Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins (1718) by Daniel Defoe
page 24 of 78 (30%)
page 24 of 78 (30%)
|
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 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 |
|