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
pay tribute whereupon the Deputy caused him to be taken and tried by a Jury of Common Souldiers and then to be hanged up dividing his lands between some of the Mahons and the English Then Brian O Roch fearing he should be served in the same manner raised a Rebellion and being defeated fled into Scotland but at the Queens request was delivered up and was arraigned at Westminster for dragging the Queens Picture at an Horse-tail and for giving the Spaniards entertainment which being told him by an Interpreter for he could speak no English he said he would not be tryed unless the Queen her self were Judge but being informed this was the Law he only said ' If it must be so it must be so and was condemned and executed at Tyburn which he valued as little as if all had been in Jest In 1596 Tyrone with considerable forces raised a Rebellion and was proclaimed Traytor after which he gave the English a great defeat whereupon all Ulster Munster and Connaught were in Arms against the English at length the Earl of Essex was sent against him who instead of fighting made a Truce with him But afterwards the English so prevailed that Tyrone finding his condition desperate resolved to throw himself upon the Queens mercy without Conditions hereupon being admitted to the presence of the Deputy at the very entry of the Room he fell on his Knees begging pardon for his great fault against God and a most bountiful Prince the next day the Deputy took him along with him to Dublin intending to send him to England but before he could come thither the Queen died In King James his Reign Tyrone and all his adherents absolutely submitted to his Majesties pleasure who by an Act of Oblivion published by Proclamation under the Great Seal did forgive and utterly extinguish all offences against the Crown and all particular Trespasses between Subject and Subject to all who would come into the Justice of Assize by such a day and claim the benefit thereof by which all the Irishry who in former times were generally left under the Tyranny of their Lords Cheiftains and had no defence nor justice from the Crown were now received into his Majesties immediate protection The publick peace being thus established publick Justice was next setled by dividing all Ireland into shires and erecting Circuits in every Province and governing all things therein according to the Laws of England and lastly the Estates and possessions of the English as well as Irish were setled throughout the Kingdom to the great comfort and security of all men and thereupon ensued the calmest and most universal peace for above forty years that ever was seen in Ireland Yet the foundation thereof was not so strongly laid but it received a shake by the first Storm that threatned England For being ingaged in a War with France and Spain about the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the I. 1627. there was occasion for sending some additional Forces into Ireland for the security thereof upon which a Proposition was made to the chief of the Irish Nation by the Lord Deputy Falkland for contributing a competent sum of money toward the maintenance of those Forces to be established by the way of a standing Army to which they would not condescend without a Toleration of Religion first obtained though Arch-bishop Usher then Lord Primate of all Ireland in a great Assembly of Irish and English at Dublin used many cogent Arguments to persuade them to it and among others That their being Romanists would not exempt them the more from the danger of a Common Enemy as they might conjecture from the answer which the Duke of Medina Sidonia gave in this case in 1588. That his Sword knew no difference between a Catholick and an Heretick but that he came to make way for his Master Divers other notable instances he gave whereby he prophetically intimated what afterward fell upon Ireland in 1641. when above one hundred and fifty thousand Brittish Planters were most inhumanely massacred by the outragious Irish without the least provocation given to prepetrate such wicked and unparallell'd acts of Barbarism But before I proceed to give an account of that dismal Tragedy I will make some brief deduction of some former Transactions in this Kingdom and discover the beginnings and progress of the General Rebellion in 1641. Ireland for near five hundred years has continued under the Soveraignty of the Crown of England and presently after its first Conquest was planted with English Colonies long since worn out or generally become Irish and therefore hath in this last age been supplied with great numbers of People from England and Scotland to settle there The Irish as we have related want not many Fabulous inventions to magnifie the Original of their Nation but whether the Scythians Gauls Africans Goths or some other Eastern Nations that antiently inhabited Spain came and sate down there is very uncertain yet their Manners Customs words names and still retained Ceremonies seem very much to demonstrate their first rise from some of those People For it may be conjectured that as the Eastern Parts of Ireland bordering upon England were first planted by the old Brittains several of their words being still in use and as the Northern Parts were first inhabited by the Scythians from whom it was called Scyteland or Scotland So the South and more Western Ports thereof were peopled by the Maritime Parts of Spain being the next Continent not by the present Spanish Nation who are now a different mixture of People but it is probable by the Gauls who anciently inhabited all the Sea-coasts of Spain The whole Kingdom of Ireland was divided into five principal Cheiftains or Commanders that is Macmorough of Leinster Mac-cartye of Munster O Neal of Ulster O Connor of Connaught and O Malaghlin of Meath who were called Kings but as they had neither Hereditary Right nor Lawful Election so they were neither Anointed nor Crowned but made their way by the Sword and were invested with certain Barbarous Ceremonies and ruled with all manner of Tyranny the People being absolute slaves to all the savage Customs practised under their Dominion which continued till the reign of Henry II. King of England in whose time the undertaking for the Conquest of Ireland was very Successful being made by most Powerful though private Adventurers upon this occasion Dormet Mac-Morough King of Leinster being forced to fly his Countrey by the Kings of Conaught and Meath repaired to King Heary then personally attending his Wars in France and earnestly implored his Aid for recovering his Territories most Injuriously as he pretended taken from him The King refused to imbark in the quarrel yet graciously Recommended the Justice of his Cause to all his Loving Subjects and assured them that whoever would Assist Dermot should have free Liberty to Transport their Forces and be held to do very acceptable Service therein Whereupon Strangebow Earl of Pembroke resolved as a private
afforded none at all for a long time though the Fryars in their white Habits went in Solemn Procession and threw Holy Water therein It would be almost endless to give a particular account of all the Detestable Cruelties and Murders acted by these incarnate Devils upon the Innocent English of whom they destroyed near three Hundred Thousand in a few Months being chiefly Animated thereto by their Villainous Priests upon the account of their Religion and therefore they often declared their Despight to the Bible as being directly contrary to their Cursed Principles and Practices In one place they burnt two English Bibles saying It was Hell Fire they burnt They laid another in a puddle of Water and then stamping on it said a Plague on it This Bible hath bred all the quarrel A Rebel perswaded a Man and his Wife to joyn with them in the Massacre who protested that rather than they would forsake their Religion they would dye upon the Sword 's point he would then have had the Woman burn her Bible but she refused saying she would rather dye than do it Whereupon they were both cruelly Murthered they Murthered Mr. Bingham a Famous Minister and cutting off his Head put a Gag in his Mouth and laying the leaf of a Bible before him bid him Preach saying his Mouth was open and wide enough During these horrid Barbarities there were several Indications of Divine Displeasure apparent in divers places the truth of which was sworn to and affirmed by Witnesses of Credit and Reputation As in the Province of Munster near the Silver Works where while the Rebels were Massacring a great number of Protestant Men Women and Children on the Lords Day Afternoon a most Loud and Dreadful Noise and Storm of Thunder Lightning Wind Hailstones and Rain happened though it was fair all the Day before which much affrighted the Murtherers themselves who confess it to be a sign of Gods Anger against them for their Bloody Cruelty At Portnedown Bridge where so many thousand Protestants were drowned the remaining Inhabitants were so Terrified with the noise of Spirits and Visions for Revenge that they durst not continue thereabout and some of the Rebels themselves said to others that the Blood of some of those that were knockt on the Head and afterward drowned in this River remained on the Bridge and could not be washt away There appeared sometimes Men sometimes Women Breast high in the River with Hands lifted up crying out with fearful Schreicks and Voices Revenge Revenge Revenge and it was not long ere Divine Justice overtook them Many thousands of the most Notorious Murtherers who perished by the Sword and Plague that followed it so that it was computed that in a few years scarce any of these Miscreants remained alive but were sent to their own place to give an account of their Tremendous Brutalities The King having made a Truce with the Scots who were entred with an Army into England to demand the Redress of their Grievances and the Forces on both sides being Disbanded he made a Journey into Scotland in the beginning of August 1641. and continued there till the latter end of October when this Horrid Rebellion happened Owen O Covally the first Discoverer of the Plot brought the first Letters to London and received as a Reward 500 l. in Money and an Annuity of 200 l. a year and presently the Parliament provided for the Relief of Ireland and the Lords of the Council and the Lords Justices there had with the Arms that were in Dublin Armed many well-affected Gentlemen and several Active Commanders were sent out of the City to defend the adjoyning Places from the Approach of the Rebels at which time the Parliament sent over Twenty Thousand Pounds for a present supply but could not relieve them with any Forces till December following when Sir Simon Harcourt Arrived with Seasonable Supplies of men and money and Raised the Seige of Drogheda which had been much straitned by Sir Phelim O Neal and the Rebels and the English recovered Dundalk Neury and several other Towns and Castles out of their Hands But though the Rebellion brake out in October 23. Yet the King who was now returned from Scotland did not proclaim them Rebels till Jan. 1. following and then gave strict Command that only 40 Proclamations should be printed and that none of them should be Published without the Kings Express Order which the Parliament among other things afterwards Taxed him with Who Replyed thereto That he was unwilling to make the Irish Desperate and utterly undoe his Protestant Subjects who were then too weak to withstand so Potent a Rebellion and that the Lords Justices of Ireland required only 20 as many of themselves well knew Yet this proceeding unhappily increased the Jealousies that began to arise between the King and his English Parliament because it was publickly discourst that it had not been done at all but that some Worthy Protestant Lords had earnestly advised him to proclaim them speedily that a better course might be taken against them and to wash off that foul Stain from himself by prosecuting severely those wicked Villains who reported every where That they had Authority from the King to Seise upon the Holds of the English Protestants that they were the Queens Souldiers and rise to maintain the Kings Prerogative against the Puritan Parliament of England That they told the poor Protestants it was for no purpose to fly for safety into England for that Kingdom would be as much distrest as theirs and that the King intended to forsake his Parliament in England and make War against them and that then they would come over having done their their Work in Ireland and help the King against his English Parliament The Lords therefore advised him by all means to purge himself of these Accusations than which there could not be greater on Earth Soon after the Earl of Leicester was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the Earl of Strafford being Beheaded some time before at Tower Hill But the Relief of that Bleeding Kingdom was much obstructed by the wide Breaches which daily happened between the King and the Parliament particularly upon his going Jan. 4. Attended with 300 Armed Gentlemen into the H. of Commons and Demanding 5 Members to be delivered him which the Parliament declared to be An High Breach of their Priviledges a great Scandal to the King and his Government a Seditious Act manifestly tending to the Subversion of the Peace and an Injury and Dishonour to the said Members there being no Legal charge or accusation against them and that there could be no Vindication of those Priviledges unless his Majesty would discover the Names of those who advised him to such unlawful Courses After this the Parliament considered of a Bill for Pressing Souldiers to be sent out of Scotland to Ireland as being near but the King excepted against it while it lay in the House of Lords as a Diminution to his Prerogative Whereupon the Parliament in
their Petition to him Asserted That the King by taking notice of a Bill while in Debate in the House of Lords had broken the Fundamental Priviledge of Parliament which he ought not to do concerning any Bill till it be presented to him in due course of Parliament and desired Reparation They then desired that an Army of Scots should be sent thither and that they should have the keeping of the Town and Castle of Carick-fergus but the King said that he doubted this might be to the Damage of England The Scots Commissioners replyed That they were sorry his Majesty being their Native King should repose less Trust in them than their Naighbouring Nation had freely done So that at length this was granted It was thought to be the most Feasible way for Reducing Ireland that proportions of Land there should be shared among English Adventurers proportional to those Sums of Money they should Subscribe that so whosoever in Person or Purse should assist in Conquering the Bloody Rebels might be Recompensed if the Work were done and Propositions were framed in Parliament to that purpose which the King confirmed Though at first he laught at them and was heard to say That they were like to him who Sold the Bears Skin before the Bear was killed At length an Act was passed for impowring the Parliament to carry on that War till Ireland should be declared wholy Subdued and that no Peace nor Cessation of Arms should ever be made with the Rebels without consent of both Houses of Parliament The King then offered to go in Person thither but the Parliament thought it not fit to hazard his Person in such an Expedition The Queen about February went to Holland carrying with her most of the Crown Jewels which she had pledged for Money and Arms for the King her Husband and for which she was afterwards voted a Traytor by the Parliament the King having taken leave of her at Dover went with the Prince and Duke of York to Theobalds and from thence to Newmarket where both Houses Presented him a Declaration sent by two Lords in which they Repeat the old Grievances the War of Scotland the Rebellion in Ireland his entring the House of Commons his causless fear of Residing near London to the perplexing of the Kingdom the hindring the Relief of Ireland and incouraging the ill affected Party in the Kingdom To which the King answered with great Indignation extenuating some things and excusing others accusing them for raising needless Fears and Jealousies After which the King passed farther North to York upon which the Parliament voted That the Kings Absence so far Remote from his Parliament is not only an Obstruction but may be a Destruction to the Affairs of Ireland That when the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall declare what the Law of the Land is to have this not only questioned and controverted but contradicted and a command that it should not be obeyed is an High Breach of the Priviledge of Parliament That they which advise the K. to absent himself from his Parliament are Enemies to the Peace of this Kingdom and justly to be suspected as Favourers of the Rebellion in Ireland From York the King sent a Message to the Parliament April 8. 1642. That he would go in Person over to Ireland against those Bloody Rebels and intended to raise a Guard for his Person in Cheshire to carry thither of 2000 Foot and 100 Horse whom he would Arm from his Magazine of Hull But the Parliament having Intimation that the K. designed to Seise that Magazine to Arm himself against them sent Sir John Hotham thither who refused to admit him Entrance upon which the K. Proclaimed him Traytor and complained to the Parliament of the Affront who endeavoured to appease him but justified Hothams Act and declared that the Proclaiming him Traytor without process of Law was against the Liberty of the Subject and Laws of the Land The King daily Summoned the Gentry of the Northern Counties to attend him all York as a Guard for his Person which he declared was in danger from the Parliament who thereupon declared That it appears that the King Seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make a War against the Parliament who in all their Consultations and Actions have proposed no other end to themselves but the Care of his Kingdoms and the performance of all Duty and Loyalty to his Person That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the Trust Reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the Dissolution of the Government That whosoever shall Serve and Assist him in such Wars are Traytors by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament 11 Rich. II. and 1 Henry IV. and that such Persons ought to suffer as Traytors the King Justified himself in his Declarations and Proclamations against the Parliament which daily encountred each other So that all things tended to an absolute Rupture and presaged the Calamities of the Civil War which soon after followed For both sides flying to Arms and the Nation being divided into Parties several bloody Battels were fought and the whole Kingdom was in a Flame In 1643. The Parliament of England invited the Scots to come in to their Assistance with an Army of 21000. Horse and Foot ingaging to pay them an Hundred Thousand pound towards the Charge of Raising them On the other side the King to withdraw the Protestant Army out of Ireland for Aiding him against the Scots concluded a Cessation of Arms for a year with those Rebels and 3000 of the English Army were Imbarqued from thence to joyn with the King This Cessation was much complained of by the Parliament since it was not only for the benefit of the Irish Rebels who gave him 3000 l. for the Favour but also directly contrary to the Act which the King hath lately Signed That no Cessation should be made without the consent of both Houses Thus was Assistance brought to either side and that English Army which for almost a year had fought Valiantly and Victoriously against those Rebels was now brought over to fight against the Parliament of England The War still continued with much Vigor and great Slaughter was made throughout the Kingdom yet in the midst thereof some Glimmerings of Peace began to appear for in 1644. Conditions were proposed both by the King and Parliament and a Treaty began at Uxbridge between Commissioners from both Parties during which the care of the War was not neglected on either side the King endeavouring to bring over some Forces from the Duke of Lorrain and some Irish to his Assistance and by his Letters to the Lord Lieutenant to make a Peace with the Rebels or at least to continue the Cessation for a year and to promise and grant them the free Exercise of the Romish Religion assuring them that if by their Assistance he could but finish his War in
Besiege Dungannon but finding little hopes of reducing it quickly he resolves to go to Kilkenny and the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchequeen retiring without hindring his March he took in several strong Towns and Forts and at length Attacks Kilkenny with such Vigor that he took it in 6 days time after which he Besieges Clonmell a strong Garrison during which Colonel Reynolds and Hewson attack Trim and the Lord Broghill Defeats the Bishop of Ross who designed to relieve Clonmell which soon after was taken by Assault and a great carriage made because of their Obstinacy in defending the same After this Cromwell having in 10 Months done the Work of so many years returns to England and Colonel Ireton being made Lord Deputy is sent over thither there being only Lymrick Waterford Galloway and some few Castles in the hands of the Irish the first of which was Surrendred to him Oct. 29. 1651. But he dying Collonel Edmond Ludlow Succeeded him as Lieutenant General of the Army of that Kingdom The War was now almost at at end and the Lord Claurivard being in Galloway sends a Letter to Ludlow to desire him to appoint Commissioners to meet with others for the composure and conclusion of this wasting bloody War which Ludlow refused but sent him word That if the Irish would submit they should have such Articles and Conditions as were fit for them This prevailed on several Parties as the Lord Muskerries Fitz Patricks and the Odroyrs to come in and submit upon condition they might Transport their Forces into the Service of the King of Spain The Earl of Ormond and the Lord Inchequeen not pleased with the sace of Affairs left that Kingdom some time before and went to France and in 1652. the remaining Irish under the Lord Clanrick and having received several Defeats by the English Forces May 12. Galloway was Surrendred and afterward the whole Country was Reduced to the Obedience of the English Parliament Sir Phelim O Neal the Arch-Rebel being likewise taken Hanged and Quartered The last of the Irish who held out in the Boggs and Fastnesses was General O Brian who at length finding the weakness of his Party and weary of his sculking condition obtained the usual Articles of Transportation upon which Articles it was reckoned that from the year 1652. to 1653. near 27000. Irish had departed the Kingdom and the rest were Transported into the Province of Connaught environed on one side by the Sea and lockt up by Rivers and Garrisons on the other out of which they were not to stir under a severe penalty By this means the Country was much Depopulated and the Lord Fleetwood and the Commissioners in Ireland sent over Letters that some English Colonies might be sent thither to inhabit great Priviledges being offered to them that would Transport themselves and accordingly went over to better their Fortunes and in a short time this Harassed and Ruinated Kingdom began to flourish again both in Tillage Buildings and all other Accomodations I have been very brief in relating any thing of the Affairs of England or of the Actions of Oliver Cromwell in this Kingdom having already published 2 Books one the History of the Wars of England with all the most Remarkable passages till the Death of King Charles I. And his Tryal and last Speech at large And another called the History of the Life and Actions of Oliver Cromwell with his Death and Burial both of the same value with this to which I refer the Reader for further satisfaction In 1654. The Lord Fleetwood was Sworn Lord Deputy of Ireland Serjeant Steel was made Lord Chancellor and Serjeant Pepys Lord Chief Justice Collonel Hammond Corbet with others being made of the Privy Council they ordered that March 1. 1654. should be the longest time allowed to the Irish to Transport themselves out of that Kingdom under very severe penalties But a while after Oliver Cromwell having taken the Government upon himself with the Title of Lord Protector in July 1655. Henry Cromwell his Son was made by him Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the place of the Lord Fleetwood all things still continuing very quiet there The same year Arch-Bishop Usher of Armagh dyed a Prelate of incomparable Learning and Piety upon whose Funeral the Protector expended 200 l. After the Death of Oliver Cromwell his Son Richard Succeeded but in a short time was removed from the Government by M. General Lambert and the Army and the Remnant of the Long Parliament restored in 1659. who sent Dispatches to the Lord Henry to Surrender the Government of Ireland to Chancellor Steel and Lord Chief Baron Corbet which he did without opposition and to oblige the Parliament the more signified by an Express that he was preparing to come for England with all speed to give them an account of that Kingdom which he had left in a very good conditon and hoped that his Successor might reap more Content in the Government than he hath found After his Arrival he applyed himself to the Council of State and had Liberty by an Order to go into the Country or whither he pleased But the Nation being Discontented at the continual Fluctuations of the Government the Long Parliament being soon after turned out again by the Army the People generally desired a Free Parliament And General Monk marching out of Scotland with his Army and Reinstating the Parliament and restoring the Excluded Members in March 1659. they Dissolved themselves having sent out Writs for Electing a New Representative to meet April 25 following and about the same time Sir Charles Coot in Ireland declares himself for a Free Parliament and thereupon possest himself of Dublin Castle having before Surprized Galloway from Collonel Sadler in this manner He invited him and his Officers all Zealots for the long Parliament to his House over the Water to be merry which done Sir Charles pretended a desire to drink a glass of Wine in Galloway privately with the Collonel So they two Secretly took a Boat with each a Servant and being on the other side Sir Charles said Collonel Sadler I am resolved for a Free Parliament and to have this Garrison you have a Sword about you draw and fight or else ingage your Honour you will make no disturbance in the Town upon our Admission and my Declaration To which Sadler Surprized and Troubled answered He would Acquiesce upon this he caused the Gate to be opened and Sir Charles having declared himself the Souldiers cryed out A Coot a Coot and a Free Parliament After this he secured Sadler and Sir Hardress Waller at Dublin and immediately all Ireland declared themselves satisfied in this Change offering their Lives and Fortunes in the Defence of the Parliament then Assembled and soon after a Convention was called at Dublin in Nature of a Parliament to provide for the safety of the Kingdom from whence the Lord Shannon Sir John Clothworthy and Major Aston were sent as Commissioners to England where the Parliament
was a Jesuitical Stratagem contrived by Rice and Neagle as one of them afterward boasted carryed on without the privity of any but the Lord Deputy and themselves and every Body told the Lord Montjoy that it was all Sham and Trick only to amuse the Protestants and remove him out of the way who was most likely to Head them Yet the Lord Tyrconnel Swore most Solemnly that he was in earnest in this Message and that he knew the French Court would oppose it to the utmost who regarded only their own interest and did not care if Ireland were sunk into the Pit of Hell so they could give the Prince of Orange a Diversion but for 3 Months but said he if the King be perswaded to Ruin his fastest Friends only to gratifie France and do himself no Service he is neither so Merciful nor Wise as I believe him to be If he recover England Ireland will fall in course but he can never expect to conquer England by Ireland If he Attempts it he ruins Ireland to do himself no kindness but rather to exasperate England the more against him and make his Restoration impossible intimating that if the King would not do it he would look on his refusal to be forced on him by those in whose power he was and that he should think himself obliged to do it without his consent The Lord Montjoy alledged That his going into France could not influence the Councils in England who could reduce the Kingdom without his Assistance and that he must either obey the Deputy or Declare War against him and K. James's interest which he did not think safe since he had no Order nor Incouragement from England but on the contrary all the Advice he had from thence was to be quiet and not to meddle that he was obliged to K. James and neither his Conscience nor Gratitude would permit him in his present Circumstances to make War on his own Authority against him whilst there was any possibility of doing the business peaceably Upon these Motives L. Montjoy proceeds in this Negotiation and took Shipping with Rice at Waterford in Jan. 1688. Tyrconnel having first granted these General Concessions to the Protefâ—ants 1. That no more Commissions should be given out nor new Men raised 2. That no more of the Army should be sent to the North. 3. That none should be questioned for what was past 4. That no private House should be obliged to quarter Souldiers These he sent about the Kingdom by Letters yet the Lord Montjoy was no sooner gone but according to his usual Falshood he denied all and was angry at the Dispersing the Letters Soon after came News that the Lord Montjoy was made a Prisoner in the Bastile in France which more Exasperated the Protestants against K. James as a Violator of Publick Faith to his Subjects and likewise ruined the little Reputation that his Lord Deputy had among them Soon after a French Engineer Landed at Cork and came with all Expedition to Dublin assuring Tyrconnel that K. James would be suddenly with him and that nothing was to be feared from England till the end of the Summer upon this the face of things quickly altered and the little hopes that had hitherto supported the English now utterly vanished so that there appeared a necessity of associating together and getting into the Castles and best places of strength they had for the Defence and Preservation of their Lives some Protestants had a while before put themselves into a posture of Defence in the North c. but Proclamations were issued out by the Council signed by several Protestants commanding them to go to their respective homes under the penalty of being proceeded against as Traytors which proved fatal to the English they judging thereby the danger was not so great as they imagined But at length matters were reduced to such extremity that no course remained to preserve the Protestants but of making their escape for though the Lord Kingstone Sir Arthur Royden and others endeavoured to have secured several places yet matters were managed so indiscreetly that all proved ineffectual and their inconsiderable Forces were soon Defeated After which Tyrconnel Disarmed all the Protestants throughout the Kingdom in one Day In the Cities and Towns they shut up the Gates and none were suffered to pass in or out without being strictly searcht for Arms under pretence of which they â—â—so came into the English Houses and often Seiz'd 〈◊〉 â—heir Plate and Mony or what else they could meet with in this Confusion which lasted several days during which most of the Horses which belonged to English Gentlemen and Farmers was seized in the Country for the Kings use which were brought into the Towns where the Soldiers were quartered in so great numbers in private as well as publick Houses that the English had scarce Beds to lye on About this time Collonel Hamilton is sent with an Army to the North of Ireland and though more early in the year than usual yet the Judges were sent into the Country on pretence to punish the Thieves and Robbers that plundred the Protestants but the Design was to Condemn those poor Protestants that had taken up Arms and Defended their Houses against them and likewise to raise Mony for the Army their being very little in the Exchequer And the Judges read a Letter in every County directed from the Government to the principal Gentlemen and to the Minister and Popish Priest of every Parish requiring them to Summon their Parishioners together and perswade them to Subscribe to the utmost of their Ability for the Subsistance of the Kings Forces assuring them that he would be soon at the Head of them with a confiderable Assistance from France and that they who had no Mony should send in Meal Malt Beef Cheese Butter Herrings or else Leather Brogs Stockins Wool Cloth Linnen or any other Goods the Country afforded This was a great Oppression to the Protestants who though they had but very little left by the Rabble yet must Contribute largely or else were reckoned well-wishers to the Kings Enemies The Lord Galmoy was likewise sent with Forces to Guard the passages between the North of Ireland and those parts of Munster and Connaught that adjoyned to Ulster to prevent the South and Western Protestants from joyning who being a Malicious and Bloody Papist first drew Blood there causing two Gentlemen who had taken Arms for their own Defence under Collonel Sandason to be Hanged on a Sign-post at Belniot and their Heads being cut off were kickt about the Streets by his Soldiers like Foot-balls at Ornagh he took 2 others upon the same pretence and caused the Son first to Hang his Father and carry his Head on a pole through the Streets crying this is the Head of a Traytor and then the young Man himself was Hanged It was also Reported that some of his Dragoons meeting with a Clergymans Wife whose Husband had fled Northward several of them one
after another Ravished her and then ript up her Belly and exposed her with a dead Man upon her At Tipperary an English Gentleman seeing some Dragoons marching towards his House shut up his Doors it being late in the Evening as if they were gone to Bed but 16 of them coming thither and not being quickly admitted they forced open his Doors calling him Traytor for shutting them against the Kings Forces and having pillaged all things of value they then deflowred his Daughter and only Child before his Face all 16 lay with her and 3 of them as was affirmed by his Family after she was actually dead These were the beginnings of the Villainies which the Protestants suffered from these execrable Wretches While things were in this posture K. James was hourly expected by the Irish and almost every Post a false Alarm is given that he was Landed Bonfiâ—es being made and Guns Discharged in the several Garrisons and that so often that not only Protestants but also many Papists thought it to be but a sham of Tyrconnels to Discourage the Protestants and obtain better Terms from them But at length March 12. 1689. he Landed at Kingsale at which the Protestants and some Papists seemed not very well satisfied nay the first were so indifferent that for a Fortnight after he Arrived they would not believe it because they imagined he had no great kindness for them however they thought he would have made their condition more easie for the present and spoke them fair considering that the Irish depended upon many Friends which they boasted they had in Scotland and England But K. James soon let the World know he was not fond of such Dependencies for coming to Cork where he was received by the Mayor and Aldermen in their Formalities the Recorder in a long Speech magnified the Irish Loyalty and Valour saying That he now hoped His Majesty was convinced of their Fidelity and that they were better Subjects than the Church of England Men to this part of the Speech the K. Replyed That he acknowledged all the Recorder had said to be true and that he hoped by their Forces and the Assistance he should receive from his Brother of France to be restored to his Throne in spight of those Slaves of the Church of England at this very time the Judges held the Assizes there and one Brown a Gentleman of about 500 pound a year who had been in Arms against the Rapparees being there a Prisoner he put himself on his Tryal and Petitioned K. James thinking that he would begin with an Act of Mercy and give him his Life but on the contrary he left him to the Law whereby he was sure to be Condemned and accordingly was Hanged and Quartered from hence K. James took his Journey to Dublin where he was received with all Demonstrations of Joy imaginable by Tyrconnel and the Popish Party who lookt upon him as their only Support Champion and Deliverer He was no sooner Arrived but the Irish discovered what his future Designs were in their common talk at publick Houses declaring openly That the King would have such a Powerful Army of French Irish and Scots Roman-Catholicks as should force the English into Obedience That he did not think of returning into England by the means of any Protestant Friends but by a French power So that when he came to his Throne he might Rule as he thought fit that the Protestants of Ireland might feed themselves with what hopes they pleased but they should quickly find the K. would neither value nor regard them That the K. had a long time Caressed the Damn'd Church of England as they called it and that he could do no good with them but now he would do his Business without them and so find an opportunity of shaking them quite off that they did not doubt but to be in the midst of England by Midsummer and make that the Seat of War thereby preserving their own Country Estates and Tenants and living on the Churls as they called the English who they said were Rich and a giddy inconstant People not being satisfied with any kind of Government and would they doubted not be soon divided and broken among themselves so that they did not fear carrying their Point King James himself by his Discourses and Actions soon confirmed the same For he had but 2 Considerable Protestants in his Army Sir Thomas Newcomer and Collonel Russell these he immediately Disbanded without any other Objection but their Religion and declared to Collonel Sarsfield who desired Commissions for 2 of his Protestant Relations and offered to be bound for their Fidelity That he would Trust no Protestant and was heard to say as he came out of his Chappel upon occasion of some of his Courtiers Discoursing about Protestants That a Protestant Stunk in his Nostrils And as his words so his Deeds discovered his Abhorrence of them for he had not been long in Dublin when the Wife of one Maxwell who was Condemned for betaking himself with some others to a strong House in Queens County for the Security of their Lives presented a Petition to the King to pardon her Husband This poor Woman had by her piteous intreaties prevailed with the High Sheriff to reprieve him for 15 Days that she might use her interest to save him though against the command of the Bloody Lord Gilmoy who ordered him to be presently executed she accordingly went to Dublin hoping that the King might be perswaded to do one Act of Grace being just come to the City and the High Sheriff went with her and promised her Admittance to the Presence where she appeared in the most lamentable condition that was possible to excite Compassion having 4 or five small Children hanging about her all in Tears and delivered her Petition praying his Majesty to pardon or at least to Reprieve her poor Husband for some time which she delivered in such melting Terms as moved the very Irish Nobility then present to second her Request and might have Mollified the hardest Heart in the World but the Answer she had from King James was Woman your Husband shall dye and the High Sheriff was severely Reprimanded for not executing him according to his Warrant and Threatned that if the Prisoner escaped he should dye for him and was commanded to hang him immediately which was done accordingly There are several other instances of this kind and it may easily be imagined how great an Incouragement this kind of Behaviour in a Prince was to the rude Soldiers to Treat the poor Protestants not only in the Country but even in Dublin under the very eye of the Government in a Barbarous manner It was ordinary with them to take the meat that the poor people had provided for their Families without thanks or payment noâ— could a Protestant be abroad after Sunset without danger of his Life One Power Bred a Protestant but turned Papist in K. James time coming to his House one Evening was set upon
stand by them in Defence of their Lives and the Protestant Religion which they did believe by the Preparations they heard were making by the Enemy would be very soon invaded and the News they heard from London Derry did much Fortifie their Courage So that upon the Approach of the Irish Companies the Inniskillin Horse and Foot Advanced toward them but came no sooner in View ere the 2 Companies with the whole Rabble that was with them turned their Backs and fled without halting in very great Fear and Disorder and their Officers being then at Dinner at a Gentlemans House not far from thence hearing the Inniskillin Men were come out left their Dinners before they had half done and ran away after them and all of them got the next Day 24 Miles off in great Terror of the Inniskilliners who afterward performed many admirable Actions against the Irish King James's pretended Parliament Sate in Dublin from May 7. 1689. to July 20. following and in that short time entirely destroyed the Settlement of Ireland and outed both the Protestant Clergy and Laity of their Free-Holds and Inheritances by Repealing the 2 Acts of Settlement Whereby 2 thirds of the Protestants of the Kingdom held their Estates And the Real Estates of all that dwelt or staid in any place in the 3 Kingdoms who did not own K. James's Power or correspended with any such as they Term'd Rebels or were any ways Aiding Abetting or Assisting to them from Aug. 1. 1688 are declared to be forefeited and vested in the King By which Clause almost every Protestant that could write in the Kingdom had forfeited his Estate for the Pacquets went constantly from London to Dublin and back again from August 1688. to March following and few had Friends in England or the North but Corresponded with them by Letters and every such Letter is made by this Clause a Forfeiture of Estate They likewise passed an Act of Attainder whereby above 3000 Protestants were Attainted and their Estates forfeited to the King some for being in Arms but the greatest part for absenting themselves and going out of the Kingdom These proceedings were thought very severe by the Protestants since those that Armed themselves did not Attempt any thing even against those whom the Lord Deputy against the Laws of the Kingdom and the Interest of the Nation had intrusted with Arms and Imployments except in their own Defence when Invaded and Assaulted by them Neither was there one Act of Hostility committed wherein the Protestants were not on the Defensive Their Crime then if any was only that they were unwilling to be Robb'd and Plundered as their Neighbours were without opposition but Disarmed some of those who under Colour of being King James's Soldiers destroyed the Country this was all the Reason Tyrconnel had to proclaim them Rebels for Killing and Murdering his Majesties Subjects and with pillaging the Country whereas it was Notorious they never kil'd any but whom they found actually Robbing for killing of whom the Laws of the Kingdom not only indemnified them but likewise assigned them a Reward and it is as plain that the Protestants preserved the Country from being pillaged and for this they now forfeited their Estates As for those that were absent it would have been unwisely done for the Protestants that were gone to England to have returned again to a Ruinous Kingdom the Actual Seat of War where all the goods they had left behind were Imbezeled by Robbers and their Estates given to those Sons of Rebellion in 1641. And when Men of the best Estates in Ireland wisht themselves away and many were content to leave all and venture their Lives in little Boats to the Mercy of the Seas in the death of Winter reckoning any thing safer and easier than to stay under a Government which had effectually destroy'd all the measures of Right and Wrong and Condenmed so many Gentlemen to the loss of all without allowing them the favour either of being Tryed or Heard And of those that starâ— many of them were kill'd by the Soldiers Murthered in their Houses Executed by Martial Law starved and famished in Jay is and destroyed by many other Violences the Papists declaring That they designed to starve one half of the Protestants and hang the other and that it would never be well till this was done So that all King James's proceedings in that Kingdom clearly manifested his design to be the absolute inslaving it to Arbitrary Power and Popery by his Invading the Liberties and Estates and exposing their Lives to his peremptory Will and Pleasure This the Protestants in the North as well as others were very sensible of and therefore the People of London-Derry resolved to hold out to the last Extremity Some time before the English Navy being out at Sea to prevent Supplies from France Admiral Herbert with his Squadron had notice by his Scent-Ships that part of the French Fleet were abroad and stood for the Irish Coast whereupon he Sail'd after them and found them in Bantry-Bay whereupon drawing his Ships up into a Line and lying upon the Stretch he battered them extreamly from 10 in the Morning till 5 in the Afternoon at what time the French Admiral went off and stood farther into the Bay On our side we lost Captain Aylmer of the Portland with a Lieutenant and about 300 Seamen killed and Wounded the Damage of the French was equal to ours though they had the Bay to shelter them the Wind and a double number of Ships So soon as the English were gone the French weighed Anchor for fear of a second Engagement King James now sets forward with his Army toward London Derry where the Garrison had already Proclaimed King William and Queen Mary and had received from England 480 Barrels of Powder and Arms for 2000 Men with a Commission to Collonel Lundy to be Governor and promise of further Supply King James's Army consisted in about 12000 Men and a very good Train of Artillery his Generals were Monsieur de Mornont General of the French Horse the Sieur Piscina General of the Foot Collonel Hamilton Lieutenant General of the Irish Foot all under the Standard of France and consisting of several Regiments commanded by the D of Berwick and Fitz-James his Brother the Lord Nettervile Abercorn Collonel Shelden and Collonel Randleigh The King had some assurance given him that the Town upon his Approach would undoubtedly Surrender and that the very sight of so formidable an Army would fright them into a Compliance and therefore April 18. he advances with his Army before the Walls with flying Colours Orders were given that none should fire till the Kings Demands were first known but the People of London-Derry wondring to see Lieutenant General Hamilton approaching the Walls contrary to his ingagement not to come within 4 Miles of the Town imagined they were betrayed and fired their Guns upon them which being unexpected by the Enemy some of them fled others hid themselves and a great
many were kill'd and it was reported that one Captain Froy was slain near the Kings Person who was in some disorder to find himself so Roughly and Unmannerly Treated by those from whom he expected a Dutiful Compliance as well as at the Behaviour of his Army so different from the Character he had received of both and therefore those in the Town who had incouraged him to try this dangerous Experiment sent some Persons to the King to excuse it by alledging the Difficulty of Commanding an untractable Multitude But upon their return they were three Days before this kept out by the People Collonel Cunningham and Richards came into the Lough from England with 2 Regiments and other Necessaries for Supply of Derry with Instructions to receive Orders from Governor Lundy who thereupon called a Council of War where the 2 Collenels being present with others unacquainted with the Condition of the Town or the Inclination or Resolution of the People they make an Order that there not being Provision in the Town for the present Garrison and the 2 Regiments for above a week or ten Days and the place not being Tenable against a Formidable Army therefore it was not Advisable to Land the 2 Regiments and that considering the Enemy will soon possess themselves of the place the Principal Officers shall privately withdraw that the Inhabitants by a timely Capitulation may make the better Terms with the Enemy In pursuance of this Order Collonel Cunningham Richards with their Officers went to their Ships which with 2 Regiments on Board Sailed Back for England And the Council in pursuance of these pernicious intentions proceeded to conclude upon a Surrender and drew up a Paper to that purpose which most of them Signed and the Town was Designed to have been delivered up in 2 or 3 Days In the mean time the Officers and Soldiers in London-Derry who knew nothing of the Order of Council earnestly intreated Collonel Lundy that the English Forces might Land that with their Assistance they might take the Field and fight the Enemy before the Cannon were brought over in Order to the Preservation of that Corner into which the Provisions and Wealth of 3 or 4 Counties was crouded The Collonel to delude them told them publickly That it was resolved the English Forces should immedately Land and when they were in their Quarters the Gates should be opened and all joyn in Defence of the Town and to carry on the Intreague the Sheriffs were ordered to go through the City to provide quarters for them but all this was a meer sham that he and the Officers might get away with the greater Ease and Safety A Farty of Irish having a few Days before Attempted to Ford the River at Castle Fin were repulsed by some Forces sent out of Derry who opposed their coming over till all their Ammunition was spent After which they followed the rest of the English Army which were 10000 strong and made good their Retreat to Derry but were much Surprized to find the Gates shut against them by the Governors Order So that many Officers Soldiers and Private Gentlemen were forced that Night to lye about the Walls but the next Day with much Difficulty and some Violence upon the Centry by firing at him and calling for Fire to burn the Gates that and the other Gates were thrown open This and other Passages occasioned great jealousies of the Governor but when the Town-Clerk found it absolutely necessary to Publish the Resolutions of the Council of War That Collonel Cunningham his Ships Men and Provisions should return to England and all Gentlemen and others in Arms should quit the Garrison and go along with him the Common Soldiers were extreamly inraged at their Officers several of whom at this time had Deserted them and fled for England So that they could not forbear expressing it with Violence on some of them One Captain Bell was shot Dead and another Burnt who with more Officers was got into a Boat as they imagined to get away K. James upon the Repulse he had received retired the same Evening with his Army to St. Johnstown about 5 Miles from Derry and staid there 2 Days to wait for an Answer from the City to the Proposal he had made April 17. That to prevent the effusion of Christian Blood if they would Surrender the City Honourable Terms should be allowed them the Council in the absence of Collonel Lundy who thought it for his safety to keep his Chamber proceeded upon the Governors Project to chuse 20 Men to go out and Capitulate with K. James but the Multitude on the Walls and at the Gates hearing of it were so exceedingly incensed that they Threatn'd If a Man of them offered to go out on that Errand they would Treat him as a betrayer of the Town the Protestant Religion and K. Williams Interest Upon which none of them durst offer to go ond so a stop was put to that dangerous Capitulation notwithstanding the Orders of the Governor and Council so little did the Soldiers regard any Command that seemed to cross their Resolutions of Defending the City The Multitude having thus broken the Authority of the Council they with Collonel Lundy thought fit to withdraw he with some Difficulty got to the Ships at Culmore from thence to England Upon which the Garrison seeing they were Deserted by their Governor and having resolved to Defend the Town against the Enemy they chose Mr. Walker a Clergyman and Major Baker to be their Governors during the Siege and the Soldiers whom their Officers had left chose their Captains and each Captain which of the Collonels he would serve under as they pleased themselves and one Mr. Bennet was sent to England to give an account of their Resolutions to maintain the place and to desire Speedy Succors to be sent from thence for their Assistance April 9. A Trumpet came to the Walls from K. James to know why they sent not out Commissioners to Treat according to their Proposals but the People having put a stop to it Collonel Whitney wrote a few Lines to excuse themselves to the King The next Day the Lord Straband came up making many Proposals and offering his Kings Pardon Protection and Favour if they would Surrender the Town but these fine words had no place with the Garrison for at that very time of this Capitulating the Enemy were observed to use that opportunity for drawing their Cannon to a convenient stand Whereupon they desired his Lordship to withdraw or else they should fire upon him he still continued his Compliments till they plainly told him they would never deliver the Town to any but K. William and Q Mary and their Order My Lord having ended all his Insinuations found himself at last obliged to Retire So that K. James having loft all hopes of Accomodation re-resolved if possible to reduce them by force and raised several Batteries against the Town his Head Quarters being still at St. Johnstown
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