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loss, the greatest part of their army being encampt beyond the river, in the County of Clare. His Majesty, as soon as his army was posted, sent a summons to the town, which was refused to be obeyed by Monsieur Boiseleau, the Duke of Berwick, Sarsfield, and some more, though a great part of their army were even then willing to capitulate. Next morning early the King sent a party of horse and foot, under Major-General Ginckell and Major-General Kirk, to pass the river, which they did near Sir Samuel Foxon's house, about two miles above the town. The same day some deserters from the enemy gave his Majesty an account of their circumstances; and one of our own gunners did as much for us, who informed the enemy of our posture in the camp, as also of eight pieces of cannon, with ammunition, provisions, and tin-boats, and several other necessaries then upon the road, which Sarsfield with a party of horse and dragoons had the luck to surprise two days after at a little old castle called Ballyneedy, within seven miles of our camp, killing about sixty of the soldiers and waggoners, and then marched off with little or no opposition, tho' his Majesty bad given orders for a party of horse to go from the camp and meet the guns the night before. … Sunday, 17th, at night, we opened our trenches, which were mounted by seven battalions under the Duke of Wirtenberg, Major-General Kirk, Major-General Tetteau, and Sir Henry Ballasis, beating the Irish out of a fort nigh two old chimneys, where about twenty were killed; and next night our works were relieved by Lieutenant-General Douglas, my Lord Sidney, Count Nassau, and Brigadier Stuart, with the like number; and the day following, we planted some new batteries; which his Majesty going to view, as he was riding towards Ireton's fort, he stopt his horse on a sudden to speak to an officer, a four and twenty pound ball, the very moment grazing on the side of the gap where his Majesty was going to enter, which certainly must have dash'd him to pieces, had not the commanding God of Heaven prevented it, who still reserves him for greater matters. This I saw, being then upon the fort, as I did that other accident at the Boyne before. … Wednesday the 20th we attacked a fort of the enemies, nigh the south-east corner of the wall, which we soon took, and killed fifty, taking a captain and twelve men prisoners; and about an hour after, the enemy sallyed with great bravery, thinking to regain the fort, but were beat in with loss, and being killed in the fort and the sally about three hundred, though we lost Captain Needham, Captain Lacy, and about eighty private men. We continued battering the town, throwing in bombs and carcasses till Wednesday the 27th, when, a considerable breach being made, five hundred granadiers, supported by seven regiments of foot, and all our works double manned, were ordered to attack the counterscarp, and lodge themselves as conveniently as they could thereabouts. Between three and four in the afternoon, the signal being given, our men attack'd the enemy very briskly, beating them from their works, and soon over the breach into the town; but several of them pursuing too far, and the rest not seconding them, as having no orders to go any further, the Irish also seeing themselves pursued by so small a number, they were persuaded to face about, and out-numbering our poor men they killed a great many of them. Fresh regiments also coming from beyond the river, and all together adventuring upon the walls; our men below having likewise no cover, after a dispute of three hours and an half (in which time there was nothing but one continued fire of great and small shot), our men were obliged to return back to their own trenches again, having lost fifteen officers (besides the foreigners, and those of the granadiers), about fifty wounded, five hundred men killed, and near one thousand wounded, whereof greatest part recovered; tho' I'm apt to think the Irish did not lose so many, since it's a more easier thing to defend walls, than by plain strength to force people from them. Next day the soldiers were in hopes that his Majesty would give orders for a second attack, and seemed resolved to have the town, or lose all their lives; but this was too great a risque to run at one place, and they did not know how our ammunition was sunk, especially by the former day's work. We continued, however, our batteries; and then a storm of rain and other bad weather begun to threaten us, which fell out on Friday the 29th in good earnest; upon which his Majesty calling a council of war, it was concluded the safest way was to quit the siege, without which we could not have secured our heavy cannon, which we drew off from the batteries by degrees, and found much difficulty in marching them five miles next day. Sunday, the last of August, all our army drew off; most of the Protestants that lived in that part of the countrey taking that opportunity of removing further into the countrey with the army; and would rather leave their estates and all their substance in the enemies' hands, than trust their persons any more in their power. His Majesty seeing the campain nigh an end, went towards Waterford,

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