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The Protestants Triumph: OR, A particular Description and Prospect of LONDON-DERRY, In its Scituation, Building, Fortification, and the Defence it has made against the French and Irish Papists: With the manner of the Sieges, Sallies, Encounters, Success and Victories of the Protestants: and what ever else is Remarkable in that Loyal and Faithful Town.
Together with an Old Irish Prophesie, that relates to the Subduing that Nation.
Licensed according to Order.
- (A) Ferry-Key-Gate.
- (B) Ship-Key-Gate.
- (C) Market-House.
- (D) The Church.
- (E) Bishop-Gate.
- (F) Butchers-Gate.
- (G) The Ferry.
- (H) Boggs.
- (I) The going to the Harbor-Mouth, or Green Castle.
- (K) The Bishops House.
- (L) The River, or Lough.
THE Kingdom of Ireland was Subdued by the English in the Reign of King Henry the II. and although since that time sundry Insurrections and Rebellions have been raised to wrest it from us, yet this Crown has held it out with so hard a hand, that the Attempts have been successless, and ma∣ny times fatal to the Natives. Dublin is indeed accounted the chief City of this Kingdom, because frequently the Residence of the Deputies and Lord Lieutenants, and the Prime Seat of Justice; yet for Loyalty at all times to the English since the building thereof, London-Derry has claimed the Primacy. And having made this Description in General, we come now to par∣ticulars of more moment,
The Town of London-Derry, built by the Companies of Lon∣don for the securing their interests interests in that Kingdom, when trade encreased, and such as would purchase were alloted considera∣ble quantities of Land, in the Province of Ʋlster, is Scituate very advantageously about three miles from the Sea, incompas∣sed on three sides by a Lough or River, of considerable depth and breadth, emptying it self into the Ocean, and is Navigable for Ships of Burthen, as far as the Town, and for Boats of Bur∣then and other Vessels, in all parts; there being a Ferry and divers Boats plying on it, for the Transportation of Passengers. The Town is Scituate in the County of London-Derry, in the Province of Ʋlster, incompassed with a strong Wall and Flan∣kers, on and in which, are placed advantageously to annoy the approach of the Enemy, sundry pieces of Cannon: It lies up a little rising Hill from the Land, and has a Bogg on one part to debar the approach of Assailants: and at Killmore, about three miles from it, is a Block-House or Castle, to hinder any ap∣proach or surprize: The Hills rise pleasantly at some distance, and the Valleys and Plaines between make it a delightful place: It is Governed by a Mayor and Alderman, as Towns Incorpo∣rated in England; and the Judges Itenerent for the province, fit there upon Life and Death and Nisi-prius. The Fishing trade and many other profits, belong to the Companys of London; and there is a Custom-House & Factory store kept upon the Key
The Gates of London-Derry are four, viz. Ferry-Gate, Ship-Key-Gate, Bishops-Gate, & Butchers-Gate. In the middle of the Town stands the Market-House, where the Markets are usually kept, and there are four pieces of Cannon, with the Arms and Names 〈◊〉〈◊〉 four Companys of London on them, two of which appertain to the Felt-makers and Cloathiers; and these Guns are bent on the four Gates, there being a prospect of the four principal Streets when you stand by the Market-House, they answering the Name of the Gate: The Market-House is a very Famous Building, and in it the Magistrates Consult their waighty Af∣fairs, though of late it is fallen somewhat to decay. At the West-end of the Town, a little on this side Bishops-Gate, stands the Church, very pleasantly amongst a Grove of Trees, and by it the Bishops pallace; there is yet remaining the ruins of ano∣ther Church, which time or accident has rendred useless: The Building is according to the old English fashion, partly Loam or paper Buildings, and partly Brick; the Inhabitants are gene∣rally very Sagacious in their way of Trade or Business. The place lyes over-against the Coast of Scotland, and has for its Ac∣comodation, a fair Haven at a little distance; and although it is not accounted above a Mile in Circumference; yet for Cou∣rage of its Inhabitants, in withstanding the whole power of the French and Irish Papists in that Kingdom this present Year 1689. it is the more Remarkable. Wherefore having described the place answerable to the portaiture, we now proceed to give an Account of the Noble and Valiant Resistance London-Derry has made inorder to the securing the English Interest in that kingdom
The Earl of Tyrconnel upon King James's leaving England, as Deputy of Ireland, raised all the Popish Forces that lay in his power, disarmed such Protestants as conveniently he could, seizing likewise their Horses, and plundering and burning many of their Houses, which obliged such as could get toge∣ther to stand to their Arms, in expectation of Assistance from England, and in many Encounters they worsted the Papists, giving them some considerable overthrows, but the French King sending supplies of Officers, Souldiers, and Ammunition, and the arrival of the late King James, they found them∣selves unable to keep the Field, an therefore thought it ex∣pedient to fortify themselves in Towns, and accordingly in Colerain they made a vigorous resistance, killing a considera∣ble number of the Enemy, but not being timely succoured they were obliged, after all that could be expected from true Valour and Conduct, to surrender upon such terms as the could get: And now London-Derry being the only place of note that held out for the Protestants, the popish Army sent all their Forces to oblige its surrender; and though it is shrewdly suspected they corrupted some of the chief Comman∣ders, who suffered Collonel Shelton to swim the River with his Horse interupted, and march within Musket-shot of the Gates, and afterward diserted the Town, and notwithstanding the disappointment of Collonel Richards and Collonel Coningham's Regiments, sent by the King of England to the Relief of this place, Mr. Walker Minister of the Town took upon him the Command, and by his courage and example, put new Life and Vigour into the Citizens and Souldiers, so that the Irish Army, after serveral of their parties had been beaten off, coming b••∣fore the place, on the 19th. of April, possessed themselves of the Castle of Kulmore on the 25th, in which there were three pieces of Cannon, the Garrison not being longer able to maintain it for want of Water, however they capitulated to march out with their Swords, but they were notwithstanding plundered by the Irish Souldiers, whereupon they advance•• nearer the Town and raised some Batteries; but notwith∣standing the Protestants, there being between 8 and 9000 in Garrison fired very briskly upon them, using their utmost en∣deavour to hinder their approaches: And although the ene∣my planted some Mortars, and cast Bombs into the Town, yet through the caution and wariness of the Besieged they did little or no Execution; yet upon a Council, unanimously resol∣ves that it was convenient to make vigorous Sally, and taking the opportunity when the Enemy appeared most Supine, they Sallyed with a strong party, surprizing and cutting off a great number of the Irish and French, putting them in all places to the Rout, pursuing them, and taking much Spoil, especially in Cattel, which caused a great consternation amongst the enemy, and puts which caused a great consternation amongst the enemy, and puts me in mind of an old Irish prophesie, which says, That pen∣nybourn-Mill shall be watered with the blood of the Natives, when there shall be a certain Man living that has two Heels on one Foot, and after that the Irish Nation shall be no more. This Mill is about a Mile from Derry, and 'tis said there is such a sort of Man now living in the same. And in the Action the French Lieutenant-General Maman, Major Taff, Captain Fitz-gerald, Captain Bourk, and several other Officers were killed, with a great number of common Soldiers; and the besieged encouraged by this success made a generous Resolution amongst themselves to hold out to the last extremity, especially upon notice that the Besiegers wanted Amunition, and that a great number of their Horses dye for want of Forrage: And Mr. Walker desisted not from confirming them by walking the rounds, firing the Cannon with his own hand, and animating those that any ways fainted with expectation of speedy succour from England, tel∣ling them they could expect nothing but Misery and Slavery under the oppression of a French power: So that though the Town of London-Derry, the only Refuge of the Protestants in Ireland, is not large, nor extraordinary strenghthened by Art, it has hitherto foiled and baffled the popish Army and com∣pelled them to taste of protestant valour: The Cannon con∣tinuing to play furiously, and all endeavours used to weary out the enemy, or raise the Seige.