taking their Ensignes and no losse of ours p. 51. The wofull extremity of famine after the Towne had been sifted and all possible reliefe neer hand adventured for p. 36. Our reliefe the second time February 20. wherein Gods speciall hand was evident in divers particulars pag. 57. The same day the Rebels beaten off from our wals when they had mounted many of their scaling ladders pag. 59. Divers horrible cruell acts committed upon the English Protestants neer us pag. 20. The killing of three hundred of the Rebels at the bridge of Gillingstone in revenge of the like number of ours at the same place p. 62. The burning of Morlenton and Colpe with divers of the like and routing them on the South side p. 64. March the 5th Their routing on the North side at Tallagh-holland when seven of their Captains with three hundred others were slaine p. â—7 The taking possession of foure of their Castles on each side of the River Of the taking of Atherdee about eight miles from us with the battle there when foure hundred of them were killed p. 74. The admirable providence of God in the quicke taking of Dundalke about 16 miles from us March 26. with which we accounted our Siege fully raised pag. 75. An Appendix of some other occurrences in the prosecution of our victory since which give some light to the former pag. 80. The Names of the severall Captains as they came in for our defence at DROGHEDAH Octob. 26. 1641. THe Lord Viscount Moore of Droghedah with his troope of Horse consisting of sixty six Sir Iohn Nettervill Captain With their two half standing Companies Rockley Captain Seafowle Gibson Captain His Company of the English Inhabitants and other Protestants were to the number of six score Novemb. the fourth 1642. Sir Henry Tichburne Colonell and Governour of the Town his Company of Foot Sir Iohn Borlase Captain These three though having beene before Officers of the field yet out of their zeal to the present service came as private Captains L. Colonel Byron Captain L. Colonell VVenmond Capt. Iacob Lovel Serjeant Major who died in the Siege Captain Chichester Fortescue Captain Will. Willoughby Captain Edw. Billingsley Captain Lewis Owens Captain Iohn Morris The Troops of Horse Iohn Sloughter Captaine Lievtenant to Sir Thomas Lucas Commissary Generall Thomas Greymes Lievtenant to Sir Adam Loftus Novemb. the tenth Captain Henry Bryan Captain Patrick Trevor Captain Foulke Martin November the two and twentieth Christopher Roper Serjeant Major These 3 Captains escaped very defective in their Companies from the defeat at the bridge of Gellingston Captain William Cadowgan Captain Charles Sownsley Fifty Horse under the command of Sir Patrick Weymes Captaine Lievtenant to the Earle of Ormond February the twentieth with our second relief Captain Richard Borrows Captain Edward Trevor Captain William Hamilton When all the aforesaid Captains excepting the Regiment of Sir Henry Tichburne were appointed to be under my Lord Moores command WEE whose names are here underwritten who have been and continued Captains within the Towne of Droghedah during the Siege and so eye-witnesses of most things which have falne out in it Having duly and diligently read over this Book entituled The Siege of Droghedah doe hereby according to the severall times of our comming thither and according to our best remembrance confirme this following Narration to be wholly truth and do testifie it to be in each particular very impartially and fully related As witnesse our hands this 11 of Iune 1642. Seaf Gibson Io. Sloughter Rob. Byron Rich. Borrows Phil. Wenman P. Wemys The Lord Viscount Moore of Droghedah his Confirmation of the truth of this following Narration HOwsoever the knowne integrity of the Authour is a sufficient testimony of it selfe yet having the second time read over this Booke entituled The Siege of Droghedah where I have beene an eye-witnesse of what hath been done from the beginning of it I doe hereby according to the attestation of the six other Captains and in answer to the desire of such as have conceived it necessary confirme this following Relation to be wholly truth and in each particular to be fully and very impartially written onely declining throughout such passages as may concern my self As Witnesse my hand thâ—s 22 of Iune 1642. MOORE THE Siege of Drogheda in IRELAND OR A Relation of such memorable passages as have faln out here and the Townes neere adjoyning from the beginning of this late REBELLION THe 23 of October 1641 was the fatall Day pitched upon by the Papists of this Kingdome of Ireland with one consent for the utter ruine of the Protestants and the true Religion professed by them here and doubtlesse had taken effect accordingly had not the speciall providence of God prevented it in a timely discovery at the root which was to have surprized the Castle of Dublin undertaken by the Lord Mac-Guire and as they say cast upon him by some sacred Lot but that morning he was taken himselfe and committed close prisoner where hee had in his thoughts provided the like lodgings for others The fact was horrid in the ayme desperat in the attempt crafty in the project bloudy in the fruits close in the carriage undiscryed till the very Eye of the morning for execution generall in the extent being a Catholike Cast indeed like those Romanists for the whole Coat of our Saviour at the ruine of the whole State at once This though thus stopped at the head yet wrought not so full a cure but that it broke out in deadly issues through most parts of the Body of the Kingdome into which it is not now my purpose to range leaving it to the severall relations of others The chiefe intent of this discourse is to give thee a true account of what hath fâ—lne out within this besieged Town of Drogheda wherein I have beâ—◠〈◊〉 this â—hole Winter my selfe The news of the foresaid discovery posting from Dublin hither was met with the same night by much of the like Nature out of the North The treaâ—herous surpâ—â—â—all of Castle Blâ—â—y Newry Carrick Charlemom Monahan with others came in thick like Iobs â—essengers one upon another all confidently assured by their Surprizers that Dublin was taken already These reports howsoever credâ—blâ— enough by the conditions of such who were the Actors yet the suddennesse of them bred not at first a full perswasion till wee received a double and treble Confirmation by the flight of many to us stripped and wounded in whom wee began then to apprehend the draught of our owne Picture next but whether by some Skeen abroad or Sword at home or both lay in an even ballance for each man to conjecture Our first succour was my Lord Viscount Moore being then at Mellifont about three miles from us who by the sad news of his sister the Lady Blany and her childrens imprisonment had a warning piece given him of their affection towards himself came with some part of his Troop hither at midnight knockt up the Major
of the flourishing their naked swords on the top of the Castle gave notice of being their owne Upon the possession of this all were revived and tooke themselves Masters of the Towne already we quenched the fires that had annoyed the former Tenants and manned it with thirty good Musquetteeres who being within halfe Musket shot played so thicke into the Towne that not a man could stirre in the streetes we drew up our pieces of Ordnance against the inward Gate and with some ten Wooll packes found in the Castle very opportunely made a kind of a Bullwarke for our Musqueteers both to save them from their Cannon and that they might play over them without danger of any other shot though assoone as they perceived this secure approach they troubled us with neither but left their pieces there loaden Our men for distinction sake against the entry of the Towne put every one a white paper upon his hat The Governour tooke one Division with a party of Horse and drew by the backe part of the Towne towards the North-gate out of which they upon the Castle had discerned the fâ—ight of multitudes of them killed forty in his way Sir Phelemy O Neile who not long before had made such bragges confidently assured his men of the death of so many of our Commanders and as an evidence of it brought forth his owne cloathes into the Market place all bloodyed as if they had beene ours stripped by him now seeing us thus encompassing the Towne and himselfe like to be taken in the net also stole away over the River in which divers in that haste were drowned accompanyed with divers others who as they were going were heard to lament their destiny and curse that Fatall day scarse knowing whither to retreate with any welcome At a by Gate the Governour entered first shortned some of their journey whom he met there posting out and instantly sent a Sergeant to my Lord Moore to signifie to him the Towne was deserted and that he might securely move forwards which as soone as by the second message of a Captaine with some Musqueteers he received a confirmation of he marched on and accordingly found the event beating open the Gates tooke possession of two Brasse pieces and another with the Market place and so about seven a clocke at night they took the Towne without any further resistance The night thus drawing on and the full tyde secured Sir Phelemy in his flight from our prosecution of him The number of the slaine is uncertaine but about a hundred of them were killed at and after the taking of it and of ours about foureteene which were lost upon that unlucky Castle onely Sir Phelemy after he had gone two miles off in a shew of what revenge he could make burnt some part of a faire Castle of my Lord Moores called Bâ—llymaskomlin sentencing him all the while to be a Traytour to God and the King The poore English Protestants to the number of six-score who had received the sentence of death within themselves by this sudden entry of their friends being set at liberty were almost beside themselves for joy Pillage of all sorts was here found in abundance as being of late the Treasury of the County of Lough for the share of which each Captaine tooke the fortune of his Quarter The Souldiers feasted themselves with all sorts of provision which they found dressed to their hands Turkies and Hens were of no value with them that as I have beene told within foure dayes there were about 4000. eaten it was ordinary at one Table to see ten or twenty couple of them in Ranke and File cut off in an instant Sir Henry Tichburne our Governour behaved himselfe throughout the whole very valiantly in the hazard of his person with the meanest Souldier my Lord Moore is accordingly by all applauded as needing rather a bâ—idle then a spurre in those attempts each Captaine hath gained himselfe much honour and every Souldier deserves encouragement who shrunke not an inch from what they were commanded The glad newes of which we were here saluted with in the streetes the next day being Sunday just as we were comming from Church in the afternoone where we had beene praying for that blessing upon them This victory the breaknecke of the Rebellion North-ward and with which I may conclude as compleating our Siege delivery is by all attributed unto Gods owne handy-worke which succeeded beyond our thoughts or expectation The number of our men by the so many staying behind at Atherdee and stealing backe hither with their pillage upon Muster that morning were found to be but seven hundred and fifty Foote and two hundred Horse and there were then neere three thousand of the Rebels within the Towne able to have beate us out being entered For brasse pieces and other such Artillery they exceeded us also besides the defence which nature had given the place as well as industry This poore Towne of Drogheda when they were the besiegers there were as hath beene since confessed by some of their chiefe sixteene thousand sometimes besetting us the famine pressing us very sore so that what with death and sicknesse we had not above one thousand fighting men yet by Gods goodnesse held out foure moneths and notwithstanding the homebred treacheries their mighty onsets and Alarmes at last with a few were routed Now that this strong Towne of Dundalke every way so well provided with men Ammunition and Victuals thus to be taken with such a small number and in so short a time as one day who can but acknowledge it to be Gods speciall worke indeed putting an evident distinction betweene them that seeke him aright and such as seeke after superstitious vanities That seeing they have boasted Religion to be the cause God hath declared by the event with which he is pleased in supporting ours so fraudulently undermined by theirs in giving us so many wonderfull if not miraculous preservations for which to him onely be raised a monument of everlasting praise and thankesgiving from us and ours from one Generation to another Not unto us but to the King eternall immortall invisible and onely wise God be all honour and glory now and for ever Amen AN APPENDIX OF Some other Occurrences fallen out since in the prosecuting of our victory and further discovery of divers particulars touched upon in the former Relation UPon this quick and seasonable regaining of Dundalke the Key of the North the State thought fit to continue Sir Henry Tichburne there with such an encrease of strength as was necessary and committed the present Government of this Towne to the Lord Viscount Moore of Drogheda who as he hath his honour from hence so his Lands lie about it by which double interest none can be imagined to be more carefull of our preservation About this time we received some Prisoners late Inhabitants of this Towne very luckily escaped from the Rebels taken at the Skirries a little before Christmas last upon their
37. pag 86. Denounceth a judgement upon him and his if hee should so much as give any Quarter to the chiefest of us by the warning of Sauls rejection for reserving Agag and Ahabs threatning that his life should goe for dismissing of Benhadad m Cum Turcis Mahumetanis Ethnicis Hebraeis faedus tibi facere Imperator licet ut Deut. 20. 5. Cum civitatibus quae a te valde procul sunt foedus inire poteris c. non autem cum haereticis qui vicini sunt qui pleraque nobiscum habeant communia de his praecepit Deus ut nullum omnino permittes vivere occidatis omnem animam viventem c. pag. 81. 82 83. Gasp Scioppii consiliarii Regii Classicum belli sacri sive Heldus redivivus hoc est ad Carolum qâ—inâ—um Imperatorem suasoria approbat authoritat super ut omne lectiore memoria dignum omnibus perutile With Turks and Heathens hee allows him to make a peace but for us that partake with them in some common principles no plea can be admitted to reprieve us from a present slaughter of old and young not saving alive any that breathes whom els where he terms * Gasp Sciopii Scorpiacum i. e. remedium adversus haereses ab ipsis Protestantibus Scorpionibus petitum Scorpions and therefore to be kild assoon as we are born Which horrid Counsell is justified by n Haeresis cum alte radices egit non nisi ustionibus sectionibus seu bellorum vi impetu ac violentia exsâ—indi debet Praecipitar Deut. 17. ut qui sacerdotis Imperio de Religionis controversiis se non submiserit interficiatur Anâ—mitius tractabimus eos qui corrâ—â—câ—nte Christi Evangelio a Catholica fide deficiunt Quid nos facere convenit nisi ut Zelum imitantes Regum veteris Testamenti eos mature emedio tollamus Hac enim laude Helias Iehu alii celebrantur Non esse crudelitatem occidere Haâ—â—ticos sed pietatem saeva est clementia parcere c. Iâ—aâ— Paul Windeck deliberatio de extirpandis haeresibus Antidot 10. 11. Windeck in the like application and exhorcation to the burning killing and all other violent course of war for our extirpation by the Presidents of zealous Kings and Magistrates in the old Testament whom such as are Christians he saith ought to exceed accordingly as Heresie under the Gospell is the more damnable concluding all clemencie to us to be cruelty and that which might seeme cruelty to be piety This with much of the like is the sentence they have decreed against us in their Schools published in their Books exhorted Princes to in their Doctrines and accordingly made this Kingdom the bloudy stage wherein they have acted it to the full in murthering and drowning without distinction of sex or age Now whether these evill servants may not be justly judged out of their owne mouthes whose Religion hath bin long agon by the Bishops of this Kingdome decreed to be Hereticall and Apostaticall or recompenced according to their own works upon us which have been so horrid and barbarous as all Heathen and Turkish story are to seek for presidents I leave it to your Honorable wisdoms to determine onely I am sure no stricter bonds can be taken of them to secure us for the future then those which they have broken at this present even that treble obligation of nature oaths and favour wherein they are stil supported by their Clergy as if they did God good service And indeed what hopes can there be of peace where a Kingdome is not at one in Religion which as our wofull experience sheweth it so reason is sufficient to evince it and I am willing to give a Iesuite leave to speak it for me o Nulla unquam familia fuit in qua dissentiens Religio pacem non turbavit exemplo sit discordia inter Isaac Ishmaelem inter Iacob Laban inter Mosen uxorem Sephoram quomodo ergo in toto Regno pax concordia sperari potest ubi Religionis fidei fumma est discordia Qui olim conjunctiores quam Judaei Israelitâ—â— At postquam altare contra altare templum contra templum erectum est mox inexplabili dissidio dissecti dissociati sunt Becanus de poems Haereticorum Quaest 6. What family saith he was there ever where a difference in Religion made not a breach see it in Isaac and Ismael Iacob and Laban Moses and his wife Zipporah and if so what concord can be expected in a whole Kingdome where there is much more disagreement who were neerer a kin then Israel and Iudah but assoone as Altar was erected against Altar they were soone divided in an irreconcileable war The argument mee thinks is probable onely let the application bee to themselves and the endeavours to this Honorable Parliament so to fan and throughly purge the floore of this our Church that there be no such Cananites left in the Land to be thorns and pricks in the eâ—es of our posterity hereafter of whose Idolatrous falshood and murderous projects wee in this late besieged Towne of Drogheda so thirsted for by them have had too much experience wherein the service that hath beene performed in the unanimous defence of it by my Lord Viscount Moore whose laborious vigilancy and large expences in the want of supplyes elswhere deserves a speciall remembrance Sir Henry Tichburn our valiant Governour with the rest of our couragious Captains and Commanders may merit a prime place in your honorable favour A Collection of some passages in which being by many desired as seasonable for the present and profitable for the future I have in the midst of other distractions and employments presumed in this rude forme to present to this Honourable House whose paternall bowels wee find already have yearned upon us and in the continuance of whose indulgent care with an Application to his Majestie all our hopes are deposited And I doubt not but this poore and meane offering shall the rather gaine acceptance in that it is derived from such who have these many moneths liv'd the next doore to Martyrdome GOD in his goodnesse prosper all your designes for for the reducing of this Kingdom to due obedience refining and enlarging of our Church and the returning of a more setled peace to this disjoynted Island which must be the daily prayers and is the beliefe of Your Honours most humble and devoted Servant N. BARNARD Droghedah May 25. 1642. To the Reader THou hast here the earnest of a succeeding bloudy History which by some other hand hereafter may be perfected and may well be entitled the Martyrologue of Ireland for the present thou mayst apprehend this Relation as an abridgment of the whole wherein each of their parts have been in some measure acted and by the touch of this pulse onely in this one member thou mayst give the righter judgment of the malignity in the body This town was for a long time
accounted the forlorn hope on both sides upon the successe of which each built their severall issues As often were we buried in the feare of our friends as in the boasts of the Rebels For a while the Southside towards Dublin remayned cleer but Northward we heard of nothing but bloud-shed and desolation in fifty or sixty miles compasse the houses of God were deserted of their Pastor and people and possessed by such as were neither so that we took our selves to be onely reserved either like Iob's Messengers to relate it or like Aaron between the living and the dead to pray for them which as for our selves hath not been in vain for here the plague was stayed And indeed seeing they were so presumptuous as to make Religion the cause we joyned issue with them like Eliiah with the Priests of Baal and God hath answered us from Heaven in accepting our sacrifices and rejecting theirs though they whipt themselves till the bloud gushed out upon them For the subject matter of this Narration believe it to be true mâ—ch I was a witnesse of my selfe the rest I have received from men of trust the whole hath beene viewed by severall of our Captains whose attestation may adde a further strength to thy perswasion and the impartiality of it may be rather credible as being written by him who is without the least relation to any For the style thou mayst accept of it according to the distractions it was accompanied with and the hast I have beene put too by the so many mistakes and falshoods printed by others already wherein my self hath suffered none of the least If thou shalt find the thoughts of these Popish Projectors full of horrid Conspiracies and treacheries their mouthes of falshoods and lyes their hands defiled with bloud and all their paths tracked with Rebellion wonder not at it for t is no new thing under the Sun and hee must needs be a stranger in the World that cannot produce multitudes of the like Presidents before Dost thou finde them in these justified and encouraged by their teachers maâ—vell not neither t is their usuall doctrine lineally descended from their Ancestors of which I might easily present thee with a great bundle On the otherside when thou shalt read of Gods wonderfull preserving so weak a Towne so many moneths besieged by such a multitude in the want of clothes meat and money sixteen thousand one night assaulting us at once or if we may believe their owne List three and twenty thousand who by a few were repuls'd with the losse of many hundred of theirs and of ours not one so much as hurt many Sallies made out by little parties in the face of such great bodies with the like continued successe and that great deliverance of us from five hundred of the chiefest of them having tâ—oâ—sands more attending then at the Gates who by a treachery while we were in our beds had got within our bowels and so continued undescryed an houre or two whose shout of triumph upon the very Key was our first alarum yet by the gleanings of a few were all either slaine or routed and without any considerable losse of ours The twice relieveing us in that extremity of scarcity when by all it was conceived impossible in so sudden and so fitting a wind and tyde in every circumstance appearing to be the very answer of our prayers I say when thou shalt meet with these and divers more of the like nature how easily mayst thou be drawn to confesse as even our Towne papists have beene compelled to themselves that God hath fought for us and declared himselfe to be the Parent of our Religion by his being so tender a Nurse of it Howsoever let the experience of Gods handiwork in so little a modell beget a confidence of much more in preserving the whole Kingdome now so undermined against the gates of all hellish plots whatsoever This or the like frâ—it is aime of this Relation which obtained he hath his full desire who is Thine in him by whom all things consist N. Barnard Authori Lectori Operi VVOrthy Divine which Attribute's as due As my respects almost prescrib'd to you The wonder-working vertue of your pen Buries alive makes the dead live agen Raising the prospect to succeeding age Of Miracles above the Rebels rage When that had swoln so high like the proud Tower No hand could reach it but Diviner power And that by means despic'd supprest it so As confus'd Babel fell or Jericho All times hence learn no force or councell shall Rise against Heaven but for the greater fall When God's the object of a trust the Whale Proves Jonah's bark the Sea poor Jacob's wall Nature submits to him that fram'd it and Means with events are both in his command A carefull eye through all this Story led Will often think it ore unwearied And know the glory of the Authour is This narrative is Truth 's and Time's not his Some of the speciall Passages in this RELATION THe many home-bred Treacheries we were delivered from the first fortnight by Master Lewis Moores vigilancy pag. 1 The coming down of Sir Henry Tichbourns Regiment coldly welcomed by the Towne Papists November 4th pag. 7. The generall Declaration of the Catholikes of Ireland pag. 8. The Rebels plundering my Lord Moores house of Mellifont p. 12. Their many pretended Treaties and presumptuous speeches p. 15. The defeat of 600. of our foot at the bridge of Gillingstowne three miles from us p. 16. The surprisall of a Chester barque at the Skerries with English passengers pag. 17. The Rebels burning all our Corne and Hay neere us p. 17. A skirmish at the Green hills not halse a mile from us where an hundred of them were slaine p. 19. A Dominican Fryar sent from them to demaund the surrender of this Towne p. 21. The Oath taken by the Papists of this Kingdome as it was delivered us by the said Fryar p. 22 The Protestation of the Governours and Captains of Drogheda for the keeping of the Town with an Oath taken by them and offered to the Aldermen and others but refused p. 23. The generall Onset by sixteene thousand December 20. when not a man of ours was so much as hurt pag. 25. The Motives moving the Catholicks to take Armes pag. 23. A treacherous plot by the opportunity of a great Ice prevented p. 34. A skirmish January 7. when an hundred of the Rebels were killed and about an hundred forced into the River with divers the like p. 35. The miserable scarcity of victuals growing upon us Our welcome reliefe January 11. by Captaine Stutfield pag. 37. The wonderfull preservation of us from the Invasion of five hundred of them January 12. p. 38. The Pinnace in her returne running aground desperately attempted by the Rebels p. 42. Two bragging Letters one of Sir Philem O Neals and another of Colonell Plunkets p. 45. Divers Sallies made out to get in forrage to the death of multitudes of the Rebels
in the Country is fled leaving his Wife and Family with about fifty Musketteeres to defend it This howsoever the first time it was denyed my Lord Moore and the Governour as it had beene before to my Lord of Ormond who demanded the surrender of it in the Kings name yet the second time hearing of our pieces of battery approaching gave it up upon Composition and so we have a Garrison there also by which our Towne is securely Flanked on both sides the River After this by the escaping of many poore English from their servitude we had evident assurances of the treacherous messages and plots of our Popish Inhabitants for the betraying this Towne unto them some who never were here before could name us the men describe â—he places by the nearenesse to such a Tower designe the time all which agreeing with our former informations and suspition was a sure testimony How many Letters in the midst of these forlorne hopes have I yet seene of theirs in a vaine comforting themselves with an assurance to use their owne words that the Almighty would doubtlesse favour their just and innocent cause and their holy intentions Another I have seene of O Relies to my Lord Moore that he had no newes but that powder was in making every where to use his owne words thankes be to God and our good King c. But we knew at the same time he was falne sicke upon the newes of Sir Phelemies late routing at Tallagh-hallan To relate what a change presently there was in this Towne from that extremity of scarcenesse and deernesse to what a plenty and cheapnesse things were come would be incredible egges which during this Siege one was a rich present worthy of thankes from the chiefest were now fifteene a penny Hens at two pence milch Cowes at five shillings Horses which before the Siege were rated at three or foure pounds sold for twelve pence nay commonly passed among friends for a quart of Beere The finest Wheate in the Market for eight shillings a Barrell Fish to which we had beene altogether strangers multiplyed abundantly though such a glut in reason cannot be imagined to hold many moneths by the burning so many thousand barrels of Corne further from us which they could not bring in Many bloody murthers were committed upon the English Protestants in revenge of this late defeate At Atherdee they killed all that were remaining there the next night neere Slane an old Gentlewoman with her Daughter and Grandchilde had their throates cut in their beds in divers other places they drowned Men Women and Children The Earle of Ormond Lieutenant Generall was now not farre from us with 3000. Foote and 500. Horse burning the County of Meath and on the eleventh of March attended with divers Colonels and Captaines did us the honour of a visit and dined herewith my Lord Moore at Droghedah who began to recover some competent ability of giving such a troope some entertainement Many at the sight of the weakenesse of our Wals fell into admiration of the possibility of our holding out so long against such a multitude His Lordships intention of being the raiser of our Siege thus unexpectedly prevented God giving that honour before his approach to the feeble strength of the besieged yet was very zealous to take the faire opportunity now given him of the full routing of the Rebels so newly disperst by a present quicke prosecution of them before they could get any head againe Which by my Lord Moore and Sir Henry Tichborne our Governours relation finding very seasonable and of little difficulty called a Councell of Warre viz. the Lord Moore and our Governour Sir Thomas Lucas Sir Simon Harcourt Sir Robert Ferrald with others These upon mature deliberation finding good grounds to consent with his Lordship and conceiving great hopes of a good and speedy successe even to the clearing of those Northerne parts wrote to the Lords Justices very earnestly to enlarge his Lordships Commission which before was so straitned that in the literall sense it could scarce stand with a liberty of relieving us if there had beene need being commanded not to passe over the River of the Boyne beyond which the greater part of our Towne is seated alledging many reasons to enforce it preventing an Objection in the want of victuals by a provision undertaken by my Lord Moore from his owne Lands neere adjoyning And indeed such a confidence was apprehended of prevailing in this motion that our Governour had picked out tenne Companies of our best men fittest for that service and my Lord of Ormond designed the like number of lesse experienced Souldiers for our guard in their roome my Lord Moore as the best guide in those parts and Lieutenant Colonell Weyneman chosen by the said Councell of Warre to be Commanders of them All were ready for their march and appointed to meete his Lordship at Slane five miles off But the Lords Justices proving still constant to their former injunction and renewing a stricter command for his present retreate to Dublin that designe so desired by our Governour as an assured meanes of an instant reducing the whole County of Louth was put to a stand and thereupon our scattered rebellious route who before were in a trembling fit now tooke heart againe and gathered at Atherdee and Dondalke whither as we heard daily posted thousands out of Meath and Louth as to their safest receptacles and presumed not long after to threaten us with another visit The Earle of Ormond submitting in this to the wisdome of the State as presuming some other important affaires were in hand which might justly necessitate that command retreated accordingly onely in answer to our Governours request sent him backe foure companies of Foote and two troopes of Horse with two pieces of Battery Upon the receipt of which my Lord Moore and our Governour who in all things have proceeded very unanimously for the prevention of a further multiplication of Rebels which a longer delay might have produced resolved to adventure upon the same Designe themselves which they were willing others might have beene honoured with and so upon the one and twentieth of March with one thousand Foote and two hundred horse they marched that way ward first finished what they had left undone at Slane in burning the Towne and some villages in the way In the Castle there was returned againe a Garrison of twelve men who by the presumption of the strength of it had a good minde to hold out but assoone as they saw our pieces of battery yeelded and had quarter onely one of our Souldiers formerly runne away from us there taken was hanged about three miles off some bodies of the Rebels appearing a party of Horse was sent out killed forty of them and so pursued them till the rest were employed in burning the Country after them and so continued that day and the next The three and twentieth day of March they marched with fire and smoke towards Aâ—herdee about a
drove of Cattell fired thirty or forty of their lodgings and all without the hurt of one man As at Dundalke to whom we still beare an affectionate relation the like we heare of daily very usually thus giving notice one to another by such kinde of fires like Beacons on the tops of hils against a common enemy Much of the like good service is daily done by our Garrisons especially by my Lord Moores foote company at Mellifont under the command of Captaine Constable and at Bewly by some of Captaine Gibsons company under the command of Lieutenant Greeneham who let few dayes passe without reaping some of the Rebels heads Many who were taken Prisoners were so desperate that being threatned to be hanged made such haste that they took ropes hung themselves or being upon the Ladder threw themselves off Not long agone Sir Henry Tichburne went with a party about foure miles from thence encompassed a Wood where he was told Coll. Mac Bryan had lodged with some hundreds of his men the night before killed about one hundred and fifty burnt the Countrey neere and without any dammage March the 25. my Lord Moore being certified of 1300. gathered to the Naâ—â—â—n under the Lord Gormansâ—ownes command and there fortifying the Towne tenne miles from us marched very early with two hundred horse and some Dragoneers and Musquetteers mounted on Garrons for the quicker march onely to take a view of their strength tooke a Scoute with the Lord Gormanstownes owne saddle-horse drew up to the Gates within halfe Pistoll shot killed twenty of them fired the Countrey under their noses and all the way hitherwards returned with abundance of Cowes and sixe hundred Sheepe and yet those who boast so much of the cause of God and Religion and take themselves to die in the happiest estate of Martyrdome had not so much faith or courage to make out upon us and for many that had adventured out elsewhere were found by some Charmes * It is certaine that at the taking of the Newry a Rebell being appointed to be shot upon the Bridge and stript staâ—k naked notwithstanding the Musquetteer stood within two yards of him and shot him in the middle of the backe yet the Bullet entâ—ed not nor did him any more hurt then leave a little blacke spot behinde it This many hundreds were eye-witnesses of one of which of good trust hath related it to me Divers of the like have I beene confidently assured of who have beene provided of such diabolicall charmes as follow thrust-free as they call it who being knockt downe the point of a sword put upon their naked breasts it could not be made to enter or draw the least bloud which howsoever I was alwayes slow of beleeving such fables yet hearing it so often protested unto me by some Officers upon their owne experiâ—nce I could not but listen to it And for paper Charmes their Religion yeelds plenty of that fruit and commends the confidence in them as great evidences of devotion some of which have come to my hands one being lately taken with some of those Rebels at Dundalke and given me I have here inserted the true Copie of though I beleeve it deceived him who put his trust in it and by the lookes it seemed to have beene much worne in the carriage JESVS MARIA ✚ â–¿ This is the measure of the wound of the side of our Lord Jesus Christ which was brought from Constantinople unto the Emperour Charles within a Chest of Gold as a Relique most precious to that effect that no envie might him take and it hath such vertue that hee or shee that shall readit or heare it read or will beare it about them that neither Fire Water Tempest Knife Launce Sword neither yet the Devill shall hurt them And also any woman with child the day that shee seeth the said measure of the wound of our Lord shee shall not die any sudden death in the time of her burthen but shall be delivered with lesse paine and whatsoever they be that desire this about them in the way of Devotion they shall not die any sudden death and by the fight of meditation on this wound they shall gaine victory over their enemies and further care shall not dammage them and moreover the day that he or shee shall read it or heare it read they shall not die any evill death And having thus stumbled upon these delusions I shall give thee a view of one or two more taken at the same place both as the former delivered me by one of their owne profession IHS The measure of our Blessed Ladies Foote Whosoever shall kisse it three times and say three Ave maries devoutly in honour and reverence of her gaineth seventy yeares of pardon and be delivered of many perils Indulgences granted to the sacred graine of Saint Joan being a name of the third order of our blessed Father Saint Frances and was a most godly and vertuous Abbesse you must make no small account of them for the Pope did grant very many Indulgences unto them and to other graines and medals They containe the vertue of that graine carried by the Angel-keeper of Saint Joan unto Heaven as hereafter you shall note by the testimony of our Saviour They have speciall power against Devils for they are forced to flie out of the bodies of men and whosoever carrieth the said graine about him needs not to feare no evill They containe a most powerfull vertue against Wild-fire against the tempest of the Sea and against all manner of infirmities incident to the soule and the body of man and especially against the Feaver Pestilence the Scabbe the tentation of the Devill and of Heresies for they have the vertue of the Agnus Dei. These ensuing Indulgences were granted to these blessed graines by our Saviour and our blessed Lady by the intercession of Saint Joan who did impart the same unto the rest of her Sisters at the houre of her death First say one Pater noster and one Ave Maria and you merit as many Indulgences as Rome affords that day After your Confession and Remission say tenne Pater nosters and tenne Ave Marias in remembrance of the most precious bloud of our Saviour and you are as innocent from sinne as when you came out of the Stone i. e. the Font and if you say them for any soule in Purgatory his sinnes are forgiven him Our holy Father Pope Adrian the third and Pope Gregory the seventh did grant unto the graine these Indulgences following Say one Pater noster one Ave Maria Anima Chri. and Sal. Regina you redeeme three soules out of Purgatory say the prayer of the Crosse with one Creed and you bring a soule out of Purgatory say two Creeds when the Priest knocketh his brest at Masse and you bring a soule out of Purgatory Adore the Crucifix thirty three times and you get remission of sinnes to thirty three soules say the Creed thirty three times and you merit