SIr in my laſt of ye 19. of December I wrote to you at large of the arriuall of the newe ſupplie of Spaniards at Caſtel-hauē, Baltemore, and Beerhauen, and of their intents and beginnings to fortifie, in all thoſe thrée important places. Likewiſe that Sir Richard Leuiſon towing out of Kinſale Hauen againſt winde & weather, fought with them within Caſtle Hauen moſt valiantly, and of their ſhips being ſixe, ſunke and made vnſeruiceable fiue: the men being moſt landed before hee could come to them, by reaſon of the weather, and beating vpon him very dangerouſly from the land with their ordinance. That they were ſaid to be 2000. in number, with great ſtore of ordinance and munition, & that as they reported, ſome thouſande moe were comming after. That a great part of the Iriſhry of Mū ſter becommen Rebels of new, were reuolted to them, and receiued into ye King of Spaines pay. That Odonell with good Forces of horſe and foote out of the North, by the benefit of the then extreame & ſudden froſt, gat paſſage almoſt vnlooked for by himſelfe, and ſlipping by the Lord Preſident of Munſter (who was ſent to impeach him) with ſuch forces as could be ſpared from the Army) was ioyned with them. That Tyrone, with O Rourck, Redman Bourck, Mac Guyre, Mac Mahone, Randal Mac Surley, Oconor, Slygoes brother, Tyrrel, the Baron of Lixenho, and the reſt of the old fugitiue Rebels of Munſter, with the greateſt and choiſeſt force that was euer amaſſed in Ireland, were drawne nere our Camp. And that theſe all, together with ſixe Enſignes of thoſe newly arriued Spaniards, in all to the number of 6000. foote, and 500 horſe, by Powle, were on foote ready to march towardes Kynſale and our Campe, with intent and moſt aſſured confident hope with helpe of them in the Town, which ſhould haue ſalyed out on the Campe, vpon the attempt of Tyrone and Odonell, and were aboue 2000. Spaniards, almoſt all old ſouldiers, aſwell to reléeue and reſcue the Towne, as to remoue our ſiege, and vtterly to breake, diſhonour, and defeate vs. And truely Sir, when I did then conſider, on the one ſide this great ſtrength, the newly ioyned men and horſes to bée all freſh, vigorous, and ſtrong, hauing all the Countrey opē to them, abounding with victuals, forrages, armies, munition, and all furnitures: thoſe in the Towne, the moſt of them experienced ſouldiers, well armed, and in no ſuch want as was ſuppoſed: On the other ſide, our men in numbers ſcant equall to them, all almoſt tyred and wearied out with the miſerie of a long Winters ſiege, our horſes decayed, leane and very weake, our beſt meanes of victuals and forrage likely to be cut from vs, with many other impediments whereof I ſpeake not; When I ſay, I well wayed and pondred with my ſelfe theſe poynts, and layde together withall, this one of great importance, that when we ſhould be forced (as it was likely) to anſwere two forces at once, one from the Towne, another without, a great part of our men were like enough to ſhrink, or at leaſt not to ſtick firmely to vs (which by good coniectures I could make probable to you) Blame me not, if vpon theſe conſideratiōs I wrote to you then ſomewhat diſtruſtfully of our eſtate, as taking indéed our liues and honors, this ſeruice, and by conſequence this whole Countrey likely to be put to an vnequall iumpe. And ſo may I well ſay they were, although by the goodneſſe of GOD eſpecially, and by the moſt vigilant circumſpection and valiant prowes of our worthy Generall, things out of theſe difficulties haue now ſorted to ſo happy ſucceſſe, as by that which followeth you ſhall ſufficiently perceiue. To continue therefore my accuſtomed Relation to you, and to begin from that ſaid day of the 19. of December, It may pleaſe you to knowe, that on Sunday the 20. wée ſtill plying our attempts to the Towne, with face and ſhew as though we nothing cared for Tyrone and his companie, at night certaine intelligence was brought vs, that he would bée the next night within a myle and a halfe of vs, with all the aboue recyted Forces. And accordingly vpon Munday the 21. towardes night, hée ſhewed himſelfe with moſt part of his horſe and foote, on a hill betwéene our Campe and Corke, a myle off vs. At which time ſéeing two Regiments of our foote, and ſome horſe drawne out of our Campe, and making a reſolute march towardes him, hée fell backe to the other ſide of the hill, where hée encamped that night, ſtrengthened with a faſtneſſe of wood and water. Whereby though his retyre might bée imputed to ſome touch of credite, yet had hee this aduantage, that hée might kéepe from our Armie all paſſages and meanes for forrage: The other ſide ouer the Riuer of Ownibuoye béeing wholly at his diſpoſition, by reaſon of the generall reuolt of thoſe parts.

On Tueſday the 22. ſome of Tyrones horſe and foote made ſhewe againe in the place where they had done the day before, and that night were ſome of their horſe, and 500. foote diſcouered, ſearching if they might finde fit way to the Towne.

On Wedneſday the 23. aſwell by intelligence otherwiſe, as by letters of Don Iohn d'l Aquila, Generall of the Spaniards, and Captaine of the Towne newly intercepted, we found that he had importuned Tyrone and his company very much, to giue an attempt vpon our Campe; inumating vnto them his owne neceſſitie, and likelyhood to bee ſhortly forced within the Towne, their faithfull promiſes to ſuccour him, the facilitie & vndoubted ſucceſſe of the enterpriſe, he aſſuring them, that our numbers could not be but much leſſened, and thoſe that were remaining, greatly decayed and weakened with the long winter ſiege, ſo that it was not poſſible we ſhould be able to maintaine ſo much ground as we had taken whē our ſtrength was full, if they on the one ſide, and he on the other put vs well too it: which he for his part promiſed them aſſuredly to doo very ſoundly from the Towne, whenſoeuer they ſhould thinke fit to doo the like from their Campe. And it ſéemeth that vpon this aduiſe they tooke their determinate reſolutiō for this courſe, and to put it in execution with all ſpeed, either that night or the next at the furtheſt. Thoſe of the Towne in the meane time gaue vs alarums, made Sallies, and did by all meanes what they could to kéepe our men in continuall trauell, that they might be the leſſe able for reſiſtance when this attempt ſhould come to be performed. The Lord Deputie till now applied himſelfe in ſhow wholly towards the Towne, but indéed not meaning any forceable effectuall attempt vpon it, till he ſawe what would become of Tyrone and his Forces.

and therefore hadde an eſpeciall eye, by continuall eſpiall, vpon his meanings, and leſt ſuddaine hurt ſhould be taken from him, or the Towne, if both he without, and they within ſhould inuade at once, he made Fortes and Barracadoes, heightned the ditches, déepened the Trenches, ſtopped and ſtrengthened all the Auenues to the Towne, hadde the whole Army in a readineſſe vppon euery ſuddaine warning, and kept ſtrong and watchfull guardes alwayes in all places. And now late in the night of this Wedneſday, the thrée and twentieth day, being aſſuredly enfourmed of their intent of attempt vpon his Campe that night, or the morrow after, his Lo. gaue order to ſtrengthen the ordinary guards, and to put the reſt of his Army in readines, but not as yet into Armes: commaunding that the Regiment volant, which was a ſquadron of viii. Companies of foote, ſelected out of al the old Bands, conducted by Sir Hen. Poore, and appointed to be alwayes in a readines to anſwere all Alarames, and therefore exempted from all other duties, ſhould draw out beyond the weſt parte of the Campe, and there ſtand in Armes, not farre from the maine guard of horſe.

A litle before the breake of day Sir Ric. Greame, who had the guard of horſe that night, ſent the Lo. Deputie word, that the ſkowts had diſcouered the rebels matches in great numbers, whervpon his Lo. cauſed the Armie preſently to arme, and 300. choiſe men to be drawne out of the quarter, where the Earle of Thomond and 3. other Regiments lay, to make ſtand betweene that quarter, and the Fort vppon the weſt hill, himſelfe with Sir George Carow, Lo. Preſident of Munſter, Sir Richard Wingfield, marſhall of Ireland, aduanced forward towards the ſkowt, and hauing giuen order to Sir Hen. Dauers Liuetennant generall of the horſe, for the ordering of thoſe troopes, ſent the Marſhall, to take view of the Enemy, who ſent word he was aduanced horſe and foote néere the toppe of the hill, where the Erle of Thomond firſt quartered, within leſſe then 2. muſket ſhotte of the towne. Whervpon the Lo: deputie calling to him ſir Oliuer Lambert Gouernor of Connaught, who béeing there without Charge, was commaunded to attend his Lo. that day, made choiſe of a péece of ground béetwéene that and the towne, of good aduauntage, both to embattel, and fight, as hauing on the backe a Trench drawne from the Earle of Thomonds quarter, and ſo ſecured from the Towne: And on the front, a boggiſh glyn paſſable with horſe only at one foord: The ground wheron the Enemy muſt haue drawn in groſſe to force the paſſage flanckfered from the Earles quarter by the canon, and ſituate in the midſt of allour Forces, and returned word to the Marſhall, that in that place hée was reſolued to giue the Enemy battel, if hée came forward: commaunding further, the Regiment of Sir H. Folya • and thrée old Companies of the Regiment of Sir Oliuer Saint-Iohn to bée brought thither, the reſt of the Army being al ready in Armes, together with fiue hundred Sea-men, brought by Sir Richard Leueſon to attend, when, and what, he ſhould command.

But Tirone, whoſe meaning ouer night, was, to haue béene with vs before daie, and as wee ſince learned, to haue put al the Spaniards into the Towne, with viii. hundred of the beſt Iriſh vnder Tirrell ſéeing it now faire day light, and diſcouering the Marſhall and Sir Hen: Dauers to bée aduaunced with all the horſe, and Sir Hen: Poer with his Regiment, ſtopt at the foote of the hill, and anon, thinking it to bée no day for him, retired the Troopes he had aduanced againe, to the bodie of his Armie beyond the Foord. Preſently the Marſhall ſent the Lord Deputie word, that the Enemy retired in ſome diſorder, wherevpon his Lo: commanding the forenamed troops to folow him with al ſpéed, aduanced himſelfe into the head of al, to ſee with his owne eie, the maner of the enemy, & in what ſort thereupon he might determine to procéede. But before he could, either well view, or direct, a violent ſtorme, during ſome quarter of an hower, gaue the enemy oportunitie, not yet perfectly diſconered, to drawe off ouer a plaine in three great bodies of foote, all their horſe in the Rere, and the wings with all their other looſe men fallen vp into the head. Which the L. Deputie, the day now clearing, perceiuing and dicſouering, by this their diſorderly March, that they were in feare, being certified alſo, that there was not before them any place of ſo good aduantage to make head on, as thoſe they had paſſed and quited, reſolued to follow, and to ſée what profit might be made of an enemy thus troubledly retiring. Whereupon diſpatching preſently Sir Geo. Carew, Lo. Preſident of Munſter with thrée cornets of horſe backe to the Campe, to attend there againſt the Towne, and whatſoeuer other attempt, becauſe he was to be the fitteſt Commaunder in his Lo. abſence, and becauſe there had otherwiſe no horſes bene left in the Campe, himſelfe hauing with him, in al, betwéene thrée and foure hundred horſe, and vnder 1200. foot, made after the Enimy. And aduancing ſome mile further on, preſſed him ſo hard, that he was forced to ſtand firme in thrée bodies vpon a foorde of a bogge (which bogge to aſſaile them, we muſt of neceſſity paſſe) and in all apparance, with a Reſolution there to abide vs and fight. They maintained a good ſkirmiſh on our ſide the Bogge, with their looſe wings, newly drawne out of their bodies, and hurt ſome of our men and horſes, till with our wings they were at length beaten backe.

The Marſhall being ſomewhat aduaūnced, eſpied a Foord, a muſket ſhot off on the left hand, neglected by their foote, and onely guarded by their horſe: whereof aduertiſing the Lord Deputy, with deſire of leaue to force them that way: the Lord Deputy approouing it, and commaunding to drawe vp drawe vp the foote with all expedition, the firſt wings of foote once arriued, ſeconded with ſir Henry Poers regiment, the Marſhall, with the earle of Clanricard, who neuer ceaſed vrging to fight, taking with them ſir Richard Greame, and other companies of horſe: with them, and thoſe foote, forcing the enemies horſe that kept the paſſage, paſſed ouer, and with that aduantage, finding themſelues ſide by ſide with the enemies battell, and further on then their rere, charged their battell in flanke, but finding them to ſtand firme, whéeled about. At which the enemies taking corage, drew on their horſe, with a cry to a charge, who came on brauely within fiftie or ſixtie paces of our horſe, and there after their country faſhion ſtopped, ſhaking their ſtaues, and railingly vaunting, but durſt charge no further. Which the Lord Deputy ſéeing, ſent preſently ouer the Foorde to them his owne cornet of horſe, vnder ſir William Godolphin, and the Lord Preſidents cornet vnder Captaine Minſhow, (which twoo cornets he had appoynted before, to kéepe ſtil a groſſe in the Rere, to anſwer all accidents) together with twoo af our thrée bodies of foote vnder ſir Iohn Barkeley Seriant maior of the Campe. Wherevpon the Marſhall and Earle of Clanrickard ſeeing a ſecond at hand, vniting themſelues with Sir Henrie Dauers, hauing with him Captaine Taffe, Captaine Flemming, and other companies of horſe, charged againe the Enemies horſe, who not abiding the ſhocke, fledde. At the ſight whereof, the battell diſmaying, our menne thought it better to charge againe vpon them, then to follow the horſe, and ſo coragiouſly doing, vtterly brake them. The rereward of the Enemie, in which was Tyrrell, and all the Spaniards, ſtoode firme vpon the bogge on the right hand, vnto whom, within caliuer ſhot, the Lorde Deputie had drawne vp our Rere, which was Sir Oliuer Saint Iohns 3. companies, commanded by Captaine Roe, in abſence of ſir Oliuer, (diſpatched few dayes before by the Lord Deputie, and Counſaile, for ſpeciall affaires to her Maieſty) charging him firſt, not to ſtir, till he receiued direction from him. But ſéeing Tirrell, and the Spaniards drawing betwéene our horſe, béeing on the execution, and the bodies of our foote, his Lo. hauing hitherto, by direction, ſet al other mēs ſwords on work, himſelfe now in the head of our ſaid Rere, where he had before reſolued to fight, charged the Enemy in flancke, and put them to a diſorderly retreite after their fellows to the toppe of the next hill, where they made ſtand a little while. But the Iriſh quiting the Spaniards, the Spaniardes in ſhort time were broken by the Lord Deputies horſe, commaunded by ſir William Godolphin, and moſt of them ſlaine. The vantgarde of the Enemy, with all the looſe wings, which were many, ſéeing what happened, threw away their armes (and all our men being otherwiſe buſie) eſcaped. The chiefe Commaunder of the Spaniards, Don Alonſo d'Ocampo was taken priſoner, with three Captaines, ſixe Alferrez, and fortie ſouldiers. Tirone, and Odonell, with the reſt of the Iriſh Lords, ran apace, and ſaued themſelues. Thoſe of the battell were almoſt all ſlaine, and there were (of the Iriſh Rebelles onely) found dead in the place, about twelue hundred bodies, and about eight hundred were hurt, whereof many dyed that night: and the chace continuing almoſt two miles, was left off, our men being tyred with killing. The Enemy loſt two thouſand Armes brought to reckning, beſides great numbers imbezeled, al their powder and drummes, and ix. enſigns, whereof 6. Spaniſh. Thoſe of the Iriſh that were taken priſoners, being brought to the Campe, though they offered ranſome, were all hanged. On our ſide, onely one man was ſlaine, the Cornet of ſir Richard Greame. Sir Henry Dauers was hurt with a ſword ſlightly: ſir William Godolphin a little raced on the thigh with a holbert, Captaine Crofts the Skowt-maſter with a ſhot in the back, & not aboue ſixe moe common ſouldiers hurt. Many of our horſes were killed, and moe hurt. And thus were they vtterly ouerthrowne, who but the very night before, were ſo braue and confident of their owne good ſucceſſe, as that they reckoned vs already theirs, and as wée ſince haue vnderſtoode, were in contention whoſe priſoner the Lord Deputy ſhould be, whoſe the the Lorde Preſident, and ſo of the reſt. The Earle of Clanrickard carried himſelfe this day very valiantly, and after the retreite ſounded, was Knighted by the Lorde Deputy, in the field amongſt the dead bodies. So did all the reſt of the Captaines, Officers, and Souldiers, named and vnnamed, and eſpecially the Lo. Deputy himſelfe, who brake, in perſon, vpon the floure of the army the Spaniards, and omitted no duety of a wiſe diligent Conductor and valiant ſouldier. Vpon the fight ended, he preſently called together the Army, and with prayers, gaue God thankes for the victorie. A victorie indéede giuen by the God of Hoſtes, and maruellous in our eyes, if all circumſtances be duely conſidered, and of ſuch conſequence for the preſeruation and aſſuraunce to her Maieſtie, of this déepely endangered kingdome, as I leaue to wiſer conſideration, contenting my ſelfe with this, that I ſée the God of power and might, diſpoſed to protect the iuſt cauſe of his ſeruaunt, our gratious Quéene Elizabeth, againſt the pride, malice, and powerful diſdain of the greateſt potentates, hir enemies. To him be the glorie.

After this glorious victorie thus valiantly atchieued, the Lord Deputy the ſame day haſted to his campe, leſt any thing (in his abſence) might happely haue béene attempted there. But, not finding the Ennemy to haue made any ſally, which indéede had béene but vaine for him, conſidering the ſmall fruit he reaped by them heretofore, euery one that he made hitherto redounding ſtil to his owne detriment and loſſe, and euery place of our Camp, at this time, being ſo wel and ſufficiently ſtrengthened and prouided for againſt him as is ſayd before.

The next day his Lordſhip commaunded Captayne Bodlegh Trench-maiſter generall of the Campe, who as well in the fight, as in the workes, had deſerued ſpeciall commendation, to ſée the formerly begunne Forte and platforms, to be vndertaken againe, and néerer approches to be caſt out towardes the towne. But after fiue or ſixe dayes labour Don Iohn d' lAquila, captaine of the Towne and Forces within, offered a parlée, ſending the Drumme maior of the Towne with a ſealed letter to the Lord Deputy, by which he required, that ſome gentleman of ſpeciall truſt and ſufficiencie might be ſent into the towne from his Lordſhip, to conferre with him, whom he would acquaint with ſuch conditions, as hée then ſtoode vpon. His Requeſt being aſſented vnto by his Lordſhip, ſir William Godolphin was imployed in the negotiation, which was carried in this forte, word for word, as it is taken out of the originalls here, viz.

Don Iohn tolde ſir William, that hauing found the Lord Deputy (whome he termed the Viceroy) although a ſharpe and powerfull, yet an honorable Enemy, and the Iriſh, not onely weake and barbarous, but (as hée feared) perfidious friendes, he was ſo farre in his affections reconciled to the one, and diſtaſted with the other, as did inuite him to make an ouerture of ſuch a compoſition as might be ſafe and profitable for the State of England, with leaſt preiudice to the Crowne of Spaine, by deliuering into the Viceroy his power, the Towne of Kynſale, with all other places in Ireland, held by the Spaniſh, ſo as they might depart on honorable termes, fitting ſuch men of warre, as are not (by neceſſity) inforced to receiue conditions, but willingly induced, for iuſt reſpects to diſ-ingage themſelues, and to relinquiſh a people, by whom their King and Maſter had bene ſo notoriouſly abuſed, (if not betrayed.) That if the Viceroy liked to entertaine further parley touching this point, he would firſt be pleaſed to vnderſtand them rightly, & to make his propoſitions ſuch as might be ſutable, to men thorowly reſolued, rather to bury themſelues aliue, and to endure a thouſand deaths, then to giue way to one Article of accord, that ſhuld taſte of baſenes or diſhonour, being ſo confident of their preſent ſtrength, and the royall Second of Spaine, that they ſhould make no doubt of yéelding good accompt of themſelues and their Intereſt in this Kingdome, but that a iuſt diſdaine, and ſpléene conceiued againſt the nation, diſſwaded them from being further engaged for it, then of force they muſt, Sir Wil. Godolphin being commaunded by the L. Deputie onely, to receiue Don Iohns propoſitions and demamaunds. Hauing made his L. and Counſel this Relation, was by them returned with the anſwere following. That howbeit the Lord Deputie hauing lately defeated their ſuccours, didde ſo well vnderſtand his owne ſtrength and their weakeneſſe as made him nothing doubt of forcing them within a ſhort time, whom he did know to be preſſed with vnreſiſtable difficulties, how much ſoeuer they laboured to couer and conceale the ſame, yet knowing that her ſacred Maieſtie out of her gracious and mercifull diſpoſition would eſteeme the glory of her victory to be blemiſhed by a voluntary effuſion, and an obſtinate expence of Chriſtian bloud, was content to entertaine this offer of agréement, ſo as it might be concluded, vnder ſuch honorable articles for her highnes as the aduauntage ſhe had againſt them gaue reaſon to demaund: being the ſame which are ſette downe in the Articles of agréement following, ſigned by the Lord Deputie, and Don Iohn & others: ſauing that there was in them beſides, the leauing of his treaſure, munition, artillery, and the Quéenes naturall Subiects to her diſpoſicion, all which points hée did peremptorely refuſe, with cō ſtant aſſeueracion that both he and all his would rather indure the laſt of miſery then be found guilty of ſo foule a Treaſon againſt the honour of his Prince and the reputaciō of his profeſſion, though hée ſhould find himſelfe vnable to ſubſiſte, much more now, when hée might not onely hope to ſuſtaine the burden of the warre for a time, but with patience and conſtancie in the end to ouercome it. That he tooke it ſo ill, to bée miſunderſtood in hauing Articles of that nature propounded vnto him, as were they but once againe remembred in the Capitulacion, the Viceroy ſhould from thencefoorth vſe the aduantage of his ſword and not the benefite of his former offers: adding, that the Viceroy might rather thinke to haue made a good and profitable purchaſe for the Crowne of England, if with the expence of 200000 Duckats hée had procured Don Iohn to quite his intereſt and footing but in Baltymore alone, to ſay nothing of Kynſale, Caſtell-hauen, and Beerehauen: for (ſaid he) ſuppoſe that all we with the reſt of our places here had periſhed, yet would that Pen Inſula (beyng ſtrong in it owne nature, bettered by our arte and induſtrie, prouided as it is of victuals, munition, and good ſtore of Artillerie) preſerue vnto the King of Spaine a ſafe and commodious port for the arriuall of his Fléete, and be able to mayntaine it ſelfe againſt á land Armie of ten thouſand, vntill Spaine (being ſo déepely engaged) did in honour reléeue thē: which would drawe on a more powerfull inuaſion then the firſt, being vndertaken vpon falſe groundes, at the inſtance of a baſe and barbarous people, who in diſcouering their weakenes and want of power, haue armed the King my Maſter to relie vpon his owne ſtrength, beyng tied in honour to reléeue his people that are engaged, and to cancell the memory of our former diſaſter. But this was ſpoken (ſaid he) in caſe the Viceroy were able to force this town, as I aſſure my ſelfe he cannot, hauing vpon mine Honour within theſe wals at this inſtant, aboue two thouſand fighting men, that are ſtrong and able, beſides thoſe, which hauing béen ſicke and hurt, recouer dayly: the greateſt part of theſe, compoſed of old Souldiers, which fall not but by the ſword, and thoſe that were new, beyng now both trayned to their Armes & growne acquainted with the Climate, are more able to endure then at the firſte: our meanes as good as they haue béene any times theſe two monethes, ſuch as the Spaniardes can well away withall, and therof to ſuffize vs for thrée moneths more. We lodge in good warme houſes, haue ſtore of munition, and (which is beſt of all) ſtand well aſſured that our ſuccours wil bée ſhortly here. To bée playne, wée preſerue our men, and reſerue our ſtrength the beſt wée may, hoping to front you in a breach, which if our harts fayle vs not, we haue hands and breaſts enough to ſtop againſt treble your forces: though I will giue the Viceroy this right, That his men are paſſing good, but ſpent and tyred out with the miſery of a Winter ſiege, which he hath obſtinatly maintayned beyond my expectacion, but with ſuch caution, and vpon ſo good guard, as hauing nicely watched all aduauntages, I could neuer faſten a Sallie yet vpon him, but with loſſe to my ſelfe: wherein I muſte acknowledge my hopes deceaued, that grounding on ſome errour in his approches, promiſed my ſelf the defeate of at leaſt a thouſand men at one blowe. But when wée méete on the breach, I am confident on good reaſon, to lay fiue hundred of your beſt men on the earth, and reſt hopeful that the loſſe of thoſe will make a great hole in an Armie that hath already ſuffred ſo much extremitie.

But to cōclude our buſineſſe, the king my Maſter ſent me to aſſiſt the Condées, Oneale & Odonnell, preſuming on their promiſe, that I ſhould haue ioined with them within few daies of the arriuall of his forces. I expected long in vaine, ſuſtained the Viceroyes Armie, ſaw them drawne to the greateſt head they could poſſibly make, lodged within two myles of Kynſale, reenforced with certaine companies of Spanyards, euery houre promiſing to releeue vs, and beeing ioyned together to force your campes, ſawe them at laſt broken with a handfull of men, blowne aſunder into diuers parts of the world, O Donnell into Spaine, Oneale to the furtheſt of the North, ſo as now I finde no ſuch Condées in rerum natura (for thoſe were the very wordes hee vſed) as I came to ioyne withall, and therefore haue moued this accord, the rather to diſingage the King my Maiſter from aſſiſting a people ſo vnable in themſelues, that the whole burden of the warre muſt lie vpon him, and ſo perfidious, as perhaps might bee induced in acquitall of his fauour, at laſt to betray him. Vpon relation made by Sir VVilliam Godolphin to the Lord Deputie and Councell, of theſe offers of Don Iohn, which at ſeuerall conferences had beene brought to ſuch heads, as are ſpoken of before: it was thought good, for diuerſe important reaſons, to procéed roundly to the agréement. For whereas in the propoſitions by him made; there was not any thing that admitted exceptions on our part, but onely, that he required to carrie with him his ordinance, munition, and treaſure, that beeing no way preiudiciall to the maine ſcope or drift of our Treatie, which chéefely reſpected the common good and ſafetie of the kingdome, deſerued not almoſt to be thought vpon. Beſides that, the Treaſure béeing at the firſt but a hundred thouſand Duckats, with foure monethes payment of ſo many men, and other neceſſarie deductions, could not but bee very néere waſted; and that little remaynder, more fit for a prey to the poore ſouldiour, after his tedious trauell, than for a clauſe in the compoſition. Furthermore, how needfull it was to embrace this accord, may clearely bee ſeene by whoſoeuer conſidereth the ſtate of our Armie, almoſt vtterly tyred: how full of daunger and difficultie it was to attempt a breach defended by ſo many hands: how long time it might haue coſt vs, if wee had lodged in the Breach, before wee could haue carried the Towne, it beeing full of ſtrong caſtles: how her Maieſties ſhips and others lying in the harbour, ſhould haue béen forced ſpéedily to forſake vs for want of victuals: how by a long contrarietie of winds, our ſelues were not prouided for aboue ſixe daies, at the time of this parley, though within fewe dayes after good ſtore arriued: it being indéed worthy of obſeruation, that by her Maieſties great care, & the dilligence of her miniſters, ſo good prouidence was vſed, as, though this deſcent of Spanyards drew into that quarter all the forces of the kingdome which could be ſpared, all which were onely to liue by prouiſion out of England; notwithſtanding all the difficulties of tranſportation, in ſo vnſeaſonable a time, no notorious wants were found in the Armie, but that which is vnſeparable from a Winter ſiege, in that Climate: that we had neyther munition nor Artillerie left but for one batterie in one place at once, fiue of our péeces being before crazed: and finally, that if we had miſſed of our purpoſe, the whole countrey had béen hazarded. Furthermore, that which ſeemeth of greateſt conſequence to induce his Lordſhip to this agréement, was: That the Spanyards in Baltymore Caſtle-hauen and Beerehauen, by vertue of this contract were likewiſe to ſurrender thoſe places, and depart the countrey, which would haue prooued a matter of more difficultie, and haue drawne on a long warre in a corrupted kingdome, to root them out, béeing ſtrongly fortified and well ſtored with victuals, munition, and artillerie, for that of neceſſitie the Armie for ſome ſpace, muſt haue reſted, and in the end haue beene conſtrained after a new ſupplie of al neceſſaries, to her Maieſties intollerable charge, to tranſport themſelues thither by ſea, the way by land being altogether vnpaſſbale. In which time, their ſuccours out of Spaine in all likelyhood, would haue béene come vnto them, the king being ſo farre ingaged in his honour to ſecond his enterpriſe, and we barred of that proſecution of the Rebels, which now by this Agréement we may wholly entend.

The Treatie therefore was thus concluded, as by the Articles enſuing, ſigned on both parts, appeareth.

And ſo is this troubled Cloud, of moſt likely perillous danger for this time diſſolued, to her Maieſties moſt ſinguler renowme; Not ſo much for the glorie of the euent, as for her owne Magnanimitie and Princely reſolution, to leaue nothing vndone which might preſerue that Crowne, how deare ſo euer it coſt her; to the great honour of our Generall, Leaders, and Souldiers by land and Sea Actors therein, who, if it be well conſidered, that after the Enemies arriuall xxviij. September, it was xxvi. October before they could get all things readie to ſit downe nere the Towne: xxix. October before their Ordinance could play, And that by j. Nouember. they had gottē Ricorren caſtle, And then vij. Nouember were driuē ſhrewdly to diminiſh their ſtrength by ſending the L. Preſident from them with two Regiments of foote and 325 horſes againſt Odonell, That hee returned not till xxv. Nouember, his Companies 26. And then that the Supplyes of Spaine were landed. That the moſt of our ſhipping that did vs ſpeciall ſeruice were gone towardes them, That Odonell was alreadie come, Tyron ſhortly after, and xx. December all in ſight: 24 beaten: That xxxj. December the Parley begunne, ij. Ianuarie the Articles were ſworne: ix. the Towne yéelded. Theſe thinges (I ſay) conſidered, it cannot bée thought they ſpent any idle time, as by the Iournals alſo which I ſent you heretofore doth particulerly appeare. Nay, let it bée duely conſidered indéed, that the Towne though not regulerly fortified after the moderne ſort, yet was of ſtrong ſcituation, well walled, and rampierd of the old faſhion, and apt to receiue fit fortification, which the Enemie by his ſkill and leaſure had giuen it, both within the Towne and without, as being accounted of great knowledge in fortification, and hauing béene a Moneth in it before our men could come néere much to moleſt him. And it may rather bee maruailed, ye ſuch an Enemie with ſuch a Companie, ſo prouided, not béeing conſtrained by ſickeneſſe, famine, or other defect of prouiſion, and expecting ſhortly (as himſelfe tearmeth it) a Royall ſupplie frō Spaine, ſhould ſo ſoone yéeld vp, not only it, but the other Caſtles, & that of Baltymore eſpecially ſo important, ſo ſtrong, ſo fourniſhed to hould ſo long out, as by his owne acknowledgement appeareth before. Well, going they are with ye loane of ordinarie veſſels which they alſo pay for: for whome yea and almoſt for any enemie of leſſe qualitie than theſe, all auncient eſtate wiſedome would haue aduiſed to haue made and giuen them a goulden bridge to paſſe ouer, rather than they ſhould haue ſtayed longer vppon any Condition, much leſſe vpon doubtfull hope of a ſmall contemptible pillage to haue béene gotten of them, which muſt néedes alſo haue béene bought with much blood, and with what further Charge and hazard to the mayne, God knoweth. And howſoeuer any perticuler humour may take it, I thinke Don Iohn (all Circumſtances conſidered) did aduiſedly for his King to leaue it: And for our part I take it a Seruice to haue béene moſt honourably perfourmed, with ſinguler euident profite, and all probabilitie of certaine future ſecuritie to our Prince and Countrey, and that otherwiſe it cannot bée conceaued off, of any that will indifferently iudge. The proofe whereof by the fruite beginneth here preſently to appeare, by the diminiſhing of her Maieſties Charge, daunting of the Rebels, quiet, comfort, and encouragement of the good, and before diſmayed Subiect, and will (I doubt not) but be generally felt with you there, by ſparing your men and monneys, and putting you out of feare hereafter, of your and our, and all Englands potent Enemie for his further attempting this way. And this for this of the late victorie and yéelding of the Towne, which is my purpoſed taſke vnto you at this time. As for that which was done from the firſt landing of the Spaniards till the fight, I referre you to the Iournals ſent you before. And for the generall courſe of the noble Lord Deputies whole procéedinges in this Land, ſince his firſt arriuall héere, I leaue it to others to bee treated of more at large hereafter, onely this I will now ſay in generall, let it bée but without humour iudicially conſidered, in what eſtate he found this Land, and to what hée hath now brought it, and there is none ſo vnindifferently affected, but muſt bee forced to confeſſe, Quantum mutatus ab illo! And héere I end my obiect of the fight, and yéelding of the Towne, and whole quiting of all the Inuadors, with Salmacida Spolia, an vnbloudie victorie of our part, moſt befitting a Virgin Quéene, and a Bacheler Generall. And ſo doe betake you to the Almightie. At Corcke this 13 of Ianuarie, 1601.