universall a fault that it was hard to discover who deserved punishmēt most harder to find a Court of warr to censure them Dureing this short residence at Kilkeny His Ex. cy haveing taken order with the Lord Inchiquin to bring up what forces he could possibly make and with the Commissioners for the recruteing drawing together arming their dispersed forces assoon as could be to the end they might be sent after him who speeds away himselfe in the company only of 20 or 30 horse towards Trim and Drogheda as the places both nearest the enemies attempts and likeliest to totter backe if not secured in time at Tecroghan a house of Sr. Luke Fitzgarretts he makes a stay till those severall bodies that he then expected were com up and upon notice of their coming removes to Trim where he meets with newes of Jones his being before Drogheda who soon after upon intelligence that my Lord Leiut. was at Trim and suposeing his forces to be greater then indeed they were drew of in the night returned Imediatly to Dublin The next day His Ex cy went through to Drogheda where a party of the Scotch horse and foot under the Command of the Lord of Ards and the Lord Clanbrazill Came up unto him but whilst they are consulting what to do they receive assurance of Cromwells landing with very considerable forces Wherupon concludeing that towne necessary to be kept to entertaine the enemy before whilst they made up their army as they hoped to do very considerably soone enough to come to the releife of the place of which if they should faile no question was made but after the gaining of time which was then pretious they in the town should be able to make honorable conditions for themselves whilst Cromwell is refreshing his own men in Dublin and reducing Jones's there is put into Drogheda a garrison of 2500 foot and 300 horse which was thought sufficient so having furnisht it with provisions as well as that short time would give them leave His Ex cy commits the charge of that place to Sr. Arthur Aston as a person whose experience courage approued fidelity did worthily deserve the highest trust These things thus ordered His Ex cy returnes to Trim and from thence he dispatched away Co ll Daniell O Neale then Governor of that place with a Commission to set on foot the treaty againe with Owen O Neale if it were possible to endeavour the reduceing of the Vlster army even upon any conditions a person esteemed by all best qualified for that imployment as well in regard of his singular abillitye and approued fidelitie to the King as the great interest he was supposed to have in his Unckle who managed the busines with that dexteritye as he won his Unckle to harken againe unto an agreement wherupon Sr. Richard Barnewell and Sr. Nicholas Plunkett are sent after to make an absolute conclusion with him though by the way this may not be unworthy of observation that those persons who were formerly most opposit to this agreement were now become the greatest sticklers to promote it with His Ex cy being growne sencible of the imminent and aproaching danger that now threatned them Tecroghan is the next stage His Ex cy removes unto where I had the honor first to kisse his hand after my arrivall in Ireland here he makes a stand as being the most opportune place to draw his army together in and lyeing most convenient after that was don to releive Drogheda or make any other attempt upon the enemy Where besids the remains of the Irish army already som what recruited there joyned unto him a good regiment of my Lord Marquess of Clanricards of above 1000 foot together vvith 300 horse likevvise that party of the Scots before mentioned Sr. Thomas Armstrong and Co ll Treuors together vvith vvhat forces my Lord Inchiquin could bring out of his precincts these being got together and daily additions being still expected to the making them up a more considerable body then they were at Dublin my Lord Leiut. receaved severall advices from Sr. Arthur Aston to precipitate nothing for he doubted not of finding Cromwell play a while as certainly he had done had not Co ll Walls regiment after the enemy had bin twice bravely repulsed upon the unfortunat losse of their Collonell in the third assault bin so unhappily dismaide as to listen before they had neede unto the enemy offering them quarter and admitted them in upon these termes therby betraying both themselves all their fellow souldiers to the slaughter for Cromwell being master of the towne told by Jones that he had now in his hands the flower of the Irish army gave order to have all that were in armes put to the sword Where besides the gallant Governour Sr. Arthur Aston Sr. Edmond Varney Co ll Warren Co ll Fleminge and Co ll Birn Leiut. Co ll Finglasse and Major Tempest together with many other excellent Officers and Gentlemen there were butchered neare 3000 souldiers and those truly reputed the best that Kingdom affoorded in whose fall there is sadly observable how great a number of them were guilty of the unlucky breach of that solemne agreement made about two yeares before betweene the Lord Marquesse of Clanricard and the Leinster army at Sr. Nicholas Whites Castle of Lexleap severall of those that survived having perisht since and few or none of them escaped some remarkable affliction or other This massacre at Drogheda having lopt of a principall limbe of my Lord Leiu ts army and the losse of that towne letting the enemy loose caused his Ex cy to remove his army from Castle Jordan down towards the Counties of Wexford and Kilkeny there not only to lye secure till Generall O Neales army came up unto them with whom now at last he having bin rejected by the Parliament and the Commissioners whipt to reason with adversity there was an agreement made and he submitted to the Kings Authority but also ready to be drawne into either Wexford or Kilkeny as there should be occasion for upon one of those places after the enemies retreat from Drogheda to Dublin it was concluded they would fall next For which reason His Ex cy for many daies courts the towne of Wexford to take in a Garrison Kilkeny having received one already but they affirming they were able to defend their towne themselves would never be brought to admit of one till the enemy was at the Walls and then tumultuarily Sr. Edmond Butler with neare 1500 men was receaved in as Governour whome to reinforce after the enemy was now set down before it my Lord Leiu nt comes with new supplies with in sight of the towne had put them in to the infallible preservation of the place if James Stafford then Governour of the Castle had not upon termes of advantage to himselfe before His Ex cies eies shamefully betrayed it and the town into the hands of a most cruell
faithlesse enemy who butchered there also after they were admitted in above 2000 more There was nothing now remainning to be done the Vlster army being not yet come up and severall troopes of my Lord Inchiquins being since the seidge of Drogheda run away to the enemy but put a Garrison into Rosse which was sent in under the Command of Luke Taaffe with orders for the place was judged scarce tenable against so powerfull an enemy to make conditions when they saw themselves able to resist no longer as at last they did when the breach was made and the enemy ready to give an assault haveing termes to march away with their armes About Graigge and Thomas Town His Excellency houered with his horse and the small remainder of his foot untill the comeing up of the Vlster army Vnder the Command of Leiutenant Generall Farrell the Generall himselfe lying then a dying This new Conjunction with Owen O Neale and so great an accession of Forces bringes my Lord Leiutenant into a Condition not only of putting a stop upon Cromwells hasty progresse but even of gaining ground upon him as questionlesse he would have done had not another misfortune greater then any of the former interveened to frustrate all which was this my Lord of Inchequin having as I said before conditioned to have the ordering of those Garrisons and forces that he brought in with him to the Kings obedience left wholy to himselfe out of desire as is beleeved to keep himselfe still considerable upon a bottome of his owne would never hearken unto any Proposition of admitting a proportion of Irish into any of his townes Kingsale onely excepted into which place at the importunity of Prince Rupert he at last admitted some Being confident that the English forces under his command having served under him so so long upon severall scores all or the most of the Officers where of being either Creatures of his owne or men obliged and indeared unto him upon a long account would never seperate themselves from his fortune or abandon his service But his Lordship it seemes tooke wrong measures for the most part of them being steared wholy by selfe interest and knowing the way already how for advantage to serve against the King whose business they saw so much declining that no more was likely to be got that way whilst Cromwell was full of mony and successe Conspired together how to possess themselves of my Lord of Inchiquins person together with the townes under his Command that they might make a surrender of all at once unto the enemy Youghall begins the dance and taking occasion to mutiny against the English Cavaliers under Woogans Command that were quartered there imprisoned disarmd them all and afterwards stood upon their guard Whilst my Lord of Iuchiquin is by all Gentle meanes endeavouring to reclayme back this towne severall of his Officers combine to seize upon him then lying secure at Leiutenant Generall Barries house of Castle Lyons but they and their designe being discovered to his Lordship by one of their owne complices were so farr prevented as to be seized all upon themselves Wherupon the towne of Youghall seing Cromwell yet at too great a distance the time of his coming into Mounster uncertaine offered to submit upon assurance of indemnity the release of the imprisoned Officers and removall of the Cavaliers which his Lordship either wanting the meanes to compell them or being willing with kindnesse and faire meanes to vvin upon them keep them in order assented unto After which having visited his Garrisons and beleeving all things so secure as not to require either his further stay there or the bringing any proportion of the Irish into those other townes he returnes unto his charge in the army And novv Cromwell having nevvly received an affront before Duncannon through the courage gallantry of Wogan vvirh those English Gentlemen that vvere put in vvith him upon that occasion vvas retired back to Rosse there under the Protection of the town to make a Floting Bridge over the river to the end that by having a passage to the other side he might at his pleasure either compell His Ex cy to devide his army to attend upon his motions and so give him an opportunity of setting upon one part or other of it Or at least if it kept together of getting a Passage into Mounster where he expected to find a generall Revolt of those Garrisons under my Lord of Inchiquins Commands as it afterwards happened My Lord Taaffe was sent with a part of the army to hinder the worke But what through want of powder and indeed all sortes of ammunition which was now grown exceeding scarce extremity of foule weather distempers amongst his men and other ill concurring accidents he was not able to effect it My Lord Leiutenant through Cromwells suddain retreating in the night from before Dun Cannon having lost the opportunity of fighting him as he was then resolved finding his army cherfully desire the occasion had nothing left him now to do but vvaite upon the enemies motion and endeavour to cut of his provisions vvhich the country people allured by the orderlinesse of his souldiers who had mony to pay for vvhat they tooke and command it seemes to do so brought them in as fast as could be vvhilst His Excellency having no mony to pay his army nor indeed a competence of bread to give them vvas constrained to let them take their sustenance vvhere they could find it During this intermission of action Corke Youghall and all the English townes of Mounster even through the incitation of those Officers that were but lately released being openly revolted and the Lord Broghall with some men landed in those parts Very many of my Lord Inchiquins party both horse and foote deserted my Lord Leiutenant and ran daily over to the enemy In so much that both the Commanders and souldiers of the Irish not without reason grew very jealous of the rest that remained behind fearing that if ever they came to engage against the enemy they would turne upon them and betray them there wanted not diverse also though doubtless very unjustly that extended their jealousies unto my Lord of Inchiquin himselfe grounding their accusations upon his Lordships not punishing the Conspirators when he had them in his power upon so faire a warning and just an occasion as then was given him his not putting Irish into his Garrisons Upon his wife his family plate and goods being sent him safely out of Corke into the Irish quartars upon his not consenting to the dismounting and disarming of the rest of his men when some of the Commissioners prest the doing of it upon his delivering his advice in Councell as they heard for his Excellencies coming to conditions with Cromwell and making this an argument for it that his men would fight no longer and lastly upon an impertinent accusation without head or taile appeared when he came to be examined in the businesse brought
coming neare Dublin was newly laide him down in his tent to take his rest The enemy found the new fortification so slight and the resistance there so weake that they soon became masters of the place from whence seeing the Irish flie in such fright disorder contrary to their first intentions they pursued them up to the avenewes of their Campe where finding the souldiers also that were in gard with great securitie and unconcernment looking on they laid hold on the advantage charging briskly in and in a trice beat them of their posts which if they had defended as a far less number then they were might very easily have don the Campe being no way accessible towards the towne excepting by those few avenewes which there purposely had been left open nay some of them thrown open contrary to orders for the conveniency of the soldiers could possibly have run no hazard But these passes being thus lost abandoned more men coming out of the towne to reinforce those that were alredy so succesfull the whole army in the greatest terror and confusion that might be falls a running every one a severall way in this condition were all things brought before my Lord Taaffe then Generall of the Ordinance had awaked my Lord Leiut. who presently takeing horse together with my Lord of Castle-haven who was now returned backe to his command Co ll Milo Power made towards the enemy taking all such a long with them as they could either by force or faire meanes perswade to face about with intention to beat them backe or at least by making head a while to stop their progresse till som considerable part of the army could be rallied and brought up againe to oppose them but by that time they came neare the enemy their followers were grown so thin that His Ex cy after the having exposed himselfe to much danger and received a shot upon his armes in a brusk charge that he made upon the foremost of the enemies troopes was faine to retire at last and seeke to recover his army that was gone before Sr. William Vaughan being already killed his brother Co ll Richard Butler taken and the whole campe in effect abandoned except by those that could not get them ready or wanted meanes of flyinge Thus besides the slaughter that was made and the prisoners that were taken one of which was the lot of most of the English that were under the command of Co ll Woogan whose behaviour that day deserves much commendation who having gotten together into a small body defended themselves so gallantly and with so much resolution against the whole power of the enemy as at last after a great slaughter the rest made conditions for themfelves before they could be inforced to yeeld or lay downe armes the totall plunder of the campe with all the artillery tents and baggage fell into the enemies hands most of my Lord of Inchiquins foot that at first made some resistance seing the day lost upon this disaster changed sides and revolted to the enemy All this was don in so short a space and with so little noise that my Lord Dillon and the rest of the forces that were on the other side the river of the Liffy knew nothing of what was don till the businesse was over and some scattering runawaies brought him word of it the Irish that got of made such hast every one towards his home and with such distraction that it was impossible for my Lord Leiut. to draw any body of them together and therfore having met with the newes of the surrender of Ballisannon that very day into the hands of his forces that lay before it he rested at Caterlo that night and went the next day to confer with the Commissioners of trust and my Lord Inchiquin at Kilkeny When this great disaster is well considered scarce any other sound reason can be given for so sad a misfortune but the good pleasure of Almightie God who if it be lawfull to look so far into the judgments of heaven knowing the ill intentions and designes that were in the harts of many both of the Irish and English there in case Dublin had bin taken saw them unworthy of that blessing and tooke that time for their punishment and humiliation not only in this but a torrent of other crosses following in the necke one of another for besides this mischance before Dublin to the ruin of so great an army about the same time O Neale releives Coot in London Derry to the immediat losse of that Province the future scourge of his owne followers not long before likewise the plague was brought by a ship out of Spaine into Gallway and besides the havock it made in that towne so disperst it selfe over all the Province of Conaught that my Lord Marquess of Clanricard being deprived thorough the Calamities that were upon that towne country both of money and meanes to march withall could not for many months draw his army together either to act any thing alone or joine with any other for feare least by that meanes the plague that made such spoile while they were asunder should mow them down when they were all together This Route at Dublin the releife of Derry and the plague might be thought competent afflictions to be cast upon a people so impoverished a Kingdom so wasted before yet this sufficeth not there are heavier losses yet to follow and a worse pestilence to land shortly at Dublin that will sweep away their men and townes together but here your Lordship may justly interrupt me and say that though it must be confessed that whatsoever befalls us in this vale of misery is to be attributed to the hand of heaven or the permission at least of the devine providence into the reasons of whose secret and hidden counsells our weake capacities are unable to search yet neverthelesse those visible causes wherby we draw misfortunes upon our selves by such who through neglect of their duty disobedience to their superiours are apparently the authors therof ought not to passe unpunished and therfore you see no reason why those were not called to an account that deserved it both by their cowardice and so shamfull omission of their duty as could admit of no excuse But when your Lordship shall be pleased to reflect upon what I said before that my Ld. Leiut. comands this army indeed the Kingdom but as it were upon courtesy all his authority in effect consisting in the aweing one faction with another the best of which he found to be on so uncertaine unsetled termes that you will I doubt not when you reflect upō it easily grant that my Ld. Leiut. could not in prudence do an act that was likely to give so great generall a distaste as indeede to have proceded against the Major Generall would have bin to the confederats amongst whom he had so many alliances freinds the running away of the rest was so
Drogedah which ensued imediatly upon O Neales defeat Dundalke it selfe being summoned the souldiers compelled Monk to a surrender and themselves took armes for the King Imediatly after this defeat of his party O Neale hastneth towards the releife of Derry which was the only towne in that Province untaken all the rest being already reduced by the Lord of Ards Sr. George Monro and Co ll Treuors who were now hindered only by O Neales army and the Siedg of Derry from bringing up a considerable body of horse and foot to the leaguer of Dublin Where may be observed how great a prejudice the faction of those men who desireing out of animosities ends of their owne to staue of O Neal his party from the benefit of the peace stood chaffering with him about his commande of 4000 or 6000. men and other trifles have don to the Kinges service and to the whole Kingdomes in deprivinge themselves therby not only of the forementioned assistance of the Scots but also of the possession of London Derry together with so considerable an addition of forces as O Neale could then have brought wherby not only the whole Province of Vlster would have bin secured to the King but Dublin it selfe either reduced or so strongly furrounded that it would have bin impossible either for Jones to releive himselfe or Cromwell to invade the Kingdom which notwithstanding all these fore mentioned disadvantages was upon the matter even gained already and would have bin entirely without any manner of question if it had fortuned that His MAjESTIE had feasonably come thither himselfe in person which by all parties was desired with infinit passion but especially by those whose prudence made them best able to judge how effectuall his presence would be not only for the animating of his own loiall party but also suppressing of all factious humors and uniteing all interests chearfully unanimously to go on against the common enemy which must soon have put a period to that warr and made his authority absolut in that Kingdom without dispute for as upon his arrivall His MAjESTIE should have found Mounster entirely in the Irish and my Lord of Inchiquins possession Vlster all reduced but the fort of Culmore and Derry into the hands of the Scots Conaght by the Marquess of Clanrieards fortunate gaining the strong fort of Slego with what else the enemy had then remaining in that Province wholy cleared in Leinster nothing left for rebellion to nestle in but Dublin Ballisonnan both which were so well attended upon that the defendants had but little pleasure to ayre themselves without the circuit of their workes so by his coming he would undoubtedly have diverted Owen O Neale who would imediatly have submitted unto the person of the King from releiving London Derry and therby have secured both that town and Province with Dublin also as it is thought for they that had reason to know Jones his mind apprehended that his leaving the Kings party did proceede from a Pique either against my Lord Leiut. or Sr. Robert Byron about a Leiut. Co lls place which was conferd over his head upon an other and that then the scene being altered in England his old freinds out of authority there his new termes with the Independents also yet unmade he had himselfe come over if the King had bin there in person or if not yet his party would have all deserted him and the worke had bin don one way or other that Kingdom wholy reduced without ablow all factions as I said before extinguisht and His MAjESTIE had an army of above 20000. men to have emploied where he pleased However thitherto you see my Lord Leiut. having cemented together so many differing parties mastered almost incredible difficulties hath with prudence and successe conducted the busines and is hindered only by the wilfulnes and faction of some of his owne party from compleating the worke After the taking in of Trim which followed soon upon the surrender of Dundalke my Lord of Inchiquin brings up his forces now much improved in number to the army before Dublin wherupon His Ex cy leaving a part of his army at Castleknock under the Command of my Lord Dillon of Costelo a person of much gallantry to keepe them in on that side the water removes his Campe to the other side the towne to distresse the enemy that way also which whilst they are endevouring to do upon intelligence that Cromwell was ready with an army to embarke himselfe for Ireland and that he intended to land in Mounster my Lord of Inchiquin thought it fit that he should with a good party of horse go down into those parts to secure his garrisons and provide for the worst His Lordship was no sooner gone but my Lord Leiut. designing to shut up the enemy within his workes and quite impede as well their getting in of hay as the graseing of their cattle without their line gave order to Patrick Purcell Major Generall of the foot to march with a sufficient party of men and an Engineer to Baggot-Rath there to possesse himselfe of that place immediatly cast up such a worke as had been already designed Sr. William Vaughan Commissary Generall of the horse had order likewise to draw together most part of the troopes that were on that side the water and to keepe them in a body upon a large plowed field looking towards the Castle of Dublin there to countenance the foot whilst the workes were finishing and to secure them in case the enemy out of the towne should attempt to interrupt them These my Lord were the orders given but not executed for notwithstanding it did not much exceed a mile whither the foot were to go yet through the ignorance or negligence of the Officers that were to conduct them many houres were spent ere they came at the place Whither when they were come they found the worke so wretchlesly advanced by Mr. Welsh the Engineer and to helpe all themselves kept such negligent guards that many judged it was done on purpose that these neglects proceeded from those lurking seedes of discord betwene the Kings and the Nuntios parties for it is certaine that about that time upon an apprehension that thinges went on too prosperously with my Lord Leiut. there were Letters written to Owen O Neale about broaching a new warr in case Dublin had bin taken what ever the grounds of these faileings were the enemy never stood to examin but being much troubled to see a fort designing there where with so much ease they might not only be kept from all forrage and succour by land but entercourse with the sea also and perceiving the posture they were in destitute of horse to guard them resolues upon a desperat sally to disturb this worke which they hapned to make about eight of the clock in the morning when His Ex cy who had bin on horseback most part of the night as his constant custome was since his
against him by the Marques of Antrim for holding correspondence and having made conditions under hand with the enemy Upon these foundations and such as these did many of the Irish represent unto my Lord Leiutenant the necessity of discharging my Lord Inchiquin of his Command securing his person which his Excellency being more tender of the Kings honour and his owne then upon bare surmises and suspitions to deale in that manner with a person that had but lately deserved so well both of the King and him would not be brought unto Choosing rather to run any adventure then to be guilty of breach of conditions with him which he must needs have been if before a conviction of apparent treachery he should upon the score of my Lord of Inchiquins oversights or the uncertain jealousies of the Irish have condescended unto either of the things proposed This temper and justice in my Lord Leiutenant in not suffering himselfe to be led by the clamors and importunity of the people and soldiers involues him also at last under their displeasure and mistrust so that out of want of confidence in their cheife Commanders and out of diffidence in one another the army was now falln into a very unfit condition of hazarding a battaile with the enemy if an occasion should offer it selfe and to make it worse the Scots that were there being tired out with the necessities the whole army suffered and receiving newes of the enemies prevalence in their Country desired leave to returne into the North which after great importunity at last being granted them they immediately with drew their forces and hasted homewards where they were no sooner come and Sr. George Monro joynd unto them but they received so sore a blow from Coote with so much losse and dispersion of their men that they were never able to make head in Vlster since Cromwell now finding the army so much weakened by the desertion of so many of my Lord Inchiquins men and the departure of the Scots and likewise knowing that it was in such disorder through the distrust animosities that were amongst them so that in reason he was like to have much the advantage if they should fight him adventures over his bridge at Rosse into the County of Kilkenny where by facing my Lord Leiutenants army and mouing after it up and down he amuzed the Irish whilst Jones his Leintenant Generall with parties tooke in the Castles of the Country had Carrick given into his hands wretchedly by Martin that Commanded there Upon notice where of Cromwell hastens thither to passe his army over into Mounster which was now his business for notwithstanding his purse to buy provisions of the Country and his ships that wherever he went waited continually upon him his army through the unseasonablenesse of the weather and want of quarters was so much harassed and wasted many of his men falling sick and dying daily that if he did not hasten to his Winter quarters he would in probability have perished without a blow which neverthelesse to make sure worke my Lord Leiutenant whose army also was quite tired out with wants sufferings and continuall marches hearing that he was gone towards Carrick intended to bestow upon him before necessity forced him to disperse his men and to that end his Excellency marcht speedily after the enemy with designe to set upon him whilst he was either engaged before Carrick or else incumbred at some other passe upon the river but after all this diligence when my Lord came near the towne he then learnt that the place was lost before and that Cromwell leaving a competent Garrison therin had only past his army over and was gone towards Waterford which town during Cromwells Residence at Rosse though the persuasion as it is said of Geoffry Baron and Hugh Rochford had underhand begun a treaty with him for the delivery of the town unto him Which treaty only stuck upon the free exercise of their Religion and the Churches denyed unto them by Cromwell The knowledge of this caused my Lord Leiutenant now to hasten thither with no small danger to his person to presse them to admit of a Garrison which being a long time denyed my Lord of Castlehaven with diverse others that his Excellency propounded being utterly rejected by them yet at last they were content to admit of Farrell and the Vlster men who accordingly were sent immediately unto them After Farrells admittance he upon notice of the enemies motion that way fearing some commotion in the towne and thinking himselfe not strong enough to resist the enemy without and master them within writes unto his Excellency for a supply of men And these his Excellency seing Cromwell so unexpectedly got over into Mounster through the treachery of the Garrison of Carrick intends now to conduct himselfe out of hand into Waterford before which the enemy was supposed to bee Therupon some Principall Officers of the army desired leave that they might in the Interim attempt the regaining of Carrick against whom his Excellency objecting the want of materialls necessary for such an enterprize was assured they had enough to serve their turne for that worke yea and some of them positively undertooke the taking of the place that night Wherfore leaving them to their businesse my Lord bends his Course for Waterford where he arrived when it was late upon notice where of Cromwell despairing of doing any good upon that town and finding many of his men fall sick and dy of the fluxe which then raged amongst them drawes of in the night and hastens towards his Winter quarters at Corke and Youghall in which march as he gaind Dungarvan so he lost Jones his Leiutenant Generall During my Lord Leiutenants absence the army at Carrick assaults the place the foot falling on with extraordinary galantry and resolution where after the losse of many of them they faild of carrying the place only for want of a few pickaxes and spades which being calld for were no where to be found which necessitated the poore foot after having done so handsomely and stood under the walls some houres to quit the business and draw of when extreame want of food they having eaten nothing almost for two daies enforced them to march away towards Clonmell all the Country betvixt Carrick and Kilkenny Being totally spoild already The remouall of the army hence without sending notice of it to my Lord Leiutenant had like to have put his Excellency into the enemies hands for he making full account of the regaining of Carrick upon the former assurance that was given him was upon his way directly thither where the enemy had 300 horse he not forty in his Company when Colonell Milo Power by good fortune found him out and told him of the ill success of the enterprize and the motion of the army thence wherupon he altered his Course another way And then considering that the enemy was now retired into his Garrisons that the weather was
remove towards Lymerick where being negligently received without the accustomed respect used to the Kings Leiutenant he after a short stay departed thence into the County of Clare Immediately therupon the enemy having refreshd his men and encreased his army with a great accession of old souldiers that had formerly served under my Lord Inchiquin and my Lord Leiutenant takes the feild and falls a summoning Castles and bringing the Country under Contribution wherin he had a generall success most of the Castles surrendring upon appearance of a party of horse except Kiltenan which gave him some resistance His Excellencies army through the forementioned obstinacy and disobedience of the townes against receiving Garrisons was so farr dispersed that there was no meanes of drawing them together Neither if that were done of keeping them in a body for the Country was destroyed and wast so that it could not supply him besides during these disagrements between my Lord Leiutenant the Clergy and the Commissioners there were few or none of the Irish souldiers if there had been Provisions for them that would obey his Excellencies Orders Of all which Cromwell was well aware and therfore went securely and with confidence to work carrying all before him A mongst other of his successes Ballisonan is sold unto him and Cahir Castle then the dwelling house of Master Mathewes a yong youth and halfe Brother to my Lord Leiutenant given him contrary to those strict orders left by his Excellency with Master Mathewes for the keeping of it who was so conscious of his own misdoing in the act that he refused upon severall summons and invitations to appear before my Lord staied still in the enemies quarters to secure himselfe from His Excellencies indignation But neverthelesse this act of Mr. Matthewes is made aground of new suspitions and fresh clamours against my Lord himselfe by the Irish who all this while run on in their extravagancies intent only upon their disputes in hand as if there were no such man as Cromwell in the Kingdom in so much that seing so many severall meetings assigned and so much time spent to so litle purpose His Excellency concludes that those people would never be brought into order by him and therfore resolves to withdraw himselfe from the Government if not to depart the Kingdom and to commit the mannagement of all unto the Marquis of Clanricard which was the reason of his Lordships being sent for back from Sligo The enemy in the meane time having the Castles of Gowran and Laghlin together with the Officers commanding in them delivered into his hands by the common souldiers sets at last upon Kilkenny Whence a while before the Earle of Castle-haven who was now left with cheife command in Leinster was drawn out with his forces by reason the sicknesse raged so leaving Sr. Walter Butler and Major Walsh with about 50 horse and some 400 foot in the place where a breach being made and the enemy assaulting they were bravely repulsed leaving 600 armes behind them after which check they resolved to march of and are sending their artillery away silently before whilst the townsmen conuay a drummer privately over the wall and upon I know not what accord let the enemy in unknown to the souldiers who were then forced to retire to the Castle make their termes which being granted them they march away Kilkenny being gained by him let us leaue Cromwell at Cashell for a while amongst his Committee men returne into Connaght where the Cleargy and Commissioners seing that my Lord of Clanricard having refused to take the Government upon him was resolved in case they continued disobedient unto my Lord Leiutenant least the Kings Authority should bee exposed to further disobedience contempt to leave the Kingdom together with His Excellency considering what a certain ruine their departure would be unto them all are now courting my Lord Leiuteuant to stay and offer to come to composition with him who demands assurance from them that the respective towns of Lymerick and Gallway shall receive sufficient Guarrisons and that themselves with all the soldiers people shall hereafter readily obay him Which they undertake unto him upon condition that all the English what soever under his Excellencies command might be disbanded and sent away that the Bishops of the Kingdom might have a share in Councell and the mannagement of things that the Receiver Generall which was Sr. George Hamilton Brother in law to my Lord Leiutenant a person of great parts honour and merit might give in his accounts all which his Excellency out of his great desire to satisfy and unite the people therby to preserve the Country and the Kings Interest if it were possible at last assents unto This agreement being made the English were accordingly to free the Irish of their jealousies who either were or would seem to be equally suspitious of the Cavaliers as of those that had served the Parliament before disbanded and since there was no further employment for them nor meanes of getting away by sea they had leave to make their conditions with Cromwell to passe through his quarters out of the Kingdom which being granted by him all the small remainder of my Lord of Inchiquins men except a few that Colonell Buller was to Carry for Scilly went under the conduct of Colonell John Daniell into the enemies quarters so did my Lord of Ardes and after him Sr. Thomas Armstrong with whom went also Mr. Daniell O Neille upon the Score of carying a Regiment into Spaine There remained none behind that was permitted to beare any charge but Leiutenant Colonell Treswell at my Lord of Ormonds particular instance to command his Guards of horse only my Brother John Digby Colonell Henry Warren Colonell Hugh Butler staid to waite upon his Excellencies Person and beare him company in his adventures But before I go on I must not omit to tell you how Dean Boile who was sent to treat with Cromwell for the English that were disbanded being offered it as he saies by Cromwell and imagining as himselfe affirmes to do a service to my Lord Leiutenant my Lord Inchiquin in it adventured of his own head to take passes from him for their departure out of the Kingdom Wherof assoon as ever Dean Boile was gone he makes use to debaush the Irish Garrisons to take conditions from him assuring them my Lord Leiutenant had received his passe to depart the Kingdom as appeares by a letter that the Governour of Rosse writ it seemes by Cromwells order unto Generall Preston commanding in Waterford the Copy of which Letter with that of Cromwells passe three of Dean Boiles Letters concerning it together with his Excellencies to Cromwell when he sent him back his passe by a trumpet of my Lord Clanricards having procured them for my own satisfaction I herewithall send your Lordship that you may see how absolutely without my Lord Leiutenants privity or license these passes were accepted with what
indignation resented Emer Mac Mahon Bishop of Cloghor who had been chosen Generall of the Vlster army having a good while since received his commission from my Lord Leiutenant was now gathering together his army which in ad short time after before my leaving the Kingdom he had made up to be about 6000 men wherewith having taken severall little Castles in his way he was marched up into the Claneboyes and become master of the feild The next enterprize Cromwell went in hand with was to take Clonmell which was kept by Major Generall Hugh O Neale who behaved himselfe so discreetly gallantly in defending it that Cromwell lost neer upon 2500 men before it had notwithstanding gone away without it if they within had had store of powder but their small proportion being spent the Governour with his souldiers was fain to go out of the town on the other side of the river by night towards Waterford leave the townesmen to make conditions for themselves which they did the next morning the enemy not knowing but the Garrison was still in towne till the conditions were signed Thus the losse of this place severall other Garrisons for want of ammunition was another effect of the disobedience of the townes In so much that had it not been for a little magazine that my Lord of Clanricard had providently made before hand wherewith since the losse of Drogheda his Excellencies army the Scots the Vlsters most of the Garrisons were surnished All might have gone to an irrecoverable ruine whilst the walld townes like free States lookt on as unconcernd denying to afford it to them This being true no body that hath heard of any injuries or injustice in point of trade or prizes here can blame the King or my Lord Leiutenant for it neither of whom they did obey further then they pleasd themselves but now having received Garrisons as I make no question they have I dare be bold to assure any body that trafficks that way of all equity justice from my Lord Leiutenant hands About the time of the seidge of Clonmell David Roch having raised above 2000 men in the Counties of Corke Kerry and beginning to make head with them received a small brush from my Lord of Broghall which only dispersed his men for a few daies his losse being not considerable for any thing but the Bishop of Rosse who being taken was hanged with two other Priests by Cromwell for being found in armes as they said against the Right worshipfull the State of England Soone after the gaining of Clonwell Cromwell upon letters out of England inviting him thither goes to sea and leaves Ireton in cheife command behind him to subdue the rest of that miserable wasted Kingdom whilst himselfe went about the conquest of new Empires more worthy of his presence But since he is gone I cannot but here observe that of all those thousands that either came with him thither or were sent after there are now few hundreds surviving either to reap the benefit or report the stories of their Victories his army upon his departure being sunke to a very inconsiderable number especially in foot and neer three parts of those consisting of either Irish Jones or my Lord of Inchiquins men who only are able to undergo the wofull incommodities of that Country now groning under a universall plague famine and desolation to that degree that if they knew but halfe the misery that expects them there I am confident that no threats nor flatteries could perswade men out of England thither in hopes of reaping the fruites of their fellowes labours in that destroyed Kingdom Which as low as t is brought may chance to cost Cromwell a second expedition and another army and yet go without it For they have Waterford Galloway and Limrick three of the strongest and most considerable townes of the Kingdom still untaken any of which if they be well Garrisond as questionless now they are will be neare a summers work to reduce The forts of Duncannon Silgo the Castles of Caterlo Athlone Charlemont Neauagh are not easy puachases the Province of Connaght is still preserved intire by my Lord of Clanricard who will be able to bring 4000 men of his own into the feild now that Galloway his Country is somewhat cleard from the infection of the plague which begins to rage greatly in the enemies quarters as Cork Youghall Wexford and Dublin it selfe Kilkenuy Clonmell with severall places there abou ts being left desolate with it The County of Clare in Mounster brought unto my Lord Leiutenant at a Rendezvous just upon my coming away above 2000 men wherwith his Excellency being invited by the Magistrates was ready to march into Limrick for to Garrison the place and to make it his residence What Forces the Irish had in Vlster towards Kerry I have already told you as likewise what Connaght and the County of Clare afforded I must add that Hugh Mac Phelim had in Wicklow towards Wexford hard upon 2000 men at Waterford Generall Preston and Hugh O Neale had litle lesse to conclude besides all this the Lord Castlehaven the Lord Dillon and the Bishop of Drummore made account they should draw together a considerable body in Meath and the rest of Leinster to joyne with the Marquis of Clanricard towards the releife of Tecroghan then beseidged by Colonell Reynolds Thus your Lordship may see that provided they bee united amongst themselves as truly I left them and that meanes can be found of keeping them in bodies together there are men enough in armes yet to dispute the business with an enemy that is not halfe their number whose quarters are pestered likewise with the plague and famine as well as theirs especially these having such strengths and fastnesses still in their hands as are almost inaccessible to Cromwells souldiers Who after having mastered the greatest part of Mounster and Leinster and their supplies from England coming in but slowly â— have made bold at last with the people they flattered with before altered their manner of proceedings taking from them by force what they pleased and violating their protections given making not nice to tell them they suffered them to possesse their estates but during pleasure and till they could have planters to put into their roomes by which kind of clear dealing they have so lost made desperate the natives that lamenting their former too ready compliance with the enemy they now call for my Lord Leiutenant again taking armes in their hande begin to rise in all quarters of the Kingdom so that it is impossible for a greater power then Ireton has there to attend to the suppression of them all In this posture left I that Kingdom it being very probable that if the enemies recruites and provisions out of England did faile through any other diversion and the Irish receive but any moderate supplies from abroad they would not only make good all that