HAving in obedience to the Order of both Houses at­tended the Lo. Lieutenant of the County of Essex this day to Brent Wood, for the putting of the Ord­nance of the Militia of this County in execution; his Lordship hath directed us to give you an accompt of the ser­vice, so farre as it could be yet prosecuted, as he hath himselfe done to the house of Lords. There were five Companies of the ordinary Traine bond, this day drawne into the field, being about a 4th part of the trained bonds of his County, and all that were directed to meet at this place, their numbers were full, & their Armes compleat, a supply being made by voluntiers of those Armes that were car­ried forth of the County, upon the late expe­dition for Scorland; and one of the said [Page 2] Companies (being under the charge of Cap­taine Massam) was doubled to the usuall pro­portion, a sixth companie did appeare at this place, consisting of about five hundred Vo­lunteeres, under command of Captaine Bar­rington, youngest son of Sir Thomas Baring­ton. The Declaration of both Houses touch­their indempnitie, was read in the head of each Company, and the Captaines, Officers and Souldiers being req [...]ired by the Lord Lieutenant, to observe such further directions as in pursuance of the said Ordinance should be hereafter given them in charge by his Lordship, or us his Deputy Lieutenants, for the service of his Maiesty, and the Parliament, in defence of the Kingdome, they did unani­mously expresse a resolution so to doe, and in the same cheerfully to spend their lives and Fortunes▪

HUmble salutes; my last unto you was from Carrickvergus of the 25. past, wherein I de­clared at large, what I conceived of the af­faires of this Country, as also how that I was desig­ned for this place, laden with provision for the Army, who then was designed to take the Newry. It pleased God, that on the 18. past, I ar­rived here, where I found my selfe surrounded with great companies of the Rebels, whom I did know, expected daily a supply of Munition, wherefore to put them in hopes, I displayed no Collours, our men seeking the Channell, came with their boats somewhat neere the shore, whom the Rebels bid very welcome, and demanded whence we came, the one side of the Harbour, my men answered from Hamborough, and on the other side, they said from France, (both which sayings was without my con­sent) but fourteen of the Rebels soon came aboard, in hopes to buy Powder and Armes, (whom I laid in Irons) and presently shot divers guns, as healths, in hopes to get some more from the shore, it being towards night, my project failed, wherefore the next morning, I fell to battering the Towne of Carlingford, but the same lay so far off, that I could [Page 4] doe no great execution from our Ship, she being almost without distance, wherefore I presently rai­sed a platforme upon a great open boat, which the night before I had taken, and thereon mounted two peeces of Ordnance, and so with all my force I could spare, leaving my Ship well manned, I ap­proached within a Musquet shot of the Town, and battered the same with our two guns, and being within call of the Kings Castle, the Rebels challen­ged me to land, promising they would meet me with halfe my number, whereupon I forthwith drew to a poynt, where I knew my selfe secure, and their landed 64. men, being within a Musquet shot of the Towne, having my great guns, ready to charge them at or as they should approach, There I con­tinued a long while in order of battle, but the Ene­my approached not, though in great numbers, but from that time began to burne the Towne, and car­ry their goods into the Mountaines, and the next day we had a Parley, wherein I was resolved to have redeemed some English people, against my priso­ners. But the next morning before day, they fearing our comming a shore, fired all the Towne and Ca­stles, and left them on fire unto us, wherein are six Irish Castles, and the Kings Castle besides, being a strong hold, wherein I forthwith put a garrison of my owne Seamen, and kept the same about fifteene dayes, unt ill I procured from Sir Henry Tichbourne reliefe from Dundalke, unto whom I surrendred the said Towne and Castle, about the time of our ta­king this place. The Army was likewise come to the Newry, which they tooke in without many [Page 5] shot, the Souldiers flying away from them, assoon as they hea rd the Army marched toward them, the Ditto Army for want of some necesseries, are mar­ched to Carrickvergus, where three dayes since they are arrived without any opposition, being not above 3500, men, under command of a gallant Souldier Colonell Mouro, and for my owne part I am designed thither, only wait for a faire wind, where I hope to find some letters from you, being exceedingly desirous to heare your Newes. Tis now daily more and more to be seene and expe­cted that famine must doe that which our swords cannot, for I doe now conceive they will never stand to fight any considerable battell, but will continue in the Woods, Bogs, and Mountaines, all day, and in the night they steale, fire and burne, and will so continue still, removing as the Army moves, and will never fight except upon great ad­vantage, and indeed as yet they have very little pow­der and few armes, and are daily more and more discouraged, finding no supply. As for the com­mon poore people, I beleeve a great part of them were at first forced to this action, by the threats of the great ones, and the curses of Priests if they did not; it is beleeved most of them would lay downe their armes at the feet of the Brittish, provided they might save their lives onely, but this were dis­honourable, and soone would beget a new Rebelli­on, they have great store of Cattell in the Moun­taines with them, but tis hoped this winter com­ming will shrinke them, and their Garrons which they in holes have hid, so that I doubt not but fa­mine [Page 6] will soone come in among them afterward, and doe much more execution then all our Armies if they were five times more, especially if they bee deprived of this summers course by our forces, as is hoped.

I have Cowes enough, but as yet they are hardly mans meat, nor will not be this two moneths. The Ship Peter is guarding the North Coast, and hath relieved Colraine and London Derry with ammunition. Thus hoping to heare of your welfare, I take leave for present, and rest,