the meane time the Marshall found a way through the Foord to the ground where the Rebels stood hee possessed the same with some foot and presently got over three troope of Horse with which he charged the enemies battailes of 1800 men but finding them stand firme wheeled about But now three troope of Horse more and two Regiments of foot which were with the Lord Deputy who stood not farre off with a vigilant eye came all up So that the Marshall with the Horse charged home upon the reare of the Battell which being Irish and not used to fight in the plaine especially seeing their horse dye which were the chief Gentlemen in number five or six hundred were suddenly routed and our men followed the execution The other two Battels seeing the other routed advanced to their succour but the Lord Deputy sending another Regiment to charge on the flanke of the Vangard which presently retyred disorderly being followed by our horse and foot But the Spaniards that were not so light footed drew out by themselves yet were soon broken by a troope of horse led by Sir William Godâ—lphin and most of them killed their Commander Don Alinza del Campo taken prisoner together with two Captaines 7 Alfieroes Ensignes or Colours as we call them and 40 souldiers In the mean time many of the light-footed Irish escaped away by advantage of this execution done on the Spaniard and all the mayn battaile except 60 were killed On our side little hurt Sir Richard Greames Coronet killed some Commanders of quality hurt and six souldiers hurt many of our horses killed and others hurt Of the Irish 1200 left dead in the place besides those that were killed in two miles chase Wee took nine of their Ensignes all their Drums Powder and two thousand armes And their destruction had been greater had not the greedinesse of our men in pillaging and rifling the Spaniards hindred it And had not our foot been tired out with continuall service and our horse spent for want of provision to keepe them in good case we had cut the throat of all the Rebels for they never made resistance nor looked behind them but ran and shifted for their lives His Lordship presently in the midst of the dead bodies gave thanks to God for this great victorie So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but let them that love him be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might The Rebels were upon report about six thousand foot 500 horse whereof 14 Captains slain souldiers slain 1995. His Lordship had not above 1200 foot and lesse then 400 horse so that it was Gods great goodnesse to give him the day And about noon he returned giving volleys of shot in manner of Triumph Which the Spaniards in the town hearing who had layn still all this while expecting Tyrone and now supposed that it had been he made a sally out upon our Campe but soone perceiving their errour they did retire into the town again But made divers sallies out to hinder our making of trenches and other works which now we did most earnestly About the last of December Don Jean sent to the Deputy about a parley tearming him Vice-roy and much complained of the treachery and falshood of the Irish And that if honorable conditions were offered he would accept and so after many parlyes and propositions Articles were accorded on both sides That the Spaniard with all he had and while they tarry be well intreated and have things necessary for their money and sent safe away into Spain in English ships assoone as conveniently they may paying for their passage and leaving a pledge for the safe returne of them backe againe So our army went to refresh it self at Corke and the Span. abroad in Kinsale only Don Jean rode with the Deputy and made means to his Lordship that his Excellencie would shew some commiseration on the Spanish prisoners that were in Corke that were in great extremity for want of provision in number 160. Ian 25 certaine Captaines are dispatched West ward to receive from the Spaniards at Castle-haven Baltamore and Bâ—â—r-haven those Castles which they possessed but they not knowing of this their Generals Composition they aâ—Bâ—â—r-haven being 60 did build a Fort of trees and earth and planted three pieces in it About the eight of March for so long it was by reason of foule weather and crosse winds before all the Spaniards could be sent home his Lordship with the Army attending thereabout not willing to trust them over-much or give them occasion of doing ill About the end of the yeere 1601 his Lordship wrote unto the Counsell in England shewing them the hope that they had of the peace and quiet of Munster upon the death and execution of three arch-rebels Likewise shewing them there was great discontentment in the army upon an occasion of an abatement of halfe a pound of beefe to each mâ—â— a day and two herring oâ—â—â—â—shdays and that the horsmen did murmure for that 〈…〉 were raised 5 s. in a quarter more then usual being but 〈…〉 before now 15 s. which his Lordship did alter againe for feare of a mutiny And presently after his Lordship fell sicke and so continued repayring to Dublin to take physiâ—k Now here Majesties charge is cast up for the former yeer ending 1602 and it was 246087 l 7 s. 8. d. Besides the Concordâ—uâ—â— Bils impressed upon account here the levies and transporting of forces paid in England the payment of works and the charge of the office of the Ordnance Powder Bullets c. Now a List is taken of the army in the beginning of theâ— yeere 1602 Collonels 14. Totallâ— of the horse by the list 1487. foot 16950. But of these only 500 horse and 3650 foot went into the field with his Lordship the rest were placed in severall Forts Castles and Countries for the better preventing of the Rebels joyning together and were so placed that upon little warning many oâ— them might meet with his Lordship now intending to bend all his forces on Tyrons country So being recovered took the field in Iune and marching up to Blackwater to the fittest passage into the heart of Tyrone five miles Eastward from the Fort of Blackwater There was but a small space or skirt of a Wood between our Camp and the River which wood he had cut through the yeere before and there building a bridge over the River and a Fort to safegard it calling it Charlemount he passed to Dungannon six miles distant a plaine open way whence Tyrone making hast away left the Towne and his own house there seated all a fire so his Lordship sending aâ— company before to view it presently marched thither with his army and Tyrone fled as high as the Castle Râ—â— uponâ— be Ban his Lordship sent out Companys to spoyle and forrage as farre as Enâ—â—killin or Lough Erne and taking two of Tyrones chiefe Islands hee marched to Lough-Sidney where he met Sir Arthur Chicester
of the Newry with a thousand two hundred and fifty foot and an hundred and fifty horse The nine and twentieth day his Lordship had notice that Sir Henry Davers had done much damage to Brisan mac Art in killing his men and taking his cattell Many received Pardons and were accepted of because that certaine newes came that the Spanish forces which lay at Lisbone were to come for Ireland So his Lordship disposed of the Companies into Garrisons and Forts neere the enemies Countrey and went with his followers to Dundalke having with him onely three companies of foot and a troop of horse but going towards the North he gathered some forces out of the Garrisons so he went to a Hill neere Blackwater on the Southside making a stand where Tyrone and his horse and foot shewed themselves in a Medow beyond the River with Trumpets and Drums and Colours which they used not to doe before but now only in a bravado Making some shot at us which being at too fat distance fell short without doing any hurt but we having a Rabenet and a Falcon planted on a little Hill made some shot at the Rebels which made them seulke into the Woods like Puppits So that his Lordship sent 300 foot to a Hill close by the waterside and at the evening came and encamped upon it whence he saw Tyrone draw some horse over the water to our side but Sir William Gâ—dâ—lphin went with a troope of horse to meet him but he presently retyred back So we placing the two small pieces charging them with Musket shot drove the Rebels out of the Trenches which they had made beyond the River so that the 300 men passed over the River and possessed them and an adjoyning old Fort with a plain not altogether Musket shot from the Wood where the Rebell was fled and his Lordship seeing the Trenches did admire that they wold take so much pains to make that which they had so little care to keepe so his Lordship went to view a Place in Tyrones Wood who stood looking on us who only made a few shot at our men in their retreat So the sixteenth his Lordship passing over the Blackwater with a Regiment of Irish marched to a place at the left hand of our Campe at the entrance of a great Wood where our men made a stand in a fair green Medow having our Campe not farre behinde them and the Wood at each side and before them in which great multitudes of the Rebels were assembled so that there hapned a great and large skirmish with various accidents sometimes they sometimes wee giving ground for the Lord Deputy drew our forces out of the Campe as he saw the Rebels increase Doctor Latwar his Lordships Chaplaine not content to see this in the Campe went into the Medow to our Colours and was shot so that he died the next day Not one more slain of the English only a Captaines legg broken but 26 of the Irish on our side and 72 hurt such as were kept in pay only that they should not side with the Rebell Among the Rebels Tyrones Secretary and above two hundred Kernes were killed which did much abate their courage and animate our men His Lordship wrote into England complayning of the scarcity of the victuals and that which was being salt fish which as hee said was most unfit for marching was not good nor wholsome His Lordship rising from about Blackwater made another Proclamation for Tyrones head at 1000l and 2000l to bring him alive So hee marched too and fro spoyling and cutting downe all the Corn thereabouts and burning houses in the woods neere where the Rebels lay but would not fight So he returned to the Blackwater and with some choice foot and horse went to view the way to Dungannon Tyron's chief house ten miles distant and setting some to cut down the wood the Rebels sought to hinder them but were beaten back so after we marched six miles to Armagh and three to Rawlaghtany From whence Sir Hen. Davers with 300 foot and 40 horse went to burn some houses that stood in a Fortresse which he performed but the Rebels followed them back even to our Campe into which they poured a Volley of shot and retyred into an adjoyning Fortresse Here the Commissary viewed the Army and found in the List 2950 but by Pole 1728. The fourth day at night the Rebels came with cryes Drums and Bag-pipes as if they would have attempted our Campe And poured into it two or three thousand shot but doing little hurt For his Lordship commanded that none of our men should stirre having lodged in a Trench some 400 shot with command that they should not give fire untill the rebels were neere which doing they put up paid with the shot and sent out lamentable cryes So then his Lordship sent for more forces because hee had intelligence that Tyron's Army was much increased Now there came more certaine newes of the Spaniards comming and of their intention to land at Waterford in respect of the commodious harbour and the peoples good affection unto the Spaniards A speedy supply of a thousand shot was required out of England because Tyrone was growne very strong as appeared by a list given by one that had been lately Tyrones Marshall and now received into favour as followeth Tyrone for his guard 100 horse His sonne Hugh O Neale 100 horse in all 400. His brother Carmack 100 horse in all 400. Art mac Baron 20 horse Phelim O hanlors sonne 10 horse Turlogh Brasils sonne 50 horse Con Tyron's base sonne 20 horse His guard of foot led by James O sheale a Lemster man 200. 400 Led by Jenken Fitz Simon of Lecale 200. 400 Other chiefe Commanders of foot 3260 foot Tot. Horse and Foot 4060. All these except 300 had meanes to keepe themselves and companies in Tyrone and divers of them besides have great forces to keep their owne forces About this time some discourtesies hapned between the Lord Deputy and the Lord President of Munster for that he had made some complaints of the Deputy in England but by perswasion of Secretary Cecil the Lord Presidents great friend they were united as fast as greatnes will permit His Lordship for want of victuall lay about Armagh and the Blackwater Fort Aug. 29. his Lordship came to Trim where the counsell of Dublin met him and from whence September the third they wrote into England in excuse that they had passed the limited summe of 6000 for extraordinaries it being farre too little to compasse so much businesse and provide so many things as was needfull and had not been able out of it to repaire Athlone Castle the Key of Connagh nor divers other Forts and Castles of great consequence Now intelligence came from Secretary Cecill that the Spaniards were discovered about Sylly 45 sayle whereof 17 men of warre and supposed that they would lâ—nd â—t Limrick most of them 100 tun apiece and had six thousand souldiers in them As
called it to answer all alarmes and were exempted from other duties The Horse 857. The Castle Niparke upon a breach made by our cannon yeelded only on condition of saving their lives sixteen being only left in it It stood in an Island beyond the water The Lord President returned with foure Regiments two he carryed out and two met him and comming to the Campe they quartered by themselves on the West side of Kinsale and were commanded by the Earle of Thomand for the Lord President went to the Lord Deputy The Towne with a Demi-Cannon played upon our Admirall and Vice-Admirall in the the harbour of Kinsale And shot them throughout But our Shippe peeces presently dismounted the Demi-cannon and hurt their chiefe Gunner Our battery lay so continually upon the Towne on all sides that did it much offend the enemy within who impatient that we built a fort close to the towne West gate Made a brave sally with 2000 men on our Ordinance on the East side and made most furious assault having brought with them tooles to cloy the Peeces and to dismount them if possible And indevoured to pull downe the Gabions in our trenches and baskets filled with earth for the safegard of our Gunners and Cannoneeres But they found such resistance by the great courage of our men that they were driven to retreate into the Towne leaving above 120 dead in the place and many slaine neere the towne some others taken prisoners But on our side not many hurt two Captaines and one Lievtenant killed Among the Spaniards at their shipping many of them were found to have Spells Characters and hallowed Medalls as preservatives against death A Drumme was sent to offer Don Jean to bury his slaine who returned thankes but withall prayed the Lord Deputie to see them buried promising to doe the like for ours when they fell in his power At this time newes came that sixe Spanish ships were put into Castle-haven neere Baltamore and sixe more were scattered from them by foule weather these six brought two thousand men and many Ordnance and Munition and news that 20000 more were comming Sir Richard Levison getting five or sixe ships out of the harbour of Kinsale got in little time into Castle-haven and and sunke one Spanish ship The Admirall of the Spaniard having 9 Foot water in her hould drave on a rocke and the Vice-Admirall and two others run aground most of the Spaniards quitting them And so our Fleet returned to Kinsale Into which harbour came a Scottish Barke laden with 80 Spaniards who were by the Master put all into the hands of the English so were landed and carryed into the Campe upon whose examination divers discoveries were made that great preparations were made for Ireland and that in Spain they doubted not but that it was taken already Now intelligence came to the Campe that O Donnell was joyned with the Spaniards that landed at Castle-haven that he together with all the forces that Tyrone could make would releeve Kinsale Upon which our Campes did more strongly fortifie and intrench themselves for their owne defence And so had not leasure to follow the batteryes as they had done before because the new supplies were much wasted with hard service and great sicknesse Two small Sconces were built at the West side of the Towne betweene the Earle of Thomands quarter and the water and so cast up trenches from place to place to invest the town to the land and hinder the driving in of the cattell into the town O Donnels forces are said to be 4000. and Tyrones 8000. which are all to joyne with the Spaniards and lye not above sixe miles from our Campe A Letter was intercepted sent to Oneale by the Spanish Generall To the Prince Oneale and Lord O Donnell J Thought your Excellencies would have come at Don Ricardos going since he had order from you to say that upon the Spaniards comming to you from Castle-haven you would doe me that favour And so I beseech you now you will do it and come as speedily and as well appointed as may be for I assure you that the enemy are tyred and very few and they cannot guard the third part of their trenches which shall not availe them for resisting their first fury all is ended The manner of your comming your Excellencies know better there then I to give here for I will give them enough to doe this way being alwayes watching to give the blow all that I can and with some resolution that your Excellency fighting as ye doe alwayes I hope in God the victory shall be ours without doubt because the cause is his And I more desire the victory for the interest of your Excellencie then mine owne And so there is nothing to be done but to bring your squadrons come well appointed and close withall that being mingled with the enemies their forts will doe as much harme to themselves as unto us The Lord keepe your Excell Kinsale Decemb. 18. after the old stile Though you be not well fitted I beseech your Excellen to dislodge and come towards the enemy for expedition imports it is needfull that we all be on horseback at once and the greater hast the better Signed by Don Iean de Aquila This newes made us ply our batteryes the more and the like importunitie made Tyrone advance within a mile of us in the way to Corke But some of our Foot drawing out of the Campe towards him for that time he drew himselfe into the wooâ—s Our Army was but weake at this time many sick and some run away in number 6595. Tyrone often shewed his Horse and Foot on a hill not â—aâ—e off and we had intelligence from one of Tyrones Commanders that both he and the Spaniards resolved to aâ—…t our Campe together on all sides in the night But Tyrones guides missing the way happened to be withâ—â— an houre of day when they were discried in a plain not far from our Campe where Tirrill led the vantgard wherin the Spaniards from Castle haven were Tyrone leading their battell and O Donnell their reare intending to force the great Campe But the Lord Deputy with the Lord President having sate in Counsell all that night drew out some regiments The Marshall Sir Richard Wingfield with 400 horse and Sir Henry Fowers regiment advanced within 20 score of the enemy resolving to give them battell two more regiments being come up which the enemy perceiving retyred over a foard somewhat disorderly and the Marshall seeing it desired leave of the Lord Deputy to fight which being granted to take occasion according to his discretion hee presently marched forward over the foard The enemy still retyring further over the bogge into a plaine hoping to find the bogge some safegard from us But the Marshall with some horse and foot went to the bogge side and gave them occasion of skirmish there their Battalians standing firme on the one side of the bogge and our foot on the other In