Notes
In his despatch to De Seignelay, dated Limerick, 26 July, 1690 (Ranke's History of England, vol. vi., p. 122), we read: "'I have set Lavigne to work on some small entrenchments before the gates; but I doubt whether the few Irish that are here will choose to defend them. Each man of them desires to have a command in the defence, and Lord Tyrconnell fears with reason that it may be better to arrange private terms of surrender. The total of their troops is 4,000 armed foot and 3,000 horse and dragoons. We (the French) have near 5,000 men, but only 1,800 armed, who will all enter one of the towns of Limerick to-day. The Irish will enter the other; but in neither of the two is there any defence to be made that should enable one to sell his life dearly, and we lack, in general, everything, save the few munitions of war which I had sent."
"The enemy complains that our artillery did him much damage (at the Boyne); I fear they will not have to repeat the complaint here; for there is neither rampart nor tower where a piece of cannon can be placed, unless it be put on the main road before the gates.' (Translated.)
9 In his despatch to Louvois (Ranke, vi., 124) from Galway, dated 3 Sept., 1690, Lauzun explains that he withdrew his men because they could not stand the malaria and privations. No bread could be got, owing to the scarcity of mills. The Irish troops got on with oats, which they ground roughly. Lauzun had 800 sick when he withdrew.
10 Cal. State Papers, 23 Jan., 1691. Lord Carmarthen to the King: "I have long seen by private letters that the affairs of Ireland have been thought to be in a deplorable condition, but I never had so ill an apprehension of them till I saw the letter from the Lords Justices of the 16th
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