each Regiment march by him enquiring the Officers names and what other things concerning them he thought fit The Commissaries taking an exact List of all the private Men both Horse and Foot that appeared in the Ranks And it was observable that with Heat Dust Marching and other inconveniencies most people in the Army had got very sore Lips nor was his Majesty himself exempt from this inconveniency for he had toild and labour'd as much as the best of them Because several people may be curious to know what Number of Men we had at the Boyn and also how many the Enemy were I have here inserted the Exact Number of our own Horse and Foot as it was taken at Finglass And likewise a List of the Irish Army as it was delivered first to the Duke at Lisburn and afterwards to the King An Abstract of the Private Men of his Majesties Army which appeared at the Review taken at Finglass the 7 th and 8 th of July 1690. Regiments Men. English Horse First Troop of Guards 140 Â Granadeers 47 52 Â unmounted 5 Third Troop 133 Â Granadeers 40 43 Â unmounted 3 Earl of Oxfords 368 Sir John Laniers 357 360 Â unmounted 3 Colonol Villers 244 245 Â unmounted 1 Col. Russel 242 Col. Coy 236 Col. Byerley 244 Col. Langston 225 Count Schonberg 242 Duke Schonbergs French 387 395 Â unmounted 8 Col. Woolsley 423 Captain Harbords Troop 38 Dutch Horse Troop of Guards 143 145 Â unmounted 2 Lord Portland 351 357 Â unmounted 6 Monopovillans 168 171 Â unmounted 3 Leuten Gen. Ginkel 148 152 Â unmounted 4 Col. Scholks 157 167 Â unmounted 10 Van Oyens 161 164 Â unmounted 3 Reidessels 173 174 Â unmounted 1 Bancour 176 178 Â unmounted 2 Nyenhuys 174 175 Â unmounted 1 Danes Horse Col. Jewel 264 268 Â unmounted 4 Col. Donop 250 263 Â unmounted 13 Col. Schescad 267 281 Â unmounted 14 Â Total of Horse 5881 Dragoons Col. Matthews Royal Reg. 406 Col. Levison 246 Col. Gwinns 260 Sir Albert Cuningham 337 358 Â unmounted 21 Col. Eppingers Dutch 618 621 Â unmounted 3 Â Total of Dragoones 1870 English Foot Major General Kirk 666 Brigadeer Trelawney 553 Colonel Beamont 526 Brigadeer Stuart 660 Sir John Hanmer 593 Colonel Brewer 571 Col. Hastings 606 Earl of Meath 678 Col. Fouks 439 Col. Gustavus Hambleton 560 Sir Henry Bellasis 628 Lord Lisburn 611 Lieutenant Gen. Douglas 648 Earl of Drogheda 660 Col. Earl 693 Briggadeer La Millineer 529 Col. Cambon 640 Col. Callimot 562 Col. Mitchelburn 664 Col. Tiffin 625 Col. St Johns 589 Lord George Hambleton 583 Â Total of English Foot 13335 Dutch Foot C. Solms 3 Battali 1850 1931 Â 2 Compan of Cadets 81 Count Nassaws Regiment 652 Brandenburg 631 Col. Babington 416 Col. Cutts 543 Col. Grobens 490 Â Total of Dutch Foot 4663 Danes Foot Regiment of Guards 698 Queens Regiment 634 Prince Fredericks 555 Prince Christans 547 Prince George's 547 Zealand Regiment 527 Juitland Regiment 554 Findland Regiment 519 Â Total of Danes Foot 4581 Â Dutch Foot 4663 Â English Foot 13335 Â Foot 22579 Â Dragoons 1870 Â Horse 5881 Â Total of Horse Foot and Dragoons 30330 Reform Officers of Horse 111 Reformed Officers of Foot 372 Â Total 483 Colonel Deering Colonel Herbert Colonel Hambleton Colonel White Were all in Garrison and not included And note that neither Officers nor Serjeants are included in the former List nor yet those that were sick or absent as several were but these all marched in the Ranks before the King so that the compleat number was much greater A List of the late King James's Army taken Apr. 9. 1690. Regiments of Horse Duke of Tyrconel 9 Troops in a Regiment 53 Men in a Troop Lord Galmoy Col. Sarsefield Col. Sutherland Six Troops in a Regiment 53 Men each Lord Abercorn Col. Henry Lutterill Col. John Parker Col. Nicholas Purcel Horse Guards Lord Dovers Troop 200. each Troop Duke of Berwicks Troop Troop of Granadeers Col. Buttlers 60 Dragoons Lord Dungan 8 Troops in a Regiment 60 men each Sir Neal O Neal Col. Simon Lutterel Regiments Col. Robert Clifford Six Troops in a Regiment 60 Men each Sir James Cotton Col. Tho. Maxwel Lord Clare Regiments of Foot Royal Regiment 22 Companies and 90 each Earl of Clancarty Col. Henry Fitz James Col. John Hambleton Earl of Clanrickard Earl of Antrim Earl of Tyrone Lord Gormanstown Lord Slane Lord Galloway Lord Louth Lord Duleek Lord Killmallock Lord Kenmare Sir John Fitz-Gerald Sir Maurice Eustace Col. Nugent Col. Henry Dillon Col. John Grace Col. Edward Butler Col. Thomas Butler Lord Bophni Col. Charles Moor. Col. Cormach O Neal. Col. Arthur Mackmahan Earl of Westmeath Col. Cavenaugh Col. Uxbrough Col. Mac. Carty Moore Col. Gordon O Neal. Col. John Barret Col. Charles O Bryan Col. O Donavan Col. Nicholas Brown Col. O Gara Sir Michael Creagh Col. Dom. Brown Col. Bagnal Col. Mackellicut Lord Inniskillin Col. Hugh Mac Mahon Col. Walter Bourk Col. Felix O Neal. Lord Iveagh Col. O Keyley These 44 Regiments were 13 Companies in each and 63 Men in each Company Regiments from France The Red Regiment The Blew Regiment Two White Regiments each divided into several Battalions being in all about 5000 Men. Regiments that were sent to France in Exchange Lord Mountcashels Col. Richard Butler's Col. Daniel O Bryan's Col. Fielding's Col. Arthur Dillon's Regiments that were Raised and never taken into pay but Disbanded Lord Castle Connel Col. Roger O Connor Col. Charles Geoghagan Col. John Brown Col. James Butler Col. Manus O Donnel Col. O Cahon Col. Edward Nugent Col. Charles Kelly Col. Brian Mack Dermot Col. James Talbot These last are all meer Irish and consequently good for little so that no wonder if they were broke But these were all the Forces that the late King had in Ireland and a great many were in Garrison in Munster and other places but as to their Numbers at the Boyn some of their own Officers call them five and twenty and others seven and twenty thousand About the eighth or ninth of July the King had an Account of the misfortune of the Dutch and English Fleets and Wednesday the ninth he divided his Army and went himself with the greatest part of it beyond the Town of Dublin in order to go Westwards sending at the same time Lieutenant-General Douglas with three Regiments of Horse two of Dragoons and ten of Foot towards Athlone which is fifty miles North from Dublin The Regiments that went upon this Expedition were these Horse Langston Russel and Woolsley Dragoons Sir Albert Cunningham and Gwin Foot the Lieut. Generals own Regiment Sir Hen. Bellasis Sir Jo. Hanmer C. Babington L. Droheda C. Gust Hambleton C. Mitchelburn C. Tiffin C. St. John's and L. Geor. Hambleton I shall leave therefore his Majesty going Westwards and give an Account of L. G. Douglas's Affairs till he joyns the King at Cariganliss within five miles of Limerick Lieutenant-General Douglas
Siege and that was in not Fortifying the Pass and Cromwell's Fort without as also in not drawing a large Trench from the River towards the East and then runing it round that part of the Town on which they might have raised several Forts and Breast-works from whence they might have retarded our Approaches but indeed they had not time for all this though they had done something of that kind towards the West where they keept Men Encampt all the while we lay before the Town and they had made also some Forts towards the East but they could not put Courage in their Men to defend them especially when Walls were so near to fly to Objections against the Siege at Limerick What Objections they make against us were these that we ought to have divided our Army and sent a part beyond the River as also to have broke down the two Bridges one between the two Towns and the other on the County of Clare side by which means we had prevented the Irish Communication between the two Towns and also from without the greatest hazard that we could run being to Attack a Town that had one side open to bring in what Men and things they pleas'd All these and a great many more inconveniencies were seen into at that Instant but the dividing the Army was impracticable because that when one Part had been over the River they must have marched several Miles to the Right and then down again before they could come nigh the other side of the Town by reason of a vast Bog that runs from the Town a great way cross the Country and then it was no easie thing to bring Provision to those and besides if the Rains had fallen as it often threatned us that part of the Army which had gone over must have run the hazard either of starving or fighting their whole Army or both for the Shanon rises all on a sudden and the least swelling in the World would have made it impassible for the Army since it was with great difficulty that single Regiments could get over as it was and it never has been seen so low in many years Nor had we Men enough to make what Works were convenient to secure both Parts of the Army from Sallies or Assaults from without if we had been divided We know Caesar at the Siege of Alexia shut in Eighty thousand Guals made a Line of Countervallation of Eleven Miles Circumference and one of Circumvallation that was Fourteen Fortifying both these with Sharp Stakes and vast Holes in the Ground slightly covered over by which he both reduced that great Army within to his Mercy and kept off a much greater that design'd to Raise the Siege But his Army were Men of Fatigue and Labour as well as Courage and his Numbers six times as great as ours And though we were Commanded by a Prince of as great Courage and Resolution as ever Caesar was and he had Men that were as willing yet several of them were beginning to be sick and were not able to endure the Fatigue except both our Time had been longer and the Season better and though Kings are Gods in Wisdom as well as Power yet there is one in Heaven that limits them Lieutenant General Douglass Decamps September the 7 th Lieutenant General Douglas with his own Regiment Brigadeer Stuart's Sir Henry Ballasyse's Lord George Hambilton's a Derry Regiment the Third Troop of Guards Colonel Russel's Horse and Guinn's Dragoons marched from Tipperary towards the North to Winter-Quarters and the rest lay encamped September the 8 th my Lord Lisburne with a Party of Foot being about Four Hundred and Monsieur La Forest with a Party of Five hundred Horse were sent to Killmallock a Place between Cork and Limerick where the Enemy had a Garrison of about two hundred Men who when they saw our Party and Four Field-Pieces which they brought along they yeilded upon the first Summons and had Conditions to march out with their Arms and Baggage From the 8 th to the 13 th nothing of Moment hapned except the General 's sending out several Parties unto all the little Towns and Castles thereabouts having Engineers along to see what could be done in order to their Defence on which account Dr. Davis Dean of Ross was very serviceable who understood the Countrey thereabouts very well And Major General Kirk with the rest of the English This took up time till the 13 th when Major General Kirk with Seven Foot Regiments viz. Kirk Hanmer Meath Cutts Lisburne Earle and Drogheda's and Sir John Lanier with his own Lord of Oxford's Langston's Byerley's Horse Levison's Dragoons and part of Cunningham's marched towards Bi r Which way we heard that Sarsfield was making being then with a Body of about Five Thousand Horse Foot and Dragoons at a place called Banohar-Bridge not Eight Miles from Bir. The same Day Major General Scravemore and Major General Tatteau with Twelve hundred Horse and Dragoons as also Two Regiments of Danish Foot went towards Mallow in order to go to Cork where we had a Report that my Lord Marlborough designed to land There were some Deserters also that came from the Enemy that gave us an Account that my Lord Tyrconnel Count Lauzun Monsieur Boiseleau with all the French Forces were gone from Galloway towards France for hearing of my Lord Marlborough's Fleet coming abroad they made more haste than they designed and so left several of their Men sick at Galloway They brought an excellent Field-Train in the Spring out of France which they took along with them when they returned The rest of the Army remove to Cashel September the 14 th the rest of the Army removed to Cashel and from thence were dispersed to Quarters part of the Danes and Dutch went towards Waterford some to Clonmell and others staid at Cashel The French went towards the County of Carlow And so the Army was dispersed Count Solmes commanded the Army from His Majesties Departure till the Camp broke up and then he went to Dublin in order to go for England On the Day following a Captain of Colonel Levison's Dragoons with his Troop routed a Body of Irish Rabble that were got together and a Party of Horse were sent after a Company of Rapparees that had kill'd some of our Men as they were a forraging Lieutenant General Ginkle was now Commander in Chief of the Army and went towards his Head Quarters at Killkenny Sarsfield besieges Bar. At Major General Kirk's coming to Roscreagh he understood that Sarsfield â—nd his Party had besieged the Castle at Bi r in which was only a Company of Colonel Tiffin's Regiment The Enemy had brought several Pieces of Cannon one of which was an Eighteen Pounder with which they did the Castle some damage but however the besieged defended it stoutly and killed them several Men. Relieved by Major General Kirk Tuesday the 16 th Major General Kirk and his Foot marched from Roscreagh
AN IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF THE AFFAIRS of IRELAND DURING The Two Last YEARS WHITE-HALL APRIL 30. 1691. LET this be Printed by Order of the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount SYDNEY one of Their Majesties Principal Secretaries of State W. BRIDGEMAN A TRUE and IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF The Most Material Occurrences IN THE Kingdom of Ireland DURING The Two Last YEARS WITH The Present State of Both ARMIES PUBLISHED To prevent Mistakes and to give the World a Prospect of the future Success of Their MAJESTIES Arms in That NATION Written by an Eye-witness to the most Remarkable PASSAGES LONDON Printed for Ric. Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCXCI TO The RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES LORD VISCOUNT MORPETH AND The RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Sr WILLIAM LEVISON GOWER Bar t. Both MEMBERS Of the Honourable House of Commons These PAPERS About the AFFAIRS of IRELAND ARE HUMBLY DEDICATED THE PREFACE THese Papers were not designed to be published till after the surrender of the City of Mons to the French for since there are some and those too calling themselves Protestants who upon all occasions make it their business to advance the Conquests of that King and at the same time to lessen the Conduct and Success of His Present Majesty representing his Affairs to be in such a Condition at Home and his Army so inconsiderable in Ireland that they presently from thence expect such a Turn of State as if it should happen would certainly prove unfortunate and destructive to themselves as well as other people tho they have no mind or at least do not seem to see it I do not pretend nor do I think it possible to make such men sensible of the folly of their unaccountable Behaviour at this Juncture only I think it a good Opportunity to let Them and the World know the impartial Truth of the most material Passages of the Two last Campaigns in Ireland with the true State of both Armies as it stood in January last which possibly may serve to mortifie all their Expectations from their Friends in that Kingdom And as to the Matters of Fact I defie all the Enemies of our Government and Religion to contradict me tho at the same time I assure them That I have done their Side all the Right that the thing it self will bear and have concealed nothing that I think could make any way for their Advantage But before I come to this I will take the liberty to speak out since I am to treat of an Affair that concerns all that value either the publick Safety Honour or Peace of their Native Countrey it being every day more apparent than other that we are designed as a Prey to that Nation to whom we nor our Fathers were never yet in Bondage This is no vain and groundless Fear or Pretention but the Reasons for it are many Amongst the rest take only these few First The Late King by his unhappy Management has given up the Cudgels to the French whom it 's not to be doubted he had rather should govern the Nation than those who at present do by this means placing his own Interest and that of all English Protestants in a diametrical opposition to one another since it 's plain that unfortunate Prince has been made instrumental and is so still by the Zealots of the Church of Rome to advance their Religion on the one hand and by his most Christian Majesty on the other to promote his Glory All the Care and Pains that has been taken of late by the Priests in a Business of the greatest moment was not to propagate King James's Family but his and their own Religion for they value not tho He and His Name perish if their Work go but on And suppose the P. of W. really what our Adversaries would have him who can ever imagine that a Successor that there was so much pains taken about will either be bred a Protestant or made serviceable to that Interest especially since he is taken out of the Kingdom and put into the hands of the greatest Enemy to our Nation And as to the French King's part can any one think that he does all this out of a Principle of Honour and Love for the re-establishing of King James All people know that his Generosity extends no further than his Interest Those that will not believe this let them only look back upon his treatment of the same individual Prince some years ago for it 's plain that he has no other Prospect nor regard to Men and Things but his own Greatness and Ambition not spearing even those of his own Perswasion when they stand in his way Every one sees that hsi Brother of Constantinople and he agree much better than his Holy Father at Rome and he ever did or are like to do because the former is more favourable to his Designs than the other If then he falls out with him whom his own Religion obliges to pay all Deferrence and Respect to and honour as a Father what can Protestants nay even English Papists themselves expect but to submit to his Yoke if they once give way for his Admission When the Late King appear'd all on a sudden last Summer in France after the Defeat at the Boyn it was observable that tho the French King was surprized at his Presence yet he received him with all the seeming joy in the World thinking it not fit to discourage a Prince whom he had still further occasion for This has already been seen into by some great Officers even in the Irish Army who begin to be at a stand how to manage since they can have no other Prospect from the success of their own present Affairs but future Ruin to their Countrey Secondly Suppose the War already ended and the Late King sent into England with all the Grandeur that France could afford him and received here by the consent of every Body Yet the French King has a very large Bill to bring in which he 'll certainly pretend cannot be discharged with the Possâ—ssion of Ireland what then can be more rationally intended than that one day or other England may be brought to a severe account for those vast Expences and the non-repayment of them shall be a sufficient Pretence for a War when he finds an Opportunity tho King James himself sate at the Helm For how easy a thing it is to break all Rules whatever when a man has the Power in his own hand is known to most men Those then who favour him most will only have the honour to be last devoured and even those of his own Persuasion will have cause to wish themselves rather under a Protestant Prince than a Popish Tyrant We see further that His Present Majesty has not declared it a War of Religion but is linked in a Confederacy with a great many Princes of the Romish Church that have all the same reason to dread the growing-Power of France who neither spares Protestant when he has an
Army I wondred much to see their Horses and Equipage hearing before what Feats had been done by them they were three Regiments in all and most of the Troopers and Dragoons had their Waiting-men mounted upon Garrons those are small Irish Horses but very hardy some of them had Holsters and others their Pistols hung at their Sword-Belts they shewed me the Enemies Scouts upon a hill before us I wisht them to go and beat them off and they answered With all their hearts but they had Orders to go no further than where they saw the Enemies Scouts tho they seem'd to be dissatisfied with it and added They should never thrive so long as they were under Orders Newry burnt And yet if those men had been allowed to go on in their old forward way it 's very probable they might have saved the Town of Newry from being burnt for the Duke of Berwick was then in it and a Troop of the Enemies Horse advanced that afternoon some three miles from the Town towards us but seeing the Iniskilliners they retreated in haste to the Town only leaving some few Scouts to bring a further account of our motion Those in the Town were startled at the news and made ready to march off but seeing no Enemy approach they took time to set it on fire and take all the people with whatsoever was valuable along with them They went away about Sun-set and next morning came to Dundalk where we heard that some of their great Officers exprest themselves very melancholly as if they had but small hopes to withstand the English The General not knowing that the Town of Newry was burnt nor that the Enemy had deserted the Pass gave Orders for 70 men out of each Regiment of Foot in all 1200 with a Party of Horse and Dragoons and four Field-Pieces to be ready to march by three of the Clock in the morning this Party was commanded by Coll. Wharton and was designed to attack the Enemy whom we expected at the end of the Town there being an old Church with several other convenient places from whence they might prevent our marching nor could we well go about without a great deal of trouble and several days march and then we must leave the Enemy on our Rear which was not to be done We march to Newry The Party marched according to Orders and the whole Army followed about Six of the Clock But on our march the Duke had an account by one Mr. Humphreys of Belfast That the Enemy had retreated and Burnt the Town the General then went forwards and found the Flames not quite extinguished and with Coll. Levison's Dragoons and some of the Iniskillin Horse he went at least two miles further but nothing of an Enemy appearing he returned and gave Command for his Army to encamp a mile short of Newry The bad weather had disturb'd us before but now the Rains and Wind were so extreamly violent that it was very difficult for us to pitch our Tents so that every one was forced to shift for himself as well as he could Provisions were also very scarce for there wanted Horses to bring them after us We encampt here next day also from whence the Duke sent a Trumpet to the Irish to let them know That if they burnt any more Towns he would give no Quarter I went abroad into the Countrey where I found all the Houses deserted for several miles Customs of the Native Irish most of them that I observed had Crosses on the Inside above the Doors upon the Thatch some made of Wood and others of Straw or Rushes finely wrought some Houses had more and some less I understood afterwards that it is the custom among the Native Irish to set up a new Cross every Corpus Christi day and so many years as they have lived in such a house as many Crosses you may find I asked a Reason for it but the Custom was all they pretended to Here the Corn also was either lying and rotting on the ground or else was shaken by the violent winds for the People were all gone the Protestants the March before and the Irish now at the retreating of their Army some fled for fear and those that had a mind to stay were forced away by the Army with all their Cattel and whatever else was portable In the Evening the Duke sent a Detachment of 520 Foot with a Party of Horse and Dragoons commanded by my Lord Lisburn towards Dundalk they got there the next morning but found it forsaken by the Enemy and not burnt tho it had been better for us if it had as it fell out afterwards There is an old square Tower in Newry which they call the Castle this was left standing and not above five or six Houses more the Town it self had been a pretty place and well built standing upon a very advantageous Pass the Tide coming up above the Bridge by a Bay that comes from Carlingford In this Castle the Irish had left some salt Beef and Herrings but they were salted so very much after the Irish fashion that the Soldiers for all they were very hard put to it for Victuals yet they could not eat them I believe the greatest reason was a fond conceit they had got amongst them that the meat was poisoned There was also a small Gun left in the Castle and another Twelve-Pounder thrown over the Bridge into the River In this Castle the General left Fifty men of Sir Tho. Gowers Regiment commanded by Captain Pallifer The Army marched to Dundalk and on Saturday the 7 th of September the Army marched to Dundalk in our way thither we found two Redoubts nigh a place called the Four-mile-house for Mareschal de Rose the French General was at Dundalk some time before our Army approached and enquiring whether the River was fordable he found it was in several places then he went on to Newry and finding it a convenient Pass he ordered it to be defended at the same time commanding those Redoubts to be made which if the Enemy had mann'd they might have given us no small diversion for there are vast Mountains on each hand and a Bog between them through which there was only a Causeway with a deep Ditch and a small Stone Bridge about the middle of it at the farther end of the Causeway the Forts were placed a convenient distance one from another from whence the Irish might easily have retired if we had forced the Pass for neither could our Horse follow nor knew our Foot how to tread the Bogs after them This place was formerly very woody and was fortified by O Neale Earl of Tyrone against Sir Charles Blunt Lord Deputy which he found great difficulty in passing but next year he built a Fort some two miles nearer Dundalk called Moyery Castle The Countrey between Newry and Dundalk is one of the wildest places of all Ireland being the haunt some years ago of the famous Tory Redman
a little out of Countenance to see it The Colonel of the Brandenburgh Regiment seem'd very much concern'd that he should come so far to fight against such Scoundrels as the Irish seem'd by their Habits to be some few of the Detachments being only as yet well clothed though their Arms look'd well enough and most of their Army had new Clothes afterwards The General himself went that morning from Legacory to see the Castle of Charlemont and after the Irish had marched about half a Mile from it they drew up in two Battalions about 400 Men in each and there stood till the General came to see them besides the Souldiers they had also above 200 Irish Women and Children who stood in a Body by themselves between the two Battalions A Description of the Governor Old Teague the Governour was mounted upon an old Ston'd Horse and he very lame with the Scratches Spavin Ring-bones and other Infirmities but withal so vitious that he would fall a kicking and squeeling if any Body came near him Teague himself had a great Bunch upon his Back a plain Red Coat an old weather-beaten Wig hanging down at full length a little narrow white Beaver cock'd up a yellow Cravat-string but that all on one side his Boots with a thousand wrincles in them and though it was a very hot day yet he had a great Muff hanging about him and to crown all was almost tipsy with Brandy Thus mounted and equipp'd he approached the Duke with a Complement but his Horse would not allow him to make it a long one for he fell to work presently and the Duke had scarce time to make him a civil Return the Duke smiled afterwards and said Teague's Horse was very mad and himself very drunk The General then viewed the Irish Battalions who all both Officers and Souldiers after they had made him a great many Legs stared upon him as if they knew not whether he was a Man or some other strange Creature for the Irish were generally wont to ask one another what is that Shambear that all this talk is of Of the Garison The Duke seeing so many Women and Children ask'd the reason of keeping such a number in the Garison which no doubt destroyed their Provisions He was answered that the Irish were naturally very hospitable and that they all fared alike but the greatest reason was the Souldiers would not stay is the Garrison without their Wives and Mistresses The Duke reply'd That there was more Love then Policy in it and after some small time returned to the Castle which he rid round first without the Palisado's and then within the Rampart And of the Castle The Place is very strong both by Nature and Art being seated upon a piece of Ground not four Acres in the middle of a Bog and only two ways to come to it which the Irish had partly broke down They had also burnt and destroyed all the Country about it being well inhabited formerly The Town of Charlemont stood by the Castle as we were told but the Irish had so levelled it that nothing remained to show that ever there had been any such thing yet they had cast up several Forts and Breast works to prevent our Approaches to the Castle which of it self is a very regular Fortification It 's first palisado'd round then a dry Ditch and Counterscarp within this a double Rampart and next a thick Stone-wall with Flankers and Bastions almost every way there are two Draw-bridges and both well fortified and within all stood the Magazines with a large square Tower where Teague his Officers and a great many of the Souldiers dwelt They had left no Provisions in the Castle but a little dirty Meal and part of a Quarter of musty Beaf And certainly they were reduced to great Necessity for as they marched along several of them were chawing and feeding very heartily upon pieces of dried Hides with Hair and all on In Teague's own Room I saw several Papers amongst the rest a Copy of a Letter writ formerly to some about K. James giving an Account of the State of the Garison and withal a very true Relation of our Proceedings in several things which shewed they wanted not Intelligence One thing tho was false for there it was said that the Creights by coming down and taking Protections from the General had furnished us with Cattle and Provisions when as we were ready to starve before But that was an Irish Fancy for several of the Creights came down and would have staid but we sent them back because they brought nothing with them and as to our selves we were well supplied either from the Stores or from the Country There were two Priests in the Garison and there happened a pleasant Adventure between one of them and a Dragoon of Col. Hefford's Regiment as they were guarding the Irish towards Armagh they fell into Discourse about Religion the Point in hand was Transubstantiation the Dragoon being a pleasant witty Fellow drolled upon the Priest and put him so to it that he had little to say upon which he grew so angry that he fell a beating the Dragoon but he not being used to Blows thrash'd his Fatherhood very severaly Upon which complaint being made to Teague as he was at Dinner with our Officers at Armagh all that he said was That he was very glad of it What te Deal had he to do to dispute Religion with a Dragoon The Duke ordered every one of the Irish Souldiers a Loaf out of the Stores at Armagh and the Officers were all civilly entertained which made them go away very well satisfied with the General and highly commending our Army There were in the Castle 17 Guns most of which were Brass one large Mortar-piece Bombs Hand-Granadoes Match and small Bullets a great quantity as also 83 Barrels of Powder with a great many Arms and other things of use I know a great many blamed the Duke for not taking this Castle before he went to Dundalk for then he might have had it for asking however it was not good to leave it behind him but it 's a mistake for the Irish had then a good Garison in it and the General could not at that time divide his Army nor yet whilst he lay at Dundalk was it safe to endeavour it Charlemont was built by Sir Charles Blunt Lord Deputy of Ireland who in Q. Elizabeth's Time had several Skirmishes with O-Neal Earl of Tirone in this Country and built this Fort a little below a former One that was called Mount-Joy and this he called after his Christian Name Charlemont It was afterwards improved by the present Lord Charlemont's Grand-father and sold to the King as being a Place of Strength and Conveniency to keep the Northren Irish in their Duty It stands upon the Black-water which runs from thence to Port-a-down where in 1641 a great many Protestants were drowned by the Irish But to return Bellingargy taken The same day that
Carlow where he met with some Accounts from England upon which he exprest himself doubtful whether to go over or return to the Army However he went on as far as Chappel Izard and there he was employed for about Three days in hearing Petitions some of which related to the violation of Protections and the Outrages committed by Lieutenant General Douglas's Party As also others about Abuses and Inconveniences from the late Commission and several Complaints were made against Col. Trelawney's Regiment then in Dublin Here the King gave Orders that Count Sehomberg's Horse Col. Mathews's Dragoons Col. Hasting's and Col. Trelawney's Foot with one Troop of Guards should be shipt for England A second Declaration and on the first of August published a Second Declaration not only confirming and strengthning the former but also adding That if any Foreigners in Arms against Him would submit they should have Passes to go into their own Countries or whither they pleased And another Proclamation came out dated July 31. Commanding all the Papists to deliver up their Arms and those who did not were to be look'd upon as Rebels and Traytors and abandoned to the discretion of the Soldiers A Proclamation for a Fast And at the same time was likewise published a Proclamation for a General Fast to be kept constantly every Friday during the War in all parts of the Kingdom under his Majesty's Obedience for asking God's Pardon for our Sins and imploring a Blessing upon Their Majesties Forces by Sea and Land At this time also Mr. Poyne Mr. Reves and Mr. Rothford Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal began to act and received Instructions from the King how to proceed And now the King received a further account from England that my Lord Torrington and several more were secured and that several wicked Designs were discovered and prevented That the Loss at Sea was not so great as was at first reported and that the French had only burnt a small Village in the West of England and gone off again month August so that the danger of this being partly over His Majesty resolved to The King returns to the Army return to the Army he lessened his Baggage and Retinue giving his spare Horses to the Train and then on the 2 d of August went back towards his Army which he found then at Goulden Bridge on which day a Soldier was hang'd for mutining Here the King stay'd a day or two and had Accounts from several Deserters of the Preparations the Enemy was making for their own defence and safety On the 6 th the King with his Army march'd to Sallywood having the day before sent a Party of Horse towards Limerick And on the 7 th his Majesty march'd to Carigallis within five miles of Limerick Upon our approach thither the Enemy burnt and levell'd all the Suburbs as also set fire to all the Houses in the Country between us and the Town A Party sent toward Limerick On the the 8 th of August early in the Morning my Lord Portland and Brigadeer Stuart were sent towards Limerick with about Eleven hundred Horse and Foot who advanced within Cannon shot of the Town but met with little opposition from the Enemy and before they returned his Majesty went out with about Three hundred Horse being accompanied with Prince George the Heer Overkirk Major General Ginkle and several other great Officers When these went nigh the Town a Party of the Enemies Horse advanced toward them But Captain Selby of my Lord of Oxford's Regiment having the Advance Guard drew towards them with a design to charge them which they perceiving thought fit to draw homewards their Cannon firing from the Town several times Then in the Evening Lieutenant General Douglass with his Party join'd the Kings Army The 9 th of August in the morning early the King sends three Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons with a Detachment of One Thousand Foot commanded by Sir Henry Bellasis as Brigadeer my Lord Drogheda and Colonel Earle as an Advance Guard to make the first approach The whole Army make their Approach and all the Army both Horse and Foot followed in order About six a Clock our Advance Party discovered some of the Enemy upon the top of an Hill three Miles on this side the Town our Men drew up and then marched slowly forwards and as we proceeded the Enemy disappear'd by degrees till they were all gone off the Hill We drew forwards and about half a mile further we cou'd see a great part of the Town from a rising ground but could not discover the ways to it nor who were between us and it because of a great many thick Inclosures and Lanes in one of which the Enemy appeared again Our Men halted a little till the Pioneers had cut â—…wn the Hedges to the right and left which done they advanced and the Enemy drew back This took some time a doing and therefore the Front of our Army both of Horse and Foot came up The King was here at first riding from one place to another to order Matters as his Custom always was We cut the Hedges in a great many places and went forwards and the Enemy they drew homewards till they came to a narrow Pass between two Bogs within half a Mile of the Town The Neck of Land between these Bogs is not above 150 Yards over and this full of Hedges with a large Orchard a Stone Wall and also the Ruines of a great House upon the Lane-side which the Irish had burnt the Day before But there were Three Lanes that led this way towards the Town the middlemost being the broadest the Irish Horse stood in it on the Pass beyond this old House and whilst our Pioneers were at work the Front of our Horse went up so close that there were several little Firings but not much damage done on either side To the Right and Left of the Irish Horse the Hedges were all lined with Musqueteers of whom our Foot were got now within less than two hundred Yards The Pioneers laboured at the Hedges all this while and the Army made their Approaches in excellent Order The Detached Party of Foot was upon the Advance towards the Centre the Horse a little to the Right of them followed by the Earl of Drogheda's Regiment and Lieutenant General Douglas at the Head of them my Lord Drogheda himself being upon the Advance Guard The Danes were towards the Left led on by the Prince of Wirtemberg and Major General Kirk The Blue Dutch and several English Regiments were upon the Right All those were lined with Horse and these supported again with more Foot So that all Men that understood it said it was a most curious sight for though the Hedges were very thick and troublesome yet it was so ordered that the Front kept all on a Line except the advance Party who went always some distance before Whilst things were going on thus the King ordered Two Field-Pieces to be
was taken exactly next day In Lieutenant General Douglas's Regiment Wounded Sir Charles Fielding Capt. Rose mortally wounded Capt. Guy Capt. Trevor Capt. Rose junior Capt. Wainsbrough Lieut. Wild mortally wounded Lieut. Wybrants Lieut. Lacock Lieut. Rapine Lieut. Lloyd Ensign Goodwin Ensign Burk Kill'd Major Hambleton Lieut. Ennis Lieut. Morison Ensign Tapp Ensign Pinsent In Colonel Cutts's Regiment Wounded Colonel Cutts Capt. Newton Capt. Foxon Capt. Massham Lieut. Levis Lieut. Barrock Lieut. Cary. Lieut. Trenchard The Adjutant Mr. How 's a Voluntier Kill'd Capt. Hudson Ensign Mead. In the Earl of Meath's Regiment Wounded The Earl of Meath L. C. Newcomb mort wounded Lieut. Blakeney Lieut. Hubblethorn Kill'd Lieut. Latham Ensign Smith In Brigadier Stuart's Regiment Wounded Brigadier Stuart Major Cornwall Capt. Pallferey Capt. Galbreth Capt. Stuart Capt. Casseen Lieut. Stuart Lieut. Cornwall Lieut. Cary. Ensign Stuart Kill'd Capt. Lindon Capt. Farlow Lieut. Russell In my Lord Lisburn's Regiment Wounded Major Allen. Capt. Adair Capt. Holdrich Capt. Hubbart Lieut. Hillton Lieut. Goodwin Ensign Hook Kill'd Capt. Wallace Capt. West Ensign Ogle These make in all Fifty nine whereof Fifteen were killed upon the Spot and several dyed afterwards of their Wounds the Granadeers are not here included and they had the hottest Service Nor are there any of the Forreigners who lost full as many as the English so that I 'm afraid this did more then countervail the loss that the Irish had during the whole Seige at least in the numher of Men. Next day the King sent a Drummer in order to a Truce that the Dead might be buried but the Irish had no mind to it and now the Soldiers were in hopes that the King would make a second Attack and seem'd resolv'd to have the Town or dye every Man But this was too great a hazard to run at one Place and they did not know how scarce our Ammunition was it being very much wasted the day before this day however we continued Battering the Wall and it begun to Rain and next day it was very Cloudy all about and Rain'd very fast so that every Body began to dread the Consequences of it The King therefore calls a Council of War wherein it was Resolv'd to quit the Town and Raise the Siege which as the Case stood then with us was no doubt the most prudent thing that could be done The Siege Raised We drew off therefore our heavy Cannon from the Batteries by degrees And on Saturday August the 30. we marched greatest part of them as far as Cariganliss the Guard being the Earl of Drogheda's and Brigedeer Stuart's Regiments The Rain which had already fallen had softned the ways and we found some difficulty in getting off our Guns especially since for the most part we were obliged to draw them with Oxen a part of our Train Horses being disposed of to the Enemies use before and this was one main Reason for Raising the Siege for if we had not granting the Weather to continue bad we must either have taken the Town or of necessity have lost our Cannon because that part of the Country lies very low and the Ways are deep Therefore on Sunday the last of August all the Army drew off having a good Body of Horse in the Rear As soon as the Irish perceived we had quitted our Trenches they took Possession of them with great Joy and were in a small time after over all the Ground whereon we had Encamped two days before we Raised the Siege a great many Waggons and Carriages were sent towards Cashell and Clonmel with sick and wounded Men which was the Reason that we were forced to leave a great many Bombs Hand Granades and other things behind which we buried in the Artillery Ground but with a Train to blow them up so that when it took Fire the Irish were mightily afraid and thought we were beginning a new Seige from under Ground But yet they dug up most of our dead Officers and Soldiers only to get their Shirts and Shrowds month September The Army removes The Army Encamped that day at Cariganliss and then the Artillery marched forwards to Cullen whither the Army followed the day after but as soon as the Protestants that dwelt in that Country understood that the Army was drawing off they prepared to march along with Bag and Baggage which most of them did and lookt something like the Children of Israel with their Cattle and all their Stuff footing it from Aegypt though most of those poor People had no Promised Land to retire to but were driven into a Wilderness of Confusion for I saw a great many both Men and Women of very good Fashion who had lived plentifully before yet now knew not which way to steer their Course but went along with the Croud whither Providence should direct them In a day or two after we were removed from before Limerick Monsieur Boisleau the Governour made a Speech and told the Irish Monsieur Boiseleau's Speech to the Irish That with much ado he had perswaded them to defend the Town which with Gods help they had done but assured them it was not Fear but Prudence and Policy that had made the Enemy quit the Siege as might appear by their slow Marches and withal he told them his Opinion that the next time the Enemy came they would have it Which said he took leave and went to the French Forces then at Galloway and designing for France His Majesty goes for England His Majesty that day we Raised the Siege went to Cullen and so to Clonmel from thence to Waterford in order to take shipping for England accompanied with the Prince the Duke of Ormond and several of the Nobility From Waterford His Majesty sent back the Right Honourable Henry Lord Viscount Sidney and Tho. Conyngsby Esq to the Camp Lords Justices Appointed they with Sir Charles Porter having a Commission to be Lords Justices of Ireland The King set Sail with a fair Wind for England where he was received with an universal rejoicing and the Two Lords Justices on the Fourth of September came to the Camp then at Cullen where they staid till the Sixth in which two days they and the General Count Solmes ordered all Affairs relating to the Army And here we received Money which was very acceptable for it had been very scarce all the Campaign both with the Officers and Soldiers and yet every body were content and our Wants were no Obstruction to our Duties as His Majesty was pleased to take notice afterwards in His Speech to the Parliament From Cullen we marched on the Sixth to Tipperary blowing up a strong Castle when we Decamped and the two Lords Justices took their Journey towards Dublin in order to enter upon their Government Some that are Men already prejudiced will pretend to be Judges in this Affair though they never saw the Place or the Country and affirm that the Irish made never a false step but one during this whole
the Castle which he did and brought an Account of a Body of Rapparees to the number of about Three Thousand that were not far off upon which they sent out a Party of an Hundred Horse and Fifty Dragoons under Major Fittinkhoft designing themselves to follow but he succeeded so well that he routed the Irish and kill'd near Three Hundred of them getting a great many Silver-hilted Swords and some fine Horses amongst the Plunder My Lord Marlborough lands at Cork joyned by Major General Scravemore On the 21 st of September the Earl of Marlborough came into Cork-Road with the English Fleet having on board Brigadeer Trelawney's Lord Marlborough's Phusileers Princess Ann's Regiment Colonel Hastings Colonel Hales Sir David Collier's Colonel Fitz-Patrick's an Hundred of the Duke of Bolton's and Two Hundred of the Earl of Monmouth's under Major Johnston my Lord Torrington's and my Lord Pembroke's Marine Regiments and sending an Express to Major General Scravemore and Major General Tetteau they marched immediately to joyn his Lordship The 22 d the Lord Marlborough with his Fleet entred the Harbour receiving some Shot as they passed from a Fort of Eight Guns but sending some Boats a-shore the Enemy were obliged to quit their Battery and the Guns taken The 23 d in the Morning the Army landed and on the 24 th Five or Six Hundred Seamen and others of the Marine Regiment were imployed to draw the Cannon along and to mount them before the Town which they did with great chearfulness and the Duke of Grafton at the Head of them tho' Two Troops of Dragoons and a Body of Foot appeared without the Town but our Men firing some Field-Pieces upon them they retired That Day the Duke of Wirtemberg sent Dean Davis to my Lord Marlborough and Major General Scravemore to give them an account that he was marching to joyn them with a Detachment of Four Thousand Foot There was then a Report that the Duke of Berwick designed to raise the Siege and therefore Major General Scravemore sent the Dean back to hasten the Duke's March and the next day ordered a Party of Horse to go and cover the Duke's Foot The same Afternoon Major General Tatteau with a Party of a Thousand Men having drawn down some Cannon to the Fair Hill resolved to attack one or both of the New Forts and New Shanon Castle but no sooner were his Men posted in order to that Design but the Enemy set Fire on the Suburbs between him and them and having deserted both the Forts and Castle retired in haste into the City And the Duke of Wyrtemberg On the 26 th the Prince of Wyrtemberg with his Danes and a Detachment of Dutch and French Foot came and encampt on the North side the Town A Battery planted at Cork We now being in possession of Shanon Castle planted our Guns there and played them both into the Fort and Town and Major General Scravemore with his Horse took up his Quarters at Cill Abbey The 27 th the Enemy having deserted their Works at the Cat-Fort without a blow struck we were Masters of it and planted a Battery there playing our Bombs into the City and our Guns upon the Fort from the Friars-Garden and another Battery above the Fort near the Abby There was also a Church in our possession into the Steeple of which Major General Scravemore sent Lieutenant Townsend with a Party laying Boards cross the Beams for them to stand upon who did good Service in galling the Irish within the Fort. Another Battery of Three Thirty Six Pounders was made by Red Abby which playing against the City-Wall made a Breach whereupon they came to a Treaty whereon a Truce was granted till next Morning The 28 th the Enemy not accepting the Conditions that were proposed our Cannon began to play very furiously which made a considerable Breach and when the Enemy began to appear on the Wall near it they were raked off by our small Ordnance from the Cat. Last Night a Captain Lieutenant and Forty Men were posted in the Brick-Yard near Cill Abby to hinder the Enemy from making their Escape that way through the Marsh and accordingly some attempting it about Midnight Captain Swiney and Four more were kill'd and Captain Mackertey taken being wounded and the rest forced to retire to the City again About One a Clock that Afternoon the Danes from the North and Four Regiments of English from the South under Brigadeer Churchil passed the River into the East-Marsh in order to storm the Breach that was made there in the City-Wall They passed the Water up to the Arm-pits the Granadeers under my Lord Colchester led the Van and marched forwards exposed to all the Enemies Fire There went on Volunteers with this Detachment the Duke of Grafton the Lord O Brian Colonel Granvill and a great many more Immediately the Van posted themselves under the Bank of the Marsh which seemed to be a Counterscarp to the City-Wall in which Approach the Duke of Grafton received a mortal Wound on the point of his Shoulder The Salamander also and another Vessel which came up the Morning-Tide lay at the Marsh-end directly before the Wall playing their Cannon at the Breach as likewise throwing Bombs into the City The Garrison surrend'red In the midst of which Puther my Lord Tyrone and Lieutenant Colonel Rycatt came out having beat a Parley before and made Articles for its Surrender which were these I. That the Garrison should be received Prisoners of War and there should be no prejudice done to the Officers Soldiers or Inhabitants II. That the General would use his endeavour to obtain His Majesties Clemency towards them III. That they should deliver up the Old Fort within an Hour and the Two Gates of the City the next Day at Eight in the Morning IV. That all the Protestants that are in Prison shall be forthwith released V. That all the Arms of the Garrison and Inhabitants should be put into a secure place And VI. That an exact Account should be given of the Magazines as well Provision as Ammunition In the Evening the Fort was surrendred and the Protestant Prisoners set at Liberty On the 29 th in the Morning many Seamen and other loose persons entred into the City through the Breach and other places and plundred many Houses especially of Papists But as soon as the Bridge could be mended the Earl of Marlborough Duke of Wyrtemberg and Maj. Gen. Scravemore entred and took much pains to save the City from further Damage In the Afternoon all Papists were ordered by Proclamation on pain of Death to deliver up their Arms and repair to the East Marsh where all that had been in Arms were secured and put under Guards the Officers in the County Court-House The Number of the Prisoners amongst whom were the Earls of Clencarty and Tyrone Colonel Mark Ellicat the Governour Lieutenant Colonel Rycat c. the rest to the number of between Four and Five Thousand
were secured in other places The County of Cork was formerly a Kingdom and is the most fertile Country in Ireland This Kingdom was granted in the Time of Henry the Second to Sir Robert Fitz Stephen and Sir Miles de Cogan in these Words Know ye that I have granted the whole Kingdom of Cork excepting the City and Cantred of the Oustmans to hold for them and their Heirs of Me and John My Son by the Service of Sixty Knights At Cork was born one Briork a Famous Saint in the Days of Old The same Afternoon a Party of about Five hundred Horse were sent under Brigadeer Villars to infest Kingsale he sent a Trumpeter at his Approach to summon the Town but the Governor threatned to hang him up for bringing such a Message and then set fire to the Town and retreated to the Old Fort which our Horse seeing rid in and quenched the Fire killing seven or eight of the Irish that they found in Town On the 30th a Party of our Foot marched to Five-mile-House towards Kingsale and the Magistrates of Cork reassuming their Places proclaim'd King William and Queen Mary and put the Place into some order month October The Army marches to Kingsale On the First of October the Earl of Marlborough marched out of Cork to Five-mile Bridge and the next day came near the Town then in the possession of our own Men Towards the Evening the Lord Marlborough posted his Men towards the New Fort and Major General Tetteau with 800 Men the next morning early passed the River in Boats stormed the Old Fort in which he succeeded very well Several Barrels of Powder at the same time accidentally taking fire blew up nigh Forty of the Enemy the rest flying into an old Castle in the midst of the Fort were a great many of them kill'd before they got thither and all that made resistance as we scaled the Walls were cut in pieces The Old Fort taken So that of 450 Men in this Fort about 200 were blown up and kill'd and the rest submitting to Mercy were made Prisoners Some endeavoured to escape to the New Fort by Water but were most of them kill'd from the Shore The Governor and several Officers that would have prevented our Men from coming over were killed upon the Ramparts The New one besieged My Lord Marlborough having gained this Fort resolves to make as quick work as he could with the New one for the Weather was now very bad and Provisions were growing scarce and withal his Men began to fall sick which made him judge it was the best way to attack the Place briskly in which he was like to lose fewer Men than if by lying long before it he should have it surrendred He sends a Summons however to the Governor to surrender who return'd him answer That it would be time enough to talk of that a Month hence Batteries raised Whereupon the Cannon being planted we began to batter the Fort in two Places the Danes on the Left and the English on the Right On the Fifth of October the Trenches were opened and on the Ninth we were got nigh the Counterscarp On the Twelfth in the Morning Six Pieces of Cannon were mounted at the Danes Attack and Two Mortars at the English which fired all day and the Mortars continued all night On the Thirteenth Two Guns of Twenty four pound Ball were planted on the English Battery and on the Fourteenth Three more for the Danes on their side had made a pretty large Breach We then sprung a Mine with very good success and were preparing to spring another and being Masters of the Counterscarp on the Fifteenth the Cannon plaid all the Morning and every thing was ready to lay our Galleries over the Ditch But at one a Clock the Enemy beat a Parly and desired a Treaty about the Surrendry of the Fort The Fort surrendred which being done the Articles were agreed to and signed by which the middle Bastion was to be delivered up next Morning and the Garrison being about 1200 Men to march out the day after with their Arms and Baggage and be conducted to Limerick We had kill'd and wounded in our several Attacks about 200 but a great many more were sick and dead by reason of bad Weather In this Fort we received a very considerable Magazine and great plenty of all sorts of Provisions sufficient to have supported a thousand Men for a Year there were 1000 Barrels of Wheat 1000 Barrels of Beef Forty Tuns of Clarret a great quantity of Sack Brandy and strong Beer My Lord Marleborough did a considerable piece of Service in reducing those Places which will be of great advantage to the next Campagn In October 1601. Don John d' Aquila landed at Kingsale from Spain with an Army to assist the Irish against Queen Elizabeth calling himself Master General and Captain of the Catholick King in the War of God for holding and keeping the Faith in Ireland But by the Courage and Industry of Sir Charles Blunt Baron Mountjoy then Lord Deputy the Irish were defeated and the Spaniards forced to go home upon dishonourable Terms But to return again to Dublin and the Affairs of that part of the Kingdom On the 18th of October the Blue Dutch Guards set sail for England and a day or two afterwards landed Colonel Mathews's Dragoons and Count Schonberg's Horse from thence And now after the taking of Cork and Kingsale part of the Irish Army that was in Kerry made several Incursions and burnt all the Towns and Villages of the Counties of Cork and Limerick that had hitherto escap'd My Lord Duke of Berwick dined in Charlevil-house one of the Second-rate Houses of these Kingdoms built by the late Earl of Orrery and after Dinner order'd it to be fir'd and staid to see it in Ashes And those of the Irish Army that lay between Limerick and Athlone burnt Balliboy wherein were Six Companies of my Lord Drogheda's Regiment The thing was thus Lieut. Col. Bristow was at the Breaking-up of the Camp at Birr ordered to Kilkormack Castle a considerable Pass and within Two Miles of Balliboy but he liking Balliboy better as a Place of more Forrage and Shelter for the Men quitted the other and took most of his Men into that open Village which the Irish having notice of came in the night and lay in the Hedges nigh the Town Our Men had heard of the designed Attempt the day before and desired Colonel Bristow to deliver out Ammunition but he apprehending no danger took no care to prepare for such a Mischief However our Men sate up all that night and sent out a Lieutenant with Twenty Men mounted to learn Tidings of the Enemy who returned without discovering any for they were all this while close in the Hedges After Revallia the Officers and Soldiers thinking all safe went to their Lodgings all but the ordinary Guard They had not been dispersed half an hour till the
there was a Ship with Arms Ammunition and some Provisions on Board with about Sixty Officers designed for Limerick but cast away in that River and all the Men lost The Rapparees all this while were very busie about Cashall and Clonmel and did a great deal of mischief this occasioned some of our Army to joyn part of the Militia who went towards Cullen and burnt the Corn bringing away a good Booty without any opposition The Fifteenth of November Colonel Byerly's Horse marched from Dublin to Mount Naelick a Village towards the Frontiers and on the 19 th the Lords Justices Publish a Proclamation Declaring That if any of their Majesties Protestants Subjects had their Houses or Haggards burnt or were Robb'd or Plundred by the Rapparees such Losses should be repaid by the Popish Inhabitants of that County And in regard the Popish Priests had great Influence over their Votaries it was ordered That if any Rapparees exceeding the Number of Ten were seen in a Body no Popish Priest should have liberty to reside in such a County And it was further declared That the Government would not give Protection to any Person that had a Son in the Enemies Quarters unless such Son return to Their Majesties Obedience before the Tenth of December next following And in regard at this time the Government was apprehensive of some danger nigh Dublin it self they Publish a Proclamation the 22 d. That all Papists who have not been noted House-keepers in the City of Dublin for Three Months last past were within Forty eight Hours to depart at least Ten Miles from the City or else to be proceeded against as Spies and that not above Five Papists should meet together upon any Pretext whatever A Plot discovered About the 24 th there was great talk of a Design discovered to the Lords Justices of sending a Supply of Meal Salt Tobacco Brandy and several other things from Dublin to the Enemies Quarters Those who were carrying these things were pursued and overtaken in the County of Kildare upon a By Road they all made their escapes however but one of them being a Woman dropt a Petticoat in which was found a Letter and also another in a Rowl of Tobacco which gave grounds to believe that a Correspondence was kept between the Papists in Dublin and the Enemy beyond the Shanon and therefore on Sunday Night the 30 th of November a general search was made through the City and most of the Papists secured This Piece of Service the Militia performed very dextrously without noise or suspicion till the thing was done A List of the Privy-Council The last Packquets from England brought a List of the Privy Council appointed by His Majesty for the Kingdom of Ireland as also of several of the Judges The Council were The Lord Primate the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Archbishop of Dublin Duke of Ormond Earl of Meath Earl of Drogheda Earl of Longford Earl of Renelah Earl of Granard Viscount Lisburn Bishop of Meath Robert Fitz-Gerrald Esq the Vice Treasurer Chancellor of the Exchequer Chief Justice of the King's Bench Chief Justice of the Common Pleas the Chief Baron of the Exchequer Master of the Rolls Secretary of State Master of Ordance Sir Henry Fane Sir Charles Merideth William Hill of Hillsborongh Esquire On Monday the First of December several of the said Persons attended the Lords Justices at the Council Chamber and there took the usual Oaths of Privy Councellors The Judges named for the Respective Courts in Dublin were Sir Richard Reynoll Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench Sir Richard Stephens one of the Justices of the same Court Mr. Justice Lindon being formerly sworn there In the Common Pleas Mr. Justice Jetfordson Mr. Justice Cox being formerly sworn there In the Exchequer Jo Healy Esq Lord Chief Baron and Sir Standish Hartstone one of the Barons of the Court Mr. Baron Ecklin being formerly sworn there This day we had News of the Enemies passing the Shanon at several Places and Orders were sent to our Frontiers to be in readiness and Colonel Gustavus Hambleton sent a Party from Birr towards Portumna who met with a Party of the Enemy which they routed killing some and brought off two Officers with Eleven Prisoners being Dragoons and Foot month December December the 2 d. A Proclamation was issued out by the Lords Justices and Council forbidding all Their Majesties Subjects of Ireland to use any Trade with France or to hold any Correspondence or Communication with the French King or his Subjects This was the first that was Signed by the Council and these were present viz. Fran. Dublin Drogheda Longford Granard Lisburn Robert Fitz-Gerald Anth. Meath Charles Merideth We had at that time an Account from Cork that on the 22 d. of November last there were 60 of our Horse and Foot who met with near Five hundred of the Rapparees in the Barony of West Carberry near Castlehaven our Men at that disadvantage Retreated towards Castlehaven the Enemy followed in the Rear and fired at a distance several times our Party facing about killed Nine and afterwards being Attackt again they killed one Brown an Ensign of the Enemies Castletown Besieged The Enemy next day Besieged Castletown an House near Castlehaven they were Commanded by O Donavan O Driscoll and one Barry As they approached the House our Men killed Twelve of them this put them into an humour of Retreating though one Captain Mackronine with his Sword drawn endeavoured to hinder them but he and some more of the Party being kill'd the rest got away as well as they could Several of them had Bundles of Straw fastned upon their Breasts instead of Armour but this was not Proof for about Thirty of them were killed upon the Spot amongst whom were young Colonel O Driscol Captain Tiege O Donavan besides several that went off Wounded we lost only two Men. Rapparees defeated At this time Colonel Byerley being at Mountmelick with part of his own Regiment and some of Colonel Earl's Foot he was frequently Allarumed as well by Parties of the Irish Army as by Considerable Numbers of the Rapparees who had a design to burn the Town as they had done several others thereabouts but the Colonel was very watchful and kept good Intelligence a main Matter in this Assair He was told of a Party that designed to burn the Town and he took care to have all his Men both Horse and Foot in readiness to welcome them but they heard of his Posture and durst not venture however on the Third of December he had notice of a Body of Rapparees that were not far from the Town and designed him a mischief he sends out Lieutenant Dent with Twenty Horse and ordered each Horseman to take a Musqueteer behind him when the Horse came almost within sight of the Rapparees they dropt their Foot who marched closely behind the Hedges unperceived by the Enemy When the Enemy espied so small a Party of Horse they Advanced