I Shall not adventure to write unto your Majestie with freedome, but by expresses, or till such time as I have a Cypher, which I beseech your Majestie to vouchsafe mee. At this time therefore I shall onely let your Majestie know where the humblest and most faithfull servant you have in the world is, here at Middleborough, where I shall remaine in the privatest way I can, till I receive instructions how I shall serve the King and your Majestie in these parts. If the King betake him­selfe to a safe place, where he may avow and pro­tect his servants from rage and violence, for from [Page 4] Iustice I will never implore it. I shall then live in impatience and in misery till I waite upon you. But if after all he hath done of late, he shall betake himselfe to the easiest and compliantest wayes of accommodation, I am confident, that then I shall serve him more by my absence, than by all my industry: and it will be a comfort to mee in all calamities, if I cannot serve you by my actions, that I may doe it in some kinde by my sufferings for your sake, having (I protest to God) no mea­sure of happinesse or misfortune in this world, but what I derive from your Maiesties value of my affection and fidelitie.

Middleborough the 21. Ian. 1641.

IN my last to you, I signified to you, the dif­ficulties which were like to befall us by the releeving of Droheda, but God by his infinite mercy hath freed us (I may say miraculous­ly) from that hazard: for when our men there were driven to that extremitie to eat horse-flesh, Sir Henry Tichbourne sallied out of the Town with onely fortie Musketiers, and fortie Horse, and beat off foure hundred of the Enemies, killed above threescore of them, recovered fourscore Cowes and Oxen, and two hundred sheep; burned foure Towns, and brought home two of their Colours. Besides, I must relate unto you Gods abundant goodnesse unto us, in that the night before the re­leefe and succours which we sent by Sea from Dublin to them, should have entred into the Har­bour [Page 6] of Droheda, (which was strongly fenced o­ver with a Chain and severall boates) there hap­pened a storme which broke their chaines, and gave our men so free a passage, as with little dif­ficultie they came safely to the Town. The Re­bels were gathered at Kilshalgham within seven miles of Dublin, above two thousand men, where they were setled in a verie strong wood. My Lord of Ormond carried out part of our Armie, and beat them out of that great strength (for they would not come into the Champaine) and killed above a hundred of them, without any con­siderable losse of our side, onely Captain Iames Rochfort, a most gallant and couragious Gentle­man. This was an act of great braverie, wherein Sir Charles Coote did, (as he doth alwayes) beyond expectation, exposing his person to as much dan­ger as any man living could; and in truth he is a gallant man, full of courage and good affections, and deserves great incouragement from that side. Our Souldiers are in great want of money, which causes a generall want of all other necessaries, yet notwithstanding God hath infused such courage into them (for undoubtedly it is his work) that they think there is no danger so great, but they may attempt it.

[Page 7]Colonell Munke is arrived here with my Lord Lieutenants Regiment of fifteen hundred foot, and Sir Richard Grevill with neer foure hundred. Horse, which puts much heart into us, and makes us look big upon our neighbours, yet we grieve we cannot be able to releeve our friends in other parts; but I hope when our full succours shall come, we shall not onely defend this place, but adde comfort to our poore distressed friends a­broad.

The enemy though their numbers be verie great, even beyond beleef, yet their hearts begin to faint, and I beleeve they repent their furious madnesse.

If my Brother be in London, I pray you impart this Letter to him, I would have written to him, but that I thought he was at Chester, or in his way thither; By the next he shall hear from me at large, and I shall likewise trouble you.

I must now onely tell you, that I thank you for your care of those things which concern me, and that I am, Sir, your most affectionate servant,