Corne the Rogues not daring for all their strength to plow or sow for themselves within two or three miles of his Castle By this time the Rogues grew so consident of their securities in their Campe April 7 that the Colonell ô Rourke brought his Cattell to graze upon some wast land within two miles of us wherewith our Colonell being acquainted that night sent out a party of Horse and Foote and seized upon all their Cattell driving them homewards by breake of day whereupon they raising their Camp brake out upon us thinking to have destroyed us and rescued their Colonels cattell but it pleased God we so paid them that we not only made good our prey but killed a number of their ablest men bringing with us to the Castle 6 of their chiefe Officers heads of which number was James Murrah Mac Glannaghy the chiefe man of that name chasing all the rest to their Campe where we found 3 stand of Pike-mens Armes 2 Drummes 6 Muskets with Bandaliers 2 Serjeants Halberts with a many Pikes and Skeanes most of those Armes formerly belonging to the Lord President of Connaughts Officers and Souldiers having layne in Garrison at Sligo till it was lost and they cut off Thus we destroyed their great Campe where our Souldiers wives and boyes plentifully victualled themselves bringing from the Rogues a many great Iron-crowes and such like instruments made and marked with the signe of the Crosse making their poore churles beleeve that with those Irons they were to pull downe our Colonels Castle and Bawne A party of Foote was this night sent to Glenden some 5 or 6 miles off April 9 where we kil'd and burned in their houses neere 20 Rogues bringing home a number of Cowes and Goates and burning a many of Irish-houses Our Colonell this night in person April 18 marched forth with a party of Horse and Foote into the County of Sligo where within two miles of the Towne he burnes of some Villages called Belfather and other houses there killed some Rogues he returnes by Mr. Parkes Castle of the New-Towne finding that Towne and Castle untoucht or troubled being in the bosome of the Rogues where our Colonell being informed the Rogues were daily relieved by that Towne and Castle their Cowes having grazed peaceably about the Castle all the while their Campe lay about Mannour Hamilton Mr. Parke never permitting a man of his either to meddle with their cattell or themselves as they went and came with their provisions from Sligo to their Campe he having in his Castle neare 60 able men which might have done good service if M. Parke and the ô Rourkes had not so made their bargaines that untill our Colonels Castle were destroyed he should not be medled withall so as he made them no interruption whilest they were encampt about us In the meane time Mr. Parke causing his Weaver to weave 40 yards of broad-cloath for the use of Mr. Bryan Ballagh ô Rourke whilst he and his Brother Owen were lying in campe about us And the next day after we had beate them from their campe Mr. Parke not only suffered them to carry away their cattell which all that while they grazed neare to his Castle gates without any guard save one coward as also that day lent Bryan Ballagh the cloath-weaver in his Castle with divers such like informations proved by Mr. Parkes owne servants whereupon our Colonell thought fit presently to burne that Towne which so long had relieved and sheltred the Rogues and killed some of them at that instant in the Towne Our Horse men this morning scouring the fields â—â—â—il 21. killed one of the Rogues centryes bringing his head home to the Castle This night a party was sent towards Dromahere 〈◊〉 23. where we killed above 40 of the Rogues burnt many good houses brought home 7 or 8 score cowes with many Horses Sheepe and Goates by this march we diverted another great gathering intended to have encampt about us the next day A party of Foote is sent into a wood-Wood-land Mountaine countrey 10 mile from our Castle May 1. where by the dawning of the day we fell upon some houses belonging to the great Lord of that Countrey Mac A Nawe where we burnt and killed in the houses upwards of 3 score persons taking Mac A Nawe himselfe with his two Daughters and a Kins-man Prisoner his Wife being killed unknowne to the Souldiers amongst the rest we brought home our Prisoners with 8 or 9 score cowes and neere 200 Sheepe and Goates That night a party of Horse and Foote are sent into the countrey of Sligoe May 10. where we burnt the houses of Teig Mac Phelomy ô Connour Teig bog ô Connour neere Cozens and Captaines in O Connours Regiment whilst he lay about us we kil'd some 10 or 12 of the Rogues themselves being then at Sligo most of the people of the Barrony being sled to the Towne for feare of our men That Country being almost wast we brought home onely a prey of Sheepe This night we marcht into the County of Fermannagh May 13 where we kild the Wife of Donnogha Mac Flagherty Mac Gwire with about 40 more whom we surprised in houses before day and brought with us 9 score Cowes above 200 Sheepe and Goates and 47 Horses and Mares 30 Swine and 5 Prisoners which we hanged Intending towards the Fryers of Crewly we found that house uncovered May 18 and the Fryers fled This morning we encountred a number of Owen ô Rourkes men neare to the Castle of Dromahere where we killed above 20 of them our Souldiers got good Pillage in their Cabbins brought home above an 100 most of them Scotch and English Cowes 7 or 8 score Sheepe some lusty Mares and Horses with a many Pikes and the Lord President of Connaughts Halbert his Serjeant being taken when they left Sligo This morning our Castle is attempted to be taken by 4 or 5 handred Rogues from the Dartey or Rosenver May 20 but our Centries timely giving us the Alarmes they are rescued and the Rogues retyred to the Mountaines In hope this night to meete the Rebels who attempted our Castle May 21 a party is sent towards Glonâ—an 6 miles from the Castle where we found a many faire Irish-houses neither man nor beast neare them all which we burnt and marching homeward we perceived before Sun-rising a many Rebels at Largenboy within lesse then a mile to our Castle coming from the County of Sligo with intention that morning to assâ—ile our Castle Our party perceiving them notwithstanding their sore chase in rescuing the Castle the day before and their hard march that night yet did we advance towards them with Horse and Foote within speech of them our Colonell calling to them from a hill asked if their errand were for the Castle for the rescuing their Lord Mac A Nawe and his Daughters or was it Cowes they were seeking they should have a venture for both our Colonell causing a
any thing from us since they have made us the worse and not the better for them This much vexed Deane Barkeley who pretended a Horse to be taken from him which he had catch't himselfe whilst we were upon service about the castle our Colonell telling him since he had deserved no better amongst us he should carry no Horse from thence to bragge of wishing the best 2 Horses on his stable with 500 punds in money had beene sent his Father in law and himselfe to Eniskillen so that the Deane had not come to this march who carried himselfe more like a Devill then a Deane For the. Captaines and Officers being ashamed of themselves and observing our Souldiers to be but a few and daily imployed were perswaded by our Colonell for his Majesties service and as a small supply for the safety of our castle and Garrison to lend our Colonell for some time 5 men out of every one of their Companies making up 30 men to him and having received these men from the severall Captaines our Lieutenant is commanded by the Colonell for the better grace and credit of their party to march a part of their way with our Horse and Foote and as our Lieutenant and they were a parting Deane ' Barkley had like to have raised a mutiny and have set their party and ours by the eares threatning those men left with their Colonell by the Captaines consents so as halfe of them at that instant presently ranne away from us with this unworthy carriage of Sir William Coles party by the Deane of Cloghers meanes Our Colonell acquaints Sir William Cole by a Letter hoping he would have resented his Sonne in lawes arrogant and presuptuous carriage and have sent us some supply of more men but farre otherwise then we expected Sir William in his answer rather justified his Sonne in lawes actions condemning and censuring his Captaines for the few men they had lent our Colonell denying the former and acknowledging in this Letter for what he sent his party desiring that those few men which had not runne away with the rest by his Sonne in lawes threatnings should be speedily returned him and accordingly they were And after this unworthy usage of Sir William Cole our Colonels Souldier observing the liberty and disorderly governement and discipline of those Eniskillen Souldiers begun daily to runne away to Eniskillon where they found shelter and imployment amongst their Captaines to the great discomfort of our Colonell and the hazard of us all A party of Foote is sent to the County of Cavan â—â—gust 8. where we kil'd above 20 Rogues bringing home 2 Prisoners and 7 or 8 score cowes and above 200 Sheepe and Goates A party is sent towards Ballyshannon in the County of Donegall â—â—gust 22 where we kil'd 17 Rogues and burned many houses in that Countrey and brought home a few cowes Our Colonell being advertized that some 2 miles on this side Sligo â—â—gust 25 a guard of Horse-men did daily come forth with their Reapers of corne and hoping to meete with them this night a party of Horse and Foote was sent with some guides to lye in ambush for them where having layne till noone none appearing that day our orders were to burne and prey what we could in that countrey where we burned of severall Villiages as Donoly Formorley Collrey and Lisduff with a many other stragling houses in the countrey where we met with 3 or 4 score cowes and above an 100 Sheepe By this time the countrey gathers thinking to have rescued our prey and have beaten us but it pleased the Lord so in his wonted mercy to stand for us as that day we kil'd above 40 of their best men stript them all brought home a Prisoner rerelieved the castle of the New-Towne with a share of our cowes and Sheepe divers of their best Gentry the ô Connours and the ô Harts being thus killed We marcht Horse and Foote towards the Rosse in the county of Sligo whence we brought a prey of neere 6 or 7 score cowes and above 300 Sheepe and Goates where in our retreat we were set upon by the greatest strength of the county who were gotten into a great head to the Towne of Sligo with intention that day to have layed a new Câ—npe about our Castle which this encounter diverted we killing as was afterwards acknowledged by Prisoners neere 60 of their ablest men with two of their famous Priests Connour ô Hart and Donnell ô Lynch bringing home 7 Prisoners 5 whereof were hanged the next day one of them called Captaine Conô Connour and the other Cormack ô Hoy who had beene a Minister amongst our Colonels Parishes who since this Rebellion professed much loyalty though a kindly traitour his Father being Viccar generall in the county of Sligo was som yeares agoe quartered in the Towne of Sligo for treasonable speeches against the King and State The Colonell this day heares divers shot of Ordinance towards Sligo Septemâ—â—â— 10. which put him in some hopes of some Army towards that place or reliefe towards us This night a party of Horse and Foote was sent towards the Sea-coast to search for a Prisoner Septemâ—â—â— 11. for intelligence what shooting it was we heard the day before where we fell on there the countrey gathered together to oppose the landing of men where 2 Ships lay within the harbour of Sligo we gave the Rogues the Alarme who fled all to a strength of an old Castle neare the Sea-coast we brought home one Prisoner of whom we learned that some of the O Donnells and O Galloghers from Vlster were joyned with the county of Sligo Rebels to the number of 4 or 500 thinking those Ships carried men Moncy Victuals and Ammunition for out reliese but it seemed their greater errand thither was to see for a Barque which the Merchants of Sligo had loaded with severall commodities with corne and cattell from the Oyster-Island where they landed some men and burned divers houses going to Sea afterwards and as yet unknowne to us what they were This night we marcht againe into the County of Sligo September 27. where within a little more then a mile to that Towne we burnt a great village Ennagh belonging to Andrew Crean the late Sheriffs of that County we kild a number of Corne-reapers and brought with us a Prisoner By reason of our daily service October 2 never any wayes supplied or relieved now almost a yeare since the Rebellion begunne our Colonell in this extremity thinkes fit this night to send the most part of his men towards Eniskillen for some Armes and Ammunition which was sent thither by the conveniency of Sir Robert Stewarts guarding the Eniskillen party from the Derry wherewith Sir Robert worthily and lovingly advertized our Colonell from Eniskillen with what was left for him there with Sir William Cole who had promised to give his best assistance for the speedy conveying and guarding of those necessaries to us But our
great joy and comfort being sive Scotch-men and one Irish-man good Musketeeres bred with himselfe The Colonell makes up amongst his servants and Tenants Noveâ— 7. a Troope of 50 good Horses which doe duty day and night about the Garrison and Castle It is discoved to the Colonell that one Conouroge Mac Shant Noveâ— 9. Classe Mac Laughlin a most dangerous active man and the chiefe of that name was drawing of a Boate 8 miles over mountaines thinking to have manned an Island in the Lough of great consequence being in a great glynne called Glevedin which Island in former Rebellions had much galled the English Forces it lying convenient for the bordering Rebels both of Vlster and Connaught Vpon this information a party of able Foote-men were sent out who met with the said Connour upon the top of a great Mountaine with a many Horse and Foote drawing of his Boate where himselfe was taken Prisoner and his Boate broken all in pecces upon the Mountaine The Colonell received two Letters â—â—â—emb â— one from O Connour of Sligo the other from Ballagh ô Rourke both professing much loyalty excusing their not waiting upon him and congratulating his late and unexpected returne from the Derry These Letters were kindly answered with encouragement from the Colonell to persevere in their loyalty though he little expected it as it afterwards came to passe Con Mac Ternan bane ô Rourck â—â—â—emb â— the most active and most dangerous man of that name It is informed that he and others had lately robbed an Endlish-Minister called Mr. Bushe apprehended by the Colonells order Bryan ô Rourke another prime Gentleman of that name â—â—â—emb 6 and Brther in law to the fore-said Con ô Rourke was likewise apprehended upon Information that he had rob'd another English-man William Browne Being informed that many of the Rebels of Donegall all Firmannagh â—â—â—emb â—0 had their daily tandevous at an Ale-house kept 6 miles from our Colonels Castle neare the borders of Fermannagh A party was sent thither in the night where the Ale-house keeper Cahir Mac Caba with six Rogues more were apprehended and brought to our Colonell with 60 Beeves from the County who were all in Rebellion as all the other Counties about us only the two Barronyes neare to our Colonels where his owne Jrish Tenants lived made shew of loyalty hoping thereby to have gotten greater advantage afterwards A Court was to have beene held by the Colonells Senesehall â—â—â—emb expecting his Irish-Tenants should have made their appearance as till that day they duly did hee using all the meanes he could to preserve his owne in their Ioyalties as many times they faithfully promised but that day absenting themselves he perceived them all traitors Hugh Mac Cahill Mac Murry the chiefe Irish-Tenant upon the Colonele Land â—â—â—â—â—â—mb 30 who had jugled with his Brittish-Tenants making them believe he was a guard for their Cattell in preserving and recovering some of them which had beene stolne by the neighbouring Rebels did this day joyne himselfe with the Cavan Rebels who in a great body march't with Drumme and Colours within two miles of our Castle drawing with them a many of the Brittish-Tenants Cattell and taking with them one English-man whom they hanged The Colonell now perceiving their generall trecheries â—â—â—â—â—b 4 leaves off any more to trust them and seeing no order for reliefe either from the Lord Justices or the Lord President They having received advertisement from our Colonell not onely of the state of his owne Castle but also of the Towne and Garrison of Sligo where a part of the Lord Presidents owne Company lay with a many Brittish who were miserably murthered at the taking in of that Towne being promised daily reliefe by the Lord President which promise and encouragement as some of themselves say help't to destroy them otherwise they could have joyned with us before the Rebellion there brake out in that height This day by our Colonells command a Gallowes was erected upon the top of an hill neare the Castle and having about 24 Prisoners in the Castle he caused 8 of them to be hanged up which had beene at the burning of Ballyshannon in the County of Donegall and at the burning of the Iron workes in the County of Fermannagh The same day our Horse-men scouring the sields tooke two of the Rogues Centries who were brought home and hanged A party was sent in the night to scoure Glansfarne Woods Decemâ—◠〈◊〉 upon intelligence that Hugh Mac Cahill the righleader of the Colonells traiterous Tenants kept in those Woods where indeed they were met withall 3 of them killed divers wounded and their great leader narrowly escaping in the Woods through the darknesse of the night Our Horse-men scouring the fields Decemâ—â— 14. met with another of the Rebels Centries who was brought to the Castle and hanged One Thomas Abercromy being misled by a treacherous Jesuiticall kinsman of his owne this day did for sake his owne house Decemâ—â— 15. being a pretty stone House with a Barne within a mile of our Colonells Castle transports himselfe his Wife and Children to the Castle of Con ô Rourk apparently by this time in Rebellion leaving in his owne house his said Rapisticall kinsman married to an Irish-woman with some of the said Con ô Rourks Irish Rogues for maintaining of that house which our Colonell held no good neighouthood He many times neighbourly and kindly inviting the said Thomas Abercromy with his wife and children to take share with him in his Castle and not to shame and dishonour himselfe and his Nation in such a kind whose answer was he was fully preswaded of the destruction of this Castle and all in it for it was so resolved as he was credibly assured not only by those of this County but of all the bordering Counties neare it and that he was promised by the favour of the said Con ô Rourke to have his owne life with his wife and childrens preserved untill they were else-where transported Complaint was made to the Colonell Decemâ—â— 16. that some of this Con ô Rourkes Rogues had robbed some of his Tenants servants and gardens who sending after them had some of the Rogues apprehended where little Thomas Abercromy the Papist presumed to interpose himselfe for the rescuing of those Rogues as they were brought by the house his Cosen left him in upon this Information our Colonell caused him to be apprehended as a dangerous Instrument there 〈…〉 the Rogues in the house with him running away the house is demolished and made unserviceable A party in the night time was sent abroad towards Sligoe â—â—â—â—mb â—0 where we met with a number of Rogues hurt divers killed three brought home thcirheads to our Colonell with a lusty Prisoner who was hanged next day Owne ô Rourke â—â—â—ary 6. Bryan Ballagh his Brother with the greatest strength of this County of Cavan made a great shew this day being about a
little of it will be reaped so that if we could have reasonable supplies for the present that we might be able to take away this harvest from them and destroy that which we could not take a great part of this Warre would be ended this Winter which otherwise may long trouble us You must know that Souldiers which serve in a Countrey onely for their pay and have no interest in it will not care so much what becomes of it and will exclaime more for the want of their pay if it be wanting then those who are interessed in it and have hopes to recover their antient possessions and rights of which sort I would we had more here Doe not forget what I now write that the sending of help to us now in time will be more then ten times so much when it is late and when matters are brought to that exigent that we shll be like to those in a deepe consumption which cannot be recovered Brent the Popish Lawyer is suddenly expected here from Oxford and at his comming some alterations and changes amongst us here to follow Preston we heare is about Tecrohan threatens the Garison at Trim our Army is gone that way my Lord Marquesse in person is to follow presently God blesse and prosper him You will sell good bargaines of our Cities and Townes here certainely when they shall be gained I doe not thinke it will be two yeares purchase and I thinke if things may goe on roundly before this summer is spent the worke would easily by Gods help be done but if you loose time a little longer instead of getting any thing both you and we shall be sure to loose all two Moneths more of such times as we have had the two last Moneths past will doe much to bring us into a hecticke Fever which Phisitians say is irrecoverable Dublin July 19 1643. From another good hand from Dublin WE know not how to live there are now here such an infinite number of poore people come to this Towne which have bin sent by the Rogues from the Garrisone which they have taken from us that it would grieve the heart of any Christian to see them lye in the streetes starving and no means to help them Our Army is now going forth God presper them Our Souldiers are in great distresse not having either Meate Money Cloathes or Shoos to their feet it is a lamentable thing to see what distresse they are in The North is cleared I wish their Forces were with us Reasons delivered in Ireland against the Cessation of Armes there so much pressed by the Rebels the Treaty now broken off 1. WHereas a Cessation is treated of and the only reason thereof because by that we must secke our subsistence This must infallibly starve us and the Army Now there being many hands and active wits in severall places who doe often get something by force and so live then they must take nothing but must only trust to the dole of the false Rebels who themselves are poore and warning 2. Now our Souldiers grow in martial exercises and action then they shall grow dull sick and idle to their destruction sell their Armes not cared for by their Officers who doe so ill looke to them now as they lose them and embesle them daily 3. The English Souldiers will runne away into England and Irish will be taken in their roomes all will be Irish in a yeares space which is the time of Cessation especially a peace being expected and so we shall have no Army English Horse or Foote whereby we shall be altogether at the will of the Irish as is desired or else the English will straggle to their old dwellings and so be murthered here and there 4. The Churles shall murther us in every corner and the prime men not seene in it where shall we have remedy their being no judge nor party answerable the Law not current the Irish faithlesse and really tyed to nothing 5. The Garrisons in sever all places have neither Corne nor Cattell they must take none by force how shall they live the contribution cannot or will not come in what remedy The Rebels will have all the Corne this harvest we must buy it of them and are not able for want of money how then 6. The Rebell is now in great want of Corne Ammunition c. this harvest and a whole yeares time by the Sea will provide them of all things and so if we shall have men to fight with them which we may well doubt they will by this furnish and enable themselves for 2 or 3 Yeares further at least and so tire us and England whereas it were our wisedome to lose no time 7. The Irish will come into Dublin and very likely surprise us if not they will sue us for any thing we owe if we sue them there is no Law nor Officers to execute judgements and if they doe not surprize us or pinch us with suites they will starve us 8. Our little Ammunition we have will be spent before winter in ordinary watches we have nothing to acquire more so that if England helpe us not one wayes or other this next winter we shall be at the will of the Irish as is desired 9. Now they see our Army and Dublin only stands in the way these two must by this devise unfallibly be destroyed by what is above said So no helpe but a new conquest upon most extreame disadvantages if not impossible 10. The Cessation is for a long time and able to give scope to all manner of practises wherein they will never sleepe and we by authority or inherent negligence utterly lull asleepe The blood of so many innocent English now in the heate of action being almost growne cold by this devise a whole yeare will be given to wrap it into more oblivion and so the Irish shall have their will both in Religion and possessions of our goods and Lands 11. When our Army by this long idlenesse is made Irish or unserviceable if it be said we will have new Armies and not trust the Irish Then must we fight with raw Souldiers against experienced and better armed men which will be dangerous besides the great increase of the charge more then now it would be 12. Can any man expect that the Rebels whose onely aime is to extirpate the English and Religion will keepe better faith with us now when the English are wonderfull few and disabled then they did when the English were in all parts the governement strong and the English inhabitants rich and in vigour 13. The advantage is apparently now on our side the Irish are every where beaten they are distressed in Victuals and Ammunition they have no Forraine aides they feare our Armies every where and undoubtedly by a little subsistence out of England we are able to consume them but by this devise all will be turned the other way 14. If a peace should ensue this prologue which is certainely expected