A GUN-POWDER PLOT IN IRELAND, DISCOVERED.
THe rebels having intelligence that the noble Earle of Ormond, the Earle of Kildare, and the Lord Iones were fully resolved about the 7. of Ian. to relieve the City of Dublin, by reason that the Rebels have besieged it a long time, whereby they wanted provision and Ammunition very much, they resolved altogether to hinder their intents: therefore Generall Neale, and many other of the Rebels invented a Plot for the utter confusion of them all, and it was to be performed at that very instant when the aforenamed Lords were marching with their forces towards the City of Dublin.
THE Manner how the PLOT was laid.
THe Rebels for bringing their bloody and hellish designes to perfection, had provided shovels, spades, pick-hacks, and many other instruments for the said bloudy design, and about the number of 400. souldiers, and there with all speed they set them to worke which was to vndermine the ground for the space of two miles, and laid there great store of Gunpowder: and so by that meanes to blow up the aforenamed Lords in their marching over: thi [...] being done, the Rebels intended to march against the City of Dublin, and to destroy it by wild-fire: but they were prevented, and their hellish designs discovered by a miraculous means.
THE Manner how this PLOT was discovered.
COlonell Morton marching before the protestant Army, and the two other Lords bringing on their forces with puissant courage, they being come within the space of sixe miles of Dublin, Colonel Morton feeling the ground quiver under his feet, it seeming like dry ground, caused the Army to stand, and said, that hee feared that there was trechery intended against them, he therefore immediatly took one of their strongest pikes, and thrust it into the ground, to see whether it were hollow or not, the pike running in with such great force, and hee laying no strength to it, immediatly caused some of his souldiers to dig, to see what plot there was intended against them, and digging a yard deepe they espyed a vault, and great store of gun-powder, whereupon the aforesaid Colonell caused them to retreat back, fearing that they had come too far, but not knowing how to discover the same: unlesse that some man would venture his life to goe in: where presently a young man stept forth, and spake to them as followeth. Noble Captain, to do you and my Country good, I will venture my life to find out this hellish plot, then they let him down, who presently espyed 6 men, they immediatly questioning of him, he answer'd [Page] that he came from Generall Neale, chiefe Generall for the Rebels, to helpe them in their good enterprise, who being there about the space of two dayes, they resolved that onely one of them should tarry to bring this to passe, which was to give fire to the Gun-powder, for to blow up the protestant Army, the rest should goe forth, and retire back to the Rebels: therefore they concluded together to draw cuts which of them should tarry, which as the Lord would have it, it fell to his lot: and they being gone, hee seeing the place which they came out at, came presently to the said place, and opened the doore, which was of wood, and covered with turfe, in such a manner, that no man could perceive whether there were any doore or not: and comming forth, he re [...]ated to Captain Morton how it was. Who presently set a strong guard about the said vault, and then 200, of the protestants went in, and fetched all the powder out, and great store of Ammunition they have also taken.
THE COPIE OF A LETTER SENT from a Noble-man in Ireland, to Colonel Lunsford.
WE desire you to make ready your forces, as soo [...]e as possible you can, and to fall on with [Page] speed, you know our meaning, and wee vvill send you aid suddenly; for vvee have gathered our forces together, since they were defeated bp the Scottish Regiments, for in that fight vve lost 2000. men, and what you begin, vve vvill end, use your hands, and put in practice your wits; for you know wee have many friends in Citie and Countrie, and what monies you disburst, vve vvill be ansvverable to you,