THAT at the Beginning of the Late Happy Revolution , viz in December , 88. The Inhabitants of Londonderry shut up their Gates against the Earl of Tirconnel and his Irish Forces , and together with the Gentlemen of the several Counties in Ulster and Connaught , Declared for his Highness the then Prince of Orange , and the Interest of England , and thereupon sent Commissioners to his Highness , and acquainted him with their Proceedings .

That His Present Majesty , by Letters dated the 10th . of February , 88. to my Lord Mount Alexander , assures them of Succours , approves and encourages their putting themselves in a Posture of Defence , against the Illegal Practices of the Papists there , and at the same time sent them Commissions for raising several Regiments , with Commission to Col. Lundie , to be Governour of Derry , and some Store of Arms and Ammunition .

That pursuant to those Commissions my Lord Mount Alexander , Sir Arthur Radeing , Mr. Sheffington , my Lord Blaney and others , formed several Regiments of the Protestants of Ulster and Connaught , who at several times , tho' greatly over-numbred , disputed the Interest of England with the Popish Army with great Success , till at Claudy upon the River Finn , part of the said Forces being attacked by the Body of the Irish Army who had unexpectedly forded there , were then defeated and dispersed .

Whereupon a resolute Part of them retreated to Londonderry , with purpose to defend that Hold , being the last in Ireland , save Inskilling , and there formed themselves into Regiments .

That during the Siege the said Officers and Soldiers defended the said City with great Vigor and Constancy , so that the Number of the Enemy that fell , and were taken by Sallies , were computed at more than 9000 Men .

That during the said Siege the said Officers and Soldiers were plundered of all , their Houses burnt , their Corn destroyed , their Lands wasted , and their Plantations cut down , while those that submitted to the late King were protected in their Possessions .

That extream Want and Famine ensuing in the said City , the said Officers and Soldiers , and such Inhabitants as remain'd , were reduced to great Want and Misery ; so that of 12000 that dyed in that Garrison the greatest part were starved , leaving their Widows , with numerous Fatherless Children , and the Survivours forced to eat Horse-Flesh , Horse-Blood , Dogs , Cats , Rats , Tallow , Salt and Dryed Hides , Starch-Graves or Tallow-Pressings and Sea-wreck , &c. and such Food at a stinted Allowance ; there not remaining thereof when the City was relieved , sufficient for above two or three Days , by which all the said Garrison were very much enfeebled and almost starved , yet their Resolutions for the English Interest no wise abated .

That the Enemy being exasperated at the Steddiness of the Besieged , and encouraged by the deplorable Necessities within , drove down all the Ancient Persons , Women and Children they could find in the Countries thereabouts to a vast Number , under the Walls of said City , which were of the near Kindred of the said Garrison , and sent Word to the Besieged that they would sire upon them till the City should take them in .

That the Besieged thereupon caused Gallowses to be erected upon the Walls of the Town , and ordered all their Prisoners to prepare for Death , and sent Word to the Irish Army of their full Intentions to execute them instantly ; whereupon they permitted those Men , Women and Children to shift for themselves , and the Besieged desisted from their said Intentions .

The General of the Irish Army thereupon proferred Articles , wherein were contained , That they that would should be encouraged in the late King James's Service , those that would live in Town to have their free Liberty of Goods , &c. and Religion ; and such as would go home , safe guarded and be restored to all formerly lost , both by the Justices of Peace and also by their Army , who would do them Right , and reprise for them what was taken from them and carried into the Mountains or otherwise , and upon Treaty thereupon engaged full Pardon , and Restitution of all things , Liberties , Priviledges and Religion ; all which the Besieged ( preferring the Interest of England ) notwithstanding their then present Wants , Dangers and Miseries , refused to accept , tho' no other Prospect attended then but starving , or the Sword without Quarter .

That Their Majesties by their Declaration , dated 22d . Feb. 88. amongst other things , were graciously pleased to declare , that the Irish Lands and Estates of all such as should then after by Law , be forfeited to Their Majesties , should by Their Majesties be distributed and disposed to those that should be aiding and assisting in the Reduction of that Kingdom .

That in August 89. the Town being providentially relieved , the said Regiments were broke by Col. Kirk , at a Court Marshal by him held the 7th . of the same Month .

That His Majesty was graciously pleased by his Letter of the 16th . August 89. to Col. Walker and Col. Michelbourne , Governours of Londonderry , to commend their Services , and to bid the Commanders in Chief and themselves rely on His Majesties Royal Favour toward them , and thereby commanded the said Governours in His Name , to assure the said Officers , Soldiers and Inhabitants of Recompence , as not to repent their said Services and Sufferings .

That His Majesty by His Gracious Warrant , dated the 16th . September , 89. was pleased again to express His Satisfaction in the Courage and Loyalty of the said Officers and Soldiers in Derry , and thereby directed them to be formed into three Regiments of Foot , as other Regiments then in Ireland ; and thereby ordered , that all that were Officers in Derry at the time of the said Court Marshal , and not provided for in the said three Regiments , should be added to the said Regiments , as Supernumerary or Reformed Officers , and to be in full Pay as in their last Qualities , till disposed of to their greater Advantage , and no other to be preferred till all the said Derry Officers were so provided for , saving those of Col. Baker's Regiment who were before broke , and which were thereby ordered to be provided for equally with the rest so broken at the said Court Marshal .

That their Lordship's the Committee for the Irish Affairs , by their Warrant to the Lords of the Treasury , dated the 8th . January , 89. reciting , That whereas His Majesty had ordered the said three Regiments to be formed as aforesaid , and had declared his Pleasure that they should be paid , together with the said Supernumerary Officers , from 1st . October 89. with the rest of the said Regiments in Ireland , They the said Lords , the Committee by His Majesties Command , desired the Lords of the Treasury to furnish Mr. Harboard , Pay-Master of His Majesties Forces in Ireland with Monies for that Service .

That His Majesty by His Gracious Warrant to his Grace the Duke of Schomberge , dated the 27th . February 89. Wherein His Majesty is again pleased to mention the good Services of the Derry Officers , and that His Majesty had ordered an Establishment to be made of their Pay , which was thereby transmitted to his Grace , His Majesty did thereby direct Payment to be made to the said Regiments and Supernumerary Officers from time to time , as to the rest of the Army under his Grace's Command .

That by Report made to Her late Majesty of Blessed Memory , dated the 28th . May , 91. by my Lord Marquis of Carmarthen , President , Earl of Bridgewater , Earl of Nottingham and Sir Henry Goodrick ( on the Humble Petition of the same Officers and Soldiers ) the Pay of the said Reformed Officers from the Time of the said Siege , and during such Time as they should continue in His Majesties Service , was by them setled ; and in pursuance thereof , and by Her Majesties Special Command , by Two Reports , One dated the 1st . March , 91. and the other 21st . of April , 92. from Mr. Charles Fox to the Lords of the Treasury , their Pay was stated from the 5th . February , 88. ( the Time which they took up Arms ) to the 12th . August , 89. viz. Till the Time the City of Londonderry was relieved .

That the Honourable the Commons of England in Parliament Assembled , as appears by their Journals of the 9th . April , 98. upon the Petition of the Mayor , Commonalty and Citizens of Derry did Resolve , that the Services and Sufferings of the said City were very Eminent , and of great Consequence to His Majesties Service and the Preservation of the Three Kingdoms , that in regard thereof , the said City had well deserved to be considered , and to have some Special Mark of His Majesties Bounty , for a Lasting Monument to Posterity , and thereupon Ordered an Address to be drawn up to His Majesty .

That by the said Journals of 23d . of June , 98. It appears , an Address was drawn up accordingly , wherein the Honourable then Commons of England most Humbly Represented to His Majesty , the great Losses , Services and Sufferings of the said City , Governour and Garrison , Praying His Majesty would be Graciously pleased to make some Compensation to the said City , Governour and Garrison , by such Means and in such Manner as His Majesty in His Princely Wisdom should think fit .

That by the said Journals 29th . June , 98. It appears , that His Majesty having been attended with the said Address , touching the said City , Governour and Garrison , His Majesty was pleased to say , He would take them into Consideration , according to the Desire of the House .

That pursuantly His Majesty has been Petitioned , but the said Governour , Officers and Soldiers , not being admitted by the Commissioners by the Late Act , For Taking , Examining and Determining the Debts due to the Army , &c. to be Comprehended within the Words of the same Act ; and no other Provision being made for them , are still without Relief .

Wherefore , The said Governour , Officers and Soldiers do with all Humility , lay their said Services and Sufferings before this Honourable House , Hoping , That some Early Provision will be made for them , towards the Stating and Satisfying their said Arrears .