NOt long after my arrivall at the Hague, intimation was given me by a noble freind (upon ſome caſuall diſcourſe with him of the affaires of Ireland) that your Lordship had a great deſire to be ſatisfied as well in ſome particulars touching the conduct of that buſineſſe ſince my L^d. Leiu^t. laſt went thither, as in what condition the Kingdom ſtood at the time when I came from thence; Wher­upon not knowing whether the neceſſitie of my occaſions, (or indeed the uſuall thwartneſſe of my fortune in what I moſt covet) would allow me ſo great a hapineſs as perſonally to waite upon you before I left this country, I held it my duty in that caſe to leave ſome teſtimony behind me of my obedience, and readineſſe to ſerve you, wherin rather then faile, I have adventured to ingage my ſelfe in this relation, though cons­cious of mine owne diſability to performe it in ſuch ſort as the ſubject requires, the unpollished rudeneſſe of ſo plaine and courſe a ſtile, affording no luſtre of ornament, or beauty that may render it worthy to be preſented to a perſon of your eminency; which may the eaſier in my behalfe admit of ex­cuſe, whoſe profeſſion, and practice hath all wayes bin ac­cuſtomed rather to uſe a ſword then a pen: the only plea I have therfore to offer to your Lordship for this preſumption is the candor, and integrity where with it is written, which I have4 religiouſly obſerved through the whole body of the diſcourſe, endeavouring to vindicate truth, which I find highly ſuffering by the world, either through the malice, and malignity of theſe unhappy times, or for want of cleare, and impartiall in­formation: which I am confident your Lordship, and all who rightly know me, will expect from my hands, and which ſince­rely I promiſe to afford, without ſuffering the Biaſſe of any paſ­ſion, or privat reſpect, or intereſt whatſoever to ſway me in the leaſt circumſtance contrary to truth; unleſſe by miſapre­henſion, and want of judgment, or by the miſrepreſentation of the ableſt, and beſt knowing perſons, I may unhappily have bin miſled. But, that I may the better do it, it will be neceſſary a little to look back, and take a short view of the deſperate time, wherein his Ex^cy. the Marqueſſe of Ormond, under tooke this worke; and to reflect upon the ſad face that was then upon His MAjESTIES affaires in all his three Kingdomes.

In England as your Lordship may well remember, the King was not only made a cloſe priſoner, his Crowne, his life, and the ſucceſſion of his poſterity declared againſt, but alſo all thoſe parties that ſtood for him there, or had declared in his behalfe, and taken armes for his reſcue, were wholy diſperſed, and ſubdued: yea and all other men, whoſe parts, honeſty, or pu­blique intereſt made them worthy of a ſuſpition, either im­priſoned, banisht, or utterly diſarmed.

In Scotland the army raiſed for the freedome, and reſtaura­tion of the King, having bin unfortunatly loſt (under the leading of Duke Hamilton in Lankashire,) all that acted by the Kings com­miſſion were not only compelld to lay downe armes, but after being declared incapable to ſit any more in Parliament, or to have any share in Government, ſom of them proſcribed, and5 expelled the land: whilſt Cromwell for having countenanced them in theſe proceedings, was ſaluted at Edenburgh, Preſervator of the nation; thus you ſee there are two Kingdoms, wherin is neither Garriſon, nor army left at the Kings devotion; nor any perſon ſcarce at liberty, that durſt owne either him or his quarrell.

Ireland only remaines to be conſidered, and that God knowes a wofull ſpectacle, cantonized into ſeverall ſundry factions, drawing all divers waies, and driueing on ſeverall intereſts; there was Iones, Monke, and Coote playing an Independant game as eagerly as might be; there were the Scots Patronizinge the Covenant, and Presbitery; there was O Neale, and the Nuntiated party of the Cleargy, that with might, and maine (under the colour of Religion,) were promoteing a forraigne intereſt, in caſe they could not make a Prince at home; there was the counſell of the confederats, together with all the auntient English, and ſome of the Irish their adherents (who being more moderat, and averſe to ſuch deſperat courſes, awakened alſo with the miſe­ries that oppreſt them already, & the ruin that menaced them out of England) made fresh applications into France, unto the Queene, and the Prince his highneſſe, that my Lord Leiu^t. and the Kings Authority might againe be ſent amongſt them; wherupon theſe two factions grew to ſo great a fewde, that the latter were all excomunicated by the firſt; and the firſt proclaimed Traytors by the latter.

Beſides all theſe, there was Inchiquin, who having recol­lected himſelfe at laſt, & diſlikeing the revolutions in England, had prevailed with his party, to declare for the King. Wher­upon he made a ceſſation with the counſell of the confederats, in ex­pectation of my Lord Leiu^ts, coming over; which ceſſation being6 violently oppoſed, both by the ſpirituall, and temporall ſword of the Nuntio, and O Neale, induced finally my Lord Marqueſs of Clanricard, (who from the time of my Lord Leiu^nts. going to ſea from Dublin, had retired himſelfe, and his family to a place convenient to ship away: aſſoone as he should deſpaire of being able to ſerve the King by his further ſtay) to take armes, and drawe together his army to countenance the ceſſation, and to make way for my Lord Marqueſs of Ormond with the Kings Au­thority; to which he did highly contribute, by awing, and curbing the towne of Galloway, at that time the ſeat of the Nuntio, and the principall receptacle of the moſt factious people in the Kingdome; as alſo by his ſuccesfull reduceing of Fort­faukland, Athlone, Iames towne, and the greateſt part of the Pro­vince into his power; But to the end that you may ſee with what ſteadineſſe that Honorable Perſon in the depth of all theſe revolutions hath ſtill adhered unto the ſervice of the King and the Intereſts, of the Crown even againſt thoſe that couloured al their deſignes and practiſes over, with the artificialleſt and moſt deludeing pretences of Religion (ſince it is an example fit to be recommended to poſterity and truly worthy your lordships knowledge) you may pleaſe to read the particular conduct of this his undertakeing in the Coppy of a Letter (I ſend you herewithall) writ from the Marquis himſelfe to M^r. Wal­ſingham then in France.

In this poſture was Ireland when my Lord Leiu^t. came againe upon the ſtage; with his hands in effect empty of armes, and his purſe of money, without the countenance, or aſſiſtance of any foraigne ſtate, wherby to unite this diſtracted people, and re­cover unto His MAjESTIE this devided Kingdome; before Cromwell were at leaſure, to make an expedition thither, which7 as yet either the murder of the King not yet perpetrated, or the unſettlement of that mishapen cub of his new common wealth detained him from.

Yet notwithſtanding all theſe diſadvantages of having neither armes wherwith to awe, or money wherwith to buy men into their duty, or any party ready to imbrace him (my Lord of Clanricard only excepted) but upon the racke of ſcrewed con­ditions; yet at length by Gods bleſſing and his owne prudent management of affaires, ioyned with the great intereſt he had in that people, he ordered matters ſo, as in few months to ſowlder moſt of theſe factions together; and make a peace, wher­unto all but O Neale, and the Independant party did willingly ſubmit. O Neale complained that the conditions were neither ſafe, nor large enough, as to the concernments of Religion, and the Province of Vlſter: and the Independant party exclaimed that the Proteſtant Religion, and the English intereſt forſooth were both betrayed by it: ſo opoſite were, then, theſe two par­ties in their publique quarrells, about the peace, who you shall ſee not long after shake hands behind the curtaine againſt the Kings Authority, which indeed is the blocke they both ſtumble at; for as to the pretence of Religion in the firſt, it is manifeſt how vaine it was, for you shall find that party embrace the peace herafter upon the very ſame conditions; And as to their Provinciall concernments, they were even then well enough ſatisfied that my Lord Leiu^t. could in no ſort be blamed, he being put upon the choiſe whether he would accept of the reſt of the confederats, and the English party in Monſter upon the termes in the printed articles, without any further conceſſions unto Owen O Neale, and the Vlſter army: or elſe in yeelding to their demaunds, looſe both the other two; which may ſuf­fice8 to juſtify my Lord Leiu^t. in that peace againſt their com­plaints. The invectives of Co^ll. Jones, & his party were urged with far greater arte, and fallacies, which being induſtriouſly published in print, were received, I feare, with too much ap­plauſe by many of the people of England, that either were un­willing, or unable to judge a right; and being fortified by a na­tionall animoſitie, had too great an influence, even in Ireland it ſelfe, upon the English army under the comand of my Lord Inchiquin; wherin ſundry of the principall Officers were ſo averſe to a conjunction with the Irish, that dureing the time of the treaty they conſpired to have ſurprized both my Lord Leiu^t. and the Lord Preſident, & to have delivered them up to the Parliament: which in all probabillity had then taken effect, had it not bien acci­dentally prevented by their unexpected departure from Caricke, upon a petition, or repreſentation from the counſell of the con­federat Catholiques to His Ex^cy. that he would remove thence to his owne houſe at Kilkeny; as a place more fit for the conclu­ſion of the treaty: Now whether thoſe ſons of Zerviah were ſo ſtrong, and powerfull in the army that they could not be called to an account, or whether it was conceived more conducible for the advancement of His MAjESTIES affaires to reduce them with time, and gentleneſſe to a right underſtanding, then to looſe ſo many perſons of abillity, and authority, I know not, only I feare their impunity was either the ſole, or concurrent cauſe of the generall revolt, and apoſtacy of thoſe garriſons ſince. But for a full, and ſatisfactory anſwer to all objections, that can be made by either of the parties upon that ſubject, I have taken the bouldneſſe to ſend your Lordship together with this, the copy of a letter (I found lying by me) that was writ by M^r. Walſingham, in returne to the laſt of Jones his printed papers,9 (after it was thought fit by my Lord Leiu^t. to reply no more as from himſelfe) which ſpeaks ſo much truth, and reaſon, that though it came to Jones his hands, he was well content to give over his paper war; in that letter your Lordship may find the peace ſo firmely aſſerted, and both the juſtice, and neceſſity of what was don ſo well demonſtrated, as wauing all arguments of mine owne in that behalfe I refer you Lordship thither for an en­tire ſatisfaction.

Only I shall take leave to tell your Lordship this, that his Ex^cy. in aſſociating the Irish and my Lord of Inchiquin together, and in making up of this peace, hath what in conditions to the one, and to the other, ſo bound up himſelfe, as he may well be ſaid to be Lord Leiu^t. but upon curteſy, untill the time of Parliament; having granted unto my Lord Inchiquin the ſole co­mand, and ordering of thoſe forces, and garriſons he brought with him to the Kings obedience; and having oblidged him­ſelfe unto the confederats to authorize only thoſe Officers, and to march in the head of that army which their Commiſsioners should preſent unto him. By this your Lordship may perceive the neceſſity unto which His Ex^cy. was brought, but it could not be avoided, either theſe thinges muſt be aſſented unto by him, or the peace muſt not be made.

And in this ſort my Lord Liu^nts. hands were manacled in ef­fect as to the militia, he having no more to do, but only to go in, & out before an army of ſeverall factions, & religions much averſe to one another: the Officers wherof though never ſo much diſliked by him he could not but admit of; if either the one party, or the other inſiſted upon their conditions; it cannot therfore ſeeme ſtrange, (when rightly conſidered,) that Inchiquins, and the Irish forces were never incorporated together,10 nor indifferently intermingled in all the garriſons; neither why the army was either ſo ill diſciplined, and officerd, (as in truth it was,) ſince what hath bin ſaid is a full anſwer, as I conceive, to that objection.

The difficulties His Ex^cy. alſo had, to make theſe ſeverall Factions underſtand either him, or one another, were very great; witnes the printed Declaration the Mounſter forces ex­torted from him before the concluſion of the peace, and thoſe many diffidences, and demurs the Irish made therupon; both which parties he muſt of neceſſity humor, and comply with, or elſe mutinies, and defections could not be avoided. The caſe being ſuch, your Lordship (who have commanded great ar­mies, and had experience in ſome meaſure of theſe inconve­niences) very well knowes, that the skill muſt needs be great in a Generall ſo to devide himſelfe amongſt them, as to keep them in obedience, and contented. My Lord Lieu^t. by the gentleneſſe, and affabilitie of his diſpoſition, and his great pru­dence in foreſeeing, & preuenting evils, wreſtled a long time ſuccesfully, with all theſe inconveniences, tuneing all theſe diſcords into harmony; and at length aſſoone as money could be got to move withall, or the ground affoorded graſſe for their horſe, a part of the army is drawn together under the com­mand of the Earle of Caſtle-haven (generall of the horſe) whoſe prevaileing againſt ſeverall of O Neales, & Jones his garriſons joyned to the voluntary coming in of many of their ſouldiers, and ſurrender of their holds, gave very much credit, and repu­tation to the Kings army.

All the time that this is in doing my Lord Leiu^t. was buſied in treating with, and courting Jones, & Owen O Neale unto the Kings obedience; the firſt of which (being as is beleived)11 corrupted by Cromwells bribes, & large promiſes, poſitively de­clines my Lord Leiu^ts. favour, as apeares by their printed let­ters: the latter having at laſt waued all things concerning re­ligion, more then what was granted in the peace, inſiſts finally upon the comand of 6000. foot, and 800. horſe, together with thoſe other conditions that ſince were granted him; the Commiſ­ſioners will permit my Lord Leiu^t. to allow him no more but 4000. foot & 600. horſe, which number they obſtinatly refuſed to ex­ceed; denying him alſo ſeveral other of his leſſer demaunds, wherupon O Neale ſeeing them willing either to leave him quite out, or to have him come in upon ſuch termes as he judged inconſiderable, (they peradventure thinking themſelves able to do the worke without him) makes preſent application unto Monk, and Jones, either to be revenged, upon the Commiſsioners, my Lord of Inchiquin, the Scots, and all the reſt, that he con­ceived to oppoſe him, or elſe, as he afterwards ſaid, to make himſelfe more conſiderable, and therby facilitate his condi­tions with them.

Whatſoever his motive was, at laſt Monke makes an agreement with him, in the name of the Parliament;) though they very tamely upon Cromwells motion did afterwards thinke fit to diſclaime him) upon which ſcore, howſoever, he aſſiſted them all he could, undertaking the releife of Derry, which he after­wards effected; and notwithſtanding that his Ex^cy. dureing all this time was very ſencible of the great conſequence of Owen O Neales comming in, or ſtanding out, in order to the ſervice, or diſſervice of the King, and that he looked upon the diſpute of denying him the comand of 6000. men, when they were content to entruſt him with 4000. as a ſtrange kind of overſight in the Commiſsioners, & the reſt concurring with them, the rather,12 becauſe he knew that by his ſtanding out, that accurſed quarrell betweene the Kings, and the Nuntios party, (not unlike that of the Guelphs, and Gibbelines in Italy) was kept on foot, the re­fractory Cleargy were countenanced, & upheld in credit with the people, and the great Cityes were animated to refuſe guar­riſons, to deny the payment of impoſitions, and to diſreſpect both the Lord Leiu^t, and the Commiſsioners: yet was it not in his power to helpe it by any meanes; unleſſe he would have broken conditions with them, which no conſideration of any advantage, how great ſoever, could induce him to do, ſo tender hath he bin ever of his faith and engagements given: The buſines being grown paſt remedy, he gives the treaty over, and the ſeaſon inviteing him to take the field, his army being drawen together, he bends his thoughts wholy now upon the reduction of Dublin, yet meetes with a very unexpected rub in the beginning of his march, for the English forces of Mounſter would not move, neither would the Vlſter Scots unanimouſly ſub­mit before my Lord Inchiquin be declared Leiu^t. Generall of the ar­my: which comand had bin imediatly upon the peace conferd on my Lord Marqueſſe of Clanricard (now upon his march towards Slego) but this demur was alſo overcom by his Lordships being content, to part with that comand, rather then the Kings ſervice should ſuffer through any concernment of his: ſoon after my Lord of Caſtle-haven, upon my Lord of Inchiquins horſe refuſeing to obey his orders, quits the feild in diſtaſte, and re­tires to Kilkeny; which his Ex^cy. ſeemed willing for avoiding greater inconveniences to ſuffer, giving the Earle of Caſtle­haven the charge of ſeing the contributions brought in, and the Comand of the country in his abſence.

Theſe difficulties overcome, His Ex^cy. makes directly for13 Dublin, all the garriſons in his way (but Balliſonan) by force, or faire meanes ſurrendring to him, yet is he ſet forth ſo ſlenderly provided with money, that neare Kildare the army is ready to mutiny, & fall to peeces for want of a very ſmall ſumm, had not a worthy perſon (that was there but accidentally) ſupplied them in that extremity; this ſtraight alſo being overpaſt, & my Lord of Inchiquins forces being come wholy up, they hold on for Dublin, and compell Jones that was drawne out as far as the Naas with what ſtrength he could make to interupt them, to re­tire into the towne; whither being come at laſt, and finding it competently well fortified, and plentifullie man'd both with horſe, and foot, in ſo much that it was judged no waies fit to hazard the army upon a deſperat aſſault, and being not as yet a number able to inveſt the place, eſpecially whilſt O Neale, and Monke, together with the garriſons of Drogheda, and Trim lay ſo convenient to attempt upon them; it was reſolved that my Lord Leiu^t. should with the greateſt part of his army encampe at Finglaſſe, from thence to awe, & diſtreſſe the towne, and be ready to countenance any ſtirs, or revolts within, whilſt my Lord of Inchiquin with a great body of horſe, and above 2000 foot endevours to take in Trim, and Drogheda; al this time His Ex^cy. found great wants to encounter with, his proviſions, and contributions coming in ſo ſlowly, and diſproportionably to the neceſſities of his army; and many factions to compoſe, and temper, the Mounſter, and the reſt of the English forces mur­muring againſt the liberty the Irish had there in the exerciſe of their religion, & the Irish againe repining to ſee themſelves mur­mured at; but more eſpecially to ſee the English Mounſter forces (though they were fewer in number, and had contributions of their owne) to ſwallow up both their pay, and proviſions alſo;14 which though the reſt of the army did petition againſt, His Ex^cy. could in no waies remedy, being conſtrained to humor, and comply with that party, as being a people ſo ticklish, and un­ſteady, that, if diſguſted, might probably either ſide with Jones, or retireing to their own garriſons, compell the army to with draw, from Dublin by declaring themſelves for the Parlia­ment.

S^r. Tho. Armſtronge, and my Lord Moore being come in to my Lord Inchiquin; Co^ll. Mark Treuors (that was but newly de­clared for the King) having got notice of a choice party of O Neales, ſent to Dundalke to convay thence ſuch armes, and amu­nition as Monk had undertaken to ſuply him withall, invites my Lord Inchiquin to intercept them, who came ſo oportunely thither, that he gained O Neals ſuplie of amunition, with the utter defeat of his party; wherupon ſoon after the gaining of 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, S^r. 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 deprivinge15 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 perſon16 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 Leiu^t. or S^r. Robert Byron about a Leiu^t. 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 Leiu^t. (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 should17 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 Leiu^t. 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: S^r. 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 M^r. 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 Leiu^t. 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 to18 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 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 Leiu^t., who19 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; S^r. 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,20 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 Leiu^t. 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 L^d. Leiu^t. 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 L^d. Leiu^t. 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 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 what22 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 S^r. 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 Leiu^t. 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 that23 place to S^r. 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. S^r. Richard Barnewell, and S^r. 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.