augmented and all manner of Caution and Circumspection used that might prevent in any probability the threatned Danger Dâ—ring these Transactions those Troops we had abroad were not idle but often marching many Miles into the Enemies Quarters not only beat them from their Posts and killed a great many of them but gave the Villages opportunity to rest in quiet under their Majesties Protection and freeing them from those Ravagements wherewith before they were distressed so that many who before stood out for fear of being plundered or destroyed came in and joyfully laid hold of the gracious Pardon offered them so that the face of things seemed to put on a Calm considering the Tempest that a little before had in a manner disjointed and put them out of Frame The Enemies Regular Troops missing of the Advantages they expected now gave way to the Outrages of the Rapperees more than ever having before a little restrained their Insolencies that the Advantage of Plunder might accrue to themselves so that they committed many barbarous Murthers in Villages and Loan-houses where their Force prevailed being mainly incited thereto by the revengeful Priests who shared with them in their Booty which made our Troops though the Season was very incommodious for marching by reason of the rains and quagginess of the ground and incroach upon them and frequently surprize them in their Randezvous beating them out of their Cabins and firing them over their Ears And now his Majesty providing for the Civil Affairs the Privy Council were the Lord Primate of Ireland the Lord Chancellour High Treasurer and Archbishop of Dublin for the time being the Duke of Ormond Earls of Meath Drogheda Longhford Ranelagh Granard and Viscount Lisburn the Bishop of Meath the Vice-Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Chief Justices of the King's Bench Common Pleas Chief Baron of the Exchequer Master of the Rolls Principal Secretary of State and Master of the Ordnance for the time being Robert Fitz-Gerrard Sir Henry and William Hill Esquires The Judges appointed by his Majesty were for the King's Bench Sir Richard Raynel Mr. Justice Lyndon Sir Richard Stephens for the Common Pleas Mr. Justice Cox Mr. Justice Ieffersdon for the Exchequer Lord Chief Baron Hely Mr. Baron Echlin Sir Standish Harstrong Nor was the Civil Settlement alone considered but likewise the Ecclesiastical Promotions for the good and tranquility of the Protestant Churches of Ireland viz. Dr. March Bishop of Feras was advanced to the Archbishoprick of Cashel Dr. Tenison Bishop of Killala to be Bishop of Cloglier Dr. William King to be Bishop of London-Derry Dr. Digly Bishop of Lymirick to be Bishop of Elphin Dr. Vigorâ— Dean of Armagh to be Bishop of Ferus Dr. Wilson Dean of Rapho to be Bishop of Lymerick Dr. Fitz-Gerrald Dean of Cloim to be Bishop of Cloufort Dr. Lloyd Dean of Achonry to be Bishop of Killala So that now the face of things began to look pleasant however though it was in the dead of Winter our Troops abroad found some Action for one of our advanced Parties setting upon the Enemy near Castle-Town they killed 22 of them and took 5 Prisoners and Colonel Foulks gave a considerable Defeat to about 1500 Rapperees and trained Soldiers killing many of them and taking some Prisoners near the Bogg of Allen. Whilst these Successes were carried on with a high hand Colonel Brewer possessed himself of the Forts and Town of Lansborough and defeated about 3000 of the Enemy Soon after Major-General Tetteau heightned with his frequent Success and the beating some small Parties of the Enemy he marched his Forces towards the strong Town of Ross which had in it a Carrison of 600 Men under the Command of Colonel Maccarty the Lords Coursey and Slane and others of Note were also in the place upon the approach of our Men but not thinking themselves secure enough they poasted away for Lymerick and thereupon our Approaches being made 50 Danes and 50 of the Detachment out of Kingsale were ordered to storm a Fort cut out of a Rock which they did with so great a Resolution that they froze the Enemies Courage and soon made themselves Masters of it putting most they found therein to the Sword and many of those that endeavoured to swim from thence to another Rock were killed in the Water and marching thence to Tralee General Sheldon abondoned it with such speed that they had no time to set it on fire and so it fell entire into our hands and we having a small Fort at Fermoy-Bridge in the County of Cork the Enemy advanced with about 2000 Horse and Foot under the Command of one Carrol who upon his Approach sent to have it Surrendred Declaring that he knew the strength of the Place and that it was not tenable But upon his approach found such a warm Reception that after divers firings he being kill'd upon the place his Men took to their heels and that they might glory of something they burnt one House in their return Soon after this Defeat and the routing divers Parties of the Rapparees Colonel Brewer and Major Board went out with a detached Party of 150 Horse and about 200 Foot from Mullengar to relieve Marescourt and Mayvore with Provision and that done they took their way towards Ballymore and dislodged the Enemy on those Passes opening and freeing the Country and then returned to their Stations without the loss of any Men and soon after this Lieutenant Taylor defeated 400 of the Irish near Endery Lieutenant-General Ginkle upon notice that a great Body of the Enemy was gathering and some of them advancing towards Athlone he and Sir Iohn Lanier drew out a Party to oppose them who upon their approach retired in great confusion but being pursued by our Horse and Foot they were beat from the Retrenchments they had made as their last Refuge and the Chace being continued about 200 of them were killed and wounded and several taken Prisoners and our Men got a great Booty of Horses for the Enemy in their flight being hard pressed in the Rear quitted them and got into the Woods Colonel Hamilton being abroad meeting with a Party of the Enemy as they were Ravaging the Country near a place called Bautrey set upon them and at the first Charge put them into Disorder and soon after to open flight killing about 70 of them and taking some Prisoners with Booty c. And Captain Derby defeated another Party of them at Birre And now the Rapparees being more terrible to the Country People than the Enemies Regular Forces a Party was sent out to suppress them so that being frequently met withal a great many of them were killed and some that were taken Prisoners were Executed and lighting on a Party of about 400 Irish though he had then 100 Foot and 34 Horse having lessened his number by Detachments sent to find out the Rapparees he however drew up and Charged them with such Bravery that during the Action some more of his Men
having been well tutored and of a graceful Carriage so well acted his part that not only the Lieutenant but a great many of the Irish Nobility sided with him raising considerable Forces to espouse his Quarrel Crowning him King in Dublin and not content to keep him there they brought him with a considerable Army into England landing in Lancashire and Proclaiming him But the King's Forces advancing they were in a Set-battel over-thrown and the Imposter taken Prisoner the Priest hanged c. They likewise in the King's Reign aided another called Perkin or Peter Warbeck who stiled himself Duke of York younger Son to Edward the Fourth but in this they had no better success than in the former a great many being killed the Impostor taken after several Attempts and bloody Encounters having engaged the Scots as well as Irish on his part marrying the Lady Catharine Gourdon Niece to that King he was first obliged to confess his Impostor how he was set on maintained and encouraged by the Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth and then being publickly punished was sent to the Tower from whence endeavouring to escape he was executed and with him the real Earl of Warwick who had been kept a Prisoner there a considerable time all that was alledged against him was that he attempted to make his Escape with Perkin to raise new Commotions In the Reign of Henry the Eighth great Commotions were stirred up which were at first suddenly appeased but the Earl of Kildare being Deputy the People exhibited their Complaints against him to the Court of England as the cause of many Disturbances by his severe using them and amongst other Articles they had this viz. All Ireland is not able to Rule this Earl Then said the King this Earl is the fittest Man to Rule all Ireland and thereupon he continued him Deputy it appeared this hatred against him proceeded only from the strict hand he had over them to keep them from rebelling And another was That he had caused to be burned the Cathedral Church of Cashal The Archbishop of that place being his chief Accuser and when every one would have denied it he humbly replied By Chreest I would never have done it had I not byen told the Archbishop was in it Which plain dealing made the King smile and the Archbishop storm and fret however the Earl was ordered to rebuild it at his own charge and so continued in his Deputyship but often fell into displeasure by reason of his plain downright dealing and Cardinal Wolsey now ruling all at Court for speaking too plain to him upon his Examination at the Council-Board where Wolsey sat as President he sent him to the Tower and ordered a Warrant for his Execution without the King's Knowledge of which the King having Notice by the Lieutenant was mightily incensed at Wolsey and that great Favourite soon after falling into Disgrace the Earl was released and sent to Ireland with one Sir William Sheington who was made Deputy however the O Moors fell into Rebellion but being opposed by Forces drawn out of Dublin they were dispersed and many of them killed and for that time the Tempest blown over however it lasted not long for the Earl of Kildare's Enemies having again upon many grievous Complaints prevail'd to have him sent for to England he was committed to the Tower whereupon his Son the Lord Thomas notwithstanding the Perswasions of the Chancellor to avert him from it fell into Rebellion and drew great Forces after him yet driven at last to extream Necessities he was perswaded by the Lord Grey then Deputy of the Kingdom to submit himself to King Henry's Mercy without hope of Pardon but some of his Followers having killed Alen Archbishop of Dublin he was upon his Arrival committed to the Tower and King Henry being informed That the Geraldine Family had vowed never to have Peace with him he sent for the Earl's five Brothers in Custody when one of them during their crossing the Seas demanded of the Master what the Name of the Ship was who replied The Cow Nay then said he looking on the rest with a dejected Countenance we are all lost Men for now a Prophecy comes into my head that says Five Brethren of an Earl should be carried into England in the Belly of a Cow and never come back again and I doubt not but all things hitting so pat we are they And indeed so it happen'd for being Accused of the late Rebellion though two of them were ignorant of it the Lord Thomas Son to the Earl was beheaded on Tower-hill and the five Brethren hang'd drawn and quartered at Tyburn and the Earl soon after died in the Tower of Grief which destroyed the Center of that Noble Family for although one Brother escaped yet travelling through many Countries he at last came to Naples and there died Childless Nor did the Lord Grey escape for being countermanded and accused of holding Correspondency with this Family though without any notable Proof he was Condemned for High-Treason and beheaded on Tower-hill The Kings of England the better to please the Natives of Ireland having been all this while only called Lords of Ireland the Parliament sitting at Westminster in the 33d year of Henry's Reign invested with the Title of King of Ireland whereupon the Earl of Tyrone and divers others rebelled but in some bloody Encounters being defeated the Earl was at last subdu'd and brought Prisoner for England yet upon his humble Submission released and sent over upon promise of keeping the Country in quiet which he pretty well observed during the short Reigns of King Edward the Sixth and Queen Mary only some petty Commotions happened that were soon quieted In the Year 1566. being the Seventh year of Queen Elizabeth's Reign one of the chief Lords of Ireland named Donald Mac Carti More upon some little stirs that happened came over and not only cleared himself to the Queen but delivered up to her all his Territories vowing perpetual Fealty but she in gratitude restored them again and made him Earl of Glencare giving him a considerable Sum to bear his Expences so that by his great Authority amongst the Natives it was thought the Kingdom would be kept quiet but it proved otherwise for after some private Conspiracies that never broke out were defeated the Earl of Desmond the Eleventh Earl of that Title who had great Territories and abundance of Followers broke into open Rebellion and did great damage to the English driving them out of many places killing divers Gentlemen in Revenge as he said of the Earl of Kildare and his Family being put to death and amongst others one with whom he had contracted a strict Friendship and usually called Father who when he saw him with his drawn Sword breaking into his Chamber and relying upon his former Friendship cried out What is the matter Desmon my Son to whom the bloody Earl sternly replied I am no longer thy Son nor thou my Father but
going over a little before had raised they seized upon the Town of Wexford which was given to one Fitz-Stevens a Welch Gentleman according to Agreement upon his raising part of the Forces so that News of this and other Successes flying to England many Adventurers came over and although the Petty Kings joyned their Forces yet were they beat in divers bloody Battels and Dormat being restored had Dublin submitted to him inflicting grievous Punishments upon such of his Capital Enemies as he found there The Prince being now in Ireland greatly increasing in Strength that came over to him carried all before him which made King Henry who feared the Prince's aspiring upon such Successes and willing to have the honour of Conquering so large a Kingdom himself sent his Mandate to recall the English out of Ireland so that but a few being left with the Prince in Dublin and they reduced to a great streight by the Irish that had taken heart they nevertheless Sallied upon an Army of 30000 with not above 1500 Men and utterly routed them taking great Spoil and then coming for England he surrendered all the Cities and Forts he had taken into his Father's Hands for Dormat by this time was dead and in the Year 1172. King Henry landed with a Royal Army which brought such a Terrour upon Ireland that Roderick and most of the Petty Princes that were Independent or his Tributaries came witn their humble Supplications to intreat him That he would take the Government upon him as their Supream Prince and Lord So that at Christmas he made them a Noble Feast in Dublin and settled the Kingdom in Civil and Ecclesiastical Matters Reforming Abuses and Barbarities And soon after those that held out in Vlster were brought to submit from which time we may Date the Conquest of Ireland by the English under which Soveraignty it has ever since remained as a conquered Kingdom and now annexed to the Crown yet the Natives who are generally hot spirited uneasie and restless under Restraint have often strugled to break this Chain though to the Loss and Disadvantage mostly of themselves King Richard the First by reason of his Wars in the Holy Land his Imprisonment upon his Return in Austria and the Empire and other Disappointments he met with at home had no War with the Irish nor happened there any thing extraordinary but care and industry to settle the Government which was done with such tenderness that the Natives being more civilized began to think themselves happy in the change and that they were redeemed from perpetual War which when so many Princes governed as Absolute in their Dominions could not be avoided among so rough and stubborn a People But because King Edward the First had sent for Forces out of Ireland to help him against the Scots with whom he had mortal Wars the wilder sort of the Irish in Edward the Second's time invited them over and many of the leading Men of the Natives revolting ruining the Country but upon the English joyning Battel with them they were routed and about 11000 slain among whom was a King of Connought and one Okly a Lord of great Possessions but soon after the Lord Roger Mortimer being sent over as Lord Justice of Ireland he managed Matters so ill that the Scots were again called in under Edward Bruce Brother to the Scots King who taking several places by the Revolt of the Irish from the English Obedience caused himself to be Crowned King of Ireland But in a great Battel his Forces being routed and he labouring to restrain their flight was killed by one Morepass whom he likewise requited with Death before his Fall and the dead Bodies fell by that means on each other which happened in the Year 1320. However they were rather dispersed than broken doing considerable Mischief where they found an opportunity to fall upon the English that had settled themselves in the Towns and Villages near the Sea c. In the Year 1329. during the Reign of King Edward the Third the Irish in Leinster and Meath rebelled against whom the Earl of Ormond drew out what Forces he could but being over-poured in number was defeated and the Irish made great Spoils of the English Possessions and amongst other Barbarities burnt eighty of them in a Church where they had fled for Refuge but at last the English fortified themselves in Wexford and upon their approach to besiege it sallied out upon them with such Courage that Success crowned it and 4000 of the Irish were killed most of them that fled being hotly pursued were drowned in the River Slane which with some other Encounters where Victory declared on our side so quelled them that in this King's Reign they rebelled no more Anno 1398. in the Reign of King Richard the Second the Irish fell again into Rebellion and by Surprize fall upon the King's Lieutenant and divers Persons of Quality whom they slew which made the King with considerable Forces haste thither and Landing he put them in all parts to the Rout killing a great many and taking several of their Ring-leaders and keeping his Court of State at Dublin to him resorted the Nobility and chief of the Irish submitting and paying him Homage promising to keep the Country in quiet for the future but Troubles arising in England the King hastily left Ireland and was no sooner arrived in Wales but finding himself deserted he betook him to a Castle where he was seized by Henry Duke of Lancaster to whom he resign'd his Crown and was afterward inhumanly murthered Upon whose Death many Troubles and Contentions arose so that the English being embroyled at home Ireland was little minded the People there doing in a manner what they pleased But in the Reign of Henry the Fifth we being setled at home more care was taken to prevent the Outrages and Depradations of the Irish insomuch that several who had been formerly Offenders were punished and others fled amongst whom were divers of their great 0nes who notwithstanding the care of the Earl of Ormond then Lieuâ—enant of the Kingdom to repress them drew a great multitude of People into Rebellion but the Earl gave Battel at Redmore-Athy where the Irish under the Leading of O Moor stood stoutly to it as Men in despair but after a bloody Fight that coloured all the Ditches of the Fens with Blood the Battel swerved and the Irish were defeated with great slaughter Which quelled them in so terrible a manner that for a long time after they seemed out of Love with War So that nothing memorably occurs in History till the Reign of Henry the Seventh when the Earl of Kildare being Deputy one Richard Symons a Priest wheedled him into a belief that one Lambert a Youth whom he had brought up as his Scholar was really the Earl of Warwick Son to George Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward the Fourth that had escaped out of the Tower and was come thither for protection and the young Spark
and the like to every one that at a set day would appear and claim the Benefit of his Pardon before the Justice of Assize and Publick Justice for that purpose being setled in every Country it abated much of the Tyranny their Petty Lords had over them and made the Vulgar sort of them sensible of the Goodness of the English Laws of which before they had purposely been kept in Ignorance Being now for the most part freed from their Servitude and in the King 's immediate Protection so that if their Lords had a mind to Rebel they could not compel their Tenants to Rise as they had formerly done and Ireland being now divided into Shires the Circuits were erected in every Province and the English had their Lands alotted and more particular Colonies established so that Trade began to flourish and several Corporations of the City of London having purchased large Proportions of Land built a strong Town for their Securiâ—y against the Incursions of the Irish that might happen very advantageously situate on the Bank of a River and Lough which made a wonderful Change to all appearance in the face of Things but what can hinder a People from being miserable that will make themselves so as may not improperly say in spight of Providence the chief of the Irish were displeased at these Proceedings finding the English Improvement rendred such Plenty in the Kingdom as made their Land of little value and therefore many of them spightfully let them lye neglected to be over-run with Thistles and Briars cursing their Posterity if ever they had any Communication with the English or so much as Ploughed or Sowed by which their irreconcileable Hatred to us may be measured The ordinary sort of People notwithstanding their Lords Diâ—â—wasions finding they had not their former Power to compel perceiving Advantage to arise by this new Settlement inhabited very friendly with the English and by their Examples began to improve themselves in Industry and seemed averse to be stirred up as formerly upon every slight Occasion to Rebel insomuch that a long Peace ensued and that brought with it extraordinary Plenty but as nothing is certain or permanent upon Earth so in process of Time this golden Cord of Union between the two Nations was violently cut in sunder Troubles arising in the Year 1641. thro' a Mis-understanding and fomented Heats blown by secret Enemies and War being in prospect between England and Scotland several of the Native Irish Chiefs not finding the People prone to hearken to them incited the Popish Priests who by promising them Heaven for Obedience to their Commands and Damnation on the contrary with many other strange Stories and Things pushed them headlong on to one of the blackest Iniquities â—he Sun has for many Ages beheld and was too late discovered to be prevented for it happened that on the 23d of October the Irish headed by a great many of their Nobility and Gentry rose generally in Arms seizing upon divers strong Places Arms Ammunition and all that came to hand vowing the utter Destruction of all the English in Ireland to Extirpate them from the face of the Irish Earth both Root and Branch and this was discovered but one Night before it was to be executed by which Providence however Dublin and some other Places by the Imprisoning the Conspirators and Fortifying them with good Garisons were secured and became a Refuge to the Lives of many so that now one might every where behold Houses flaming the miserable People fly every where for their Lives whilst the Blood of many were mingled with Flames and the Earth made red by the Blood of those that were slaughtered in the Fields and Ways thousands were drowned in Rivers and Lakes till the Stream was glutted with the dead Bodies and they Bridged over the Waters many were ripped up alive and others tortured in a more cruel manner some were turned out into Snows and Frost and starved to death the Priests and Fryers going along with the Murtherers and beating them on to it with their Crucifixes telling them They were Hereticks and no longer to be suffered alive on the Earth and that it was so far from a sin to kill them that it was Meritorious and even Damnation it self to spare them giving the Sacrament to the more scrupulous of Conscience to confirm them in the Bloudy Enterprize so that in a short space before any Succour could come from England they destroyed by sundry barbarous ways 20000 Men Women and Children burnt most of their Houses and Villages killing their Cattel and suffering them to rot upon the Ground rooâ—ing up likewise their newly sprouted Corn as maliciously bent not only to destroy the People but in Hatred and utter Detestation all that appertained to them flattering themselves by the Inducement of old lying Prophesies to shake off the English Yoke and choose them a King from among their Country-men but Fate consented noâ— The King was at the beginning of this fatal Mischief in Ireland upon the Borders of Scotland labouring to compose the Differences recommending the Care of Ireland to his Parliament then sitting at Westminster who promised a speedy Relief and Assistance to the Protestants that were got together in Arms and stood upon their Defence Voting 50000 pound for to raise Forces and the Earl of Ormond was made Lieutenant-General of the Royal Forces in that Kingdom to joyn whom Sir Simon Harcourt was sent out of England with a Regiment So that the poor Remnant of the Protestants getting together made the Irish Papist that was so good at base and unmanly Murthers fly the Face of War But Troubles growing fast on in England by the Misunderstanding between King Charles the First and his Parliament and sprouting up into a miserable Civil War most of the guilty Persons at this time escaped unpunished But the small Force of the Proteâ—â—ants that were left being once united forced the Irish out of their strong Hold and restored the Face of Government yet about eighâ— Years after a Bloody Scene was acted for King Charles the First loosing his Kingdoms with his Life his Eldest Son Charles as his undoubted Right taking upon him the Kingly Dignity though in Exile England being cast as they termed it into a Model of a Free State or Republick the Marquess of Ormond Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was commissioned to Labour the Securing that Country to the behoof of his Master King Charles the Second and finding no other Means to do it in that Imergency he closed his Interest with the Chief of the leading Irish concluding a Peace in the King's Name with the most considerable of them upon Submission and Obedience to his Majesty there being a Concession of certain Articles on the part of the Marquess to be performed when being joyned by the Marquess of Clanricard and the Lord Inchequeen the Earl of Castlehaven c. Trim and Tredah or Drogheda upon a Defeat they gave the Forces that came from England surrendered
at him yet none of them had the power to hurt him by reason upon their first presenting he sheltred him behind the ruines of an old House and retired into the Town cautious how he trusted them any more The Besiegers by this time grown weary of continual Duty and the danger they were exposed to drew off their main Body and encamped on a Hill about two miles from the Town yet left it entirely besieged On the Fourth of Iune a Squadron of Voluntier Horsmen who promised upon Oath to do great things supported by a Detachment of Foot made an Attack upon the Windmil-work resolving to force the Line coming on with loud Shouts and Huzza's but were frustrated in their Enterprize being beat off with considerable loss Four hundred of them were accounted to be killed and to secure their Retreat the Foot carried Faggots at their Backs and those that had none hoised the dead Bodies and carried them away on their Backs to dead the shot On the part of the Besieged the loss was very inconsiderable only Captain Butler pressing too eagerly after the Enemy was taken Prisoner and a few killed by a great shot coming over the River These sevâ—â—al Defeats and Disappointments of taking a place they before had thought so easie that the French General upon the first view swore he would beat down the Walls with Pot-Guns so enraged the Enemy that they were resolved to make all the effort imaginable and the next night played Bombs some of them 273 pounds which broke up the Streats beat down several Houses and killed divers Persons which occasioned some consternation and the more when their Stores of Provision began to fail and Famine to encrease so that they needs must have been disheartned had they not been encouraged by the discovery of Thirty Sail of Ships in the Lough which were sent to their Succour from England under the Command of Major-General Kirk with Provision Men and Ammunition But the River being chained up with a floating Boom a-cross it and Batteries of the Enemy on the Bank he could not only for several days get up but had much ado to have Communication by Letter yet the hope of Relief so near at hand kept up the Spirits of the Besieged and encouraged them to a vigorous Defence though many died daily for want Monsieur de Rosen the French Marshal by this time arrived in the Enemies Camp and understanding the little progress they had made in carrying on the Siege fell a swearing By the Belly of God he would not only demolish the Town but bury the Besieged in their own Ruins But upon the Attacks he made found no better Success than the rest and the Lord Clancarâ—y who they said was destined by an old Prophecy to take the Town making an Attack and being beat off with great loss Lieutenant-General Hamilton who had falsified his Trust to King William and revolted to the Enemy upon his being sent from England to pacifie Matters in the beginning came to make large Offers but was rejected by the Besieged with Indignation nor was Rosen's Promises and Threats regarded Whereupon he pitched upon a French Politick imagining that would infâ—deâ—â—ly do viz. he caused all the miserable Protestants to be gathered out of the Countries round about and driven half naked and starved there to perish if the Besieged refused to succour them whose Wants though they pierced their Hearts having very slender Provision in the Town they could not relieve and therefore kept the Gates shut against them yet fired among the Enemies Party that drove them four or five of them fell dead with the Shot And now there being several Prisoners in the Town who had several Relations of Note and Command in the Enemies Camp the Governour and the rest caused a Gallows to be set up in the sight of the Enemy threatning to hang the Prisoners thereon if those miserable People were not suffered to return to their Habitations yet leave given them to write to their Friends to know what they would do on their behalf Rosen returned them no Answer but Hamilton returned them a slight one However this Stratagem prevailed and the People were permitted to return which proved advantageous to the Garrison for amongst them five or six hundred poor Starvlings were shuffled out and some able Bodies taken in Another Stratagem they had to shoot Letters into the Town in the dead Shell of a Bomb viz. not filled with Powder as imagining the Governour and other Superiour Officers kept their Proposals from the Soldiers but this enraged them the more and it was ma 〈…〉 th so much as to discourse of a Surrender About the Thirtieth of Iune Major Baker died yet the Defence continued as vigorous as ever and divers Sallies were made though the Garrison through Famine Diseases and Loss was lessened near one half and the Famine increased so fast that Horse-flesh was fold for Eighteen pence the pound and but little of that to be had A Quarter of a Dog that fead upon the dead Irish at Five shillings and six pence his Head at half a crown a Cat at four shillings and six pence Rats Mice Tallow Greves and all noysome things that could be possibly eaten proportionably so that in the whole Town there was but nine lean Horses left and a pint of Meal and a little Tallow to each Man when Providence so ordered whilst they were at their Devotions News came that Ships were making their way up the River which to their great Joy and Comfort proved true for Major-General Kirk having notice that the Town could hold out no longer ordered the Mountjoy and Phoenix and Mountjoy guarded by the Dartmouth to force their way at any hazard which they did through the Showers of the Enemies Shot and found the Boom broke one of them however struck upon a shelve yet the Stock of her Guns set her free again and they came safe to the Town bringing Life to a dying People which the Enemy perceiving thought it to no purpose of staying longer before it least they should receive worse disgrace but in some confusion raised their Camp firing Culmore and divers other Places in their Retreat breaking for haste some of their great Guns and had a Party of the Inniskilling-Men and some of the Garrison upon their Rear who cut off or took Prisoners the Sâ—raglers with some Booty the former having before defeated Lieutenant-General Maccarty they likewise threw about twelve Care load of Arms into the River for want of Carriages to bear them off and lost before the Town in a Siege of one hundred and five Days for so long it lasted between 18 and 19000 Men and among them 100 of their best Officers And now pardon me Reader for insisting so long upon this particular which I could not slightly pass over since if we consider the Weakness of the Place few of the Men that defended trained up in War and Scarcity it endured and the time it held
wounded yet they came not off without leaving the Marks of their Valour upon the Enemy But by this time the Army having the Elements to contend with as well as the Enemy by reason of the stormy Winds and incessant Rains which not only made the River over-flow but filled the Trenches knee-deep with Water and would in a short time in all probability have cut off the Communication and hindered the Forrage from coming in his Majesty upon mature deliberation thought fit to raise the Siege and refer it to a more seasonable opportunity So that on the 30th of August the heavy Cannon and Baggage were sent away and the next day the Army decamped and marched off in good Order strong Detachments being sent towards Cork and Kingsale And the King having appointed the Lord Viscount Sidney and Sir Thomas Conningsby Governourâ— of the Kingdom and setled the other Affairs as advantageously as might be sailed for England and landed at Bristol where as in other places he was received with a general Joy Upon the King's departure the Irish Garrisons thought themselves safe for the Winter at least but found in a short time they were deceived for other measures were taken The English Fleet had orders to stand away to the Coast of Ireland and soon arrived in Cork Harbour and upon notice of their Arrival the Land Forces drew down to joyn them upon their Landing Upon which the Duke of Berwick who stiled himself Lord General of Ireland drew off Lauzun and Tyrconnel being already gone to France Lieutenant-General Douglas followed after the Duke with a strong Party to fall upon his Rear but he Encamped so advantagiously behind the Bogs that it was not thought feasible to attempt the forcing his Camp A Battery of 8 Guns was raised to hinder the Landing of our Men but two or three armed Boats forcing ashoar those that were to manage and guard the Guns fled and our men dismounted them throwing the Carriages into the Sea so that on the 24th of September 5 or 6000 Seamen Gunners and Carpenters were detached to be employed in raising the Batteries and mounting the Cannon against the Town of Cork and divers Boats of armâ—â— Men were sent to assist the taking it by water so that upon the approach of the Army the Enemy set fire to the Suburbs and the Earl of Marlborough who commanded the King's Forces in chief having taken a view of its Scituation and finding the Enemy had quitted a Post called Cats-Fort sent a Detachment to take possession of it and then advanced his Camp within Musquet shot of the South-side of the Town which occasioned the Enemy to set fire to the Suburbs for fear our Soldiers should lodge themselves in it yet our Men advanced to the Ruins and played upon the Old Fort from two Batteries they had raised and the next day made a Breach in the Wall so wide that the Besieged fearing our Men would Enter by Storm and dreading the consequences of Delay they beat a Parly and sent out an Officer to Capitulate and Hostages were Exchanged but the besieged standing high upon Terms four Regiments under the Command of Brigadier Churchil were ordered to get into the Island near the Wall where the Breach was made which they performed by fording it to the middle the Granadiers commanded by the Lord Colchester leading the Van being exposed to all the Fire of the Enemy Amongst those that attempted this were a great many noble Voluntiers as the Duke of Grafton the Lord O Brian Colonel Granvil Captain Leighton Captain Cornwal Captain Nevel Captain Fairborn and others but it proved fatal to the Duke for by a shot he received he soon after died and his Body being carried for England was there honourably interred The Besieged finding that our Men would not enter as not being above 20 Paces from the Breach beat another Parley but could have no other Conditions than to be Prisoners of War to which with some difficulty they agreed and the Capitulation was signed which in the Articles was to this purpose viz. That upon the Garrisons being received as Prisoners of War no prejudice should be done to the Officers Soldiers or Inhabitants but that the General should make it his Endeavour to obtain his Majesty's Mercy and Favour towards them That the Old Fort should be delivered up within an hour and the two Gates the like by 8 in the Morning the next day That all the Arms of the Garrison and Inhabitants should be put into secure places and the Protestant Prisoners immediately released That a due Account should be given of the Magazines as well of Provision as Ammunition And the same Night 200 Men took possession of the Old Fort and the next Morning of the Town the Garrison between 4 and 5000 being made Prisoners of War and of note amongst them were the Earls of Clancarty and Tyrone Colonel Macgillicot the Governour and divers others This place thus taken and put into trusty hands the Army immediately marched towards Kingsale and took their Posts about the New Fort whilst Major General Teteau was Commanded with 800 Men to make an Attack upon the Old Fort whereupon passing the River in Boats he on the 3d of October gave an Assault and Entered it by Storm making at the same time to divert the Enemy a false Attaque and our Men at one and the same time giving the Bastions some Barrels of Powder took fire and destroyed about 50 of the Enemy and in the heat of Fury many were killed Those that Escaped some fled unto the Old Castle in the midst of the Fort and some endeavouring the New Fort by the help of a Boat the Tide being against them they were mostly killed by the shot of our Men from the shoar the Governour and several Officers were killed in defending the Ramparts and found dead in the places where they fell and the Soldiers got considerable Plunder The Old Fort thus Entirely won the General sent a Summons to the New Fort to demand its immediate Surrender but the Governour sent back word That it would be time enough to talk of that a Month after But the General not to be dallied caused the heavy Cannon to be mounted and two Attacks were ordered to be made by the English on the right and the Danes on the left and the more to amuse the Enemy a false Attack was made and on the 15th of October the Cannon played all the Morning and the Galleries were preparing to lay over the Ditch when about One of the Clock the Enemy beat a Parly proposing that Hostages might be Exchanged in order to a Treaty which done Articles were agreed on and signed about Midnight and pursuant thereto the middle Bastion was to be delivered up the next Morning and about 1200 men of which the Garrison consisted were to march out the day after And the principal of the Prisoners taken here and at Cork were shipped for England but some of them met with a
sad Disaster on the Coast for being put on Board the Breda by what means is uncertain her Powder taking fire she blew up and most of those who were on Board were desteoyed the rest of the Fleet returned in Safety The Irish that yet kept the Field were not above 10000 yet they promised themselves great Recruits against the Spring In the mean while the Protestants conceived great Joy at this Success and in a grateful Acknowledgment to his Majesty who had been so signally instrumental in the Hand of Heaven for their Deliverance his Birth-day being the Fourth of November Old stile was observed in the reduced Places in an extraordinary manner but especially at Dublin where the Militia consisting of 2500 Foot and two Troops of Horse and as many of Dragoons were drawn out and gave several Vollies and in the Evening there was very fine Fireworks before the Lords Justices House on Colledge-Green and by their Order Claret was distributed to the People who drank their Majesty's Healths with all the Expressions of Duty and Loyalty and most of the Nobility and Gentry in and about the City were invited by the Lords Justices to a splendid Entertainment and Banquet the Day concluding with ringing of Bells and the Night with Bonefires and Illuminations as also other Publick Demonstrations of Joy and Triumph The Fifth of November being the Anniversary of the Popish Powder-Plot the Lords Justices attended by the Nobility Judges and other Persons of Quality in the Town with the King and Herauld at Arms and the Ensigns of Honour carried before them went to St. Patrick's Church and after their Return the Lords Justices gave the Nobility and Gentry another splendid Entertainment their Majesties Titles being at the second Course proclaimed in Latin French and English by the King at Arms the great Guns in the Castle continually thundring the general Joy in their roaring Language And that the Common People might not be wanting in sharing of their Bounty a whole Ox and an Hogshead of strong Bear was dealt out amongst them and at Night the general Joy was concluded with Bonefires and other Demonstrations of Publick Satisfaction The Soldiers being now mostly in their Winter-Quarters that they might have good usage and the Inhabitants of those Towns where they were quartered at the same time receive no damage the Lords Justices thought it neccessary to give their Orders concerning those Matters and accordingly issued out their Proclamation for regulating the Quarters of the Army and ascertaining the Rates to be allowed for the Soldiers Diet the Prizes of Provisions and the manner how the Inhabitants that trusted them should be paid for what they delivered out to them The Rapparies having already been fairly warned to desist from their Ravages and Burnings in the Countries under Obedience they notwithstanding enterprizing the like Captain Archer upon Notice that a Party of them were abroad marched against them with about Twenty of the Militia but upon his approach finding them much stronger than he had been informed after a hot dispute he found himself obliged to retire with the loss of four of his Men however not giving it over he immediately raised more of the Militia and the next Morning by break of day fell upon them a second time with better success for having put them to rout he killed about Twelve of them and took Twenty Prisoners enriching his Men with such Booty as those People had scraped together in those Countries where they had been for a considerable time doing much mischief And now the Lords Justices and Councel having reason to suspect that several dangerous Persons coming to the City of Dublin as Spies from the Enemies Quarters and upon other wicked Designs were sheltered in that City by Papists Natives who kept Taverns and other Publick Houses and there frequently met to continue as much as in them lay the Subversion of Their Majesties Government and the Ruin of their good Subjects of the Kingdom of Ireland thought fit to put out their Proclamation to prohibit and forbid all Papists Natives of the Kingdom to sell any Wine Beer Ale or other Liquors by Retail after the 25th of Decemb. 1690. upon pain of being proceeded against as Retailers of Wine and other Liquors without License By this time one Mac Finnan having got together about Four hundred Men being a mixture of the Irish Army and Rapporees marched towards Castle-town to surprize thirty Dragoons commanded by a Lieutenant detached thither from their Quarters at Iniskeen and although they had all the advantage they could wish yet the Lieutenant and his Men behaved themselves so bravely that they killed Ten of their Enemies but having spent their Ammunition and five of their own Party being killed they found themselves constrained to Surrender and had Quarter given them yet the Lieutenant his Serjeant and several of his Men were put to the Sword in cold blood however the Alarm reaching Iniskeen Major Culleford who commanded there Advanced with another detached Party and falling upon them in the height of their Success put them to the rout killing about 12 on the place took 5 Prisoners without the loss of a Man on our side Nor were the Commanders his Majesty had intrusted less watchful on all parts for Major-General Tettau marching from Cork to Killcreagh and on his way being joyned by others so that he made up a Body of 2200 Men he entred the County of Kerry where the Enemies Troops retired before him and coming into a Fortification at Scrovolard he attacked it and in two hours took it with little difficulty when advancing along the edge of the Mountains and sustaining the Rapparees fire without receiving any considerable damage they discovered towards Brewster field some of the Enemies Scouts whereupon 70 of our Dragoons and Horse having the Vanguard came up with a Party of 160 of the Enemies Horse who not enduring the Fire of our Men upon the first Charge retreated and falling by degrees into confusion at last came to plain running though there were several Irish Nobility and some considerable Officers amongst them yet such as our Men had not yet attacked put by this time the Country round about in a flame and our Forces not being far from Killarny hasted thither with all the speed they could to save that place and notwithstanding the Enemy upon their approach left it yet about twenty Cabbins were burnt by two Troopers that stayed behind for that purpose who as a Reward of their Undertaking were killed by our Men and Brewster's Forge saved and put divers of the Enemies Parties then abroad to the rout clearing the Country in a manner on that side whilst the Irish only bore up the little Courage they had left relying much upon the further Aid they expected from France However though the Season was far advanced our Men gave it not over as yet but for the better securing Winter-Quarters and preventing the Country from Plunder they took in several Castles as
â—â—o had been so mainly Instrumental in reâ—â—oring them that Peace they had so raâ—â—ly â—orfeited and had leisure during almost a â—ree Years to repent of the trouble they had â—â—ven the Kingdom and of the Losses themâ—â—lves sustained Whilst this Joy lasted care was taken to â—â—der the Garrisons and provide them with â—â—ch Necessaries where they were wanting as â—ight serve for the Winter Stores and put the â—oldiers in a good plight Nor was the Joy 〈◊〉 these Successes bounded in this Island but â—read into remote Countries so that in the â—amps of the Allies the Cannon was fired â—nd all other Demonstrations of a high satisâ—â—ction for the Success of their Majesties â—â—ms were set on foot though the French Commanders especially in their Camps laboured to extenuate these brave and vigorous Undertakings crowned with such ample Success least it could dishearten and abate the Courage of their Men who already by their frequent deserting seemed to grow weary of a War wherein they too plainly found that instead of what they formerly gained by Plundering and laying defenceless Places waste they must expect nothing but Blows and severe Treatment On the First of November following these Transactions the Irish Entirely left the English Town of Lymerick Embarking oâ— the Transport-ships in the Shannon wheâ— Sailing for France one of those Ships having on Board Four hundred Men besideâ— Stores and Furnitures of divers kinds running foul on a Rock overset and about Onâ— hundred Men were drowned though nâ— diligence was wanting to endeavour theiâ— preservation Upon the marching out of the Irish ouâ— Soldiers marched in and Garrisoned thâ— English Town and now Sir David Collieâ— was made Governour of the City of Lymerick and the Lord O Brian of thâ— County of the said City And on the Sixâ—â— of this Month the French Squadron consisting of Eighteen Men of War Six Fire-ships and Twenty Transport-ships who brought about Ten thousand Arms Wine and Brandy for Sale and much Provision fell down about Two Leagues below Scaltery viz. the Men of War but their Transport-ships were suffered to remain nearer to take in Provisions and other Necessaries for Transportation of the People they were to take on Board And Major-General Talmash having settled and ordered things to the best Advantage in the City gave place to the new Governour and departed for Dublin where he was received with many Expressions of Joy according to the true merit of his Courage and Conduct in this War Upon this great turn of Fortune many of their Ringleaders going away in the French Ships the Rapparees found themselves abandoned and in great Distress so that they were constrained to come in and submit so that the face of things appeared to be strangely changed Uproar and Confusion being turned into a calm Peace so that most of the English and Dutch Regiments c. prepared to Embark for England where they soon after Arrived and passed for Flanders where they were for the Winter Season quartered advantagiouâ—ly in divers Towns to hinder the Incursiâ—ons of the French The General having put an end to the War of Ireland being highly caressed and treated in Dublin Embarked for England on the Monmouth Yatch where he received the Applause and high Commendations of the People in all places where he passed The King received him very graciously and Created him Earl of Athlone c. The Parliament likewise sent their Thanks to him for the good Service he had done desiring him to Communicate the same to all the Officers that had served under him in this Expedition And he together with them was highly Entertained at a Noble Treat by the City of London The Soldiers now returning a Proclamation was Issued forth for their well abearing and behaving themselves in their March Quarters and making due Payment And so great was the Joy of the Irish Nobility and Gentry for restoring that Kingdom to Peace and Tranquility that in humble Gratitude they made the following Address to his Majesty viz. WE Your Majesties Most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects crave leave in the first place to offer our most humble Thanks to the Divine Majesty by whom you Reign for having Raised and Inspired your Majesty for the Deliverance of these Oppressed Nations and for preserving Your Royal Person so frequently exposed to danger but never in greater than in the Kingdom and Cause of the Protestants in IRELAND What was then so graciously undertaken by Your Majesty in Person is now so happily finished by the Success of Your Arms that we owe to Your Majesty's Courage and Conduct next to the Divine Providence the Restoration of our Religion and Civil Rights and Liberties We beseech Your Majesty to Accept this Recognition as the first Fruits of our Redemption till we are able to make a more Solemn and Parliamentary Acknowledgment to Your Majesties Iust Title to our Allegiance not only in Right of this Crown but in Gratitude to our great Deliverer and Conqueror of Your Majesty's Enemies We are sure Your Majesty will effectually preserve those You have so generously Delivered and we hope Your Majesty shall never have occasion to doubt the steady and united Affections of the Protestants of IRELAND in the Service of your Crown and Dignity from Principles of Inclination Duty and Interest all which makes us unanimously and heartily to pray for the Sacred Person Victorious Arms and Iust and Gentle Government of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY with Peace and Continuance over us On the Two and twentieth of December Sarsfield having got together Two thousand six hundred Men Women and Children set Sail from Cork for France he thought to have carried a greater Number but was deceived by their Deserting him as did the whole Regiments of Mac Dermo Brian O Neal and Colonel Felix O Neal upon the Advice they received of the ill Treatment of the Irish that were already Landed in France where the Officers were generally displaced or made to serve in lower Stations even to Common Soldiers and French Men set over them Ireland being now in a fair way to a Settlement Colonel Foulk Governour of Dublin had Orders to Disband the Irish Regiments that came over to us upon the Surrender of Lymerick except Fourteen hundred which were appointed for the Emperour's Service the which though they prosessed a great willingness to serve their Majesties they submitted to and had Two Cobs a Man given them Gratis most of them going to their Habitations or Employments On the Three and twentieth of Ianuary being the first day of the Term the Right Honourable Sir Charles Porter Lord Chancellour and Thomas Conningsby Esquire Lords Justices of the Kingdom came to the Court of Kings Bench accompanied by divers of the Privy Council and other Persons of Quality where they took the Oaths and Subscribed the Declaration required by the late Act of Parliament made in England After which the Judges of other Courts and Persons of different Quality and Employments did the like About this time