is about the 5. of Ap. 1645. I Marched towards Capper-Quin my Army consisting of about five Thousand Foot a Thousand Horse and twelve Brass pieces of Cannon some of twenty four and others of eighteen pound Bullet Viewing the place I soon perceived where they mistook that Besieged it formerly and after much time spent with great loss of men were enforced to quit it There being a Town and a Castle that Commanded it they Attack'd the Town and I on the contrary the Castle which yielded the Town could not resist Drommane fell likewise into my hands Whilst I was ordering these places I wrote a Letter to the Commander of Lismore a house of my Lord of Corks I think one Major Poor I endeavoured to persuade him to put that place into my hands that it might be preserved for let the Garison be what he pleased it could not resist I gave him many reasons why I desired the preservation of that place as if it were my own But he answered that his Honour was above all that he would hold out to the last and doubted not of timely Succour So I left Mr. Poor and Marched to Michaelstown which after some shot of Cannon was rendred Then having Intelligence that six or seven hundred Horse were come over the Black-water Marching towards me and at that time Drawn up on a Hill in the great plains of Roches Country I March'd the Army towards them not knowing whether my Lord of Inchiquin might not be near with his Army But these Horse when we were well in sight retired Whereupon Lieutenant General Purcel with several other Officers and Gentlemen of the Country who had been viewing them at near hand came Galloping to me and saying that the Enemy were running away prest me earnestly to let him have my Horse for they had them so sure that they could not escape I making difficulty they said it was because I knew not the Country But I saw so much that yielding to their desire I should be left expos'd in a great Champion Country with an Army of Foot and Cannon without Horse Yet after all which I count certainly among other my Follies I suffered my self to be persuaded they March'd away in great hast I followed slowly and coming to the Black-water near the Ford of Fermoy drew my Foot and Cannon into an old Danes Work Ireland being full of them Having staid there pretty long and hearing no News of my Horse I began to be uneasie But remembring that I had a Guard of Horse on some Beeves that were for the Provision of the Army I sent for them And at the same time unexpected came Garrot Garrow with my old Life-Guard of Horse to me out of Leinster These and those making in all a hundred I presently took with me to see what became of the Troops sent with Purcel But first I ordered fifteen hundred Foot to stand in a readiness Then finding by the Track that my Horse had passed the Ford and taken their way towards Castle-Lions I followed Being come near the Top of the Hill above the Ford I left these few Horse I had with me drawn up and with some Officers went my self to the height to discover Thence I saw all the Enemy formed in a great plain with a shrub wood before them and my Horse in hast Marching through to Charge having with them a hundred Commanded Foot But the Enemy seeing the Squadrons broken as they came on the plain gave them no time but Charged and Defeated them On sight of this disorder and the Enemy pursuing when they came near me I advanced Crying out to my own men that they should Rally behind me The Enemy seeing these Fresh Horse and not knowing but the Army might be near pursued no farther but drew up The fifteen hundred Commanded Foot that I had sent for soon came to me On sight of which the Enemy retiring to Castle Lions I followed but could not engage them it beginning to be dark Hence I March'd to Malloe and took it but with some shot of Cannon and left a Garison in it Donerail and Liscarrel made no resistance But Miltown a better place and a good Garison stood out So that I thought it would cost some trouble But whilst the Batteries were preparing 2 or 3000 Boys belonging to the Army that use to form themselves into Battallions having gotten Crows of Iron Pickaxes and other Instruments a little before Sun-set fell on the place intending as I think only to have taken the Cows and Sheep within a Court which was walled But Success carried them farther and they took the Castle by strong hand So all that side of the Black-water being cleared I sent the Army for some days into Quarters of refreshment I went my self to Kilmallock and other places where my Magazines were In the mean time my Lord of Inchiquin having taken Rosstellan besieged Ballymarter a Castle belonging to his Unkle Edmund Fitz Gerrald Senescal of Imokelle My Army being come together I March'd to succour it But there being a Flood in the Black-water I was hindred for two days So that when I came in sight of the place I found it taken and burning and the Enemy retreating some to Cork others to Youghal Having thus lost my design of Succouring the place and that which I wisht most Engaging the Enemy I staid Encamped near this burnt Castle two or three days thinking what to do At length I got intelligence that Colonel Henry Obryan Brother to the Lord of Inchiquin and Lieutenant Colonel Courtney with several other Officers were come by Boat to Rostellan to make merry and that the Tide fallen their Boats were a ground and so would continue till High-Water On the certainty of this I lost no time but sent immediately a Party to seise the Boats lying more than Musquet-shot from the Castle following as fast as I could with the Army which being come up I presently fell to the work planting my Guns the Batteries made by my Lord of Inchiquin not being destroyed In the morning the places yielded on discretion Hence I March'd to Castle Lions which after some battering yielded I took my March then towards Lismore But Cony-Castle lying on a Pass in my way and sending on Summons a desiance I Encamped before it thinking to plant my Guns that Night But the Boys eased me of the Trouble and took it before it was dark by Storm as they did the former I wrote again to the Governour of Lismore to put that place into my hands that I might turn the Army another way having as much kindness for the owner as he could have But not prevailing I invested it And having ordered the Batteries left Lieutenant General Purcel to Command and trie if he could have better Success with that place now than formerly he had had when he Besieged it and so rode to Kilkenny as not willing to be present at the destruction of a House where I had formerly received
the Oath and Employment Chief heads of the Model of Government Burras Fore-Faukland Byrrh and Ballinikille yield to Preston who not long after was twice defeated Castlehaven begins his Command with an action of Charity And then he forces Crawford from the Siege of Balli-Brittas takes Ballinunry Clogrenen and Ballilenan and withall defeats the succour ON the whole matter I returned to this Council thank'd them for their good Opinion of me and engaged my self to run a Fortune with them Whether Anger and Revenge did not incline me to it as much as any other consideration I cannot resolve This I well remember that I consider'd how I had been used and seen my house burning as I pass'd by besides that I was a light man with no Charge and not any hopes of redress from the King who was then engaged in an Intestine War Now being thus a Confederate and having taken the Oath they made me one of the Council and General of the Horse under Preston The Assembly met the 24. of Oct. 1642. It differ'd nothing from a Parliament other then that the Lords and Commons sate together and not in two Houses This you see was a force put upon us and we hoped in time the storm being pass'd to return to our old Government under the King We had many learned in the Law amongst us whom we encouraged to keep us as near the old Government as might be holding to the Ancient Laws of the Land That Assembly without delay approved all the Council had done and settled a Model of Government viz. that at the end of every General Assembly the Supream Council should be confirmed or changed as they thought fit That it should consist of 25. six out of each Province three of the six still resident The 25 th was my self with no Relation to any Province but to the Kingdom in general Every Province had a Provincial Assembly which met on Occasions and each County had Commissioners for Applotting money within themselves as it came to their shares on the general Applotment of the Province Many other things there were as to Government If a Letter came to them written in Irish it would be wonder'd at and hardly could one be found to read it We were not in case to bring to Justice those that begun the Rebellion But I never saw any of them esteemed or advanced The General Assembly being put off the Generals fell to their work and my General took in Burras Fort-Faukland and Birrh in the Kings County where I was with him And I had the good Fortune to begin my first commanding in the Wars with an Action of Charity For going to see this Garrison of Birrh before it marcht out I came into a great room where many people of Quality were both men and women They with many Tears so soon as they saw me fell on their Knees desiring me to save their lives I was astonished at their posture and Petition and desiring them to rise ask'd what the matter was They answered that from the first day of the Wars there had been continual action and much blood shed between them and their Irish Neighbours and little Quarter on either side And that therefore understanding that I was an English man some knowing me they desired that I would take them into my Protection I doubted that there was too much reason for their fears considering they were to March two or three days through the Woods of Iregan and waste Countreys before they came to Athy their next friends Garrison I went immediately to the General and desired that I might command their Convoy which he granted Then culling out two hundred Horse and three hundred Foot in whom I had most Confidence I March'd and delivered them with their Baggage safe They were at least eight hundred Men Women and Children I was with this General the 18 th of March 42. when he was beaten at Ross by the Marquess of Ormond and by Colonel Monk since Duke of Albermarle at Timochoe in the Queens County the 5 th of Octob. 42. Yet afterwards he besieging Ballynckill in the same County I ventured once more with him Where he having Intelligence that Major General Crawford was besieging Ballybritas a Castle belonging to the Vicount Clanmaleer he sent me with a Party of fifteen hundred Horse and Foot to endeavour the succouring of that place which I did Crawford drawing off in passing the River of the Barrow in a skirmish had his Thigh broken with a Musquett-shot I returned as Ballynekill was rendred and conveyed that Garrison too as I had done the other of Byrrh After this I remained at Kilkenny with the Supream Council and Preston went into the lower parts of the Province with the Army Of whose absence the Enemies Garrisons in the County of Catherloe and Queens County taking advantage Alarm'd the County of Kilkenny even to the Gates of the City I was then by the Council commanded to go against them And therefore having gotten together about 2000 men with some Cannon I Marched to Ballenunry in the County of Catherloe and took it as also Clogrenan Where the County of Wexford Regiment Mutined but were reduced and some examples made served well for the future I Marched thence into the Queens County and Besieged Ballilenan Commanded by the Grimes's a Valiant People with a strong Garrison But a great breach being made their Succour came by the way of Athy I was not well at this Alarme but laid upon my Bed in my Tent. However I made no great matter of it knowing the Succour could not be considerable But my Old Lord Richard Vicount of Mountgarret being abroad sent me advice that they were coming on in great hast and stronger than I thought both in Horse and Foot and were then near the end of the Tougher which is a great way cut through a Bog and I believe in length at least half a Mile Now I had a great Guard of Horse and Foot at my end of the Tougher with a Line thrown up before them So I judged the danger not great However I got on Horse-back taking with me 400 Horse and coming to my Guard I saw some of the Enemy on the Tougher in their March Whereupon I bad my Horse and Guards follow me and March towards them thinking to have fought them upon the Tougher But they retired and formed on a plain two Musquet-shot off I having pass'd the Tougher prepared to Charge But they Drew off again and did not stand me till they had gotten through a Gap in a Ditch with water to the Belly Being past they lined the Ditch with Musqueteers drawing up their Horse and Foot close by to defend this Gap Sir Walter Butler with his Squadron begun the Fight but being Wounded in the Ditch with a Pike through his Thigh his men sell off and a second Squadron Charged and did the like But the Enemy seeing more Squadrons coming on in the smoke took their advantage to
of the Kings Offer and their Return and to mind them that the Consideration and resolutions concerning Peace and War the General Assembly reserved to themselves only and therefore to require that they would send immediately a Trumpet of their own with a Letter to the Marquess of Ormond giving him to understand they had Issued Summons for a General Assembly in order to acknowledge the Kings gracious savour in naming him his Commissioner to hear our Aggrievances and redress them This we put in execution and gained our point without much resistance The Marquess of Ormond being thus brought into a Treaty the Consederate Commissioners met at Seginstown near the Nasse as his Excellency had appointed in order to a Cessation of Arms. At which time all Parties laboured to get into Possession of what they could Colonel Monk after made Duke of Albermarle March'd into the County of Wicklow to take in the Harvest and Possess some Castles I being then Commanded by the Council to go against him and having Rendevouz'd my Troops consisting of about three Thousand Horse and Foot at Ballynekil in the County of Caterloe Notice was brought me that Colonel Monk was March'd away in all hast to the Assistance of the Lord Moor then facing Owen-Roe Oneal near Portlester I finding my self now to have nothing to do thought it worth the while to endeavour taking in Dulerstown Tully Lacagh and all other Castles in the County of Kildare between the Rivers of the Barrow and Liffe Which I did leaving Garrisons in them This done I repast the Barrow at Minster-Evin March'd into Leix and took threee or four small places But as I was going on had advice from the Commissioners at Seginstown that they had on the 15 th Septemb. 1643 concluded a Cessation of Arms with the Marquess of Ormond To which I submitted SECT IV. Scots of Ulster obey not the Cessation Owen O Neal in the Assembly at Waterford Castlehaven chosen General of the Northern expedition which should have consisted of 11000 against Monro's Army of 17000. His apprehensions thereupon Before this Campagn open'd he is sent to reduce Castle-Carroe and Castlebar in Connaught and does so Rendevous at Granard Scots design to surprize him there frustrated and so his to surprize them at Toinregaoh Horse fight here He Camps at Charlemont and Monro hard by at Ardmagh neither able to force the other Owen O Neal performs nothing promis'd Stratagem safe Retreat and putting the Army consisting of above 8000 into Winter-Quarters BUt General Monro sometime before being arrived in Vlster from Scotland with ten Thousand new Scots and having Sir Robert Steward joyned to him with five or six Thousand of the old Scots Natives of that Province as also some English under the Command of Sir Audley Mervin Sir Theophilus Jones and others would not submit to this Cessation They forced General O Neal to so great straits having sometime before Defeated him in the Encounter where Con-O Neal was killed with many others that in the beginning of Winter leaving his Troops Crejaghts to shift the best they could he came to the General Assembly held at Waterford Where he set forth the lamentable Condition of his people desiring the Assistance of the other three Provinces and in the name of his Province undertaking to joyn to their Forces four Thousand Foot and four hundred Horse but withal declaring that otherwise he with his Forces and Creiaghts should be obliged to save themselves in the other Provinces and so get subsistance as well as they could This last point of Owen O Neals Speech besides their persuasion that the Scots would not fail soon to follow him and visit them made the Assembly come to a quick Conclusion and agree to send six Thousand Foot and six hundred Horse out of the other three Provinces So that the Army was to consist of ten Thousand Foot and one Thousand Horse But it coming to the Question who should be General of this Army they went to the Election after this manner The Assembly sitting those they thoughtfit to come in competition they caused their names one under an other to be written down and from each a long Line drawn Then at the Table where the Clerk sate every Member of the General Assembly one after another with a Pen puts a Dash on the Line of him that he would have to be General And to the end that none should mark more than once four or five were Chosen out of the Assembly two of which were Bishops to overlook this marking being on their Oath Now contrary to Owen O Neals exspectation who had designed this Generalship for himself by which he would be Generalissimo I was chosen Which he took extremely much to heart as I have reason to believe However he carryed it fairly and came to Congratulate me giving withal great Assurances of his performance and readiness to serve me Next day a Commission was sent me with orders to prepare all things for this expedition which I did But the farther I look'd into the matter the worse I liked it For I considered that I was now to make War in a Country where I had never been and in a Country too where we had not so much as one Town but the Enemy had many That by all Intelligence they could draw into the Field sixteen or seventeen Thousand men That if Owen O Neal should perform and deal fairly with me yet all I was to expect did not exceed ten Thousand Foot and a Thousand Horse That having no Towns in the Province we should be forced to bring all our Provisions from the other Provinces where I had my Magazines That I must depend upon O Neal for Intelligence For by such lights I always Guided my self in my former small undertakings But that which most of all troubled me was that I did not see how I could avoid a Battel if the Enemy had a mind to it being I was to make an Ossensive War I had also this other consideration to discourage me That although our Parties had commonly the better yet our Armies had commonly the worst This was experimented in several Battels And the reason was clear and obvious Most of all the great Towns in the Kingdom were the Enemies and Garisoned and of the few Towns we had there was but one to wit Kilkenny that would receive a Garison So that at our coming out of every Field as the Enemy returned into their Garisons where they were with their Officers and kept in Discipline ours were dispersed all the Kingdom over into little Villages and odd houses never seeing an Officer till the next Campagne And therefore they came to their Rendevous in the beginning of every field like new men half changed and for the Horse so haggled out in riding up and down to see their friends that they seem'd hardly able to draw their Legs after them and both Horse and Foot with rusty Arms and not fixt But how plainly soever I saw
my ill condition I must through as well as I could yet withal resolving to avoid a Battel by all means and seek to make my War by Parties and Surprises where new men are as good as old Now having more then time before the Campagne I was commanded by the Supream Council to March into Connaught to reduce some of our own Party which had set up for themselves in the County of Mayoe and had possessed Castle Carroe and Castle Barre the former Commanded by one Burk the latter by the Lord of Mayoe I took with me two Thousand men and past the Shanon at Fort-faukland the Marquess of Clanrichard permitting me to pass through his Country These Castles made little resistance After they had yielded I sent my Party under the Command of Sir James Dillon into the County of Roscommon to reduce the Armsbyes and some others that held Garisons and would not submit to the Cessation When he had done his work which he was not long about he return'd into Leinster and lodg'd the Troops as he was ordered In the mean while I had gone to Kilkenny and set my self to the great Work still having some mistrust of Owen O Neal's performance Wherefore I desired the Council to grant me four hundred Horse and Dragoons more in case I could raise them without Charge which I did The first Rendevous that I made in order to this Field was 1644 about Midsummer in the County of Longford at a place called Granard where I had appointed three Thousand Horse and Foot with two or three Field-pieces intending there to have expected the coming up of the whole Army which might be four or five days for O Neal was neer Encamped at Portlester and the rest were Marching as ordered By my spies that met me at this Rendevous and came in hast all agreed that they had left the Enemy near a certain Mountain threescore Miles of that they were seventeen Thousand strong with one and twenty days Provision in Oaten Meal which they carried on their own and little Horses backs no Cannon or other Baggage and were ready to March I thought my self pretty secure for that Night but at twelve of the Clock one from Cavan assured me that he had left the whole Army there and that their Horse and Dragoons would be with me in the morning On this advice I packt off as fast as I could and gain'd Port-Lester ordering the rest of the Army to come thither and at the instant Commanded a Colonel with five or six hundred Foot and a hundred Horse to defend the Bridge of Fienagh It was of stone and a Castle on our End I sent with him Shovels Pickaxes and Spades with plenty of Ammunition The Enemy according to my Intelligence came at Sun-rising into the Camp I had left and shewed themselves the next day before that Bridge My unfortunate Colonel sent over his Horse to Skirmish and when they were far enough out on a sudden the Enemy mingled with them Which was the cause that our Foot could do nothing but through fear to kill their own left Bridge Castle and all free for the Enemy However this availed them little For finding me well Posted though O Neal was of another opinion their Provisions shrunk and being at least twelve days March from their own Country they staid not to give me farther trouble but hastened homewards Now then I was at leisure to call on General O Neal for his four Thousand Foot and four hundred Horse being resolved to follow the Enemy and try my Fortune in Vlster as I was designed to do He excused himself by Reason of the continual Alarms in his Countrey that he could not at present make good his Word but withal assuring me again that so soon as I came into the Province I should have no reason to complain Having this assurance I March'd on with my six Thousand Foot and a Thousand Horse and Dragoons and O Neal joyned to me about two hundred Horse and three or four hundred Foot his Creiaghts Marching with us being all the Irish with their Cattle of that Province When he had drawn me on as far as Toinregoah I had intelligence that the Enemy had revictualled themselves and were returning to encounter me Whereupon I prest O Neal very hard to make good his Word Who plainly told me that he could not do it alledging that his people were all amongst the Creiaghts and every one looking to save what he had In this sad condition I blamed my own Weakness in being persuaded with fair Promises to come so far into an Enemies Country however I was resolved to see the Enemy then Encamped at Drummore Jueagh And therefore taking such Guides as O Neal would give me and leaving the Command of the Camp to him in the evening I March'd with my Thousand Horse and Dragoons and fifteen hundred Commanded Foot These I left on a Pass about three Miles from my Camp to make good my retreat intending to fall with my Horse into their Horse-Quarter But whether Wittingly or Willingly in my Guides it was Sun-rising when I came within two Miles of their Horse-Quarter And yet still though I had lost my design I would see the Enemy And to this end perceiving some of their Horse at Grass I being drawn under a Hill near a little River where there was a Stone-bridge sent a Party to take those Horses which they did and brought them to me But their Guard of Horse being near after my Horse were come back seized the Bridge and defended it I sent men to beat them off but it would not do Then I sent another Party the same still Whilst this was a disputing I perceived a hundred Foot coming over a great plain Then I Galloped down my self with some Officers and more Horse So passing the Bridge I had the cutting oft that hundred Foot without resistance A Party of mine pursued the Horse that ran from the Bridge but before they overtook them they were met with another which routed them And others of mine put them also to the run Before this Fight ended most of the Horse on both sides were Engaged The Enemy at last drew off and so did I to my Army Being returned to my Camp I acquainted O Neal with what had past and how the Enemies Army were advancing according to my intelligence Whereupon he advised me to retire to Charlemount a Fort where he had a Garison I followed his advice and found it a very good Post there being a large plain joyned to it on the one side runs the black Water and near the Fort a Bridge over it the rest surrounded with Bogs and Moorish Ground My Horse lay Encamped at Benborb on the other side the River At the same time that I came into this place Monro with his Army arrived at Armagh about two or three Miles distant and there Encamp'd fortifying himself Thus neither of us being able to Engage the other we lay in pretty
run away which we could not see till the smoke was over Then we followed and could not Engage them till they recovered Athy which was near I guessed them to be about three hundred Horse and seven or eight hundred Foot Their Succour thus beaten in their view the besieged Garrison yielded on condition to March out with their Arms. The small Garrisons in those Parts made no resistance I was much favoured in these my first undertakings by having been in my youth a great Hunter in those parts of Deer Wolves and Foxes So that there was no passage in Bog or Mountain or Ford in a River that I did not know This little beginning gave me some Reputation and as near as I could what I wanted in experience was supplied by diligence and good Intelligence SECT III. He Defeats Sir Charles Vavasor in Mounster By occasion of a Trumpet sent from Ormond he moves the Council for Peace Commanded with three thousand men against Monk he takes Dullarstown Tully Laccach and many other Castles in the County of Kildare and in Leix Submits to the Cessation MY Lord of Inchiquin was all this while Master of the Field in Mounster having won some Battels beaten the Irish in all parts and in a manner subdued that Province four or five Towns excepted And with these he was going now to work beginning with Kilmallock in the County of Limbrick and sitting down before it with an Army of seven Thousand men This Alarmed the General Assembly then sitting at Kilkenny but most particularly those of that Province Whereupon after many Consults among themselves they concluded at last to ask succour of the General Assembly though they saw but little hopes of any in that exigency for Preston was far off with the Army Wherefore opening themselves more clearly than perhaps they would have otherwise done they layed claim to me as having my Earldom and Estate in their Province though I was an Officer of Leimster Alleadging farther that their General was old and Unfortunate and that if I had the Command all would joyn in the defence of their Country and take new Courage I was present at this proposition and though I had ambition and vanity enough did heartily oppose it having no prospect of any Success But my Lord of Muskry being my great friend and of that Province desired the Assembly to command me by vertue of the Oath of Association Which they did and then there could be no more reply It being thus ordered and which was pursuant to it that my Commission under the Great Seal of the Confederates to Command in Chief for that expedition should be immediately dispatched I was ask'd what Troops were near at hand I answered that I knew of none but of my own Life-Guard of Horse 'T is true I had observed many stragling Horse in the Town but they would not be brought together without Mony Some Money was then given out and by Ten of the Clock next morning I had gotten together Eighty Horse and put them under the Command of Garrett Talbot Brother to Sir Robert Talbot These with my Life-Guard Commanded by Captain Fits Gerrald commonly called Garrat Garrah made in all one hundred and twenty Horse With these I March'd accompanied with my Lord of Muskry since made Earl of Clancarty and some others of the Province On the Frontier of it I met about a hundred and twenty Horse more most Gentlemen and formed into a Squadron But at Cashel I was received by the General of the Province Barry the Lieutenant-General Purcel and some other Officers with seven hundred Foot That night I had Intelligence that the Lord of Inchiquin had raised his Siege and March'd with four or five Thousand men into the County of Kerry But had sent Sir Charles Vavasor with sixteen or seventeen hundred men to take in Clohlea a Castle then belonging to the Condons I Marched immediately towards him and before night Encamped within three Miles of him the Mountain only between us My Brother Richard Butler Brother to the Duke of Ormond was sent out the same night to discover the Enemy In the Morning word was brought that the Castle was taken and the Garrison after Quarter given put to the Sword and my Brother Engaged I lost no time but March'd in all hast with my Horse to his Succour which joyned with his made up two hundred and forty or two hundred and fifty at the most The Foot marched also But the old General came on so slowly that I had defeated the Enemy before he came within two Miles The manner thus Sir Charles Vavasor though he had taken the Castle remained still in his Camp till seeing me on the Top of the Mountain above him come to succour mine that were skirmishing he drew to Arms but being amongst Hedges and Ditches and the Castle between us I could not come at him till he marched towards Castle Lions where in a large plain he formed But I going by the advantage of a great valley came into the plain unseen almost as soon as he And having ordered three or four Squadrons of Boys on Horse-back to possess the ground from whence I came I lost no time in the Charge that Defeated his Horse who to save themselves broke in on the Foot Their Cannons were useless being past the Black-water This with Gods blessing and a great shower of rain gave me the victory with little or no loss Sir Charles that Commanded with several other Officers remained Prisoners their Cannon and Baggage taken all their Foot defeated but their Horse for the most part escaped This happened on a Sunday the 4 th of June 1643. about twelve a Clock at Noon Now having left the best advice I could for the improving this advantage I took leave of the General with others of the Province and returning to Kilkenny gave the Assembly an account of what had passed in order to their Commands Soon after the Assembly being broke up and a Supream Council chosen to Govern in their absence I retired to Kilkash my Brother Butlers house to rest my self The Council went to Ross and whilst they were there a Trumpet brought them a Letter from the Marquess of Ormond setting forth his being appointed by the King to hear our grievances and to Treat for an accommodation The particulars of the Letter I knew not but the Trumpet was quickly dispatched with some slight Answer Which coming to my knowledge I repaired to Kilkenny whether the Council was returned And on Information finding what I had heard to be true I sent for Sir Robert Talbot Sir Richard Barnwel Colonel Walter Bagnal and such others as were in the Town being well affected and leading men of the Assembly though not of the Council Now being in my Lodging I acquainted them with what understood and that if they would stick to me I would endeavour to give it a turn We all agreed on the way which was To go to the Council then sitting take notice
good Correspondence and the small War we had was chiefly in cutting off of Convoys My Provisions came much harder to me than his to him and O Neal began to be very weary of sometimes assisting me with Cows So that after two Months I resolved the endeavouring to gain my own Country seeing no hopes of any forces from O Neal. Which to Effect for I did not desire fighting I caused a Tougher or great way to be cut through the Bog near the Fort leading to Toinregaoh by which their Provisions came This way being finisht I knowing their days took my time to pass most of my Horse and some Foot shewing them beyond the Tougher as if that night I intended straight for Toinregaoh Monro having this Intelligence posted away a great Party of Horse and Foot to secure his Convoy But the night being come I turned and in stead of Marching towards Toinregaoh past over the Bridge with the whole Army leaving my Cannon and Baggage in the Fort with a strong Garison plenty of Ammunition and all the Provision I could possibly scrape to put in That night I March'd and all the next day taking a great round before I could have my own Country on my back which having obtained in the County of Cavan I faced towards the Enemy about five or six Miles from them Which Monro knowing and finding that I lay easier for my Provisions then he did raised his Camp and March'd to his own Country It being now late in the year I thus Free of him sent a Party of Horse and Foot to bring off my Cannon and what I left in the Fort and so March'd to Fienaegh where I met Commissioners from the Supream Council to receive the Army and lodge them on the three Provinces together with fifteen hundred Vlster men which on my Order came to me out of Conought being of no Army but endeavouring to live by strong hand which I could not admit Thus ended the Vlster expedition like to be so fatal to the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland through the sailing or something else of General Owen Roe O Neal. But after all the three Provinces had no reason to complain of this Campagne For this Army they sent kept them from being troubled either with Scots or Vlster People that year SECT V. Views the Siege of Duncannon how laid and that strong place taken by General Preston Is sent with an Army to Mounster against Inchiquin of late declared for the Parliament Dean Boyle's message Capper-Quin and Michaelstown taken Skirmish of Horse near the Black-water Mallow Donerail and Liscarrol yield Miltown and Conycastle taken by a storm of 3000 Garsoons meer servant Boys that belong'd to the Army A Flood hinders the relieving of Ballimartir Yet he surprizes Rostellan and several Officers in it and then forces Castle-Lions and Lismore to Surrender Marches straight to Cork Blind scustle there by night Returns to Tallow and thence goes to Youghhal In that way all the little Castles submit An unexspected mutinous Accident at one of them What done at Youghal The Snow falling he retires to Capper-Quin and so ends this Campagne HAving thus left the Army with Commissioners on Muster more than eight Thousand strong for I had been recruited with several Companies I took my way to Kilkenny ill pleased that the Treaty of Peace train'd so long and designed not to stir from the Council till I saw it concluded But coming there I found the Supream Council in great Consternation For Duncannon that Commanded the harbour of Waterford was declared for the Parliament as also my Lord of Inchiquin Commanding in Mounster who before had not only submitted to the Cessation but carried with him a considerable number of his Troops into England to serve the King Now taking there some disgust as 't is said because the Presidency of Mounster was given to the Earl of Portland he returns and declares for the Parliament Commanding by their Commission as President of Mounster Those of Waterford now pressed the taking in of Duncannon making great offers to the Council of large assistance Preston is named for this work and sent with three or four Thousand men Miners and a good Train of Artillery it being within his Province And I having the curiosity to see it left the Council and followed him I will relate the particulars of this Siege because the only in form that I saw in Ireland He made not any line of Circumvallation fearing no succour that could come on the Land-side but began his approaches with two Attacks and being come near the place joyned them with a line of Communication and then ran them on divided to the two ends of the Curtain Those within made a good defence and lost nothing in six weeks only the Besiegers had made a lodging in the Ditch At this time two or three Parliament Frigats arriv'd with succour of Men Ammunition and Provisions coming to Anchor within less then Cannon-shot of the Fort. But before they could man out their Boats so horrible a Storm arose that in eight or ten days none could come on shore Whereupon those within being in despair and press'd with some essential want yielded All this while my Lord of Inchiquin over-ran Mounster and coming to Cashel the people retired to the Rock where the Cathedral Church stands and thought to defend it But 't was carried by Storm the Souldiers giving no Quarter So that within and without the Church there was a great Massacre and amongst others more than twenty Priests and Religious men kill'd Towards the Spring the Council ordered me to go against him and to begin the Field as early as I could The Enemy in this Province had always been victorious beating the Confederates in every Place never having received Check but in the mentioned Encounter at Cloghleah So that every Gentlemans House or Castle was Garisoned and kept the Country in awe To begin this Field then I made my first rendevous at Clonmel and the Army Encamped near it Thither Dean Boyl now Lord Chancellor of Ireland and then Married to my Lord of Inchiquins Sister came and there he found me His business was to persuade me to spare Donerail and other Houses and Castles not Tenable I answered that I desired it as much as he though hitherto they had annoyed the Country equally as if they had been strong I told him in short I had order to take all I could and such as I thought not fit to Garison to destroy Yet if he pleased to cause the Garisons to be drawn out and by Letters from the Owners to put them into my hands I would appoint some few men into them with Commanders in whom I most confided and make it my Business to preserve them by interceeding to the Council The Dean and I parted very good Friends But whether he could or no prevail with my Lord of Inchiquin or the Owners I know not I am sure I heard no more from him Soon after that
saying he would fain see what man durst Toutch his Habit I laying hold on him said Lies the Enchantment there And after this the Mayor Town Major and all the rest carried them away Prisoners to the Castle as I had appointed SECT VIII He returns to the Army Inchiquin Marches to Mounster with 1100 Horse from the Siege of Dublin That Siege rais'd Cromwel landed at Dublin takes Drogheda by Storm The Lord Lieutenant forms a good Army in the County of Kilkenny Inchiquin worsted at Glascarrig Castlehaven relieves Wexford which after is betray'd by Stafford Castlehaven relieves Duncannon and the Siege of it raised Cromwel takes Ross and thence Marches to the County of Cork where all the Towns open to him Tickle's Treacherous undertaking Castlehaven made Commander in Chief of Leinster He Storms Athy Gowran betray'd to Cromwel The Plague raging at Kilkenny Cromwel Besieges and takes it by composition Castlehaven's Orders not obeyed he goes to my Lord Lieutenant in the County of Clare NOw after a while that I had diverted my self a Hunting I repaired to Limbrick and there lay causing by fair and foul means all people both in that City and County to bring in what remained due to the King of their Aplotments Having got ten Thousand pound together I delivered it to Sir George Hambleton Treasurer of the Army My Lord Lieutenant now wrote to the Commissioners of Trust sitting at Kilkenny to let me know that I should come to the Army and that all difficulties concerning Command should be removed to my Satisfaction I obeyed and Sir George and my self with our ten Thousand pound went to the Army which we found in their March removing from the Phenix side of Dublin to Rath Mines where they Encamped But my Lord of Inchiquin soon after acquainted his Excellency with some Letters he had received from his Officers in Mounster that Cromwel was to land there Which if so all his Towns would revolt if not prevented by his speedy repair thither with some or all his Army In Order to this my Lord of Inchiquin desired his Excellency's Consent that he might March away with eleven hundred Horse and his Excellency imparted all to me At which I was infinitely surprized alleadging the whole Army too weak for the work in hand I remember my Lord Lieutenants Answer But 't is not my business to speak more of this Subject having been always kept a stranger to the undertaking of this Siege 'T is enough for me to tell you here that my Lord of Inchiquin with eleven hundred Horse March'd away and you may imagine many more Soon after this happen'd the Defeat before Dublin And not long after that Cromwell with his Army Landed there March'd to Tredath and took it with all the Towns in those parts My Lord Lieutenant not being able to stand before him retired with what Troops he had to the County of Kilkenny Where my Lord of Inchiquin came to him and in a short time they formed a good Army For besides my Lord of Inchiquins Forces many Vlster Regiments of Foot joyned them Owen O Neal having by this time though too late for himself and the King's service come in upon Articles which he sign'd upon his Death-bed after he had been rejected by the Parliament Cromwel being retired to Dublin refresh'd his Army sitted himself for a new undertaking and took his March by the Sea side through the County of Wicklowe to Besiege Wexford My Lord of Inchiquin was sent to oppose him They met on the Strand in the County of Wexford towards Glascarrig fought and my Lord was Worsted My Lord Lieutenant being with his Army come to Ross and fearing a want of men within Wexford I knowing the Town and Country about it offer'd to attempt the Relief My Lord accepted my good Will and ordered me as many Regiments of Vlster Foot as made fifteen hundred men The Colonels were my Lord of Eveah and one Mac Coffre also I think another and appointed two hundred Horse to escort us I took a great compass and came before day to the Ferry near Sir Thomas Esmond's house called Ballin-Treman who as I remembred was with me Then leaving the Horse for my return I Passed that Arm of the Sea in Boats and having delivered the Foot to Sir Edmund Butler the Governor I took the same way homewards as I came The Town thus Manned was Impregnable as to Cromwel by force Yet he took it by the advantage of a Castle that was betray'd unto him by the Governour one James Stafford This Castle was strong and stood about two or three hundred Paces from the Wall The Communication with the Town could not be Cut. So that the Danger was least there if Treachery had not been in the Case But the Castle being betray'd it Mastered all that part of the Wall So Cromwel's Forceâ—s entred and made almost as great a Slaughter as at Drogheda My Lord Lieutenant then with his Army retired over the River of Ross and encamped on the County of Kilkenny side From whence his Excellency sent me into the County of Waterford to Passage over against Bally-hack to look after the relieving of Duncannon Besieged by some of Cromwels people I think Ireton Commanded And for all there were Parliament Ships before it I ventured one morning with a Boat and got into the place to the Governour a brave Gentleman one Colonel Wogane whom my Lord sometime before had sent to Command and with him besides the Irish Garison about a hundred English Officers who had served the King in the Wars of England He from the highest part of the Rampart shewed me how the Enemy lay After I had well considered all I offered to send him that night by Sea eighty Horse Sadled and with Pistols if he would mount them with so many of his English Officers and before day with them and some Foot make a sharp Sally He lik'd it extremely but doubted my part for putting in the Horse it being about three miles by Sea I bad him leave that to me Having thus concluded I took my Boat returned and set my self to my Business The Tide serving at the beginning of the night and having provided Boats I Commanded eighty choice Horse to come to the Sea side Where making the Horsemen alight I caused the Horses to be Boated sending some to hold them They entred the Place and all was executed as designed great Slaughter made and the Cannons seised For the Confusion amongst the Enemy was great by reason that they judged it the falling in of an Army from abroad hearing and seeing horses and knowing none to be in the Fort. Our people retiring before day the Enemy raised the Siege in the morning and Marched off His Excellency shortly after this made me Governour of Waterford whither I went with a Thousand men But the Town would not admit them entrance On which I after several days dispute being in despair Marched away in the night All this while