to rouse them out to weed them not to rake them over not to tread them down but utterly to root them up this lesson the Tyrant himself taught me for demanding once of him by way of Parable how Land might be freed from certain ravenous Fowls that annoyed it he advised us to watch where they bred and fire their Nests about their Ears let us go then and fall upon these Cormorants which shrowd themselves in our possessions and let us destroy them that neither nest nor root neither seed nor stalk neither branch nor stump remain of this cursed and ungracious Generation He had scarce ended his Oration when the People with shouts of Joy extolled him as the Defender of their Lives and Liberties assuring him of their utmost assistance and so joining their Forces they with a running Camp in a very short time cleared every corner of the 〈◊〉 of the Norwegians razing their Castles to 〈…〉 killing all that resisted and banishing 〈…〉 whereby every Prince again recovered his own Government The Histories of Denmark relate that some time before this Fridlenus King of the Danes arriving in Ireland besieged Dublin but perceiving it hard to take by reason of the strength of the Walls he contrived to catch a number of Swallows who had their Nests in the Houses within the City and tying Wildfire to their feet they flying home set the Houses on Fire which whilst the Citizens endeavoured to quench they entred the City after which Gonno the third King of Denmark though a Pagan Married Thyra Daughter to the Christian King Etheldred of Brittain by whom he had two Sons Canute and Harold who first invaded England and then Ireland where at the Siege of Dublin Canute was slain who for his Valour was so extreamly beloved by his Father that he vowed to kill him with his own hands who should bring him Tydings of his Death Gonno was now very old and blind pleasing himself in nothing more than hearing of the Victories of his Sons when therefore Q. Thyra had notice of her Sons Death which neither she nor any other durst discover to him she contrived to clothe her Husband all in Mourning and prepared all other things usual at a Funeral and then used many lamentable expressions of grief for the loss of some Friend which Gonno perceiving wo is me said he you then fignifie the Death of my Son Canute whereunto she answered that he himself and not she had now discovered the Truth whereupon for grief thereof he instantly gave up the Ghost We find little material in the Irish Chronicles from this time till the Conquest thereof by King Henry the Second which how it was occasioned I shall now relate In the year 1167. Dermot Macmur King of Leinster possessed all the East parts of the Isle along the Seacoasts using great cruelty toward the Lords and Gentry it happened that Morrice King of Meath going far into the Country Dermot in the mean time stole away his Queen by her consent which Morrice upon his return resolving to revenge represented it to Roderick O Conor King of Connaught and Monarch of all Ireland beseeching his assistance against the vile Adulterer the People of Leinster detesting both Dermot and his quarrel for his former Tyrannies universally forlook him so that he was forced to fly to King Henry the Second for succour who was then imployed in his Wars in France Henry had before cast an eye upon Ireland because they always assisted the French with men and Adrian an Englishman being now Pope he obtained his consent for the Conquest thereof upon condition of reducing the Inhabitants to Christianity who were almost turn'd barbarous at this very time Dermot offered him his service of which he was very joyful but having Wars with France he had not opportunity to go with him and therefore taking an Oath of Fidelity and Obedience from him he took him into his Protection and for his more speedy assistance sent him into England honourably attended with Letters Patents to this effect ' Henry King of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitain and Earl of Anjou to all our Faithful Subjects Englishmen Normans Welchmen and Scots and to all other Nations whatsoever subject to our Dominion fendeth Greeting When these Letters shall come to your hands know ye that we have received Dermot Prince of Leinster into the bosom of our Grace and Benevolence wherefore whosoever of our loving Subjects within our Dominions will aid assist and restore him as our Leige-man and Faithful Subject be you assured that you have not only our license but shall receive our favour and thanks for the same with these Letters he arrived at Bristow where he agreed with Richard Strongbow Earl of Pembroke to give him his only Daughter in Marriage for which the Earl was the next Spring to settle him in his Kingdom which was to descend to him in right of his Wife after Dermots decease in the mean time Robert Fitz Stephens and Maurice Fitz-Gerald his Brother Gentlemen of Wales promised Dermot that if he would assure them an Estate in the Town of Wexford for ever they would assist him to begin the recovery of his Country while the Earl of Pembroke was providing stronger Forces and accordingly Dermot going over privately before they with Thirty Knights Sixty Esquires and Three Hundred Archers landed in Ireland being the first Englishmen that ever came thither and marching toward Wexford Dormet met with them with five Hundred Men and joining their Forces they soon took the Town of Wexford which was freely given to Fitz Stephens according to their Covenant and their Army daily increasing they prevailed so much that Roderick the Monarch assembled all the Petty Kings to defend their Country at length an Agreement was made whereby Dermot was restored to his former Estate and more Forces arriving from England Dermot incouraged thereby resolved to be revenged of those of Dublin who had been great Enemies to him and his Father and marching thither they soon submitted themselves to him Now arrived the Earl of Pembroke with a considerable aid wherewith he made such notable Conquests that King Henry growing jealous of his greatness sent an Edict to recal all the English out of Ireland but the troubles raised by Thomas Becket Arch-bishop of Canterbury hindred the Prosecution thereof Pembroke was then in Dublin where he was closely besieged by the Irish under Roderick Dermot dying some time before and was at last reduced to such extremity that they resolved to Sally forth and dye like men rather than starve and so issuing out with not above two or three hundred men they valiantly assaulted their Enemies Camp consisting of near Thirty Thousand with so much resolution that with great slaughter of them they obtained a Glorious Victory chasing their Enemies till night came on and then returning Triumphantly with abundance of Provisions and Rich Spoil into the City Roderick himself hardly escaping with his Life after which the Earl of
Pembroke coming into England surrendered Dublin and all the Castles and Forts on the Sea coasts to King Henry and thereby removed his Jealousie and was again received into favour In 1172 King Henry the Second landed with a considerable Army whom Roderick in behalf of himself and all the other petty Princes of that Kingdom acknowledged for his Soveraign Lord and the supream Prince of all that Island so that none refused obedience to Henry but only the Province of Ulster the Christmas after the King Royally feasted all those Princes who were become his Subjects at Dublin and then taught the Irish first to eat Cranes flesh which was before abhorred by them He then called a Synod where divers abuses were reformed and new Canons made for the future Government of the Church and among others That since it had pleased God to bring them under the English Dominion they should for the future observe all the Rites and Ceremonies of the English Church Soon after King Henry returned to England being summoned by the Pope to answer for the death of Thomas Becket which occasioned much Trouble In 1185. Henry made over all his Right and Title to Ireland to his youngest Son John after King of England who Landing at Waterford accompanyed with a few Dissolute Companions whose advice he only regarded caused great Commotions whereupon he went back again the same year After the Death of his Brother Richard the first John succeeded and came again into Ireland setling the Country and Banishing the Lacies for some Misdemeanors but upon submission gave them pardon though not without paying him great Fines In 1300. Edward the first sent for Aid out of Ireland to Assist him in his Wars against Scotland and after his Death the Scots invaded Ireland being Assisted by the Wild Irish whereby the Country was miserably ruined four Princes of Connaught joyning with them but by the valour of the English eleven Thousand were slain in one Fight among whom were the King of Connaught Okelley a great Lord and divers others The Death of Okelly is somewhat Remarkable The Lord Bremingham Commander of the English Army sent one John Hussey his Esquire into the Field to view the dead Bodies and search whether his old mortal Enemy Okelley were slain among the rest Hussey goes only with one man to turn up the Bodies and was presently espied by Okelley that lay lurking behind a bush who knowing Hussey to be a stout man came towards him and said Hussey thou seest I am Armed at all points as well as my Esquire thou art naked with thy Page only so that had I not a great kindness for thee for thine own sake I would slay thee for the sake of thy Master but if thou wilt come and serve me as I desire I promise upon St. Patricks Staff to make thee a Lord of a greater Estate in Connanght than thy Master hath in Ireland These words not prevailing upon Hussey a lusty fellow belonging to Okelly began to reproach him for refusing so fair an offer so that Hussey had now three to deal with he therefore dispatcht this fellow first and then struck Okelleys Esquire such a blow under the Ear that he laid him for dead Lastly he fell upon Okelley himself and instantly slew him and then perceiving the Esquire who was only astonished with the stroke to revive again he caused him to carry his Lords Head upon a Truncheon and presented it to Bremingham who for this notable Service Knighted Hussey and gave him large possessions the Successors of whose Family were after Lords of Galtrim In King Edward the Seconds Reign the Lord Roger Mortimer was sent over Justice into Ireland at which time Edward Bruce Brother to Robert Bruce King of Scotland who had taken several places and caused himself to be Crowned King of Ireland was slain in a great Battle wherein the Scots were vanquished one Mawpas an Englishman who rushed into the midst of the fight to encounter Bruce hand to hand was in the search found dead fallen upon the Body of Bruce This year 1320. An University was erected in Dublin about which time the Lady Alice Kettell with her two Companions Petronelle and Basell were charged with Inchantment and that they had conference every Night with a Spirit called Robin Artisson to whom they Sacrificed in the Highway 9 red Cocks and 11 Peacocks eyes and that this Lady swept the Streets of Kilkenny in the Twilight bringing all the filth to the Door of her Son William Outlaw muttering these words 'To the House of William my Son ' Go all the Wealth of Kilkenny Town The Lady made her escape but in searching her Closet saith my Author they found a Wafer of Sacramental Bread having the Devils Name stamped thereon instead of Jesus Christ and an Ointment wherewith she greazed a staff upon which she galloped through thick and thin as she pleased Petronelle was burnt at Kilkenny upon this account In the Reign of King Edward the Third 1329. The Irish in Meath and Leinster Rebelled and Vanquisht the Earl of Ormond burning fourscore English in a Church and committing woful outrages at length the Citizens of Wexford falling upon them slew 400 the rest being drowned in the Water of Slane At this time Sir Robert Savage a wealthy Knight dwelt in Ulster who to secure himself from the incursions of the Irish began to fortifie his Mannor Houses with Castles and Ditches exhorting his Son and Heir to do the same for the benefit of himself and Posterity Father says young Savage I remember the Proverb better a Castle of Bones than of Stones where I have the strength and courage of Men by the Grace of God I will never incumber my self with dead Walls my Fort shall be the youthful Blood of my Friends and where I have room to fight The Father in a fume left building but the neglect of this Counsel was the Ruin of that and many other English Families in Ulster This Savage having raised Forces against the Irish gave to every man before the fight a stout Cup of Aquavitae Wine or strong Ale and provided Plenty of Beef Venison and Fowls for their return which his Captains disliking considering the uncertainty of War since the Enemy might happen to feast upon the same they being so few against a multitude of Irish he smiling Gentlemen said he You are too full of Envy this World is but an Inn wherein we have no certain Interest but are only Tenants at the will of the Lord. If it please him to command us hence as from our Lodging and set other good fellows in our Room what hurt can it be for us to leave them meat for their Suppers Let them stoutly win it and eat it If they should come to our Houses we could not but welcom them with what the Countrey affords and therefore much good may it do them with all my Heart however I have such confidence in your Courage and Gallantry that I doubt
Chief Justice Nugent Lord Chief Baron Rice and Neagle drew up the Form of an Act which in the nature of it gave the whole Lands of Ireland into the Hands of the King and though the Catholicks were to have but half their Estates yet the other part was under such qualifications as the King might dispose of them to those who were most Obedient and Useful to him This was brought over by these 3 who were called the Irish Ambassadors and at length approved of by Father Peters and presented to the King with strong Assurances that if he would but call a Parliament there they could have whom they pleased elected all Corporations being already put into Popish hands and all the Sheriffs of Counties Papists who would be sure to make returns as they thought fit King James who was become a Vassal to the French King durst not refuse their Proposals for fear of disobliging him and having as he constantly did debated it in the Cabinet Councel it was resolved to be brought into the Privy Council which the King did accordingly and being read the Lord Bellasis passionately inveighed against it saying That if such Designs as these were incouraged the Catholicks of England had best in time look out for another Country and not stay to be a mad Sacrifice for Irish Rebels others seconded it and none durst offer any thing in behalf of it afterwards the 3 Irish Ambassadors had Audience at the Council where Rice spoke in the behalf of the rest but the Lords Bellasis and Pours called him Fool and Knave even in the Kings presence Bellasis bidding them make hast to the Fool their Master and bid him next Message he sent to imploy Wiser Men and upon a more honest Errand and every one fell so violently upon them that they kissed the Kings Hand and departed he himself not speaking a word but instantly breaking up the Council And the noise of their Business being known abroad the Boys in the Streets run after the Coach where Rice and Nugent at any time were with Potatoes stuck in sticks crying out make way for the Irish Ambassadors In 1688. The Joyful News of the Birth of the supposed Prince of Wales arrived there about the same time with that of the Imprisoning the Bishopâ— in the Tower which filled them with such exaltations that they could hardly bear it Glorying They had now a Prince who would become a Patron to Holy Church and perpetuate the Catholick Religion to all Posterity by the utter extirpation of Heresie It is remarkable that as soon as ever it was publickly declared the Queen was with Child the Irish throughout the Nation were so confident that it would be a Son that they offered to lay 20 Guinies to one of it which the English were very sensible they would never have ventured had they not been acquainted with the Mystery of it And now they express their Rejoycing with Bonfires Bagpipes Drinking and Revelling for several Nights together forcing the English to come out of their Beds and to drink the King and Princes good Health with Confusion to their Enemies upon their Knees which they well understood were the Protestants and such as would not comply were called Fanatick Oliverian Dogs and they hardly refrain'd from Murthering them and the Officers of Christ-Church were committed to the Stocks because Tyrconnel fancyed that the Bells did not Ring merrily enough on that occasion But the Scripture says The Joy of the Wicked is short and so theirs proved for a while after a Ship came from Amsterdam to Dublin with Letters from a Friend of Tyrconnels to acquaint him that he did imagine the Prince of Orange had a Design against England since none in Holland could guess what else the great and hasty preparations made there should mean Tyrconnel sent this Letter to the Secretary of State who shewed it the King but they made no other use of it than to Scorn and Redicule his Intelligence as the Secretary did in a Letter sent back to him But fresh Suspicions daily arose and the matter seemed still more probable whereupon the huffing Irish called the English Rebels saying they were sure they would joyn with the Prince and as certain that they would be beaten and be served the same sauce as Monmoth was and Bloodily and Maliciously exprest themselves against the Prince whose Head they threatned to stick on a Pole and carry it round the Kingdom and after K. James Proclamation came to them L. C. Justice Nugent that Confident Ignorant Irishman in his Charge to the Jury among other Vilifying Reproaches upon the P. of Orange Audaciously and Impudently added that now the States of Holland were weary of their Prince they had sent him over to be drest as Monmouth was but that was too good for him and that he doubted not before a Month passed to hear that they were hung up all over England in Bunches like Ropes of Onions At this time of his present Majesties Descent into England the Popish Army in Ireland were about 8000 whereof near half were sent into England to assist K. James and the other were dispersed up and down the Kingdom being but an handful in comparison of the Protestants who had Arms enough in Dublin alone to have Mastered them and it was proposed by some when they heard the King had sent Commissioners to Treat with his Highness the Prince of Orange to Seize the Castle of Dublin with the Stores and Ammunition which had been very Feasible by securing Tyrconnel who had only 600 Men to guard him and they by the continual Expresses from England of the wonderful Progress of the Princes Forces were so generally Discouraged that they declared themselves desirous to lay down their Arms proposing to themselves only to remain in the same condition they were in K. Charles II. time and Tyrconnel himself commanded the Protestants to signifie the same to their Friends in England that he was willing to part with the Sword upon those Terms with K. James his leave For though he received the first News of the Princes Landing with the greatest Disdain and Contempt Boasting that he was able to raise an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men on a Months notice and gave Commissions to every one that would accept of them yet the additional Accounts of his Highnesses daily Success raised such a Consternation in him that by all his Actions it did sufficiently appear he had no thoughts of standing out and all his Discourses expressed his Disordered and ill Apprehension of the present Tendency of Affairs which was much increased by the dreadful Alarm that the Protestants had from a Letter sent to the Earl of Mount Alexander giving him an account of an Horrible Massacre designed upon the Protestants on December 9. being Sunday the Letter came to Dublin the Friday before and the News thereof so Terrified the Protestants that the next Day above 3000 got away into the Ships that were in the Harbor at that time
which were so cramm'd that they were ready to be stifled Deserting their Houses and all that ever they had in the World and running to the Ships with scarce Cloaths on their Backs and went to the Isle of Man in England or the North of Ireland such strange Confusions and Distractions did the Dread of the Barbarous and cruel usage which they feared from the Irish produce many of them having been eye witnesses of the Horrid Murders and Ravages committed by them in 1641. Tyrconnel having notice of this sudden Hurry on Sunday Morning sent two Protestant Lords to perswade the People not to go away and ordered a Yatch to fetch back them that were gone but both proved ineffectual He then sent to some of the Principal Protestants in Dublin assuring them with many Oaths and Protestations that he had an utter Abhorrence of any such Design as Massacring the Protestants and beg'd them to perswade their their Friends not to remove The dreadful Tydings Arrived at other places in Ireland that very Sunday Morning while the People were at Church and struck them with such Horror and Amazement for fear of present Destruction that many for hast got out of the Windows others were ready to be squeezed to Death at the Doors many left their Hats and Periwigs behind them yea the Cloaths on their Backs were torn to pieces in the Crowd others were trampled under Foot and the Women in worse condition then the Men Nay for several Sundays after the Protestants carried Arms with them to Church the Minister himself being Armed while Preaching whether the Design was real or no or whether this Discovery prevented it is not known but certainly the dread of it produced the greatest Horror Grief and Despair that Humane Nature could be capable of In this Consternation things continued till Janunuary when advice coming of K. James his flying to France the Irish Lords moved Tyrconnel to deliver up the Sword which many thought he would have been easily perswaded to since at the beginning of the Alarm it was believed that he would be the first Man in the Government who would endeavour his escaping having already packt up most of his Goods of Value and shipt some of his Treasure His whole Council were of the Opinion that he should surrender and he finding himself so very weak and so much in the power of the Protestants protested to them with the deepest Oaths and Curses according to his usual Acts of Dissimulation Falshood and Flattery That he would be rid of the Government very willingly so as it might be with Honour that it was easy for him to ruine and destroy the Kingdom and make it not worth a Groat but impossible to preserve it for his Master At another time he told them that he could not deliver the Sword with Honour till it was demanded and askt them whether they would have him throw it over the Castle Wall for there was none to take it Some imagined that he intended in earnest to have parted with it especially if it had been demanded before K. James went into France having likewise before procured Letters to be sent to England to excuse the Male Administrations in the Government and that it was the Opinion of all the Catholicks that the Kingdom would be ruined and themselves also if they yielded not to the Prince of Orange that they would be contented to be reduced to the same State they were in when King James came to the Crown c. But after all the generality of the Protestants were of Opinion that he meant nothing less only designed to gain time and delude them till he had got a kind of an Army together to master them and they were confirmed therein by his Secret giving out 500 Commissions of one sort and another in a Day The Irish likewise assembled in great Bodies and and were called Rapparees Armed with Skeins and Half-Pikes killing the Cattle of the English and stealing an 100 or 2 at once in a Night so that many Substantial Protestants who owned several Hundreds of black Cattel and Sheep c. had not one left and for 40 Miles together in the Province of Munster the Irish Cabbins were full of Beef stoln from the English which they did not so much as bestow salt upon but hung it up in the Smoak so that it lookt and stunk as bad as Carrion It was affirmed that in 9 Days the Irish stole eleven thousand Cattel in that one Province and at length to compleat the miseries of the Protestants they Robbed and Pillaged their Houses so that those who had lived in great Hospitality and Plenty now wanted Bread to eat and had nothing left to preserve them from Starving All this while the New Levies were Mustering every Day the Priests putting off their Wolves Clothing and with their Swords and Periwigs turn'd Commanders and Exercised the Irish Soldiers All the Scum and Rascality of the Country were made Officers every where Papists inlisted themselves and the Priests suffered no Man to come to 〈…〉 that did not Arm himself with a Skeine and 〈…〉 Pike the better Sort of their Captains and i◠〈…〉 or Officers had been Foot-men or Servants to Protestants most of them Sons or Descendants of the Rebels in 1641. who had Murthered so many Protestants many were Outlawed and Condemned Persons for Torying and Robbing no less then 14 Notorious Tories were Officers in Cormuck O Neals Regiment And these New Commissioned Officers were obliged without pay to subsist their Men as they called it being between 40 and 50000 for three Months a thing impossible for them to do since most of them were not able to maintain themselves which gave mortal apprehensions to the Protestants who had reason to fear the Destruction that immediately fell on them when they saw their Enemies in Arms and their own Lives and Goods in the power and at the Mercy of those Thieves Robbers and Tories now Armed and Authorized from whom they could scarce secure themselves when it was in their power to pursue and hang them And this was acknowledged by one of their own Justices who in his Charge at the Quarter-Sessions declared That among other Conveniences which they received from this Government one was That it had rid them of Tories for all these were taken into the Kings Army Tyrconnel and his Council were still in amaze and Confusion and all unanimous to submit except Nugent and Rice but on a sudden they came to a Conclusion that might quiet the Irish Lords who were for Submission to the Prince and Goverrment of England and the Project was That the Lord Montjoy a Protestant and the Lord Chief â—â—ron Rice should be sent over to the late King 〈…〉 in France to Represent to him The im 〈…〉 â—â—ility of their holding out against England 〈…〉 â—he necessity to yield to the time and make 〈◊〉 best Terms they could till a better Opportunity presented to serve himself of his Irish Subjects This
of Oxford Manchester Scarborough and several other Persons of Quality and was received by the Officers Soldiers and People with all manner of Demonstrations of Joy the latter looking on His Majesty as their good Angel who was come to deliver them from worse than Aegyptian Bondage Next day several of the Nobility Officers Gentry and Clergy presented a very Loyal Address to the King which he graciously accepted His Majesty was not idle and seeing things did not go on so fast as he desired exprest some Dissatisfaction saying That he did not come there to let grass grow under his Feet he made his word good for having taken a View of his Army which with the great Recruits lately sent from England amounted to about 36000 Compounded of English Dutch Danes Germans and French His Majesty advanced toward Dundalk The certain News of K.W. Landing coming to Dublin it was moved by some Irish in K. James's Council That the Protestants should be shut up in Churches and Hospitals and then if they lost the day to set fire to all and destroy the People and City together But the Irish Papists both in the City and Army applyed themselves to the King and told him They should then be as much sufferers as the Protestants and that they would not draw a Sword in his Defence unless all thoughts of burning the City were laid aside and declared further that as soon as they heard of any appearance of Fire they would Desert his Service and fly to K. Williams Mercy which manaces put a stop to this Horrid Project Before this a Camp had been laid out by the Irish about Ardee and K. James had ordered his Army to Rendevouze there from several parts of the Kingdom and June 16. he Marched out of Dublin to joyn them with about 6000 French Foot most old Soldiers well Armed and Clad The whole Irish Army incamped made about 27000 all well Clothed and in good Heart both Horse and Foot besides 15000 more that remained in Garrisons and the same day 6000 of the Country Militia cameto quarter in the City The Protestants expected the Irish would have been much dejected upon K. Will Arrival but on the contrary they Triumpht and Rejoyced as if they had got him in a Pound and the day were their own assuring themselves That either the French Fleet would prevent his return to England or that an Insurrection would be made there boasting that an Hundred Thousand Men were ready to Rise and declare for a Common-wealth The Protestants knew not what to believe for they were kept as Prisoners of War and could know no more than they please to tell them but they were more afraid that some desperate Persons had undertaken to destroy K. William because their confidence was so great that some told their Protestant Friends They would be glad to go to Mass within a Twelvemonth When K. James was gone Collonel Lutterel who was left Governor Ordered all Persons that walkt in the Streets without Swords or Bagonets to be taken up and secured whereby all Protestants who were suffered to wear none were put into Custody After which followed a Proclamation That not above 5 Protestants besides the Family should meet together in any place upon pain of Death So that now they durst not go to Church as they had hitherto done the Churchmen still remained with them though they had lost all their Maintenance by the Irish Parliament except what was given them by the People Dr. King was sent Prisoner to the Castle and few Protestants durst walk the Streets the method that K. James and the French proposed to deal with K. Williams Army was To make good the Passes upon the Newry Mountains and at Dundalk To spin out the War and dispute their ground without coming to a General Battel till they came to the Boyn and there to Defend the Pass but still without a Battle if they could help it much hoping for some Extraordinary thing from a Party in England c. But K. William soon broke all their Measures for resolving to lose no time he came to the Camp at Lough-britland where having taken a Critical Review of every Regiment His Majesty and Prince George had their moving Houses set up and never after lay out of the Camp during their-stay in Ireland The King ordered a Party to go out to discover the motions of the Enemy and heard they were Marching off from Dundalk toward Ardee Upon which the English Army advanced to Newry and from thence to Dundalk and so forward to Ardee the Irish still retiring and at length passing over the Boyn upon which the whole Army move in 3 Lines toward the Boyn and by the way some Dragoons found in an Old House about 200 Scythes stretcht out upon Beams which the Enemy had either forgot or left behind for hast and one of them being brought to the King he smiled and said It was a Desperate Weapon The Irish Incamped on the other side the Boyn and the King from an Hill took a view of them and then rid along the River side to make more strict Observations during which a Cannon Ball from the Enemy kill'd 2 Horses and a Man about 100 yards from the King and instantly comes another which had like to have been a fatal Bullet for it grazed upon the Bank of the River and in the rising slanted upon the Kings right shoulder and tore out a piece of his Coat and also the Skin and Flesh and afterward broke the Head of a Gentlemans Pistol A Gentleman seeing his Majesty struck rid up and put his Handkerchef upon the place his Majesty took little notice of it but rid on about 40 yards further the Enemies Cannon firing upon them all the while and killed 2 of the Guards and 9 Horses disturbing the rest which the Irish perceiving set up a prodigious shout all over the Camp as if our Army had been destroyed The King went to change his Coat and get his Shoulder drest and then rid about to see the Army After which a Council of War was called and his Majesty declared That he was resolved to pass the River next day and accordingly all things were provided every Man having a green Bough or Sprig in his Hat the Enemy wearing pieces of Paper in theirs the word that Night was Westminster and about 12 at Night rid with Torches quite through the Army The next Morning July 1. the Dutch Blew Guards took the River first some 8 or 10 a breast being presently almost up to the middle the Enemy stood on the other side but did not fire till our Men were toward the middle of the River and then a whole Peal of shot came from the Hedges Brest-works Houses and all about but only one Man fell and another staggered a Lieutenant of Granadeers was the first that got footing on the other side who instantly drew up 2 Files of Men then stoopt and the Enemy fired over him from the next
the Blessing of God Succeeded so far he doubted not but by Gods Assistance to free them absolutely and that in a short time from Popish Tyranny which was his design in coming They then desired his Majesties leave to appoint a day of Publick Thanksgiving which was done accordingly The Irish went away in such haste that they left 16000 l. in brass Money in the Treasury and a great quantity of French Souses of the first of which K. James coined above eleven Hundred Thousand Pound The half Crowns of which were now cryed down for pence Yet this did not grate so heavily upon the People as his late taking away all the Protestant Staple Goods as Wool Hydes and Tallow to send to France in exchange for Wine and Linnen for his Army Their Tanned Leather was also taken away for the use of the Soldiers The Revenue he raised otherwise was by a Subsidy granted by Parliament of Twenty Seven Thousand Pound a Month for 13 Months which fell severely upon the Protestants who were forced to pay ready Mony though by Plundring they were generally deprived of their Stocks Rents and Incomes and to shew what future Security they were like to have for their Estates K. James by Proclamation under pretence of his Prerogative Royal laid a Tax of 20000 l. a Month for 3 Months upon Goods and Chattels that granted by Parliament being only upon Land this way of Leavying Money startled every body the pretended Parliament was then in being and adjourned till Jan. 12. 1689 which happened to be about the very time when the K. and his Council were upon this Project some in the Council opposed it alledging There was no need of levying Money by extraordinary ways when it might be had otherwise and that it would cause his Enemies to say that he affected Arbitrary Power but he was very angry with those that spake against it saying That they had made him believe it was a branch of his Prerogative to levy Money and it he could not do that he could do nothing And thereupon Popish Commissioners were appointed to assess it who never failed to lay the greatest burden upon their Protestant Neighbours who in effect paid all the Taxes that K. James ever receiv'd in Ireland July 7. K. William published a Declaration assuring all Labourers Soldiers Farmers Ploughmen and Courtiers as also all Citizens Tradesmen Townsmen and Artificers of his Royal Protection who should return to their Abodes by Aug. 1. and deliver their Arms to the Justices of Peace and that they should be secured in their legal Rights Goods Stocks and Chattels c. The next day the King took a view of his Army by distinct Regiments and though it rained very fast yet His Majesty sate on Horseback in the midst of it It was observable that with heat dust and marching most of the Soldiers had got very sore Lips nor was His Majesty himself exempt from this inconvenience for he had toil'd and laboured as much as the best of them July 9. The King had an account of the misfortune of the English and Dutch Fleets and at the same time he divided his Army going himself with the greatest part Westward and sending Lieut. Gen. Douglas with 3 Regiments of Horse 2 of Dragoons and 10 of Foot toward Athlone about 50 miles from Dublin In their march they took 2 Spies with Letters from Athlone one was to advise one Tute to defend an Island nigh Mullingar in which the Governor had store of Horses and other things of value Another Letter was from an Officer at Athlone to his Father in the Country telling him That the Ld Tyrconnel D. of Berwick and several other Great Officers were come to Lymerick with a good Body of Horse and that all their Army would be there in 2 or 3 days so that they would make either a Hog or a Dog of it as he exprest it That the Dauphin was landed in England with a great Army That the French had beat the English and Dutch Fleets That D. Schomberg was dead and it was said the Prince of Orange was so too That their King was gone to France but it was no great matter where he was for they were better without him Then he advised his Father not to take a Protection from the English because those that did so were lookt upon as Enemies And after his Letter was sealed he had writ on the outside Just now we have an account froâ— Gentleman that is come to us from Dublin that Orange is â—â—tainly dead so that all will be well again Such were their hoâ—â— and expectations at that time yet we find that the Irish had 〈◊〉 a mean opinion of K. James some of them saying That he 〈◊〉 fitter to be a Monk than a King and Sarsheld sometime afâ—â—â— ward speaking of the Action at the Boyn swore If the Eâ— woâ—â— change Kings they would fight it over again and beat us Sâ— material is the courage and countenance of the Chief Commandeâ— in an Army especially a King which makes his Nobility Gentryâ— and Officers strive to imitate his example by which he is beâ—â—â— served and commonly more fortunate July 17. The Army encamped within a mile of Athlone tâ—â— Enemy playing the great Guns on them as they marched with littâ—â— damage The General sent a Drum to Summon the Town but oâ—â— Col. Grace the Governor fired a Pistol at him and sent word Theâ—â— were the Terms he was for Upon which the English were contriving to raise Batteries but the Enemy having made Provision for their coming and Lieue Gen. Douglas not having Cannon large enough to endamage the Town and also very little Bread it was resolved by a Council of War to remove from the Town which was done at 12 at Night with all their Baggage the Enemy not so much as firing one Gun at them and soon after they joyn'd the King's Army July 9. His Majesty encamp'd at Cromlin 2 miles West of Dublin where he setled the method of granting Protections to those Irish that would submit to the Government and gave Orders that upon pain of Death no Soldier should dare Plunder the Country or any protected Person nor to take violently the least value from either Protestant or Papist abuses of this kind having been lately complained of Two days after the King passing by the Ness saw a Soldier robbing a poor Woman which inraged His Majesty so much that he beat him with his Cane and Commanded that he and others found guilty of the like disobedience should be Executed which had so good effect upon that Army that no Pilfering happened for a long time after The K. had notice in his march of the confusion of the Enemy and their resort to Lymerick and People from Kilkenny gave an account That some Irish Horse and Foot were there still but with thoughts of quitting it upon our approach which they did after having 〈◊〉 the Inhabitants to give them a Sum of Money to save