The Duke of Berwick, who was Colonel of the Eighth Regiment of the Line, then quartered at Portsmouth, gave orders that thirty men just arrived from Ireland should be enlisted.

The English soldiers declared that they would not serve with these intruders.

John Beaumont, the Lieutenant Colonel, in his own name and in the name of five of the Captains, protested to the Duke's face against this insult to the English army and nation.

"We raised the regiment," he said, "at our own charges to defend His Majesty's crown in a time of danger.

We had then no difficulty in procuring hundreds of English recruits.