first maintained by Sir Arthur Rawden his Lieutenant Collonel Mr. Hawkins concurring with him but afterwards the Countrey contributed to the Expence The Consult had ordered the surprizal of Carickfergus some Protestants in the Town were acquainted with it and the design laid Febr. 21. in the night 1000 foot march from Belfast towards it under the Command of Lieutenant Collonel Bremicham and Major Baker but the Weather being bad and the way tedious it was clear day before they reach'd the Town when they were within a mile of it Bremicham stop'd 'em on pretence of two passages in a Letter he had from the Lord Mount Alexander Sir William Franklin and Mr. Hamilton of Tillimore The one was That he should do nothing in Carickfergus without Mr. Henry Davis's Advice who was then in the Town The other that they would be with him at the hour of Action The Garrison thro this delay had so much notice of their approach as enabled 'em to put themselves in some posture of Defence The Earl of Mount Alexander Sir Arthur Rawden and other Gentlemen came with 4 or 500 Horse not doubting the success of the Foot but found the foremost party of 'em and those on the Walls firing at one another Mark Talbot Lieutenant Collonel to the Earl of Antrim came out to know the reason of this Attempt He was told the stores of Carickfergus had been always under a Protestant Governour That being now in other hands they came to demand it for the Prince of Orange especially to prevent the Insolencies and Robberies of the Souldiers They also offer'd terms to the Garrison which Talbot promised to acquaint the Earl of Antrim with Upon his return it was agreed That Collonel Cormack Oneal who had then his Regiment in Town should disband it and lay down his Commission and he and they having Protections to return to their several dwellings That the Garrison should be kept by a few of the Earl of Antrim's Regiment who should never have above a weeks Provisions at once That the Protestants in Town should have a Guard as well as the Papists of equal number without any disturbance from the Castle That the value of what had been plundered should be restored That all Letters from the Papists to Dublin should be sent open to the Consult at Hillsborough and particularly such a Letter sent from the Earl of Antrim and Cormack O Neal by one of their number to give the Lord Tyrconnel an Account of that Affair as he Protestants should approve of A Letter was accordingly sent sign'd by both sides but Fryar O Haggerty was upon Mr. Randal Brice's Recommendation suffered to be the Bearer who understood as much as any in the Garrison could dictate to him and gave the Lord Tyrconnel the following too true Account of the Condition of the North viz. That they were untrain'd and had few experienced Officers That the most part were without Arms and such as had 'em their Arms were unfixt and unfit for service They were very much scattered and their number not near what had been written and was confidently reported in Dublin that they wanted all Ammunition and necessary Provisions for appearing in the Field The Lord Tyrconnel who had deferred for 20 days to send down his Army after it had been first agreed on in Council upon this Information resolved to dispatch the most Considerable and best trained part of it under the Command of Lieutenant General Hamilton From the 23d of February to the 11th of March several Skirmishes happened between the Irish Garrison at Newry or the Rapparees and the Frontier Garrisons of the North. The latter being frequently employ'd to rescue Preys of Cattel which those Ravenous Beasts seiz'd and endeavour'd to carry away Two Letters from Dublin one of the 22d the other of the 25th of February arrived in the North one giving an account of the preparations making against 'em at Dublin the other relating the disarming the Protestants there But their confident expectation of Succors from England and their conceit of Tyrconnels fears made them too slow in their measures They did indeed send to C. Lundy at Derry to bring down what he cou'd spare of the Forces of Derry Tyrone and Donnegal to their assistance and offer'd him the Command of their whole Army C. Lundy promised to bring with him 1000 men well appointed out of each of the three Counties with a train of Artillery and to be with 'em on a certain day which was about a Fortnight before the Descent of the Irish Army Upon which the Consult ordered Hillsbrough to be stockt with all necessary provisions for an Army But C. Lundy failed their expectations in this as he did in every thing else afterwards that concerned their common safety The 9th of March Captain Leighton returned with a Letter see in the end from his Majesty to the Earl of Mount Alexander to be communicated to the rest of the Nobility and Gentry approving their endeavours for their own defence c. He brought over also Commissions for all the Regiments in the Counties of Antrim Down Ardmagh and Monaghan except two that were not raised when Captain Leighton left the North and assured 'em of speedy relief telling them some of the Cannon and Ammunition were shipt and 15000 men ready at the Waterside c. Upon his coming King William and Queen Mary were Proclaimed in the Towns that were in the North-East part of Ulster with all the expressions of Duty and Affection which became their high obligations to their Majesties as well as their hopes from 'em and in some before his Arrival The same day Mr. Osborn arrived at Hillsborough with a Message which the Lord Tyrconnel had permitted him to deliver But the real design of his coming was to prevent their being surprized with the descent of the Irish Army to give 'em the best information and advice in order to their defence to which he earnestly urged 'em a fuller account whereof the Reader may see in his Vindication 11th of March the Irish Army came to Newry Sir Arthur Rawden being then at Loch-bricklan sent to the Consult for more Forces to defend that place But being that Night informed that the whole Irish Army would be there next Morning and the Consult acquainting him that they had no Forces ready to be sent and advising him to retire to Dromore he ordered the inhabitants that Night to pack up their Goods sent his Foot to Guard them and with his Horse secured their retreat The Inhabitants went on to Belfast and the Sea Coasts 12th of March the Garrison at Rathfryland with the Inhabitants abandoned the place and came to Dromore and that Night the Irish Army came to Loch-bricklan This day Cap. Hugh Mac-Gill brought his Troop of 80 Dragoons from the Ardes to Dromore Sir Arthur Rawden sent to Hillsbrough for an 100 good Musketeers but they came not nor the other Forces expected from other parts 13th of March the Irish Army
Houston was ordered to keep the Pass at Toam but because of the floods which overspread the Woods of Creagh they could seldom get to their Posts or relieve their Guards The other part of it under the Command of Major Michelburn was sent to guard the Pass at Newferry 4 or 5 miles below Toam to which there was easier access Collonel Edmonston was ordered to defend and secure the pass of Port Glenon by hindering the Enemys repairing the Bridge which is 14 Miles from Colerain Collonel Canning's Regiment was also ordered to Maherafelt and Monimore Sir John Mac Gills was sent to Killrea and that part of the Ban care had been taken before to sink most of the Boats and Cotts on the Ban River Sir Tristram Berisford's Regiment with Collonel Francis Hamilton's and several Detachments to the number of 3000 Men were left to defend Colerain The Protestants at Fagivie under Command of Captain Blair beat back some of the Irish who had cross'd the River there April Tuesday 2d We went to Monimore the Irish quitting it upon our approach and we got great quantities of Provision in the Countrey and saw no Enemy Collonel Edmonston sent word to Sir Arthur Rawden that his Men were almost starved for want of Provisions and that none could be had unless he would furnish him and withal desired to see him and accordingly he sent Provisions and went there late that Night Fryday 5th and found that he had Intrenched himself so well that the Enemy could not annoy them neither with great nor small shot and he had destroyed great part of the Bridge there was a contnual fireing on both sides Saturday 6th We killed near 20 of the Enemy and with hot Iron Bullets fired the Town where they lay and drove them all out of of it Sunday 7th About two a Clock this Morning we had notice That the Lord Galmoy Coll. Gordon O Neal and Coll. Mac Mahon were come to Dungannon with 3000 Foot and 1000 Horse in order to surprize and cut off the Garrison at Monimore and Sir Arthur Rawden was desired to hasten thither the Letter being communicated to the Officers it was resolved Sir Arthur Rawden should go towards Monimore but he with Major Baker Capt. Hugh Mac Gill and Captain Dumbar had not rode above a mile before they had an Account sent 'em That the Irish in five or six great Boats had in the Night-time passed by the Guards that were kept on the River-side by Coll. Skeffingtons Regiment and were then coming down within a mile of Collonel Edmonston's Trenches Sir Arthur Rawden immediately sent notice of it to Collonel Edmonston to Lieutenant Collonel Whitney and to Major Michelburn One Company of Collonel Edminston's Regiment that lodged in some Countrey houses got to the River and fired at them till their Powder was all spent When the Boats came within half a Mile of the Trenches they landed the Men and took in more Irish on the other side the River till they had landed a considerable Party Two or three Companies of the Granadeers advanced first thro the Bogg towards Collonel Edmonston's Trenches he having but 120 Men in 'em went out with 60 of them to line a Ditch on the side of the Bogg towards the Enemy leaving Lieutenant Collonel Will. Shaw to guard the Trenches and vigorously opposed 'em till both their Ammunition was spent and the Irish overpowered 'em with their numbers which were continually increasing About this time Sir Arthur Rawden and Captain Dunbar came to the Trenches and were surprized with a Volley of shot from the Irish who immediately sent 100 Granadeers to line the Hedges on the way to that only pass by which they could retreat and to keep that pass against a party of Protestants that they saw marching towards it This party was five Companies of Foot under Command of Lieutenant Collonel Whitney coming to Collonel Edmonston's assistance who Commanded three young Captains to lead on the men but when he observed the Enemy he Commanded his men to face about and retire which all did except one Captain James Mac-Gill who ashamed of so base a retreat went on About this time Sir Arthur Rawden and Captain Dumbar came to the pass and having no other way to escape ventured through all the shot powr'd in upon 'em from the Hedges till they met Captain James Mac-Gill but as they were charging again they spied another party of Irish behind 'em and they had not gone far before Captain James Mac-Gill was unfortunately shot off his Horse A Captain of the Granadeers came up and run his Sword several times through him and another of 'em dashed out his brains with a Musquet so barbarously did they kill that deserving young Gentleman whose early Valour would have met with other treatment from any Enemy but the Irish By that time Sir Arthur Rawden had got over the pass Major Baker and Captain Hugh Mac-Gill were come up with what men they could get together and had stop'd Collonel Whitney's party Collonel Edmonston also and Lieut. Collonel Shaw had by several ways got up to them but the Soldiers having little Ammunition or Match left the body of the Irish being increased and especially the Lord Galmoy's March towards Monymore being confirmed it was resolved that Collonel Edmonston and Lieutenant Collonel Whitney shou'd March to Colerain That Sir Arthur Rawden with his own Regiment of Dragoons Collonel Skeffingtons and Collonel Kennings Regiments of Foot the last of them was under Command of Lieutenant Collonel William Cuningham should March towards Derry which was accordingly done Besides Captain James Mac-Gill and several common Soldiers which were lost one Captain Henly was wounded and taken Prisoner And Sir Arthur Rawden by continual fatigue and want of rest cast himself into a dangerous Illness which afterwards forced him to leave that Kingdom A Gentleman who in all those affairs of the North of Ireland shewed himself a true lover and friend of his Country by his extraordinary Zeal and Courage his great Expences and indefatigable diligence in the defence of it Collonel Edmonston also contracted those Distempers in the Trenches at Port-Glenon of which he afterwards died at Cullmore April the 14th having behaved himself there and on all other occasions with great Gallantry and Resolution The Irish having crossed the Ban all those of the Army above at Monymore and Maghrifelt except a few Captains that took Protection as well as those of Toam and Newferry fled over the Mountains to Derry Colerain was deserted least the Irish should intercept betwixt the Forces there and those at Derry part of the Bridge was cut down part of it Burnt And all the Countrey came towards Derry as their last Refuge April the 9th the Body of our Army came to the Ferry that leads over to the Town and it was no small trouble to see so many brave and resolute men both Horse and Foot without a General The Horse and Dragoons were that day ordered by Collonel
of their Concurrence for their common Defence and Safety To which Letters they received various Returns some approving the Action and promising their Assistance Others discouraging what they thought so bold an enterprize Besides these one Letter came afterwards directed to Mr. Cairns from a Nonconformist Minister in Iniskilling which because it shews how early the Inhabitants of that Town agreed with those of Derry both in their Resolutions and the Reasons of 'em I shall here insert Inniskillin Decemb. 15. 1688. SIR AFter an Allarm of an intended Massacre there are two Foot-Companies sent to be quartered in this small place and though we be deserted by our Magistrates yet we intend to repulse 'em You are therefore intreated in this common Cause to look on our Condition and if we come to be made a leading-Card sit not still and see us sink The bearer can more fully inform you of our Condition The Lord direct and preserve you and us who intend hurt to none but sinless self-preservation This from Yours c. Robert Kelso About the same time the principal Inhabitants of Inniskillin wrote a Letter to the same purpose to their Friends at Derry Which see at the end Others in the Town wrote to the Government to excuse themselves and lay the blame on the Mobile I should add here that the Potent being more narrowly inspected was found defective for 't was in the body of it to provide Quarters for the Captains hereafter named and their men whereas there was no Capt. named at all And thus ended this remarkable 7th of December Good Guards are kept within and without the Walls that night And the next day the 8th of December since they wanted both Arms and Ammunition they broke open the Magazine and took out thence about 150 Musquets with some quantity of Match and one Barrel of Powder and Bullets proportionable There was in the Magazine at that time but about 8 or 9 Barrels of Powder in all and about 2 more in the Town 2 or 3 of those in the Magazine were not fit for use There were but few Arms fixt and those design'd for the Irish Regiment the rest being about a thousand more were much out of order The Bishop that day left the Town and went to Rapho But the sight of several from the neighbouring Parts of the Countrey whom the fear of an intended Massacre drove thither for security the rumour of a design among the Papists in Town to fire the City and the rude Carriage of some of the Irish Souldiers in their quarters over the Water drew many more of the Town to joyn with the Mob for their common Preservation And yet I must add that when towards the better setling of their Guards they took an exact Account of all within the Walls able to bear Arms they did not in all amount to 300 so depopulated was the Town at that time the Suburbs were not numbred but it was believed they could not make near so many more This day the City was clear'd of the greatest part of the Papists in it and a Convent of Dominican Fryars pack'd off The Earl of Antrim lodg'd that Night at Newton Limavady with Mr. Philips whom he carried with him next day in his Coach towards Derry being the 9th the fatal day for the expected Massacre The Post-Letters that Morning brought the News of the Prince of Denmark and the Duke of Ormond's c. going over to the Prince of Orange which gave us no small encouragement and Alderman Tomkins by the assistance of Mr. Gordon's influence on his People sent in a considerable number into Town under the Command of young Mr. Tomkins as their Captain For joy of their good News from England the Gunner was order'd to discharge two of their best Guns which he accordingly did this put the Irish Souldiers on the other side of the Water into no small Consternation about the same time one George Cook a Butcher drew up 50 or 60 Boys on the shore at the Râ—rry-Key whom the Irish took for Laganeers famous for the Victories they obtained over the Rebels in 1641. soon after Mr. Tomkins and Mr. Gordon appear on a Hill near 'em with about 30 or 40 Horse having no design of disturbing ' em But all these Circumstances so unluckily concurring to heighten their fears of some suddain destruction coming on 'em put 'em on so hasty a flight that many of their Officers left their Boots and Soldiers their Coats behind them Their Collonel the Earl of Antrim accompanied by Mr. Philips met 'em about a Mile off the Town and having heard from his men a very frightful story thought fit to send Mr. Philips into Town before him to bring him word whether they wou'd admit himself and who commanded the Town Mr. Philips as coming from the Enemy was with some difficulty admitted under a Guard but finding he was no way disaffected to the Design but rather inclined to joyn with 'em in their own defence the Guard was taken off yet upon his desire to Mr. Cairns who then commanded in Town that some colour of force might be put upon him in what he did he was publickly threatned with Confinement if he did not concurr with 'em He was permitted to acquaint the Earl with his being detain'd there whom in his Letter he discouraged from coming thither upon receipt thereof the Earl went back to Colerain where he endeavour'd to rally his scatter'd Regiment And the City considering their own Circumstances to encourage the Gentlemen in the Country whose aid they expected and to engage Mr. Philips the more to their Interest with Mr. Cairns his concurrence bestowed on him the Title of their Governour which he accepted In the mean time it was thought expedient to write up to the Lord Mountjoy then at Dublin in whose friendship they had great Confidence some account of what had past that he might interpose with the Lord Tyrconnel on their behalf and do his utmost to allay his resentments and accordingly they sent his Lordship a Letter which because it confirms the foregoing Relation I have annexed at the end expecting that he wou'd communicate it to the Lord Deputy On the 10th Captain Forward and Mr. William Stewart brought about 2 or 300 Horse into the City and Mr. John Cowan of St. Johns Town a Company of Foot which they offer'd to our Service But finding the need not only of more Men but chiefly of Arms and Ammunition the City unanimously chose David Cairns Esq to send over as their Agent to England giving him a large Letter of Credence and full Instructions under the hands and seals of the chief then in Town He had with him also a Letter to the Society in London which I have in the end inserted a private Key was also contrived to hold Correspondence with ' em This day the Townsmen were form'd into six Companies of Foot under the Command of I. Captain Samuel Norman Lieutenant William Crooksbanks Ensign Alexander
an Account coming to the Lord Kingston his Lordship immediately sent in the Night Captain William Ormsby and Captain Francis Gore with a detached party of men out of every Troop and Company under their Command and the next Morning before day the Lord Kingstone March't with another party to assist them if there had been occasion but his Lordship met Cornet Charles Nicolson who gave him an account that our party had got the Castle by setting Fire to the Gate and smoaking the Enemy out who at first fired very briskly upon our men yet we lost none We found great store of Provisions of Meal c. and seventeen Muskets belonging to the Irish Army with several half Pikes Irish Daggers and Rapparee's Swords the Protestants had their Corn and Cattle returned 'em or a Market rate paid them for so much of their Corn as they could spare Several Letters were written from time to time to Collonel Lundy for a supply of Arms and Ammunition for the Garrison of Sligo but none could be had 'till at last a Ship came to Derry from Scotland with Ammunition and then Coll. Lundy consented to let Sligo have three Barrels of Powder and Ballyshanny one provided five Pounds per Barrel were paid for it but though a Bill of twenty Pounds was immediately sent for that end yet none of it ever came to Sligo About the 20th of March an Express came to Sligo from Coll. Lundy to hasten our March with all speed to Derry which Letter as all others that came from Coll. Lundy or the Committee were communicated to all our Officers but the last Letter that came was mislay'd by Capt. Coote and on the same day a Council of War if then it might be so term'd was called and a speedy March to Derry was Voted by the Officers who had no Commission to make 'em so but such as the Gentlemen they had chosen for their chief had given 'em The Names of the Subscribers of that Council were as follows Major Owen Vaughan Major Thomas Hart Captain Hugh Morgan Captain Piercy Gethins Captain Edward Woods Captain William Ormesby Captain William Smith Captain William Griffith Lieutenant Richard Brooke Lieutenant Adam Ormesby and Cornet Oliver Brookes On the 21st being the next day following the Council was called again where it was hotly pressed and Voted to march Northward and accordingly all things were prepared against the next day and then a March began the Foot Baggage with some Horse in the rear March'd out early in the Morning the rest attending the Lord Kingston till they had broke the Trunnions and nailed the heavier Guns and sent off the smallest by Boat and staved all the rest they could find but those sent away were put into an Island by storm which next day were taken by the Irish by help of some Boats that were concealed by them On the 24th the Forces with Bag and Baggage arrived safe at Ballyshanny Lieut. Coll. Connell Farrell was ordered to hinder and oppose us with 180 Fire-locks from Boyle with the Dartry-Irish to the number of four or five hundred who attempted the breaking down of Bondrons-bridg which they quitted upon the approach of about fifty of our Horse and took the Boggs and never opposed us in one Pass though there were many dangerous ones wherein a few might hinder the Passage of a great many had they had Courage to do it Either on the way or at Ballyshanny a Letter came to the Lord Kingston from the Committee at Derry with Orders as they said from Coll. Lundy to stay at Ballyshanny and keep the Passes on the Earne Water which was obey'd he having his present Majesty's Commission The Garrison of Ballyshanny under the Command of Capt. Folliot was now reinforced and the Ferry-boat of that place sunk and the Lord Folliot's House with other Houses on Connaught-side the Water were burnt to prevent the Enemy's sheltring themselves therein and from thence annoying us with their shot and one Arch more of Balleek-bridge was pulled down part being so served by Sir James Caldwell before and a Garrison left there under the Command of Major Vaughan and Lieut. Arthur Cooper and another Garrison left at Mulick being the House of Lieut. Walter Johnson under the Command of Capt. William Smith Capt. Francis King and Lieut. Toby Mulloy to observe and guard a Ford at the mouth of Lough-Earn and at the same time another Party was ordered to keep the Castle and Town of Dunnegal being Commanded by Capt. Francis Gore and Capt. Edward Woods During the time of the Lord Kingston and his Party 's being at Ballyshanny and the Places before mentioned there came several Expresses inviting the Lord Kingston with Eighty of his choicest Horse and three Hundred Foot to Derry with Promises of Provision should be made for 'em But the Party having been all along together they were all of 'em against breaking 'till something should happen by which they might shew their Zeal to his present Majesty's service and the Protestant Religion and accordingly staid there 'till a Letter came to the Lord Kingston sign'd at a Council of War at Derry April the 13th Ordering the Forces under his Command as well as all others to be at Clady Lifford and Long Causey or the places near to 'em on Monday the 15th of April by 10 a clock in the Morning This Letter came not to the Lord Kingston till the 14th of April at ten a Clock that Night and the nearest of his Forces were 30 miles from the place of Rendevouz Upon this the Lord Kingston called a Council of War wherein it was concluded That tho it was impossible for the Lord Kingston and his Party to be at any of the Places abovementioned in twice the time limited yet the Lord Kingston himself with ten or twelve Horse should the next Morning go towards Derry to see how matters were and to give Directions accordingly to his Party Very early the next Morning his Lordship went but when his Lordship came to Strannor-lane within five miles of Rapho his Lordship met with several of the Brittish running from Cladyford who gave his Lordship an Account that the Brittish were fled with Coll. Lundy into Derry and the Irish were got to Rapho between his Lordship and that place whereupon his Lordship hastened back to Dunegal and sent an Express with orders for the Horse to secure themselves in Iniskilling and the Foot at Dunegal Ballishany and other places And then the Lord Kingston with some of his Officers went to Killibeggs and took Shipping and were put into Scotland from whence his Lordship hastened to give his Majesty an Account of Affairs hoping to have made a quick return to his Party with his Majesties Commissions and Orders So unhappily were the designs of that Noble Lord who inherits the Courage as well as the Honour of his Father for the preservation of that part of the Countrey which he prosecuted with extraordinary Zeal and Resolution frustrated by
Dungannon to Toam and so to Antrim to joyn with our Friends there The same day a Party of the Enemy were beat off by the Protestants at Tonragee and several of 'em kill'd Of the Affair of Glasslough I shall begg leave to insert the following Relation from another hand Those of Glasslough having Orders from my Lord Blaney to March towards Antrim Notice was given to the Country to be there that Night or the next Morning The Irish having intelligence of it beset the Roads to Rob 'em upon which Capt. Ancktall mounted 20 of his Horse and Capt. Richardson with 7 Files of Foot went out and fell on the Robbers they kill'd 6 the rest flying to the Woods and Boggs Capt. Cole with his Troop of Horse and 2 Foot Companies came hither and it was concluded to March that day But we were immediately alarm'd with the Account of a Body of Irish Foot coming towards us It was agreed to go out and fight 'em the Enemy had possess'd themselves of an old Danish Fort within less than half a Mile of the Town We detach'd 100 Fire-locks and all the Horse of 2 Troops fit for service The Enemy who had fired at us while at a great distance upon our nearer approach sally'd out and fir'd a Volly at our Men But Captain Ancktall with his Horse came so suddainly on them and pursu'd 'em so close as they were retreating into the Fort that the Enemy within seeing several kill'd and others trod under the Horses Feet threw down their Arms and betook themselves to their heels They were about five to one in number and yet there were as Mr. Anthony who stay'd in the Country told us 180 of 'em kill'd among whom was Collonel Mackennah 4 Captains 6 Lieutenants and 6 Ensigns We only lost that brave Man Capt. Ancktall who after the Enemy was routed was unfortunately shot by a Fellow that lay in a Bush More of the Enemy had been cut off if they had not had a Bogg to retreat to But after this encounter we had only so much Ammunition left us as serv'd to Charge our Arms on our March. On Fryday the 15th I heard that the Forces of the Counties of Down and Antrim were broken and retired to Colerain upon which Advice I march'd thither with 300 Horse and as many Foot being all that were left me of the 1800 I mentioned before the others having taken Protection from the Enemy On the Road between Dungannon and Monimore I met at Artrea 1000 of the Enemy who attacqued us but we were so successful as to beat them and kill 140 of them all the Country People thereabouts generally fled to Colerain with the Army except a few The Gentlemen in the Country in other parts were very active particularly Sir Francis Hamilton and Captain Robert Sanderson in the County of Cavan who were 2 of the 10 excepted from Pardon in the Lord Tyrconnel's Proclamation Of the Forces raised by the Lord Kingston I had the following relation from his Lordship On the 4th of January 1688. the Gentlemen of the County of Sligo met and associated themselves and chose the right honourable Robert Lord Baron of Kingston and the honourable Capt. Chidley Coot their chief Commanders and promised Obedience to both or either of them and then formed themselves into Troops and Companies and furnished their Men with Horses Arms Ammunition and Provisions and order'd frontier Garrisons to be kept as Grange in the way to Ballyshanny to hold Correspondence with Derry and the Places adjacent Garrisons were also put into New-Town and Mannor Hamilton to keep Correspondence with Inniskillin my Lord Bellimont's House at Killoona Dr. Leslie's and Mr. Cooper's at Mercury was the Frontier Garrisons toward the Boyle and Ballymoat to prevent the Incursions of the Irish from those parts There was also a Garrison at Cottlestown in the farthest part of the County of Sligo to observe the Motions of the new-rais'd Army in the County of Mayo which was very numerous Soon after the Bishop of Killalla had quitted his House there was one Tremble a Servant to Sir Arthur Gore barbarously Murther'd by Capt. Walter Bourk and his Soldiers Coll. Mackdonnel being Garrison'd at Boyle and not permitting any of the Protestants to pass with their Goods and Provisions towards the Garrison of Sligo but ordering all such Goods and Provisions to be seized It was thought fit he should be writ to desiring him to let the Protestants have free Passage to Sligo as all the Papists had from thence to Boyle Athlone and other Places to their Irish Friends without any molestation from the Garrison of Sligo but he not performing what was desired it was resolved that the Lord Kingston and Captain Chidley Coote should with a Party of Horse and Foot March to Boyle and demand a free Passage for the Protestants which the Coll. readily granted but never performed though we lookt on him as one of the fairest Reputation among the Irish in those parts It is to be observed that the Collonel upon the approach of our Party drew all his Horse Foot and Dragoons within the Walls of the Lord Kingston's House and Gardens though with his old Troops and Rapparees he had at least five to one in and about the place About 5 of our Horse Commanded by Captain Arthur Cooper went to view what the Irish design'd at Ballimont then Garrison'd by a Company of Foot under the Command of Capt. Terence Mac Donogh he drew 'em up to face our Men but they firing on 'em and with the shot of one Blunderbuss killing one and wounding five more the Irish threw down their Arms and run to the Castle our Men pursuing and beating 'em to the Draw-bridge About 5 or 600 shewed themselves before Ballintober Dr. Lesley's House upon which he drew out about 30 Horse and 40 Foot upon which the Irish fled to the Boggs During the stay of the Forces at Sligo frequent Correspondence was kept with Derry sometimes with Collonel Lundy and sometimes with the Committee and at Inniskillin with the Governor of that place Coll. Gustavus Hamilton Many Letters came to Sligo from Coll. Lundy and the Committee to March the Forces to Derry it being alledged by them that if the Northern Forces were conquered that must fall of course By this time the Stone-Fort at Sligo was finished and the Sodd-fort new made up at the Cost of the Officers and Labour of the Soldiers Whilst the English were at Sligo there was an open Market kept where the Papists as well as the Protestants had the selling and disposing of what Commodities they brought thither Yet some time before Sligo was quitted several of the Brittish coming thither from Tirrearagh with great store of Meal Cattle c. a party of Irish that were got into an old Castle belonging to Captain Henry Crofton an inveterate Roman Catholick robbed and plundered all the Brittish of their Corn c. and made a store of it in the Castle of which