I Would have made you acquainted with the troubles which daily increase more and more to our great sorrow: the distres­sed estate of our County of Corke is grie­vous to expresse; but opportunity hath not so well fitted, as to give you a more timely re­lation thereof. The rebels have so farre en­croached into the body of our County, that they are become Masters of the most part thereof, divers Lords being newly revolted to them. [Page] Amongst the rest, the Lord ANTRIM, within the Province of Munster, about a fortnight agone, is revolted, with many souldiers that were under his command, and have committed great slaughters on the Protestants, with extreame cruelty, and in­humane massacres, yet have they beene va­liantly resisted by Sir Simon Harcourt, and his Forces: who hath proved himselfe a stout souldier, and faithfull subiect to the King of England; and hath taken from the Rebels divers Forts and Castles, and keepes the same well manned with good Garri­sons.

Our Armie set forwards towards the Re­bels, to give them an incounter on Wednes­day last was a seven-night; but they hearing thereof, withdrew themselves to the confines of our County, where they have mustred their Army, and raised it there to twentie thousand; which being perceived, wee desi­red to ioyne with Sir Simon Harcourt and the Scots in those parts, which they accep­ted: and marching towards the Rebels, they tooke the Field, where was a battell fought between us; where (God bee praised) wee lost but one hundred men, whereof our grea­test losse was the Lord Fawklands brother: and the adverse party lost above three thou­sand [Page] five hundred, as wee conceived: upon which they drew backe to their Trenches, the skirmish holding some eight houres, our force being not so strong as we wished we were enforced to retire to strengthen our army, in which time the Rebells replenished, and augmented theirs, but we failed in our expe­ctation, for many of onr souldiers sides with the Rebells revolted from our command by which means we were so weakened that we could not again take the field without appa­rent danger of the losse of our whole army; the Rebells being six to one, upon which we were enforced to retire to a town near adia­cent in which was a good castle, fortifying the same aswell as we could for our securitie, there intending to stay till we have aid from Eng­land or Scotland which we daily write for, and without which not onely this County, but even the whole kingdome of Ireland is with­out all hope utterly lost: many Bishops are also revolted, Aid is daily sent from forram parts so that they are encreased to that strength that they are able to bring 50000 fighting men in the field: They have put hard for Corke and have entrenched themselves neer Dublin, divers great personages in that Ci­tie have also revolted, they have set forth pro­clamations declaring, they take arms for their [Page] King and are the Queens army, for a tolerati­on of their Religion, and for the defence of the lawes of that land, so farre, as they serve their desires and wills, I therefore conceive that perpetuall warre is to be expected in Ire­land, till they are fully vanquished, and subdu­ed, and not then free from Mutinies and Insur­rections, Except all Papists be banished that Land, and the Kingdome, inhabited with na­tions in subiection to the King of England, as are Protestants.

Wee expected aid from England, both of Men, Ammunition, and money, before this time; but the distractions and divisions in that Kingdome, wee conceive hath hindered their proceedings in their intentions therein; Here are 3000. Scots arived, of which we are right glad, and we expect assistance from Denmark, which when we have, and also from England, I make no doubt, but by the blessing of God, Ireland will againe be reduced to their due subiection to the Crowne of England, which is all the news opportunitie will give me leave to write at this time.