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 Towne with only fourty Musketiers, and fourty Horse, and beat off foure hundred of the Enemies, killed above threescore of [Page 2] of them, recovered fourescore Cowes and Oxen, and two hundred sheepe; burned foure townes, and brought home two of their Collours; Besides, I must relate unto you Gods abundant goodnesse unto us, in that the night before the reliefe and suc­cours which we sent by Sea from Dublin to them, should have entred into the Har­bour of Droheda, (which was strongly fenced over with a Chaine and severall boates) there happened a storme which broke their chainer, and gave our men so free a passage, as with little difficulty they came safely to the towne. The Rebels were gathered at Kilshalgham within se­ven miles of Dublin, above two thousand men, where they were settled in a very strong wood. My Lord of Ormond carried out part of our Army, 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, only Cap­taine Iames Rochfort, a most gallant and [Page 3] couragious gentleman. This was an act of great bravery, wherein Sir Charles Coote did, (as he doth alwayes) beyond expe­ctation, exposing his person to as much danger as any man living could; and in­truth he is a gallant man, full of courage and good affections, and deserves great incouragement from that side. Our soul­diours 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 worke) that they thinke there is no danger so great, but they may attempt it.

Colonell Munke is arrived here with my Lord Lieutenants Regiment of fifteen hundred foot, and Sir Richard Greevill with neere foure hundred Horse, which puts much heart into us, and makes us looke big upon our neighbours, yet we grieue wee cannot be able to releeve our friends in other parts; but I hope when our full succours shall come, we shall not [Page 4] only defend this place, but adde comfort to our poore distressed friends abroad.

The enemy though their numbers bee very great, even beyond beleefe, 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 on his way thither; By the next hee shall heare from me at large, and I shall likewise trouble you.

I must now only tell you, that I thanke you for your care of those things which concerne mee, and that I am, Sir, your most affectionate servant,