ABout the firſt Day of December, 1688. there came a Letter from Mr. Secretary Ellis, by the Lord Tyrconnel's Order, to the Provoſt of Inniskilling, to provide Quarters for two Foot Companies; viz. Capt. Nugent's and Capt. Shurloe's Companies, that were ſent to Quarter in that Town; and about the ſame time a report was ſpread through the Countrey, That the Iriſh intended to Maſſacre all the Brittiſh; and to confirm the ſame, upon Friday the 7th of the ſame Month, there came to Inniskilling, and to moſt Gentlemen in the Country about, a Copy of a Letter from the County of Down, written to the Earl of Mount-Alexander, telling, That the Maſſacre was to be on the Sunday following, being the Ninth of December 1688.

This Letter had an incredible Operation on the Minds of all near Inniskilling, for many of them were yet alive, who had been Eye-witneſſes of the Barbarous Cruelties Committed on the Proteſtants, by the Iriſh Papiſts in the Rebellion of (41) without any Compaſſion, or diſtinction to Age or Sex. This Letter with the other to the Provoſt, to receive a Gariſon into the Town (which had not had a Gariſon for a long time before in it) and having good Information from Dublin, that the Lord Tyrconnel had granted Commiſſions all over the Kingdom to put all Papiſts in Arms; and that any Papiſt that was able or could propoſe any way to maintain men for three Months, had got what Commiſſions they deſired; and to confirm the ſame, they ſaw the Natives that lived in the Countrey near them, gather in great numbers, and forming themſelves into Companies, and had ſome experienced Soldiers ſent to ſeveral Parts of the County to exerciſe them. This made thoſe of Inniskilling apprehenſive that thoſe Preparations were all making for the intended Maſſacre; and knowing that Inniskilling was the only place of Conſequence upon Logh Earne, (all Proteſtants, and who held out the whole Rebellion of 41, with remarkable Courage) and if the Iriſh were poſſeſſed of it, they had an open Paſſage from Connaught to Ʋlſter; they therefore did unanimouſly reſolve not to admit the Two Foot Companies to Quarter in the Town, but did immediately diſpatch Letters to all the Gentlemen in the Countrey near the Place, acquainting them with their Reſolution, and craving their Advice and Aſſiſtance in that Juncture; for of themſelves they were not able to keep out the Two Foot Companies, there being but about Eighty Dwellers in the Town, and few or no Arms among them; but when their Meſſengers returned, tho ſome few gave Encouragement, yet the greater part did diſſwade them from the Enterprize • s dangerous; the Iriſh being well provided of Arms, Ammunition, and all things neceſſary; whereas they had not •• n Pounds of Powder in the Town, and not Twenty ••• ll fixed Fire-Arms: But the Towns-men were ſtill bent •• n their firſt Reſolution, at all hazards, not to receive the • ariſon; for then they did expoſe their Lives, as they ſaid, 〈◊〉 the Mercy of their barbarous and bloody principl'd • nemies.

Upon Thurſday, the 13th. of December, News was brought to the Town, that the two Companies were on their March towards them, and upon Friday that they were come to Clowniſh, within eighteen miles of the Town; and then the Towns-men (thinking it full time to look to themſelves.) ſend again to all their Neighbours, praying them to come to their relief, promiſing that whilſt they ſtayed with them they ſhou'd have free-Quarter for Man and Horſe. Upon this, ſeveral of the Neighbourhood came into the Town, with their beſt Horſe and Arms, promiſing to ſtand by them in Defence of their Lives and the Proteſtant Religion, which they did believe, (by the preparations they heard were making by our Enemies,) wou'd be very ſoon invaded.

Upon Saturday, the 15th. of December, the two Foot-Companies came to Mac Guires Bridge, within eight ſhort miles of the Town, and upon Sunday by ten of the Clock, word was brought into Town that they were upon their march, and come to Liſmella a Village about four miles diſtant from Innskillen: At the time when the news of their ſo near approach came, moſt of the men in the Town were gone to Church, but ſoon came out and went to their Arms, reſolving to meet the two Companies before they came near the Town, and being drawn out, they were about 200 Foot, and a hundred and fifty Horſe, and having conſulted what was fit to be done, they ſent ſome of their number before to perſwade them by fair means to return, and brought ſome Ale and Meat from the Town to treat them in caſe they did comply with their deſire. And at the ſame time Gustavus Hamilton, Eſq our preſent Governour, came with about a hundred Horſe within a mile of the Town, to ſupport the Towns-men if there ſhould be occaſion, for it was reported that the two Companies had brought with them two or three Horſe loads of ſpare Arms, to Arm a numerous Rabble of the Country-Iriſh that flocked to them from all hands. But the Inniskillen Horſe advancing towards them under the Command of Captain Browning, and Lieutenant Chriſtopher Carleton, and the Foot under the Command of Captain Molcome Cathcart, who came no ſooner in view of the two Companies, but they with the whole Rabble that was with them, turned their backs and fled without halting, in very great fear and diſorder, back that Night to Mac Guires Bridge, and their Officers being then at Dinner in a Gentlemans Houſe not far from them, hearing that Inniskillen-men were come out, left their Dinner (as was reported) before they had half done, and fled after their men in as great fear and diſorder as they had gone before. The next day they went to Cavan twenty four miles diſtant from Inniskillen where they ſtayed in great fear of the Inniskillen-men, till they received new Orders from the Lord Tyreconel to march to ſome other Quarters: And I muſt here take notice, that they did not ſhew their Potent to Quarter in the Town, nor once askt to be admitted into the place.

About the 18th. of December, the men of Inniskillen and thoſe that did adhere to them, ſeeing the Storm that threatned them grew ſtill more black, the Iriſh arming on all hands, and growing much more inſolent than uſual, thought it adviſeable to put themſelves in ſome poſture of Self-Defence, and at a full meeting unanimouſly made choice of Guſtavus Hamilton, Eſq to be their Governour, a Gentleman that was a Juſtice of the Peace in the County of Fermanagh, of which Inniskillen is the County Town: His Father Lodowick was Brother to the late Lord Glenawly in Ireland, both Sons of Archibald Hamilton, Arch Biſhop of Caſhell in Ireland, had been both Colonels under Guſtavus Adolphus King of Sweden, and both raiſed to the dignity of Lords in that Kingdom. The Lord Lodwick married his Lady (who is Mother to our Governour) in Swedland, ſhe was a great Fortune to him, and 'tis ſaid ſhe is nearly related to the Crowns of Denmark and Swedland; But he deſirous to live in his native Country near his Brother, the Lord Glenawly, upon his return was unfortunately killed at Sea, leaving our Governour and a younger Son behind him. Our Governour had been for ſeveral years Cornet to the Troop that belonged to his Uncle the Lord Glenawly, but was diſbanded by the Lord Tyrconel, when the reſt of the Proteſtant Offices were turned out of the Army in Ireland, and after that he lived conſtant ly at home on his own private Eſtate.

He was not preſent at the Election, but as ſoon as it was made known to him, he conſented to take that Charge upon him, and immediately gave orders to raiſe two Foot Companies in and about the Town, the one under the Command of Captain Allen Cathcart, and the other under the Command of Captain Malcome Cathcart, and in a very few days formed a good Troop of Horſe, and a Foot Company for himſelf, out of his own Eſtate and the Country adjoyning, and uſed all the endeavours he cou'd to provide them Arms and what elſe they wanted, and then removed his Family from his own Dwelling Houſe to the Caſtle of Inniskillen.

Some time before this, having heard that Derry had denied entrance to the Lord Antrim's Regiment, that was order'd to Quarter in that Town, and had choſen their former Governour Mr. Phillips, and were putting themſelves in a Poſture of Self-Defence againſt any Iriſh Garriſon to be ſent there, which nearly reſembled our Caſe; we did therefore about the 20th. of December, ſend Captain Allen Cathcart, and Lieutenant William Mac Cormick to Derry, with Letters, acquainting the Governour and others, that had any Command there with what we had done, craving their advice and aſſiſtance in caſe of any trouble to us, as promiſing them likewiſe our Friendſhip and aſſiſtance if they ſtood in need of it, and we had a very kind return to our Letters by thoſe Gentlemen that were ſent.

Soon after this we had news brought us, that the Proteſtants in all parts of the Kingdom were very much oppreſt by the Papiſts, firſt by ſtealing their Goods in the Night, and in a ſhort time after taking them publickly in the day, and upon complaint made to the Magiſtrates, (who were for the moſt part Papiſts) had no redreſs given them; ſome of them having the confidence to tell the Proteſtants (who had been robbed of their Goods,) that if their Lives were ſpared they had no cauſe to complain, and now about this time ſeveral came to us from other parts of the Kingdom, leaving all their goods behind them; and among many others, thoſe two worthy Gentlemen, Thomas Lloyd and Daniel Hodſon Eſquires, with their Families; the firſt is now a Collonel among us; who though young, and of little experience before, yet by his care and diligence has ſupplyed all other wants, and ſhewn himſelf a perſon of Courage and good Conduct beyond expectation.

It was about this time that the News came to us of the ate King having deſerted the Kingdom and Government, disbanded his Army, and left all in confuſion in England, and the Lord Tyrconell of his own head was Arming all the Iriſh Papiſts, and inliſting forty or fifty Thouſand of them.

The Month of January was ſpent with us in Raiſing ſome more Troops and Foot Companies, and our Officers uſed all the care and diligence they poſſibly cou'd to fix the few fire Arms they had procured; they cauſed a great Number of Pikes to be made, and beat out a great many Sythes, fixing them in Poles, whereby in a ſhort time, the few Foot we had were in an indifferent poſture of defence; and having about twelve Companies and ſome few Troops raiſed, the Officers thought it time to Regiment themſelves, and made choice of Guſtavus Hamilton Governour of Inniskillen to be their Collonel, and Thomas Lloyd their Lieutenant Collonel, and about the latter end of January ſent Mr. Hugh Hamilton and Mr. Allen Cathcart (two • o) their number, who had been very active among them▪ with an Addreſs to the then Prince of Orange, and with full power and inſtructions to act for them at the Court of England, to ſolicite for Commiſſions, Arms, Ammunition, and ſome Mony for the place. We ordered them to make their way by Scotland for their greater ſafety, and ſent Letters by them to the aſſociated Lords and Gentlemen of the Counties of Down and Antrim, acquainting them with our Affairs, and craving their aid in Caſe we were put to any extremity; and ſoon after had very kind Anſwers returned to us.

The month of February was ſpent in Conſultations, and ſeveral Meetings and Treaties with Collonel Lundy, and the leading men in the Counties of Derry, Dunegall, Tyrone, Cavan, and elſe where: orders were given out that the proteſtants in the ſeveral Counties in the North Weſt part of Ireland ſhou'd form themſelves into Troops and Companies, and afterwards into Regiments (for the North Eaſt part had done the ſame before) and all concluded (in caſe of extremity) to ſubmit to Collonel Lundy, who was in great reputation with us for Conduct, and experience in military affairs.

The Gentlemen of the County of Fermanagh did meet and conclude to raiſe two Regiments of Foot and a Regiment of Horſe, which by reaſon of ſome mens backwardneſs to the ſervice were not made up, ſo that the great ſtreſs of our Country was left upon the Governour of Inniskillen, and thoſe Gentlemen who did adhere to him.

And here I cannot but with honour make mention of Sir John Hume, who has been always reputed to have the greateſt fortune and beſt Eſtate in that County, but was then ſo ſickly and infirm, that he cou'd not undergo the Toyl and Fatigue of thoſe Confuſions, yet he was not behind in contributing to his utmoſt for the common ſecurity; he raiſed more than a hundred Horſe, and above two hundred Foot of his Tenants, and Armed them indifferently well at his own expence (who have behaved themſelves on all occaſions very well with us) he ſent for his Eldeſt Son from England, who had been three or four years in the Army there; a very hopeful young Gentleman (who died in the ſervice) to Command them, and to defend his houſe, which ſtanding near Loghearn, within three miles of Inniskillen, he fortified very well, and plentifully furniſht it with Proviſions to his great charge, which has maintained a great Garriſon ever ſince, and been a very great ſecurity to the Country about, and of much conſequence to the defence of Inniskillen: He being forced by his great infirmity retired into England with his younger Children, his ſecond Son being in England before he came there he ſent him under the Command of Major General Kirk to the relief of Derry, who died of a Feaver at Sea much lamented of all that knew him.

Now came the News to us, That the Convention of the Eſtates in England, as well Spiritual as Temporal, had Voted the late King James's Deſertion to be an Abdication, and placed their Preſent Majeſties in the vacant Throne, and from this time and upon theſe grounds we thought we were oblig'd to behave our ſelves as their Subjects, our Allegiance being transferr'd and deſcending from the late King James upon his voluntary Deſertion, as if he had been naturally dead, and accordingly March the Eleventh, we did proclaim King William and Queen Mary at Inniskillen with ſuch Joy and Solemnity as our Circumſtances cou'd bear, rejoycing unſpeakably to ſee the Crown deſcend in the ſame Royal Line, which time out of mind had inherited our Government.

About the 16th. of March we had an Account, that the Garriſon of Dunganon by order from Collonel Lundy was deſerted, and that they and all the Inhabitants in the Country near Dunganon were fled towards Strabone and Derry. And about the ſame time, our Governour received Letters from Collonel Lundy, acquainting him, that it was concluded at their Committee, that all the Forces in the North Weſt of Ʋlſter ſhou'd draw towards Derry and the Legan, to make good Fin Water againſt the Enemy, and he gave us a very melancholly account of the Ill condition his own men were in. But our Governour and the reſt of the Gentlmen that adhered to him, were poſitively reſolved not to deſert Inniskillen, the keeping whereof being of ſo great conſequence, that it kept the Conaught Iriſh, from joyning with the Ʋlſter Iriſh, and ſo was a great ſecurity to Derry and all the Country about it.

March the 20th. all the Proteſtants in the County of Cavan in pitiful ſtormy Weather, and in great diſorder came running to Inniskillen, and the Villages about, to the no ſmall ſurprize of us all; about three or four Troops of Horſe coming before, followed with about as many Foot Companies, and then the whole inhabitants with their Women and Children to their middle in Clay and Dirt, with pitiful Lamentations, and little or no Proviſion to ſuſtain them. Our Governour order'd them free Quarter for Man and Horſe in the Town and Country about, many of them were indifferently well Armed, and we were joyful that they were come to us, being in hopes that they wou'd joyn with us in the defence of our Country.

But upon enquiry into the reaſons of their leaving their Country as they did, (where they had ſeveral good ſtrengths that might for ſome time have been defended.) Their Officers told us, that they had orders from Colonel Lundy for ſo doing, and did endeavour (though to no purpoſe,) to perſwade our Governour to do the ſame with Inniskillen; But that which haſtened them away in ſo great diſorder, was the Lord Gilmoy's coming with a part of the Iriſh Army into the County of Cavan, and ſurprizing a Houſe that belonged to Mr. Dixy Dean of Kilmore, and made Priſoner the Deans Eldeſt Son, (who was Captain of a Troop of Horſe,) Edward Charleton his Cornet, and about eight or ten of his Troopers; upon news of which all the Garriſons about broke up, ſome ſetting fire to their own Houſes, and the whole Country fled to us without knowing who or what number of men were come againſt them.

The Lord Gilmoy animated by their running away, and thinking by their example to drive the whole Countty before him, came with his Souldiers to Belturbet, and next day ſent a party to beſiege Crom, in the County of Fermanagh, a Caſtle ſtanding on Loghearn, about ſixteen miles diſtant from Inniskillen, it was under our protection, and has been ever ſince our Frontier Garriſon towards Dublin, and his Lordſhip thinking to frighten that Garriſon to a Compliance with his Demands, ſent two Canon made of Tin, near a yard long in the Chaſe, and about eight Inches wide, ſtrongly bound about with ſmall Cord, and covered with a ſort of Buckram, near the colour of a Canon. Theſe two mock Canon he drew towards Crom with eight Horſes a peece, making a great noiſe as if they were drawn with much difficulty. As ſoon as they came before Crom, he threatned to batter the Caſtle with theſe two great battering Guns, and had the vanity to fire one of them, which burſt and had like (as t'was ſaid,) to have ſpoiled the Gunner. But thoſe within the Caſtle (depending upon aid from Inniskillen) denied to ſurrender, and fired out at them from the Caſtle, killing ſeveral: Gilmoy continues the Siege, and on Friday the 22th. of March, ſent a Letter to the Governour of Inniskillen in the nature of a Summons, acquainting him that King James was come to Dublin, and that he was come with an Army to reduce that Country to his obedience, and that by his Commiſſion, he had power to grant them better Conditions than they might ever expect from him afterwards, if they were reduced by force. Upon receipt of this Summons, our Governour called his Officers together to conſult what was fit to be done, and all of them did unanimouſly conclude not to deſert Inniskillen, nor to ſubmit to any but to King William and Queen Mary whom they had now Proclaim'd, and accordingly return'd Lord Gilmoy an anſwer, that they ow'd Allegiance to none but them, nor wou'd they ſubmit to any but to their Majeſties, or thoſe Commiſſioned by them, and ſo did prepare themſelves the beſt they cou'd to defend the Town, and to uſe what means they cou'd to relieve Crom.

On Saturday the 23d. of March early in the morning, many of the County of Cavan-men left Inniskillen, and march'd towards Derry, in obedience (as they ſaid) to Colonel Lundies orders: And the ſame day in the afternoon, our Governour drew out all the Horſe and Foot he had under his Command to the common Hill near Inniskillen, keeping them all day at their Arms, expecting every hour to hear that the Lord Gilmoy was on his march towards us, and reſolved to give him battel before he came near the Town, for ever ſince we took up Inniskillen, we judged it adviſeable rather to fight the Enemy at a diſtance from it, than to let them lay Siege to it, and we have hitherto done accordingly: But ſeeing no Enemy appear all that day, and our Scouts returning and bringing us word that Gilmoy came only the length of Liſnaskea a Village ten miles diſtant from the Town, and that upon the news of our drawing out againſt him, was retreated back with his men to the Siege of Crom. Our Governour therefore in the Night, ſent a detachment of about two hundred of his beſt armed men, ſome by Land and ſome in Boats towards Crom, hoping they might get into the Caſtle in the Night, but it being day before they got there, the Enemy uſed all the Endeavours they cou'd to keep our Boats from Landing at the Caſtle, firing many Vollies at them, but being bad marksmen, killed only one old Boatman, and did our men no farther harm, but our men ſhot ſeveral of them dead from the Boats, Landed at the Caſtle, and having joyned thoſe that were within, they ſallied out together, and beat them from their Trenches, killed, between, thirty and forty of them, got the Fire arms of thoſe that they killed, took their two mock Canon, (one of which was left at Crom, and the other brought to the Caſtle of Inniskillen,) got two ſuits of Armour, and ſeveral other things of value, and immediately after this the Lord Gilmoy quit the thoughts of any farther Siege againſt Crom, and retreated to Belturbet.

At this time one Brian Mac Knaghor Mac Guir (who had been a Captain in the Iriſh Army,) was a Priſoner with us at Crom. Him the Lord Gilmoy had a deſire to releaſe, and the next day ſent an Expreſs to Captain Crighton (the proprietor of the Caſtle of Crom, and is Governour thereof) propoſing to exchange Captain Dixie for this Captain Mac Guir, and deſiring if the change were approved of, that Capt. Mac Guir might be ſent to him, promiſing upon his Honour, to return us Captain Dixie for him. The exchange was very acceptable to the Govern our and all that were in the Caſtle of Crom, but yet wou'd conclud nothing until they had the conſent of the Governour of Inniskillen, and the other Officers that were there, and ſo ſent an Expreſs from Crom to Inniskillen for their Reſolution. The Meſſenger was immediately ſent back to Captain Crighton, with Orders from the Governour to go on with the Exchange: Accordingly Captain Crighton ſent Mac Guir to the Lord Gilmoy deſiring that Captain Dixie might be returned to him according to his promiſe under his hand, which Letter is in the hands of the Governour of Inniskillen.

But the Lord Gilmoy (ſhewing what we may expect from the word and promiſe of a Papiſt) as ſoon as he had Mac Guir in his hands, called a Council of War on Captain Dixie and his Cornet Mr. Charleton, where they were both found guilty, and ſentence of Death paſſed upon them, for levying men by the Prince of Oranges Commiſſion, which was found in their Pockets; and immediately they were deſired to prepare to Die againſt the next day; but in the mean time great endeavours were uſed, and promiſes made them of life and preferment, if they wou'd turn Papiſts and adhere to King James. But they (though both young men,) reſolutely rejected the offer, and preferr'd their Religion to the ſaving of their Lives.

And here I cannot but remember Mac Guires Carriage, who (as it was reported) ſhewed an extraordinary concern for the Lord Gilmoyes breach of Faith, he went to him and told him, that his putting Mr. Dixie to death, (after his promiſe under his hand to return him) wou'd be a perpetual ſtain to his honour, and rather than he ſhou'd do ſo baſe a thing, prayed that he might be return'd a priſoner back to Crom, and that Mr. Dixies Life might be ſaved, for he did not deſire to purchaſe his Freedom by ſo great injuſtice. But the Lord Gilmoy deaf to any thing that cou'd be ſaid on their behalf, caus'd both the Young Gentlemen to be hanged on Mr. Ruſſels Sign Poſt in Belturbet, and when they were dead commanded to take their Corps into the Kitchen, to cut off both their Heads, and ordered them to be thrown out into the Street to the Souldiers, to play at foot ball with, and when the Souldiers for ſome time had pleaſed themſelves with this Barbarous ſport, their heads were ſet up on the Market Houſe in Belturbet.

March the 25th. 1689 having intelligence that Captain James Hamilton was come to Derry from England with great ſtore of Ammunition, and Arms: The Governour ſent Nicholas Weſtby Eſq and my ſelf Andrew Hamilton Clark, and a guard of four and twenty men to Derry with letters to Collonel Lundy, and Captain James Hamilton for a ſupply of Arms and Ammunition, Captain Hamilton was very deſirous to ſupply us, but Colonel Lundy having the Command of all gave us but a very cold welcome, would not give us one fix'd Arm, and only ſixty Musket Barrels without ſtock or lock, that were thrown by in the ſtore houſe of Derry as uſeleſs, which we ſoon fix'd, and five Barrels of Powder out of at leaſt five hundred Barrels then in Derry, the Powder and Musket Barrels we ſent ſafe to Inniskillen, and this was all the ſupply that ever we had of Arms and Ammunition (but what we took from the Enemy) until Major General Kirk ſupplyed us.

And now. Mr. Hamilton on his way back from Derry to Inniskillen, met Dr. Walker at Lifford where a token paſſed between them which was of great uſe afterwards during the Siege of Derry. For, all the Correſpondence that was kept between Derry and Inniskillen was managed by Dr. Walker and Mr. Hamilton, and becauſe it was hazardous to write, it was concluded on, that all meſſengers that credit was to be given to by either party, were to give that token which if they could not give, no notice was to be taken of what they ſaid. And during the firſt month or ſix weeks of the Siege the Iriſh Army did not much Scruple to let both men and women paſs to and from Derry, whereby we had a conſtant Correſpondence with them during that time, but after that they, would ſuffer none to go into the City, whereby our Correſpondence was in a manner wholly cut off.

April the 13th. having intelligence that Collonel Cuningham and Richards were come to the Lough of Derry, with Men, Arms, and Ammunition. The Governour of Inniskillen ſent Mr. Andrew Hamilton to Derry again for a farther ſupply of both, but the Lagan Army happening to be broke near that time, and the Iriſh Army coming before Derry, Collonel Cuningham returned to England without landing the Men or Arms he brought with him; and Mr. Hamilton endeavouring to make his way back from Derry to Inniskillen was taken by a Quarter-maſter of the Iriſh horſe, but then King James having iſſued out his Proclamation, that all men that pleaſed ſhould have liberty to go to their former dwellings, Mr. Hamilton procured Lieutenant General Hamiltons Paſs, to return to his houſe in Kilſkirry, and ſo got Safe back to Inniskillen. But before he left the Iriſh Camp, he got a truſty meſſenger ſent into Derry to Dr. Walker, and having given him the token that was between them, it was Concluded on, that Dr. Walker ſhould not give credit to any report that might come to Derry of Inniskillen being taken by the Iriſh unleſs he ſaw it under the Governours hand, or Mr. Hamiltons: and neither were we to believe that Derry was taken unleſs we ſaw it under Dr. Walkers hand, and this was very happily concluded on, for there was Scarce a week after the Siege of Derry began, but the Iriſh found means to ſpread a report among us, that Derry was taken by them, which we gave no credit to ſince we did not ſee it under Dr. Walkers hand, which was well known to ſeveral of us.

It will be but a ſmall digreſſion here to relate an unnatural piece of Cruelty, that I ſaw in the Iriſh Camp before Derry, at the time that I came to get Lieutenant General Hamiltons Paſs to return to my own Houſe.

On Thurſday the 25th. of April, with one Mr. Anthony Dobbin (a Juſtice of the Peace near Derry,) I came to the Iriſh Camp about Nine or Ten of the Clock in the Morning, at which time a conſiderable party of the men of Derry came from the Town, and were Skirmiſhing with ſome party of the Iriſh, where Lieutenant General Hamilton went himſelf in perſon to encourage his men, and whilſt we were expecting his return, Mr. Dobbin and I went as near the place where the Fight was, as (in the circumſtances we were in) we durſt venture, and coming among ſome of their Tents, we met Lieutenant Collonel Farrell, Lieutenant Collonel Nugent, and his Father Mr. Nugent of Coolamber, with ſeveral others, who being of the County of Longford, and having ſome Eſtate in that County, and been acquainted with thoſe Gentlemen formerly they came to me, and very civilly offer'd to do me any Service they cou'd in that place; whilſt we were together, we heard ſeveral Shots going off within a little way of us, and ſeeing a Souldier coming from the place, Lieutenant Collonel Farrel enquired of him what the reaſon of it might be, who made anſwer that there was very good ſport there, for the Souldiers had got an Engliſh or a Scotch Witch who came to bewitch their Horſes, and had been gathering their Horſe-Dung, but the Souldiers had made above twenty Shot at her and could not get her kill'd, upon which believing it was ſome poor old Creature that they were murthering, I entreated thoſe Gentlemen to ſtep to the place and to ſave her, until they enquired into the matter, who accordingly went, (my ſelf, Mr. Dobbin, and above twenty others being in Company with them,) and as they came within twenty or thirty yards of the place, we ſaw a poor old Woman at leaſt ſeventy years of Age, ſitting with her breſt laid bare, and one of the Souldiers came cloſe up to her, and held the muzle of his Musket to her breaſt and ſo ſhot her dead. It ſeems they being bad marks-men and ſhooting at her at a diſtance, none of their former ſhots were mortal, though ſhe was wounded in ſeveral places. I being concern'd at the barbarous Cruelty of the Fact, enquir'd into the matter, and who the Woman was, and found that ſhe had been a Woman of the Country near Derry, who being rob'd of all that ſhe had by the Iriſh Army, and hearing that the Army was full of Proviſions, having got all the Meal of that Country, and that they were very civil to all people that came among them, ſhe came there that morning to beg a little Meal among the Tents, and a man paſſing by her with a load of Meal, the bag burſt, ſome of the Meal falling upon ſome Horſe-dung, and after the man had gather'd up as much of the Meal as he thought fit, the poor Woman came, and was throwing the Horſe-dung out of the dirty-Meal that he had left, which an Irish Souldier ſeeing, called out that there was a Witch, gathering their Horſe-dung to bewitch their Horſes, that the men of Derry might get the better of them, upon which the Souldiers gather'd about her, and brought her to that Tragical end that I have here told.

April the 24th. Lieutenant Collonel Loyd by our Governours order took a party of foot and horſe, and went from Inniskillen towards Omagh, where the Iriſh had a Garriſon, (which his party was not in a condition to beſiege) he drove all the Cattel near that place with him, from thence he went to Aughor, where the Iriſh had another Garriſon in the Caſtle, which fled before he came to it, but leaſt they might return thither again, he ſet the Caſtle on fire burning it to the ground, and defacing the fortifications about it. From thence went into the Country of Moneghan, and ſo returned to Inniskillen with a very great prey of Cows and Sheep, which proved a ſeaſonable relief to the poor people in and about Inniskillen, for when the party came in one might have bought from the Souldiers a good milch Cow for two ſhillings or half a Crown, and a dry Cow, or an Ox cheaper, and this was Lieutenant Collonel Loyds firſt expedition with our men.

About this time in the later end of April there came to us from Balliſhany ſome troops and ſoot companies of excellent men that belong'd to my Lord Kingſton, and came with him to Beliſhany, when at Collonel Lundies deſire he left Sligo. And then our Governour raiſed a Fort on the common hill next the ſtone bridge, which he afterwards (to his great charge) did finiſh, and is a very conſiderable, ſtrength, and great ſecurity to the Town.

May the 2d. The Iriſh Garriſon in Omagh ſent two men unto the Pariſh of Kilskirry within five miles of Inniskillen and in the night the two men ſtole away about twenty or thirty Cows. In the morning the owners miſſing their Cows, and ſeeing their track go towards the road that leads to Omagh did believe them ſtollen, and therefore ſent to ſome of their neighbours to come and aſſiſt them in going in Queſt for their Cows; Accordingly eight of them got together and went upon the trace of the Cattel and overtook them within a few miles of Omagh, but the theives made their eſcape to that Garriſon: The men that followed the Cows having got them gave themſelves no further trouble in following the thieves, but were bringing the Cows back with them to their own dwelling, but before they got above half way home they were overtaken by four and twenty Dragoons from Omagh well mounted; the men (having all but bad horſes and few Arms) three of them quit their horſes and got into a great bog: The other five thinking they had done no harm but followed their own Goods, ſubmitted and had Quarter given them. The Dragoons (leaving a guard with the five priſoners) followed the other three men, but to no purpoſe, for the Bog that they got to lay near a mountain not paſſable by horſe, whether they eſcaped and ſo got home. The Dragoons returned to the priſoners carried them a little way back with them, and then moſt barbarouſly murder'd them all cutting them ſo in the face with ſwords and baggonets that their friends ſcarce knew one of them when they found them: and this for the moſt part was the fair Quarter that the Iriſh gave our men when ever they took any of them, which was the principal cauſe of our ſo obſtinate defence both of Derry and Inniskillen againſt ſuch unequal odds for theſe with what I told before of the Lord Gilmoy and other like barbarous Uſages and breach of Faith, with the ſame yet in memory practiſed in 41. and all agreeing with the Principles of their Religion, That Faith is not to be kept with thoſe whom they account Hereticks. All this made ſo ſtrong an impreſſion upon the minds of the People, that they were firmly perſwaded the Iriſh wou'd not keep Articles with them; and therefore that it was in vain to capitulate. And they not only acted theſe Inhumanities without remorſe, but glory'd in them; for the next day after that horrrid and baſe Murder I have told, Bellew the Governour of Omagh ſent an Expreſs to Lieutenant General Hamilton before Derry, acquainting him that a Party of his Garriſon had gone towards Inniſkilling, and killed about a hundred of our Men (calling every man twenty) which good News ſoon went through the whole Iriſh Camp, and cauſed a great deal of Joy among them.

May the 4th. our Governour had an Expreſs ſent him from Captain Folliot, Governour of Balliſhany, acquainting him, That a conſiderable Party of Men were come from Conaught to beſiege that place; he ſent him the Summons he had got, and prayd him to ſend ſpeedy relief. May the 6th. our Governour ſent to all the Garriſons under his Command, ordering them to ſend him ſpeedily all the armed Men they cou'd ſpare; and the next day ſent Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd with about twelve Foot-Companies, and ſome Troops of Horſe towards Belliſhany, who meeting the Enemies Horſe near Beleek (a Village three miles nearer Inniskilling than Belliſhany) ſoon put them to the rout, killed about ſixſcore of them, and took about ſixty Priſoners: All their Foot fled away towards Sligo, and got off ſafe, except ſome few that were taken in the Fiſh-Iſland near Belliſhany, with their Captain, one Mac Donagh, a Counſellor at Law commonly known by the Name of Blind Mac Donagh' We got two ſmall Cannon, ſeveral ſervice-Horſes, and ſome good Arms; and thus was Belliſhany relieved by us on the eighth day of May 1689. and this was the firſt time that our men encounter'd the Enemy in the Field with Foot and Horſe; and having had ſo great Succeſs in the beginning, it encouraged our men very much; and ſo we returned to Inniskilling, having gained this Victory without the loſs of one man.

Immediately after this, we had an Expreſs ſent us from Colonel Sarsfield, propoſing an exchange of ſome Priſoners of War that the Iriſh had at Galway and Ballinrob, for thoſe that we had taken it Belliſhany. Our Governour was willing to liſten to the Change, but having been ſo treacherouſly ſerved before by Gilmoy in the matter of Captain Dixie, deſired Col. Sarsfield to ſend him the Names of the Priſoners that he would change for thoſe then at Inniskilling. Col. Sarsfield delayed ſending their Names for near a Month after, and in the mean time he order'd all the Proteſtants in the Province of Conaught (that had a little before taken Protection from him and others) to be put into the Goal of Sligo, and then ſent their Names to our Governour, pretending that Sir Thomas Southwel and ſome other Priſoners in Galway, that before he promiſed us, were to be ſent into England to relieve ſome Iriſh Priſoners who were kept there; but our Governour ſuſpecting ſome deceit, refus'd the Change: upon which Col. Sarsfield dealt very hardly with theſe he had in Priſon, ſcarce allowing them Food to keep them from ſtarving, and made them ſend ſome of their Wives to our Governour with Petitions and Letters, begging of him to relieve them out of their Miſery: Upon which at length our Governour conſented to the Change; but this was not without Treachery, as the Governour had ſuſpected; for he found all thoſe who were ſent him in exchange, to have been perſons protected by the Iriſh, whom afterwards they made Priſoners, and uſed them ill (not regarding the Protections they had given) on purpoſe to cheat the Governour with the exchange. It was the experience of ſuch faithleſs Dealing, and cruel Butcheries of our men after Quarter given, that made ſome of our Souldiers leſs merciful to them in Battel, than they would have been to any other Enemy. And we ſuppoſe it was for this reaſon that for ſome time we enjoy'd our quiet, being a terrour to the Iriſh on all hands near us.

But in the latter end of May, information being brought to the Governour, that there was a Garriſon of the Iriſh in Redhill, and another at Bellinacareg (two Houſes in the County of Cavan) who ſtraitned thoſe of our bounds that lay next them; Lieutenant Col. Lloyd was ſent from Inniskilling againſt them; but he no ſooner ſet out with about 1500 Horſe and Foot, but the news of his march was brought to the County of Cavan before him, and their fear added to his number, he being reported to be about fifteen, or ſixteen thouſand; upon which all the Iriſh fled, and we no ſooner came to Redhill, but the Garriſon held out a ſign for a Treaty; and having Conditions offer'd them, immediately ſurrender'd the Place with all that was therein, getting Quarter to all the men that were in it; and ſo without deſtroying that Houſe, we marched from thence with the Priſoners we had taken, to Bellinacareg, which was reputed one of the ſtrongeſt Caſtles in that part of Ireland; and that which gave it the greater name (tho' it was indeed a ſtrong place) was becauſe Oliver Cromwel lay ſeveral days before it, and could not take it, but left it, until afterwards the Iriſh deſerted the place, when he had overcome the reſt of the Kingdom. But when we came before it, there was no great Garriſon, and but little Ammunition in it; and the news of our taking Redhill ſtruck ſo great a terrour in thoſe of the Caſtle, that not many hours after our men came there, they held out a Flag for a Treaty, and did capitulate, That both they and the other Priſoners taken at Redhill, ſhould have free liberty to go, without being ſtripp'd, leaving the Caſtle with the Arms, Ammunition, and what Goods were in it, to the Plunder of our Souldiers, which was accordingly performed by both Parties. We got in the Caſtle ſome Pikes, about thirty Muſquets, ſome Caſes of Piſtols, and but very little Powder. As ſoon as our Souldiers had plunder'd the Caſtle, we ſet ſome Maſons, who were in our Party, to undermine the Walls of it, which they ſoon did, and then ſet it on fire, and in a very few hours it fell to the ground, and ſunk in a heap of Rubbiſh; which we did, becauſe it was a place of great ſtrength, and lying in the heart of the Iriſh Country.

The News of our taking Redhill and Bellinacareg was ſoon brought to Dublin, with a report, that our Army was on their March thither (being ever after this reputed among the Iriſh to be above fifteen thouſand well armed Men) and it is incredible to think what a Conſternation the Iriſh about Dublin were in; but our number was too ſmall, and not half well armed for ſuch an Undertaking; however our Men marched near Kells and Finna in the County of Meath, and brought from thence above three thouſand Cows and Oxen, two thouſand Sheep, and ſome Horſes, and then returned ſafe to Inniskilling, without the loſs of one Man.

June the 3d. Information was brought to Inniskilling, That the Iriſh Army before Derry had ſent a great many of their ſervice-Horſes to graze in ſome waſte Lands near Omagh, eighteen miles diſtant from Inniskilling; and the next day our Governour ſent two Troops under the Command of Captain Francis Gore, and Captain Arnold Cosbie, into the Pariſh of Kilskirry, ordering them to keep Garriſon at Trellik, a Houſe belonging to Captain Mervyn, and about half way betwixt Inniskilling and Omagh. They had not ſtaid there above two days, when taking with them another Troop and two Foot-Companies that quarter'd in the Pariſh of Kilskirry, they went in the Evening about Sun-ſet from Trellick towards Omagh, and before eight of the Clock the next day they returned to Trellick with about eight ſcore of good ſervice Horſes taken from the Enemy at Omagh, and near as many more ſmaller Horſes fit for labour, and about three hundred Cows. This was a lucky hit; for by it we did diſable about three Troops of the Enemy, and better'd ſeveral of our own Troops, when the Horſes were divided among the Men they ſold the Horſes they got to others of our party, at very eaſie rates; and our Men had certainly ſurpriz'd the For at Omagh, and taken it, if notice had not been ſent to the Enemy of their coming, and ſo they had time to ſecure the Fort, but not to ſave their Horſes, who were grazing within a ſhort way of the Town.

Soon after this, we had information from all hands, of the miſerable condition that the Garriſon in Derry was reduc'd to, and ſeveral Meſſages were ſent us to endeavour their Relief; but alas our Condition was very unfit to attack ſo powerful an Enemy, and ſo well appointed as the Army that lay before Derry was; for we were not then at moſt above two thouſand Men, and thoſe very ill armed; and we had not above two Barrels left of the five Barrels of Powder that Col. Lundy gave us. But hearing that Derry muſt ſurrender very ſoon, unleſs reliev'd, and believing that much of our Safety did depend upon it, our Governour reſolv'd in perſon, with all the ſtrength we could make, to endeavour its relief, or periſh in the Attempt.

Our Governour therefore drew all his Men to the Field, and notwithſtanding that he was much preſs'd by thoſe of Inniskilling not to go in Perſon, but rather to ſtay in the Town for the ſecuring of the Place, yet (ſince Derry was in ſo great hazard) he could not be perſwaded to ſtay, but on the 10th. day of June, he marched his Men, being near two thouſand, and came that night to Trellik; the next day we march'd toward Omagh, and on the Road we were inform'd, That the Garriſon at Omagh hearing of our coming, had fled from that place, which (tho' it was a falſe information) yet incourag'd ſome of our Party, who were free Booters, and not under any Command, to go on before in hopes to get the Plunder of the Town before the Souldiers came to it. They went near a mile before our Forelorn, but by that time that they came within leſs than three miles of Omagh, and fearing no Enemy, they were ſurpriz'd by a party of the Garriſon at Omagh, that lay in Ambuſh in a hollow, and came upon them unawares; yet all of them made their eſcape, and retreated ſafe to our Forelorn, except one Rowland Betty, a man in good eſteem among us, who after he had diſcharg'd his Piſtol, juſt as he was wheeling his Horſe, fell to the ground, and before he cou'd recover his Saddle again, they came upon him and took him Priſoner, carried him with them a great way nearer Omagh, and then murder'd him. And thus (as I ſaid) for the moſt part they dealt with many of our Men after they had been their Priſoners, and gotten fair Quarter.

Our Governor with his Men march'd that night within a mile and a half of Omagh, and next day early he poſſeſt himſelf of the whole Town (being an open place) except the Fort, which he laid cloſe Siege to Our Men placed themſelves in all the Houſes near the Fort, and being good Markſmen, ply'd them ſo warmly with their ſmall Shot, that not a man of them durſt come in view; for they killed one of them, and wounded ſeveral others. But we had not been there many hours, when ſeveral Expreſſes came fron Inniskilling, one after another to our Governor and the Officers that were with him, acquainting him and them, that Col. Sarsfield with five or ſix Thouſand Men was come to beſiege Belliſhanny, within twenty miles of Inniskilling, and that Col. Sowtherland was come with another Army to Belturbet, about twenty miles diſtant from Inniskilling on the other hand; and that the one Army, if not both, would be very ſoon at Inniskilling: Our Governor therefore having received this Account, called his Officers together, to conſult what was fitteſt to be done, whether to go on to relieve Derry, or to return for the defence of Inniskilling. But the moſt of them having their Families or Friends in Inniskillng, it was ſoon reſolv'd on to return: Some of the Officers were for burning the Town, it being a great ſhelter for the Iriſh Army on their March to and from Derry; but the Town, belonging to Capt. Mervyn, who is a good Proteſtant, and in great eſteem in that Country, it was reſolved to ſpare the Town for his ſake; and ſo we left it as we found it, and the next day our Men return'd to Inniskilling.

June the 15th. we had Intelligence that Col. Sowtherland's Party at Belturbet, was daily increaſing, the Iriſh flocking to him from all Parts, and that he intended ſoon to draw towards Inniskilling. But we were ever reſolved, not to ſuffer the Enemy to come ſo near as to lay ſiege to the Town, but rather to ſight them before they came to't; neither did we think it ſafe to give them any long time to ſtay near our Quarters; and therefore our Governor ordered Lieut. Col. Lloyd to take the Field with the greateſt ſtrength we could make in Foot and Horſe, and to march againſt Sowtherland.

June the 17. Lieut. Col. Lloyd came with his Men to Mac-Guires Bridge, a Place not full half way betwixt Inniskilling and Belturbet, where Col. Southerland and his Party lay; from which Place an Iriſh Spy went in the night, and acquainted Col. Southerland, that all the Forces of Inniskilling were coming againſt him: Col. Southerland had then with him but about two Regiments of Foot, a Regiment of Dragoons, and ſome few Troops of Horſe; he had brought with him from Dublin ſpare Arms for two Regiments of new levy'd Men that were every day expected to come to him; he had ſome Pieces of Cannon, and great ſtore of Bisket, Wheat, Flower, Malt, and other Proviſions for his Army, in order to beſiege Inniskilling. When this News was brought him, that the Inniskilling Army was coming againſt him, and believing it true that they were ſo numerous, above fifteen thouſand (as was reported) he thought it not ſafe to ſtay at Belturbet, having no Place of any Strength there but the Church and Church-yard, which was a little fortified, but not large enough to contain the number of men he had with him: He therefore thought it beſt to provide for his own Safety, and to ſecure the Cannon, and what he could on a ſudden carry with him; but withal drew out a Detachment of Eighty Dragoons, and about two hundred Foot, and left them in the Church of Belturbet, under the Command of Lieut. Col. Edward Scot, and ſome other Officers, to ſee if they could make good that Place againſt the Inniskilling Men, until he came back to their Relief, and ſo march'd with the reſt of his Men towards Monaghan, that if he were purſued, he might come to Charlemont under the ſhelter of the Caſtle.

The next day hapned to be a moſt terrible day of Rain, inſomuch that our Men cou'd march no further that day; and this gave Col. Southerland time enough to go off with thoſe Men that he brought with him; but the next day again proving fair, Lieu-Col. Lloyd with his Men advanc'd towards Belturbet, and order'd Capt. Robert Vaughan and Capt. Hugh Galbraith, with their two Troops of Dragoons to be the Forlorn; but by that time they came within two miles of Belturbet, there met them about a Troop of Dragoons that fired at them, but our Dragoons alighting from their Horſes, and lining the Ditches on both ſides of the Road, and the main Body of our Men coming in view, the Iriſh Dragoons retreated to Belturbet, and went all into the Church and Church-yard to the reſt of their Men, intending to make good that Place, firing very faſt at us, but with the ſame ſucceſs that is uſual with them; for they touch'd not a man of ours, but one, who recovered afterwards. Our men came very cloſe upon them, and ſoon got into all the Houſes near the Church, and ſome of them getting into the Archbiſhop of Dublin's Houſe in Belturbet, (which by its height does overtop the Church-yard) from the upper windows they did ſo gall them with their Shot, that not a man of them could keep the Church yard; and within leſs than two hours after we came there (ſome of their men being killed) they held out a Flag for a Treaty; which being granted, they made Conditions; and it was Agreed, That all the Officers and Souldiers ſhould be our Priſoners: The Officers to have all their Cloaths and Money given them if it did not exceed t •• • ounds the piece; the common Souldiers were to have their Lives ſav'd, but to be ſtripp'd of all their red Coats, which was accordingly performed. And thus we got about three hundred Priſoners, whereof thirteen were Commiſſion Officers, together with Lieut. Col. Scot, their Commander in chief; but next day we let go near 200 of the meaneſt of the common Souldiers, becauſe of the Charge we were at in maintaining them; and the reſt, with their Officers we brought with us to Inniskilling. We got about ſeven hundred Muſkets, a Barrel and a half of Powder (which was as much as we had in our Store-houſe before) eighty Dragoon-Horſes, with all the Accoutrements belonging to them, about twenty Horſe-loads of Bisket, above fifty Barrels of Flower, a hundred Barrels of Wheat, ſome Malt, and other Proviſions, all which we ſent by Water to Inniskilling; we got but as many red Coats as ſerv'd two Companies, many of their men (being new Levies) wearing Gray; and then we return'd to Inniskilling without the loſs of one man, loaden with the Spoils and Proviſions of our Enemies, which came very ſeaſonably to us; for by it we were plentifully provided with Bread until our Harveſt ſupply'd us again; and our Companies, who were ill Armed before, were now well recruited, and ſome new Companies were immediatly rais'd, ſo that our Condition was very much better'd by it.

July the 3d. we received a Letter from Mr. Archdeacon Brown, Chaplain in the Bonadventure Frigat, Capt. Thomas Hobſon Commander, giving us an Account, That Major General Kirk had ſent that Ship from the Lough of Derry round to Belliſhany, to know in what condition we were at Inniskilling, and if we ſtood in need of Ammunition, or any other thing that he could ſpare, we ſhould be provided; and withal deſired that ſome of our Number ſhould be ſent to the Ship to give Capt. Hobſon a particular Relation of our • ffairs. This was a moſt ſeaſonable and acceptable Meſſage to all the Gariſon of Inniskilling, eſpecially when we were in hopes of a ſupply of Powder; for although our Foot-Souldiers were indifferently provided in Arms by the ſupply that we took from Col. Southerland, yet (as I obſerv'd before) we had but little Powder, not much more than three Barrels in our Gariſon, whereof we got a little before a Barrel and a half in Belturbet.

Orders were therefore that very night given by the Governor that Lieut. Col. Lloyd, Capt. Francis Gore, Capt. Hugh Montgomery, Mr. Andrew Hamilton, and ſome others ſhould go the next day to Belliſhany, with ſome Troops and Companies to guard what Ammunition we ſhould get, and to acquaint Capt. Hobſon with the ſtate and condition of our Country; and accordingly, all things being in readineſs for our journey, we march'd the next day towards Belliſhany, being Thurſday the Fourth of July.

The ſame day the Duke of Berwick with ſome Troops of Horſe, about two Regiments of Foot, and two Regiments of Dragoons, came to the Dwelling-Houſe of Mr. Andrew Hamilton (he being but about two hours before gone towards Belliſhany with a Troop of Horſe) and having ſearched the Houſe for him, and not finding him, firſt ordered the Souldiers to plunder the Houſe, and then ſet fire to it, burning it to the ground, with all the other Houſes belonging to him upon any of his Lands in that Country, ſaying, if they had got him himſelf, they would have made him Meat for their Hawks; and that this was in revenge of the Horſes taken a little before from Omagh, for which they blamed Mr. Hamilton. They did no prejudice to any other mans Eſtate; but after they had burned and deſtroyed all that belonged to him and his Tenants, they drove away all their goods to Trellick, where the Duke encamped his men for ſome few days. This was a ſurprize upon us, moſt of our men being abroad at Belliſhany and other places: However, our Governor came that night to Mr. Hamilton's Houſe, but they were gone before he came there, and he had not a Party ſtrong enough to beat up their Quarters, and ſo he returned to Inniskilling, ordering ſtrong Guards to be kept on all the Roads from Trellick to Inniskilling.

Within two or three days our Scouts brought word to the Governor, That the Duke of Berwick with all his Army was on their march to Inniskilling, and in a few hours would be near the Town. Upon notice whereof, our Governor commands two Foot-Companies (with two Troops to ſecond them) to go and defend a ſtrait Paſs near the Mill of Inniskilling, by which the Dukes Army muſt paſs before they could come near the Town, and which might eaſily be defended by a few men: and in the mean time the Governor was getting the reſt of his men together to ſecond them. But the two Companies coming to the Mill, and ſeeing no Enemy near, after ſome ſtay there, advanc'd near a mile farther than the Poſt which they were ordered to keep, and coming to a Hollow between two Hills, were on a ſudden ſurprized with the whole Body of the Enemies Horſe and Dragoons coming upon them: The two Companies were ſoon put to the Rout, and the two Troops who were to ſecond them, ſeeing the number of the Enemy ſo great, wheel'd about without coming to their Relief; we had five and twenty of our men killed, whereof one was an Enſign, ſix and twenty taken Priſoners, and the reſt (though many of them wounded) eſcaped to Inniskilling; we loſt moſt of the Arms that belonged to both the Companies. Our Governor (though too late) by the time that they were broken, was advanc'd on his way towards their Relief; on whoſe Approach the Duke retreated to Trellick, taking the Priſoners along with him, and from thence, the next day to the Camp near Derry: But our Governor ſent an Expreſs after him, deſiring that our men who were taken might be uſed as Priſoners of War; for if they receiv'd any damage, he would revenge it on the Priſoners then in his hands; and in a few days we had all our Priſoners return'd to us in exchange for others that we ſent them. We gave Lieut. Col. Scot for a Captain of ours that was taken; and theſe were the only Priſoners of our men that they took and did not afterwards murder, which we attribute wholly to the meſſage of our Governor ſent after them. This was the only Loſs that we ſuſtained ſince our firſt taking up Arms; which was their own Fault, by going beyond the Poſt that they were order'd to maintain; and beſides was the occaſion of burning of Capt. Corry's Houſe and ſeveral other Houſes near Inniskilling, which the Governor order'd to be burn'd as ſoon as he heard the two Companies were engag'd, apprehending the D. of Berwick would have made Capt. Corr'ys Houſe his Head Quarter, being of conſiderable ſtrength and accommodation, and that his men would have quartered in the other Houſes.

But now to return to thoſe who were ſent to the Bonadventure: On Friday the 5th. of July, the Officers went on Board the Ship where that worthy Gentleman Capt. Hobſon treated them with great Civility; and being fully inform'd of the State of our Affairs, he gave us good encouragement, aſſuring us, that very ſoon there wou'd be care taken to relieve us. He gave us thirty Barrels of Powder, which our Officers within two days ſent ſafe to Inniskilling; he gave us alſo a few Fire-locks, which we left in the Garriſon of Balliſhany; and at laſt it was concluded on by Capt. Hobſon and our Officers, that two of our number ſhou'd be ſent to Major Gen. Kirk for Commiſſions, ſome more Ammunition and Arms (for we had, and ſtill have a great many Men in our Country that never bore Arms) and 〈…〉 aid of Men, eſpecially experienc'd Officers, of which we had great want. And this being agreed on, Mr. John Rider, and Mr. Andrew Hamilton were choſen to go to the Bonadventure to Major Gen. Kirk, who accordingly went on Board the 8th. day of July, and the 12th. came into the Lough of Derry, where Maj. Gen. Kirk lay with the Fleet. Mr. Rider and Mr. Hamilton being brought before the Major-General, he for about two days did inform himſelf by them of the condition Inniskilling was in, what ſtore of men belong'd to that Gariſon, and how arm'd.

We had then about ſeventeen Troops, thirty Foot-Companies, and ſome few Troops of Dragoons; our Foot were indifferently well arm'd, but our Horſe and Dragoons not ſo well. The Major General had few or no Arms fit for Horſemen, but he gave us ſix hundred Fire-locks for Dragoons, a thouſand Muskets to raiſe more Foot with, twenty Barrels of Powder, beſides the thirty we receiv'd out of the Bonadventure, with Bullets and Match proportionable; eight ſmall Cannon, and ſome few Hand-Granadoes. He gave us Commiſſions for a Regiment of Horſe conſiſting of ſixteen Troops, and fifty private men in each Troop, beſides Officers; for a Regiment of Dragoons conſiſting of twelve Troops, and the like number of private men in each Troop, and for three Regiments of Foot, and an independent Troop of Horſe to every Regiment, each Regiment of Foot to conſiſt of eighteen Companies, whereof two Companies to be Granadees, and ſixty private men in every Company. The Major-General told us, he could ſpare none of his private men, but gave us ſome very good Officers, viz. Col. Will. Wolſely to be our Commander in chief, and Col. of Horſe; Capt. Will. Berry to be Lieutenant-Colonel to our Horſe; Capt. Charles Stone to be Major to our Horſe; Capt. James Winn a Gentleman from Ireland, but then a Captain in Col. Stewarts Regiment, to be Col. of our Dragoons; and for our three Regiments of Foot, Guſtavus Hamilton Governour of Inniskilling, was made eldeſt Colonel; and Lieutenant-Col. Lloyd and Major Tiffan were the other two Colonels; he gave us Capt. Thomas Price (who has a Troop of Horſe with us) to be our Aid major-General, and one Capt. Johnſton, who has a Foot-Company, to be our Engineer.

In a word; when Major-Gen. Kirk knew what Condition we were in (which he was a Stranger to before, until he ſaw one of our ſelves) he then granted us whatſoever Mr. Rider and Mr. Hamilton deſired of him, as far as he ſaw it for our Advantage; and no man cou'd have ſhown more Zeal than he did for their Majeſties Service, and the Preſervation of the Proteſtants.

And thus being by the Major-General furniſh'd according to our own deſire, with ſome choice Officers, with Commiſſions, Arms and Ammunition, we took leave of him on Sunday the 20th. of July; we were a little before that come from Lough foyle (which is the Lough that comes from Derry) to Lough-ſwilly, where the Iſle of Inch is, and the ſame day the Major-General went from Swilly to Lough-foyle in the Swallow-Frigat, accompanied with the Mountjoy of Derry, and another leſſer Veſſel loaden with Proviſions; but the Wind being fair for them, and croſs to us, we were the ſame night driven back to the Iſle of Inch, where we ſtaid two days, but the Major-General went on his Courſe with the Store ſhips towards Derry.

Wedneſday the 24th. of July, we went to Sea again towards Belliſhany, but the Wind falling ſcant upon us, the Ketch that the Officers were in, did ply round, and we landed ſafe within three miles of Belliſhany on Friday the 26th. of July, but the other Veſſels wherein the Arms and Ammunition were, did not come to Belliſhany for three or four days after. When we landed, we were met with ſeveral Troops of Inniskilling-men (who with much impatience expected our coming) welcoming us with firing ſeveral Vollies at our landing, and giving us all the expreſſions of Joy and Satiſfaction that they were able, and ſo conveyed us the ſame day to Belliſhany.

We were no ſooner come to Belliſhany, but notice was given us, that Lieutenant-General Macarty with a conſiderable Army, was come to Belturbet, in order to beſiege Inniskilling; upon this our Officers went the next day to Beleek, and on Sunday the 28th. day of July, they went by water from Beleek, and landed ſafe at Inniskilling, and ſo they did not ſtay for the Arms and Ammunition that Major-General Kirk ſent us. When the Officers landed at Inniskilling, all the Foot-Souldiers in the Town were drawn up from the Caſtle to the farr point of the Iſland next to Belliſhany, where they came aſhore and receiv'd them with a Guard; and when they were come to the Gate, gave them three full Vollies. All the Men and Women, and younger ſort of People that were in the Town, came in great Crowds towards the place where they were, inſomuch that they cou'd ſcarce get coming to the Caſtle; and nothing was heard but loud Acclamations welcoming thoſe Centlemen, and praiſing God, that their Engliſh Friends had not quite forgot them, but that there was ſome ſign of Relief come at laſt.

That Night that they landed at Inniskilling, there came an Expreſs from Crom to the Governour, acquainting him, That Lieutenant-General Macarty had march'd his men from Belturbet, and was come before Crom, and was raiſing a Battery to play upon the Caſtle: our Governour was then ill of a Feaver, and Colonel Wolſeley by his Commiſſion being Commander in Chief, the Expreſs was brought to him; and the next day on Munday-morning the 29th. of July, by another Expreſs from Crom, we were inform'd, That Lieutenant-General Macarty had begun to batter the Caſtle with his Cannon, and made his Approaches very near it. The Beſieg'd with their ſmall Shot from the Caſtle, kill'd a great many of the Enemy, but yet being unacquainted with Cannon, they made earneſt requeſt to our Governour Hamilton (for as yet all Expreſſes were ſent to him) for ſpeedy Relief. Colonel Wolſeley returns an Anſwer, That he wou'd make all the haſte he cou'd to get our Souldiers together; and upon the Wedneſday following he wou'd endeavour to relieve them. And the ſame Monday Colonel Wolſeley ſent Orders to Belliſhany, That all the Men there that belong'd to our Army ſhould march the next day to Inniskilling, leaving a convenient Garriſon at Belliſhany (for Sarsfield with his Army, lay at Boudrows, within four miles of it.) Accordingly ſome Troops of Horſe, and about four or five hundred Foot marched from Belliſhany to Inniskilling in their Arms, which is twenty long Engliſh Miles, by Land, and ſome of them lay two or three Miles farther than Belliſhany, and they ſhow'd no wearineſs at all when they came to Inniskilling, but were willing that very night to to go towards the Enemy, for to relieve their Friends at Crom.

A little after our Men came from Belliſhannon, about an hour and an half after Sun-ſet, we ſaw from Inniskilling a great Light in the Air above Newton-Butler (where Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty with his Army lay) which continued for ſome hours, and was ſeen by moſt of all the People in and about Inniskilling; but we concluded, that either they had ſet the Town of Newton-Butler, and all the Country about, on Fire; or had raiſed ſome Fire in that Country, to give notice to Col. Sarsfield, that he was on his March towards us: but after the Fight was over, upon enquiry into the matter, we found there was no Fire that Night raiſed among them.

I am not very ſuperſtitious to lay great ſtreſs upon ſuch ſort of Signs in the Air, but ſomething remarkable there is in them. The like was ſeen at Glaſlogh before the Action they had there with the Iriſh of the Gariſon of Charlemont, whom they defeated upon the 13th of March laſt, killing their Leader, and about 200 of his Men, with the loſs only of Capt. Ancketill on their ſide; but were ordered the next day to deſert the place upon the coming down of the Iriſh Army, under the Command of L. Gen. Hamilton, which they did, and marched to Derry. About a Week before this, at Eleven at Night, the Night being very dark, there appeared in the Air ſeveral Pillars of Light pointed from towards Charlemont, which were ſo bright, that they might have read by them, and this laſted above two hours to the Obſervation of all the People there.

This brought into my Mind a Paſſage in the Examination of Dr. Robert Maxwell, late Lord Biſhop of Kilmore, then Rector of Tynon in the County of Armagh, printed at the end of Burlacy's Hiſtory of Ireland, in the laſt Page but one; I ſhall give you his own words, having told a little before of 56 Men, Women and Children who were taken out of his Houſe and drowned by the Iriſh at Cur-Bridg. About three or four Nights (ſays he) before the ſix and fifty Perſons were taken out of the Deponents Houſe and drowned; in the dark of the Moon, about one of the Clock at Night, a Light was obſerv'd in manner of a long Pillar to ſhine for a long way through the Air, and refracted upon the North Gabel of the Houſe: It gave ſo great a Light about an hour together, that divers of the Watch read both Letters and Books of a very ſmall Character thereby, the Deponent preſaging thereby that bloody Maſſacre which enſued.

I pretend to make no Explanation, or enter into the Reaſon or Dependance we can have upon theſe things, having reſolved only to tell you matters of Fact, and to leave every Man to his own Conjectures of them.

Information was brought us upon Monday at Night, that L. Gen. Mac-Carty intended the next day to ſend a part of his Army towards Liſnaskea, within ten Miles of us, and to place a Gariſon in the Caſtle; upon this L. Col. Berry the next Morning, being Tueſday the 30th of July, was ſent with ſeven or eight Troops of Horſe, about three Foot Companies, and two Troops of Dragoons, with Orders to take up the Caſtle of Liſnaskea before the Enemy came to it, and to place a Gariſon in it if he found it tenable, but otherwiſe to burn it, if he thought it might be uſeful to the Enemy: And withal he had Directions given him to ſee if he could diſcover the Enemy, what their Strength was, and how poſted, with aſſurance that all the reſt of our Men would ſoon follow to relieve him, and to raiſe the Siege from Crom.

L. Col. Berry, according to his Orders, marched to Liſnaskea, and when he came there, he found the Caſtle ſo much out of order, that he judg'd it a place of no Conſequence, and ſo left it without doing it any prejudice, keeping his Men all that Night in the Field. The next day being Wedneſday, the laſt day of July, early in the Morning, he marched his Men from Liſnaskea towards the Enemy (who lay about ſix Miles from him); he ſent his Scouts before, ordering them not to engage any Enemy they met with, but to retreat until they might diſcover their Strength, and fight them on ſome advantagious Ground. He had not march'd above two Miles, when near a place, called Donagh, his Scouts did diſcover a conſiderable Body of Horſe, Dragoons and Foot marching towards them, who immediately advertiſe L. Col. Berry of their approach; he therefore retreats with his Men to Liſnaskea again, the Enemy ſtill advancing towards him, and being a riſing Ground the way that he retreated, before he came to Liſnaskea he had a full view of the Enemy, and found them to be above double his Number, and therefore did not think fit to fight them in that open place, but to retreat till he came to ſome more advantagious Ground. But as ſoon as he began to retreat, he ſent off an Expreſs to Col. Wolſeley in Inniskilling, acquainting him what Condition he was in, and deſiring him to make all the haſte he could to his Relief, which accordingly he did.

Now there are two ways leading from Liſnaskea to Inniskilling, the one lately made through ſome Bogs and low fenny Grounds, nearer Loghearn than the old way; and this Road L. Col. Berry reſolv'd to take, as being more ſecure, and ſeveral Paſſes on it much eaſier to defend than the other. He had not ſtay'd long at Liſnaskea but the Enemy came near him, and then with his Men he retreats by this new Road (which turns off from the old at the end of the Town of Liſnaskea) and marched in good order, the Enemy ſtill advancing upon him till he came about a Mile diſtant from Liſnaskea, to a Bog with a narrow Cauſway through it, that two Horſemen could ſcarce ride in abreaſt upon, and at the end of this Cauſway (which is an eaſy Muſquet-ſhot over) Berry halted, reſolving to make good that Paſs againſt the Enemy until he had Relief from Col. Wolſeley; there was a Thicket of Under-Wood at the end of the Cauſway where Berry placed his Foot and Dragoons, ordering them to make good their Ground; the Horſe he drew a little farther off, promiſing that they ſhould relieve the Foot and Dragoons, and gave the Word, Oxford.

They made but a very ſhort ſtay there, when Col. Anthony Hamilton (who was Major-General to Mac-Carty) came in view with a conſiderable Body of Men, who alighting from his Horſe, ordered his Dragoons to do ſo too, and very bravely advanced near the end of the Cauſway, his Men firing briskly at ours, but with no great Succeſs; for it pleaſed God that after a great many Vollies of Shot which they made at us, not one of our Men was killed, and but about a dozen or fourteen of them wounded; our Men were better Marks-Men, they ſhot about a dozen of the Enemy dead at the end of the Cauſway, and wounded Col. Anthony Hamilton, their Leader, in the Leg; he being hurt, retreated a little, and mounted his Horſe, ordering another Officer to lead on the Men, who very ſoon was likewiſe killed, with ſome more of their Men: The Enemy ſeeing their Men thus drop by our Shot, and their General, Col. Hamilton, being gone a little ways back, and no chief Officer there to lead them on, began to retreat from the end of the Cauſway, which our Men ſeeing, gave a Huzza, and called out that the Rogues are running, and immediately our Foot and Dragoons took the Bog on each hand, and our Horſe advanced on the Cauſway towards them, which the Enemy perceiving, began at firſt to retreat a little faſter from us, but their Retreat ſoon turned to a moſt diſorderly flight, without offering to face about, or fire any more at us: our Horſe ſoon overtook them, and fell in among their Foot, and ſuch Dragoons as were on Foot, and made a very great Slaughter of them, having the Chaſe of them through the Town of Liſnaskea, and near a Mile farther; and the Execution had been greater, but notice was brought to Berry, that L. Gen. Mac-Carty, with the Body of his Army, was advancing towards him: upon this he ſounds a Retreat, and brings back his Men to the place where the Fight firſt began, having killed about 200, and taken about 30 Priſoners, which he ſent immediately to Inniskilling, with ſeveral Horſe-loads of Arms that he had taken from the Enemy, and this Action happened about 9 a Clock in the Forenoon.

About 11 of the Clock there came an Expreſs from Col. Wolſeley, to Lieut. Col. Berry, acquainting him, that he was come with his Men to his Relief; and deſiring him to march the Party under his Command, to the Moat above Liſnaſkea, where both their Parties might join together, and then conſider what they had to do. Now Col. Wolſeley had marched his Men the old Road from Inniskilling to Liſnaskea, leaving the new Road, where Berry and his Men were, about a mile on the right Hand. As ſoon as this Expreſs came, Berry marched, and both he and Col. Wolſeley, with their Men, met at the ſame time near the Moat, above the Town of Liſnaskea: And after ſome kind words had paſſed between both Parties at their meeting, Col. Wolſeley acquainted the Officers, that the Party under his Command had made ſo great haſte to relieve the other Party, that few or none of them had brought a Meal of Meat with them; and therefore they muſt ſpeedily conſider what they had to do, for either they muſt advance towards the Enemy, and reſolve to fight them that very day, or return back again to Inniskilling for want of Proviſion. But after the thing was debated among the Officers, it was agreed on to conſult the Souldiers themſelves, and to know their mind in the Matter: The Men were called to their cloſe Order, and the Queſtion was aſked, Whether they would advance and fight the Enemy that Day, or turn back to Inniskilling? They who had never before turned their Back to their Enemy, thought it diſhonourable then to begin, eſpecially after ſo remarkable a Victory obtained that Morning, and upon ſo unequal Terms, which they took for a Preſage of what they might expect in the Afternoon: All of them therefore, with one Acclamation, called out to Advance. Upon this Col. Wolſeley, and the other Colonels, drew up all the Men in Battalia, and gave them the Word, No Popery: which was very acceptable to all our Party: And then he drew out four Men out of every Troop, with an Officer to command them, for a Forlorn: Our whole Number, when all were joined together, did conſiſt of about 16 Troops of Horſe, 3 Troops of Dragoons, and 21 Companies of Foot, beſides ſome that were not under Command: So that in the whole Party, we reckoned our ſelves ſome more than 2000.

The Forlorn Col. Wolſeley ordered to march on about half a Mile before the Army; he ordered Col. Tiffan to lead on the firſt Battalion of Foot, conſiſting of about 5 or 6 Companies, ſeconded with ſome few Troops. C. Lloyd led on the next Battalion of Foot, conſiſting about the ſame Number, and the ſame way ſeconded; then followed the Dragoons: and Col. Wolſeley himſelf led on the main Body of Foot, followed with the reſt of our Horſe, under the Command of L. C. Berry, and Maj. Stone. And in this order we marched from Liſnaskea to Donagh, and ſo towards the Enemy, who we were informed had raiſed their Siege from Crum, and were come to Newton-Butler, a Village about two miles from Donagh.

We had not marched above half a mile from Donagh, when our Forlorn came in view of the Forlorn of the Enemy, who immediately retreated before our Men; we advanced after them till we came within about half a mile from Newton-Butler, where there is a ſteep Hill that the Road leads through; and before you come to the Hill, there is a Bog, with a Cauſey through it, where only two Men at moſt can ride in a-Breaſt: the Enemy was drawn up in very good Order upon the Hill above the Bog; and no other way had we to come at them, but by the Bog and Cauſey through it.

When our Men came near the Place, our Officers conſidered the Ground, and how advantagiouſly the Enemy had poſted themſelves, and then Col. Wolſeley ordered Col. Tiffan, with his Battalion of Foot, to take the Bog on the right Hand of the Cauſway, and Col. Lloyd with his Battalion to take the Bog on the left, and Col. Win to divide his Dragoons, and the one half to ſecond Col. Tiffan on Foot, and the other to ſecond Col. Lloyd; and he ordered Lieut. Col. Berry to advance with the Horſe upon the Cauſway as the Foot on each hand advanced through the Bog; and he himſelf brought up the main Body in the Rear to ſend Recruits to thoſe that went before, as he ſaw cauſe: and thus whilſt we advanced, in good order, towards the Enemy, they ordered the Town of Newton-Butler, and the Country-Houſes about to be all ſet on Fire; and before our Men came within Musketſhot of them, they began to Fire at us; but by that time that we came within Shot of them, and had fired two or three Vollies at them, our Men ſaw them begin to draw off and retreat towards Newton-Butler, which our Men miſapprehending, believed them running away, and our Officers had much ado to keep them from purſuing with all the ſpeed they could: But Col. Wolſeley, and the Officers with him, from a Height oppoſite to the place where the Enemy was poſted, ſaw them go off in ſo good Order, that they believed it was either to draw our Men into an Ambuſh, or bring them to ſome place of better advantage for the Enemy; and therefore ſent orders to Col. Tiffan and Lloyd, that no Man ſhould go out of his Rank, but purſue them in good Order, until they were certain that they were flying: Our Men having received this Command, advanced after the Enemy, keeping their Ranks, and the Enemy ſtill faced about in their Rear, firing at us till we went through the Town of Newton-Butler, and near a mile paſt it, and thus in very good Order they retreated, and we advanced, till they came to a Bog, on the Road near half an Iriſh Mile over, with a narrow Cauſey through the middle of it, by which we muſt paſs to them: And as ſoon as ever the Front of our Men came to the Bog ſide, they ſaw the Enemy all drawn up on the Hill oppoſite to them, at the other ſide of the Bog, having their Canon placed at the end of the Cauſey: Col. Wolſeley ordered our Men to advance towards them as they had done before, the ground being much alike; and ſo Col. Tiffan with his Foot, took the Bog on the Right, and Col. Lloyd with his Foot took it on the left Hand, ſeconded by Col. Wynn and his Dragoons; and Lieut. Col. Berry and Major Stone advanced with our Horſe towards the Cauſey; but as ſoon as our Horſe came to the ſide of the Bog, and were beginning to come upon the Cauſey, the Enemy fired their Canon at them, and plied them ſo hard, that our Horſe could not advance one ſtep; but our Foot and Dragoons on both ſides advanced by Degrees upon them through the Bog, (the Enemy ſtill keeping their Ground) till at laſt they came up and ſeized their Canon, killed all their Cannoneers, and then advanced towards the Body of their Men that were drawn up a litlittle above them. As ſoon as our Horſe perceived that their Cannons were ſeized by our Foot, they advanced on the Cauſey; which the Enemies Horſe perceiving, they wheeled about with ſuch Dragoons as were on Horſe-back, and fled towards Wattle-Bridg, deſerting their Foot; their Foot ſtood their Ground till our Men came among them: But then perceiving their own Horſe and Dragoons fled, and ours coming up to them, they thought it no time to ſtay any longer, but turned their Backs; and inſtead of going to the left Hand, where they had an open Country, and might have made their eſcape, they (being Strangers in the Country) fled all to the right Hand, through a great Bog above a mile long, which leads towards Loghearn, moſt of them all throwing away their Arms into Turf-Pits.

Now the Country there is ſo full of Bogs, and ſtanding Pools and Loughs, that there is no paſſing for Horſe, but upon the Road, which for the moſt part is all paved. Our Horſe followed theirs in a String, over the narrow Ways from the Place where the Enemy had planted their Cannon, to Wattle-Bridg, which is a Bridg over a Branch of Loghearn, and left a good Guard of Horſe on the Bridg to ſecure that Paſs; and about an hundred Foot, under the Command of Captain George Cooper, were ordered to guard the Cannon that we had taken. Our Horſe kept all the Road between the two Places, that not one of their Foot could paſs them: Our Foot in the mean time followed theirs through the Bog into a Wood near Loghearn, and gave Quarter that day to few or none that they met with, unleſs Officers; which the Enemy perceiving, and having no Courage to fight for their Lives, they deſperately took the Lough in ſeveral places, to the number (as was computed) of about five hundred, and not one of them that took the Water, eſcaped drowning, but one Man, who got through after a great many Shot made after him. All that Night our Foot were beating the Buſhes for them, and all that their Officers could do could not bring them off from the Purſuit till next day about ten of the Clock, by which time ſcarce a Man of them that took towards the Lough-ſide, eſcaped, but was either killed, taken Priſoner, or drowned.

In this Action there was a remarkable Stroke given by Captain William Smith, who at one blow cut off the upper part of a Man's Head, juſt under the Hat; as much of the Skull as was within the Hat, with all the Brains, being ſtruck quite away from the other part of the Skull that ſtuck with the Body, and not ſo much as a bit of Skin to keep them together, but what was cut quite thorow.

Lieutenant-General Mackarty, when his Men were fled, he with about five or ſix Officers, went into a Wood near the Place where the Cannon were planted; and ſome ſmall time after, came out of the Wood with thoſe that were with him, on Horſe-back, and fired his Piſtol at the Party that were guarding the Cannon. Our Men, when they came firſt from the Wood, thought them ſome of our own Party, (ſuppoſing all the Enemy fled) and never queſtioned them, till Mackarty fired his Piſtol; and then ſeven or eight of the Souldiers fired their Musqukets at him, ſhot his Horſe dead, and wounded him very ill in ſeveral places, and then to put him out of pain, one of the Souldiers club'd his Musket to have knock'd out his Brains, which one of thoſe that came with him from the Wood, eſpying, called to the Souldier to hold his Hand, for it was their General Mac-Carty; at the hearing of which Captain Cooper came up, and gave Lieutenant-General Mac-Carty, and thoſe that were with him, Quarter, and that Night carried him to Newton-Butler; and he, being ask'd how he came ſo raſhly to hazard his Life, when he might have gone off with his Horſe when they made their eſcape? profeſs'd that he found now the Kingdom like to be loſt, his Army being the beſt (for their number) that King James had, unleſs thoſe before Derry, who were then much broken, and that he came with a deſign to loſe his Life, and was ſorry that he miſs'd of his End, being unwilling to outlive that Day: And thus ended that Day's Service.

Whence we may reckon the Safety of the Proteſtants in Ireland, God having given us the greateſt and moſt remarkable Victory over the Iriſh that was obtained in this or any former Age. They were reckoned ſix thouſand, and we not much above two; we killed that day in the Morning and the Afternoon about two thouſand, brought to Inniſkilling above four hundred Priſoners with their General, and a great many other Officers: There were drowned in ſeveral places of Loghearn, (as was computed) about five hundred. The Iriſh themſelves confeſs there were three thouſand of their Men wanting, when thoſe that fled came to Dublin, but would not own that we killed ſo many, but that for fear of Puniſhment and Shame for being beaten by ſo few, many of their Men had deſerted, and not returned to their Colours. We took ſeven Cannon, fourteen Barrels of Powder, a great quantity of Cannon and Musquet-Ball, all their Drums, and what Colours they had, which were not many, they having but about three pair of Colours to every Regiment.

Some few Days after this Fight, King James ſent Mr. Huben, one of his Surgeons, to Inniskilling, to attend Lieutenant General Mac-Carty, and likevviſe ſent him ſome Money to ſubſiſt him and the other Officers vvho vvere taken Priſoners, and ſent him ſome Hogſheads of Wine and other Proviſions that were fit for him, which he could not get at Inniskilling.

We loſt (as was computed) about 20 Men, whereof not above a dozen vvere Men under Command; and no Man of any Note, but one Capt. Robert Corry, and Cornet William Bell; the reſt vvere all private Men; and vve had about 40 or 50 Men ill vvounded.

The Action of this Day, made the Iriſh, through the whole Kingdom, take new Meaſures: It put them in a very great Conſternation, and had we followed our Blow, we might (in all humane reckoning,) have march'd to Dublin; which the Iriſh themſelves did apprehend, for they had but a few Men then in Arms there; but that we did not know, and it was too great an Attempt upon uncertain Grounds: But the chief Reaſon of it was this, That when Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty was taken, there was a Letter found with him written by Col. Sarsfield to him, from his Camp at Bondrows; wherein he acquainted him, That the Duke of Berwick was at ſuch a Day to be near Inniskilling, with a Party of Horſe and Dragoons from Derry; deſiring Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty, with the Army under his Command, to join the Duke of Berwick to beſiege Inniskilling, on that ſide of the Town that lies next to London-Derry; and that he, with the Army under his Command at Bondrows, would beſiege Inniskilling on that ſide of the Town that lies next to Connaught. And now the Fight that we had with Gen. Mac-Carty, happening but ſome few days before this was to be done, our Officers therefore immediately reſolved to march our Men back to Inniskilling, and to go and meet either Sarsfield, or the Duke of Berwick, whom they judged to be on their way thither.

And ſo, with our Priſoners, and conſiderable Plunder gotten in Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty's Camp, we marched from Newtown-Butler towards Inniskilling, on Thurſday the firſt of Auguſt, and there our Officers conclude next to go meet Sarsfield on his Road from Brondrows near Belliſhannon. Accordingly our Army marched towards Belliſhannon, on Friday the 2d of Auguſt: but before we went half way, there met us an Expreſs from Capt. Folliot of Belliſhannon, acquainting us that Sarsfield (having information of the Defeat that we had given Mac-Carty, and that we were returned back) had raiſed his Camp at Bondrows, and was retreated to Sligo: As alſo informing us, That the Arms and Ammunition ſent us by Major Gen. Kirk, was landed at Belliſhannon. Upon which Col. Wolſeley ſent Col. Tiffan, and his Lieut. Col. Gore, to Belliſhannon, with three Troops of Horſe, and ſome Companies of Foot, to ſecure the Arms and Ammunition, and to ſend them to Inniskilling; and withal, to ſtay at Belliſhannon to ſecure that Place, in caſe Sarsfield ſhould return with his Army to beſiege it: And having ſo done, the reſt of our Army returned the next day to Inniskilling, reſolving to go and meet the Duke of Berwick; but on Sunday morning, the 4th of Auguſt, we had intelligence that the Siege of Derry was raiſed, on Thurſday the 1ſt of Auguſt in the Morning, a little before day, and that the Army which lay before it, was marched paſt Omagh. Upon this Lieut. William Charleton was ſent, with about a Troop of detached Horſe, to follow the Iriſh Army on their march towards Charlemont; who returned on Monday, and told us, That he had ſeen the Rear of them paſs by Caſtle-Cawſield, within three ſhort miles of Dunganon, and ſo it was in vain to follow them.

And thus having defeated Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty's Party, and taken him Priſoner, Sarsfield fled; and the Siege of Dery being raiſed, our Fears were now at an end, and for ſome time we enjoyed quiet from all our Enemies, and the Name of Inniskilling-men became a Terror to the Iriſh. We had nothing left to imploy us after this, but to take care to regiment our Men, according to the Commiſſions which Maj. Gen. Kirk gave us.

Wedneſday, the 7th of Auguſt (being the ſame day ſevenight that Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty was beaten) we kept as a Day of Thankſgiving for the great Victory God gave us over our Enemies, and the Peace which we then enjoyed from them on all Hands. And the ſame Day Mr. Andrew Hamilton was ſent by the Officers at Iniskilling to Maj. Gen. Kirk, to congratulate him for his happy Succeſs in the Relief of Derry. He received him very favourably, and within two days, ſent him back to Inniskilling, with Orders to Col. Wolſeley, to ſend him 500 Horſe, and 200 Dragoons, that he might march the Foot he had towards Colrain, and ſo towards D. Schonberg (whom we had advice was at Sea, or landed at Carrickfergus.) He likewiſe ordered the Dragoons to bring with them 200 of the common Priſoners that we had taken of Lieut. Gen. Mac-Carty's Party, to help to empty the Store-ſhips at Derry, and to cleanſe the Town, for they wanted Horſe at Derry; and their Men were ſo ſickly, that they were not able to do any thing towards the emptying of the Ships. According to theſe Orders, our Horſe and Dragoons, with the 200 Priſoners came to Derry, about the 15th of Auguſt, and within a day or two the Major General ordered the Horſe to march towards Colrain, but to halt at Newtown, (a place half-way betwixt Derry and Colrain) until he came up with the Foot and Dragoons. But the News coming to Colrain, that the Inneskilling Horſe were joned with the Maj. General, and that they were all on their march towards that place, the Gariſon there deſerted the place, and fled towards Charlemont: Notice whereof being ſent to the Maj. General from Colrain, the Meſſenger met the Inniskilling Horſe at Newtown; who immediately marched forward, and came peaceably into Colrain, being ready to receive the Maj. General into the Town the next day when he came to them, and ſo the Inniskilling Horſe marched before the Maj. General all the way, until his Party joined Duke Schonberg at Carrickfergus.

And here I would have ended, having been no longer an Eye-witneſs to any of their Actions at Inniskilling, but I cannot omit the manner of our taking Sligo, and driving Col. Sarsfield and his Party from thence; and altho I was not preſent at the Action, as I was at moſt of the reſt, yet I had the Account of it from a Perſon of good Credit, and ſo may with confidence relate it here; and thus it was.

Col. Tiffan having from Belliſhanon ſent us the Arms and Ammunition that Maj. Gen. Kirk ordered for us; within ſome few days after (ſeeing no ſign of Col. Sarsfield's return to beſiege Belliſhanon) he ordered Lieut. Col. Gore, to take three Troops of Horſe, and an 150 Foot with him, to go as near Sligo as he could with ſafety, and to bring him intelligence in what condition Sarsfield's Army was, what their Number, and how poſted; that if he might be able to attacque them with the Men under his Command, (which in the ſeveral Gariſons about Belliſhanon, would have been about 1000 Men Foot and Horſe) he would do it: But if the Party he had were too weak for them, that he might ſend to Inniskilling for the reſt of our Men, for he did not think it fit to let an Enemy lie ſo near our Borders.

Lieut. Col. Gore, according to Col. Tiffan's Orders, took three Troops of Horſe, and 150 Foot, and marched towards Sligo; but by that time that he came within ſix or ſeven miles of Sligo, ſome of his Party took an Iriſh-Man Priſoner, and brought him before Lieut. Col. Gore, who knew him to be a foſter-Brother of his own, (that is, a Son of his Nurſes, which is reckon'd a great Relation amongſt the Iriſh); but being of Iriſh Parents, and bred a Papiſt, he had forſaken the Lieutenant Colonel ſince theſe Troubles began in our Country, and adhered to his own Country-men and Friends: The Lieut. Col. threatned to hang him for deſerting him: but the other finding his Life was at ſtake, begged earneſtly of L. C. Gore to ſpare him, aſſuring him, that if he would admit him into his Service again, he would be juſt to him for the time to come: Gore, after ſome time, pretended to be overcome by the fair Promiſes of the Fellow, and the Interceſſion of ſome Gentlemen that were with him, he conſented to ſpare his Life; and as a Tryal, imploy'd him in an Affair to Sarsfield's Camp, which, he ſaid, if he performed truly, he would be kind to him whilſt he lived, and take him into his Service. The foſter-Brother faithfully undertook to obſerve his Commands: and then Lieut. Colonel Gore deſired him to go to Sligo privately, to five or ſix Officers in Col. Sarsfield's Army, (whom he named; and for whom he ſaid he had a particular Kindneſs) and to acquaint them, That all the Army belonging to Inniskilling, with the Men of Derry, and the Engliſh that came over under the Command of Maj. Gen. Kirk, were all joined together, and on their march towards Sligo; that they were above 20000 Men, and would be there the next day; and that he, with the Horſe and Foot under his Command, were only the Forlorn, ſent before to clear the way for the Army; and therefore deſired that thoſe Friends of his ſhould provide for their own ſafety; but charged him not to tell any of the reſt of Sarsfield's Army: And thus having inſtructed his foſter Brother, he ſent him away towards Sligo, whilſt he with his Party marched ſlowly on their way.

All the Country near Sligo was planted with Iriſh; and as ſoon as ever the foſter-Brother met any of them on the Road, he told, that the Inniskilling-Men, with the reſt before nam'd, were on their march to Sligo, giving an Account of their Number, and the Time of their being there, according to what Lieut. Col. Gore had told him.

This Story going from one to another, ſet all the Iriſh near Sligo, a running with their Goods towards Roſcomon and Athloan, and ſome towards Gallway, not one daring to ſtay for fear of this great Army. The foſter-Brother goes on till he came to Sligo; and as ſoon as he came there, he told every one that he met, what Col. Gore ordered him to tell only to ſome few Gentlemen that were his Friends, aſſuring them, that Lieut. Col. Gore would be with them in a few Hours, and that the whole Army was following faſt after him. This was ſoon noiſed over the whole Camp; which coming ſo unexpectedly upon them, put them all in a terrible Fear, and every one began to think of his own Safety, and packing up what he might moſt eaſily carry with him; and ſo all were leaving the Camp, and flying towards Athloan: Which coming to Col. Sarsfield's Ears, he ſent to know the reaſon of the Tumult; the foſter-Brother who had brought the News to Town, was ſoon brought before him; who having told what Lieut. Col. Gore gave him in charge, and naming thoſe Gentlemen, (who happened accidentally to be then with Col. Sarsfield) and all of them knew that Gore had a kindneſs for them; this did fully ſatisfy them of the Truth of what he told Col. Sarsfield: Who immediatly cauſed beat his Drums, to bring his Men together, but in vain, for he could not get one of them to their Arms, all of them (much like Sarsfield's carriage at Wincanton, Hiſt. Deſert. pag. 77.) making the greateſt haſte they could towards Roſcomon and Athloan, and ſo to Dublin, leaving Sarsfield, with his own Servants, to break the Carriages of his Cannon, and ſo he marched after his Men to Athloan. And thus Colonel Sarsfield and his whole Party left Sligo to us, without ſeeing an Enemy, and in ſome few Hours after Lieutenant Colonel Gore with his three Troops of Horſe and the hundred and fifty Foot, entred the Town, got fourteen Cannons (and ſome ſay three more afterwards) and a Mortar-Piece, with the whole Proviſions that belonged to their Army, except what ſmall matter (in the great Hurry they were in) they could carry with them.

This, may it pleaſe your Majeſties, is a faithful and true Account of the Succeſs of your Majeſties Arms, in the Hands of the Men of Iniskilling, till about the end of Auguſt laſt; for then it was that the Governour, Officers, Clergy and other Gentlemen, belonging to the Garriſon of Iniskilling, ſent me to your Majeſties with the Addreſs, which your Majeſties were graciouſly pleaſed to receive from me at Hampton-Court the 12th. Day of October laſt.

And now, may it pleaſe your Majeſties to give me Leave, in the Names and by the Commiſſion of thoſe Gentlemen of Iniskilling, humbly to beg your Majeſties to accept of theſe their Services for your Honour, in the juſt Defence of their Religion and Laws, and to pardon the Imperfections in the Relation, by