Lieutenant Colonell John Booker being sent out of the Province of Munster by ... the Lord of Inchiquine ... and the councell of warre there and having delivered letters from his Lordship to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Commons to the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Irish affaires ... doth humbly present the state and condition of the army in that province.

Lieutenant Colonell John Booker being sent out of the Province of Munster by ... the Lord of Inchiquine ... and the councell of warre there and having delivered letters from his Lordship to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Commons to the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Irish affaires ... doth humbly present the state and condition of the army in that province.

Table of contents

25. Novemb. 1646.

[Page]

25. Novemb. 1646.

Lievtenant Colonell JOHN BOOKER being sent out of the Province of Munster by the Right Honourable the Lord of Inchiquine Lord President, and the Councell of Warre there, and having delivered Letters from his Lordship to the Honourable the Speaker of the House of Commons, to the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Irish affaires, and also to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Councell of the City of London, earnestly desiring to promote the good of that Province and Kingdome, so that his endeavours here might not be fruitlesse, nor the expectations of the Army there frustrate, in this their great necessity, doth humbly present the state and condition of the Army in that province.

THat at his arrivall there in September last, he found them in great wants both of cloathes and money, being then lately returned from the taking of Piltown Castle; and presently after the Lord President called a Councell of Warre advising with them to march forth upon another Designe, and how to procure money, that the Souldiers and Officers might be enabled in some measure for that expedition; and finding no way but by making use of friends to borrow, did then take up some money, (which yet remains unsatisfied) Whereupon his Lordship drew forth all the forces of horse and foote (leaving sufficient guards to secure our Garisons) into the County of Lymbricke, which is above fourty miles from our Winter quarters, and a rich countrey, where we intended to have laine some time, the better to relieve our men, and to annoy the enemy, which during our stay there, we did, by driving away their cattle, and fireing all the Corn which we could not secure to our Garisons; but the violence of raine and stormes were such, the waters encreasing, and our men by continuing in the field, where they had little or no shelter, many of them also wanting Cloaths, and being bare footed, and most of them wanting shirts, fell dangerously sick of the Flux, and ammunition waxing scarce, and that we had, having taken wett, we were enforced (for those reasons) to march back to Mallowe, where we stayed to refresh our men whilest we sent to Cork for a supply of Ammunition, determining to march into the County of Kerry, but the weather continuing with such violent stormes, thunder, lightning and raine, (such as I have not seene the like before) we were enforced into our garisons not without the great hazzard of our Army, being constrained to wade to the Arme-pitts, the rivers being so difficult to pa [...]e, (the enemy having destroyed all the Bridges) and so being returned, we still expected a faire opportunity to draw forth our men, the better to preserve our stores, yet the raine still continuing the Army could not be drawne forth againe at my comming away, when there was not 14. dayes provision left at a small allowance, that the wants of that Army were very great, insomuch as the Officers had not received one penny pay for many weeks together, before my comming from thence; and that many of them were forced to pawne their cloathes to buy them bread, and that many of the Officers at this day goe upon ticket for what they have: That the countrey within our reach is generally wasted, and yeelds neither free quarter, nor other accommodations, but the Souldiers are forced to content themselves with what they carry on their backs.

That wants in the Army were such, that the common souldiers were for some weeks before I came away stinted to 6. pence a week in money, and a loafe of 6. pence a peece, which was so small an allowance as that the souldiers, (especially those that were sent hence from better means) could hardly be contained, and many of them grew much discontented thereat, which they professed by often saying, that they would rather goe to the Rebells, where they should be provided for, then stay and starve with us: of all which, I was an Eyewitnesse.

That the horse there are generally very much impaired by a strange mortality, and scarcely the one halfe of the former number are left, and those much weakened by their late ill marches and constant duty, and that no horse have arrived there, since Collonell Iepsons, who were designed in September 1645. and landed the beginning of the next Summer.

That if the horse upon the place were recruited, and the 500. horse designed for the service of that Province at the Lord Presidents being here were sent over, and the Regiment of foote already sent thither made full, horses and carriages with a sufficient traine of Artillery, and all things thereunto belonging sent, the want whereof is none of the least defects, there is no doubt but by the blessing of God we should soon be Masters of that Province.

That the Countrey is generally wett in winter, full of Rivers and Passages, and void of housing for horse or men upon their marches, so as it is not to be expected that they should keepe the Army abroad for any long time in the winter without too great prejudice to the Souldiers in their health, Cloaths and Armes, and therefore it is humbly offered as more expedient for the service: That money and provisions were sent to them that are there upon the place, to enable them to subsist untill a convenient season of doing service, then that more men should be sent over to encrease the charge, as of late hath bin, without meanes to defray the same: but if any forces be thither designed, it is humbly desired, that they may be hastened over to make our incursions more frequent and effectuall, yet so as they bring some fit means of subsistance with them whereby the Rebels will be the more disabled to raise an Army to withstand us this next Spring.

That whatsoever meanes is intended by the Piety and Wisdome of the Parliament, to be sent over, is of double advantage to the Army and to the service, to be sent in money, English or Spanish, rather then in Corn, [Page] or victualls, except Corn, Biskets, and some Cheese, to continue as a store in case of scarcity, the Corn sent hence standing there in 50 s. per Quarter, or thereabouts; whereas it may be bought there for halfe the price, and so will be had as long as the Markets may be kept open.

That the Charge of that Army amounts to 1210 l. per week, or thereabouts, allowing each Common Souldier 2 s. each Trooper 5 s. a Colonell of Foot 4 l. a Lievtenant Colonell 3 l. and a Major 2 l. 10 s. a Captain 1 l. 7 s. a Lievtenant 12 s. an Ensign 9 s. a Colonell of Horse 5 l. a Major 3 l. a Captain of Horse 2 l. a Lievtenant 1 l. 4 s. a Corner 16 s. with a proportionable allowance to inferiour Officers, Officers of the Staffe, Gunners, and such as must necessarily be maintained about the Train of Artillery, which is not halfe pay for the Common Souldiers, nor a third of the pay for the Officers; and that upon the place there cannot be raised above 120 l. per Week, which also is anticipated for some Moneths to come, to satisfie those whose goods they have contracted for their necessary reliefe in their extremity, upon that Accompt: and that it is to be remembred, that the greatest part of the meanes hitherto designed for that Province hath been expended in raising of Forces, in Armes, Ammunition, and other necessary things.

That the Cities, walled Towns, and Harbours in the Parliaments power of that Province, are of mighty importance for the Parliaments service, in relation to the Religion, to the Safety and Welfare of this Kingdome, and generally of Trade and Traffique, insomuch that it hath been certified by those trusted in the Navie, that the Harbours of Cork and Kinsale onely are of as much consequence to this Kingdome as Plimmouth.

That the said Lord President of Munster is one well known to be most reall in the Cause, of much gallantry and resolution, of much industry and action, who most seasonably secured those Parts for the Parliament against the common Enemy. That he doth with extraordinary fidelity, constancy, care and diligence, in his owne person, see that the Officers and Souldiers doe their duties, in the service of God and the Parliament.

That the Officers and Souldiers there are not onely good guides in the Countrey, but are generally experienced Souldiers, and valiant men, that have endured much hardship, faithfully, freely, and cheerfully served, to the hazzard of their lives in the Parliaments service, and desirous still to continue the same.

That but a bare subsistance is desired for the present.

That if a settlement and supply be not speedy, the ruine, the losse of those important places to the Irish, or some forraign State or Potentate, and consequently the losse of the Parliaments interest there must be; and that it will be no great charge or difficulty for the Parliament, by the blessing of God, speedily to become Masters of that Province.

It is therefore humbly desired, That some effectuall course be speedily taken for the subsistance of the Army, by the recruiting the old Regiments of Horse and Foot, and supplying them with money to be paid in a setled way, and a sufficient Train of Artillery, with Carriages, Waggons, Pickaxes, Spades, Engines, Mortar-peeces, Granadoes, and other necessaries thereunto belonging, for the carrying on the Warre there, and I doubt not but by the blessing and assistance of God they will render your Honours a good account of this [...].

Information about this book

Title statement

Lieutenant Colonell John Booker being sent out of the Province of Munster by ... the Lord of Inchiquine ... and the councell of warre there and having delivered letters from his Lordship to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Commons to the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Irish affaires ... doth humbly present the state and condition of the army in that province.

Edition statement

1646

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A28792

ID [STC]

Wing B3723

ID [STC]

ESTC R225279

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

07951748

ID [OCLC]

ocm 07951748

ID [VID]

40676

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A28792)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 40676)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1197:13)

Source

— Lieutenant Colonell John Booker being sent out of the Province of Munster by ... the Lord of Inchiquine ... and the councell of warre there and having delivered letters from his Lordship to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Commons to the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Irish affaires ... doth humbly present the state and condition of the army in that province., Booker, John, 17th cent..

Extent

1 sheet.

s.n.],. [London? :: 1646.. (Caption title.) (At head of title: 25 Novemb., 1646.) (Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.)

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