g^S Proceedimis of the Boiinl Irak Aenrtpmij. 



times what should have made him quit those passages,^ which might have 

 ruined most part of our army with the'loss but of few of Ms own. That day 

 was the first of my seeing the King riding in Irish Land, and he had then on 

 an orange colour sash. We crossed the river at Newry, which was formerly 

 a strong place, but now burnt and destroyed, and encamped upon the side of 

 a hill, where water was very scarce. We left Dundalk on our left hand— it 

 stands by the sea, and we encamped in veiy rugged ground. There, as soon 

 as we had order to dismount, I left my horse to shift for himself, and T, tired 

 with heat and want of drink, fell fast asleep for the space of four hours. 

 Awaked as I was afterwards, I looked for my horse, but no horse to be 

 found— in short, I went up and down for about four hours longer ere I 

 could hear any tidings of him. Night was approaching ; we were nigh the 

 enemy, and were looking every minute to be commanded to horse, but being 

 ia this agony, as God would have it, I spied, upon the side of a bank, my 

 saddle aU in pieces. I soon after found my gentleman too, but, however, it 

 was not without great trouble. Therefore, I advise all horsemen in such 

 case never to part with his horse, but if he falls asleep tie the reins fast to 

 his arm. The Inniskilling Dragoons came there to us. They are but middle- 

 sized men, but they are, nevertheless, brave fellows. I have seen 'em, Hke 

 masty dogs, run against bullets.- 



Saturday, the 28th, we were taken fifteen men out of each squadron to go 

 with a detachment of 1,200 to Ardagh,^ where we heard the late King's army 

 was ; the rest of our army stayed behind tUl the Sunday following. Just as 

 we came within sight of the town, we saw the dust rise like a cloud upon the 

 highway beyond it. It was the enemy's arriere garde scouring away with all 

 speed. Some dragoons were detached to follow them, who brought back two 

 or thi-ee prisoners and many heads of cattle. We encamped this side of the 

 town the Satui'day, and the Sunday after our army coming to us we marched 

 on the other side of the river, where we encamped by a corn-field by a small 

 ruined village. The town of Ardagh is seated in a very pleasant soil, and has 



' On the dismay felt by James and his circle on the landing of Schomberg, cf. Klopp's Der Fall 

 des Hause Stuart, t, .51 : " There was no means of resisting such a powerful army. All was lost. 

 In a few days Sehumbcrg would enter Bubliu " ; Clarke, " life of James II," ii, 372. 



-Story says, "They were three regiments in all, and most of the troopers and dragoons had 

 their waiting men, mounted on garrons." Eazner, i. 306 : " They could not endure orders, but 

 declared at each command that they could do no good if they were not allowed to do as they liked. 

 Howerer sinmgely they contrasted with Schomberg's strict discipline, he found it good to make an 

 exception with them, and to leave them to their own genius." Mackay obserred their promptitude 

 in planning an expedition and their rapidity in executing it. (Add. 33, 264, Brit. Mus.) 

 Captain de Bostaqnet tersely describes them as serving well, " s'ils n'etaient point si picoreurs sur 

 lesqueh on pounait faire fonds." Cf . Klopp, v. 30 ; Kazner, i, 303, u. 300 ; Schomberg to Wiliium, 

 September 20 ; Clarke Correspondence, March 16, 1691. 



' This place is obriousiy Ardee. 



