Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins (1718)
Reduction of Ireland, as before, the whole Strength of his Army wou'd
power in upon England that way. A Day was fix'd to put my Design in
Execution, but falling into Discourse a little after with a Person of
Experience, he intimated that the Business wou'd not be so near over in
Ireland as I imagin'd; for I can assure you, says he, Three Expresses
have arrived lately at Versailles, to solicit the French Court for
Cannon and Ammunition, without which it wou'd be impossible for King
James's Forces to become Masters in Ireland, but that the French
were so dilatory in this Affair upon some Politick Views, that it was
great Odds that Nation wou'd be quickly recover'd by King William's
Forces. This was a misterious Insinuation to one of my small Experience,
for my shallow Brain told me, Expedition was the Business of War;
whereas I found afterwards it was the Interest of France to spin on
the Irish War, and to order Things so, that King William should
always have an Army employ'd there; for they look'd upon it as a
Chimerical Notion, that the War could be carry'd on into England, or
that an Irish Army was capable to reduce England; for France knew
very well their own Designs of not intending to send any French Troops
to joyn them in England.
I own I never entirely forgot the Reflexion that Gentleman made upon the
present Posture of Affairs; but yet I cannot say I assented to his
Opinion, however, it wrought so much upon me as to alter my Resolutions
of going directly into the North of England; for I govern'd my self
by this Dilemma, that in Case Ireland was not reduc'd till I came
there, I might have the Opportunity of having a share in the Reduction,
but if it was, the Passage between the North of Ireland and
England was very short. Upon this Bottom I began my Journey, I took
Shipping at Brest and landed at Cork, pursuing the rest of my
Journey by Land, upon account of the Danger I was inform'd of in going
by Sea; for that several English Men of War guarded the narrow Seas
between Dublin and Holy-head. When I came into King James's Army,
my first Enquiry was after my Brother, whom you may be sure I
entertain'd in the first place with the Consequence of his Duel at
Paris; and though he often sigh'd to reflect upon his Misfortune in
being the occasion of the French Officer's Death, which might have
been honourably avoided; yet he laugh'd plentifully, when he heard the
Part I had afterwards in that Melancholy Farce; and rally'd me home when
I insisted upon Charges and desired to be reimburs'd with Sixty Louis
d'Ors, which that Affair had cost me upon his Account; all the
Satisfaction I could get was, that he thought I put a greater Value upon
my being his Brother, than to think it over-rated at that trifling Sum:
The Life of a Brother, said he, is the only thing that can answer for a
Brotherly Affection.
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