universall a fault that it was hard to discover who deserved punishmēt most harder to find a Court of warr to censure them Dureing this short residence at Kilkeny His Ex. cy haveing taken order with the Lord Inchiquin to bring up what forces he could possibly make and with the Commissioners for the recruteing drawing together arming their dispersed forces assoon as could be to the end they might be sent after him who speeds away himselfe in the company only of 20 or 30 horse towards Trim and Drogheda as the places both nearest the enemies attempts and likeliest to totter backe if not secured in time at Tecroghan a house of Sr. Luke Fitzgarretts he makes a stay till those severall bodies that he then expected were com up and upon notice of their coming removes to Trim where he meets with newes of Jones his being before Drogheda who soon after upon intelligence that my Lord Leiut. was at Trim and suposeing his forces to be greater then indeed they were drew of in the night returned Imediatly to Dublin The next day His Ex cy went through to Drogheda where a party of the Scotch horse and foot under the Command of the Lord of Ards and the Lord Clanbrazill Came up unto him but whilst they are consulting what to do they receive assurance of Cromwells landing with very considerable forces Wherupon concludeing that towne necessary to be kept to entertaine the enemy before whilst they made up their army as they hoped to do very considerably soone enough to come to the releife of the place of which if they should faile no question was made but after the gaining of time which was then pretious they in the town should be able to make honorable conditions for themselves whilst Cromwell is refreshing his own men in Dublin and reducing Jones's there is put into Drogheda a garrison of 2500 foot and 300 horse which was thought sufficient so having furnisht it with provisions as well as that short time would give them leave His Ex cy commits the charge of that place to Sr. Arthur Aston as a person whose experience courage approued fidelity did worthily deserve the highest trust These things thus ordered His Ex cy returnes to Trim and from thence he dispatched away Co ll Daniell O Neale then Governor of that place with a Commission to set on foot the treaty againe with Owen O Neale if it were possible to endeavour the reduceing of the Vlster army even upon any conditions a person esteemed by all best qualified for that imployment as well in regard of his singular abillitye and approued fidelitie to the King as the great interest he was supposed to have in his Unckle who managed the busines with that dexteritye as he won his Unckle to harken againe unto an agreement wherupon Sr. Richard Barnewell and Sr. Nicholas Plunkett are sent after to make an absolute conclusion with him though by the way this may not be unworthy of observation that those persons who were formerly most opposit to this agreement were now become the greatest sticklers to promote it with His Ex cy being growne sencible of the imminent and aproaching danger that now threatned them Tecroghan is the next stage His Ex cy removes unto where I had the honor first to kisse his hand after my arrivall in Ireland here he makes a stand as being the most opportune place to draw his army together in and lyeing most convenient after that was don to releive Drogheda or make any other attempt upon the enemy Where besids the remains of the Irish army already som what recruited there joyned unto him a good regiment of my Lord Marquess of Clanricards of above 1000 foot together vvith 300 horse likevvise that party of the Scots before mentioned Sr. Thomas Armstrong and Co ll Treuors together vvith vvhat forces my Lord Inchiquin could bring out of his precincts these being got together and daily additions being still expected to the making them up a more considerable body then they were at Dublin my Lord Leiut. receaved severall advices from Sr. Arthur Aston to precipitate nothing for he doubted not of finding Cromwell play a while as certainly he had done had not Co ll Walls regiment after the enemy had bin twice bravely repulsed upon the unfortunat losse of their Collonell in the third assault bin so unhappily dismaide as to listen before they had neede unto the enemy offering them quarter and admitted them in upon these termes therby betraying both themselves all their fellow souldiers to the slaughter for Cromwell being master of the towne told by Jones that he had now in his hands the flower of the Irish army gave order to have all that were in armes put to the sword Where besides the gallant Governour Sr. Arthur Aston Sr. Edmond Varney Co ll Warren Co ll Fleminge and Co ll Birn Leiut. Co ll Finglasse and Major Tempest together with many other excellent Officers and Gentlemen there were butchered neare 3000 souldiers and those truly reputed the best that Kingdom affoorded in whose fall there is sadly observable how great a number of them were guilty of the unlucky breach of that solemne agreement made about two yeares before betweene the Lord Marquesse of Clanricard and the Leinster army at Sr. Nicholas Whites Castle of Lexleap severall of those that survived having perisht since and few or none of them escaped some remarkable affliction or other This massacre at Drogheda having lopt of a principall limbe of my Lord Leiu ts army and the losse of that towne letting the enemy loose caused his Ex cy to remove his army from Castle Jordan down towards the Counties of Wexford and Kilkeny there not only to lye secure till Generall O Neales army came up unto them with whom now at last he having bin rejected by the Parliament and the Commissioners whipt to reason with adversity there was an agreement made and he submitted to the Kings Authority but also ready to be drawne into either Wexford or Kilkeny as there should be occasion for upon one of those places after the enemies retreat from Drogheda to Dublin it was concluded they would fall next For which reason His Ex cy for many daies courts the towne of Wexford to take in a Garrison Kilkeny having received one already but they affirming they were able to defend their towne themselves would never be brought to admit of one till the enemy was at the Walls and then tumultuarily Sr. Edmond Butler with neare 1500 men was receaved in as Governour whome to reinforce after the enemy was now set down before it my Lord Leiu nt comes with new supplies with in sight of the towne had put them in to the infallible preservation of the place if James Stafford then Governour of the Castle had not upon termes of advantage to himselfe before His Ex cies eies shamefully betrayed it and the town into the hands of a most cruell
faithlesse enemy who butchered there also after they were admitted in above 2000 more There was nothing now remainning to be done the Vlster army being not yet come up and severall troopes of my Lord Inchiquins being since the seidge of Drogheda run away to the enemy but put a Garrison into Rosse which was sent in under the Command of Luke Taaffe with orders for the place was judged scarce tenable against so powerfull an enemy to make conditions when they saw themselves able to resist no longer as at last they did when the breach was made and the enemy ready to give an assault haveing termes to march away with their armes About Graigge and Thomas Town His Excellency houered with his horse and the small remainder of his foot untill the comeing up of the Vlster army Vnder the Command of Leiutenant Generall Farrell the Generall himselfe lying then a dying This new Conjunction with Owen O Neale and so great an accession of Forces bringes my Lord Leiutenant into a Condition not only of putting a stop upon Cromwells hasty progresse but even of gaining ground upon him as questionlesse he would have done had not another misfortune greater then any of the former interveened to frustrate all which was this my Lord of Inchequin having as I said before conditioned to have the ordering of those Garrisons and forces that he brought in with him to the Kings obedience left wholy to himselfe out of desire as is beleeved to keep himselfe still considerable upon a bottome of his owne would never hearken unto any Proposition of admitting a proportion of Irish into any of his townes Kingsale onely excepted into which place at the importunity of Prince Rupert he at last admitted some Being confident that the English forces under his command having served under him so so long upon severall scores all or the most of the Officers where of being either Creatures of his owne or men obliged and indeared unto him upon a long account would never seperate themselves from his fortune or abandon his service But his Lordship it seemes tooke wrong measures for the most part of them being steared wholy by selfe interest and knowing the way already how for advantage to serve against the King whose business they saw so much declining that no more was likely to be got that way whilst Cromwell was full of mony and successe Conspired together how to possess themselves of my Lord of Inchiquins person together with the townes under his Command that they might make a surrender of all at once unto the enemy Youghall begins the dance and taking occasion to mutiny against the English Cavaliers under Woogans Command that were quartered there imprisoned disarmd them all and afterwards stood upon their guard Whilst my Lord of Iuchiquin is by all Gentle meanes endeavouring to reclayme back this towne severall of his Officers combine to seize upon him then lying secure at Leiutenant Generall Barries house of Castle Lyons but they and their designe being discovered to his Lordship by one of their owne complices were so farr prevented as to be seized all upon themselves Wherupon the towne of Youghall seing Cromwell yet at too great a distance the time of his coming into Mounster uncertaine offered to submit upon assurance of indemnity the release of the imprisoned Officers and removall of the Cavaliers which his Lordship either wanting the meanes to compell them or being willing with kindnesse and faire meanes to vvin upon them keep them in order assented unto After which having visited his Garrisons and beleeving all things so secure as not to require either his further stay there or the bringing any proportion of the Irish into those other townes he returnes unto his charge in the army And novv Cromwell having nevvly received an affront before Duncannon through the courage gallantry of Wogan vvirh those English Gentlemen that vvere put in vvith him upon that occasion vvas retired back to Rosse there under the Protection of the town to make a Floting Bridge over the river to the end that by having a passage to the other side he might at his pleasure either compell His Ex cy to devide his army to attend upon his motions and so give him an opportunity of setting upon one part or other of it Or at least if it kept together of getting a Passage into Mounster where he expected to find a generall Revolt of those Garrisons under my Lord of Inchiquins Commands as it afterwards happened My Lord Taaffe was sent with a part of the army to hinder the worke But what through want of powder and indeed all sortes of ammunition which was now grown exceeding scarce extremity of foule weather distempers amongst his men and other ill concurring accidents he was not able to effect it My Lord Leiutenant through Cromwells suddain retreating in the night from before Dun Cannon having lost the opportunity of fighting him as he was then resolved finding his army cherfully desire the occasion had nothing left him now to do but vvaite upon the enemies motion and endeavour to cut of his provisions vvhich the country people allured by the orderlinesse of his souldiers who had mony to pay for vvhat they tooke and command it seemes to do so brought them in as fast as could be vvhilst His Excellency having no mony to pay his army nor indeed a competence of bread to give them vvas constrained to let them take their sustenance vvhere they could find it During this intermission of action Corke Youghall and all the English townes of Mounster even through the incitation of those Officers that were but lately released being openly revolted and the Lord Broghall with some men landed in those parts Very many of my Lord Inchiquins party both horse and foote deserted my Lord Leiutenant and ran daily over to the enemy In so much that both the Commanders and souldiers of the Irish not without reason grew very jealous of the rest that remained behind fearing that if ever they came to engage against the enemy they would turne upon them and betray them there wanted not diverse also though doubtless very unjustly that extended their jealousies unto my Lord of Inchiquin himselfe grounding their accusations upon his Lordships not punishing the Conspirators when he had them in his power upon so faire a warning and just an occasion as then was given him his not putting Irish into his Garrisons Upon his wife his family plate and goods being sent him safely out of Corke into the Irish quartars upon his not consenting to the dismounting and disarming of the rest of his men when some of the Commissioners prest the doing of it upon his delivering his advice in Councell as they heard for his Excellencies coming to conditions with Cromwell and making this an argument for it that his men would fight no longer and lastly upon an impertinent accusation without head or taile appeared when he came to be examined in the businesse brought
in vain endeavoured to qualify the universall discontents and observing how fast notwithstanding the admonitory Declaration of all the Bishops from Clonmaenosse to the contrary the people being alienated with the rauaging and disorder of their own armies and allured with the successes and smooth invitations of Cromwell ran headlong into him for Protection and vnder Contribution as also how great numbers of the Irish souldiers some frighted with the plague which now began to spread into the other Provinces of the Kingdom and others for want of livelyhood as having neither meat nor pay flockt in unto the enemy He goes into Conaght to confer about carrying on of the publicke businesse and the remedy of these disorders with the Marquis of Clanricarde at his Castle of Portumna about the end of Christmas who being a person of that eminent merit towards our King and Nation deserving so much honour from all honest men I shall I beleive do a thing very pleasing to your Lordship to give you a breife Character of him The Story of his Charity and Protection to such multitudes of distresst English and Protestants in the time of those Tragicall Massacres and Rapines that at the beginning of the warr were acted in Irland his Civillities Noblenesse to those of our Nation whose honesty deserved his favour ever since hath so many Liveing Relators that I need not medle with it likewise for me to give a particular account with what integrity and wisdome he hath preservd his Loyalty through all those straits troubles that have hedgd him in free from the guilt of the least compliance with either the Parliament or Confederates though menaced and courted incredibly by all not only the Nuntio and O Neale but even by Sultan Cromwell himselfe as looking upon his Lordship for the person likeliest now to give him the greatest opposition and to contribute most to the preservation of what was left all which assaults he hath stood out with the greatest constancy and modesty in the world would make me too tedious upon this occasion Wherfore I shall content my selfe to tell your Lordship in short that he hath conducted his own and that share he hath had of the Kings businesse with the greatest prudence honesty the freest from faction or ambition and with the clearest neglect of selfe interest private advantages that hath ever yet falln under my observation in fine I will assure you he is a subject as well worthy of a Princes favour and as fit for his Counsells that he is as reall and hearty in his freindships and hath a soule as full of justice and honour as is any where to be found Upon his coming to Portumna my Lord Leiutenant meets with Sr. George Monro who was posted thither out of the north to make some Proposalls in order to the reduction of Vlster to His Excellency my Lord of Clanricard who had the Summer before assisted him towards his Vlster expedition with a Regiment of foot 100 horse and 1000 pounds in mony out of the Province of Conaght in case those overtures of his were not approved of to demand his passe that he might leave the Kingdome But what he propounded was so plausible that in case mony and armes could be had in time and in proportion to what he demanded as the infection of Galloway out of which towne cheifly both were to be had made it very difficult they judged it a very likely expedition Wherupon my Lord of Clanricard desirous to keep so able a commander as Sr. George in the Kingdom furnisheth him with what mony he could at the present and sends him Northward to lay and prepare the businesse before promising to do his uttermost endeavours to procure him those supplies of mony ammunition and armes by the time appointed as also to bring his army up as farr as Sligo there to countenance Sr. George in his undertakings and be ready for any fair occasion that should present it selfe for the mastering of the Country After four or five daies stay at the most His Excellency tooke his leave and hastened towards Kilkenny obligeing my Lord of Clanricard to come after him to be present at a meeting he had appointed there for the procuring of a good understanding between the Clergy the Commissioners and himselfe and for taking the best order they could for the raising and maintayning an army against the next spring But though they met nothing at that time could be done or agreed upon Wherfore my Lord of Clanricard returnes into Connaght to take order for his Northren expedition which out of the great difficulties of getting his men together arising out of the universall distractions that were then in the Kingdom the hard season of the yeare the Pestilence the want of monies and provisions he could not possibly go through with against February which was the time designed Nor even then when he did without very great necessities and inconveniences to himselfe and his army as I can well witnesse having had the honour to waite upon him most part of that journey This failing in Point of time and a great part of the monies promised him which neverthelesse as things stood no mans Industry could have remedied Sr. George Monro complained very much of affirming that their opportunity was lost therby especially now they being come the army was able to move no further through extream want of Provisions kept from them by foule contrary weather for which the residue of the mony together with hopes of an accord between my Lord Leiutenant and the Commissioners some daies were spent in Expectation but nothing coming in the end except only a letter from my Lord of Ormond summoning my Lord of Clanricard suddainly away his Lordship was forced to leave his army and the Northren businesse to the hazard and return back to meet my Lord Leiutenant and the Commissioncrs at Loghreogh Wherupon Sr. George Monro beleiving now that my Lord Leiutenant would leave the Kingdom seing the divisions amongst the Irish grow daily greater and giving all for lost and lastly finding the impatience of his own party to treat with the enemy as he had often before publiquely declared he would retires himselfe to Eniskillin and having made Conditions for himselfe the remainder of his Party and his Officers that were in prison gave up that place to the enemy departed the Kingdom Very soone after whose retirement my Lord of Clanricards army for extremity of want was forced to returne from Sligo back towards the County of Galway Where I will leave it and come back unto his Excellency who being left by my Lord Clanricard lately in Kilkenny after having caused Captain Tickle to be executed for a design he had of betraying that town unto Cromwell was by the breach growing daily wider between him the Kingdom and through the encrease of the sickness now come thither at the joynt request of the Commissioners and Officers induced to
coming neare Dublin was newly laide him down in his tent to take his rest The enemy found the new fortification so slight and the resistance there so weake that they soon became masters of the place from whence seeing the Irish flie in such fright disorder contrary to their first intentions they pursued them up to the avenewes of their Campe where finding the souldiers also that were in gard with great securitie and unconcernment looking on they laid hold on the advantage charging briskly in and in a trice beat them of their posts which if they had defended as a far less number then they were might very easily have don the Campe being no way accessible towards the towne excepting by those few avenewes which there purposely had been left open nay some of them thrown open contrary to orders for the conveniency of the soldiers could possibly have run no hazard But these passes being thus lost abandoned more men coming out of the towne to reinforce those that were alredy so succesfull the whole army in the greatest terror and confusion that might be falls a running every one a severall way in this condition were all things brought before my Lord Taaffe then Generall of the Ordinance had awaked my Lord Leiut. who presently takeing horse together with my Lord of Castle-haven who was now returned backe to his command Co ll Milo Power made towards the enemy taking all such a long with them as they could either by force or faire meanes perswade to face about with intention to beat them backe or at least by making head a while to stop their progresse till som considerable part of the army could be rallied and brought up againe to oppose them but by that time they came neare the enemy their followers were grown so thin that His Ex cy after the having exposed himselfe to much danger and received a shot upon his armes in a brusk charge that he made upon the foremost of the enemies troopes was faine to retire at last and seeke to recover his army that was gone before Sr. William Vaughan being already killed his brother Co ll Richard Butler taken and the whole campe in effect abandoned except by those that could not get them ready or wanted meanes of flyinge Thus besides the slaughter that was made and the prisoners that were taken one of which was the lot of most of the English that were under the command of Co ll Woogan whose behaviour that day deserves much commendation who having gotten together into a small body defended themselves so gallantly and with so much resolution against the whole power of the enemy as at last after a great slaughter the rest made conditions for themfelves before they could be inforced to yeeld or lay downe armes the totall plunder of the campe with all the artillery tents and baggage fell into the enemies hands most of my Lord of Inchiquins foot that at first made some resistance seing the day lost upon this disaster changed sides and revolted to the enemy All this was don in so short a space and with so little noise that my Lord Dillon and the rest of the forces that were on the other side the river of the Liffy knew nothing of what was don till the businesse was over and some scattering runawaies brought him word of it the Irish that got of made such hast every one towards his home and with such distraction that it was impossible for my Lord Leiut. to draw any body of them together and therfore having met with the newes of the surrender of Ballisannon that very day into the hands of his forces that lay before it he rested at Caterlo that night and went the next day to confer with the Commissioners of trust and my Lord Inchiquin at Kilkeny When this great disaster is well considered scarce any other sound reason can be given for so sad a misfortune but the good pleasure of Almightie God who if it be lawfull to look so far into the judgments of heaven knowing the ill intentions and designes that were in the harts of many both of the Irish and English there in case Dublin had bin taken saw them unworthy of that blessing and tooke that time for their punishment and humiliation not only in this but a torrent of other crosses following in the necke one of another for besides this mischance before Dublin to the ruin of so great an army about the same time O Neale releives Coot in London Derry to the immediat losse of that Province the future scourge of his owne followers not long before likewise the plague was brought by a ship out of Spaine into Gallway and besides the havock it made in that towne so disperst it selfe over all the Province of Conaught that my Lord Marquess of Clanricard being deprived thorough the Calamities that were upon that towne country both of money and meanes to march withall could not for many months draw his army together either to act any thing alone or joine with any other for feare least by that meanes the plague that made such spoile while they were asunder should mow them down when they were all together This Route at Dublin the releife of Derry and the plague might be thought competent afflictions to be cast upon a people so impoverished a Kingdom so wasted before yet this sufficeth not there are heavier losses yet to follow and a worse pestilence to land shortly at Dublin that will sweep away their men and townes together but here your Lordship may justly interrupt me and say that though it must be confessed that whatsoever befalls us in this vale of misery is to be attributed to the hand of heaven or the permission at least of the devine providence into the reasons of whose secret and hidden counsells our weake capacities are unable to search yet neverthelesse those visible causes wherby we draw misfortunes upon our selves by such who through neglect of their duty disobedience to their superiours are apparently the authors therof ought not to passe unpunished and therfore you see no reason why those were not called to an account that deserved it both by their cowardice and so shamfull omission of their duty as could admit of no excuse But when your Lordship shall be pleased to reflect upon what I said before that my Ld. Leiut. comands this army indeed the Kingdom but as it were upon courtesy all his authority in effect consisting in the aweing one faction with another the best of which he found to be on so uncertaine unsetled termes that you will I doubt not when you reflect upō it easily grant that my Ld. Leiut. could not in prudence do an act that was likely to give so great generall a distaste as indeede to have proceded against the Major Generall would have bin to the confederats amongst whom he had so many alliances freinds the running away of the rest was so
against him by the Marques of Antrim for holding correspondence and having made conditions under hand with the enemy Upon these foundations and such as these did many of the Irish represent unto my Lord Leiutenant the necessity of discharging my Lord Inchiquin of his Command securing his person which his Excellency being more tender of the Kings honour and his owne then upon bare surmises and suspitions to deale in that manner with a person that had but lately deserved so well both of the King and him would not be brought unto Choosing rather to run any adventure then to be guilty of breach of conditions with him which he must needs have been if before a conviction of apparent treachery he should upon the score of my Lord of Inchiquins oversights or the uncertain jealousies of the Irish have condescended unto either of the things proposed This temper and justice in my Lord Leiutenant in not suffering himselfe to be led by the clamors and importunity of the people and soldiers involues him also at last under their displeasure and mistrust so that out of want of confidence in their cheife Commanders and out of diffidence in one another the army was now falln into a very unfit condition of hazarding a battaile with the enemy if an occasion should offer it selfe and to make it worse the Scots that were there being tired out with the necessities the whole army suffered and receiving newes of the enemies prevalence in their Country desired leave to returne into the North which after great importunity at last being granted them they immediately with drew their forces and hasted homewards where they were no sooner come and Sr. George Monro joynd unto them but they received so sore a blow from Coote with so much losse and dispersion of their men that they were never able to make head in Vlster since Cromwell now finding the army so much weakened by the desertion of so many of my Lord Inchiquins men and the departure of the Scots and likewise knowing that it was in such disorder through the distrust animosities that were amongst them so that in reason he was like to have much the advantage if they should fight him adventures over his bridge at Rosse into the County of Kilkenny where by facing my Lord Leiutenants army and mouing after it up and down he amuzed the Irish whilst Jones his Leintenant Generall with parties tooke in the Castles of the Country had Carrick given into his hands wretchedly by Martin that Commanded there Upon notice where of Cromwell hastens thither to passe his army over into Mounster which was now his business for notwithstanding his purse to buy provisions of the Country and his ships that wherever he went waited continually upon him his army through the unseasonablenesse of the weather and want of quarters was so much harassed and wasted many of his men falling sick and dying daily that if he did not hasten to his Winter quarters he would in probability have perished without a blow which neverthelesse to make sure worke my Lord Leiutenant whose army also was quite tired out with wants sufferings and continuall marches hearing that he was gone towards Carrick intended to bestow upon him before necessity forced him to disperse his men and to that end his Excellency marcht speedily after the enemy with designe to set upon him whilst he was either engaged before Carrick or else incumbred at some other passe upon the river but after all this diligence when my Lord came near the towne he then learnt that the place was lost before and that Cromwell leaving a competent Garrison therin had only past his army over and was gone towards Waterford which town during Cromwells Residence at Rosse though the persuasion as it is said of Geoffry Baron and Hugh Rochford had underhand begun a treaty with him for the delivery of the town unto him Which treaty only stuck upon the free exercise of their Religion and the Churches denyed unto them by Cromwell The knowledge of this caused my Lord Leiutenant now to hasten thither with no small danger to his person to presse them to admit of a Garrison which being a long time denyed my Lord of Castlehaven with diverse others that his Excellency propounded being utterly rejected by them yet at last they were content to admit of Farrell and the Vlster men who accordingly were sent immediately unto them After Farrells admittance he upon notice of the enemies motion that way fearing some commotion in the towne and thinking himselfe not strong enough to resist the enemy without and master them within writes unto his Excellency for a supply of men And these his Excellency seing Cromwell so unexpectedly got over into Mounster through the treachery of the Garrison of Carrick intends now to conduct himselfe out of hand into Waterford before which the enemy was supposed to bee Therupon some Principall Officers of the army desired leave that they might in the Interim attempt the regaining of Carrick against whom his Excellency objecting the want of materialls necessary for such an enterprize was assured they had enough to serve their turne for that worke yea and some of them positively undertooke the taking of the place that night Wherfore leaving them to their businesse my Lord bends his Course for Waterford where he arrived when it was late upon notice where of Cromwell despairing of doing any good upon that town and finding many of his men fall sick and dy of the fluxe which then raged amongst them drawes of in the night and hastens towards his Winter quarters at Corke and Youghall in which march as he gaind Dungarvan so he lost Jones his Leiutenant Generall During my Lord Leiutenants absence the army at Carrick assaults the place the foot falling on with extraordinary galantry and resolution where after the losse of many of them they faild of carrying the place only for want of a few pickaxes and spades which being calld for were no where to be found which necessitated the poore foot after having done so handsomely and stood under the walls some houres to quit the business and draw of when extreame want of food they having eaten nothing almost for two daies enforced them to march away towards Clonmell all the Country betvixt Carrick and Kilkenny Being totally spoild already The remouall of the army hence without sending notice of it to my Lord Leiutenant had like to have put his Excellency into the enemies hands for he making full account of the regaining of Carrick upon the former assurance that was given him was upon his way directly thither where the enemy had 300 horse he not forty in his Company when Colonell Milo Power by good fortune found him out and told him of the ill success of the enterprize and the motion of the army thence wherupon he altered his Course another way And then considering that the enemy was now retired into his Garrisons that the weather was
indignation resented Emer Mac Mahon Bishop of Cloghor who had been chosen Generall of the Vlster army having a good while since received his commission from my Lord Leiutenant was now gathering together his army which in ad short time after before my leaving the Kingdom he had made up to be about 6000 men wherewith having taken severall little Castles in his way he was marched up into the Claneboyes and become master of the feild The next enterprize Cromwell went in hand with was to take Clonmell which was kept by Major Generall Hugh O Neale who behaved himselfe so discreetly gallantly in defending it that Cromwell lost neer upon 2500 men before it had notwithstanding gone away without it if they within had had store of powder but their small proportion being spent the Governour with his souldiers was fain to go out of the town on the other side of the river by night towards Waterford leave the townesmen to make conditions for themselves which they did the next morning the enemy not knowing but the Garrison was still in towne till the conditions were signed Thus the losse of this place severall other Garrisons for want of ammunition was another effect of the disobedience of the townes In so much that had it not been for a little magazine that my Lord of Clanricard had providently made before hand wherewith since the losse of Drogheda his Excellencies army the Scots the Vlsters most of the Garrisons were surnished All might have gone to an irrecoverable ruine whilst the walld townes like free States lookt on as unconcernd denying to afford it to them This being true no body that hath heard of any injuries or injustice in point of trade or prizes here can blame the King or my Lord Leiutenant for it neither of whom they did obey further then they pleasd themselves but now having received Garrisons as I make no question they have I dare be bold to assure any body that trafficks that way of all equity justice from my Lord Leiutenant hands About the time of the seidge of Clonmell David Roch having raised above 2000 men in the Counties of Corke Kerry and beginning to make head with them received a small brush from my Lord of Broghall which only dispersed his men for a few daies his losse being not considerable for any thing but the Bishop of Rosse who being taken was hanged with two other Priests by Cromwell for being found in armes as they said against the Right worshipfull the State of England Soone after the gaining of Clonwell Cromwell upon letters out of England inviting him thither goes to sea and leaves Ireton in cheife command behind him to subdue the rest of that miserable wasted Kingdom whilst himselfe went about the conquest of new Empires more worthy of his presence But since he is gone I cannot but here observe that of all those thousands that either came with him thither or were sent after there are now few hundreds surviving either to reap the benefit or report the stories of their Victories his army upon his departure being sunke to a very inconsiderable number especially in foot and neer three parts of those consisting of either Irish Jones or my Lord of Inchiquins men who only are able to undergo the wofull incommodities of that Country now groning under a universall plague famine and desolation to that degree that if they knew but halfe the misery that expects them there I am confident that no threats nor flatteries could perswade men out of England thither in hopes of reaping the fruites of their fellowes labours in that destroyed Kingdom Which as low as t is brought may chance to cost Cromwell a second expedition and another army and yet go without it For they have Waterford Galloway and Limrick three of the strongest and most considerable townes of the Kingdom still untaken any of which if they be well Garrisond as questionless now they are will be neare a summers work to reduce The forts of Duncannon Silgo the Castles of Caterlo Athlone Charlemont Neauagh are not easy puachases the Province of Connaght is still preserved intire by my Lord of Clanricard who will be able to bring 4000 men of his own into the feild now that Galloway his Country is somewhat cleard from the infection of the plague which begins to rage greatly in the enemies quarters as Cork Youghall Wexford and Dublin it selfe Kilkenuy Clonmell with severall places there abou ts being left desolate with it The County of Clare in Mounster brought unto my Lord Leiutenant at a Rendezvous just upon my coming away above 2000 men wherwith his Excellency being invited by the Magistrates was ready to march into Limrick for to Garrison the place and to make it his residence What Forces the Irish had in Vlster towards Kerry I have already told you as likewise what Connaght and the County of Clare afforded I must add that Hugh Mac Phelim had in Wicklow towards Wexford hard upon 2000 men at Waterford Generall Preston and Hugh O Neale had litle lesse to conclude besides all this the Lord Castlehaven the Lord Dillon and the Bishop of Drummore made account they should draw together a considerable body in Meath and the rest of Leinster to joyne with the Marquis of Clanricard towards the releife of Tecroghan then beseidged by Colonell Reynolds Thus your Lordship may see that provided they bee united amongst themselves as truly I left them and that meanes can be found of keeping them in bodies together there are men enough in armes yet to dispute the business with an enemy that is not halfe their number whose quarters are pestered likewise with the plague and famine as well as theirs especially these having such strengths and fastnesses still in their hands as are almost inaccessible to Cromwells souldiers Who after having mastered the greatest part of Mounster and Leinster and their supplies from England coming in but slowly â— have made bold at last with the people they flattered with before altered their manner of proceedings taking from them by force what they pleased and violating their protections given making not nice to tell them they suffered them to possesse their estates but during pleasure and till they could have planters to put into their roomes by which kind of clear dealing they have so lost made desperate the natives that lamenting their former too ready compliance with the enemy they now call for my Lord Leiutenant again taking armes in their hande begin to rise in all quarters of the Kingdom so that it is impossible for a greater power then Ireton has there to attend to the suppression of them all In this posture left I that Kingdom it being very probable that if the enemies recruites and provisions out of England did faile through any other diversion and the Irish receive but any moderate supplies from abroad they would not only make good all that
Lord Inchiquin were received by mee from your Lordship upon a suspicion I had there might fall out some unhandsome cariage towards them upon the departure of these English out of the quarters which opportunity of serving them I was not very unwilling to imbrace conceiving it an honourable expedient for their security in case they should be necessitated thereunto But I find His Excellency it not at all satisfyed with me therin I having no Commission to that purpose and upon intimation sent his Lordship that I had such a thing he commanded me to returne it with civility to your Lordship But finding by the Copy of a Letter to the Governor of Waterford which I here inclose that there is some use indeavoured to be made thereof to his exceeding preiudice and dishonour he hath commanded metosend it to himselfe least the returne of it should be perverted to his prejudice as the acceptance was I have hereby returned your Lordship the Passe for the Lord Inchiquin and from both have received very slender thankes for bringing them Your Lordship knows I made no engagement for any thing no either of their behalfes but on the contrary in the discussion of those proposaIls which I presented to your Lordship from the Officers did declare that I had positive commands to except the Lord Marquis of Ormond and Lord of Iuchiquin from having any benefit of or relation unto any thing that was comprized in that treaty so that the suggestions of M. Axtell to the Governor of Waterford though they are nothing a greable to the conditions we received from your Lordship yet they give a very great dissatisfaction to many here of my integrity as presuming me to act some thing under hand either by design or beyond Commission wherein if your Excellency would be pleased to afford me the justice of some kind of vindication it would extremly oblige me in a very gratefull resentiment My Lord Your Excellencies humble servant M. BOYLE Cloneraud May 3. 1656. My Lord Lieutenants Letter to Cromwell when he sent him Back his Passe SR DEan Boyle having brought me a Paper signed and sealed by you seeming to be a Passe for me to transport my selfe beyond seas I did much wonder from whence or for what reason it was that you either gave or he accepted it since he was directed to declare to you if it came in question that I had no intention to treat with you for a Passe or any other thing And though I am yet to seek a reason for his part of that transaction yet yours appeares to me in Axtells Letter to Generall Preston I have by this Trumpetter returned you your Paper and for your unsought courtesy do assure you that when you shall desire a Passe from me and I thinke fit to grant it I shall not make use of it to corrupt any that commands under you I remain Your humble servant ORMONDE Kogh reogh the 17 May 1650. The Speech of his Excellency the Marquis of Ormond unto the Generall Assembly of the confederates in Irland upon the signing of the peace in answer to the Oration of Sr. Richard Blake Chairman of the Assembly Mentioned PAG. 55. My Lords and Gentlemen I Shall not speake to those expressions of duty and Loyalty so eloquently digested into a Discourse by the Gentleman appointed by you to deliver your sense you will presently have in your hands greater and more solid Arguments of His Majesties gratious acceptance of them then I can enumerate or then perhaps you your selves discerne for besides the provision made against your remotest feares of the severity of certaine Lawes and besides many other freedomes and bounties conveighed to you and your posterity by these Articles There is a doore and that a large one not left but sett open to give you entrance by your future merits to whatsoever of honour or other advantage you can reasonably wish so that you have in present fruition what may abundantly satisfye and yet there are no bounds set to your hopes but you are rather invited or according to a new Phrase but to an old better purpose You seeme to have a Call from Heaven to excercise your Armes and uttermost fortitude in the noblest and justest Cause the world hath knowen for let all the Circumstances incident to a great good Cause of warr be examined and they will befound Comprehended in that which you are now called warrantably to defende Religion not in the narrow circumscribed definition of it under this or that late found out distinction but Christian Religion is our Quarrell which certainly is as much and as fatally struck at I may say more by the blasphemous Lycence of this Age then ever it was by the rudest Incursions of the most barbarous and most avowed Enemys to Christianity The venerable Lawes and fundamentall Constitutions are trodden under impious and for the most part Mechanique feete a Iudg reader if these be the words of one that intends to betray the Kingdome and Kings interest to Cromwell The sacred person of the King the life of those Lawes under an ignominious imprisonment his life threatned to be taken away by the Sacrilegious hands of the basest of the People that owe Him obediences And to endeare the Quarrell to you the fountaine of all the benefits you have but now acknowledged and of what you may further hope for by this Peace and your owne merits is now in danger to be obstructed by the execrable murther of the worthjest Prince that ever ruld these Islands In short Hell can adde nothing to the desperate Mischeife now openly projected And now judge if a greater or a more glorious feild was ever set open to action and then prepare yourselves to enter into it And receive these few Advices from one throughly embarqued with you in the Adventure First Let me recommend unto you that to this as to all other holy Actions you would prepare yourselves with perfect Charity a Charity that may obliterate whatsoever b Are not here the factions of Rancours a long continued Civill warr may have contracted in you against any that shall now cooperate with you in so blessed a worke let his engagement with you who ever he is be as it ought to be a Bond of Unity of Love of Concord stronger then the nearest tye of nature In the next place marke and beware of those that shall goe about to renew or create c Iealousies Iealousies in you under what pretense soever accompt such as infernal Ministers imployed to promote the black Designe on foote to subvert Monarchy to make us all slaves to those that are so to theire owne avaritious Lusts Away assoone as much as possibly may be with those distinctions d And nationall animosities fore seen forelold that since have ruind all of Nations and of Partys which are the feilds where in the seede of those Rankor weeds are sowen by the great Enemy of our Peace In the last place Lett us all divest ourselves of that preposterous that ridiculous Ambition and selfe Interest which rather leads to our threatned generall Ruine then to the enjoyment of Advantages unseasonably desired And if at any time you shall thinke yourselves pincht to neare the bone by those Taxes Leavyes that may be imposed on you for your defense Consider then how vaine how foolish a thing it will be to starve a Righteous Cause for want of necessary support to preserve yourselves fat guilded sacrificies to the rapine of a mercilesse Enemy And if wee come thus well prepared to a Contention so just on our part God will either blesse our Endeavours with successe victory or f Were there ever nobler or more generous expressions of loyalty then these Crowne our sufferings with honour patience for what honour will it not be if God have so determined of us to perishwith a long glorious Monarchy And who can wante patience e The people of Irland have found the truth of this by a lamentable experience to suffer with opprest Princes But as our Endeavours so let our prayers be vigorous that they may be delivered from a more unnatural Rebellion then is mentioned by any story now raised to the highest pitch of successe against them I should now say something to you for my selfe in returne to the advantagious mention made of me g Or greater modesty my Endeavours to bring this settlement to passe but I confesse my thoughts were wholy taken up with those much greater Concernements Let it suffice that as I wish to be continued in your good esteeme affection so I shall freely adventure upon any hazard and esteeme no trouble a difficulty too great to encounter if I may manifest my zeale to this Cause and discharge some part of the obligations that are upon me to serve this Kingdome FINIS ERRATA PAg. 6. l. 7. for Interests of the crown read Interests of the crown P. 7. l. 28. for Monster read Mounster P. 9. l. 22. for prece read peace P. 24. l. 17. after Col. Birne read The famous Pudsey with the poleaxe Colonell Walton Grissith Cavanagh c. P. 29. l. 16. for appeared read as appeared P. 49. l. 3. for ad read a. P. 50 l. 10. Clonwell read Clonmell P 51. l. 3. for Neavagh read Neanagh ibid. for Puachases read Purchases P. 52. for hande read handes P. 53. for that is their read that it is their P. 56. for I have given read I have here given Erratas in the Letters P. 4. l. 19. for take thy paines read take this Paines ibid. for an foyle read an unglorious foyle P. 6. l. 42. for it read is P. 12. l. 1. for to laide ad to have laide ibid. l. 27. for is fulnesse read is a fulnesse P. 3. l. 8. for Cronwell read Cromwell