it, all the Courtiers uſhered in their Speeches with this Declaration, that they would have been the firſt for diſbanding them when the War was over; and this Declaration has been made as often as an Army has been debated ſince during the War, and I ſuppoſe punctually obſerv'd laſt Seſſions. At laſt the Thing was conſented to, and the King iſſu'd forth Commiſſions for the raiſing of Horſe, Foot, and Dragoons. In this Army very few Gentlemen of Eſtates in Ireland could get Employments, though they were in a miſerable Condition here, and made their utmoſt Application for them; it being a common Objection by ſome Colonels, that a Man had an Eſtate there, which in all likelihood would have made him more vigorous in reducing the Kingdom. It was long after this Army was rais'd, before they could be ready to be tranſported; and even then it was commonly ſaid, that Shomberg found many Things out of Order; and when they were at laſt tranſported, which was about the middle of Auguſt, they were not in a Condition to fight the Enemy, though lately baffled before Londonderry, eſpecially their Carriages not coming to them till the 24th of September, when it was high time to go into Winter Quarters. By this means the Iriſh got Strength and Courage, and three fourths of our Army periſh'd at the Camp at Dundalk.
But though our Army could do nothing, yet the Militia of the Country, almoſt without Arms or Cloaths, performed Miracles, witneſs that memorable Siege of Londonderry, the Defeat of General Mackarty, who was intrench'd in a Bog with ten thouſand regular Troops, and attack'd by fifteen hundred Inniſkilling Men, defeated, himſelf made a Priſoner, and three thouſand of his Men kill'd; and a great many other galant Actions they perform'd, for which they were diſcuſſ'd by Kirk with Scorn and Ignominy, and moſt of their Officers left to ſtarve. Thus the War in Ireland was nurs'd up either through Chance, Inadvertency, or the Neceſſity of our Affairs (for I am willing to think it was Deſign) till at laſt it was grown ſo big, that nothing leſs than his Majeſty's great Genius, and the uſual Succeſs that has always attended his Conduct, could have overcome it.
