Folios 269-274. Letter dated at Lisburn from the Duke of Schomberg to the King. The...

Folios 269-274. Letter dated at Lisburn from the Duke of Schomberg to the King. The best part of the county for taking in provisions will be between Ballyshannon and Sligo where the enemy has made some emtrenchments which they cannot defend when the army march by Belturbet at the head of Enniskillen marshes. There are some vacant companies in both the cavalry and infantry that must be filled. He has sent Lanier's and another regiment towards Monaghan and Claunish [Clones]. The English troops do not care for their quarters, being accustomed to those of England. He reports on the progress of recruiting and says Hasting's regiment has not brought 200 men from Scotland and Bellasis' is nearly perished. He asks for instructions as to the place the Danish troops are to occupy in the army; comments on the large number of staff sent by the Duke of Würtemburg. The cavalry should not be embarked until April because of the lack of forage. The officers of the Tower should look after the guns and muskets better. He has not asked for pikes being persuaded that 'sweins feders' [swine's feathers or half-pikes, a stake or spear resembling a bayonet fixed in a musket rest or placed in the ground to hinder cavalry] are of more use in Ireland. The posts are very irregular and letters should be sent by way of Scotland. He says that Major Doucet deserves the King's attention for the care he has taken of his regiment unlike Colonel Villers, a brigadier of cavalry, who is careless of his regiment. The 'papists' have asked for the King's protection to withdraw in these parts.