An Account of the Victory obtained by ne KING in Ireland, On the First day of this Instant July, 1690.

Published by Authority.

ON the 30th of June 1690, by break of Day, the King marched from his Camp at Ardee towards Drogheda, where he found the late King James's Army Encamp'd along the River Boyne, above the Town, but it being late before the Foot and Artile­ry arrived, His Majesty could do no more that Day, then visit the posture of the Ene­my, and the Fords thereabouts, which He found very difficult to pass: His Majesty encamped his Army in reach of their Cannon, which had almost given us the most fa­tal blow in the World, His Majesty receiving a Shot on His Right Shoulder; the Wound was large, but not deep, raised only the Skin, and as soon as it was drest, the King took Horse and continued on Horseback for four Hours.

In the Evening His Majesty Commanded Count Schomberg with the Right Wing of the Horse, two Regiments of Dragoons of the left Wing, Trelawney's Brigade of Foot, and five small Field Pieces, to go early the next Morning, being the first of July, to 2 or 3 other Fords, about 3 Miles higher than our Camp, and there endeavour to find a passage, and either attack the Enemy in the Flank, or at least oblige them to decamp. The Count upon his arrival found 8 Squadrons of the Enemy ready to receive him; but in a little time, and without much Resistance, he beat them off, and passed the Ford, driving them before him, and drew up his Men on the other side, ready to march towards the Enemy, as soon as he should receive the Kings Orders, to whom he sent the News of it. Upon this the Enemy detatched a great number of their Troops, who put themselves in order, as if they would give Battle; His Majesty under­standing that the Right Wing had passed the Ford, and was Posted over a­gainst the Enemy, commanded three Attacks to be made; the first at a good Ford, before a small Village which the Enemy had advantageously possest; at the second, the Foot waded up to the Arm-pits; and at the third, the Horses were fain to swim. The Dutch Regiment of Foot Guards past over first, with the Water up to their middle, bearing all the Enemies Fire, and not returning it till they came up close to them. Hereupon all that were in the Village, and behind the Ditches gave back; but before the 3d Battalion of the said Regiment had passed the Ford, five of the Enemies come up at the distance of a Pikes length, to beat us back, but our Men Fired so thick upon them, that they were forced to retire with the loss of a great many Men, and one of their Colours; after this our Men [Page]advancing beyond the Villages, were twice vigorously attacked by the Enemies Horse, but all in vain: In the mean time the Danes came up to the Left, as also the Brigades of Hanmoro and Melionere to the Right; the first were attackt only by the Dragoons; and the other by the Horse, neither of them could do much, because they had no Pikes. In the mean time Thirty Officers, and others of the Enemies Life Guard, coming fiercely up, were all killed but five, who endeavouring to escape through the Village, unfortunatly met with the Duke of Schomberg, who was there killed with a Pistol Shot; but excepting this great loss, we have little to complain of. The Guards abovementioned, who have chiefly suffer'd lost but one Captain, and four other Officers hurt; in the other Regiments, Collonel Calimot is Wounded, two French Captains killed, and one Brandenburg Captain killed, and another wounded, The King then marched with the few Horse he had about him, and with 17 Battalions of Foot to the Assistance of those Troops which were engaged with the Enemy, who in the mean time had not advanced much towards our Right Wing; whom His Majesty reinforced with 12 Battallions of Foot, and 9 Squadrons of Horse, and with them marcht against the Enemy, who without staying till he came near them retired immediatly in great haste, and as much Confusion. Our Horse prest [Page 2]on overtake them, leaving even the Foot behind, and taking only five small Field Piec [...] which did some Execution. After which our Dragoons back'd by the Horse, at­tack their Rear Guard, at which time the King appearing with His Troops upon the Mou [...]tain, they all fled; the Country being full of Boggs and narrow Passages, and the Irish [...]eing naturally good Footmen, they easily escaped. Our Foot pursued them to Dulee, which is four Miles distant from the place where we first attackt them, and here the King stayed, the Horse still pursuing them four Miles further, until the Night coming on pated them. The King then Commanded the Horse to return to the same place where he Foot remained, and sent to the Camp at Drogheda for the Tents and Baggage, intending to encamp there, and rest his Troops for a Day, they being much tired, and then continue His March in pursuit of the Enemy. We cannot as yet particularly say what the Enemy has lost; we have many Prisoners whose Names we know not. Lieu­tenat General Hamilton is one of them, and he says, That the Lord Carlingford, and Col­lonel Parker are killed. We have taken many Chariots, and Tents, much Cannon, Baggage, Ammunition and Arms, the number whereof we do not exactly know. His Majesty has Commanded the Town of Drogheda to be attackt, in which there is a Gari­son of about 3000 Men.

Some other Particulars mentioned in a Letter, dated at Duleek, Three Miles South of Drogheda, and seventeen Miles from Dublin, July 2. 1690.

WE have taken Lieutenant General Hamilton, and do believe, That the Earl of Carlingfoord, and Lord Dungan are killed; we have taken 8 or 9 of the Ene­mies great Guns, 5 or 6000 of their Arms, 70 or 80 Waggons, besides great Store of Tents and Baggage, some Plate, &c. Near this place was the greatest strug­gle, and the greatest number of Arms taken, those of two Regiments being found here laid down in perfect Order. Their Horse made a good Retreat, conducted by the Count de Lauzun. The King was in the Head of all this Action, pursuing the Enemy from Hill to Hill, for 7 Miles about, and came not hither till about 10 at night, His Majesty has given Orders for sparing all that lay down their Arms, and just now a Scots Soldier is to be hanged in the Face of the Army, for killing seven poor Wretches that were not able to escape out of Ardee. We have taken some inferior Officers, and killed others, but have lost the Duke of Schomberg, who was slain yesterday about Noon. Thirty of the Dutch Regiments of Foot Guards having passed the Boyne at the Ford, about a Mile above Tredagh, His Grace Rode after them with a small Attendance; the Regiments of Cambon and Hanmer, with some others, followed him. The Duke had not above 300 behind him when first the Enemies Horse made a desperat Charge, in which he received two outs in the Forehead, but not very considerable, the French be­hind him firing very fiercely; it is thought he received from one of them the Wound of [Page]which he died; a little before Dr. Walker, who behaved himself so Gallantly in the De­fence of Londonderry, having passed the Ford, received a Wound in the Belly and died of it. The business of this day had often stopped, if His Majesty had not with great vi­gour pursued the Enemy, and by his own Example encouraged his Men. Last night he stood so near the Enemy when they were drawn up, that a Bullet from a long Gun touched his Boot, and shot a Horse that was next to him in the Legg. The Wound in his Shoulder was drest this Morning, and is in a fair way of being healed in 2 days His Majesty has sent Colonel de la Melinere to summon Drogheda, and to let them know, That if they force him to bring his Cannon, they must expect no Quarter. We hear, that one of the Regiments in Garison there consists of new raised Men; if we gain the place, we expect great stores of all sorts which are laid up there.

P. S. News is just now come, that the late King James retired yesterday to Dublin, and that he has quitted that place to day, and is gone towards Athlone and Connaught.

Edinburgh, Re-Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to Their most Excellent Majesties, Anno DOM. 1690.

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