An account of the victory obtain'd by the King in Ireland, on the first day of this instant July, 1690

An ACCOUNT OF THE VICTORY Obtain'd by the 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 Ard•••• towards Drogheda, where he found the late King James's Army encamped along the River Boyne, above the Town; but it being late before the Foot and Artillery arrived, His Majesty could do no more that day than 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, raising only the Skin; and as soon as it was d••ess'd, 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, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 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 eight 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 King's Orders, to whom he sent the news of it. Upon this, the Enemy detached a great number of their Troops, who put themselves in order as if they would give Battel; His Majesty under∣standing 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 Armpits; And as the third, the Horses were fain to swim. The Dutch Regiment of Foot-Guards passed 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 third Battalion of the said Regiment had passed the Ford, five of the Enemies came up at the distance of a Pike's 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 advancing beyond the Village, were twice vigorously attack'd by the Enemies Horse, but all in vain. In the mean time, the Danes came up to the lest, as also the Brigades 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Meloniere to the right, the first were attack'd 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, ••o Officers and others of the Enemies Life Guard coming fiercely up, were all killed here, who endeavou∣ring to escape through the Village, unfortunately met with the Duke of Sch••mberg, who was there killed with a Pistol Shot, but excepting this great Loss, we have little to complain of. The

Guards above-mentioned, who have chiefly suffered, lost but one Captain, and 4 other Officers hurt. In the other Regiments, Colonel Calimot is wounded, 2 French Captains killed; one Brandenourg 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 Batta∣lions of Foot, and 9 Squadrons of Horse, and with them marched against the Enemy, who, without staying till he came near them, retired immediately in great hast, and as much confu∣sion. Our Horse prest on to overtake them, leaving even the Foot behind, and taking only five small Field-pieces, which did some execution. After which our Dragoons, back'd by the Horse, attack'd their Rere-Guard, at which time the King appearing with his Troops upon the Moun∣tain, they all fled; the Country being full of Boggs and narrow Passages, and the Irish being naturally good Footmen, they easily escaped. Our Foot pursued them to Duleek, which is four miles distant from the place where we first attack'd them, and here the King stayed, the Horse-still pursuing them four miles further, until the night coming on parted them. The King then com∣manded the Horse to return to the same place where the 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. Lieutenaut-General Hamilton is one of them; and he says, That the Lord Carling ford and Colonel Parker are killed. We have taken many Chariots and Tents, much Cannon, Baggage, Ammu∣nition, and Arms, the number whereof we do not exactly know. His Majesty has commanded the Town of Drogheda to be attack'd, in which there is a Garison of about 3000 men.

Some other Particulars mentioned in a Letter dated at Duleek, 3 Miles South of Drogheda, and 17 Miles from Dublin, July 2. 1690.

WE have taken Lieutenant General Hamilton, and do believe, that the Earl of Carling∣ford 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 Wagons, 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 Lauzune. 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 Scotch Soldier is to be hanged in the face of the Army, for killing 7 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 Regiment 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 other, fol∣lowed him. The Duke had not above 300 behind him when first the Enemies Horse made a despe∣rate Charge, in which he received two Cuts 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 which he dyed. 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 dyed of it. The business of this day had often stopp'd, if His Majesty had not with great Vigor 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 Leg. The Wound in his Shoulder was dress'd this morning, and is in a fair way of being healed in two days. His Majesty has sent Colonel de la Melloniere 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 Steres 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.