being proceeded against as Retailers of Wine and other Liquors without License By this time one Mac Finnan having got together about Four hundred Men being a mixture of the Irish Army and Rapporees marched towards Castle-town to surprize thirty Dragoons commanded by a Lieutenant detached thither from their Quarters at Iniskeen and although they had all the advantage they could wish yet the Lieutenant and his Men behaved themselves so bravely that they killed Ten of their Enemies but having spent their Ammunition and five of their own Party being killed they found themselves constrained to Surrender and had Quarter given them yet the Lieutenant his Serjeant and several of his Men were put to the Sword in cold blood however the Alarm reaching Iniskeen Major Culleford who commanded there Advanced with another detached Party and falling upon them in the height of their Success put them to the rout killing about 12 on the place took 5 Prisoners without the loss of a Man on our side Nor were the Commanders his Majesty had intrusted less watchful on all parts for Major-General Tettau marching from Cork to Killcreagh and on his way being joyned by others so that he made up a Body of 2200 Men he entred the County of Kerry where the Enemies Troops retired before him and coming into a Fortification at Scrovolard he attacked it and in two hours took it with little difficulty when advancing along the edge of the Mountains and sustaining the Rapparees fire without receiving any considerable damage they discovered towards Brewster field some of the Enemies Scouts whereupon 70 of our Dragoons and Horse having the Vanguard came up with a Party of 160 of the Enemies Horse who not enduring the Fire of our Men upon the first Charge retreated and falling by degrees into confusion at last came to plain running though there were several Irish Nobility and some considerable Officers amongst them yet such as our Men had not yet attacked put by this time the Country round about in a flame and our Forces not being far from Killarny hasted thither with all the speed they could to save that place and notwithstanding the Enemy upon their approach left it yet about twenty Cabbins were burnt by two Troopers that stayed behind for that purpose who as a Reward of their Undertaking were killed by our Men and Brewster's Forge saved and put divers of the Enemies Parties then abroad to the rout clearing the Country in a manner on that side whilst the Irish only bore up the little Courage they had left relying much upon the further Aid they expected from France However though the Season was far advanced our Men gave it not over as yet but for the better securing Winter-Quarters and preventing the Country from Plunder they took in several Castles as
and Lymerick during the Sieges of those Places it was required that three Witnesses should give Testimony as to the Premisses one of them to be a Protestant in every particular matter for proof of each Persons qualification as to the Articles who claims to have been within the said City or Town and thereby to be comprised within the said Articles or either of them And on the Sixth of April the Lord's Justices of the Council and Kingdom sat to hear and examine the Claims exhibited before them by such Persons as made their Application to them sitting Mâ—nday Wednesday and Friday weekly for that purpose And that nothing might be wanting to encourage and promote the Trade of the Kingdom Ships daily arrived in the Ports with Provision and other Necessaries insomuch that after a long Scarcity Plenty began again to be restored to a prospect of a greater height than ever by which the Calamities and Sufferings appeared to vanish and the Joy of the People the Protestants especially to be restored more than ever especially under the Conduct and Government of Affairs of those prudent Persons that are put into Power and Trust. The Kingdom of Ireland thus settled and in a fair way to Happiness his Majesty was in Flanders drawing his Forces together to prosecute his Victories on that side and compleat the Felicity of his Kingdoms when in the mean while some ill Men of restless Spirits at home were labouring under hand to disquiet us by endeavouring to hold Correspondence with the Common Enemy and Encouraging him to invade their Native Kingdoms but Providence as at all times so now more particularly timely discovered their dark Projects and sinister Designs whereupon many were apprehended and imprisoned in divers places in order to be brought to Justice and Condign Punishment yet this did not so much discourage the French King but that he got his Fleet very early in a readiness as it is generally supposed to Invade England but the Winds appeared to stand on our side and kept them in their Harbours contrary to their Expectations though he had drawn down his Forces on the Coast of Normandy c. to Embark on his Men of War and Transport-ships as occasion should offer Our Fleet in the mean while was hastned out to oppose them and the Dutch Squadrons with much Celerity joyned us so that on the 19th of May they stood away to the South-west in search of the French Fleet and about six Leagues from Cape Barsleur got sight of them who with much presumption bore down upon us having the Weather-gage the Wind at South-west and about Eleven in the Morning they Engaged Admiral Russel who commanded our Red Squadron The sight continued hot on both sides till about Three in the Afternoon Turville the French Admiral being very much worsted and fearing to be hemmed in by our Blue Squadron and the Dutch who laboured to get the Wind of the Enemy bore away but not so speedily but that the Blew Squadron had time enough to come in and Engage him about Six so that another hot Dispute continued till about Ten at night the French making a Retreating fight in which some of their Ships were blown up and others sunk All Night it was very calm and foggy the next Morning and abâ—ut Eight it began to clear up the Wind at East-North-East when the French Fleet appeared about Two Leagues to the Leeward of ours much less in number than the day before being but Thirty six Men of War standing away to their own Coast whilst ours pursued them and both Fleets upon a great Calm came to an Anchor the Dutch who now had the Van being within a League of them and on the One and twentieth they weighed and stood away and we after them Admiral Russel taking his Course towards Barsleur having sight of several Ships under the shoar but by this time many of them were got into the first Harbours they came to so that fear and too much haste caused several of them to run aground to prevent our Coming up with them But it availed little for Vice-Admiral Delaval hotly pursuing Fliers who put in made under Cape de Wick their Squadrons being now broken and separated with much difficulty got in with light Frigats Fire-ships and Armed-Boats and in spight of the Fire the French made from their Ships and from their Platform on shoar Captain Heath laid the Royal Sun of France on Board with his Fireship and burnt her being the French Admiral of 104 Guns and Captain Green burnt the Conquerdant of 102 Guns and another Ship of 80 Guns was burnt by the Boats that were sent out after the Men were taken from it and some other Vessels with little loss of Men on our side Captain Fowlis attempted to burn the Royal Sun but was set on fire by an accidental shot from the Enemy supposed to be made red hot for that purpose Monsieur Gaberet's Ship Admiral of the French Blew Squadron perished in the fight amongst the rest Whilst these things were doing Admiral Russel with the Red Squadron stood with the Enemies Ships who were got into the Bay of La Hogue and sent Vice-Admiral Rook with a Squadron of Light Frigats and Fireships and all the Boats he had with him well armed to burn the Ships he had there penn'd up which succeeded so well that Six were burnt that Night and with the same Resolution Six more were burnt the next Morning Three of them being Three-deck'd Ships carrying a great Force of Men and Guns and the other Three from sixty to seventy Guns and one of Fifty six Guns was overset and utterly lost So that the whole number in that Bay was destroyed the Men in the Boats on this occasion behaving themselves with much Bravery and Resolution insomuch that they took possession of several of the French Ships and turned the Guns upon the Platform that fired upon them from the Land in the sight of the French and Irish Camp that lay near the shoar Many of the French Seamen perished with their Ships those on shoar refusing to fetch them off and a great many were taken Prisoners So that in the main we destroyed about One and twenty of their biggest Ships and of other Frigats Crafts and Transport-ships to the number of Thirty and this without the loss of any Ship on our side unless Fireships that were spent on the Enemy For this Signal Victory the Admiral caused a Solemn Thanksgiving to Almighty God to be held on Board the Fleet and had the Wind been more timely favourably few of the French that engaged had escaped This happy News caused great Rejoycing in all their Majesties Dominions and in the Courts of the Confederate Princes And now to shew God's more signal Favour and Mercy towards us a Hellish Conspiracy was discovered that had been carried on to destroy his Majesty beyond the Seas by Assassination influenced by the greatest Persons in the French Court to their Eternal Infamy as it was deposed upon Oath and this was undertaken by one de Grandual a Captain of Dragoons in the French Service and one Dumot a Walloon who had the last Year agreed together to kill the King and for that purpose went to Loo whilst his Majesty was there but missing of their wicked purpose they went back to Paris and there remaining during the Winter they engaged one Leefdale in the same pernicious Design agreeing to Attack the King either upon a March or when he should ride out to see the Troops but an Almighty Hand held them from their Executing what they so wickedly intended and saved his Anointed to be a Joy and Comfort to his People and a Scourge to the Common Enemy who though good at close Villanies and purchasing of Towns yet not to stand in Competition at fair Valour and Heroick Bravery as has all along appeared by Retreats and strong Encampments when urged to Battel in a fair Field yet no doubt a short time will let us see the difference between true Manhood and Politick Dâ—lays and Precautions Ireland is now waiting to Receive her Right Honourable Lord Deputy with all the Demonstrations of Joy that a willing Nation can express sutable to the great Expectations she has to be yet more happy under the Auspicious Conduct of so worthy a Hero and wise Dispencer of Justice and an Encourager and Propagator of the Protestant Religion c. Thus we see through God's Blessing upon their Majesties Arms this Kingdom is once again in a happy way to be prosperous and more entirely happy than ever FINIS