Dublin May 20: 1689:
You will before this, have had an account from Ld. Melfort, of what men, arms, and stors, have been sent you, and are designed for you, I now send back to you this bearer Ld. Dungan to lett you know that this day I have been informed by one who came from Chester on Wednesday last, that Kirke was to sett saile with the first fair wind from thence with fower regs. of foott, to endeavour to relieve Derry, I have ordered a copy of the information to be sent you, I know you will do your part to hinder if you can, their getting into that towne, for should once more those English succors be obliged to return againe, that rebelious towne could not hold out long with the force I send you, but if you cannot hinder their getting into the towne you must then take care to secure your retreat as well as you can, on your side, and to take care also of the cannon, mortars and men, wch. are on the east side of the river of Derry, for no doubt they will presse you, when you draw off, in case you should be obliged to do it, what I propose is that you should endeavour to keep Castlefin, Cladyford bridg, and Strabane to hinder them from coming over those waters, this I thinke may be easily done considering tho' they may be strong in foott, they can have but few and bad horse, and that I designe to go about to reduce Eniskilling, in the mean tyme I am thinkind of sending some more troups towards Charlemont which will be ready to look toward you, or Carrickfergus as occasion shall offer, lett Castlederg, be well provided, I have sent some horse and dragoons to reinforce Sarsfield at Sligo, and have ordered Pursell's dragoons to Belturbet, what els I have to say, I refer to this bearer Ld. Dungan,§.
James R.
LETTER IV.
TO THE SAME.
Dublin July 8th. 1689:
I do not find by what I heare from you and others that those in Derry are so prest for want of victuals as once was believed, so that if they could be prest otherways, it would do well, I am sensible you are but ill furnished with wherewithal to carry on your trenches, and to attaque them vigorously, but however I am sure you will do what is to be done, I am afraide your French enginers tho very able men in their trade may have been so used to have all things necessary provided for them, and to want nothing, that they are not so industrious as others lesse knowing men might be, and that they do not push on their worke as they might do, having so much to say for themselves, upon the account of their being so ill provided, however methinks they might have gott Maderiers ready in all this tyme, to have lodged the miners wch. I have seen done to a stronger towne than Derry, and where we wanted cannon to mine their defences, I only hint this to you, not pretending at this distance to judg whether it be practicable or no, and for making of Maderiers, I am sure tis but the puling downe some house in [this word is partly erased in the original, but substituted by the following] neare Derry, or at Lifford or Strabane, where one may find beams strong enough to make them, and tho Lattin be not to be gott, new hids will do as well to preserve them from fire, this is only for yourself, you have another letter from me about what had been reported here, of some proposals made to you by those of Derry, to which I refer you:§.