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
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
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
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
very many Civilities At my return being five or six days after I found the place yielded and the Garison Marching out After which being Encamped at Tallow Intelligence was brought that Colonel Mac William Ridgeway was gone from Cork into the County of Limbrick with a great Party of Horse and some Foot I Marched immediately with all my Horse and fifteen hundred Foot straight for Cork Coming near I left the Foot to make good my Retreat About an hour in the night I arrived near the Gates and put my self on the way to Malloe by which Mac William was to return and gently Marching met some of the Enemy They being charged made no resistance but the night being extremely dark scattered So little execution could be done upon them though some were killed and others taken In this blind Scuffel Captain James Brown Brother to Sir Valentine Brown a brave Gentleman was slain By the Prisoners we found that their Commander Mac William Ridgeway had been killed that day shot out of a Castle in Roches Country Which way they had taken to return with the Body we could not find We marched a little forwards but it being so dark that nothing could be done I return'd with my Party to Tallow and March'd the Army towards Youghal All Castles on the way submitted on easie Terms I will only take notice of one because of the accident though I have forgotten the name of the place I remember it was a Castle that yielded early in the morning without resistance Now presently after the yielding of it the Weather being very fair I went a Hunting leaving Colonel Henesey to see the Quarter made good which was to March with their Arms bag and baggage But the Soldiers having been used to taking of places by strong hand and so enriching themselves by Plunder would have done the like by this though it had Conditions To prevent any such matter the Colonel and several Officers went into the Castle joyning with the Garison in its defence But the Foot nevertheless fell on and great shooting there was on all sides Which I hearing returned in hast thinking my Lord of Inchiquin had attempted something The Soldiers seeing me come sooner than they expected ran all into the Woods adjoyning When I came to the Castle and Colonel Henesey had related the matter I made the Garison March out according to their Conditions Then I began to enquire after my Mutineers causing the Trumpets to sound and Drums to beat for drawing all to their Arms. Some time it was before these Gentlemen could be gotten together Being now in order of a Battel both Horse and Foot I went from Battallion to Battallion telling them their Fault and what the consequence might have been and concluded that they all merited Death Which they acknowledging I added that some Justice must be done and asked them whether they were contented for examples sake to deliver two out of each Battallion as it should fall amongst them by Lots They agreed But when they came to be Shot I thought the number too great and made them throw again for two only which Suffered Being come before Youghal I Encamped loosly thinking to distress the place and towards the Sea near Crokers works I sent Major General Butler with fifteen hundred men and some small pieces to hinder Succour that might come by Sea Whilst this was doing I in a night with a Party and two peices of Cannon past the Black Water at Temple Michael and before day had my two Guns planted at the Ferry point over against Youghal and within less than Musquet-shot of two Parliament Frigats At the second shot one blew up But the Town endeavouring to requite my Kindness in a morning fell on Major General Butler and took one of his Guns Soon after this came a Fleet of Boats and bigger Vessels sent by my Lord of Inchiqnin from Cork with supplies of Men and Provision and succosred the Town On which I March'd off and Trisâ—led out the remain of the Campagne in destroying the Harvest Only a Party of my men attempted to plunder the Great Island near Barries Court But being ill guided in Passing and the Sea Coming in sooner than they counted their design failed Besides there were of the Enemy that opposed their coming on the firm Land Captain Turlough Obryan was killed by a loose shot out of a Castle in the Island Now it being the latter end of November the Snow falling I retired to Capper-Quin And Commissioners being come to lay out Winter Quarters for the Army I left it and repaired to Kilkenny Thus ended my Mounster expedition and the last that I served under the Confederate Catholicks Whose Kindness and Confidence in me I shall never forget but acknowledge it where ever I am SECT VI. The Peace of 46. Proclaimed Lord Lieutenant comes to Kilkenny That Peace opposed at Waterford Limmerick c. Lord Castlehaven sent to the Nuncio but in vain He advises the Lord Lieutenant to March back to Dublin with all speed waits on his Excellency all along and carries the Sword before him through that City The Nuncio Marckes with two Armies to Besiege it but comes short of his expectation Lord Lieutenant Treats and concludes with the Parliament Commissioners Castlehaven goes for France Lord Lieutenant's admirable steddiness and most loyal constancy He departs for England thence a little after to Paris Glamorgan's Peace discover'd but not allowed by Him The breach of the 46 Peace how fatal SInce the Cessation there was always a Treaty of Peace held on with the Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant and after many Obstructions at length concluded since called the Peace of 46. Which being Proclaimed both at Dublin and Kilkenny his Excellency came to this Town accompanied with many Noble men and others with twelve hundred Foot and two hundred Horse The Supream Council received him with all due respect and surrendred their Government to him But this Sun-shine lasted not long The News was brought that those of Limbrick had rejected the Peace declaring for the Popes Nuncio and had stoned the King at Arms going to Proclaim it Clonmel shut their Gates on the same Score General Owen Roe O Neal being proud by a late Victory he had gained over the Scots in Vlster declared also for the Popes Nuncio Preston General of Leinster being at Birrh in the Kings County lookt very cloudily yet had Correspondence with my Lord Lieutenant but withal excusing his atendance on pretence of some Indisposition The Popes Nuncio Joannes Baptista Rinuccini Archbishop and Prince of Fermo being at Waterford in the head of a great Congregation of Archbishops Bishops and other Clergy men Secular and Regular and having by his Excommunications thus broken us the Lord Lieutenant by the advice of the Commissioners of Trust sent me to trie if I could persuade him to let the Peace go on But all I could do was in vain he declaring his Resolution to oppose it to the utmost For
my March was soon given to Sir Hardress Waller or my Lord Brochil or both lying near Kilmallock with great Forces They pursued me and I coming to our appointed Rendevous no news there was of the fifteen hundred Foot Having lost this Anchor I was put to my Wits ends But not having much time to think the Enemy coming on I resolved to thrust into the next Fastness and save my self as well as I could But there was a Castle of the O-Machers that stood in the way possest by the Enemy And there being no other passage I sent to the adjacent Villages and got together Crows of Iron Pickaxes and what else that could be found necessary and making my Horse-men to alight I fell a Storming the Castle Which with the Assistance of the Limbrick Foot in three or four hours time was yielded I left my hundred men in this place to secure the Pass Now being pretty safe I lodg'd that night at my ease where Collonel Fitz Patrick came to me who had for some time kept in those Fastnesses with a good Party of Foot and some Horse My men being well refreshed I took the plain Countrey near Burras and after entring the Woods at the foot of the Mountain Sleau Bleauma I met Sir Walter Dungan then Commissary General of the Horse as was Ordered He brought with him only three hundred Horse but I finding my self still pursued with Horse and Foot besides what were gathering round on all sides I took leave of Sir Walter ordering him to return from whence he came and to stop all Forces that I had sent for as well from Vlster as Leinster So I with my thousand Horse marched into Conaught passing by the Bridge of Athlone Being there I posted to Loghreah where my Lord Deputy was with a General Assembly sitting in his House I coming into his Chamber found with him about a dozen principal men of the Assembly deputed to him setting forth the desperate Estate of the Nation with the impossibility much farther to hold out Besides that there were now come to the Town Mr. John Grace and Mr. John Bryan Commissioners from the Parliament or their Commander in Chief offering greater Conditions than was reasonably to be expected as the case stood Whilst this Address was making my Lord was glad to see me come in and ordered them to repeat what they had said I seemed much scandalized at the ill timing of their Proposals and therefore presently declared my dislike to it Then by my Lords permission weary and dirty as I was I went down into the Assembly as a Peer being a Member and exprest my detestation of what they had in hand demonstrating that if those fifteen hundred men commanded by one Collonel Burk had not failed I had probably now been Master of the Field besides that the noise of a Treaty might destroy all what could be hoped for of good from the Kings Endeavours against Cromwel that His Majesty as his own Letters spoke both to my Lord Deputy and my self made no doubt if he could gain fourty eight hours march before Cromwel towards England his business was done because all were ready there to joyn in assisting him And that he therefore conjured us not to hearken to any Treaty with the Enemy Then I set forth the state of the Forces of the Kingdom on all sides and concluded very severely against the two Parliament Commissioners So that they hastily packt out of Town and the Assembly let the matter fall Reynolds now besieged Tecrohan in Meath and my Lord Deputy came to Tyrrels Pace about twelve miles from it with two thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse A Councel of War being held I proposed that our Horse should alarm the Enemy whilst the Foot attempted to succour the Place taking their March through the Bogs 'T was alledged by all impossible to be done For coming near the place there were two necks of Land that did almost meet and that between them there was a great Way or Tougher with a large Ditch of Water on each side which must be ccossed and that in all likely hood the Enemy would plant their Guns on the firm Land at both ends of this Tougher and bring the strength of their Army to defend that Passage there being no other way seeing we had not force to attempt them on the firm Land I heard all this and knew it well yet did not agree to the Impossibility of entring the place Then addressing my self to the Deputy I begged pardon if I guessed at the thoughts of the Officers present which was that I being General of the Horse might well advance this Undertaking For I was to be with the Horse and so to have no share in this Danger But to shew them the contrary I desired his Excellency to give me the Command of this party of Foot which he did and himself to march with the Horse to alarm the Enemy on another side It being thus determined I entred the Bog which was eight miles long with my two thousand Foot and his Excellency took his March as was agreed Coming in sight of this Tougher I found the Enemy expecting as we had supposed for they saw me Marching from the first entring into the Bog I then put my men into the best Order I could in three Divisions two to attempt passing the Tougher the third to stand still faceing two or three Battallions that were drawn on my right hand fearing they would fall on my Flank or Rear I March'd on with my two Divisions Coming within Shot they raked me with their Cannon and great Volleys of small Shot But I advanced still and my men fought it on the Tougher with handy blows making those that Defended it retire to their Horse which stood drawn up at each end of the Tougher or firm Land Seeing this go so well I look'd back and saw my third Division which was to stand still coming after me I ran to it crying to the Officer that Commanded to attack the Battallions which he was commanded to look after on this he turned to his men and spake something in Irish that I do not know and March'd two or three hundred Paces in such a fashion that I could not tell whether he intended Fighting or Running away But coming to the Point where he must declare he plainly run away and all his Party followed him which when the two Divisions that had passed the Tougher saw they Marched on into the Place and I was left alone only some Gentlemen with me and by the favour of the night for now it began to be dark I got off and by the next morning returned to Terrils Pace where I had left my Lord Deputy who had all the Story before my coming and sending out took this Captain that had caused this Disorder who by a Council of War being condemned was shot to Death His name was Fox After this Ireton was not idle knowing our weakness too well and that
went to my Lord Lieutenant in the County of Clare Where I rendred him an account how I had been failed to the end he might do as he thought fit SECT IX Made Commander in Chief of Mounster and Limbrick receiving him Ireton raises his Siege that night Transports 2000 men by Boats into Kerry Persuades Clanrickard to accept of the Government Sends Orders to the several Provinces which are not obeyed Passes with 1000 Horse through Limbrick to the Silver Mines and how this design failed Hinders the General Assembly from Agreeing with the Parliament Relieves Tecrochan and Fox hang'd Ireton sitting down again before Limmerick he defends the Pass at Killaloe Sent for to Galway hinders the agreement with the Duke of Lorrain Return'd to Killaloe receives Letters from Ireton and answers them but is betray'd at Bryan's Bridge by Captain Kelly and at Killaloe by Colonel Fennel Athlone given up and Galway besieged he is sent from Clanrickard to the King The Kings Answer and Orders to Clanrickard On which Castlehaven takes Service under the Prince of Conde Reflections I Had not been long there attending his Excellency before Ireton sate down before Limbrick on the County of Limbrick side leaving Tomond's side open His Excellency repaired thither and being come near the end of the Bridge sent to the Mayor to let him know that he was there with some Troops and ready to enter with them for the defence of the place The Mayor having consulted his Brethren made excuse as if they had no need of relief Several Messages pass to and fro till at length his Excellency losing all patience declared unto them that if they would not receive and obey him he would leave the Kingdom All would not do And so turning aside he called me to him and told me that he was in good earnest and would be gone but Commanded me to stay and keep up a Bussel as long as I could it being the Kings Service I was very unwilling to remain behind seeing he took with him my Lord of Inchiquin my Lord Taaf Colonel Daniel O Neal and other his friends But the sound of the Kings Service so Charmed me that I abandon'd my own Judgment and submitted to what his Excellency should Order He then gave me a Commission to be Commander in chief of the Province of Mounster and the County of Clare having before that of Leinster Thus qualified together with my being General of the Horse of the Kingdom his Excellency gave me Possession of his Troops there standing in their Arms together with his Life-Guard to serve me as they had done him and as I counted they were in all about two Thousand Foot and a Thousand Horse His Excellency for my better encouragement assured me that he would leave a Commission for my Lord of Clanrickard to be Lord Deputy Now my Lord being gone and not suffering me to accompany him more than a Mile I went into the Town addressing to the Mayor and Aldermen I told them how I was left and ask'd them whether they were pleased with it and would obey me They took no long time to consult but submitted themselves to my pleasure On which I immediately visited their Walls and at the same time took a view of the Enemy whom I judged to be very loose and exposed if vigorously assaulted On which I resolved in the first of the night to draw my Troops into the Town and a little before day to make a sharp Sally On what Intelligence I know not but Ireton raised his Siege and marched off in the night This done I returned my Troops to their Quarters and remained my self in the Town till I had sent my Orders to all Officers commanding in the several Provinces and particularly to my Lord of Muskry then in Kerry ordering him to make himself so strong as he could and that I would soon be with him to encrease his Forces Which I performed passing the Shanon about twelve miles below Limbrick with two thousand men And though the River was full of Parliament Ships and two miles over yet I had not the least loss 'T is true I took the night and landing in Kerry near Drombeg I marcht till I came to my Lord of Muskry at Tralie Having acquainted him with what had past and ordered what I would have done particularly in raising of Forces I left my men with him and returned to Iniss my Residence in the County of Clare Where being come and a little refresh'd I went to Portumne to visit the Marquess of Clanrickard and came there before Dinner He bad me very Welcome After Dinner I desired to retire my self for an hour or two He brought me to my Chamber and asked Whether it would not be troublesome that he took a Pipe of Tobacco by me I said no but the contrary yet shewed my self melancholy He did what he could to divert it but I pretended withal not to be very well and spake to a Servant of his that stood at the Door to bring me a Glass of Sack My Lord was much pleased with that and called for a Bottle Now my Point was to get him to take the Government by accepting the Commission left by my Lord Lieutenant yet I speak nothing of it hoping he would begin which he did The passages on this subject are too long to relate here But before we parted I got him to send to the Commissioners of Trust these were men named by the Confederates and agreed to by my Lord of Ormond to see the performance of the Articles of Peace then sitting at Loghreah requiring them to send him his Commission for he would take upon him the Government And to lose no time I gave him the best account I could of the Forces in the Kingdom as well Friends as Foes For he during the War had been no more than a Spectator beloved and respected of all and might have so continued had not his great Loyalty drawn him to take up this Commission which was little less than to Sacrifice himself and his only to give the King time to trie his fortune with Cromwell their Armies being near Sterling in Scotland Encamped near together as the Kings Letters to us imported brought by Deane King an Express newly come We agreed at this meeting that his Lordship should immediately raise a thousand Horse as an addition to the Standing Forces of Conaught and that I should march with my thousand Horse out of the County of Clare to the Silver Mines in the County of Tipperary passing through Limbrick in the night and be at such a day and hour at the Rendevous and there I should meet fifteen hundred Foot that he would send with a good Officer His Part was little more than crossing the Shanon at his door and marching four or five miles no Enemy in those Parts I complied punctually with my Order and the Mayor of Limbrick as I marched through the City on demand gave me a hundred Foot The Alarm of
Lord of Ormond I delivered my Letters of Credit and in a day or two had my Audience They seemed to take it to heart and Consulted Cardinal Mazerine and the chief Ministers But the truth of it is that the King of France's Affairs were at that time so much in disorder by reason of the Civil War that nothing could be done Having this Answer the King gave me a Letter to my Lord Deputy acknowledging his good Service ordering him that he should make the best conditions for himself and Party that he could and expect a better season Having thus discharged my Commission I dismiss'd my Frigate and with the Kings permission engaged my self in the Service of the Prince of Conde who was then joyned with the Spaniard But first I sent by a safe hand his Majesties Letter away to my good Lord of Clanrickard Of whom I have said so much already that I need add nothing but my own esteem for his worthy Memory as a pattern of Loyalty Between my leaving him and his laying down Arms I can give no account but have heard that he was driven to great extremity SECT X. Some few Reflections more of Castlehaven on himself And the last of all is an acknowledgment of a most extraordinary favour of God to him ANd so I have done my Story And you find by these Memoir's that no man could arrive to greater Trust and Credit than I had amongst the Irish though the War till the Peace of Forty Six was almost National And then they made me what they could by naming me to remain General of the Horse of the Kingdom in the Kings Service Which was a Right left to them by that Peace It remains now that I give those few Reflections more upon my self which may let the Reader know to what next God's blessing I impute that esteem and fortune I had among the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland In my beginning I was a great Partyman But considering my self and Soldiers but young beginners I meddled with nothing that was not almost sure remembring that young Hawks must be entred on weak game Having Marshal-law it was certain Death to take from any of our Friends the worth of a Hen. But withal I had care that my Soldiers should not want If any thing happen'd of that kind I sent out a Party with a sure Officer to bring in so many Beefs and at his return to tell me where he took ' em Then I issued my Order to the Commissioners to applot on the County or Barony from whence the cattle came their value and immediately to satisfie the Owners which was always allowed out of their Contributions This I held constantly during the War An other of my Rules no less punctually observed was That if by accident any want fell out to be in the Army I kept no Table and eat no better than the Soldiers did Though otherwise I did generally keep a good Table and my Officers were welcome to me I never took the worth of a crown for my self either from Country-man Officer or Soldier but lived still upon my bare Pay Though the Council never stinted me but left me at liberty to take besides what I should think fit out of the Treasure that commonly March'd along with the Army and was disposed of by my Orders I was a good Providore and had my Magazines well furnished and seated as I was to make the War For men eat every day but Fight seldom My Soldiers I called my Children and really had a Fatherly love and care for them And they by their duty bravery and affection made me a full return I punisht severely which made my Orders to be well observ'd and rewarded bountifully according to my power If an Officer or Soldier had done a brave Action I treated the Officer some days at my Table and took all occasions by talking to improve his glory and seldom either Officer or Soldier went without advancement or other reward I made it my business always to March and Encamp so as not to be engag'd to Fight without an enemy would come on great disadvantage My Intelligence and Spies cost me very dear But I had good Whenever I Fought or had a mind to Fight coming in view of the Enemy and being in order of Battle I rode to all the Battallions and Squadrons to observe their looks And then with a cheerful countenance acquainting them them truly with what I knew of the Enemy and our Condition I told them my own opinion for Fighting and if they liked it I would go on otherwise not This I did to engage them in judgment as well as duty I made it my business to get my Troops good Winter-Quarters But during the Field I was very strict in my Musters And ever and anon being not in danger of an Enemy I made the Battallions and Squadrons March by Companies that I might know their number just For a General will be cozen'd if he brings his men to Fight on sworn Relations I suffer'd no Officer to take from a Soldier the worth of a penny I do not remember that during the time I serv'd the Consederate Catholicks they ever gave me any Instructions what I should do but left all to my self Which made their business go the better I shall now conclude these Reflections with the greatest Reflection of all which is on my infinite obligation to Almighty God who hath so protected me that to this hour neither in those Wars of Ireland or any other that I have been in since either Army or Party of Army great or small was ever beaten so by an Enemy as to lose their ground to the end of the Fight where I Commanded in Chief FINIS