wounded yet they came not off without leaving the Marks of their Valour upon the Enemy But by this time the Army having the Elements to contend with as well as the Enemy by reason of the stormy Winds and incessant Rains which not only made the River over-flow but filled the Trenches knee-deep with Water and would in a short time in all probability have cut off the Communication and hindered the Forrage from coming in his Majesty upon mature deliberation thought fit to raise the Siege and refer it to a more seasonable opportunity So that on the 30th of August the heavy Cannon and Baggage were sent away and the next day the Army decamped and marched off in good Order strong Detachments being sent towards Cork and Kingsale And the King having appointed the Lord Viscount Sidney and Sir Thomas Conningsby Governourâ— of the Kingdom and setled the other Affairs as advantageously as might be sailed for England and landed at Bristol where as in other places he was received with a general Joy Upon the King's departure the Irish Garrisons thought themselves safe for the Winter at least but found in a short time they were deceived for other measures were taken The English Fleet had orders to stand away to the Coast of Ireland and soon arrived in Cork Harbour and upon notice of their Arrival the Land Forces drew down to joyn them upon their Landing Upon which the Duke of Berwick who stiled himself Lord General of Ireland drew off Lauzun and Tyrconnel being already gone to France Lieutenant-General Douglas followed after the Duke with a strong Party to fall upon his Rear but he Encamped so advantagiously behind the Bogs that it was not thought feasible to attempt the forcing his Camp A Battery of 8 Guns was raised to hinder the Landing of our Men but two or three armed Boats forcing ashoar those that were to manage and guard the Guns fled and our men dismounted them throwing the Carriages into the Sea so that on the 24th of September 5 or 6000 Seamen Gunners and Carpenters were detached to be employed in raising the Batteries and mounting the Cannon against the Town of Cork and divers Boats of armâ—â— Men were sent to assist the taking it by water so that upon the approach of the Army the Enemy set fire to the Suburbs and the Earl of Marlborough who commanded the King's Forces in chief having taken a view of its Scituation and finding the Enemy had quitted a Post called Cats-Fort sent a Detachment to take possession of it and then advanced his Camp within Musquet shot of the South-side of the Town which occasioned the Enemy to set fire to the Suburbs for fear our Soldiers should lodge themselves in it yet our Men advanced to the Ruins and played upon the Old Fort from two Batteries they had raised and the next day made a Breach in the Wall so wide that the Besieged fearing our Men would Enter by Storm and dreading the consequences of Delay they beat a Parly and sent out an Officer to Capitulate and Hostages were Exchanged but the besieged standing high upon Terms four Regiments under the Command of Brigadier Churchil were ordered to get into the Island near the Wall where the Breach was made which they performed by fording it to the middle the Granadiers commanded by the Lord Colchester leading the Van being exposed to all the Fire of the Enemy Amongst those that attempted this were a great many noble Voluntiers as the Duke of Grafton the Lord O Brian Colonel Granvil Captain Leighton Captain Cornwal Captain Nevel Captain Fairborn and others but it proved fatal to the Duke for by a shot he received he soon after died and his Body being carried for England was there honourably interred The Besieged finding that our Men would not enter as not being above 20 Paces from the Breach beat another Parley but could have no other Conditions than to be Prisoners of War to which with some difficulty they agreed and the Capitulation was signed which in the Articles was to this purpose viz. That upon the Garrisons being received as Prisoners of War no prejudice should be done to the Officers Soldiers or Inhabitants but that the General should make it his Endeavour to obtain his Majesty's Mercy and Favour towards them That the Old Fort should be delivered up within an hour and the two Gates the like by 8 in the Morning the next day That all the Arms of the Garrison and Inhabitants should be put into secure places and the Protestant Prisoners immediately released That a due Account should be given of the Magazines as well of Provision as Ammunition And the same Night 200 Men took possession of the Old Fort and the next Morning of the Town the Garrison between 4 and 5000 being made Prisoners of War and of note amongst them were the Earls of Clancarty and Tyrone Colonel Macgillicot the Governour and divers others This place thus taken and put into trusty hands the Army immediately marched towards Kingsale and took their Posts about the New Fort whilst Major General Teteau was Commanded with 800 Men to make an Attack upon the Old Fort whereupon passing the River in Boats he on the 3d of October gave an Assault and Entered it by Storm making at the same time to divert the Enemy a false Attaque and our Men at one and the same time giving the Bastions some Barrels of Powder took fire and destroyed about 50 of the Enemy and in the heat of Fury many were killed Those that Escaped some fled unto the Old Castle in the midst of the Fort and some endeavouring the New Fort by the help of a Boat the Tide being against them they were mostly killed by the shot of our Men from the shoar the Governour and several Officers were killed in defending the Ramparts and found dead in the places where they fell and the Soldiers got considerable Plunder The Old Fort thus Entirely won the General sent a Summons to the New Fort to demand its immediate Surrender but the Governour sent back word That it would be time enough to talk of that a Month after But the General not to be dallied caused the heavy Cannon to be mounted and two Attacks were ordered to be made by the English on the right and the Danes on the left and the more to amuse the Enemy a false Attack was made and on the 15th of October the Cannon played all the Morning and the Galleries were preparing to lay over the Ditch when about One of the Clock the Enemy beat a Parly proposing that Hostages might be Exchanged in order to a Treaty which done Articles were agreed on and signed about Midnight and pursuant thereto the middle Bastion was to be delivered up the next Morning and about 1200 men of which the Garrison consisted were to march out the day after And the principal of the Prisoners taken here and at Cork were shipped for England but some of them met with a
thou shalt surely die and thereupon they put him and all they found in the House to the Sword These Outrages allarmed the Lord Deputy who drawing out his Forces after divers Skirmishes put the Earl to the Rout who being forsaken of his Followers lurked for sometime in the Bogs and Mountains but miserable want driving him thence among the Cottages he was there found and slain by a private Souldier when his Head being conveyed to England was set upon London-Bridge and so fell this Eleventh Earl of Desmâ—nd But in his Grave the restless Spirits of the Irish were not buried for casting their Eyes on the Family of the Bourks they gave out they would have an eminent Person of that Family to be their King or Governour and many Tumults were raised but this prudent Queen notwithstanding some intestine Troubles at home took such care that she a long time by Policy and Force reduced the unruly Natives to their Obedience the former of which was particularly effected by driving away their Cattel and making them submit through extream necessity after they had been got together in the Woods about forty Days The Second was by the timely Notice the Deputy had of Two thousand Scotch Highlanders landing to joyn with the Irish and knowing nothing that they had laid down their Arms as to their greatest number they came on with such as fell in with them by the way in hopes to joyn the rest breaking into the Province of Connaught where indeed a great many of the Country Peasants took Arms on their part but the Lord-Deputy by speedy Marches towards them and finding they were got into Bogs and Fastnesses after he had encamped within sight a-while feigned a Retreat and they by reason of their over-numbring him supposing he had fled immediately followed but were no sooner trained on the firm ground e're the English fac'd about charged their Front and Flanks piercing the Array of their Battel and put them to utter rout and confusion so that not above eighteen of them escaped of upwards of Three thousand which crushed the Scots attempting to help them in their Rebellion These bad Successes shewing plainly the Hand of Heaven against them did not however make them sensible of their Misfortune in taking up Arms against a powerful Nation for perceiving themselves too weak to struggle in the Lyons Paws they began to tamper with other Nations alledging after the Reformation Religion as a ground to justifie their Rebellions though they were ever starting from their Allegiance when both Nations professed that of the Roman Catholick Communion but now taking this for a plausible pretext the Earl of Tyrone began undâ—r hand to deal with Philip the Second of Spain for Succours of Men and Ammunition promising to hold the Kingdom at his Devotion but this being about to be discovered by Hugh O Neale Tyrone in a rage clapped a Cord about his Neck and strangled him with his own hands Notwithstanding this it was known and he summoned to answeâ— it in the English Court and upon some assurance of Pardon he went submitting himself and making such plausible Protestations of Innocency that times running high by reason that the Spaniards were about to Invade England he was pardoned and sent over again but afterward proved Ingrateful and a very dangerous Enemy Much about this time one Mac Malcoon a leading Man among the Irish stirred up Commotions about paying Taxes for which he was taken tried and executed his Estate being given partly to his Family and partly to the English that living upon it they might curb and over-awe the rest Whereupon one Brian O Roch who had sided with him to prevent a present Punishment fell into an open Rebellion but upon the Rout that immediately was given him he fled into Scotland for Protection but the Queen's Influence was so great upon that Kingdom that she had him delivered up and being tried at Westminster he was there found Guilty and being carried to Tyburn he was there executed without being concerned at Death These things having been buzzed in the ears of the Multitude to have been done in an Arbitrary Way the Earl of Tyrone thought it a fit time to lay hold on their Discontents and raised all the Forces he could calling in the Spaniard and imploring the other Roman Catholick Nations to assist him as he pretended to prevent Heresies over-running that Kingdom nor was the Pope to whom he had sent one Steâ—â—ley an English Renagado as his Agent wanting to further his Design causing 600 Harquibussers to be levied in the Territories of the Church for the Service of Tyrone â— But Sâ—ewkley who commanded them coming into the Port of Lisbon with them at what time King Don Sebastian was going to invade Africa he retained them for his Service when at the fatal Battel of Alcazaz against the Moors they were all cut to pieces However Tyrone being very much strengthned gave the English a great Overthrow and put all Connaught Vlster and Munster in Arms and the War after that went on with doubtful Success sometimes one Party prevailed and sometimes another Here the famous Earl of Essex the great Favourite of Queen Elizabeth commanded but whilst he was fighting in Ireland he was undermined by his Foes at the English Court and being called home and some Misdemeanours in this War and other things charged against him he was confined to his House where falling into Discontent he after having imprisoned the Privy Counsellors that were sent to him from the Queen he broke out into open Violence for which he lost his Head on Tower-hill The Fall of so brave a Souldier proving afterward to small cause of Grief to the Queen and his Loss was greatly regretted by the People whose Darling he was The Lord Norrice being Deputy of Ireland in the stead of the Earl of Essex he followed his business so close that giving Tyronâ— several Overthrows and beating out the Spaniards that came to his Assistance he at last was left by his Followers who cursing him for bringing them into such Troubles shifted as they could so that after he had lurked up and down some Months suffering extream Necessity he came and surrendred himself to the Lord-Deputy upon promise he should be sent over to England there to throw himself at the Queen's Feet for Mercy and according he was sent over and committed to the Tower but the Queen dying before he could be brought to Trial King Iames the Sixth of Scotland and First of England coming to the Crown he was by an Act of Indempnity pardoned and set at Liberty he and all his Adherents promising exact Obedience for the future and that wise King knowing how to settle a troublesome Nation as having been brought up in one himself he knew it was best to prevent and lay aside Animosities and therefore by his Proclamation of Pardon he utterly extinguished all Offences not only against the Crown but between Subject and Subject as to particular Trespasses
having violated the Peace and undeniably begun the War in invading Ireland the King delayed not to denounce the War against them by a Declaration to that purport bearing Date the Seventh of May 1689. and great Preparations were made for passing over to Ireland Forces were Levied in all parts of England and Money prepared for defraying the Charge of the Expedition which was the more facilitated upon the Estates of Scotland submitting their Crown to King William and Queen Mary and taking of them upon their being owned and invested King and Queen of that Kingdom which they did by their Commissioners who waited upon Their Majesties to that purpose in the Banquetting-House at Whitehall And the Viscount of Dundee who had headed the Rebel Highlanders and others in that Kingdom being killed in a fatal Battel near St. Iohnstown things began to go better and the Success of the Scotch Affairs gave way to a more speedy prosecuting those in Ireland where the Inniskilling-men being abroad pierced the Enemies Quarters and got great Booties defeating divers Parties and making themselves terrible to the Enemy Upon News brought that Maccarty was in those Parts with a strong Party plundering and ravaging the Country Lieutenant-Colonel Berry with three Companies of Foot eight Troops of Horse and three of Dragoons marched towards them but upon their approach found they were made stronger than they were reported by another Party that had joyned them and were much superiour to him in number which obliged him before he found himself sufficiently strong to attack them to send to Colonel Woolsey at Inniskilling for a Re-inforcement which he no sooner obtained but he charged them with much bravery killing a considerable Number taking some Prisoners and putting the rest to flight but the Flyers in their way being greatly re-inforced rallied and came to second Encounter which for a time continued bloody and doubtful they by reason of their advantageous Post much galling our Horse with their Cannon but the Defiles or dirty narrow Passages being resolutely passed by our Foot and Dragoons they made themselves Masters of the Cannon which gave our Horse the advantage to charge the Enemies Horse who thereupon deserted the Foot and fled and the Foot after them a great many being killed and some taken Prisoners by which Defeat the Country was freed from great Incumbrances This part of the Enemies Army that had a long time lain heavy upon it being by this means and in this Battel fell of the Enemy by the Sword and those that were drowned in desperately throwing themselves into the Lough to escape the Pursuers about Three thousand There happened likewise divers other Rencounters of lesser note wherein the Protestants for the greatest part gained the advantage Whilst these things were doing the Irish Army with King Iames at the Head of it marched towards London-Derry promising themselves the Terrour of their Arms would oblige it to a Surrender upon their first approach but found they were extreamly mistaken for although Colonel Lundy the Governour and the two Regiments sent from England under the Colonels Cunningham and Richards had withdrawn and slighted it as a place not tenable against an Army of Forty thousand Men with a Train of Artillery and divers Mortars Providence so ordered it became the Bulwark of the sinking Nation and gave the Enemy their first considerable check for divers Troops that were abroad mostly composed of undisciplined Soldiers throwing themselves into it they together with those that were found there were Regimented even the multitude seizing the Keys and undertaking with great alacrity to defend it having chose Mr. George Walker Minister of an adjacent Village their Governour and Major Baker his Co-adjutor or Assitant-Governour during the Siege And now those in Arms in the Town consisted of 117 Companies and every Company contained sixty Men being in all 7020 Common Soldiers and 341 Officers The next thing taken in hand was to view the Stores and ordering their better Security from any Embezling as resolving to defend the place to the last extremity having already rejected the Offers the Enemy made them in case they would readily submit which consisted of much promised Favour and Protection but the hard dealings others had met with who had put themselves into their hands made them deaf to all Proposals and their great Guns being mounted on the Wall they fired upon the Advance-Guard of the Enemy who had been promised to be received with open Arms by Hamilton and others who undertook to bring over the besieged which much consternated King Iames then within the reach of their Cannon and obliged him to remove to a place of more safety However seeing fair Words and Promises could not gain it they resolved to reduce it by force beginning within a day or two after their appearance before it to break Ground and run their Trenches drawing up a Demi-culverine within a Furlong of the Town with which they battered the Market-House and did some damage to other Houses but the Cannon from the Town playing among them did considerable Execution and to hinder their nearer approach the Besieged sallied and beat them out of their Trenches killing about Two hundred Men amongst whom was the French General Mamow and others of Note with little loss on our side and of Note only Lieutenant Mac Phedris was killed The Besiegers finding this way little availed them drew four Demi-Culverine into an Orchard adjoyning to the Town and kept continual Firing which hurt many People in their Houses and made some Impressions in the Walls Nor was the damage left unrequited from the Cannon of the Town which killed them a great many Men and some considerable Officers and a sudden shot took off two Fryars in their Habits as they were exhorting the Besieged to press on the Siege And now to do their Work more effectually they placed two Mortar-pieces and threw in divers Bombs which did some damage to the Houses and People whereupon the Besieged sallied and killed several of the Enemy at Penburn-Hill losing only two of their own and eighteen wounded The same day a Shot from the Town broke and dismounted one of their Pieces on the Battery and killed the Gunner whereupon they drew a Trench a-cross Windmil-hill from the Bog to the River and there raised another Battery lining the Hedge with Dragoons but at the same time the Besieged sallied in a considerable number and dividing one part made them Masters of the Trenches and advantageous Ground killing about two hundred whilst the other Party beat the Dragoons from the Hedges Which reiterated Losses so enraged the Enemy that having Captain Cunningham and Lieutenant Douglass upon some Sallies they after Quarter given put them to the Sword which served to confirm the Besieged in the belief of the Mercy they were to expect if they fell into their hands and made them more obstinate in a resolute Defence and alluring the Governour out under pretence of Treaty they fired a hundred Shot
at him yet none of them had the power to hurt him by reason upon their first presenting he sheltred him behind the ruines of an old House and retired into the Town cautious how he trusted them any more The Besiegers by this time grown weary of continual Duty and the danger they were exposed to drew off their main Body and encamped on a Hill about two miles from the Town yet left it entirely besieged On the Fourth of Iune a Squadron of Voluntier Horsmen who promised upon Oath to do great things supported by a Detachment of Foot made an Attack upon the Windmil-work resolving to force the Line coming on with loud Shouts and Huzza's but were frustrated in their Enterprize being beat off with considerable loss Four hundred of them were accounted to be killed and to secure their Retreat the Foot carried Faggots at their Backs and those that had none hoised the dead Bodies and carried them away on their Backs to dead the shot On the part of the Besieged the loss was very inconsiderable only Captain Butler pressing too eagerly after the Enemy was taken Prisoner and a few killed by a great shot coming over the River These sevâ—â—al Defeats and Disappointments of taking a place they before had thought so easie that the French General upon the first view swore he would beat down the Walls with Pot-Guns so enraged the Enemy that they were resolved to make all the effort imaginable and the next night played Bombs some of them 273 pounds which broke up the Streats beat down several Houses and killed divers Persons which occasioned some consternation and the more when their Stores of Provision began to fail and Famine to encrease so that they needs must have been disheartned had they not been encouraged by the discovery of Thirty Sail of Ships in the Lough which were sent to their Succour from England under the Command of Major-General Kirk with Provision Men and Ammunition But the River being chained up with a floating Boom a-cross it and Batteries of the Enemy on the Bank he could not only for several days get up but had much ado to have Communication by Letter yet the hope of Relief so near at hand kept up the Spirits of the Besieged and encouraged them to a vigorous Defence though many died daily for want Monsieur de Rosen the French Marshal by this time arrived in the Enemies Camp and understanding the little progress they had made in carrying on the Siege fell a swearing By the Belly of God he would not only demolish the Town but bury the Besieged in their own Ruins But upon the Attacks he made found no better Success than the rest and the Lord Clancarâ—y who they said was destined by an old Prophecy to take the Town making an Attack and being beat off with great loss Lieutenant-General Hamilton who had falsified his Trust to King William and revolted to the Enemy upon his being sent from England to pacifie Matters in the beginning came to make large Offers but was rejected by the Besieged with Indignation nor was Rosen's Promises and Threats regarded Whereupon he pitched upon a French Politick imagining that would infâ—deâ—â—ly do viz. he caused all the miserable Protestants to be gathered out of the Countries round about and driven half naked and starved there to perish if the Besieged refused to succour them whose Wants though they pierced their Hearts having very slender Provision in the Town they could not relieve and therefore kept the Gates shut against them yet fired among the Enemies Party that drove them four or five of them fell dead with the Shot And now there being several Prisoners in the Town who had several Relations of Note and Command in the Enemies Camp the Governour and the rest caused a Gallows to be set up in the sight of the Enemy threatning to hang the Prisoners thereon if those miserable People were not suffered to return to their Habitations yet leave given them to write to their Friends to know what they would do on their behalf Rosen returned them no Answer but Hamilton returned them a slight one However this Stratagem prevailed and the People were permitted to return which proved advantageous to the Garrison for amongst them five or six hundred poor Starvlings were shuffled out and some able Bodies taken in Another Stratagem they had to shoot Letters into the Town in the dead Shell of a Bomb viz. not filled with Powder as imagining the Governour and other Superiour Officers kept their Proposals from the Soldiers but this enraged them the more and it was ma 〈…〉 th so much as to discourse of a Surrender About the Thirtieth of Iune Major Baker died yet the Defence continued as vigorous as ever and divers Sallies were made though the Garrison through Famine Diseases and Loss was lessened near one half and the Famine increased so fast that Horse-flesh was fold for Eighteen pence the pound and but little of that to be had A Quarter of a Dog that fead upon the dead Irish at Five shillings and six pence his Head at half a crown a Cat at four shillings and six pence Rats Mice Tallow Greves and all noysome things that could be possibly eaten proportionably so that in the whole Town there was but nine lean Horses left and a pint of Meal and a little Tallow to each Man when Providence so ordered whilst they were at their Devotions News came that Ships were making their way up the River which to their great Joy and Comfort proved true for Major-General Kirk having notice that the Town could hold out no longer ordered the Mountjoy and Phoenix and Mountjoy guarded by the Dartmouth to force their way at any hazard which they did through the Showers of the Enemies Shot and found the Boom broke one of them however struck upon a shelve yet the Stock of her Guns set her free again and they came safe to the Town bringing Life to a dying People which the Enemy perceiving thought it to no purpose of staying longer before it least they should receive worse disgrace but in some confusion raised their Camp firing Culmore and divers other Places in their Retreat breaking for haste some of their great Guns and had a Party of the Inniskilling-Men and some of the Garrison upon their Rear who cut off or took Prisoners the Sâ—raglers with some Booty the former having before defeated Lieutenant-General Maccarty they likewise threw about twelve Care load of Arms into the River for want of Carriages to bear them off and lost before the Town in a Siege of one hundred and five Days for so long it lasted between 18 and 19000 Men and among them 100 of their best Officers And now pardon me Reader for insisting so long upon this particular which I could not slightly pass over since if we consider the Weakness of the Place few of the Men that defended trained up in War and Scarcity it endured and the time it held
delighted Nations from the Storms of Discontent and Trouble From all which we may conclude That if Ireland ever was desirous to be in a prosperous state the time is come that puts that Opportunity into the hands of her Inhabitants to become a happy People When on the other hand had things succeeded as too many of them unadvisedly wished some few Months since they might instead of being at perfect Liberty been the Sons and Daughters of Slavery and the most severest of Bondages under the French Tyranny which how easie that Yoke is to bear the Subjects of France have fatally experienced in the Reigns of many of their former Kings but more especially under Lewis XIV to avoid which the more discerning part have undergone a voluntary Exile and become a scattered People over the Face of the Earth finding better usage in barbarous Nations This I hope may suffice to warn the Irish to consider where their Interest lies and to embrace their Majesties Protection as their true Asylum A TRUE and IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF THE Kingdom of Ireland DESCRIBING Its Situation Ancient Inhabitants Manners Customs and the State it was found in at the Time it was Invaded and Conquered by the English in the Reign of King Henry II. c. THE Kingdom of Ireland is of no mean Extent but rather very large and considerable It is an Island it is bounded on the East with England and Scotland on the West with the main Ocean on the South with part of France and Normandy and on the North with the Ducalidonian Sea It is as all other Islands surâ—ounded with Water containing in Length 40â— and in Breadth 200 Miles and is especially parted or divided into four Provinces viz. Munster which is again divided into the Counties of Limerick Kerrey Waterford Cork Desmon and the Holy Cross in Tipperary 2. The Province of Leinster divided into the Counties of the East and West Meaths Kilkenney Caterlough King's County Kildare Wexford Dublin and Wicklow 3. The Province of Connoâ—â—â—â— divided into the Counties of Clare Thumond Majo Sligo Letarim and Roscomon 4. The Province of Vlster divided into the Counties of Tyrconnel Tyrone Cavan Coleraine Monaghan Antrim Down Armah and Lough and these are for the most part at this day replenished with many considerable Cities and Towns of which I shall have occasion to speak in the Series of this History as they shall fall in their proper places The Country is naturally very fruitful and seems by the Soil always to have been so though the Natives have not appear'd very active in improving it as being naturally given up to floath or to live by War and Rapine As for the first Peopling it after Noah's Flood it remains very much if not altogether in the dark the Natives having been imposed on by Monks and Bards a sort of Rimers and Fortune-Tellers with Fables for Reality though it is conjectured by the Learned that this Island was Peopled upon the Confusion of Tongues at Babel soon after the Flood and the Irish Historians of the best account tell us That one Bastolenus encouraged by the Example of Nimâ—od in Syria settled his Monarchy in the Western Islands and amongst others peopled this yet where he kept his head Residence no mention is made but that his three Sons ruling there had War with Giants that grew up in the Land and rebelled against them and that afterward divers Scythians roving to seek Adventures got footing there and so they go on in the doubtful Paths of Uncertainty a great way farther But true it is that according to our own Histories and those of other Nations the Irish began very early to rove abroad and in their Boats and such kind of Ships as they had coming frequently ashore in England and Scotland and other Places did great Mischief by Burning and Plundering but were frequently met withal and a great many of them killed Nor do we find that the Romans when they conquered Britain extended their Arms to Ireland It is held they were Converted to the Christian Religion by St. Iames the Apostle and some give large grounds for it but their Authors will have it done by one Palaâ—inus sent thither to that purpose by Pope Celestine but more especially perfected by St. Patrick to whom they ascribe a thousand Incredibilities But to leave these Conjectures that are not greatly pertinent to our Matter we now come nearer to that for which we have more Warrant and Certainty The first Acquaintance that the English had with the Irish as to any thing that is remarkable was in the Reign of Henry the Second of England their chief Communication being with France whether they sent several Bands of Soldiers to help them against the English who were Waring there under their King for the Recovery of his Right in the Provinces that were his Grand-father's which he having pretty well settled turned his Thoughts upon Ireland where he heard they were at Variance among themselves the whole Land being divided under many Petty Princes when it luckily happened a business fell out that gave him an easie Inlet to the Conquest of it for in the Year 1167. the Eastern Part of the Island along the Sea being possessed by Dormat Mac-mur King of Leinster his Cruelties had highly incensed his Subjects against him and what more raised their Fury was the Injury he did to Morice King of Meath by wheedling away his Queen and living with her in Adultery so that the inraged Husband seeking Reparation and Revenge invaded his Countries by the Assistance of Roderick O Conor King of Connaught at the Terror of whose Approach Dormat being detested by and forsaken of his Subjects was forced to flie to England and there implored Protection which upon taking an Oath of Fidelity and Obedience to the King was freely given him and Henry with a Sum of Money procured leave of Pope Adrian an English-man promoted to St. Peter's Chair that he might Conquer Ireland promising moreover throughly to establish the Christian Religion and bring it to an Acknowledgment of the See of Rome but whilst he was preparing to pass the Seas new Troubles arose in his French Territories that required his Presence yet by his Letters Patents he gave Leave with Encouragement to his Nobles and such others as were willing to go for Ireland Dormat impatient of his Exile mainly upon this Concession solicited Richard the King's Son promising not only his Daughter a very beautiful young Lady in Marriage but great Possessions in the Country when he should be restored and all his Territories after his Death The young Prince being of a Warlike Temper and thirsting after Glory resolved though his Father was absent to undertake this Expedition and early the next Spring sailed from Bristol with divers Ships on Board which were thirty Knights sixty Esquires and three hundred Archers the first English-men ever known to land in a Hostile-manner in Ireland and being met by Dormat with such Forces as he
having been well tutored and of a graceful Carriage so well acted his part that not only the Lieutenant but a great many of the Irish Nobility sided with him raising considerable Forces to espouse his Quarrel Crowning him King in Dublin and not content to keep him there they brought him with a considerable Army into England landing in Lancashire and Proclaiming him But the King's Forces advancing they were in a Set-battel over-thrown and the Imposter taken Prisoner the Priest hanged c. They likewise in the King's Reign aided another called Perkin or Peter Warbeck who stiled himself Duke of York younger Son to Edward the Fourth but in this they had no better success than in the former a great many being killed the Impostor taken after several Attempts and bloody Encounters having engaged the Scots as well as Irish on his part marrying the Lady Catharine Gourdon Niece to that King he was first obliged to confess his Impostor how he was set on maintained and encouraged by the Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth and then being publickly punished was sent to the Tower from whence endeavouring to escape he was executed and with him the real Earl of Warwick who had been kept a Prisoner there a considerable time all that was alledged against him was that he attempted to make his Escape with Perkin to raise new Commotions In the Reign of Henry the Eighth great Commotions were stirred up which were at first suddenly appeased but the Earl of Kildare being Deputy the People exhibited their Complaints against him to the Court of England as the cause of many Disturbances by his severe using them and amongst other Articles they had this viz. All Ireland is not able to Rule this Earl Then said the King this Earl is the fittest Man to Rule all Ireland and thereupon he continued him Deputy it appeared this hatred against him proceeded only from the strict hand he had over them to keep them from rebelling And another was That he had caused to be burned the Cathedral Church of Cashal The Archbishop of that place being his chief Accuser and when every one would have denied it he humbly replied By Chreest I would never have done it had I not byen told the Archbishop was in it Which plain dealing made the King smile and the Archbishop storm and fret however the Earl was ordered to rebuild it at his own charge and so continued in his Deputyship but often fell into displeasure by reason of his plain downright dealing and Cardinal Wolsey now ruling all at Court for speaking too plain to him upon his Examination at the Council-Board where Wolsey sat as President he sent him to the Tower and ordered a Warrant for his Execution without the King's Knowledge of which the King having Notice by the Lieutenant was mightily incensed at Wolsey and that great Favourite soon after falling into Disgrace the Earl was released and sent to Ireland with one Sir William Sheington who was made Deputy however the O Moors fell into Rebellion but being opposed by Forces drawn out of Dublin they were dispersed and many of them killed and for that time the Tempest blown over however it lasted not long for the Earl of Kildare's Enemies having again upon many grievous Complaints prevail'd to have him sent for to England he was committed to the Tower whereupon his Son the Lord Thomas notwithstanding the Perswasions of the Chancellor to avert him from it fell into Rebellion and drew great Forces after him yet driven at last to extream Necessities he was perswaded by the Lord Grey then Deputy of the Kingdom to submit himself to King Henry's Mercy without hope of Pardon but some of his Followers having killed Alen Archbishop of Dublin he was upon his Arrival committed to the Tower and King Henry being informed That the Geraldine Family had vowed never to have Peace with him he sent for the Earl's five Brothers in Custody when one of them during their crossing the Seas demanded of the Master what the Name of the Ship was who replied The Cow Nay then said he looking on the rest with a dejected Countenance we are all lost Men for now a Prophecy comes into my head that says Five Brethren of an Earl should be carried into England in the Belly of a Cow and never come back again and I doubt not but all things hitting so pat we are they And indeed so it happen'd for being Accused of the late Rebellion though two of them were ignorant of it the Lord Thomas Son to the Earl was beheaded on Tower-hill and the five Brethren hang'd drawn and quartered at Tyburn and the Earl soon after died in the Tower of Grief which destroyed the Center of that Noble Family for although one Brother escaped yet travelling through many Countries he at last came to Naples and there died Childless Nor did the Lord Grey escape for being countermanded and accused of holding Correspondency with this Family though without any notable Proof he was Condemned for High-Treason and beheaded on Tower-hill The Kings of England the better to please the Natives of Ireland having been all this while only called Lords of Ireland the Parliament sitting at Westminster in the 33d year of Henry's Reign invested with the Title of King of Ireland whereupon the Earl of Tyrone and divers others rebelled but in some bloody Encounters being defeated the Earl was at last subdu'd and brought Prisoner for England yet upon his humble Submission released and sent over upon promise of keeping the Country in quiet which he pretty well observed during the short Reigns of King Edward the Sixth and Queen Mary only some petty Commotions happened that were soon quieted In the Year 1566. being the Seventh year of Queen Elizabeth's Reign one of the chief Lords of Ireland named Donald Mac Carti More upon some little stirs that happened came over and not only cleared himself to the Queen but delivered up to her all his Territories vowing perpetual Fealty but she in gratitude restored them again and made him Earl of Glencare giving him a considerable Sum to bear his Expences so that by his great Authority amongst the Natives it was thought the Kingdom would be kept quiet but it proved otherwise for after some private Conspiracies that never broke out were defeated the Earl of Desmond the Eleventh Earl of that Title who had great Territories and abundance of Followers broke into open Rebellion and did great damage to the English driving them out of many places killing divers Gentlemen in Revenge as he said of the Earl of Kildare and his Family being put to death and amongst others one with whom he had contracted a strict Friendship and usually called Father who when he saw him with his drawn Sword breaking into his Chamber and relying upon his former Friendship cried out What is the matter Desmon my Son to whom the bloody Earl sternly replied I am no longer thy Son nor thou my Father but
and the like to every one that at a set day would appear and claim the Benefit of his Pardon before the Justice of Assize and Publick Justice for that purpose being setled in every Country it abated much of the Tyranny their Petty Lords had over them and made the Vulgar sort of them sensible of the Goodness of the English Laws of which before they had purposely been kept in Ignorance Being now for the most part freed from their Servitude and in the King 's immediate Protection so that if their Lords had a mind to Rebel they could not compel their Tenants to Rise as they had formerly done and Ireland being now divided into Shires the Circuits were erected in every Province and the English had their Lands alotted and more particular Colonies established so that Trade began to flourish and several Corporations of the City of London having purchased large Proportions of Land built a strong Town for their Securiâ—y against the Incursions of the Irish that might happen very advantageously situate on the Bank of a River and Lough which made a wonderful Change to all appearance in the face of Things but what can hinder a People from being miserable that will make themselves so as may not improperly say in spight of Providence the chief of the Irish were displeased at these Proceedings finding the English Improvement rendred such Plenty in the Kingdom as made their Land of little value and therefore many of them spightfully let them lye neglected to be over-run with Thistles and Briars cursing their Posterity if ever they had any Communication with the English or so much as Ploughed or Sowed by which their irreconcileable Hatred to us may be measured The ordinary sort of People notwithstanding their Lords Diâ—â—wasions finding they had not their former Power to compel perceiving Advantage to arise by this new Settlement inhabited very friendly with the English and by their Examples began to improve themselves in Industry and seemed averse to be stirred up as formerly upon every slight Occasion to Rebel insomuch that a long Peace ensued and that brought with it extraordinary Plenty but as nothing is certain or permanent upon Earth so in process of Time this golden Cord of Union between the two Nations was violently cut in sunder Troubles arising in the Year 1641. thro' a Mis-understanding and fomented Heats blown by secret Enemies and War being in prospect between England and Scotland several of the Native Irish Chiefs not finding the People prone to hearken to them incited the Popish Priests who by promising them Heaven for Obedience to their Commands and Damnation on the contrary with many other strange Stories and Things pushed them headlong on to one of the blackest Iniquities â—he Sun has for many Ages beheld and was too late discovered to be prevented for it happened that on the 23d of October the Irish headed by a great many of their Nobility and Gentry rose generally in Arms seizing upon divers strong Places Arms Ammunition and all that came to hand vowing the utter Destruction of all the English in Ireland to Extirpate them from the face of the Irish Earth both Root and Branch and this was discovered but one Night before it was to be executed by which Providence however Dublin and some other Places by the Imprisoning the Conspirators and Fortifying them with good Garisons were secured and became a Refuge to the Lives of many so that now one might every where behold Houses flaming the miserable People fly every where for their Lives whilst the Blood of many were mingled with Flames and the Earth made red by the Blood of those that were slaughtered in the Fields and Ways thousands were drowned in Rivers and Lakes till the Stream was glutted with the dead Bodies and they Bridged over the Waters many were ripped up alive and others tortured in a more cruel manner some were turned out into Snows and Frost and starved to death the Priests and Fryers going along with the Murtherers and beating them on to it with their Crucifixes telling them They were Hereticks and no longer to be suffered alive on the Earth and that it was so far from a sin to kill them that it was Meritorious and even Damnation it self to spare them giving the Sacrament to the more scrupulous of Conscience to confirm them in the Bloudy Enterprize so that in a short space before any Succour could come from England they destroyed by sundry barbarous ways 20000 Men Women and Children burnt most of their Houses and Villages killing their Cattel and suffering them to rot upon the Ground rooâ—ing up likewise their newly sprouted Corn as maliciously bent not only to destroy the People but in Hatred and utter Detestation all that appertained to them flattering themselves by the Inducement of old lying Prophesies to shake off the English Yoke and choose them a King from among their Country-men but Fate consented noâ— The King was at the beginning of this fatal Mischief in Ireland upon the Borders of Scotland labouring to compose the Differences recommending the Care of Ireland to his Parliament then sitting at Westminster who promised a speedy Relief and Assistance to the Protestants that were got together in Arms and stood upon their Defence Voting 50000 pound for to raise Forces and the Earl of Ormond was made Lieutenant-General of the Royal Forces in that Kingdom to joyn whom Sir Simon Harcourt was sent out of England with a Regiment So that the poor Remnant of the Protestants getting together made the Irish Papist that was so good at base and unmanly Murthers fly the Face of War But Troubles growing fast on in England by the Misunderstanding between King Charles the First and his Parliament and sprouting up into a miserable Civil War most of the guilty Persons at this time escaped unpunished But the small Force of the Proteâ—â—ants that were left being once united forced the Irish out of their strong Hold and restored the Face of Government yet about eighâ— Years after a Bloody Scene was acted for King Charles the First loosing his Kingdoms with his Life his Eldest Son Charles as his undoubted Right taking upon him the Kingly Dignity though in Exile England being cast as they termed it into a Model of a Free State or Republick the Marquess of Ormond Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was commissioned to Labour the Securing that Country to the behoof of his Master King Charles the Second and finding no other Means to do it in that Imergency he closed his Interest with the Chief of the leading Irish concluding a Peace in the King's Name with the most considerable of them upon Submission and Obedience to his Majesty there being a Concession of certain Articles on the part of the Marquess to be performed when being joyned by the Marquess of Clanricard and the Lord Inchequeen the Earl of Castlehaven c. Trim and Tredah or Drogheda upon a Defeat they gave the Forces that came from England surrendered
and now Dublin wherein was a strong Garison commanded by Colonel Iones being the only place of strength that held out the Marquess laid Siege to it with a brave Army to appearance but it seems there were too many Irish in it for the Besieged taking the advantage of the carelesness of the Camp made at first very slender Sallies but finding the advantage they sallied with their whole strength and beating the Besiegers out of their Works followed them into their Camp which occasioned such Terrour and Confusion that the Irish fled and left the English and some few French to stand to it but being overâ—owered by the vigorous Attacks they at â—ength after a sharp and bloody Dispute gave â—way and were forced to raise the Siege whilst â—he Besieged became Masters of their Camp â—nd an extraordinary rich Booty and more Forces arriving from England Fortune went against them almost every where And now London-Derry being besieged that Siege was â—aised by Sir Charles Coot but what yet was a greater Terrour Cromwell a vowed and morâ—al Enemy to the Irish landed with seven Regiments of Foot four Regiments of Horse â—nd one of Dragoons bringing along with him â—he Title of Lord Governour or Lieuteâ—ant of Ireland and had to bring over â—hese Forces forty Sail of Ships with â—attering Pieces Mortars Ammunition â—nd all other Warlike Stores and Materials He staid a while to visit Dublin and â—hen marched with a compleat Army to â—esiege Drogheda wherein was a strong Garâ—ison of English and Irish it being upon â—he Rumour of his Approach reinforced with Two thousand five hundred Foot and Three â—undred Horâ—e and although it was stoutly â—efended yet it was carried by Force and by the too cruel Order of the General all were put to the Sword not respecting Age â—or Sex except a very few who hid themâ—elves for many Days till the Fury was over And here it is the more to be lamented beâ—ause this Brunt fell mostly upon many brave English Gentlemen who were got into the Place to Defend it for their King Otheâ— Towns were likewise taken by Storm anâ— treated at the like rate so that a bloody Vengeance seemed to fall heavy upon a great many that were Innocent for the Sins of the Guilty who had so lately polluted the Land witâ— Innocent Blood and now kept mostly out oâ— the way in the Mountains Bogs and Fastneâ—ses however being at last hunted from placâ— to place a great number fell by the Sworâ— Famine and Pestilence insomuch that the Lanâ— was greatly Depopulated a third part of thâ— People being wasted and had severe Task Masters over them that made them Groan â—nder their Burthens till Charles the Seconâ— came to lighten their Sholders and restoâ—â— them again their Peace and Eaâ—e by Accessioâ— to the Crown upon the Happy Restauration so that the People wearied with their formeâ— Miseries began to be out of love with Waâ— and Insurrections and seemed mightily inclinâ—ble to Peace And indeed the King too care to place such Ministers of State among them especially the Lords Lieutenants anâ— Lords Justices that they had no reasonablâ— cause to complain of their Usage either iâ— Affairs Civil or Military and indeed thâ— Tranquility the Kingdom enjoyed made thâ— People in a great measure forget what theâ— had suffered They traded to France anâ— Spain with the product of their Native Soil the Rivers and Lakes likewise affording theâ— plenty of Fish which they transported foâ— Wine and other Commodities Nor did theâ—â— Thoughts appear to be elevated above what was reasonable till the Death of the King But when King Iames the Second ascended his Brother's Throne and declared himself a Roman Catholick then it was the Irish Papists began to prick up their Ears and to expect Advantages beyond their Abilities publickly declaring The Day was their own and that the Protestant Religion must go down But it seems in this as in their other Aims they took such Measures as made them shoot wide of their Mark The Earl of Tyrconnel who had been raised by King Iames when Duke of York from a mean to a considerable Figure was looked upon as a fit Instrument to carry on the Design in that Kingdom and therefore upon the re-calling of the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon he was made Lord-Lieutenant and soon gave the Irish great Hopes of Superiority over the English in that Kingdom by first Cashiering the Protestant Soldiers and Officers that were in Arms and then the Officers and Ministers of Justice And though there were Complaints made against him at the English Court yet they were not regarded but he the rather encouraged in his Enterprizes insomuch that things run so high that many feared a fatal Event and divers left thereupon the Kingdom some going for Holland others for Scotland and England and in such a method Matters continued to be pushed violently on till News came of a purposed Invasion of the Kingdom of England by the Prince of Orange now our Soveraign then Tyrconnel beâ—tir'd himself to secure Ireland Imprisoning such as he suspected and Disarming others draining the Garrisons of the most expert Irish Soldiers that were Papists and sending them over to the number of Three thousand or thereabout to the Assistance of his Master but they did him far more hurt than good by increasing the Peoples Fears that were but before suggested And indeed the whole English Nation Revolting in a manner from King Iames and what was more remarkable a great part of the Army he had been so long Training up at a vast Expence Upon the Landing of the Prince with his Forces the Irish Forces that had been sent over in expectation of Mountains found that they were not only dwindled into less than Mole-hills but themselves in a miserable Condition not only at the point of starving when Disbanded with the rest of the Forces by the Earl of Feversham but almost exposed to the Fury and violent Resentment of the People who had conceived a Hatred against them so that at last submitting they were taken care of and most of them shipped for the Emperour's Service against the Turks Tyrconnel was not idle in Ireland upon the News he had from England of King Iames his Flight to France but calling a Council mostly of his Creatures told them That now it was their time to stand up for their Country and secure it against all Opposers and that for his part if even his Master should command him to deliver up the Sword he should think it in such â— Iuncture his Duty to Refuse it And immediately not only spread the News throughout the Country but caused the Irish every where to take Arms such as they could get â—o â—haâ— the Tumultuous Rabble getting together plundered the Protestant Houses drove away their Cattel fired their Stacks of Corn and Hay murthered some and barbarously used others insomuch that the Terrour working in all such as could fled for their Lives leaving their Substance
behind them and happy they thought themselves in that Condition if they could pass the Seas either to England or Scotland for although several of the Protestant Nâ—bility and Gentry made Head in the North yet the Enemy having in their Posseâ—sion all the strong Towns they found themselves too weak to make any extraordinary Resistance against so mighty a Torrent as came roaring on however they gave several oâ— their Parties notable Overthrows fortifying London-Derry Slego and the â—â—le of Inniskilling and such other Places and Difficulties of Access as they found Opportunity for by this time Tyrconnel had given Orders for sâ—opping the Ports and made many large and plausible Offers to bring them over to his Party but they prevailed on a very few The Prince and Princess being proclaimed King and Queen of England France and Ireland on the 14th of February 1688. upon the Humble Address of both Houses of Parliament great care was taken for the speedy succouring the oppressed Protestants of Ireland and that the Papists in Arms against them might be left without Excuse a Proclamation was sent over offering among other things a Pardon and Indempnity for all that should in Obedience to it lay down their Arms and retire to their respective places of Abode and there peaceably behave themselves as obedient Subjects ought to do upon which Condition they should in full Freedom enjoy their Estates according to Law and that the Roman Catholicks upon such a Consideration should have all the Favour that the Law allows for the private Exercise of their Religion with a further Promise That a Parliament should be speedily called in that Kingdom But upon refusing to comply with the Royal Mandate to be esteemed as Rebels and Traytors to the Crown of England c. their Lands and Possessions to be Forfeited and disposed of by way of Distribution among those that should be Aiding and Assisting in the Reducing the Kingdom to its Obedience This Royal Concession though Tyrconnel laboured what in him lay to hinder its being dispersed wrought some good Effects notwithstanding that Earl to counter-ballance it put forth a Paper which he termed his Declaration not only therein insinuating what great Advantage the Kingdom would reap by â—anding out But that their Fears might be dissipated he promised speedy Aids and Succours from France and that they should not want for either Money or Provision and moreover the better to encourage them gave hopes of King Iames's speedy landing there with a numerous Army And the better to secure himself and keep up the Courage of his Party he sent out Detachments to secure divers Protestant Gentlemen in the Country and make Garrisons of their Houses But the greatest part of them having timely notice made their Escapes by which the Protestants grew stronger in the North however their Goods and Possessions were destroyed and harassed The Priests being the greatest Incendiaries to stir up those that were actually in Arms to Spoil and Rapine as being sure of a share as likewise to Arm the madding Multitude so that one might see Droves of the latter some half naked others tattered and all in miserable Rags armed with Pitchforks Bills Staves and what other merciless Weapons they could get on the suddain running like so many Furies to spoil and plunder and in their greediness of Prey not many times distinguishing Papists from Protestants And it was strongly reported That there was a great Debate in the Council to which some Popish Bishops were admitted about a General Massacre as the best Expedient to clear the Country of Hereticks But Tyrconnel let it be to his praise had the Generosity to oppose and detest it and put a stop in some measure to the mischievous progress of the Rabble yet when some of the Chiefs who had got Protections from him made their Complaints That they were notwithstanding plundered He only shook his Head and told them It was Necessity that made his Men to do it and he could no ways help or restrain it These violent proceedings made those that thought upon the Earl's Protection they might have some confidence in their continuance as to safety begin to make away for the Sea-coast and although the Masters of Ships were commanded on pain of Death to transport none yet many escaped to England and Scotland where they were well received and Provision made for them by way of Publick Brief and Collection c. About the latter end of March the Abdicated King landed in Ireland with a great Train of Officers but very few Forces and was received at Dublin with a mixture of Joy and Sorrow bringing with him as his Supervisor Monsieur D'Avaux with some French Generals The Recorder of Dublin made a long Speech to him upon his Arrival extolling him for Courage Conduct and all the Heroick Vertues imaginable above the Skies and a general Joy spread in the faces of the Roman Catholicks thinking now the day was all their own and not doubting to carry every thing by force or submission and more Soldiers were Listed and Regimented under the French Officers that came over and care taken to lay up Stores Money was every where extorted and the plundered Cattel Corn and Hay brought in and sold at inconsiderable Rates insomuch that they soon gathered an Army of between Forty and Fifty Thousand Men. Whilst these things were doing at Land the English Navy being out at Sea with a strict Charge to hinder Correspondence between France and Ireland the Squadron under the Command of Admiral Herbert had Notice by their Scout Ships that part of the French Fleet was abroad and stood away to the Irish Coast Whereupon he made all the Sail he could after them and the next Day found they stood into Bantry Bay a very spacious bearing in of the Sea and though for fear of the Shallows and other Difficulties that might offer it proved a work of Difficulty to enter upon them for they seemed no ways willing to come out to an Engagement notwithstanding they were much superiour in number yet the Admiral drawing his Ships into a Line and lying upon the stretch battered them extreamly from Ten in the Morning till Five in the Afternoon at what time the French Admiral tacked from us and stood farther into the Bay We killed them a great many Men and some of our Men declareâ— they saw one of their great Ships go to the bottom On our side we lost Captain Aylmer of the Portland with a Lieutenant and about Three hundred Seamen killed and wounded and could our Fireships have entred upon them most of their Ships which were Forty four in number to about Twenty eight of ours might have been destroyed Our Fleet after this Engagement came back to Portsmouth and there refitted whether the King of England went to take a view of them and Dining aboard the Admiral created him Earl of Torrington c. and distributed about Six thousand pound among the Seamen And now the French
but being too soon discovered he was obliged to Retreat which he did with the loss but of one Man Spring coming on Lewis the Fourteenth was not altogether unmindful of his Promise but sent Five thousand French with some Cloaths and Ammunition in lieu of which Succours as many Irish were sent to France under the leading of Lieutenant General Maccarty who having been taken Prisoner by the Inniskilling-Men upon the great Overthrow had by this time made his escape for which Colonel Hamilton Governour of Inniskilling where he had been detained Prisoner was questioned but upon Trial producing a Letter from his Superiour Officer for what he had done the matter passed over Colonel Woosley about this time had the Castle of Killesandra delivered to him upon Summons the Garrison being terrified into a compliance upon Notice he was about to spring a Mine under it the Garrison consisting of 160 Men were conducted to Cavan and many other Castles and advantageous Places were frighted at the approach of our Forces or compelled to Surrender and great Plenty abounded in the English Camp by reason those that brought it received Silver Money when on the other side King Iames had caused Brass Money to be coined and an Order to pass it at certain Rates though it was not a Twentieth part of the value yet prohibited it in Payments in his Custom-house and Exchequer and having called a pretended Irish Parliament they anulled the Act of Settlement and all other Acts favourable to the Protestants relating to Matters Civil or Ecclesiastical so that Protestant Bishops and Ministers were out and Popish Bishops and Priests advanced to their Benefices and great Oppressions used on all hands but whilst this was doing Charlemont a strong Fortress of the Enemies that had been all the Winter blocked up finding no Succours of Provision though some of our Men got in over the Morass which hastened the consumption of their Provision beat a Parley and after some debate about Articles they were agreed upon they being in their Orders as followeth That all the Garrison viz. the Governour Officers Soldiers Gunners and all other Inhabitants the Deserters who run from our Camp since the first of September precedent only excepted and all other persons in the said Garrison shall have their Lives secured and march out with their Arms Bag and Baggage Drums beating Colours flying Match lighted and Bullet in Mouth each Officer and Soldier Twelve Charges of Powder with Match and Ball proportionable and their Horses without any molestation in their Persons and Goods now in their possession not belonging to the Stores upon any pretence whatsoever that the said Garrison may march the nearest way to Dundalk and not be compelled to march above 8 or 9 miles a day That all sick and wounded Officers and all other persons that are not able to march at present may remain within the said Garrison till they are able to march and then to have a Pass to go to the next Irish Garrison That none of the Army under his Grace the Duke of Schomberg's Command shall enter the said Fort except such as are appointed by him to take possession till the Garrison be marched clear out of the Gates That there shall be a sufficient Convoy appointed for the said Garrison to conduct it to the place before-mentioned That they shall deliver fully and wholly without any Embezelment or Diminution all the Stores belonging to the said Fort and that an Officer shall be immediately admitted to take an Account of them That the Fort shall be put into the possession of such Forces as his Grace shall think fit at Eight of the Clock on Wednesday the Fourteenth of May 1690. and the Garrison shall march out an hour before the outward Gate shall be delivered to such Forces as the General shall appoint in case a supply of one Months Provision for 800 men be not brought into the Garrison for Relief between the signing of these Articles and the time the place is articled to be delivered up That the above-mentioned Articles shall be inviolably performed on both sides without any Equivocation Mental Reservation or Fraud whatsoever according to the true Intent and Meaning thereof Lastly That all Acts of Hostility shall cease between the said Garrison and Army so soon as Notice can be given on both sides Thus after a long holding out this strong Place was forced into a compliance notwithstanding the Enemy had put such confidence in it that many of those abroad proposed it as a last Refuge if things came to a greater Extremity its Scituation and Strength giving them Incouragement to hope it was Impregnable and indeed it had baffled our Men in some Attempts they made on it and held out so long contrary to expectation however at last we find that was agreed to be Surrendred and accordingly it was Surrendred and the Governour Teague O Regan and the Garrison who had near consumed all their Provision marched out in number 800 they left 17 Pieces of brass Cannon 2 Mortars and a considerable quantity of Ammunition And this Place by Nature and Art being exceeding strong greatly availed to the keeping all that part of the Country in awe And what more exceedingly heartned the Soldiers was the News that the King of England had left Whitehall on the fourth of Iune and was coming for Ireland with a considerable Army great Sums of Money Stores of Ammunition and all things necessary for the vigorous carrying on and expediting the War Nor were they deceived in the Report for on the fourteenth of Iune he landed at Carickfergus and went from thence to Belfast where he was waited on by Duke Schomberg and many of the great Officers and with him came not only some of the Irish Nobility but a great many of that Country who had fled for England to avoid the Danger that threatned from the Papists and great was the Joy of the Protestants for his Arrival and as much on the other hand the Terrour and Consternation of the Papists His Majesty soon after his Landing ordered 200000 1. to be brought on shoar and fifteen Tun of Half-pence and Farthings of the new Tin coin and gave notice to all the Agents of Regiments to bring in their Accompts within three days that they might receive the Moneys due to the Soldiers and care thereupon was taken to clear their Quarters and discharge the Country The King thus landed to the great Joy of all the Protestants every one laboured who should be formost in shewing their humble Gratitude for his Exposing his Royal Person to so many Dangers for their Safety whereupon the Gentlemen of the County of Down c. presented this Address To the King 's most Excellent Majesty Great Sir WE the Sheriffs and Iustices â—f the Peace and Gentlemen of the County of Down and Antrim do most heartily Congratulate your Majesty's safe Arrival into this Kingdom and do humbly offer your Majesty our unfeigned Thanks for the great
Pains and Hazard your Majesty does undergo in restoring us to our Religion Liberties and Properties and do not doubt but as God has made your Majesty miraculously Instrumental in re-establishing those Blessings in the Kingdom of England so he will in this distressed Country which that he may do and grant your Majesty a long and prosperous Reign over us is the hearty wish and prayer of Your Majesty's Faithful and most Obedient Subjects and Servants c. On this Occasion likewise the Clergy of the Churches in the Province of Ulster presented their Address as did the Presbyterians and those of their Perswasion in the North of the Kingdom The like from the Mayor Aldermen c. of London-Derry and another from the Soveraign Burgesses and Inhabitants of Belfast which created a high Satisfaction and more general Rejoycing And here it was that Mr. Walker that so bravely defended London-Derry accompanied with divers of the Clergy waited upon his Majesty and Congratulated his happy Arrival in the Kingdom And Parties were sent out to observe the Motions of the Enemy The King intent upon the great Affair he came about stayed not for many Ceremonies and Complements but being well refreshed went to Hilsbourgh and from thence to Newry where a great part of the Army that had been under the General lay of which he took a view and ordered all things to the best Advantage for carrying on the War nor was the Measures taken slow in Executing And now whilst this is doing let us turn a little towards Dublin and see how Affairs stand in the Metropolis of the Kingdom It was not to be doubted but upon the King 's landing with an Additional Army the Papists would have been more concerned than they were but I know not upon what false Topick they grounded their Hopes their Concern was not so great as might have been expected from so eminent a Danger whether it was to abate the Courage of the Protestants and startle them into a Mistake of some private Design they had against the King or that they had some old Prophesies which they too much relied upon for their Success or that they trusted to the number of their Army remains doubtful but however they kept up their Courage beyond expectation The Protestants in Dublin guessed it proceeded from the false News that 100000 men were ready to rise in England and recall King Iames or declare for a Common-wealth and that the French Fleet being very powerful at Sea would not fail to intercept the King of England's Return and so they fancied they had him as it were in a Trap. And indeed in this immergency the Affronts the Protestants every where received without any hope of Redress made them not know what to think of their Condition nor was it long e're the Chief of them were imprisoned and the rest were told They would be glad e're long to go to Mass in a short time And they were put into frequent frights of having their Houses fired about their Ears or at the least to be plundered of all they had And it seems it was debated That if it came to a Battel and the Irish were worsted the City should be set on fire if not the Protestants massacred But it is said King Iames opposed it and on the 16th of Iuly marched out of Dublin to joyn with about 5000 Foot sent from France and one Regiment of them being Dutch and mostly Protestants great care was taken to keep them from startling and the whole Irish Army was composed of about 40000 men besides 15000 that remained in Garrisons and 6000 of the Militia under the Command of Colonel Luttrel and Mac Gillicuddy who was ordered as his Assistant in the Government of the City And hereupon a hasty Order came out that all who walked the Streets without Bayonets or Swords should be seized And thereupon a great many Protestants who could not get such Weapons were taken up and many of them Imprisoned And another Order That upon pain of Death not above five Protestants besides the Family should meet together So that the Churches which had till this time been kept open were shut up and Dr. King Dean of St. Patrick's imprisoned Yet such was the Zeal of the Protestants in these dangerous times that they gathered considerable Contributions for the Maintenance of the dispos sest Clergy and for such as were Prisoners till they were forced to desist all the Goals and many of the Churches being crowded with Prisoners not only Citizens but such as had been brought from Galloway Kilmainham and other places many of them were stifled by crowding and wanting of Air and others almost famished for want of Sustenance It would be too tedious to enumerate all the particular Sufferings of the Protestants their frequent Allarms Fears and many other Disturbances Therefore let it suffice that though sorrow lasted for a night Joy came in the morning as by the Sequel will be Evident The two Armies being now in the Field the Irish however declined fighting all they could and it was given out That King Iames designed to lead them about the Banks of the River Boyne to weary out the English as thinking they could not pass that Stream if defended on the other side and after he had so done to cross the Country and go for Limerick However least the English should push on and give him Battel he resolved to provide for the worst and therefore ordered Sir Patrick Trant the first Commissioner of his Revenue to have shipping ready at Waterford to carry him off if things came to Extremity for at last he found unless he abandoned Dublin which was proposed to be defended he could not avoid fighting above ten days for the King of England impatient of delay possessed himself of almost all the Passes and Posts that were advantageous to bring the Enemy to a Battel and many Skirmishes happened between Parties abroad wherein our men gained the advantage The Enemy by this time being Encamped near Dundalk and strongly guarding a Pass call'd Four-mile-Bridge which was very difficult to force it was resolved that our Army should march to Market-hill and therefore to fall into the great Road that leads from Armagh to Dundalk whereupon Major Scravenmore was sent out with a Detachment of 300 Horse and 20 Dragoons to view the Road and Passes and find a convenient place to Enâ—â—mp in and discover if possible the posture of the Enemy which was so well performed that a small Party of theirs seeing this Detachment betimes in the Morning marching towards Market-hill supposed it to be the Vauntguard of the whole Army and therefore gave the Alarm to their Camp that our Army was almost upon them which without sending to know the certainty put them into such a fear that they fired their Camp and marched away which being certified to the King it appeared so strange that it could not presently gain credit But being in a short time confirmed from all
made many Attacks upon our Men to force them from their Strength yet they sustained their firings with little hurt but in returning it killed a great many of the Enemy who were commanded by Brigadier Carrol and Sir Iames Cotton which so discouraged them that after they had offered our Men Quarter upon Surrendring and it was refused that they marched off carrying away the wounded and most noted of those that were killed yet they left behind 3 Captains and 10 Troopers slain and Major Slingsby desperately wounded which they thought were too near our shot to be carried off and in all they had between 40 and 50 killed and wounded and of ours 10 were killed and 5 wounded and Major Slingsby was carried Prisoner to Cork And much about this time one Walter Brown who had been High Constable of the Barrony of Delwin being taken as a Spy was Executed and Captain Pallasor being abroad with a Party of our Men consisting of about 40 Firelocks of the Army and 20 of the Militia was by the subtil Insinuation and Treachery of one Terence Megral drawn into an Ambush of two of the Enemies Regiments of Foot and some Troops of Horse which in that Exigency made him betake to the Ruins of an old Castle where he caused his Men to fortifie and defend themselves which they did continually firing upon the Enemy till all their Powder was spent and then prayed for Quarter and having it granted them they were carried Prisoners to Nenagh yet the Militia and others under the Command of Col. Piper had good success in clearing the Country in dispersing the Rapparees and dispossessing the Enemies Regular Troops of such advantageous Posts from whence they might annoy By-Inroads the Countries under Their Majesties Obedience so that they began to shrink together into a narrower Circumference Now great Stores coming daily from England and a Recruit for our Army every day expected The time for Action drawing near the Lords Justices that nothing might be wanting that was conducing to Their Majesties Service caused their Proclamation to be published for the Armies better Accommodation the Substance being in the following manner viz. WHereas the Army is now to draw into the Field where it will be necessary that Provisions be brought in from time to time for its supply and that in order thereunto all due Encouragement be given to Sutlers and other Persons that shall repair thither for that purpose they do strictly Charge and Command all Officers Civil and Military and Soldiers of their Majesties Army not to disturb or molest any Sutler or other Person that shall have a Warrant from the Colonel of any Regiment or leave from the Lords Iustices or the Commander in chief of their Majesties Forces to follow the Camp for this Service that they do not presume to take any thing from them or use any Violence towards them upon pain of being proceeded against with the utmost Severities And all Colonels and other Officers in chief are to take care that the Officers and Soldiers ad pay for all such things as they shall be furnished with by the Sutler according to the Rates that shall from time to time be settled And that the Forces may be more plentifully supplied and and those unnecessary Persons prevented from following the Camp who are only an Incumbrance to it and it being found by experience that the Country has suffered extreamly by them they have not only robbed and plundered it themselves but have inticed the Soldiers to do the same for the preventing of it for the future and that the Quarters may be the better secured whilst the Army is in the field from Rapparees and other disaffected People the Lords Iustices do hereby order and direct all their Majesties Protestant Subjects as well as Papists to stay at or repair to their respective Habitations for the preservation and improvement of the same and that no person or persons whatsoever except such as come thither with Provisions for the use of the Army or upon some lawful occasion approved of by the Commanders in chief do follow the Camp upon pain of Death And that the People whom this War had scattered into divers places leaving many destituâ—â— of Habitations might again be settled anotheâ— Proclamation was issued out to this effect That all the Inhabitants of the Counties of Wâ—terford and Tipperary do retire within Three daâ— to their respective Houses or Habitations or to somâ— adjacent Garrison if they could not go home witâ— security And those belonging to the Counties of Cork Lâ—â—merick and Kerry are forthwith to repair eitheâ— to their own Houses or Habitations if they have aâ—â— or else to some of the Garrisons there to be employâ—â— in the Militia for the defence of the Country whâ— the Army is in the field according to such 〈◊〉 Orders as shall be given them for the Publick Seâ—â—vice And Lieutenant-General Ginkle Command in chief of their Majesties Forces in Ireland 〈◊〉 to be behind or wanting in any thing exhibiâ— an Order to this effect viz. That all Officers and Soldiers and other Persâ—â—â— whatsoever were strictly charged not to press 〈◊〉 Horse Carts or Carriages without Licence first 〈◊〉 from the Lords Iustices or himself in writing And whereas that the Militia being to be in Arms for the Defence of the Country whilst the Army remained in the field no Person should press any Horse actually listed in the said Militia under any pretence whatsoever About this time some other Transport ships arrived from England and brought a great quantity of all sorts of Military Provisions and about Twenty thousand Arms also Ordinance and Stores whilst the Enemies great expectaâ—ion of the like supply from France failed â—hem in great measure that King seeming now â—o grow weary of a War that proved so expensive to him without profit and expecting â—o be sharply pressed this Summer in Flanders by the Confederate Army under the Command of the King of England send indeed some Officers and a few Clothes and such like matâ—ers but seemed frugal in husbanding his Troops for a shelter from a Storm he expected â—earer home which did not a litte discouâ—age the Irish and made them again to desert 〈◊〉 numbers and their falling off had been â—reater had not their Priests taken them to â—ask and insinuated how meritorous it was to â—â—ght with and destroy the Hereticks While these things passed Captain White of â—â—e Lord George Hamilton's Regiment detach'd 〈◊〉 hundred Men under the Command of Captain Iohnston who marched to Belnamona in Tings County and surprized by break of day â—wo Troops of Dragoons of Brigadier Clifford's and three Troops of Horse of the Lord Merriony's Regiment killing Lieutenant Archibald Quarter-Master Barnwell and 15 Dragoons took 2 Ensigns and 9 other Prisoners The Governour of Clonmel marching from that place with a Detachment of Horse and two Troops of the Militia Dragoons came by Night into the Enemies Quarters towards Michael's Town but not finding them
reputed Merchants that were beyond the Seas and had not born Arms since their Majesties Declaration of February 1689. were included and to have the same benefit if they returned within the space of Eight Months after the Date of the Articles As also were several Officers viz. Colonel Simon Lutterel Captain Rowland White Morice Eustace and others who were gone beyond the Seas upon the account of their Regiments remaining in Ireland upon their returning in the space of Eighth Months and taking the Oath above-mentioned and those comprised and so submitting to the Government to have General Pardons of all Attainders Treasons and other Crimes and Offences against the Government committed since the beginning of the Reign of King Iames the Second And that all things that have happened since the War whereby Troubles Suits or Vexations may arise should be passed over and indempnified to those comprised in the Articles to the Date thereof to be mutual and reciprocal on both sides Every Nobleman and Gentleman comprised is allowed to ride with a Sword and Case of Pistols and to have a Gun for the Defence of his House or for Recreation and that inhabited the City of Lymerick or other Garrisons might depart with their Goods Chattels and Provisions out of it without being searâ—hed or paying any Duties and moreover not to be compelled to leave their Lodgings in six Weeks ensuing the Date of the Articles The Roman Catholicks that submit to take the Oath of Allegiance and no other And if any Person or Persons at any time break any of these Premisses he shall shall not cause any other not concerned in such Breach to forfeit the benefit of them and that such Persons as are included shall have the favour of the Lords Justices and General to use their Endeavours to have them protected from Arrests Execution Debts and Damages for the space of Eight Months That Provision be made to enable Colonel Iohn Brown by restoring so much of his Estate and Effects as were taken away to pay his Debts The Matter to be stated and agreed c. Thus things proceeded of this kind advantageous for the quieting of the Minds of the People and settling in Peace and Tranquility As for the Military Articles the Substance of them were That any Persons willing to leave the Kingdom might pass with their Goods and Families except into England Scotland and for the Officers and Soldiers and those called Rapparees that are minded to go Ships should be prepared to transport them and days and places appointed for those that were willing to go to declare their Minds to that purpose and be reduced under their Officers that are to conduct them And the English and Scotch Officers that serve in Ireland to be included in the Capitulation for the Security of their Estates and Effects in the Three Kingdoms if they are content to remain here or for passing freely into France or any other Country to serve and Land-carriage and Shipping to be furnished for those of all Conditions that are not Prisoners of War that have a mind to be Transported and they to be protected from all Wrongs and Injuries And the Ships that are to Transport them to be furnished with Neccesaries for Horse and Men to be paid for by those Transported upon their safe arrival in France and Hostages were to be left for the safe return of the Ships the danger of the Sea excepted and till their Embarkation Quarters to be assigned them they having Liberty to transport Gratis including those of their Officers Nine hundred Horse and for the Troops remaining behind to dispose of themselves as they thought convenient delivering up their Horse and Arms to such as the Generals should nominate to receive them Horse-Provender for those that were to be Transported to be bought at the King's Rate and all Necessaries to be had without molestation And all those Prisoners of War on both sides that were in the Kingdom of Ireland on the 28th of September to be set at Liberty the General promising his Endeavour for the Release of those likewise in England and Flanders And Medicines and other Necessaries be furnished for the sick and wounded And that Notice of these things upon signing be sent to France and those that are to pass thither not to be stopped upon the account of Debt or any other pretence And that French Ships for Transportation shall freely resort to any Parts and have Passports and upon the arrival of such Ships a free Communication shall be between it and the said Troops more especially for those who have Passes from the Fleet and Monsieur de Tumeron the Intendant in consideration of which the Town of Lymerick was to be put into the Hands of the General or whom he shall appoint viz. the Irish Town except the Magazine and Hospital upon the Day of signing But the English Town with the Island and free Passage to Thomond-Bridge to be in the Hands of the Irish Garrison or those that shall come from Clare Cork Kerry c. till a Conveniency offer to Transport them And that no Disorders might happen between the Garrisons the Irish Troopers were to remain in the English Town and Island until they should Embarque on the Fifty ships that should first go to France and to keep from any Injury on either side under pain of Punishment And when they are to march they may march out together or at sundry times as opportunity of Embarking requires with Arms Baggage Beat of Drum Lighted Match Bullet in Mouth Colours flying Six Brass Guns and Two Mortars with some Ammunition and other Stores and that an Inventory of the Ammunition shall be given to that end the Day after the signing The Magazines and Provisions to remain in the Hands of those appointed for their care for the subsistance of the Irish that are to pass for France and they to be further furnished if occasion required And a Cessation of Arms at Land and Sea to be had in respect to the Ships either English Dutch or French to be used in the Transportation until they are returned to their Harbours and that sufficient Passports shall be on both sides as to Ships and Men and that any violating the Cessation shall be punished and Satisfaction made for the wrong and that Persons should be sent to give the English and French Ships notice of this Cessation of Arms for the time and Hostages be given on both sides And if there happen any Change in the Government or Command of the Army before the Capitulation be fully Executed it shall yet stand in force This being briefly the Heads and Substance of these famous Articles I shall now proceed to what ensued upon so happy a Juncture in which the Nation had so great a Promise of Peace and Tranquility which has since raised its drooping Head from the Dust. About the time of this Agreement News came that divers French Men of War with Transport-Ships were on the Coast and endeavoured
â—â—o had been so mainly Instrumental in reâ—â—oring them that Peace they had so raâ—â—ly â—orfeited and had leisure during almost a â—ree Years to repent of the trouble they had â—â—ven the Kingdom and of the Losses themâ—â—lves sustained Whilst this Joy lasted care was taken to â—â—der the Garrisons and provide them with â—â—ch Necessaries where they were wanting as â—ight serve for the Winter Stores and put the â—oldiers in a good plight Nor was the Joy 〈◊〉 these Successes bounded in this Island but â—read into remote Countries so that in the â—amps of the Allies the Cannon was fired â—nd all other Demonstrations of a high satisâ—â—ction for the Success of their Majesties â—â—ms were set on foot though the French Commanders especially in their Camps laboured to extenuate these brave and vigorous Undertakings crowned with such ample Success least it could dishearten and abate the Courage of their Men who already by their frequent deserting seemed to grow weary of a War wherein they too plainly found that instead of what they formerly gained by Plundering and laying defenceless Places waste they must expect nothing but Blows and severe Treatment On the First of November following these Transactions the Irish Entirely left the English Town of Lymerick Embarking oâ— the Transport-ships in the Shannon wheâ— Sailing for France one of those Ships having on Board Four hundred Men besideâ— Stores and Furnitures of divers kinds running foul on a Rock overset and about Onâ— hundred Men were drowned though nâ— diligence was wanting to endeavour theiâ— preservation Upon the marching out of the Irish ouâ— Soldiers marched in and Garrisoned thâ— English Town and now Sir David Collieâ— was made Governour of the City of Lymerick and the Lord O Brian of thâ— County of the said City And on the Sixâ—â— of this Month the French Squadron consisting of Eighteen Men of War Six Fire-ships and Twenty Transport-ships who brought about Ten thousand Arms Wine and Brandy for Sale and much Provision fell down about Two Leagues below Scaltery viz. the Men of War but their Transport-ships were suffered to remain nearer to take in Provisions and other Necessaries for Transportation of the People they were to take on Board And Major-General Talmash having settled and ordered things to the best Advantage in the City gave place to the new Governour and departed for Dublin where he was received with many Expressions of Joy according to the true merit of his Courage and Conduct in this War Upon this great turn of Fortune many of their Ringleaders going away in the French Ships the Rapparees found themselves abandoned and in great Distress so that they were constrained to come in and submit so that the face of things appeared to be strangely changed Uproar and Confusion being turned into a calm Peace so that most of the English and Dutch Regiments c. prepared to Embark for England where they soon after Arrived and passed for Flanders where they were for the Winter Season quartered advantagiouâ—ly in divers Towns to hinder the Incursiâ—ons of the French The General having put an end to the War of Ireland being highly caressed and treated in Dublin Embarked for England on the Monmouth Yatch where he received the Applause and high Commendations of the People in all places where he passed The King received him very graciously and Created him Earl of Athlone c. The Parliament likewise sent their Thanks to him for the good Service he had done desiring him to Communicate the same to all the Officers that had served under him in this Expedition And he together with them was highly Entertained at a Noble Treat by the City of London The Soldiers now returning a Proclamation was Issued forth for their well abearing and behaving themselves in their March Quarters and making due Payment And so great was the Joy of the Irish Nobility and Gentry for restoring that Kingdom to Peace and Tranquility that in humble Gratitude they made the following Address to his Majesty viz. WE Your Majesties Most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects crave leave in the first place to offer our most humble Thanks to the Divine Majesty by whom you Reign for having Raised and Inspired your Majesty for the Deliverance of these Oppressed Nations and for preserving Your Royal Person so frequently exposed to danger but never in greater than in the Kingdom and Cause of the Protestants in IRELAND What was then so graciously undertaken by Your Majesty in Person is now so happily finished by the Success of Your Arms that we owe to Your Majesty's Courage and Conduct next to the Divine Providence the Restoration of our Religion and Civil Rights and Liberties We beseech Your Majesty to Accept this Recognition as the first Fruits of our Redemption till we are able to make a more Solemn and Parliamentary Acknowledgment to Your Majesties Iust Title to our Allegiance not only in Right of this Crown but in Gratitude to our great Deliverer and Conqueror of Your Majesty's Enemies We are sure Your Majesty will effectually preserve those You have so generously Delivered and we hope Your Majesty shall never have occasion to doubt the steady and united Affections of the Protestants of IRELAND in the Service of your Crown and Dignity from Principles of Inclination Duty and Interest all which makes us unanimously and heartily to pray for the Sacred Person Victorious Arms and Iust and Gentle Government of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY with Peace and Continuance over us On the Two and twentieth of December Sarsfield having got together Two thousand six hundred Men Women and Children set Sail from Cork for France he thought to have carried a greater Number but was deceived by their Deserting him as did the whole Regiments of Mac Dermo Brian O Neal and Colonel Felix O Neal upon the Advice they received of the ill Treatment of the Irish that were already Landed in France where the Officers were generally displaced or made to serve in lower Stations even to Common Soldiers and French Men set over them Ireland being now in a fair way to a Settlement Colonel Foulk Governour of Dublin had Orders to Disband the Irish Regiments that came over to us upon the Surrender of Lymerick except Fourteen hundred which were appointed for the Emperour's Service the which though they prosessed a great willingness to serve their Majesties they submitted to and had Two Cobs a Man given them Gratis most of them going to their Habitations or Employments On the Three and twentieth of Ianuary being the first day of the Term the Right Honourable Sir Charles Porter Lord Chancellour and Thomas Conningsby Esquire Lords Justices of the Kingdom came to the Court of Kings Bench accompanied by divers of the Privy Council and other Persons of Quality where they took the Oaths and Subscribed the Declaration required by the late Act of Parliament made in England After which the Judges of other Courts and Persons of different Quality and Employments did the like About this time
and Lymerick during the Sieges of those Places it was required that three Witnesses should give Testimony as to the Premisses one of them to be a Protestant in every particular matter for proof of each Persons qualification as to the Articles who claims to have been within the said City or Town and thereby to be comprised within the said Articles or either of them And on the Sixth of April the Lord's Justices of the Council and Kingdom sat to hear and examine the Claims exhibited before them by such Persons as made their Application to them sitting Mâ—nday Wednesday and Friday weekly for that purpose And that nothing might be wanting to encourage and promote the Trade of the Kingdom Ships daily arrived in the Ports with Provision and other Necessaries insomuch that after a long Scarcity Plenty began again to be restored to a prospect of a greater height than ever by which the Calamities and Sufferings appeared to vanish and the Joy of the People the Protestants especially to be restored more than ever especially under the Conduct and Government of Affairs of those prudent Persons that are put into Power and Trust. The Kingdom of Ireland thus settled and in a fair way to Happiness his Majesty was in Flanders drawing his Forces together to prosecute his Victories on that side and compleat the Felicity of his Kingdoms when in the mean while some ill Men of restless Spirits at home were labouring under hand to disquiet us by endeavouring to hold Correspondence with the Common Enemy and Encouraging him to invade their Native Kingdoms but Providence as at all times so now more particularly timely discovered their dark Projects and sinister Designs whereupon many were apprehended and imprisoned in divers places in order to be brought to Justice and Condign Punishment yet this did not so much discourage the French King but that he got his Fleet very early in a readiness as it is generally supposed to Invade England but the Winds appeared to stand on our side and kept them in their Harbours contrary to their Expectations though he had drawn down his Forces on the Coast of Normandy c. to Embark on his Men of War and Transport-ships as occasion should offer Our Fleet in the mean while was hastned out to oppose them and the Dutch Squadrons with much Celerity joyned us so that on the 19th of May they stood away to the South-west in search of the French Fleet and about six Leagues from Cape Barsleur got sight of them who with much presumption bore down upon us having the Weather-gage the Wind at South-west and about Eleven in the Morning they Engaged Admiral Russel who commanded our Red Squadron The sight continued hot on both sides till about Three in the Afternoon Turville the French Admiral being very much worsted and fearing to be hemmed in by our Blue Squadron and the Dutch who laboured to get the Wind of the Enemy bore away but not so speedily but that the Blew Squadron had time enough to come in and Engage him about Six so that another hot Dispute continued till about Ten at night the French making a Retreating fight in which some of their Ships were blown up and others sunk All Night it was very calm and foggy the next Morning and abâ—ut Eight it began to clear up the Wind at East-North-East when the French Fleet appeared about Two Leagues to the Leeward of ours much less in number than the day before being but Thirty six Men of War standing away to their own Coast whilst ours pursued them and both Fleets upon a great Calm came to an Anchor the Dutch who now had the Van being within a League of them and on the One and twentieth they weighed and stood away and we after them Admiral Russel taking his Course towards Barsleur having sight of several Ships under the shoar but by this time many of them were got into the first Harbours they came to so that fear and too much haste caused several of them to run aground to prevent our Coming up with them But it availed little for Vice-Admiral Delaval hotly pursuing Fliers who put in made under Cape de Wick their Squadrons being now broken and separated with much difficulty got in with light Frigats Fire-ships and Armed-Boats and in spight of the Fire the French made from their Ships and from their Platform on shoar Captain Heath laid the Royal Sun of France on Board with his Fireship and burnt her being the French Admiral of 104 Guns and Captain Green burnt the Conquerdant of 102 Guns and another Ship of 80 Guns was burnt by the Boats that were sent out after the Men were taken from it and some other Vessels with little loss of Men on our side Captain Fowlis attempted to burn the Royal Sun but was set on fire by an accidental shot from the Enemy supposed to be made red hot for that purpose Monsieur Gaberet's Ship Admiral of the French Blew Squadron perished in the fight amongst the rest Whilst these things were doing Admiral Russel with the Red Squadron stood with the Enemies Ships who were got into the Bay of La Hogue and sent Vice-Admiral Rook with a Squadron of Light Frigats and Fireships and all the Boats he had with him well armed to burn the Ships he had there penn'd up which succeeded so well that Six were burnt that Night and with the same Resolution Six more were burnt the next Morning Three of them being Three-deck'd Ships carrying a great Force of Men and Guns and the other Three from sixty to seventy Guns and one of Fifty six Guns was overset and utterly lost So that the whole number in that Bay was destroyed the Men in the Boats on this occasion behaving themselves with much Bravery and Resolution insomuch that they took possession of several of the French Ships and turned the Guns upon the Platform that fired upon them from the Land in the sight of the French and Irish Camp that lay near the shoar Many of the French Seamen perished with their Ships those on shoar refusing to fetch them off and a great many were taken Prisoners So that in the main we destroyed about One and twenty of their biggest Ships and of other Frigats Crafts and Transport-ships to the number of Thirty and this without the loss of any Ship on our side unless Fireships that were spent on the Enemy For this Signal Victory the Admiral caused a Solemn Thanksgiving to Almighty God to be held on Board the Fleet and had the Wind been more timely favourably few of the French that engaged had escaped This happy News caused great Rejoycing in all their Majesties Dominions and in the Courts of the Confederate Princes And now to shew God's more signal Favour and Mercy towards us a Hellish Conspiracy was discovered that had been carried on to destroy his Majesty beyond the Seas by Assassination influenced by the greatest Persons in the French Court to their Eternal Infamy as it was deposed upon Oath and this was undertaken by one de Grandual a Captain of Dragoons in the French Service and one Dumot a Walloon who had the last Year agreed together to kill the King and for that purpose went to Loo whilst his Majesty was there but missing of their wicked purpose they went back to Paris and there remaining during the Winter they engaged one Leefdale in the same pernicious Design agreeing to Attack the King either upon a March or when he should ride out to see the Troops but an Almighty Hand held them from their Executing what they so wickedly intended and saved his Anointed to be a Joy and Comfort to his People and a Scourge to the Common Enemy who though good at close Villanies and purchasing of Towns yet not to stand in Competition at fair Valour and Heroick Bravery as has all along appeared by Retreats and strong Encampments when urged to Battel in a fair Field yet no doubt a short time will let us see the difference between true Manhood and Politick Dâ—lays and Precautions Ireland is now waiting to Receive her Right Honourable Lord Deputy with all the Demonstrations of Joy that a willing Nation can express sutable to the great Expectations she has to be yet more happy under the Auspicious Conduct of so worthy a Hero and wise Dispencer of Justice and an Encourager and Propagator of the Protestant Religion c. Thus we see through God's Blessing upon their Majesties Arms this Kingdom is once again in a happy way to be prosperous and more entirely happy than ever FINIS