themselves Masters of that Town The Enemy lost between eight or nine thousand Men before our Walls and a hundred of their best Officers according to the best Computation we could make of both by the Information of the Prisoners we took most of these fell by the Sword the rest of Fevers and Flux and the French Pox which was very remarkable on the Bodies of several of their dead Officers and Soldiers We are now under some Impatience to see Major-General Kirk under God and the King our Deliverer Aug. 1. The Governor orders C. White C. Dobbin C. J. Hamilton Capt. Jenny and Mr. Jo. Fox both Clergy-men to wait on the Major-General at Inch to give him an account of the raising the Siege and to carry him our Thanks and desire him to come and receive the Garrison The next day the Major-General sent to us Col. Steward and Col. Richards the Engineer to Congratulate our Deliverance On Sunday the Major-General came into the Town and was received by the Governor and the whole Garrison with the greatest Joy and Acclamations The Governor presents him with the Keys but he wou'd not receive them The next day the Governor with several of his Officers Dined with the Major-General at Inch he complemented the Major-General with his Regiment That after doing the King all the Service in his power he might return to his own Profession But the Major-General desired him to dispose of it as he pleased and accordingly he gave it to Captain White as a mark of his Respect and the Gentleman 's known Merit Upon this we call a Council at Derry the Governor is prevailed on to go to the King and to carry an Address from the Garrison The Garrison is now form'd and of eight Regiments made into six After assurance from the Major-General of his Care and Favor to his Men and particularly to his own Regiment he took leave of them and embarked for England To the Most Excellent Majesty of WILLIAM and MARY King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith c. The humble ADDRESS of the Governors Officers Clergy and other Gentlemen in the City and Garrison of LONDONDERRY WE the most Dutiful and Loyal Subscribers of this Address out of a deep sense of our late miserable Estate and Condition do hereby return our due Acknowledgments to Almighty God and to Your Sacred Majesty and under you to the indefatigable Care of Major-General Kirk for our unexpected Relief by Sea in spight of all the opposition of our industrious but bloody and implacable Enemies which Relief was no less wonderfully than seasonably conveyed to us and that at the very nick of time when we who survived many thousands that died here of Famine during the Siege were just ready to be cut off and perish by the hands of barbarous cruel and inhuman Wretches who no sooner saw us delivered and that they could not compass their Wicked Designs against this Your Majesties City and our Lives for which they thirsted immediately set all the Country round us on fire after having plundered robbed and stripped all the Protestants therein as well those Persons they themselves granted Protections to as others We do therefore most sincerely rejoice with all our Souls and bless God for all his Singular and Repeated Mercies and Deliverances and do for ever Adore the Divine Providence for Your Majesties rightful and peaceable accession to the Imperial Crown of these Kingdoms the proclaiming of which was justly celebrated in these Parts with Vniversal Joy and we do with all humble Submission present to Your Sacred Majesty our unfeigned Loyalty the most valuable Tribute we can give or Your Majesty receive from us And since the same Providence has through much difficulty made us so happy as to be Your Subjects we come in the like humility to lay our selves intirely at Your Royal Feet and do most heartily and resolvedly offer and engage our Lives and Fortunes to Your Service And further we do most unanimously join in a firm and unchangeable Vow and Resolution of improving all occasions of becoming Serviceable to Your Majesty in what Station soever it shall please God and your Majesty to place us and will expose our selves to all Hazards and Extremities to serve Your Majesty against the Common Enemy From all which Promises Vows and Services we and every of us promise without any Exception or Reserve not to recede unto our Lives end In testimony of all which we have hereunto subscribed our Names at Londonderry this 29th day of July Anno Dom. 1689. GEORGE WALKER John Michelbourn Richard Crofton Thomas Lane Hugh Hamill Charles Kinaston William Campbell Gervase Squire Henry Monry Henry Campsie Adam Morrow John Dobbin Alexander Steward Thomas Gughtredge Thomas Johnston Thomas Newcomen Edward Davyes John Hamilton Thomas Ash Robert Boyd Ralph Fullerton Michael Cunningham Joseph Johnston Robert Bayley William Grove John M c Clelland James Graham William Thompson James Young Richard Cormach Oliver Apton Alex. Knox Patt Moore John Humes Robert Dennison Marmaduke Stewart James Fleming Andrew Grigson Christopher Jenny Thomas Smyth Bartholomew Black John Campbell Robert Morgan Michael Clenaghan Richard Fane Stephen Godfrey William Hamilton Robert Rogers Jame Galtworth Richard Islen Arthur Hamilton Michael Rullack James Stiles James Cunningham Archibald Mc. Culloch Francis Obre Alexander Sanderson Archibald Sanderson Arthur Noble Philip Dunbarr George White Thomas White Ja. Gledstanes John Maghlin James Tracy John Halshton Joseph Gordon James Hairs Andrew Hamilton Adam Ardock Robert Wallace George Church Richard Flemin Henry Cust John Crofton Benjamin Wilkins Thomas Lane James Blair Dudley Phillips John Buchanan Edward Curling William Church Dalway Clements Albert Hall Matthew Cocken Thomas Brunett William Stewart Franc. Wilson Matt. Mc. Clellany George Crofton William Babington Robert King John Logan Alexander Rankin Edmund Rice Robert Walker James Mc. Carmick John Cochran James Mc. Cartny Warren Godfrey John Cunningham Henry Lane George Walker Hannston Andrew Bailly Daniel Mons. Cuistion John Bailly Robert Lyndsie Francis Boyd James Carr William Montgomery James Moore Nicholas White John Fuller Thomas Key Frederick Kye Thomas Baker John Hering James Hufton Adam Downing Abraham Hilhouse John Mucholland Robert Bennet William Dobbin George Garnet James Barrington Henry Pearse Alexander Ratliffe Thomas Odayre John Hamilton Henry verett Daniel Fisher John Cross William Cross Bernard Mulhollan David Mulhollan Thomas Conlay Robert Skinner Richard Robinson Robert Maghlin Matthew Clarke John Clements VVilliam Manson Theophilus Manson James Manson The DECLARATION of the Gentlemen of Derry upon the News of a General Massacre intended of the Protestants Decemb. 9. TO all Christian People to whom these Presents shall come the Mayor Sheriffs and Citizens of the City of London-derry send Greeting Having received intimation from several creditable Persons that an Insurrection of the Irish-Papists was intended and by them a general Massacre of the Protestants in this Kingdom and the same to be acted and perpetrated on or about the
Licensed BY Command of the Right Honourable the Earl of Shrewsbury Principal Secretary of State. Sept. 13. 1689. J. Vernon A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE SIEGE OF London-Derry By the Reverend Mr. George Walker Rector of Donogh-moore in the County of Tirone and late Governour of Derry in Ireland The Second Edition Corrected LONDON Printed for Robert Clavel and Ralph Simpson in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCLXXXIX Also published A new and exact Map of London-derry and Culmore Fort drawn with great Exactness by Captain Macullach who was there during the Siege Price 6 d. Sold by Robert Clavel and Ralph Simpson TO Their Sacred MAJESTIES William and Mary KING and QUEEN OF ENGLAND SCOTLAND FRANCE and IRELAND May it please Your Majesties NExt to the Pleasure of doing well there is no greater satisfaction than where the Performance meets with a favourable reception from those for whose sake it is designed I thank God I have this double Comfort in the Testimony of a good Conscience and Your Majesties Gracious Acceptance of the poor services God enabled me to doe for your Majesties Interest and the Safety of those Protestants whom the Fury of the Papists drove into London-Derry Nor am I more pleased with Your Majesties Royal Bounty to me much above not only my Merit but Expectation than with Your Majesties Tenderness for my Poor Fellow Sufferers and Partners in that Action whom I doubt not but Your Majesties will find as brave in the Field and in taking other Towns as in defending that which neither the Number nor Rage of their Enemies without nor those more cruel Ones within of Famine and Sickness could ever make them think of Surrendring The Part I Acted in this Service might more properly have been done by other hands but that Necessity which threw it upon me will I hope justifie me before God and the World from the irregularity of interessing my self in such an Affair for which I was neither by Education or Function qualified Especially since the necessity which called me to it was no sooner over than I resigned more chearfully than ever I undertook the Employment that I might apply my self to the Plow to which I had put my Hand I am not at all angry with the Reflexions that some make as they think to my Disparagement because all they say of this kind gives God the greater Honour in whose Almighty Hand no instrument is weak in whose Presence no Flesh must glory But as the whole Conduct of this matter must be ascribed to Providence alone as it ought this should then give them occasion to consider that God has Espoused your Majesties Cause and Fights your Battels and for the Protestant Religion and by making use of a poor Minister the unworthiest of the whole Communion of which he is a Member would intimate to the World by what Hand he will defend and maintain both your Majesties Interest and the Religion you have delivered from those that were ready to swallow both up That which I here presume to lay at Your Majesties Feet is indeed very unfit for Your Royal View but that since Importunity would have it publick I thought it Sacrilege to entitle any other to the Copy than those to whom the Original was devoted The Picture cannot be commended for the Workmanship but it may possibly be the more acceptable for that because more resembling the Life from which 't is drawn There is little Skill or Art in either but there are Ornaments much more valuable in both natural Simplicity Sincerity and a plain Truth In which character I humbly beg Your Majesties will always consider and accept of the Endeavours of Your Majesties most Obliged Most Faithfull and most Obedient Subject and Servant George Walker A Description of the CITY of London-Derry THE Form of the Town comes somewhat near an Oblong or long Square and its Situation lengthways is N. W. and S. E. or a Diagonal drawn from the Church through the Market-house to the Magazine is near upon a N. and S. Line The Length of the Town through the middle from Ship-key gate to Bishops-gate is about 300 Paces or 1500 Feet The Wall on the W. side the Town 320 Paces the Wall on the E. about 380. The Breadth at the N. W. End 140 at the S. E. End 120 from Butchers-gate to Ferry-key-gate where the Town is Broadest 180 Paces The Wall is generally 7 or 8 Foot thick but the out-side Wall of Stone or Battlements above the Terra-plene is not more than two Foot in thickness The Four Corners have each of them a Bastion on the long side to the West-ward are two other Bastions and on the side to the East-ward one Bastion one Demi-bastion and two other Works which are commonly call'd Flat-forms There are Four Gates Bishops-gate at the S. E. End Ship-key-gate at the End opposite to it Butchers-gate at the N. E. Side and Ferry-key-gate over against it In the middle of the Town is a Square call'd the Diamond where the Market-House stands during the Siege turn'd into a Guard-House Near the S. W. end of the Town stands the Church on the top whereof being a flat Roof were placed two of our Guns which were of great Use in annoying the Enemy In the S. E. Angle of the Town was the principal Magazine within the Town also were several Wells c. and before Bishops-gate was a Ravelin built by Col. Lundy and the Ground on forwards to the Wind-mill-hill was taken in by the Besieged to the Distance of 260 Paces from the Town and about the same Distance a cross from the River and for fear this Ground should be taken from the Besieged by the Enemy another Line was industriously drawn from the S. W. Quarter of the Town to the River to secure their Retreat The Number of Guns planted on the Bastions and Lines was 8 Sakers and 12 Demi-culverins The whole Town stands upon an easy Ascent and exposed most of the Houses to the Enemies Guns A Diary of the SIEGE of LONDON-DERRY BEing prevail'd on to give an Account of the Siege of London-Derry it is convenient by way of preliminary to take notice how that Town came to be out of the Hands of the Irish when all places of the Kingdom of any strength or consideration were possessed by them It pleased God so to infatuate the Councils of my Lord Tyrcounel that when the three Thousand Men were sent to England to assist his Master against the Invasion of the Prince of Orange he took particular care to send away the whole Regiment Quartered in and about this City he soon saw his Error and endeavoured to repair it by Commanding my Lord Antrim to Quarter there with his Regiment consisting of a numerous swarm of Irish and Highlanders upon the 6 th of December they were on their March in and about New-Town a Market-Town belonging to Col. George Philips 12 Miles distant from Derry Col. Philips having notice of this and joining with it the apprehensions
they were under of a general Insurrection of the Irish intended on the 9 th of December and considering that Derry as well as other places was to be presently possessed by the Irish and having several Informations brought him and some taken before him that gave some credit to the Fear and Jealousies they were under and encreased his suspicion of some damnable Design against the British of those parts He immediately dispatches a Letter to Alderman Norman giving an Account of these Matters and his Opinion of them and importuning him to consult with the sober People of the Town and to set out the Danger of admitting such Guests among them The next day he sent an Express advising him to cause the Gates of the City to be shut and assured them he would be with them with his Friends the day following and would stand by them and serve them to the hazard of his Life and Fortune Alderman Norman and the rest of the graver Citizens were under great Disorder and Consternation and knew not what to resolve upon One of the Companies was already in view of the Town and two of the Officers within it but the younger sort who are seldom so dilatory in their Resolutions got together run in all hast to the Main-Guard snatcht up the Keys and immediately shut up all the Four Gates and the Magazine On the 9 th day Col. Philips comes into London-derry he had been Governour of that Town as also of the Fort of Culmore in King Charles's time and therefore the Inhabitants desire him to resume the Government and immediately delivered him the Keys of the Gates and the Magazine He being well acquainted with proceedings in England with the Advice of the Gravest sort dispatches Mr. David Kerns as their Agent thither to represent their Condition and Resolutions and to procure some speedy Relief News being carried to Dublin of this Revolt as they call'd it the Lord Montjoy with his Lieutenant-Collonel Lundy and six Companies are sent down to reduce the Place The Governour had already form'd Eight Companies of good effectual Men in the City and Armed them out of the Stores and with some Management quieted all Factions and Tumults and reduced all things to good Order so that all were Unanimously resolved to stand it out till they received a Return to their Address sent into England My Lord Montjoy appears before the Town his Interest among us and the consideration of our own Circumstances that there was no appearance of any sudden Relief from England no Provisions in the Town and which was worst of all but two Barrels of Powder in the Magazine which my Lord Montjoy must needs understand being Master of the Ordnance made it thought most adviseable to listen to a Treaty so the Governour with the Consent of the City-Council agreed upon certain Capitulations that only two Companies should enter the Town and they to be all Protestants and that the Town-Companies should be allow'd to keep their Arms and to do Duty with the others that no stranger is to be admitted into the City without License from the Governour and Sheriffs Having obtained Conditions of so easy a Nature and of so probable Advantage to the Town they receiv'd my Lord Montjoy who made Lieutenant-Collonel Lundy Governour of the Town The Gentlemen of the other Parts of the North of Ireland being well acquainted with the Proceedings at Dublin that particularly Commissions were given out to raise many Thousands of Irish all over the Kingdom and all to be Maintained at the Expence of their Officers who were not able to Support themselves for the space of three Months They were with good reason equally apprehensive this was not intended for their Safety or Advantage and therefore they generally resolved to put themselves in the best Posture they could to Defend themselves against any inconveniences such Methods might bring upon them They had several Consultations with their Neighbours and some Great Men were not wanting in their Advice and Encouragement One left some Instructions with Mr. George Walker Rector of Donaghmore in the County of Tyrone recommending the necessity of Securing Dungannon by a Garrison of their own and of Victualling that Town in order to which Mr. Walker saw it not only excuseable but necessary to concern himself and raise Men out of which he form'd a Regiment and to apply what Interest he could make towards the Preservation of that Town Gordon O Neale observing those Preparations sends his Priest to inquire into the meaning of them which was readily interpreted to him So many Irish were Arm'd in the Country they thought fit to put themselves in a Posture of Defence against the Danger they saw themselves Exposed to The Men complain of want of Powder but by the Contrivance of their Officer a Bag of Mustard-Seed was laid upon the Carriages which by its resemblance easily obtained the Credit of a Bag of Powder and immediately gave motion to the Souldiers In order to Settle a Correspondence with London-Derry Mr. Walker Rides to that Town and Consults Collonel Lundy The Opinion they had of his Experience in War and Zeal for the Cause they were to Maintain gave all People great Expectation from his Conduct he Approves and Encourages the Design sends two Files of his Disciplin'd Men to Dungannon and afterwards two Troops of Dragoons March 14. Orders are sent to Col. Steward who was very considerable among us from Col. Lundy that the Garrison at Dungannon should break up some considering the Advantagious Situation of the Place and the great quantity of Provisions already laid in and the consequence of leaving both to give strength to their Enemies shew'd some unwillingness to comply with Commands so different from the Measures they had hitherto pursued but at last agreed to March to Colrain or Derry according to Collonel Lundy's Orders March 17. We March'd as far as Strabane and there met our Order from Collonel Lundy to return to Omagh and the Rash. Five Companies of the above Regiment are Quartered at Rash under Command of Mr. Walker and five at Omagh Commanded by Lieutenant-Collonel Mervin A Fortnight after we receiv'd a Potent to March to St. Johnstown five Miles from Derry March 20. Captain James Hamilton Arrived from England with Ammunition and Arms 480 Barrels of Powder and Arms for 2000 Men and a Commission from the King and Queen for Col. Lundy to be Governour of the City together with Instructions to swear all Officers Military and Civil and assurance of speedy Supplies from England The King and Queen are publickly Proclaimed with great Joy and Solemnity About this time the Irish made a descent into Vlster and drove great Numbers of poor Protestants before them who took shelter in Colrain and London-Derry March 23. Col. Philips is sent to England with an Address to the King and to Sollicit a speedy Supply Col. Lundy goes to Colrain to give his Advice and Assistance to that place The rest of this
Month and the beginning of the next is spent in Preparations against the Enemy they had possessed themselves of Colrain drove all before them till they came to Clody-Bridge of which I shall give this short Account April 13. Mr. Walker receiving Intelligence that the Enemy was drawing towards Derry he Rides in all hast thither and gives Col. Lundy an Account of it but the Collonel believed it only a false Alarm Mr. Walker returns from him to Lyfford where he joined Col. B. Crofton the Enemy come to Clody-ford all Night long the Enemy and We fired at one another and in the Morning Mr. Walker took his Post at the long Cawsey as Commanded by Col. Lundy leaving Col. Crofton to maintain the Post against the Enemy which he performed with good Resolution The Souldiers having spent all their Ammunition viz. three Charges of Powder a man are forced to give way Major Stroud rallies the Horse in order to bring off the Foot The Regiment at the Long-Cawsy was in some danger having staid too long expecting Orders but got off under the shelter of some Horse followed the Army which was 10000 strong and make good their Retreat to Derry Col. Lundy and several of Quality being then at the Head of them Mr. Walker found the Gates shut against him and his Regiment and staid all Night without the Gates next day with much difficulty and some violence upon the Centry they got in Mr. Walker waited on Col. Lundy and press'd the taking the Field but he not being satisfied with the behaviour of his Army the day before gave Advice of a different Nature which did not agree with Mr. Walkers Sentiments who thought himself obliged to stand by his Men that he had brought from their own homes and not to Expose them again to the Enemy by dismissing them April 15. Col. Cunningham and Col. Richards came into the Lough from England with two Regiments and other Necessaries for Supply of Derry There were several remarkable Passages might be here inserted relating to those that came from Drumore and Colrain but as I would not reproach any so I cannot do right to all and whatever mis-fortune the difficulty of those places brought upon them the behaviour of such of them as staid in the Garrison of Derry sets them above Apologys for any miscarriage for certainly there could not be better Men in the World and many of those that left us have been exposed to Censure but I hope the World will be so just not to give Characters from things done in such a confusion April 17. Upon the News of King James's Army being on their March towards London-derry Colonel Lundy our Governour thought fit to call a Councel and that Col· Cuningham and Col. Richards that were sent from England to our Assistance should be Members of it accordingly they met and with other Gentlemen equally unacquainted with the Condition of the Town or the Inclination and Resolution of the People they make this following Order Vpon inquiry it appears That there is not Provision in the Garrison of London-derry for the present Garrison and the two Regiments on Board for above a Week or Ten Days at most and it appearing that the Place is not tenable against a well appointed Army Therefore it is concluded upon and resolv'd That it is not convenient for His Majesties Service but the contrary to land the two Regiments under Col. Cuningham Col. Richards their Command now on Board in the River of Lough-foyle That considering the present Circumstances of Affairs the likelihood the Enemy will soon possess themselves of this place it is thought most convenient that the principal Officers shall privately withdraw themselves as well for their own preservation as in hopes that the Inhabitants by a timely Capitulation may make terms the better with the Enemy and that this we Judge most convenient for His Majesties Service as the present State of Affairs now is After this Resolution an Instrument was prepar'd to be Subscribed by the Gentlemen of the Councel and to be sent to King James who was advanced in Person with his Army as far as St. John's Town it was recommended with this Encouragement There was no doubt but upon surrender of the Town King James would Grant a General Pardon and Order Restitution of all that had been Plunder'd from them Some Gentlemen were influenced by these considerations to subscribe others did not only refuse but began to conceive some Jealousies of their Governour and some tho' they did but guess at their proceedings express'd themselves after a ruder manner threatning to hang both the Governour and his Council Captain White is sent out to the King to receive proposals from him and it was at the same time agreed with Lieutenant General Hamilton that he should not march the Army within four Miles of the Town Notwithstanding which King James having some confidence given him that the Town upon His Majesties approach would undoubtedly surrender to him and that the very sight of so formidable an Army would fright them into a Compliance Upon the 18 th of April Advances with his Army before our Walls with Flying Colours His Majesty thinking it discretion to use the shelter of a Party of Horse on South-end of Derry-Hill the more safely to observe what salutation His Forces had from the Garrison Orders were given that none should dare to fire till the King's Demands were first known by another Messenger to be sent to His Majesty for that purpose but our men on the Walls wondering to see Lieut. Gen. Hamelton contrary to his Engagement not to come within four Miles of the Town approaching our Walls in such order they imagining they were by some means or other betray'd thought it reasonable to consider their own safety and to keep the Enemy at distance by firing their Guns upon them which they accordingly did The Enemy that were great strangers to this sort of exercise upon this could not be kept in any order by their Officers but some took to their heels others with less Labour could hide themselves and a great many were kill'd King James did shew himself in some disorder and much surprised to find the behaviour of his Army as well as of the Besieged so different from the character he had receiv'd of both some were apprehensive of the King's displeasure upon such a disappointment and sent Arch-Deacon Hamilton and Mr. Nevil to beg His Majesties pardon for having drawn His Majesty into so dangerous and unsuccessful an undertaking and to signify to him the difficulty of commanding or perswading so tumultuous and untractable a Rabble to any moderation or complyance but if His Majesty drew off his Army till those Gentlemen return'd and brought assurance of His Majesties presence with it of which some question was yet made they doubted not but they could bring them to a better understanding This evening King James retired with his Army to St. John's-Town In the mean
not make any return but at length with some pleasure we saw her get off and as we believed without much loss or damage June 15. We discovered a Fleet of 30 Sail of Ships in the Lough which we believed came from England for our relief but we could not propose any method to get intelligence from them and we did fear it was impossible they could get to us and the Enemy now begin to watch us more narrowly They raise Batteries opposite to the Ships and line both sides of the River with great numbers of Fire locks They draw down their Guns to Charles-Fort a place of some strength upon the Narrow part of the River where the Ships were to pass here they contrived to place a Boom of Timber joyned by Iron Chains and fortified by a Cable of 12 Inches thick twisted round it They made this Boom first of Oak but that could not float and was soon broke by the force of the water Then they made one of Firr-beams which answered their purpose better it was fastned at one end through the Arch of a Bridg at the other by a piece of Timber forced into the ground and fortified with a piece of stone work This account as we had it from the Prisoners did much trouble us and scarce left us any hopes We made several signs to the Ships from the Steeple and they to us from their Ships but with very little information to either At last a Messenger got to us one Roch from Major General Kirk who gor to the Water-side over-against us and then swam cross the River he gave us an account of the Ships Men Provision and Arms in them for our relief the great concern of the Major General for us and his care and desire to get with his Ships up to the Town He sent another Messenger along with this one Crumy a Scotch man to give us this account and to know the Condition of our Garison but he was taken prisoner There was soon an understanding between him and the Enemy he is instructed to frame a Message much differing from the other they hang out a white Flag inviteing us to a parlee they tell us we are under great mistakes about the Major General and our expectation of relief from England that they were all there in confusion and that we might have leave to inform our selves further from the Messenger they had taken either in private or publick We sent some to that purpose but they soon discovered the cheat and returned to us with other particular accounts of his Treachery We received further intelligence in July by a little Boy that with great Ingenuity made two dispatches to us from the Major General at Inch. One Letter he brought ty'd in his Garter another at his second coming within a Cloth Button We sent our first answer made up within a piece of a Bladder in the shape of a Suppositor and the same way applied to the Boy Our second Answer he carry'd within the folding of his Breeches and falling among the Enemy for fear of a discovery he swallowed the Letter and after some short confinement and endeavour to extort some thing from him he made his escape again to the Major General Major General Kirk's Letter to Mr. Walker Sir I Have received yours by the way of Inch I writ to you Sunday last that I would endeavour all means Imaginable for your relief and find it impossible by the River which made me send a party to Inch where I am going my self to try if I can beat off their Camp or divert them so that they shall not press you I have sent Officers Ammunition Arms great Guns c. to Iniskillin who have 3000 Foot and 1500 Horse and a Regiment of Dragoons that has promised to come to their relief and at the same time I will attack the Enemy by Inch I expect 6000 Men from England every Minute they having bin Shipt these 8 days I have Stores and Victuals for you and am resolved to relieve you England and Scotland are in a good posture and all things very well setled be good Husbands of your Victuals and by Gods help we shall overcome these Barbarous People Let me hear from you as often as you can and the Messenger shall have what reward he will. I have several of the Enemy has deserted to me who all assure me they cannot stay long I hear from Iniskillin the Duke of Barwick is beaten I pray God it be true for then nothing can hinder them joyning you or me Sir To Mr. George Walker Your faithful Servant J. Kirke But to return to our Story the Besieged send many a longing look towards the Ships their Allowance being very small as you may see by the Account of Allowances out of the Store They build a Boat of 8 Oars a side and Man it well with intent to make to the Fleet and give the Major General an account of the sad Condition we were in they set out with the best of our Wishes and Prayers but were forced to return it being impossible they could indure the Showers of Shot that were poured in upon them from each side the River June 18. Captain Noble went up the River and took twenty Men along with him with a design to Rob the Fish-House but was prevented by Alarum from the Enemies Boats however he Engaged them killed a Lieutenant one Ensign and five private Men took fourteen Prisoners and both their Boats. The Boats we offer'd to return and to give the best Prisoner we had for leave to send a Messenger to the Ships but we could not prevail We had agreed for five Hundred pound for L. Col. Tâ—lbot's Ransom commonly called Wicked Will we profer'd him his liberty and to remit the Mony on the same score but we could not obtain this favour upon any Terms Soon after the Lieutenant Col. died of his Wounds and we lost the benefit of our bargain Tho' we took all Imaginable care to keep him alive permitted him his Chirurgeon and Diet from the Enemy at times agreed on Favours that we allow'd all the Prisoners when we were starving our selves which we did not put any great value on but that the Enemy so ill deserv'd them At this time Governor Baker is very dangerously ill and Col. Michelburn is chosen and appointed to assist Governor Walker that when one CoÌ„manded in Sallies the other might take care of the Town and if one shou'd fall the Town might not be left without a Government and to the hazard of new Elections June 24. or thereabouts Conrad de Rosen Marshal General of the Irish Forces is received into the Enemies Camp and finding how little the Enemy had prevail'd against us expressed him self with great Fury against us and swore by the Belly of God He would demolish our Town and bury us in its Ashes putting all to the Sword without consideration of Age or Sex and wou'd study the most exquisite Torments to