June 1690

For background information about the diaries and their transcribers see Introduction

June ye ist. Much raine. I went to Magherelin; heard Mr. Cubbidge preach; Din’d att his house wth ye Coll of the Brandenburgh Regiment; and was after with major Williams and Capt Brereton att Mrs. Kellys. Ye Ld Drogheda passt by.

Ye 2d. Severall showers. Some Quakers came to see me. I walk’d in ye afternoon to Moyragh, saw Sr Arthur Rawden’s house, and walk’d wth Capt Ross to ye conservatory. The house and much of ye goods are well preserv’d.

Ye 3d. A fayr day. I went to ye mill. In ye afternoon I went to Drummond, and was treated by Capt Brereton.

Ye 4th. A fayr morning; some showers in ye afternoon. I went to Lisbourn, waited on M G Kirke, delivered him his letter, din’d wth Mr. Aleway, and was wth ye Duke. Some French horse came in. I saw cousen Purcell. I wrote to Nabby and Dan by ye poast, and came home in good time. Dan, i.e., Daniel Bickerton.

Ye 5th. Abundance of raine. J. Shepheard came hither, and brought newes of ye K leaving London yesterday.

Ye 6th. High wind and some showers. Shepheard stayes still here. We have an account of a prey being taken by ye soldiers of Bellturbet, and parte of them brought into these [? their] quarters to be sold.

Ye 7th. Wind and some showers. Shepheard went hence this morning. We hear ye enemy are advancing.

Ye 8th. Very much raine. I receiv’d ye Sacram att Macherelin [? Magheralin], where Mr. Cubbidge preach’d a very suitable sermon for ye day. I din’d wth him, and was wth Mr. John Disney. Capt Lowry came hither and stayd all night.

Ye 9th. Still wett weather. Lowry went hence this morning. I decign’d for Hillsborough, but ye raine prevented me. John White payd Gillett his rent for grassing.

Ye 10th. A fayr day. I went to Lisbourn, but ye D[uke] was gone to Bellfast, thinking to meete ye K[ing], but return’d. I came wth Capt Ponell [Pownell], and stayd some time with Mr. Moore, att Hillsborough, wch is preparing for ye King’s reception. Yt night there were severall bonefires made, in believing ye K was landed; but it proved an ignis fatuus. Severall Regiments are on theyr march towards ye rendezvous near Ardmagh and Legathory. C: G: Douglas commands them.

Ye 11th. A very hott day. We wash’d our sheep. I din’d wth Capt Ponel att Drummore [Dromore]. Some French challeng’d some horses in theyr parkes, but ye Major and Capt Ponell sent them to ye gaurd. There were more bonefires made this night.

Ye 12th. Very hott. I went to Moyragh [Moira] and saw Jewells Regiment of horse, wch is a very good one; but ye Danish Regiment of gaurds is ye best I ever saw. They are [? have] an orange colour’d livery fac’d wth crimson velvett. I din’d att Moyragh, and -saw Mr. Sheenes, Capt Hamilton, and Lewt Hamilton who was at Gernongtowne [Gernonstown]. Eben Loe was wth me.

Ye 13th. Very hott. I went to Moyragh to see one Hatch, who came a weeke agoe from Drogheda. He call’d att Gernonstowne, and says things are very well there, and that there is much corne growing thereabouts. He sayes K James his army is in an ill condition for want of most necessaryes. There are about 7000 of them encamp’d near Ardee. There are 3 regiments in Dundalk and 3 in Drogheda, to wch they have added no fortifications more than what were last summer. I saw Capt Wm Ponsonby att Moyragh and Lewt Coll Petrie.

Ye 14th. A great shower of raine after dinner, about wch time we fancyd we heard some great Guns off, from Bellfast, wch we hope are for ye K[ing] landing. Here came James Hunter, ye Quaker, and a quarter master of Levison’s dragoons. Ye K landed at Carricfergus.

Ye 15th. A fayr day. I went to church, and din’d wth Mr Cubbidge. Heyfords dragoons are quarter’d att Macharelin [Magheralin].

Ye 16th. A hott, close day. I was sent for by 2 this morning, and before 6 I came to Bellfast. I was kindly receiv’d by ye D[uke] and Kirke, and favourably recommended to ye K[ing], whose hand I kiss’t, and he promis’d to remember me. I was most of ye afternoone wth ye secretary. Ye K road out in ye evening. I lay wth Mr. Mason. This day wrote letters for England, to Nabby, etc.

Ye 17th. A hott day. I gave ye K a petition. Din’d att Rourk’s wth Mr. Neway and others, and came home late. We mett wth some French thieves.

Ye 18th. Very hott. I sent Art away early this morning wth letters. I had an answer from Toby Purcell. Mr. Loe was here.

Ye 19th. Very hott. I walk’d to ye mill and wash’d there.

Ye 20th. Very great showers. I went to Hillborough. Saw ye K and drank of his wine. A messenger came in from ye Ld Dover to desire a leave to transport himselfe and family to Ostend. 2 dragoons were brought in prisoners. I was wth my Ld Meath and Mr. Neway att theyr tents, and brought Hunter ye Quaker’s wife behind me home.

Ye 21th. A fayr day. I went to view ye camps att Drumore [Dromore]. I saw Mr Render and mrs. Kingswell. An express to ye K from Kirke. I call’d att Count Menard’s Regiment; saw ye Bankers and some of ye officers. I road some way wth my Lord Berkely. He assures me ye King marches tomorrow. There are orders come out for 500 labourers to goe to ye Newry to assist ye Pioneers in levelling the roads.

Ye 22th. A hott day. This morning we had a skirmish wth ye enemy about Moyragh pass, wherein we lost above 20 men, but kill’d more of ye enemy. I waited on Sr Ar Rawden att Moyragh, and sup’t wth Coll Matthewes, who has gotten Heyfords Regiment.

Ye 23th. Very hott. I rode out to Macherelin and Moyragh, and stayd some time wth Sr Ar Rawden.

Ye 24th. fayr but windy. Last night I fell very ill, and this morning took Cardmis [? Carduus] possett and was better. I had an account from one Wood, who wrought att ye highway, that ye King was as far as Moyragh pass, and yt there were found much more of ye enemy than of our men dead upon ye place. Art return’d this evening to our great satisfaction, wth whom I immediately went to ye King att Loghbricklan [Loughbrickland]. I was kindly receivd by severall of ye Nobility. I was for some time in private wth ye Earl of Portland and Secretary of State. Ye acct was very full and very satisfactory. I lay wth Mr. Mason and wrote letters to Nabby by an express. There was great shooting towards Carling[ford].

Ye 25th. Very fayr, but windy. I was for some time this morning wth ye Secretary. Came home about 1 2 o’clock, and was preparing for my march to-morrow.

Ye 26th. Very hott. K march’d to Newry, where I saw my brother Rochfort att To Purcells. I waited on ye Genrll. We encamp’d on ye s side of Newry.

Ye 27th. – Very hott. About 2 this morning I mov’d towards Dundalk, and entrd it about 6 wth Lewt Gennll Solmes and M. G. Kirke. Ye towne is wholy deserted, but strongly fortify’d. No inhabitants left but Capt Bolton and his wife, who are both stript. Our army encamp’d about a mile south from Dundalke, being now entire, Douglas party having joyn’d ours. J. White and I went as farr as Lurgan race, and sate there some time eating bread and cheese. Ye 27th [supplementary entry]. The K[ing] resolv’d to attack ye enemy this night in their quarters att R D [Ardee]; but, hearing by some Dragoons who were att ye very gate, and kill’d 2 of theyr men there, yt ye enemy are retir’d, he putt off his resolution. I waited on ye K att supper, and where he discours’d me most of ye time, and was extreamly pleasant and cheerfull. I wrote to England.

Ye 28th. Very hott. I waited on ye King to Ardee. From thence was ordered by him to goe wth Ginkell and Camboon to view all the river for encamping. We went as farr as Cappock bridge, and so return’d to our camp near Dundalk. I stay’d some time by ye way att Gernonstown, and found severall of the tenants wth theyr cattle had stayd att home att my instance. I found little Jenny very well. Ye enemy are retird beyond Boyn.

Ye 29th. Excessive hott. I was very early this morning wth Gennll Ginkell, who gave orders to Coll Matthewes to let me have what dragoons I wanted for ye security of my tenants and theyr cattle. I march’d wth Coll Matthewes, and came to Gernonstowne about 6 in ye morning. He left me Quarter-master Cowly and 6 dragoons. Ye traine of Artillery and a great parte of our army march’d our road. My brother Rochfort lay wth me this night. I took upp some money which lay hidden for some time.

Ye 30th. Very hott. I call’d at Mr. Townley’s in our march towards Boyn. I was some time wth ye King on ye hill of Tullaheskar, from where he view’d Drogheda, and then went towards Old bridge. On ye S side of Boyn lay ye enemyes camp, which, ye King going to view, he was hitt by a cannon shot on his shoulder, wch putt us into the greatest consternation imaginable; but, blessed be God, it proved but a slight hurte. He went round his own camp, and was receiv’d wth ye greatest joy and acclamations imaginable. Ye cannon fir’d att each all ye afternoone. We drew a great body of our horse upp on ye hills each side of ye enemy. We fir’d severall Bombs, some of which did execution, and our cannon dismounted 2 of ye enemyes batteryes.