The Declaration of a great overthrow given to the Iriſh Rebels.

SAturday, the ſecond of Aprill, the Earle of Ormond Lievtenant Generall with three thouſand foot, and five hundred horſe, with five field-Pieces, marched from Du­blin, and quartered that night at Racoole.

Sunday morning the third, after Prayers, the Army marched towards the Naaſe, burning ſeveral Villages of the Rebels in their march. Within a mile of the Quarter Captaine Armeſtrong (Quarter-Maſter Generall of the horſe,) broughtword, that in a Caſtle (called Tipper, be­longing to one Sutton, a Collonel (as they call them) amongſt the Rebels; where the ſaid Armſtrong intended to quarter a horſe troop, there were ſome Rebels: Wher­upon the Lievtenant Generall, ſent thither Sir George Wentworth's horſe-troope then commanded by Captaine Thomas Harman, with direction to ſurround the Caſtle, and one of the Trumpetters approaching neerer to the Caſtle then he had direction, was ſlain by a ſhot from the Caſtle. The Lievtenant Generall upon notice thereof, ſent a party of foot under the command of Sir Charles Coot, who blew up the Caſtle, and therein a Popiſh Prieſt, uncle to the ſaid Sutton, and ſome others, ſo retur­ned back to the Quarter.

Monday the fourth, the Army marched to Kilcullin, burning in their march, the Villages in the way which belonged to the Rebels, and quartered at Kilcullin that night.

2Tueſday the fifth, the Army marched from thence to Athy and in their way burnt the Caſtle, and Towne of Kilruſh, belonging to one Fitz Gerald, (a Collonell alſo amongſt the Rebels) and relieved ſome Engliſhmen which had been long priſoners with the Rebels, one of them being an aged man, and a Miniſter.

The Army came that night to Athy, before they got thither the Townſmen (not knowing they were ſo neer them) and fearing the approach of the Rebels (who had the day before aſſaulted the Town) burnt the moſt part of the houſes of the Town, leſt comming into the hands of the Rebels, they ſhould thereby be the better ena­bled to annoy the Caſtle.

Wedneſday the ſixth, the Army reſted at Athy, and the Lievtenant Generall ſent four troops of horſe to re­lieve the Caſtles of Caterlagh, and Cloughgrenan, viz. his Lordſhips troop commanded by Sir Patrick Wymes, Sir George Wentworth's troops commanded by Captain Har­man, Captaine Tho. Armſtrong's troop commanded by himſelf, and part of Sir Charles Coot. When they came within ſight of the Town, the Rebels obſerving their ap­proach ſet the Town on fire and fled. Whereupon Cap. Harman (beſt knowing that Countrey, and which way they would take) did with his horſ-troop purſue them, and killed 50 of them, the reſt eſcaping into a Bog, brought in good ſtore of cattle, and relieved the Caſtle, where there were 500 perſons, who were exceedingly diſtreſſed having beene a long time beſieged by the Re­bels, the troops returned that night to their quarter, ha­ving relieved both the Caſtles.

The ſame day Sir Charles Coot was ſent forth with a party of horſe and foot, and relieved Cap. George Gre­ham's Caſtle (called Ballylenon) wherein there were 300 perſons. Caſtle Rebon was relieved the ſame day, by the3 Lord Lievtenant's and Sir Thomas Luca's troops, and a Caſtle neere it called Bert, taken in, and eight Rebels found in it who were immediatly hang'd.

Thurſday the ſeventh, the Lievtenant Generall mar­ched from Athy to Stradbally, and left at Athy Collonell Crauford and his Regiment, and Sir George Wentworth's Horſ-troop for the Guard of the Town being a paſſage over the River of Barrow.

Friday the eighth, the Army marched from Stradbal­ly towards his Majeſties Fort of Maryburrough; That day Sir Thomas Lucas (Commiſſary Generall of the horſe) accompanied with Sir Charles Coot, together with foure troops of horſe commanded by the Lord Lievte­nant Lord Liſle, Sir Tho. Lucas, and Sir Charles Coot were ſent to relieve Ballynekill Caſtle, with ammunition. In their march thither there ſallied out of one of the Demp­ſie's Caſtles (called Knockardnegurragh 300 of the Re­bels Captain Treſwel commanding the Lord Liſles troop charged them and kill'd 60 of them, and put the reſt to flight. In that ſervice there was a Gentleman of the Scottiſh Nation (called Maſter Calvil) ſhot in the arme. Some Armes were then taken from the Rebels, which were left with the Earle of Londonderry's Uncle, at Bally­nekil; that night thoſe troops returned back to the Fort of Maryborrough.

Saturday the ninth, the whole Army reſted at the Fort of Maryborrough.

Eaſterday the tenth, Sir Thomas Lucas Commiſſary Generall of the horſe, accompanied with Sir Charles Coot together with ſix Horſe troops, viz. The Lord Lievtenants, Sir Thomas Lucas, Sir Charles Coot, Sir Ri­chard Greenvile, Captain Armſtrong, and Captain Schout's were ſent with ammunition to relieve the Caſtles of Burros, Knoknemeaſe, and Burr. 4In which days march, paſsing the river of the Noare, the Rebels ſhot at our Troops, but ſome of the horſe beat them out of the woods, and killed ſome of them. Neere the Caſtle of Florence Fitz Patrick, there was a ſtone cau­ſway through a Bog, where but two horſes could march in front, where the Rebels had caſt up a ditch on each ſide of the Cauſway, and cut off ſome two yards in the length, at the entrance on the cauſway, ſo to hinder our mens paſſage; which when our men obſerved, although the Rebels ſtood in their view, ready to play upon them with their ſhot, yet our men remayning reſolute in the ſervice they went about, deſerted not that place, but a­lighted from horsback; and Sir Charles Coot in his owne perſon with thirty of the Dragoons, (then become Muſ­quetiers) did on foot charge the Rebels, ſo to force their paſſage, and did force it, being ſeconded therein by 30 of Sir Tho. Lucas horſe, the reſt of the horſe comming on ſoftly after. In that conflict, and execution done by the Horſe, hee that there commanded the Rebels in chiefe was ſlain, with forty of the Rebels. Captain Armſtrong was ſlightly ſhot. The paſſage being ſo gain'd, the troops marched to Burros, the Duke of Buckingham's Caſtle, and there relieved al the Engliſh being in number about 300, who had beene for a long time beſieg'd by the Rebels, and were almoſt ſtarved. From thence the troops mar­ched forwards to the Bur, and in their way relieved the Caſtle of Knocknemeaſe, and got to Bur about three of the clock in the morning, and relieved the Caſtle, and foure o•500 Engliſh therein, who had endured a long ſiege by the Rebels.

Monday the eleventh, the troops in their return back marched through O Dunn's Country, and burnt all the Country untill they came to Caſtle Cuff, from thence5 marching to Portnchinch through Woods, and Bogs, the Rebels fell upon them, and Captaine Yarner was ſhot in the fore-head (of which ſhot he is well recovered) ſome of the troopers were hurt, and divers of their horſes kil­led, and the paſſage of Portnchinch, was poſſeſſed by the Rebels, ſo that the troops were forc'd to ſwim the Ri­ver of the Barrow. The Lievtenant Generall knowing that the troops were to return that way, and conſidering that it is a dangerous paſſage (he being himſelfe indiſpo­ſed by reaſon of ſickneſſe all Saturday and Sunday) ſent thither 500 foot commanded by Collonell Monck, and the Lord Liſle's horſ-troop commanded by Capt. Treſ­well, who burnt all the Countrey, and kept the Rebels ſo buſie in fight, who had intrencht themſelves upon that paſſage, as gave our troops opportunity to paſſe ſafe over another paſſage, but were ſo ill guided in the night through the Bogs, that they were conſtrained to ſtay all that night in the Bogs untill morning, and in this hard journey there were loſt and made unſerviceable above 100 horſe, the horſmen having ſate 48 houres on horſ­back, before they came back to the fort at Maryburrough. Alſo the Lievtenant Generall, upon Eaſter-day, ſent his owne horſ-troope commanded by Sir Patrick Wymes to Ballinekill, to relieve the Engliſh that were there, who were in great diſtreſſe for want of victuals, where the troop quartered that night.

Monday morning the eleventh, Sir Patrick gave dire­ctions, that all the carts and horſes that could be found there, ſhould be made ready to bring in corn for the re­lief of the Caſtle, and with his troop brought in unto them 80 barrels of wheat and beere belonging to one Dempſie a notorious Rebell, which they tooke within Musket ſhot of his Caſtle.

6About five a clock in the afternoon there were 1000 of the Rebels, and two troops of horſe that ſhewed themſelves upon a Hill (called Ballyoskill) within two Muskets ſhot, and did not advance. Sir Patrick Wymes burnt all the Villages belonging to Dempſie, and returned back that night with the troop to the Fort of Marybur­rough.

That night the Lievtenant Generall received intelli­gence by Letters from Coll. Crauford, That the Rebels with about forty Colours were incamped on both ſides of the River of Barrow, and were there making up the bridge of Magainy, which had been in the beginning of the Rebellion broken by order from the State.

Tueſday the twelfth, the whole Army lay ſtill at the Fort of Maryborrough, to give reſt to the troops, the bet­ter to prepare and enable them for ſervice, ſeeing there was advertizement of the Rebels being incampt, ſo as might give them fight in their return.

Upon Wedneſday the 13, the Army marcht through to Athy, and burnt a great part of the Territory of Clam­nalcero, a Countrey belonging to the Lord Dempſie in re­bellion.

Thurſday the fourteenth, the Army continued at A­thy, the Rebels quartering on both ſides the River at the Bridge of Magainy, within foure miles of Athy, with a­bout 7000 foot, and 200 horſe amongſt whom were (as we underſtood by ſome priſoners taken in the fight) the Lord Viſcount Mount Garret, the Lord Viſcount Ikerin, the Lord Baron of Dunboyne, the Baron of Loghmoe, and moſt of the principall rebels of the Counties of Wickloe, Wexford, Caterlagh, Kildare, Kilkenny and Queen's County, who drew up a part of their forces to a place called Tanckardſtowne, neer Grange Mellon, a Caſtle defended by7 Miſtris Burroughs, and ſome Warders, which had beene long beſig'd by the Rebels, where the Lievtenant Ge­nerals horſ-troop commanded by Sir Patrick Wymes, and Captain Armſtrong's troop were quartered. From which Caſtle in the morning by directions from the Lievte­nant Generall Cornet Butler, and Cornet Magragh, were ſent to diſcover the Rebels; but they obſerving that part of the troops were a forraging ſent over a troop of horſe, each horſman carrying behind him a Muſquetier, who croſt the River thinking to cut off both the Cor­nets, which Sir Patrick Wymes, and Captain Armſtrong, be­ing upon the top of the Caſtle obſerving, did in preven­tion thereof get together ſo many of the horſmen as were in the quarter, and charg'd the Rebels then in skir­miſh with two Cornets, and forced them back over the River, kill'd one of their horſmen, hurt divers of the reſt, kill'd all the foot, and ſome were drowned in ſwim­ming back again. In this ſervice Sir Patrick Wymes had his horſe kill'd under him, and two of the Lievtenant Generals troop were then ſhot.

The ſame ſame day in the afternoone the Lievte­nant Generall accompanied with Sir Charles Coot, Sir Thomas Lucas, Collonel Crauford, Collonel Monck, and other Commanders: and divers Voluntiers with 200 horſe went to view the ſtrength of the Rebels, and in what manner they lay. Upon his Lordſhips returne to Athy, he then immediatly called a Councell of Warre: and having there imparted his obſervation concerning the Rebels, it was debated in Councell, what reſoluti­on was fitteſt to be taken. And conſidering that our hor­ſes were exceedingly haraſed in their former long and troubleſome marches for reliefe of the ſeverall places8 formerly mentioned; that many of the ſouldiers were ſicke; that our victuals were well neere ſpent; that our ſtore of munition was much exhauſted in furniſhing the ſeverall places we had relieved; that wee had not heard from Dublin, nor they from us ſince we marched thence, by reaſon that all the ways were ſhut up by the Rebels that therefore we knew not but there might be cauſe for haſtning thither, to prevent any inconvenience there that we were much〈◊…〉with the multitude of our carriages increaſed neceſſarily for carrying the Muniti­on ſent for relief of the ſaid ſeverall Caſtles, and for car­rying of our own proviſion of bread, lest the want there of might diſtreſſe us abroad where wee were not ſure to be ſufficiently provided, and for carrying our ſick men, and many poore unſerviceable Engliſh, whom wee brought away from the Caſtles relieved, that the forces of the Rebels loy upon a great advantage, and might at their pleasure get from us into a Bog, or Wood, both which lay very neere them; that they might eaſily break down the bridge of Magainy, formerly mentioned, which they had newly made up, and lay betweene both parts of their forces: It was therefore reſolved in Councell that we would not goe to ſeek out an enemy, eſpecially they being ſo numerous, and having thoſe other advan­tages of us, but would rather bend our courſe towards Dublin, yet for as if they hindred our march wee would not diſhonour his Majeſties army ſo, as to fly from thoſe Rebels, but would endeavour (by the aſſiſtance of Al­mighty God) to force our paſſage in deſpight of them, with what hazard ſoever.

In put ſuit of that reſolution taken in the Councell of War, we murched from Athy, on Friday the fifteenth of this moneth by ſix of the clocke in the morning: Our9 numbers of able fighting men (by reaſon of thoſe wee had diſpoſed in ſeverall needfull, and apt Garriſons, and by reaſon of our ſick men) not exceeding 2400 foot, and about 400 horſe who upon the firſt ſetting forth were put into this Order of marching. Firſt, Corner Pollard with 30 horſe, and 40 fire-locks as a Vant Currlers and for­lorn hope. In the next place the baggage belonging to the horſe, then ſix troops of horſe led by Sir Tho. Lucas Commiſſary Generall of the Horſe in two Diviſions; then followed the baggage of the foot Vivres, and the animunition waggons.

After it the Lievtenant Generall with a troop of Vo­lunteers commanded by Cap. Edmund Matthew wherein were the Lord Dillon (eldeſt ſon to the Earle of Roſco­mon) the Lord Braba•on (eldeſt ſonne to the Earle of Meath) Sir Robert Farrar, Colonell Iohn Barry, Serjeant Major John Ogle, and divers other Gentlemen of good quality. After him followed foure Diviſions of foot, Each conſiſting of about 300, then marched the Artille­ry, and the Amunition belonging to it. After them four other Diviſions of foot, of 300 each. Then three troops of horſe commanded by Sir Richard Greenvile; the Rear of the foot was commanded by Sir Charles Coot.

When wee had marched about a mile in this order, we diſcovered the Rebels on the right hand of Us, with all their ſtrengh of horſe and foot, making all poſſible haſte to overtake Us; or to prepoſſeſſe a paſſage neere to Bal•…ſonnan, ſome five miles from Athy, which paſſage wee could not avoid, having reſolved to quarter at Con­nell. Whereupon the Lievtenant Generall cauſed the Pioners to make ways into the incloſed grounds, that ſo the foot might march in the Flanck of the baggage, aſ­well for the ſecurity of it; as to avoid the cumber there­of,10 in caſe the light arm'd Rebels ſhould fall ſuddenly upon us, and commanded out Cornet Magragh with•0 horſe, and directions carefully to obſerve the Rebels march, and then he gave order to Sir Thomas Lucas, with all the horſ-troops that marched in the Van (except his Lordſhips own troop, and the Volunteers) and a party of Fire-locks to poſſeſſe the foreſaid paſſage, and to make it good till all the troopes ſhould come thither. Then his Lordſhip ſent out other Scouts to bring in continuall notice of the motions, and approach of the Rebels. By that time wee had marched about two miles further, the Scouts came in, and brought in intelligence, that the Rebels were on the otherſide of a Hill that had for a good while hindred our ſight of them, and that they made extraordinary haſte to overtake us, or to poſ­ſeſſe themſelves of the paſſage before us. Hereupon the Lievtenant Generall haſtned on the baggage, and gave the Conductors order to make no ſtand, till it were got­ten beyond that paſſage.

Preſently after this Order given, hee diſcovered di­vers of the Rebels Colours drawn up upon a Hill on the right hand; whereupon hee inſtantly made a ſtand with the firſt foure Diviſions of foot, drew them up in order to fight, and faced the Rebels within two Muskets ſhot of them, leaving room for the other troops of horſe and foot according to the ground, and the order he had de­ſigned to draw them up in, having formerly ſent for them upon the firſt notice of the Rebels being ſo neere us. In this order, and in expectation of the other troops wee ſtood awhile; The Rebels likewiſe in the meane time drawing up, and ordering their troops. At length Sir Charles Coot, Sir Thomas Lucas, and Sir Richard Green­vile came with the troops under their commands (ha­ving11 by their diligence, and circumſpection prevented the Meſſengers whom the Lievtenant Generall had pro­vidently, and with good judgment ſent for them) and were by his Lordſhip immediatly put into order deſcri­bed in the incloſed Card.

In which order wee advanced towards the Rebels till by the interpoſition of a hedge and hollow way, ſome of the Troops were forced to goe about, and then drew up again in the ſame order, on the otherſide of the Hedge, within almoſt Musket ſhot of the Rebels: Then were ſent out parties of Fire-locks, and Muſ­quetiers to begin the fight. After they had given fire for a good ſpace upon the Rebels, and the Rebels upon them Sir Thomas Lucas with all the Troopes on the left wing, (viz.) his owne Troope Captaine Armeſtrong's and the Earle of Ormond's, (which laſt was commanded by Sir Patrick Wymes) and were led by Sir Thomas Lucas, the other diviſion followed wherein were Sir George Wentworths commanded by Captain Harman, Sir Char­les Coot's, by Lievtenant Devalier, and the Lord Lievtenant's by Captaine Yarner, who commanded that Diviſion, marched up in order towards two bo­dies of the Rebels conſiſting of three thouſand, with a Troope of Horſe on each Wing of the Rebels Divi­ſions, they in the meane time giving fire in his face, and the other two bodies that were on their right Wing conſiſting of foure thouſand doing the like in his left Flancke, when hee was gotten within leſſe then Car­bin ſhot of them, divers of our Horſe and Men, that were within being hurt he haſtened, and charged them upon a good round Trot, and in the end routed them, and forced them to betake themſelves to flight towards a Bog, they leaving behind them divers of their Co­lours12 and Armes; Sir Richard Greenvile then with three Troopes (viz.) The Lord Liſle's, commanded by Cap­taine Tr•ſwell, his owne Troope, and Captaine Schout's charged the left wing of the Rebels. Horſe who were routed alſo, and betooke themſelves to flight as the o­thers had done; During all which time our Foote gal­lantly advancing, gave fire inceſſantly upon the Re­bels, our Horſe then followed the execution bravely.

And then alſo our foot ſtill continued to give fire upon thoſe routed men, which they did exceedingly well, un­till by the mingling of our men with theirs, in the pur­ſuit, it became neceſſary (for the preſervation of our own men ſo mingled with the Rebels) to forbeare. And there­fore the Lieutenant Generall commanded them to for­beare, which then (and not before) they did according­ly. In all that time the body of 4000. of the Rebels, which was the right wing of their Army ſtood faſt and moved not. In which wing the Lord Mount Garret, and Collonel Hugh Birne, and divers others of the principall Rebels were (as was told us by ſome Priſoners taken in the fight) Againſt that body; the Lieutenant Generall, with his Troope of Voluntiers, and Sir John Shirlock, Lieutenant Collonel of the Lord Lamberts Regiment, with a diviſion of 300. foot advanced, and ſent out ſixtie Musquetiers, who gave fire upon the Rebels, and the Rebels on them, and on the Lieutenant Generall with the Voluntiers.

But in concluſion, that body which of all the Rebels had the confidence to ſtand longeſt, having ſeene all the reſidue of their Army routed, and the execution ſo ſharp­ly followed, they began to breake, but being by their Officers rallied againe, they gave fire againe on the Lieu­tenant Generall, and thoſe 300. foot of ours, who retur­ned13 backe to the Rebels ſuch volleys of ſhot, as gave them little comfort to ſtand longer; but they choſe rather to betake them•elves to flight, yet diſguiſing it by a ſeeming Retreate, vntill they got to the top of a Hill neere them, and then they began to run with all ſpeed poſſible to ſave their lives, to a bogge not farre from thence, whither all the reſt of the Rebels formerly Routed had betaken them­ſelves, and where their Horſemen had run their Horſes into the Bogges, an there for looke them, and betooke them to their heeles, and thither they were purſued moſt fiercely by our horſe and foot, who were ſo forward and fierce in following the execution, as the Lieutenant Ge­nerall had much difficulty to keepe them from following even into the Bogge, and no leſſe difficulty to get them to retreate, ſo earneſtly did they all deſire to have the kil­ling of more of the Rebels; But in the end they were perſwaded to retreate. And then the Lieutenant Gene­rall aſſembling the Army, commanded them to prayer•, And his Lordſhip (as did alſo all the reſt) gave God publicke thankes for that Victory, which God in mercy had given us againſt thoſe Rebels, whoſe numbers did as farre exceed ours, as our men did theirs in judgement, vallour, and reſolution. In that Battell were ſlaine of the Rebels above 700. and amongſt them many Collo­nels and Captaines, and Men of qualitie, and about 20. of our men were ſlaine, and about 40. hurt, ſome of whom have died ſince.

Nor may it be omitted to doe the Lieutenant Gene­rall, that right which is due to him in this important ſervice that he did in his owne perſon, order the Battell and manner of fight in all the parts of it, and did it with very great judgement, layd hold quickly, and ſeaſonably14 on all opportunities of advantage that could be gained, and ſpared not reſolutely to expoſe his own perſon to ha­zard, equally with any other Commander.

Sir Thomas Lucas manifeſted great courage, and very judicious Conduct, and the Officers led by him gave good Teſtimonies of alacrity, and undaunted reſolution, As alſo did Sir Charles Coote, Collonel Crauford, Collonel Monck, Lievtenant Collonel Lofius; Serjeant Major Warren, Serjeant Major Pageat, Serjeant Major Willough­by, that led on the Foot. And likewiſe Sir Richard Green­vile, that Commanded the right wing of the Horſe, and the Officers under his command, and indeed all the Offi­cers, and even the common Souldiers acquitted them­ſelves exceedingly well and commendably.