The Scene of Affairs in _Ireland_ was very much alter'd upon raising the Siege of _London-derry_; Men and Arms were imported from _England_ on all Sides to make Head against King _James_, and several bloody Skirmishes happen'd in several Parts of the Kingdom. It wou'd make a Volume to account the Marches and Counter-marches both Parties made in that irregular Country to attack and avoid one another. But where ever it was my Lot to engage, the general Complaint was a want of Money, Ammunition and Arms; this (as it cou'd not be otherwise) made us unsuccessful under many promising Advantages. We had Men enough, and those not destitute of Zeal or Courage; but to expose themselves Naked against Arms and Discipline, was a desperate way of Engaging. But _France_ still went upon the old Politick Scheme to gain Advantages upon the Continent by dilatory Proceedings in King _James_'s Affairs; for unless this was their Prospect, was it not a supine Piece of Management to suffer a Body of near Thirty Thousand brave Men to lie unarm'd in the Field above half a Year, when _France_ had Magazines and Stores to furnish above a Million of Soldiers? But as King _James_ was not only to be the _Dupe_ of their great Monarch, but the Sport and Game of his Ministers, besides a general Topick of refusing him an Assistance upon the Politick Motive of prolonging the War. It seems the Chief Minister of State had some private Ends in these dilatory Proceedings, and King _James_'s Cause in _Ireland_ was also to be sacrific'd to this Gentleman's Resentments. The Case was this, _Lewis_ XIV upon great Importunity, and to put a Gloss upon, and lay deep Colours upon his Politicks, condescended so far, as to order five or six Thousand despicable Foot Soldiers for King _James_'s Service in _Ireland_, with a General at their Head, who had been more accustom'd to lead up a Country Dance than an Army, and better qualify'd to break a Jest than look in upon an Enemy. This General, however, was according to King _James_'s own liking, though contrary to the Chief Minister's Design, who wanted that Post for a Relation of his own. This undesign'd Affront of King _James_ in preferring _C.L._ to the Minister's Favourite, lost the Battle of the _Boyne_, and perhaps all _Ireland_; for the Chief Minister would neither send Arms nor Money to supply that brave Body of Men, but threw them into the Circumstances of either dying unreveng'd, or saving their Lives by Flight. The History of that Battle has so many Eye Witnesses still alive for me to dwell upon it; I shall only make bold to relate what my Fate was upon that unfortunate Day, and how inglorious _France_ withdrew the sham Succours they sent _King_ James. My Post was to Head a Company of _Fingalian_ Granadiers, who were plac'd in an Orchard which hung over a Defilee, through which we expected the Enemy would march after they had pass'd the River. I make bold to stile my Company Granadiers, because they were design'd to be so when first