Prosperity of Ireland that thereby it might not only support it self in time of Peace but defend and maintain it self in War which nothing but promoting its Trade and Wealth will do For what Ireland cannot do in order to its safety England must supply to prevent its own danger since if ever a Foreign Enemy Surprize and Possess Ireland especially the French then England must maintain a greater Standing Force to secure themselves than wou'd have secured Ireland if imploy'd in its defence it being no groundless Saying of some Old-fashion'd Poet. He that wou'd England win Must with Ireland first begin For tho' in former times when little or no Shipping appear'd upon these narrow Seas and France and other Countries knew not what it was to have a Fleet and there was but small Commerce even between England and Ireland themselves yet in this active Age of the World it wou'd go very hard with England if the French shou'd possess Ireland who have all the Harbours from Dunkirk to Brest and if they had Cork Baltimire and Bantry where wou'd our Western Trade be Besides by the possessing the Eastern Coasts of Ireland they wou'd surround three parts in four of England and a great part of Scotland and cou'd Invade either when they pleas'd which wou'd necessitate England to be always at the Charge of a Considerable Standing Army and then farewell both their Wealth and long enjoy'd Liberty And so sensible have our Ancestors been of something or other to be done in this Affair that Sir Henry Sidney that most excellent Governour who had spent great part of his time in that Kingdom holding a Parliament Our Ancestors sensible of this there for a Subsidy in the Eleventh Year of Queen Elizabeth He with the Lords and Commons in the Preamble to the Act of Parliament thus express themselves to the Queen Considering the infinite masses of Treasure able to purchase a Kingdom that your Noble Progenitors have exhausted for the Government Defence and Preservation of Your Majesties Realm of Ireland c. Which Evils still remaining the Remedies are as yet The former Evilâ— still remain to be found out at least to be put in practice for tho' the War be now happily ended yet there are at this day at least three differnt Interests on Foot in that Kingdom the English Irish and Scots the first of which seem to be the least concern'd in their own advancement but the last gain ground daily in the North there being at least Ten Thousand People come thither out of Scotland within these Twelve Months which in time will make their Party Considerable for the People of England live better than the Scots at home and so are not so easily invited to look abroad Whereas the Scots their part of Ireland by this means in a few Years is like to be more than it has been And as to the Irish every one sees their indefatigable Industry in promoting the Interest of their own Party no discouragements being able to blunt but rather serve to sharpen their endeavours for the effecting of what they believe may be some steps towards their future Prosperity making every particular Man's Case a general Grievance and each assisting other as being all concerned in the same general cause whilst the English even in that Country who still feel the smart of their former Calamities will yet rather sett their Lands to an Irish Man or a Scot that shall give them Sixpence in an Acre more and never improve it further than to an English Farmer that if he had Encouragement wou'd in a few Years make good Improvements which will still continue one great reason why Ireland will not easily be made an English Country But I can carry the matter yet higher and affirm that The Interest of the Irish Papists themselves to Advance the Power of England it 's the real Interest of the Roman Catholicks of Ireland themselves whether of Irish or English Extraction to promote that of England as much as they can in their Country if they will but consult the future safety of themselves and their Posterity since without the support of some other Nation they can never hope of themselves to be an Independant Kingdom and if they were we scarcely can find out how they wou'd agree amongst themselves who should Command or who Obey which they never could yet from the beginning do and what did the Irish ever get by accompanying either their Lords or Followers into Rebellion Or what should they have gotten if the late Attempt had absolutely succeded but a more absolute Servitude under the French And therefore it 's better for them to have their old English Friends they have been so long acquainted with than run the hazard of either setting up new Tyrants of their own or having them come to 'em from abroad Besides if the English Interest were strong and powerful in Ireland this wou'd cut off the hopes of all disaffected People for ever thinking to withstand it and wou'd make them reject all Tenders from abroad and Inticements from their Jesuited Priests at home and never wou'd they more run such desperate Risks which still fall upon their own heads at last so that if the English Interest were so fortified that all hopes of removing it were cut off the Irish would not be prevailed upon to make such destructive attempts to themselves and Posterities as they often have done hitherto by the Insinuations of their Priests who have nothing to lose nor Families to provide for but only hazard the Lives and Fortunes of others that have both Since as Sir William Petty observes there are and ever will be in England Men ready for any Exploit and Change either by being discontented with their present Condition or otherways well inclined to the service more than are sufficient to quell any Insurrection which the Irish can make and abide by Which wou'd spare both the Blood and Treasure of England if those of that Nation in Ireland cou'd do it of themselves There are only two Objections that I know of which Two Objections answered seem to be considerable against this Opinion of promoting the Trade and Wealth of Ireland The first that if Ireland should be encouraged so far as to make it altogether an English Country it would drain the wealth and Inhabitants of England to that degree that we should impoverish our selves by putting our Trade into their hands who wou'd be equal if not Superiour to us in a small time since their Country lies as Convenient in all respects for Trade as ours and has several Advantages above it Answer This would rather incourage England to be more industrious in Trade and Manufactures when they saw their younger Sister of Ireland by having the same priviledges of Trade with her self begin to contend with her in this particular and would create a profitable emulation amongst the People of both Kingdoms since I have not that Opinion of Trade that
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
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
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
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
contrived towards the King's Island 206 A Breach made in the Wall 210 Guns planted near St. Thomas's Island 213 Collonel Earl sent into England 214 My Lord Lisburn killed 215 A Party pass the River upon a Bridge of Boats 216 The Irish in a great Consternation 217 Debates whether the Siege should be continued or turned into a Blockade 220 Orders in case of an Alarm 222 Our Forces pass the River a second time 223 The Attack at Thoumond Bridge where six hundred of the Enemy were killed 224 A Remarkable Paper found in the Pocket of a Collonel in the Irish Army 225 The Enemy beat a Parley 228 A Cessation agreed to Hostages exchanged 229 230 The Irish Proposals rejected by the Generals ibid. Articles agreed to 231 The General 's Letter to Sir Ralph Delaval giving him an Account of the Cessation 232 A brief Account of what happened in other parts of the Kingdom during this Month 268 c. CHAP. IX THE Lords Justices come to the Camp 238 The Articles signed ibid. The Articles at large both Civil and Military with Their Majesties Confirmation of them 239 c. Our men take possession of the Irish Town 256 A Lieutenant-Collonel imprisoned for denying to go into France 257 A Declaration from the General 258 My Lord Lucan's Arguments to the Irish to persuade them to go into France 260 Their Foot drawn out and put to the trial ibid. The Lords Justices return towards Dublin ibid. Our Army decamps and goes to Quarters 263 Some of the Irish go towards Cork 264 CHAP. X. THE Campaign ended and Irish Prisoners of War released 268 Some Rapparees deliver up their Arms 269 A Proclamation of pardon to the rest ibid. The Ulster Irish return home with their Cattle 270 The French Fleet comes into the Shannon 271 Some Objections against the Articles of Limerick answered 275 The last of the Irish march from Limerick 281 The General goes to Dublin and thence for England 288 Major-General Mackay and Major-General Talmash go for England 284 The Danes ordered to be shipt off ibid. Fortifications of Ballymore and Mullingar demolished 285 Our Transport Ships that carry the Irish return from France 288 The Late King's Letter to the Irish at their Landing 289 Their Reception in France ibid. My Lord Lucan's Release to the General 292 The Irish that stay'd with us very unruly in their Quarters Orders and Instructions for breaking them all except two Battalions 294 295 The Oaths taken according to the New Act of Parliament 296 An Order to turn out all Papists from our Regiments 297 A Proclamation declaring the War of Ireland ended 302 CHAP. XI A Brief Account of the former and present Circumstances of Ireland 304 Its Division into Provinces and Counties Bishopricks and Parishes Cities and Corporations It s Soil c. 305 306 Sir John Davis's Reasons why Ireland has been so long in being intirely subjected to the Crown of England 307 What Tavistry is 309 This a Reason why the Irish did not improve their Country 310 Of Fosterings and Cosherings ibid. Ireland ought to be put into a Condition to bear its own Burden 314 What Methods the Irish first took to make the old English joyn with them 315 A brief Account of the Expences of the former War ibid. An Essay towards the Charge of this 316 A modest conjecture at the Numbers lost on both sides and in the Country during the VVar 317 The Interest of England to advance the power of the English in Ireland 318 Our Ancestors sensible of this 320 The former Evils still remain ibid. The Interest of the Irish-Papists themselves to advance the Power of England 321 Two Objections answered 322 Religion in the first place to be taken care of 323 An Invasion from France at this Juncture upon any of these three Kingdoms not practicable 326 A Remark upon the last that endeavoured it 328 A Continuation of the Impartial History OF THE WARS of IRELAND CHAP. I. A brief Account by way of Introduction of the Cause of the War The state of the Protestants in that Kingdom The Late King 's landing there The Sessions of Parliament in Ireland Protestants Routed at Drummore and other Places Derry Besieged and Relieved The Irish beat at Croom Castle Duke Sconberg lands in August 1690. Carigfergus Surrendred Newry Burnt The Army march'd to Dundalk And Encamp there nigh ten Weeks Sligo taken by the Irish A Party of theirs Repulsed at Newry The Battel of Cavan The Danes land in Ireland 5000 French Foot land at Kinsale Charlemont Surrendred THE Actions of Great Men have generally been esteemed so powerful for the instructing of those that come after that most Civil States have made it their Business to Transcribe and preserve them to posterity for their Example and Imitation Even the Irish themselves when they were far from being one of the most Reformed Nations in the World had their Bards and Ballad-makers who have taken no small pains in their way to render the Chieftains of their own Country as famous as others Nay the Greatest Generals and Emperors have in the midst of their Conquests imployed some of their time to leave the immortal Memory of their own and other Great Mens Actions in writing the omission of which has been a great defect in the middle Age of the World since those are commonly the most Competent Judges of the management of Affairs and ablest to give a true Account But because in this Fighting Age wherein we now live their time is other ways imployed and Great Men have scarce leisure to read much less to write great Books we must be contented to take the best Accounts we can get of their Actions from meaner Hands such as have been Eye-witnesses of them or at least have good grounds for what they tell us And forasmuch as the Disturbances in Ireland have made so great a noise in the Ears of all Europe whilst they lasted and my self as a constant Attendant on their Majesties Army having been an Eye-witness to the most Remarkable Occurrences I shall not scruple to tell the World all I know which as it is for the most part little else but the bare matter of Fact I hope it may not be despised though it come from so mean a Hand and in so homely a Dress I need not trouble the Reader with a long Discourse about the Occasion of the War The general Aversion of the People of England to Popery and their being ill treated by a Prince of that Persuasion made such a sudden Change in that Kingdom as the like never happened before in any Age or Countrey But Ireland was under different Circumstances the Roman-Catholick Party being there by much the stronger at least more numerous of whom my Lord Tyrconnell had during the late King's Reign been modelling an Army that might be ready on all Occasions to maintain the Popish Interest by which the Protestants in that Kingdom were brought upon the very brink of Ruine and then
forced most of them to fly from thence to secure their Lives against an Insolent and ungovernable Irish Army who by order from the Government seized upon all the Horses and Arms they could find in the Hands of the Protestants throughout the Kingdom and made all possible Preparations to resist a powerful Army from England which was but reasonable to look for since it 's so inconsistent with the Laws Interest and Policy of this Kingdom to have Ireland in any other hands but their own On the 12th of March the Late King with about The Late King lands in Ireland 1800 men from France landed at Kinsale in the West of Ireland And on the 14th several of the Northern Protestants that had betaken themselves to Arms were routed at a place called Drummore by Lieut. Gen. Hambleton who was some time before sent into Ireland to treat with my Lord Tyrconnel to deliver up the Sword but joining with his Lordship and the Irish at his Landing he was preferred to that Post He had with him at Drummore about 2000 of the Irish standing Army and nigh as many Rapareers though he killed but few of the Protestants they making a Running Fight of it as others also did at Killileigh Claudyfoord and some other Places several flying into England or Scotland though the most resolute amongst them went towards London-Derry where in a short time they were actually besieged by the greatest part of the Irish Army And then the Irish make Preparations for the sitting of their Parliament which was on the 7th of May 1689. wherein all the mere Irish were admitted as An Irish Parliament called Members and most of the English Nobility Gentry Clergy and substantial Tradesmen of that Kingdom were attainted by name their Estates and Goods being declared forfeited if they returned not by a certain day which to the greatest part was next to an impossibility There were some Protestants however in this Parliament who endeavoured to do their Absent Brethren and the Protestant Interest all the faithful service imaginable particularly the Bishop of Meath who made several excellent Speeches in the House of Lords in opposition to their Proceedings but the Current was then too strong to be stopt and whoever endeavoured it their Attempts were fruitless But the greatest Thorn in their sides at that time in The Siege of London-derry Ireland was the City of London-derry which contemned both their Threats and fair Promises baffling the chieâ— of their Forces for at least Four Months together without any extraordinary Supplies from England till they were reduced to the last Extremity Yet on the 25th of March the Besieged had some Arms and Ammunition brought them by Captain James Hambleton And on the 13th of April Collonel Richards and Collonel Cunningham were sent with Two Regiments from England to their Assistance who coming to the Lough of Derry and being ordered to obey the then Governour Lundy's directions they were told by him That the Town could not hold out a Week and that their coming in would only be the loss of their men and the Besieged also and advised them to return which they did tho they lost their Regiments upon it A GROUND PLAT OF LONDON-DERRY tc Then went Major-General Kirk with his own Regiment Sir John Hanmer's and Brigadier Stuart's who anchor'd in the Lough Two Months during which Major-General Kirk sent to their relief time a great many French Commanders were sent to the Irish Camp and also the late King himself went down to encourage the Besiegers fresh Supplies of men going thither daily but all to no purpose which when he saw how unsuccessful the Attempts of his Irish Army against the Town were like to prove it 's confidently reported that he exprest himself to this effect That if he had had as many English-men in his Army as he had of others they would have brought him it stone by stone ere that But being weary of so tedious a Siege he returned to Dublin and at last the Dartmonth Frigat forced her way up to the Town and the Irish raised their Siege on the last of July The Management of this Affair was blamed by some of themselves who were either for pushing on the Siege with their whole Army or else for making a Blockade and so going into Scotland with the rest of the Army as my Lord Melfort advised and as my Lord Dunee earnestly writ for several times but some of the Irish Officers advised the late King to a Medium by making a slow and regular Siege which would teach his men to be the better Soldiers but thereby he lost his opportunity in not sending to reinforce Dundee whereby he might at least have changed the seat of the War Nor were the Inniskilliners behind their Neighbours of Derry in opppsing the Irish on all occasions for besides several Actions of moment performed by them at other times the very day before the Siege of Derry was raised the Inniskilliners hearing of about Six thousand of the Irish Army commanded by Major-General Mackarty commonly called my Lord Moncashel that were marching towards them in order to Besiege their Town also they very bravely met them nigh Twenty Miles from home and at a place called Newtown Butler near Croom-Castle they fought and routed the Irish killing and drowning in Loughs and Bogs nigh Three thousand The Battel at Newtown Butler Mackarty himself and some few more being taken Prisoners The whole Body of the Inniskilliners both Horse and Foot were not above Two thousand and scarce Twenty of those were killed with about Fifty more wounded This I have had confirmed by several very good men of that Party and it 's in a great measure owned by the Irish themselves After these Affronts the Irish Army retire into Leinster Duke Schonberg lands with an Army in Ireland and Munster in order to recruit and refresh themselves when they had soon an account to their sorrow That Duke Schonbergh General of all Their Majesties of Great Britain's Forces was landed with an Army at Bangor in the North of Ireland This was on Tuesday August the 13th and on the 17th the General with his Army marched to Belfast from whence on the 20th he sent Five Regiments of Foot with some Horse to Invest the Town of Carrickfergus and the next day followed himself with the remainder of the Army There were Two Regiments of Foot in the Town under Mackarty Moore the Governor and Owen Mackarty who held it out till the 27th at what time the following Articles were agreed to and signed Articles of Agreement between Frederick Duke of Schonbergh General of Their Majesties Forces and Col. Charles Mackarty Moore Governor of Carrickfergus August 27. 1689. Art I. THAT the Garison shall march out with flying Articles of Carrickfergus Colours Arms lighted Matches and their own Baggage to morrow by Ten a Clock II. That in regard the Garison are in such Disorders none be admitted into
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
Irish defeated at the Mote of Greenoge Colonel Earl's Regiment advanced on the other side the Irish quitted the Pass being followed by our Horse and Dragoons towards the Mote of Greenoge where a greater Body of their Army was Posted upon the side of an Hill and those also upon seeing what happened retired into the Town at the entrance of which there was a very defensible Ditch with a Pallisado'd Work which the Irish quitted and March'd towards Athlone our Advance Party being 10 of my Lord of Oxford's Horse 12 of Sir John Lanier's Commanded by Cornet Lisle and sustained by Lieutenant Monk's Dragoons those were four choice Men out of a Company in Major General Kirk's Regiment mounted on Horseback and Commanded by Lieutenant Monk who always did Dragoon service and a Party of Colonel St. John's Foot under Captain Worth and all Commanded by Colonel Woolsley those overtook the Enemies Foot before they were got out of Town very soon obliging them to disperse into the Woods and Boggs several being killed and whilst this was adoing our Advance Party of Horse followed the Enemies Horse so fast upon the great Road that leads towards Athlone that our Body of Horse behind could not come up though they endeavour'd it by marching very hard A great many of the Irish fearing to be overtaken quit their Horses Boots and Arms making what haste they could to their usual shift the Woods and Boggs and thus it continued for six miles till they were got near Athlone They lost all their Equipage and Baggage with a great many Horses and Arms and had about Two Hundred Kill'd two Hundred kill'd We lost only one Trumpeter and had four men more Wounded Major General Kirk stayed behind and took Cairn Castle and the General at his return took Castle-Conway in some few days dispersing his Men to their respective Quarters The 28th several Rapparees were killed and hanged by the Militia near Montrath they being usually more March 1691. severe upon those sort of People than the Army was March the 7th a Cornet two Quarter-masters and some other Deserters came from the Enemy to Dublin Some Deserters come in and encouraged by the General where the General then was and received them very kindly allowing them subsistence to encourage others to follow their examples Several Ships arrive at Cork Waterford Kinsale and Dublin with Provisions and other necessaries for the Army and the Militia kill some Rapparees and bring in their Heads a Custom in that Country and encouraged by a Law which allows so much for every Head according to the Quality of the Offender though the usual way is by Proclamation from the Government wherein the Offender and his Price are March 1691. named Nigh this time three of the Danish Soldiers deserting upon Major-General Dorington's Declaration or what other Inducements I know not but they were met upon the Road between Limerick and Cashel by four others that had belonged to the Irish Army and now deserting to us these very fairly set upon the Danes took them Prisoners and brought them back to Cashel where they were afterwards hanged A Party of Colonel Villers's and some Danish Horse march from Tallow within the Enemies Frontiers kill two and take some few Prisoners And Colonel Blunt High-Sheriff of the County of Tipperary with his Militia Troop of Dragoons a Danish Troop of Horse and others to the Number of 200 went from Clonmel as far as Mitchels-Town nigh twenty Miles within the Enemies Quarters in which Expedition they kill'd forty seven Rapparees took thirteen Prisoners and burnt several Cabbins where they used to shelter Captain Palliser of the Earl of Drogheda's Regiment went with a Party from Carolante towards Portumna where he surprized some of my Lord Galmoy's Horse and took several Prisoners as also good store of rich Plunder with Arms Cloaths and several other things of value Cornet Russel and one Crofton come from the Enemies Quarters and give an Account that Balderock O Donnel had got several Men together again but wanting Arms and other Accoutrements they begun to desert And we also heard that Judge Daily was secured for being suspected to endeavour the delivering up of Gallway to our Forces And that Provisions and Forrage were very scarce in Connaught The Lords-Justices and Councel to encourage the bringing of Arms and Ammunition into Ireland by Merchants and others they set out a Proclamation declaring A Proclamation to encourage the Importing of Arms. that they shall be Duty-free pursuant to which Her Majesty made an Order of Council in England dated March the 3d. That no Duty shall be hereafter demanded or payable in Ireland for any Arms which shall be carryed to such parts of that Kingdom as are or shall be at the time of Importation under Their Majesties Obedience provided that the Parties exporting Arms from any other parts of Their Majesties Dominions do enter into sufficient Bonds for landing the same in such Parts of Ireland as aforesaid and no others The Rapparees at this time were very troublesom nigh Several Rapparees kill'd in the County of Longford Fox-Hall in the County of Longford till Lieutenant-Colonel Toby Purcel at three several times kill'd about one hundred of them in the last of which they kill'd fifty two and returning towards Quarters they were way-laid by the greatest part of Sir Donold O Neal's Dragoons Our Party were thirty five Dragoons and one hundred and forty Foot one Quarter-master Topham being with nine Dragoons commanded as an Advance-Party to view the Enemy as soon as discovered by us and seeing them in a confusion at his appearing he charged their Front who running away made all the rest of the same humour every one endeavouring to get first to their Garrison at New-Castle three were kill'd and one Dillan with four more taken Prisoners This Party its said was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Barnwell Upon this Defeat one Mack-Guire comes from the County of Longford with several hundreds of the Creights and most of the Stock that was left them for which and themselves they obtained Protections About the 10th of March we had an Account by some Protestants that came out of Connaught that the Irish a little after my Lord Tyrconnel's landing being out of humour with the Brass Money little or nothing being to be The Irish cry down their Brass Money had for it they cry'd it down by Proclamation the Crown piece to three Pence the Half-crown to three half-Pence the Shilling to a Penny and the Six pence to an half-penny After which the Soldiers lived upon free quarters Provisions also being scarce and no Markets for want of Money those Parts begun to be under worse Circumstances every Day We had Notice from Tallough that Sarsfield had Rendezvous'd part of his Army and some of the Irish Militia at Knockhany and that he had detached ten Men out of a Company and as many out of each Troop to Attack the Pass at
by Their Majesties special Direction and Command do by this Our Proclamation Publish Declare and Promise that All and Every the Private Souldiers now in Arms against Their Majesties in the Enemies Army who shall within three Weeks after the Date of this Our Proclamation surrender up Themselves their Horse Arms and Furniture to the Commander in Chief or any other Their Majesties Officers shall not only be paid a reasonable Rate for their Horse Arms and Furniture which they shall so deliver up but shall be fully and freely Pardoned of all Treasons and other Crimes and Offences against Their Majesties and that All and Every Person or Persons who now are Governours Officers Commanders or Souldiers of or in any Cities Towns Forts Castles or other Garrisons in Their Kingdom of Ireland not already under Their Majesties Power and Obedience who shall surrender deliver and yield up any such City Town Fort or Garrison unto the General or other Officer of Their Majesties Army within three Weeks after the Date of this Our Proclamation and All other Officers and Souldiers now serving or being in the Enemies Army or Quarters who shall within three Weeks time after the Date of this Our Proclamation come in and bring with them their Regiments Troops or Companies or some considerable part thereof and submit themselves to Their Majesties Obedience and deliver up their Horses Arms and Furniture of War they and every of them both Officers and Souldiers shall be fully freely and absolutely Pardoned of all manner of Treasons Crimes or Offences committed against Their Majesties Their Crown and Dignity and shall also be Restored to and put in Possession of all their Estates forfeited for such Treasons Crimes and Offences and if any Citizens and Inhabitants or other Persons Residing in the City of Limerick or Town of Galway shall within the time aforesaid either of themselves or by joyning with any other be Instrumental or assisting in delivering up either of the said Places to Their Majesties Obedience they and every of them shall be likewise fully freely and absolutely Pardoned of all manner of Treasons Crimes or Offences committed against Their Majesties Their Crown and Dignity and shall also be Restored to and put in Possession of all their Estates forfeited for such Treason Crimes or Offences and we do hereby further Publish and Declare that if any Officers and Souldiers now in Command in the Enemies Army or in any of the Cities Castles Forts or Garrisons of the Enemy not having any Estates forfeited or to which he or they can be Restored shall render unto Their Majesties any of the Services aforesaid such Person and Persons Officers and Souldiers shall be fully and liberally Rewarded by the General of Their Majesties Army in such or greater Proportion as the Services by them done shall deserve and such of the said Officers and Souldiers as shall desire to Enter into Their Majesties Pay shall be Received in the like or better Post and Condition as they now Serve under the Enemy and lest those who are to take Benefit by this Proclamation may be Apprehensive of being prosecuted for Exercising their Religion tho Their Majesties have sufficiently manifested to the World by the Rest and Quiet not only Roman Catholicks of this Kingdom but those of England have injoyed under Their Government may be sufficient to Remove any such Apprehensions we are commanded further to Publish Declare And we do Hereby Publish and Declare that as soon as Their Majesties Affairs will permit them to Summon a Parliament in this Kingdom They will endeavour to procure them such further security in these particulars as may preserve them from any disturbance upon the account of their Religion and we do hereby Advise and Admonish all such Persons who still Adhere to the Enemy Carefully and Prudently to consider the ill Estate and Condition whereunto they are Reduced and seriously to recollect into their Minds and Memory the Quiet and Blessed Estate and Security which they enjoyed under the English Government and the vast difference betwixt that and the Tyranny of France and withal the terrible Consequences which must follow if they any longer neglect returning to their Duty and thereby lose the Benefit of Their Majesties most Benign and Gracious Compassion and Intention towards them Given at Their Majesties Castle of Dublin the 7th Day of July 1691. in the Third Year of Their Majesties Reign God Save the KING and QVEEN July the 8th all the heavy Baggage was a passing over the River and it was ordered that the Officers of the Quarter-Guards should go frequent Rounds and send all the Souldiers they found Gameing or Drinking after Taptoe to the Provoe's the General being much displeased at such Disorders by means of which a great many irregular things were done especially Plundering and Robbing of Tents which yet was continued tho several were made Examples to the very end of the Campaign It was also ordered that an Account of all those that were killed and wounded since our coming to this Town should be returned to the Adjutant General which was about Sixty Killed and a Hundred and Twenty wounded And that the General might leave nothing unattempted which might contribute to the bringing the Enemy over by fair means he settled Allowances of Subsistance to all Persons that would come off according to their several Qualifications viz. Collonels of Horse and Dragoons 11 l. 10 s. per Month and Foot 10 l. per Month and so proportionably to every one July the 9th proved a very hot day till about 5 in Extraordinary Rains and Thunder the Afternoon when it fell a Raining and then such Thunder Hail and a Hurrycane of Wind as the like had scarce been seen before this continued for two Hours in which time two Men and a Boy were killed by Lightning and two or three more hurt in the Prince of Hess's Regiment The Town being now pretty well cleared and new Works raised on Conaught side On Friday the 10th Our Army March from Athlone of July the General having left Col. Lloyd Governour of Athlone with his own and Lieut. Gen. Douglas's Regiments he moved forwards with the Army and Encamped that Night at Killcashel 7 Miles nearer to the Enemy whence the General went to view the Pass at Ballynasloe a small Village upon the River Suck where stands a Castle built formerly by the Ancestors of my Lord Clanrickard from hence the Enemy was retired 3 Miles further Saturday the 11th we marcht to Ballynasloe and encampt along the River Suck upon the Roscomon side this is a good Pass and the Irish might have given us some trouble in gaining it but that they had found out a much better place as will soon appear As our Army was Encamping our Great Officers went to the Hills of Knocksdunloe in the County of Galway about a Mile distant from our Camp from whence they could see the Enemies out-Guards upon the Hills of Corbally who upon our
Officers desired might be made good after the coming of the French Fleet And first it was but reasonable seeing it was within the intent of the Articles Secondly It was Prudence not to deny it since the French Fleet being Eighteen Men of War Four Fireships and Twenty Ships of Burden were certainly too hard for Captain Coal and his Squadron then in the Shannon and might have put what Men and Provisions they pleased into the English Town our Army also being gone to Quarters we had only Five Regiments in the Irish Town with my Lord Drogheda's and my Lord Lisburn's Encamp'd without the Walls Provisions also were so scarce with us that our Men had only a Pint of Meal a Day allowed them and the Irish in the other Town were not only more in number but better provided so that if Justice could not have obliged the General to the Confirmation of that Clause yet discretion at that Juncture would In a Day or Two after the Articles were Signed we had News that the French Fleet was come to Dingle Bay with Ammunition and all sorts of Provisions for the Relief of the Town this made the Irish Great Officers hang their Heads to think they should so easily part with a place of that importance or rather how they could Answer it to the French King who had been at all that expence and hazard in order to their Relief but the opportunity was lost in doing it no sooner which some have look'd upon since as one of the falsest steps made in France of a long time our King being now at leisure to visit them instead of their supporting his Enemies in Ireland And tho' the French Fleet came too late to Relieve the Some Objections against the Articles of Limerick Answered Town yet I hope it may not be impertinent to endeavour the Answering some Objections that have been since made against the Capitulations of Limerick As if the Lords Justices and the General had condescended too far in granting the Irish any Terms at all at least such as they did which put them into a Condition of Revolting again whensoever an opportunity offered it self That therefore Providence seem'd now to have given the Irish up as the Barbarous Nations were formerly to the Jews and that if this occasion was neglected of putting it out of their power for ever hereafter to endanger the English Interest Or if it was not made a right use of by which they understood destroying of them Root and Branch then we might certainly expect that all the Expence and Blood it has cost England in their Reduction will in a small time signifie nothing since it 's observed that the Irish of themselves are a sloathful People naturally inclined to Spoil Rapine Stealth and Oppression bred in no Trades Manufactures or other ways of Civil Industry to live by in times of Peace wherein they never did nor can endure to continue long loving always a savage and unbridled kind of Life And therefore when one opportunity is neglected of destroying them it will be the Justice of God to make them afterwards the Instruments of our punishment as they have been hitherto And thus Argue a great many People of that Countrey who pretend good experience and that very lately for what they say But as to those Comparisons between us and the Jews the Irish and the Barbarous Nations formerly Inhabiting Judea there can be no just proportion made to draw any reasonable Conclusions from since the Irish are Christians as well as we tho' misled and abused in a great many points and have a natural right to their Countrey which several of them have never forfeited by any Rebellions how forward soever others may have been And for my own part I must own my self of the Opinion that any Policy that is founded in Blood and tends to the destruction of Mankind is not so warrantable by the Law of God as some people endeavour to make it excepting that one Instance of the Jews which is no precedent to any other People And what means soever may be used for the procuring of Unity or Settlement in a Countrey Men must at the same time be careful not to deface and dissolve the Bonds of Christian Charity nay of humane Society since acting the contrary is but to dash the second Table against the first and so to consider others as of this or that Persuasion and treat them ill upon that account is to forget that they are Men as my Lord Bacon has formerly observed And indeed to me it seems full as unreasonable to destroy other People purely because they cannot think as we do as it is for one man to ruine another because the outward Figure and Shape of his Body is not the same with his own Nor can I imagine that the destruction of those men if they really had been in our power could any way have contributed either to the profit or further advancement of the Interest of that Country since the Act of Settlement of the Crown of England upon their present Majesties very deliberately provides That no Papist or any one marrying a Papist shall for ever hereafter be capable to inherit the Imperial Crowns of these Kingdoms And the late swearing Act relating to Ireland entituled An Act for abrogating the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy in Ireland and appointing other new ones are both very considerable Advantages to the Protestant Interest in that Kingdom and no doubt it will be easier for the Government to observe and keep their part of those Articles than for the Irish themselves to do their duty which will be seen in time and there are other convenient Maxims to be observed which being things out of my way I do not pretend to consider them what I have to offer upon this Head being rather Matter of Fact than Argument and that by comparing the state of the Irish at Lymerick and other Places of the Kingdom at the making of these Articles with their Condition at their surrendring up all in the former Wars In the former Wars of Ireland the City of Lymerick was surrendered to Ireton on the 29th of October 1651 upon severe Articles the Governour the Titular Bishop of Lymerick and twelve more being excepted by name and some of these were afterwards executed but during the Siege the Irish lost 5000 men of whom the Plague destroyed many more than the Sword 1300 only marched out and about 4000 Irish remained within Cox Vol. 2. p. 69. Then Galway was surrendered on the 12th of May following to Sir Charles Coot and on the 27th of June Major General Ludlow frighted the Garrison of Ross in Kerry into a Surrender by a small Vessel that he was bringing over the Hills to put into the Lough that surrounds Ross-Castle Rosscommon and James-Town had surrendred to Col. Reynolds on the 27th of April before and Inchylough surrendred to Col. Zanchy on the first of August at what time the Lords of Westmeath and
the General and State being entertained by my Lord Chancellor Porter the Night concluding with Bonefires and other Demonstrations of Joy An Order was directed to Abraham Tarner Esq Commissary-General Orders for Mustering ouâ— Army of the Musters to take a Muster of all their Majesties Forces both English and Foreign now in their Majesties Pay in this Kingdom dated Novemb. 5th by which Muster all their Accounts were to be stated and satisfaction given them for their Arrears of Pay due to them since their first coming into that Countrey November the 9th Major General Talmash who had full Power and Authority to transact all things necessary for the Transporting the Irish and now having seen them all from Limerick Major General Talmash leaves Limerick and the Town put into as good a Condition as the shortness of the time would allow he left the place and went to Dublin and from thence to England Lieutenant General Mackay being ship'd off some Days before And now greatest part of Their Majesties Forces in this Kingdom being at liberty to be imployed elsewhere Orders for the Danes to Ship off as there was occasion and His Majesty giving directions to that purpose the General sent the following Letter To the Duke of Wirtenberg Commander in Chief of the Danish Forces HAving received His Majesties directions for the Embarking with the first opportunity the Danish Forces employed in Their Service within this Kingdom under your Grace's Command I desire that your Grace will please to cause the several Battalions of Foot of the said Forces to March forthwith from their respective Quarters to Cork and Kinsale and Embark there upon such Ships of War and Vessels of Burden as shall be appointed to take them on Board and Sail with them for the Downs where they will receive further Orders from Their Majesties as to their Transportation to Ostend And of this your Grace will please not to fail Given at the Castle of Dublin the 10th of November 1691. Bar. de Ginckell November the 16th my Lord Lisburn's and my Lord Drogheda's Regiments March'd from Limerick lying Encamp'd without the Town ever since the Army lest that place the former went towards Ross and the other towards the North the poor Men enduring a great deal of Hunger and Hardship in so long a March. November the 21st Colonel Byerley's and Colonel Boucour's Regiments of Horse were Ship'd off at Dublin for England and near this time Colonel Gordon O Neal's and Colonel Phelim O Neal's Regiments being Encamp'd in the County of Kerry as part of the Irish designed for France they came over to our side as several others did daily being every Day more and more satisfied with the Indulgence of the Government towards them The 23 d the Barbadoes and Virginia Fleets which came in August and September last Sailed from Kinsale for England under the Convoy of Twelve Men of War but whether they wanted a Wind all this while which seldom happens in that Countrey or that they now took this opportunity of a Cessation others are more Competent Judges than I shall pretend to Colonel Brewer's and Colonel Herbert's Regiments March'd from Galway to Kinsale there to be Embarked And Two French Men of War with some of their Ships of Burden and the last of our Transport Ships in the River being in all Thirty Sail went thence for France November the 25th An Order was Signed for the Demolishing Fortifications at Mullingar and Ballymore demolished the Fortifications at Mullingar and Ballymore the Irish Souldiers Quartered in the Neighbouring Garrisons being ordered to assist when required And several Complaints being made to the Lords Justices and the General of the Irregular and Arbitrary Proceedings of some Officers and Souldiers in their Quarters another Order was Signed for the holding frequent Court-Martials at Limerick Galway and Athlone for the Redressing of such Inconveniencies and satisfying the Parties aggrieved Another Order was likewise Signed to break Six of the youngest Troops of Colonel Woolsley's Regiment according to directions from England The 28th Col. Hales's Regiment of Foot and Col. Langston's Horse came to Dublin in order to be shipp'd for England And now the Danes are got to Cork and Kinsale to be embarked also according to the former Order sent to the Duke of Wirtenberg In their March they committed some Irregularities knowing they were to leave the Kingdom without hopes of ever seeing of it more tho' to do them Justice they behaved themselves more mildly than Northern Soldiers generally do especially at their going off who often prove the Ruine of that Country who employ them And towards the Close of this Month some Ships arrive from England at Sligo with Supplies of Provisions and other Necessaries very much wanted before in that part of the Country December 1691. Tuesday December the 1st Colonel Monopovillon's Regiment of Horse came to Dublin and on the 3 d. Colonel Hales's Regiment set sail for the North of England The Lords Justices and the General being sensible that both the Country and the Souldiers were at a loss by reason a good part of the Money designed for the Armies Subsistence was forced to be given to the Danes the Irish and other Publick Uses they therefore Order a Proclamation to be Published to the effect following Charles Porter Tho. Coningesby Baron De Ginckel WHereas there are several Sums due from the Army A Proclamation to Persons in this Kingdom for their Subsistence in their Quarters as also from the said Persons to Their Majesties for Excise and other Branches of the Revenue which Debts or Arrears the said Persons are not able to pay by reason of the Debts due to them from the Army We do therefore require and authorize the several Collectors of Their Majesties Revenue to give Discharges to all such Persons as are indebted to Their Majesties upon any Branch of the Revenue or to their Assigns for so much of their Arrears respectively as shall be equal to the Sums hereafter certified to them by the Commissioners of Their Majesties Revenue to be deducted and stopt for the said Persons from the Pay of the Army And We do hereby direct the Commissioners for stating the Accounts of the Army to transmit Certificates to the said Commissioners of the Revenue of all such Sums as they have stopt or shall stop from the Pay of the Army writing therein each Person 's Name and Place of Abode for whom any part of the said Deductions have been made and particular Sums stopt for him And for so doing this shall be to the said Collectors a sufficient Warrant and Discharge on their Accounts as also to the said Commissioners appointed for stating the Accounts of the Army a sufficient Warrant Given at Their Majesties Castle of Dublin the Third of December 1691. By Command of the Lords-Justices and the Commander in Chief of Their Majesties Forces Geo. Clarke December the 5th Lieut. General Ginckel being accompanied The General goes
Souldiers in order according to their Lists they first carried all the Men on Board and many of the Women at the second return of the Boat for the Officers catching hold to be carried on Board were dragged off and through fearfulness losing their hold were drowned but others who held faster had their fingers cut off and so perished in sight of their Husbands or Relations tho' those of them that did get over wou'd make but a sad Figure if they were admitted to go to the late Queen's Court at St. Germaine The Sheriffs for the several Counties in Ireland were prick'd and the same day all the Irish Prisoners that were in Newgate in Dublin were released and my Lord Lucan finding that he had Ships enough for all the Irish that were like to go with him the Number that went before and these Shipt at this time being according to the best computation about 12000 of all sorts he Signs the following Releasement WHereas by the Articles of Limerick Lieutenant My Lord Lucan 's Release to the General General Ginckell Commander in Chief of the English Army did engage himself to furnish ten thousand Tun of Shipping for the Transporting of such of the Irish Forces to France as were willing to go thither and to facilitate their passage to add four thousand Tun more in case the French Fleet did not come to this Kingdom to take off part of those Forces and whereas the French Fleet has been upon the Coast and carried away some of the said Forces and the Lieutenant General has provided Ships for as many of the rest as are willing to go as aforesaid I do hereby delare that the said Lieutenant General is released from any Obligation he lay under from the said Articles to provide Vessels for that purpose and do quit and renounce all farther Claim and Pretension on this Account c. Witness my Hand this 8th of December 1691. Witnesses Lucan Mark Talbot F. H. de la Forest Susannel December the 20th Colonel Langston's and Colonel Monopouillon's Horse and the Prince of Hess's Foot Shipp'd at Dublin for England and Colonel Neuhewson's Horse and the Brandeuburgh Foot march'd into Dublin The 22 d my Lord Lucan and the rest of the Irish Great Officers went on Board the Transport Ships leaving Hostages at Cork for the return of the said All the Irish go off except the Hostages Ships And at the same time Colonel Hasting's Sir David Collier's Colonel Brewer's and Colonel Herbert's Regiments were Shipp'd for England the Government taking all possible Care to Discharge the Kingdom of both Armies who had already brought it into a very low Condition December the 24th an Order was given out to the Comissary General of the Musters or his Deputies to An Order for Mustering all the Irish that came over to us take an exact Muster of all the Irish Forces now in Arms that had come over to our side since the beginning of the Truce at Limerick and they had Quarters allotted them in several places of the Kingdom but behaved themselves after their usual rate for tho' they had Changed their King yet not their Customs for they Taxed the People where they Quartered as they pleased themselves Imprison'd several and Released others as they saw good forced The Irish very unruly in their Quarters the Markets and did a great many other Illegal Tricks Insomuch that Complaint being made to the Lords Justices of those Disorders they writ a Letter to my Lord Kingston December 31. Desiring his Lordship to do them the Country and His Majesty what Service he cou'd in suppressing those Irregularities and to have the Court Martials that were Ordered in several Places put in Execution January the 6th there being no further use of a Marching Hospital in this Kingdom and the same The Marching-Hospital broke being expensive to the Government an Order was given out for the discharging several Physicians and others that attended on the same And now Their Majesties Pleasure being known about the Irish Orders and Instructions were directed to Colonel Foulk Colonel St. Johns and Brigadeer Villers to view and discharge all the Irish Forces except 1400 Choice Men the form of their Commissions for it ran thus By the Lords Justices of Ireland WHEREAS Their Majesties are pleased to Direct Orders and Instructions for breaking the Irish Forces that there be an immediate Regulation of such of the Regiments whether Horse Foot or Dragoons of the late Irish Army as came in and submitted to Their Obedience And We being well assured of the Care Diligence and Circumspection as well as of the Loyalty and Readiness of Colonel John Foulks to do Their Majesties good and faithful Service do hereby appoint him to make the said Regulation and Reform c. The Irish being by the said Instrument commanded January 1692. to obey him and our own Troops and Militia to observe his Directions in their Marching from place to place as he saw occasion The said Colonel Foulk and the other Officers aforesaid had Directions to assure the Irish both Officers and Souldiers of Their Majesties Gracious Disposition towards them tho' the present State of their Affairs wou'd not admit of any more than 1400 Men to be employed at this time and those to be divided into two Battalions Commanded by Colonel Wilson and Balderock O Donnel And that the Officers that were not willing to go home might attend those two Battalions where they wou'd have Subsistance till better provided for As for those that returned to their Habitations and desired to live peaceably at home if they were Souldiers and had their Arms nine Shillings a piece was ordered them but if without Arms they had six Shillings The Officers had a Fortnights Subsistence each to bear their Charges home These Orders and Instructions bore Date the 11th and 12th of January pursuant to which as soon as it cou'd conveniently be done Colonel Wilson's Colonel O Ryley's Colonel Nugent's Lord Iveigh's Lord Dillon's Colonel Cormack Oneal's Colonel Foelix Oneal's Colonel Geoghagan's Colonel O Donnel's Colonel Rourk's Colonel Oxborough's Colonel Lutteril's Horse Colonel Tho. Burk's Troop of Horse Sir Colonel John Burk's Troop Briggadier Clifford's Draggoons Colonel Mackgenni's Draggons were all broke by Colonel Foulk In Munster also Colonel Corbet's Horse were broke by Brigadier Villers And Colonel Mackdermot's Foot Colonel Bryan Oneal's Colonel Rob. Purcel's and Lieutenant Colonel Cahan's were broke by Colonel St. Johns only two Battalions being drawn out of the whole as is said and had Quarters assigned them in the Barrony of Muskerry These Irish had the Name of a great many January 1692. Regiments but scarce an hundred Men in each one with another for they were thin at best and several of them were gone into France having the Names of Regiments there also But after some time all the Irish not laying down their Arms an Order was directed to Sir Francis Hambleton Governour of Donegal to break
themselves whether of English or Irish Extraction to advance the Power of England in that Kingdom Two main Objections answered Religion in the first place to be taken care of An Invasion from France upon that Kingdom England or Scotland at this juncture very improbable A Remark upon the last that endeavour'd it I Have now given you all that I know of this last unhappy Irish Wars that is fit at this juncture to be sent to the Press And it 's more possibly than some Men will thank me for or yet the following Remarks that I am going to make upon the Affairs of that Kingdom and its present Circumstances upon which if any please to throw away another half Hour tho' they find nothing worth taking notice of Yet I hope they 'll have no Reason to be angry since Opinion in things indifferent is free to all Men And we have no better way to conjecture what may be hereafter than by comparing our thoughts of it with what now is and formerly has been Ireland next to Great Brittain is the greatest Island The Circumference of Ireland in Europe esteemed by Sir William Petty at Ten Millions Five Hundred Thousand Irish Acres and by others at Ten Millions Eight Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand Acres which they reckon to be above 17 Millions of English Measure 121 Irish Acres making about 196 English and yet Sir William Petty computes the Irish Acres to make not above 14 Millions of English accounting nigh two Millions of Acres in Mountains Bogs Strands and other unprofitable Land a great part of which however is capable of improvement and makes Ireland in circumference almost equal to England Wales excepted The Latitude of Ireland North is said to be parallel with Dumfrese in Scotland and South to St. Michael's Mount in Cornwal its Longitude West to the utmost point of Ire Conaght in the County of Galway and East to the head of Houth The Kingdom for many Ages past has been divided Itâ— Division into Provinces and Counties into four Provinces three of which before that Division were commonly distinct Monarchies and sometimes the fourth which by degrees as the English Interest prevailed were subdivided into Counties of which there are thirty two at this day in all the Kingdom The Provinces are Leinster Munster Conaght and Vlster Leinster has eleven Counties Dublin Wicklow and Wexford on the Sea-side East-Meath West-Meath and Carlow within Land tho' with a corner reaching to the Sea Kilkenny Kildare Kings-County Queens-County and Longford are Inland Counties also Munster has six Counties two within Land as Tipperary and Limerick but Waterford Cork Kerry and Clare all on the Coast Conaght has Galway Mayo and Sligo towards the Sea with Roscomon and Letrim within Land Vlster has six Counties on the Sea-side Fermanagh Donegal London-Derry Antrim Down and Louth and four within Land as Cavan Monohan Armagh and Tyrone In the Year 1151 according to Cambden Christianus Into Arch-Bishopricks and Bishopricks Bishop of Lismore Legate of all Ireland and Johannes Paperon Cardinal Priest according to Sir James Ware brought four Palls from Eugenius the third and held a Synod or Council at Kells as some say or at Mellefort according to others whereat were present the Bishops Abbots Kings Captains and Elders of Ireland when by General consent four Arch-Bishopricks were Constituted Armagh Dublin Cashel and Tuam under whom there were 34 other Bishopricks viz. ten subordinate to Armagh five to Dublin twelve to Cashel and seven to Tuam But now they are reduced to 21 in all and those divided into 2278 Parishes and those in a political capacity have eight that are called Cities Dublin Kilkenny Waterford Cork Cashel Clogher Limerick and London-Derry besides about ninety Boroughs and Corporations As to the Natural Advantages of Ireland many People The Soil of Ireland can confirm what Sir John Davis a Man of Wit Learning and Prudence has writ several Years ago viz. That having been in all the Provinces of that Kingdom he had observed the good Temperature of the Air the fruitfulness of the Soil the pleasant and commodious Seats for Habitation the safe and large Ports and Havens lying open for Traffick unto all the West parts of the World the long Inlets of many Navigable Rivers and so many great Lakes and fresh Ponds within Land as the like are not to be seen in any part of Europe the rich Fishings and Wild Fowl of all Kinds And lastly the Bodies and Minds of the People Endowed with extraordinary Abilities of Nature And however it has become a Proverb in England The Irish no such Fools as the World Commonly makes them to call a dull unthinking Fellow a Man of an Irish Understanding yet for any thing appears to the contrary they have acted a Prudent part for at least these Five Hundred Years nor is their crafty insinuating wheedling way as yet any thing abated and whosoever will look amongst the Natives of that Countrey at this juncture will probably find some Knaves but as few Folls as in any other Kingdom of the World But since I have mention'd so Judicious an Author Sir John Davis his Reasons why Ireland has been so long in reducing to the Crown of England as Sir John Davis I suppose it will not be unpleasant to hear some of his Reasons why it has been so long a time before Ireland was entirely subject to the Crown of England and why the English were more apt to run into the Irish Barbarous Customs and imitate their way of living than on the Contrary As to the first of these he mentions four main defects of the Armies that at different times were sent out of England to Conquer Ireland 1. They were for the most part too weak for a Conquest 2. When otherwise as in both the Journies of Richard the Second they were too soon broken up and dissolved 3. They were ill paid and 4. They were ill Govern'd a necessary Consequence of the former Which Inconveniences happen'd because the King 's of England for many Ages together were generally otherwise imploy'd either in the Holy-Land or in France or in their Wars with Scotland or else in that unhappy fewd between the two Houses of Lancaster and York So that they cou'd neither attend the Irish War in their own Persons nor spare a Competency either of Men or Money to compleat the Work which was only begun in King Henry the Second's days rather by a few private Adventurers than by any thing that had the face of a Royal Army And besides the standing Forces were seldom or never reinforced out of England that is in the times towards the beginning of the English Government only the King's Treasure there was spent and wholly spent in the King's service so that in the Reigns of four successive Kings Viz. Henry III. Edward I. Edward II. and Edward III. between the Receipts and Allowances this Entry is commonly found in the Pipe-Rolls In Thesauro
Rex sub eo paratus ad servitium suum ut homo suus c. And King Henry the II. making William Fitz Audelm his Lieutenant of Ireland he hath it thus in his Commission Archiepiscopis Episcopis Regibus Baronibus omnibus fidelibus suis in Hibernia salutem King John also granted divers Characters unto the Irish Lords under the Title of Kings and so did Henry the III d. unto a Petty-King of Thoumond Rex Regi Thoumond Salutem c. Those Governed the People by their Brehon Laws they made their own Magistrates and Officers they Pardoned and Punished all Malefactors and made War and Peace one with another without Controulment After which several Attempts were made and Rebellions more or less broke out in every King's Reign And to omit those of Perkin Warbeck and others in the Reign of Henry 7. The Rebellion of Fitz Gerald and the rest of that Faction in King Henry 8th's time in the Year 1535. cost England Forty Thousand Pounds a Summ reputed so great in those days and so much disturbed that blustering Prince that he called the appeasing this Rebellion a New Conquest and put the Question to his Council how Ireland should be managed to bear the Charge of its own preservation and whether by Act of Parliament every Man's Estate should not be made liable to contribute its proportion or wehther by Virtue of this New Conquest the King might not seize on all the Estates of that Kingdom Temporal and Spiritual Cox 242. But tho' this wou'd not do yet he found out another A Statute against Absentees way to make a Statute against Absentees whereby a great part of the County of Carlow was taken from the Duke of Norfolk and other Lands from other great Men and from some Monasteries in England that held Land in Ireland for that by the absence of these and the neglecting their own private Estates whereby the Irish daily gained ground they brought the Publick into danger However this Rebellious Spirit continued in Ireland all Queen Elizabeth's time even to the ninth of King James the First as Sir John Davis observes but if he had lived in our days he wou'd have seen good reasons to say it was always the Genius of the People And one Mr. Lawrence has since that endeavoured to prove that Ireland was never intirely subjected to the Crown of England nor the Lands properly called the King's Lands until the Act of Settlement passed in the 12th Year of King Charles the Second for before this the Chief Inhabitants in all Cities and Towns were Papists as Sheriffs Justices of the Peace c by which means that Party was wonderfully encouraged and strengthened and besides the Irish before the late Rebellion were by far the greatest Proprietors tho' afterwards they enjoyed not much above a fifth part of the whole that is in propriety by which means and the industrious Management of some of the Chief Governours the English Interest was very far advanced in this Country before the death of King Charles the Second for tho' some Clouds arose before yet the Sun shone pretty clear till the Death of that Monarch made it more than Twilight with the English of that Country and then the late dark Night of Confusion approached so suddenly that it gave them no time to set things in Order till they cou'd not in a manner see where they were a going This put a full stop to the Carreer of all their Prosperity for a great many considerable Buildings and other Improvements in and about Dublin and other places in the Kingdom being pretty far advanced at that Juncture they were left off very abruptly the Workman throwing away his Tools and the Husbandman neglecting his Plow at the News as if they had then foreseen their approaching Misery and were amazed to find the Irish arm so fast on all hands by which they were assured that other sorts of Weapons than they had used for the Country's improving were soon like to grow more in fashion and that to the undoing of what themselves had so honestly endeavoured to make up So that the Irish were not then nor indeed are as yet so subdued as that no further Storm may ever be feared to arise from that corner And certainly the not thorowly endeavouring to make Ireland bear the Charge of its own preservation has in all Ages been very much to the disadvantage of Ireland shou'd be put into a Condition to bear its own Burden England But to carry this no higher than the Year 1595 the time of Tyrone's Rebellion which Cambden in his Annals tells us cost 1198717 l. to suppress Or if we compute the Charge of its first Conquest and the suppressing the several Rebellions from that time till this of Tyrone's to cost but double as much as this did as they needs must since before that Ireland never enjoyed seven Years peace at one time Then I say long e're this all those Rebellions had been forgot and the Trade and Product of Ireland more than trebly recompenced England for her former Blood and Treasure But as the Degenerate English grew more and more in love with the Irish and their Customs and so took their part against England The Charges encreased to more prodigious Sums and they generally make use of it as a great Argument for what they did of late that it was the Blood and Treasure of their Ancestors that first gained that Kingdom to the English Interest and therefore tho' they differed in Opinion yet it was very unreasonable that they should be quite excluded from sharing in the Government with those that were of a much later Date But this Objection is of an older standing than either the former War or this last for we are told that so great Heats have arose formerly between the English of Birth and the English of Blood in Ireland that they held different Parliaments and endeavoured by all means Possible to ruine one another But 't is observ'd by very Learned Men in this Kingdom that tho' the English have often fallen out amongst themselves and there were generally found in many places of the Kingdom such of English extraction as would joyn with the Irish against England yet the People of the Pale were always firm and Loyal to the Crown and the greatest strength that England had against the Irish Nation for which they were often plentifully Rewarded 'till in the Year 1641 they all broke loose which they say was occasioned thus Tho since the first Conquest of Ireland there have been continued feuds in that Kingdom between the People of both Nations upon the account of Interest yet when the Reformation was once set on foot the Breach was widned upon that account it being what the Natives of that Country have always endeavoured to destroy and with it the English Interest there but finding this a very difficult Task by reason that the old English of the Pale tho' many of them were of
the same Religion with the Irish yet they cou'd never be perswaded to stand up for a mere Irish Interest till the Irish in the What Methods the Irish first took to make the old English joyn with them Province of Vlster especially found out the two following Expedients first to intermarry with the English of the Pale and to seek all opportunities of making alliance with them and secondly to perswade the English Gentry always to breed up one of their Sons a Priest by whom and their Irish Wives the English were managed to that degree that tho' at the first breaking out of the Rebellion in 1641. they seemed to detest the Irish ways of proceeding yet in a few Months after a great part of them openly joyned with the Irish and this with the constant troubles in England were the Reasons why that Rebellion was the longest in suppressing A Brief Account of the Expences of the former War and also the most expensive of any before it being on foot 12 Years viz. from the 23 d. of October 1641. until the 26th of September 1653. The Charge to England in suppressing of which and the loss that the Protestant Party in Ireland sustained during this War being computed by Sir John Burlace in his History to amount to Twenty two Millions One Hundred and Ninety One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Pounds Three Shillings and Three Pence And others compute the whole Loss Cost and Charges of the King and Protestant Party to suppress the said Rebellion to amount to 34480000 l. And that the English Adventurers who advanced Money upon the Credit of two Acts of Parliament in the Years 41 and 42 paid 70 Years Purchase for that which was not worth above eight and that the Souldiers paid 115 Years purchase for their Debenters but those People have a mad way of reckoning in the multiplying several of their particulars However as to this last War that we have all seen An Essay towards this I pretend not to so great Skill as to know the Expences of it only thus far is easily computed 1. The Army that Landed with Duke Schonberg and that came some time after into Ireland with those of the Derry and Inniskillin Troops received into Pay under his Grace's Command in the Year 1689. being 9 Regiments and 2 Troops of Horse 4 Regiments of Dragoons and 30 Regiments of Foot the whole pay for which in one Year comes to 869410 l. 7 s. 06 d. 2. His Majesty's Royal Army in that Kingdom in the Year 1690 Consisting of 2 Troops of Guards 23 Regiments of Horse 5 Regiments of Dragoons and 46 Regiments of Foot the Pay of which considering the difference between the Numbers in the Foreign Regiments and our own amounts to 1287630 l. 02 s. 00 d. 3 The Army in that Kingdom in the Year 1691. Commanded by Lieutenant General Ginckel being 20 Regiments of Horse 5 of Dragoons and 42 Regiments of Foot whose Pay for that Year came to 1161830 l. 12 s. 10 d. Then the General Officers Pay the Train Bread Waggons Transport Ships and other Contingencies make at least as much more which is 6637742 l. 05 s. 00 d. And the Irish Army living for the most part upon the product of the Country cou'd not cost much less Besides the farther Destruction of the Protestant Interest in that Kingdom by cutting down Improvements burning of Houses destroying of Sheep and Cattle taking away of Horses with Infinite other Extortions and Robberies as also the loss of People on both sides most of which however disaffected yet they were Subjects to the Crown of England As to the particulars of our and their losses of People A modest Conjecture at the Numbers lost on both sides during the War in both Armies since the Landing of Duke Schonberg in Ireland the best Computation I have been able to make by comparing Accounts and conferring on both sides with those that have made some Observations on that matter the thing runs thus Irish Officers killed 00617 Souldiers killed belonging to the Irish Army 12676 Rapparees killed by the Army and Militia 01928 Rapparees hanged by Legal Process or Court-Marshal 00112 Rapparees killed and hanged by Souldiers and others without any Ceremony 600 Officers killed in the English Army 00140 Soldiers killed in the Field 02037 Murdered privately by the Rapparees that we had no account where they died 00800 English and Foreign Officers died during the three Campaigns 00320 Souldiers dead in the English Army since our Landing in Ireland 7000 Tho' its to be observed that in the two last Campaigns there died very few except Recruits and such as died of their Wounds Nor are we to believe that the Irish did not lose a great many by Sickness also but no doubt the Destruction of the People in the Country wou'd do more than double all these Numbers so that by the Sword Famine and all other accidents there has perished since first the Irish began to play their mad Pranks there have died I say in that Kingdom of one sort and another at least One Hundred Thousand Young and Old besides treble the Number that are Ruined and undone All which being considered it 's certainly most expedient to find out an Eternal Remedy that the like may never happen again And this I humbly suppose must not be any endeavour to root out and destroy the Irish but in the advancing the English Interest both in Church and State in that Kingdom so as to make the Irish themselves in love with it And tho' it has been the Ruining Fate of that Kingdom The Interest of England to advance the Power of the English in Ireland to have some great Men both in Court and Parliament Judge it the Interest of England to keep Ireland poor and low and it may seem strange to hear an English Man by Birth and a meer Stranger to the having any Interest in Ireland to endeavour the contradicting of it But in my humble Opinion whatsoever may be allowed in this as to the promoting the private Advantages of a great many Trading People and even Men of Estates in England which all would suffer by the advancing of these in Ireland yet it 's so far from being the real Interest either of the Kingdom of England to cramp Ireland in its Prosperity that the Wealth and Greatness of Ireland in Trade and Manufactures is to be promoted both by the King and People of England as much as possibly it can And first as to the Kings of England it is the same thing to them whether they have their Customs from Bristol or Dublin from Cork or Newcastle c. or whether their Levies of Men when occasion offers are made in the Counties of Wickloe and Waterford Cumberland or Yorkshire provided the Interest were one and the same in both Kingdoms And as to the People of England in general one shou'd think it 's their business to promote and encourage the Trade and
News to one another but not one in twenty either at work in the Fields or otherways Honestly imploy'd which is the Reason that at this very day most of the Goals of the Kingdom are filled with Thieves and the Streets with incredible numbers of importunate houling Beggars who yet most of them had rather Live so than otherways But I 'm afraid a great many People will think I have been too busie and therefore I have only this to say further that notwithstanding all the Wagers that have been proffer'd of late whether Ireland would not be in the French King's Hands by such a time I dare freely venture one of as great value as I am able that tho' he begin to morrow it will not be in his Power with all the Force he can spare to take it from that handful of Men left in that Kingdom for its security these Seven Years for if the Irish who were but indifferently provided for at best were able to hold it out so long against all the Power and Strength of England what can Men that have better Supplies and full as good Hearts do And as for those vain hopes of that unhappy Party An Invasion from France upon any of the three Kingdoms not very practicable at this time who are still buoyed up with the Fancy of the French King's Greatness and that he will at some time or other certainly make an Invasion either upon England Scotland or Ireland any who know what War means can assure them that it 's much sooner said than done For if his present Majesty of England was obliged to imploy nigh 600 Vessels when at his first coming he Transported only 14000 Men into this Kingdom and if the Irish War has for Three Years past imployed such a considerable number of Transport Ships in that narrow Channel between England and Ireland which lye so convenisently and contiguous one to another what Provision must needs be made in France for such an Attempt as an Invasion upon any of the Three Kingdoms which if it miscarries they are certainly undone For suppose the French still a match for our Fleet which I hope they will never be now whilst the World stands and the French Invasion designed upon England tho' there be a Factious and unnaturally discontented Party there that are no well wishers to the present Government vet there are so many Loyal and True Hearted English-Men still left at home that all the Ships in France are not able to Transport Men enough from thence to subdue them since we know their affection to both the French and Irish that are with them should they once indeavour to look into England whose Strength is in the Hearts and Affections of the People intirely devoted to Their Majesties Service I allow that 20000 well Disciplin'd and Experienc'd Men are able to beat four times the number of Raw unexperienc'd Country People but then I leave the English standing Army and a well Disciplined Militia especially in and about the City of London to shew how unwelcome the French wou'd be to them And as for Scotland its Soyl in most places is Naturally poor and barren and an Army of Foreigners Landed there must either eat Heath or one another in a small time if once they leave the Coast for admit they have Provisions brought by Sea into their Harbours yet the Country in few places is so level as to admit of either a marching Train of Artillery or of Provision Waggons which an Army has no Business any where without and soon wou'd look very foolish for want of suppose but an indifferent Enemy to oppose them Then as for an Invasion to be made upon Ireland the Country is already so destroyed by being the Seat of War that whosoever attempts it must bring all from abroad likewise as well Horses as Provisions which is no easie Task of it self suppose no opposition either at Sea or in the Country but then our Garrisons especially upon the Coasts are made so strong to our Hands by the Irish themselves by the help and directions of the best French Ingineers and are Manned with part of an Experienced and Victorious Army that it will not be the work of a few days to pick any of them out of our hands since there is Ammunition Artillery and Provisions suitable to each Garrison's Necessities And as an advantage to the established standing Army now in Ireland consisting of Colonel Woolsley's Horse Colonel Wynns and Colonel Eiklin's Dragoons Sir Jo. Hanmer's Briggadeer Stuart's Colonel Gustavus Hambleton's Earl of Drogheda's Sir Henry Bellisis Colonel Roe's Colonel Coot's Colonel St. John's Colonel Muthelburms and Colonel Creighton's Foot besides Colonel Frederick Hambleton's and three French Regiments all upon the Irish Establishment as also the Earl of Donegal's Foot and Colonel Cunningham's Dragoons now raising besides all these I say what deserves no mean Character is the Militia of Ireland being formerly at least Twenty Five Thousand Men and tho' they cannot make so many now this War having destroy'd a great many Protestants yet whoever serve now upon that account are all well Armed and Experienced Active Men which circumstances being all known to France they will scarce hazard all upon such uncertainties suppose they were really at leisure to do it as an Invasion upon any of their Majesties Dominions must needs prove It may also be remembred that the Spanyards in the A Remark upon the last that endeavoured it Year 1588 had not only a great mind to Ireland but with a powerful Army endeavoured also to Invade England in which Attempt their loss was so considerable that they have not as yet recover'd it And the disappointment that the French King met withall the very last Year in such another undertaking gives us more than ordinary hopes that thro' God's Blessing it will always so be done to the Enemies of England FINIS