SIthence my last by my Lord of Dungarvan, my owne indisposition and imbecility hath been such as in mine owne person I have not been able to attempt any thing, but have by my sicknesse been confined to my chamber: but the forward earnestnesse and zeale to the service in my Lord of Inchequid, Collonel Vavasor, Cap­taine Iephson and the rest of the officers of the smal Army here hath accomplished some exploits whereof you may please to receive the ensuing relation.

I being besieged on the North side of the City by my Lord Muskry, M Carly Leath, & all the rest of the western forces, and having notice that my Lord Roche, my Lord of Ikarne Donbay, the Baron of Loghmay, M. Richard Butler, and all the tipperary forces were drawing up to belea­ger me on the South, I dispatched away the two Troops then newly landed under the command of my Lord In­chequid and Captain Jephson into the Lord Roches Coun­trey, in expectance to divert him from his intended course hitherwards, which sorted to so good purpose as that I since understand the tipperary forces have forsa­ken him, and that he remaines himselfe upon his kee­ping in his owne Countrey. During the stay of these Troops there, they were desired to the reliefe of a Castle called Rathgogan by one M. Meade, which M. Iephson [Page]having performed with a Squadron of each Troop, and 80. Musqueters drawne out of his house and mine: in his retreat he was encountered by two or three Compa­nies from Milmallocke, on whom he with a Horse, and another Officer with a Foot charged in severall places, and routed them, slaying about 150. besides 50. slaine in relieving the Castle. On the thirteenth of this instant my Lord of Muskry (who hath kept his Camp a long time at Rochforts Towne three miles from this City) caused a part of his Army to chase home our scoutes to the very suburbs where in a bravado they made a stand, whereat my Lord Inchequid, Colonell Vavasor, and the rest of the Officers being much incensed obtained my leave to issue forth immediately with 300. musqueteers, and two Troops of horse, upon the sallying out they found the enemy retreated, and pursued him to his quarters, where the maine body consisting of 36 colours as they were numbred forthwith appeared, and after severall parties sent from the maine body to skermish with our men, had been beaten backe, they began to packe up their Baggage, and forsooke their Campe, after whom our men made all the speed they might, and ha­ving chased them two or three miles, charged upon the reare, routed the whole Army, which betooke it selfe to flight over a bog unpassable for our horse, and tooke all their carriage and luggage, whereof the Lord of Mus­keries owne Armcur, Tent, and Trunks were a part, slew about 200 of their men that cooke to firme ground, and retired without losse of a man. Whereby it is very easie to observe with what facility the enemy might now be dealt withall before he can recollect himselfe anew, or receive forraine supplies which they daily and hourely expect, and being once come to their hands it will [Page]not then be trebble the charge and expence both of blood and treasure that will suppresse them, which now would reduce them to a very great straight.

And therefore I do most humbly beseech your Lord­ship that speedy supplies of men, monies, armes, muniti­on and artilery, with all necessaries depending thereon, as Conducters, Pyoners, Mattrosses, Carriages, Tackle, Horses and Oxen for draught, and all other appurte­nances may either be sent over, or commission and means to raise and maintaine them here, here being but one Canonere, and one Clerke of the store in this Pro­vince: without these your Lordship knows that it is to no boote to march into the field▪ where if the enemy be not too hard for us, he will certainly retire to his holds, and so secure himselfe against our forces.

The necessary use of Firelocks and Dragoones, and of a competent supply of victuall, the stocke of this Countrey being totally wasted, will deserve serious con­sideration: and if I had beene so fortunate as to have re­ceived any succours by those late Easterly winds it would have so discouraged the enemy now newly rou­ted and animated the Protestant party, as that I am very consident by Gods assistance I should have given your Lordship a good account of the quiet of these parts. Whereas the observing that this faire opportunity hath conveyed us no reliefe do begin to muster up their for­ces a fresh, and to take heart at the apprehension of our being diserted in England and left wholy to our selves, wherein I cannot sufficiently expresse how miserable our conditions is; for having from the beginning of these troubles supported the forces mentioned, in the inclosed list with moneyes gained upon severall hard termes and ingagements (besides what I have impressed [Page]to the succour sent thence) I was at last constrained to seize upon 4000 pounds belonging to Sir Robert Tynte, and ready to be transported out of the Kingdome (and which he refused to lend upon the publique faith of this state, which neverthelesse I gave him upon the seisure) meerely to preserve the Army from disbanding, which o­therwise it must have undoubtedly done. And therefore I humbly desire, that money may be sent over not onely to discharge that and other engagements, amounting to 4000 pounds more, but that there may be order taken for the entring of those men into pay, and continuing them therein ever since the beginning of the present troubles which I raised at first (by direction from the Lords Justices) for this service, and that the same course may be taken for them as for the rest.

The heighth of insolency and arrogancy in the ene­my will appeare by the inclosed Remonstrance which they sent me after a motion made for a cessation, which in the condition I was in, I had some inclination to con­discend unto, in case it had been sought for in befitting termes: to which purpose I willed them to addresse their humble petition to His Majesty, and in case I did ap­prone thereof, I would give way thereunto, and to a cessation untill his pleasure were knowne; where­upon they transmit me that, whereof the inclosed is a copy: at which I tooke (justly as I conceive) such of­fence as caused me to returne them the inclosed answer, which I should have seconded with such further testi­mony of my aversion to their insolency as would tend much to their disincouragment were I enabled with any reasonable strength so to doe, which I earnestly desire I may be, and with instructions what hand to carry in the prosecution of them, and how to manage the warre [Page]against them, for that every day they encrease in inso­lencie and riot, hanging such prisoners as are not able to pay ransome, ransoming others, hanging old women and stripping all they can lay hold on. All that is left in this Province is the City of Corke, the Townes of King­sale, Youghall, and Bandonbridge; the Cities of Limricke and Waterford being fallen into defection, save that the Fort in the former is able to command the Towne if provided with Munition, wherewith I have sent to sup­ply it.

For persons in Action, it is farre lesse difficult to no­minate those that adhere to the Crowne, which are the Earle of Barrymore, (an industrious servitour) the Lord Viscount Killmallocke, Sir Andrew Barret, and Edmond Fitz Gerald of Ballmarter commonly called the Senescall of Imokilly, by whose care and countenance (joyned with my Lord Barrimores that Barrony of Imokilly is kept in due subjection, and the passage betwixt this City and Youghall thereby open. But whilst we stand on these unable termes to stirre out of these walles, the enemy is at liberty to range and forrage over all parts of the Countrey. And indeed our wants of money are so great and pressing, as that for defect of entertainment and en­couragement, the Officers both of horse and foote daily flocke unto me, and importune to be dismissed and left at liberty to seeke their preferment in England: and so soone at this little which is left me to feede the souldiers with from hand to mouth is spent, I know no way to prevent their sudden disbanding: and therefore I doe againe beseech your Lordship to endeavour that I may not be exposed to the dishonour and misery of being abandoned by the Kings forces, and left my selfe single to the mercy of the enemy; but that monies may be [Page]speedily transmitted unto me with directions what pay to allow the horse-men, and Officers of the foote, with an overplus of money, as I have formerly desired, for extraordinary and emergent occasions, about either the Ordnance or Forts whereas yet nothing is in a right po­sture, but things onely shuffled together for a shift by reason we had not wherewithall to the worke as it ought.