Corne the Rogues not daring for all their strength to plow or sow for themselves within two or three miles of his Castle By this time the Rogues grew so consident of their securities in their Campe April 7 that the Colonell ô Rourke brought his Cattell to graze upon some wast land within two miles of us wherewith our Colonell being acquainted that night sent out a party of Horse and Foote and seized upon all their Cattell driving them homewards by breake of day whereupon they raising their Camp brake out upon us thinking to have destroyed us and rescued their Colonels cattell but it pleased God we so paid them that we not only made good our prey but killed a number of their ablest men bringing with us to the Castle 6 of their chiefe Officers heads of which number was James Murrah Mac Glannaghy the chiefe man of that name chasing all the rest to their Campe where we found 3 stand of Pike-mens Armes 2 Drummes 6 Muskets with Bandaliers 2 Serjeants Halberts with a many Pikes and Skeanes most of those Armes formerly belonging to the Lord President of Connaughts Officers and Souldiers having layne in Garrison at Sligo till it was lost and they cut off Thus we destroyed their great Campe where our Souldiers wives and boyes plentifully victualled themselves bringing from the Rogues a many great Iron-crowes and such like instruments made and marked with the signe of the Crosse making their poore churles beleeve that with those Irons they were to pull downe our Colonels Castle and Bawne A party of Foote was this night sent to Glenden some 5 or 6 miles off April 9 where we kil'd and burned in their houses neere 20 Rogues bringing home a number of Cowes and Goates and burning a many of Irish-houses Our Colonell this night in person April 18 marched forth with a party of Horse and Foote into the County of Sligo where within two miles of the Towne he burnes of some Villages called Belfather and other houses there killed some Rogues he returnes by Mr. Parkes Castle of the New-Towne finding that Towne and Castle untoucht or troubled being in the bosome of the Rogues where our Colonell being informed the Rogues were daily relieved by that Towne and Castle their Cowes having grazed peaceably about the Castle all the while their Campe lay about Mannour Hamilton Mr. Parke never permitting a man of his either to meddle with their cattell or themselves as they went and came with their provisions from Sligo to their Campe he having in his Castle neare 60 able men which might have done good service if M. Parke and the ô Rourkes had not so made their bargaines that untill our Colonels Castle were destroyed he should not be medled withall so as he made them no interruption whilest they were encampt about us In the meane time Mr. Parke causing his Weaver to weave 40 yards of broad-cloath for the use of Mr. Bryan Ballagh ô Rourke whilst he and his Brother Owen were lying in campe about us And the next day after we had beate them from their campe Mr. Parke not only suffered them to carry away their cattell which all that while they grazed neare to his Castle gates without any guard save one coward as also that day lent Bryan Ballagh the cloath-weaver in his Castle with divers such like informations proved by Mr. Parkes owne servants whereupon our Colonell thought fit presently to burne that Towne which so long had relieved and sheltred the Rogues and killed some of them at that instant in the Towne Our Horse men this morning scouring the fields â—â—â—il 21. killed one of the Rogues centryes bringing his head home to the Castle This night a party was sent towards Dromahere 〈◊〉 23. where we killed above 40 of the Rogues burnt many good houses brought home 7 or 8 score cowes with many Horses Sheepe and Goates by this march we diverted another great gathering intended to have encampt about us the next day A party of Foote is sent into a Wood-land Mountaine countrey 10 mile from our Castle May 1. where by the dawning of the day we fell upon some houses belonging to the great Lord of that Countrey Mac A Nawe where we burnt and killed in the houses upwards of 3 score persons taking Mac A Nawe himselfe with his two Daughters and a Kins-man Prisoner his Wife being killed unknowne to the Souldiers amongst the rest we brought home our Prisoners with 8 or 9 score cowes and neere 200 Sheepe and Goates That night a party of Horse and Foote are sent into the countrey of Sligoe May 10. where we burnt the houses of Teig Mac Phelomy ô Connour Teig bog ô Connour neere Cozens and Captaines in O Connours Regiment whilst he lay about us we kil'd some 10 or 12 of the Rogues themselves being then at Sligo most of the people of the Barrony being sled to the Towne for feare of our men That Country being almost wast we brought home onely a prey of Sheepe This night we marcht into the County of Fermannagh May 13 where we kild the Wife of Donnogha Mac Flagherty Mac Gwire with about 40 more whom we surprised in houses before day and brought with us 9 score Cowes above 200 Sheepe and Goates and 47 Horses and Mares 30 Swine and 5 Prisoners which we hanged Intending towards the Fryers of Crewly we found that house uncovered May 18 and the Fryers fled This morning we encountred a number of Owen ô Rourkes men neare to the Castle of Dromahere where we killed above 20 of them our Souldiers got good Pillage in their Cabbins brought home above an 100 most of them Scotch and English Cowes 7 or 8 score Sheepe some lusty Mares and Horses with a many Pikes and the Lord President of Connaughts Halbert his Serjeant being taken when they left Sligo This morning our Castle is attempted to be taken by 4 or 5 handred Rogues from the Dartey or Rosenver May 20 but our Centries timely giving us the Alarmes they are rescued and the Rogues retyred to the Mountaines In hope this night to meete the Rebels who attempted our Castle May 21 a party is sent towards Glonâ—an 6 miles from the Castle where we found a many faire Irish-houses neither man nor beast neare them all which we burnt and marching homeward we perceived before Sun-rising a many Rebels at Largenboy within lesse then a mile to our Castle coming from the County of Sligo with intention that morning to assâ—ile our Castle Our party perceiving them notwithstanding their sore chase in rescuing the Castle the day before and their hard march that night yet did we advance towards them with Horse and Foote within speech of them our Colonell calling to them from a hill asked if their errand were for the Castle for the rescuing their Lord Mac A Nawe and his Daughters or was it Cowes they were seeking they should have a venture for both our Colonell causing a
ANOTHER EXTRACT of more LETTERS sent out of IRELAND Informing the condition of the Kingdome as it now stands SIR SIthence my last to you that is to say the 23. of June the Marquesse went to meete the Rebels at Castle-marten neare Killcullen Bridge where for the Rebels there met for the Province of Leinster the Lord Viscount Gormonston and Sir Robert Talbot for the Province of Munster the Lord Viscount Muskerry and John Welsh the Lawyer for the Province of Connaught Sir Lucas Dillon and Ieffery Browne the Lawyer for the Province of Vlster Tirlogh ô Neale Sir Philem ô Neales Brother and Ever M. Gennys of Killwarlin There went with the Marquesse the Earle of Roscommon the Lord Moore Sir Francis Willoughby Sir Thomas Lucas Sir Iames Ware Serjeant Eustace Colonell Muncke Colonell Gibson and many others Our Commissioners and others were in severall Chambers and as I heare Treated by writing onely sometimes Messengers went betweene them The Lord Taaffe was at that place and very busie they continued there till the first of Iuly and appointed the 18. of Iuly to meete againe but being better advized upon the unreasonablenesse of the Rebels demands they met no more but brake off the Treaty as 't is reported and are now preparing with all speed to take the Field In my last Letters that miscarried at Sea I wrote you word of a great overthrow given by Sir Robert Stewart Sir William Stewart and Sir William Coles Forces against Owen Roe ô Neale the Rebels Generall of Vlster where after a long fight they beate them and killed 1000. of them as is reported tooke a very great prey of Cattell above 6000. Cowes as it is said many prisoners of note taken and Owen Roe ô Neale escaped very narrowly so-that in Vlster appeares no Army of the Rebels and those Irish which are left there are eating up of one another through famine About a weeke before the Treaty for a Cessation here was a report that Preston the Rebels Generall with some Souldiers was come into Meath about Tecrohan and those parts but with how many and for what cause we had not so good intelligence as to know yet Colonell Muncke then ready to goe for England was intreated by the State to goe out towards him with a party of men who yeelded to it he should have had 1500 Foote at the first and 3 or 400 Horse but they were so scattered here and there up and downe in the Countrey that he had but 1200 Foote and about 150 Horses he relieved Castle Iordan and some other parts thereabouts and comming homeward by Clancarry about 15 miles from Dublin Preston meets him with about 6000 Foote and 600 Horse some that were present there and had seene all the Armies on both sides since the Rebellion first began doe affirme that this of Prestons was the greatest both sides did strive for a straight passage which Muncke was of necessity to goe over for which they disputed the matter a good while but Colonell Munck gained it then they encountred and fought a good while till Preston and his Army very stoutly ranne away having lost about 150 of his men killed in the place as 't was reported to me and tooke many of their Armes and some Colours and of our side not one man killed onely one man shot but not dead thus God yet preserves us miraculously and why we should distrust him who deales thus for us I know not It is thought by some that Preston had a designe upon Dublin comming so neare it with such an Army and having no Enemy or other place to looke for thereabouts Dublin July 5 1643. Written againe from thence by the same hand being a man of credit and worth in the City of Dublin I Wrote in my last how Colonell Muncke had beaten Preston but not being able to pursue him he having so small a party and wanting meanes he marched into the Counties of Wickloe and Wexford and as he returned burnt most of the Towne of Arckloe but the Castle there was too well fortified for him to deale with he returned home to Dublin the last Munday and brought with him about 500 Cowes which he gave amongst the Souldiers In the meane time Preston tooke in Crohan and Edenderry in the Kings County and is now marching againe towards Castle Iordan to besiege it Though Captaine Bartlet came to us the last weeke with that provision which the Parliament sent us yet our Commanders say they cannot stirre without 5 or 6000lb. to provide for their traine of Artillery for Carriages for Shooes for the Souldiers and such like necessaries which money when and how it will be gotten here none knowes the Protestants especially are so drained that they have little or nothing left and the Papists will lend nothing The Rebels agree well together so doe not we and if we spend time about private differences one with another and seeking to charge and undermine our selves what must become of the publike It is still confirmed that there are no Rebels to be seene in Vlster and that the Irish that are there are so miserable that they eate their children and one another a just judgement of God upon them for their cruelties Owen Roe ô Neale their Generall in that Province with all his men are said to be gone into Connaught and that the Scottish Army is gone after him but I heare of no message sent by them to our State here of it so that what they will doe we know not onely of this I am sure if things were now well followed by them as they might be and that we had but some money for the Officers Victuall and Ammunition and that well ordered and governed as it should be we might by Gods help breake the heart of this Warre in a very short time Bartlet came in a blessed time for in that time upon a strickt search in Dublin there was but 400 Barrels of Corne found in the whole City for all the Army and Inhabitants here multitudes of the poore English come still from Vlster and other parts as they get from the Rebels which fills us with famine Dublin 12 July 1643. From the same hand THat provision of Victuals brought by Bartlet was a meanes of keeping us from a desolation which then was falling upon us but that is almost spent and we shall suddenly fall into the same case againe if we be not supplied and if we shall be supplied in time with necessaries there is no doubt but by Gods blessing we may have a quick end of the Warre for the maine of it for Vlster is already upon the matter conquered and no Rebels in a body to be now seene there The Pale is so wasted that scarce a Cow Garron or Man is to be seene in many miles together and the eares of the Corne which is now growing in many of these parts is so generally cut off now before it is ripe by the hunger-starved Rebels that very
party neare to the borders of our Colonels Land within 6 miles to his castle where our small party might have conveniently met them and have beene supplied as they were if their intention and wishes had beene as neighbourcly towards us as we were really towards them who by this and other after carriages appeared rather to envy then to pitty our extremities whereof they were fully informed yet hearing by our last messenger how God had blest and enabled us to doe for our selves and that store of cowes were to be had in our county of Leytrim whereof they heard that we got daily store This newes it seemes did more invite our neighbour Regiment then any stomack they had to relieve us in our severall distresses untill this day A party of neere 400 Horse and Foote are sent with Sit William Coles Letters to our Colonell congratulating his severall good services expressing he had now in accomplishment of our Colonels former desires sent these Gentlemen and Souldiers to be imployed in scouring of the Countrey and such other services as by our Colonell should be thought fit without limitation of time or other end mentioned in his Letter upon reading whereof our Colonell bids their Lieutenant Colonell Acheson with the rest of their Captaines heartily welcome there being in their company Mr. Deane Barkeley who had marired Sir William Coles Daughter and had lately beene relieved by Sir William from the Rogues in exchange of divers arch-Rebels Priests Captaines and others of great consequence This Mr. Deane so behaved himselfe at a conference betwixt our Colonell and their Officers as if he had come with absolute power from his Father in law over this party Officers and Souldiers their Lieutenant Colonell alledging they were sent thither by Sir William Cole upon information of our messenger that we were blockt up with a strong campe about the Castle and that his orders were to stay no longer with out Colonell then the next day allowing them peremptorily 48 houres and no longer to be from their Garrison they having in that time 40 long miles march through Woods and Mountaines to performe let any man judge what service in the rest of that time was fit to be ventured on upon this our COlonell advized them since their private orders were such contrary to the contents of Sir Williams Letters to him that their best course was for that night Commanders and Officer to refresh themselves with him in his Castle taking order that their Souldiers should be quartered and provided for amongst his Souldiers in their cabbins which their Officers would not yeeld to much urging and opportuning our Colonell that since they were come to him and that they found the Fields cleare about him as they had beene neere 3 Moneths before that which they knew well enough whatsoever they pretended that he should imploy them upon some peece of service under his command before they returned Our Colonell telling them God had hitherto mercifully blest his undertakings with his owne handfull that he was unwilling to engage the honour of what further service he intended upon such strict orders the successe and event not fit to be limited with their time Their Officers still importuning that night to be imployed whereupon upon their importunities our Colonell resolved to try with the assistance of their strength the taking of the Castle of Drumahere wherein was Colonell Owen ô Rourke with divers of the Irish Rebels of this County hoping by that service to have relieved Sir Robert Hanney with his Lady and children who had beene long Prisoners in that castle thinking Sir William Coles men being so earnest and once engaged in the hopes of compassing so honourable a peece of service they would not for shame have left it and carried themselves so meanely whilst we were upon the service as unworthily they did Our Colonell not only in hopes but full of confidence and probable reasons marches in person with his Horse and Foote leading them on neare the Castle walls where he entered his Masons Carpenters and other workemen with their instruments who in short time did make a breach where he placed some few Muskiteeres The Rebels countermanding our work play so hot upon our Muskiteeres as one of them were killed another deadly shot the rest were beaten from the worke our Colonels men being wearied out and having no seconding or assistance from Sir William Coles great number their Lieutenant Colonell having no power to command them to relieve our men whilst we were spending our lives and bloods in compassing this service Deane Barkeley is publikely discouraging the Officers and Souldiers of Sir William Coles party telling them they were not sent by their Colonell and Governour to take in Castles and that their time limited by their orders was come wishing them at their perils to draw homewards Our Colonell much grieved and ashamed to be thus engaged with the hopes of their helpe advised the Deane not to meddle with what was out of his Element desiring to dispute the condition of our estate with the Lieutenant Colonell and other Officers of the Regiment The Deane replyed the Water was none of his Element and yet he could swimme and whosoever should command that party further should speake to him Our Colonell thus discontented contented observing the unworthy carriage of their Souldiers who whilst we were upon service their Horse-men were rambling the Countrey driving in Horses and Cowes their Foote-men running after Muttons catching killing and wasting under every bush Our Colonell endeavouring after the lesse of his men to pelswade them only to lye that night about the Castle knowing by the information of Prisoners they could not possibly have held out 2 dayes if they had not yeelded that night as since we are informed they intended and did that night after our Colonell marcht from thence all of them leave the castle leaving Sir Robert Hanney with his Lady and children lock't in a roome all alone till the next day we were not likely to come any more and that out Fermannagh friend had left us in such disorder who intended to have carried with them not onely what Cowes and Horses they had gathered in the fore-mentioned manner whilst we wore upon service but also thought to have stolne with them divers of our Colonells cattell that morning they wero to part wherewith our Colonell being acquainted perceived that their intended kindnesse and visit to him was only to have made use of his person and strength to have prey'd our Countrey for them which he held no sitting imployment for his personall service considering how unworthily they had carried themselves towards him in the time of our distresse and particularly in this laft service whereupon order was given by our Colonell that not only his owne cattell should be rescued from them but what else they had taken whilst he was in the Fields telling their Captaines it was shame for them they being 6 times our number to offer to take
any thing from us since they have made us the worse and not the better for them This much vexed Deane Barkeley who pretended a Horse to be taken from him which he had catch't himselfe whilst we were upon service about the castle our Colonell telling him since he had deserved no better amongst us he should carry no Horse from thence to bragge of wishing the best 2 Horses on his stable with 500 punds in money had beene sent his Father in law and himselfe to Eniskillen so that the Deane had not come to this march who carried himselfe more like a Devill then a Deane For the. Captaines and Officers being ashamed of themselves and observing our Souldiers to be but a few and daily imployed were perswaded by our Colonell for his Majesties service and as a small supply for the safety of our castle and Garrison to lend our Colonell for some time 5 men out of every one of their Companies making up 30 men to him and having received these men from the severall Captaines our Lieutenant is commanded by the Colonell for the better grace and credit of their party to march a part of their way with our Horse and Foote and as our Lieutenant and they were a parting Deane ' Barkley had like to have raised a mutiny and have set their party and ours by the eares threatning those men left with their Colonell by the Captaines consents so as halfe of them at that instant presently ranne away from us with this unworthy carriage of Sir William Coles party by the Deane of Cloghers meanes Our Colonell acquaints Sir William Cole by a Letter hoping he would have resented his Sonne in lawes arrogant and presuptuous carriage and have sent us some supply of more men but farre otherwise then we expected Sir William in his answer rather justified his Sonne in lawes actions condemning and censuring his Captaines for the few men they had lent our Colonell denying the former and acknowledging in this Letter for what he sent his party desiring that those few men which had not runne away with the rest by his Sonne in lawes threatnings should be speedily returned him and accordingly they were And after this unworthy usage of Sir William Cole our Colonels Souldier observing the liberty and disorderly governement and discipline of those Eniskillen Souldiers begun daily to runne away to Eniskillon where they found shelter and imployment amongst their Captaines to the great discomfort of our Colonell and the hazard of us all A party of Foote is sent to the County of Cavan â—â—gust 8. where we kil'd above 20 Rogues bringing home 2 Prisoners and 7 or 8 score cowes and above 200 Sheepe and Goates A party is sent towards Ballyshannon in the County of Donegall â—â—gust 22 where we kil'd 17 Rogues and burned many houses in that Countrey and brought home a few cowes Our Colonell being advertized that some 2 miles on this side Sligo â—â—gust 25 a guard of Horse-men did daily come forth with their Reapers of corne and hoping to meete with them this night a party of Horse and Foote was sent with some guides to lye in ambush for them where having layne till noone none appearing that day our orders were to burne and prey what we could in that countrey where we burned of severall Villiages as Donoly Formorley Collrey and Lisduff with a many other stragling houses in the countrey where we met with 3 or 4 score cowes and above an 100 Sheepe By this time the countrey gathers thinking to have rescued our prey and have beaten us but it pleased the Lord so in his wonted mercy to stand for us as that day we kil'd above 40 of their best men stript them all brought home a Prisoner rerelieved the castle of the New-Towne with a share of our cowes and Sheepe divers of their best Gentry the ô Connours and the ô Harts being thus killed We marcht Horse and Foote towards the Rosse in the county of Sligo whence we brought a prey of neere 6 or 7 score cowes and above 300 Sheepe and Goates where in our retreat we were set upon by the greatest strength of the county who were gotten into a great head to the Towne of Sligo with intention that day to have layed a new Câ—npe about our Castle which this encounter diverted we killing as was afterwards acknowledged by Prisoners neere 60 of their ablest men with two of their famous Priests Connour ô Hart and Donnell ô Lynch bringing home 7 Prisoners 5 whereof were hanged the next day one of them called Captaine Conô Connour and the other Cormack ô Hoy who had beene a Minister amongst our Colonels Parishes who since this Rebellion professed much loyalty though a kindly traitour his Father being Viccar generall in the county of Sligo was som yeares agoe quartered in the Towne of Sligo for treasonable speeches against the King and State The Colonell this day heares divers shot of Ordinance towards Sligo Septemâ—â—â— 10. which put him in some hopes of some Army towards that place or reliefe towards us This night a party of Horse and Foote was sent towards the Sea-coast to search for a Prisoner Septemâ—â—â— 11. for intelligence what shooting it was we heard the day before where we fell on there the countrey gathered together to oppose the landing of men where 2 Ships lay within the harbour of Sligo we gave the Rogues the Alarme who fled all to a strength of an old Castle neare the Sea-coast we brought home one Prisoner of whom we learned that some of the O Donnells and O Galloghers from Vlster were joyned with the county of Sligo Rebels to the number of 4 or 500 thinking those Ships carried men Moncy Victuals and Ammunition for out reliese but it seemed their greater errand thither was to see for a Barque which the Merchants of Sligo had loaded with severall commodities with corne and cattell from the Oyster-Island where they landed some men and burned divers houses going to Sea afterwards and as yet unknowne to us what they were This night we marcht againe into the County of Sligo September 27. where within a little more then a mile to that Towne we burnt a great village Ennagh belonging to Andrew Crean the late Sheriffs of that County we kild a number of Corne-reapers and brought with us a Prisoner By reason of our daily service October 2 never any wayes supplied or relieved now almost a yeare since the Rebellion begunne our Colonell in this extremity thinkes fit this night to send the most part of his men towards Eniskillen for some Armes and Ammunition which was sent thither by the conveniency of Sir Robert Stewarts guarding the Eniskillen party from the Derry wherewith Sir Robert worthily and lovingly advertized our Colonell from Eniskillen with what was left for him there with Sir William Cole who had promised to give his best assistance for the speedy conveying and guarding of those necessaries to us But our