The laſt great and bloudy FIGHT At DUBLIN in IRELAND UPON The advance of the King of Scots Army to the Walls of the City, for a ſtorm, with the manner thereof, and the number killed and taken priſoners.
THe Marq. of Ormond (we hear) is reſolved for a ſtorm, and in order thereunto, hath drawn down moſt of his Horſe and Foot within two miles of the City, skaling ladders, and other inſtruments of Warre being in a readineſſe to be put in execution; And by our laſt expreſſe from thence we were advertized, that he had made ſeverall attempts againſt the North ſide of the City,2 ſtormed Patrick Fort, and many other places, but received ſo deſperate a repulſe, that he were forced to quit the place and deſiſt from any further enterpriſing on it, in which conflict he loſt about 50 men. Sir Thomas Armstrong is alſo very active for his young Soveraign, and maketh many onſets againſt the Out guards, and having a choice and ſelect party drawn forth of ſeverall Regiments, he advanced from the Camp within piſtoll ſhot of the walls of Dublin, and endeavoured to drive all before him, but Col. Jones made a ſalley, and charged him with ſuch courage and ſucceſſe, that he not only regained what before loſt, but killed and took about 60 of the enemy. During which action, the L. Inchiquin playd his Guards with great policy, and by his ſtrong allarum on the South ſide of the City, kept the beſieged in play, whilſt another party diſputed the Rings-end who at the laſt became maſters thereof, with the loſſe of 20 men; ſince which time he hath attempted the cutting off the Mills neer adjoyning to the City, and as we hear) are reſolved ſuddenly for a finall ſtorm. But that which addes moſt to the propagation of the Work in hand, is the taking of the ſtrong and impregnable Caſtle of Trius, with many pieces of Ordnance, Arms and Ammunition, but not without the loſſe of at leaſt 1000 men ſince the firſt befieging thereof.
Bristol7 August, 1649.
Other Letters from Dublin ſay as followeth.
Since the enemies receipt of the intelligence of the Lord Lieutenant Crumwels deſignment for this bleeding City, they have ſomewhat awakened us with ſtronger allarms, and (as we hear) have entred into Proteſtation, to live and die, stand and fall together, and to fight it out to the laſt man, and that upon receipt of the foreſaid intelligence, Ormond called a Councell of Officers, at the head quarters neer Fingles, the3 reſult was, whether they ſhould prepare for a ſtorm, before his Lordſhips landing, or whether they ſhould begirt the City, ſtreighten other Gariſons, take in what they could and then randezvouz and draw into a Body, and give him battell at his landing: Upon mature deliberation thereon, it was unanimoſly declared by moſt of that Popiſh and Prelaticall faction, That if he ſet footing there they wold fight him; in the mean time they would uſe their utmoſt endeavours for the reducing of thoſe Garriſons which the Parliament had in poſſeſſion.
But the thing that our Souldiery are moſt doubtfull and dubious of, is, that they fear the enemy will not give them a field upon the additionall forces landing, but that they wil rather betake themſelves to the Bogs and Woods.
On Thurſday morning laſt, a party of the Marq. of Ormonds horſe and foot faced our frontier Guards, keeping a great careering up & down neer the City Wals, and making four or five deſperate attempts within Piſtol ſhot of our Line, Spurs, and Sconces, which continued for the ſpace of half an hour; till at the laſt Capt. Freeman (Commander in chief of the new Fort) made a ſalley out with a party of horſe and foot, who placed the Muſquetiers in an obſcure trench, for an Ambuſcado; he himſelf being the Coy, for the calling in and enſnaring of the adverſe party; but upon his firſt advance towards them with his horſe, he found it a Work very full of difficulty, by reaſon that they had uſed the like point of policp: However, he reſolved to diſpute the place, and thereupon divided his horſe (being 60 in number) into two parties, he himſelf commanding the one, and Cornet Jackſon the other; Capt, Freeman charged the Van of the Enemies Forlorn, Cornet Tomſon flanked them, and upon their firſt charge exchanged ground, with the loſſe of three men on both ſides.
New Propoſitions to the King of Scotland,
VVE are commanded by the Eſtates of Parl. of your Maj. Kingdom of Stotland, humbly to repreſent to your Majeſty, that as they were not wanting in giving faithfull and timous counſell to your Maj. Royal Father, for yreveuting the dangers which were then feared, & have ſince to their deep ſorrow and unexpreſſible grief fallen out: and as they have with all care and faithfulneſſe contributed their utmoſt endeavors for preſerving their late Soveraign, as their Letters & Declarations can evidence; ſo they do reſolve to continue the ſame loyal affection and faithfulneſs to your Maj. and accordingly have acknowledged and proclaimed your Maj. King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, with all readineſſe, unanimity, alacrity and ſolemnity; and have proteſted in favours of your Majeſties juſt Right of Succeſſion in the Royall Government of your Kingdoms of England and Ireland, againſt all Acts done, or to be done to the contrary: As alſo have commanded Us in their name, humbly to offer to your Majeſty, that they conceive it neceſſary for eſtabliſhing of the happy Government of that your Majeſties ancient Kingdom, and for reſtoring your Majeſty to the ſetled and peaceable poſſeſſion of your juſt Right of Government of your other Dominions.
Firſt, That your Majeſty would be pleaſed to aſſure and declare, that you will by your ſolemn Oath under your Hand and Seal allow the Nationall Covenant of Scotland, and the ſolemn League and Covenant of Scotland, England and Ireland, and that your Majeſty will proſecute the ends thereof in your Royall Station.
Secondly, That your Maj. will ratifie and approve all Acts of Parl. enjoyning the ſolemn League and Covenant,5 and eſtabliſhing Presbyterial Government, the Directory of Worſhip, the Confeſſion of Faith, and Catechiſm, in your Maj. Kingdom of Scotland; as they are already approven by the General Aſſembly of the Kirk, and by the Parl of that kingdom: and that your Maj. will give your Royal aſſent to acts of parl. enjoyning the ſame in the reſt of your Maj. Dominions: and that your Mai. will obſerve the ſame in your own practiſe and family, and never make oppoſition thereto, or endeavour any change thereof.
Thirdly, That your Mai. will conſent and agree, that all matters Civil be determined by the preſent and ſubſequent parl. of your Kingdom of Scotland, and all matters Eccleſiaſticall by the enſuing Generall Aſſemblies of that Church rs was formerly condeſcended and agreed to by your Maieſties Royall Father.
Theſe deſires are ſo juſt and neceſſary for the ſecuring of Religion, the peace of that kingdom, and for gaining not only the outward obedience, but alſo the inward affection of all your Mai. good people, to your Royal perſon, authority and government, after ſo great diſtractions and trobles, that the granting thereof will ſo far endear your Mai. to that Nation, that they will not only receive your Mai. with all cheerfulneſſe, and moſt willingly render to you that ſubiection and dutifull obedience which can be expected from loyall Subiects to their gracious King; but likewiſe will contribute their utmoſt endeavours by all neceſſary and lawfull means, according to the Covenant, and the duty of faithfull and loyall ſubiects, that your Mai. may be reſtored to the peaceable poſſeſſion of the Government of your other kingdoms, according to your Mai. undoubted Right of ſucceſſion. In order whereunto, we humbly deſire, that your Mai. will be pleaſed to give a direct and ſatisfactory anſwer to theſe our moſt juſt and neceſſary deſires;6 in doing whereof, your Maieſty will be to theſe afflicted kingdoms, like the rain coming down upon the mowen graſſe, and as ſhowers that water the earth.
There came further intelligence to the parliament, out of Lancaſhire, that one Sunday laſt a Miniſter was apprehended, for incerting this enſuing? paſſage in his prayer VVe pray unto thee for thy truths protectour, thy young, ancient Catholick faiths defender, thy Servant our Soveraign: defend him in it; preſerve him from it: be good to them that have the tuition of him, that with alacrity and cheerfulneſſe, be may at all times, but eſpecially in the needfull time of trouble defend and provide for the fatherleſſe and VViddows. Son of God we beſeech thee to heare us, Moreover, that it may pleaſe to thee to ſtrengthen ſuch as do ſtand with him, to comfort and help the weak hearted for him, to raiſe up (if it be poſſible) them that are fallen from him: and finally to beat down Sathan under his and our feet.
Letters from the Weſt ſay, That in Herefordſhire there was lately found a young Child i•a green Meadow by the Mowers which were cutting do••the graſſe, and upon the taking of the Infant up, its ſaid, that it uttered theſe expreſſions, That in that field ſhould be fought the greateſt battell that ever hapned in England, which would prove fatall to many, but proſperous and tryumphant to ſome, &c. having ſpoken theſe words, the Relator ſaith, that it vaniſhed away ſuddenly, no man knowing how, nor which way.