May 3. A TRVE AND PERFECT Diurnall: Of the most remarkeable Passages in Ireland, from the second of April to this present. Sent over by a Gentleman of very good worth, and an eye-witnesse.
To a brother of his in LONDON.
Printed at London for Edward Blackmore, at the signe of the Angel in Pauls Church-yard 1642.
Aprill the second, 1642.
THe Army marched out, lodged at Recoole, and the next morning at our departure fired the whole Towne, the 3. we marched by Punchington towards the Naas, burning and pillaging all the Rebels houses in the way, and hearing that at Tipper the Rebels had refortified themselves, some of our Horse going on too securely, a Trumpetter was slaine by the fall of a stone from the top of the Castle throwne at him: whereupon at evening Sir Charles Coote tooke two foot Companies, and two troops to force it; and having by the Pioners broke the gate, they entered the lower roomes, the enemy tooke the higher, and a barrell of powder was set in the Vault, and they blowed up the Castle with them in it, onely a Dutchman and others, taking the staire case were taken, and the Dutchman confessed, that a Priest was there slaine, who had 200. l. in his pocket, & that there was 500. pound in plate, all which was buried in the ruines, some pillages, as Linnen and Cloath was got there; the Dutchman hanged the next day in the Naas: we lost there seven men.
The 4. Wee marched, our troops burning and pillaging most of the Rebels Castles and Townes unto Kilcullen, an ancient Burrough, but now altogether ruinous; and there we killed 3. Rogues, all the rest being fled.
The 5. We came to Athy, in the way were two Rebels hanged, and a little on the further side of Ballisoneere Castle, fortified by the Rebels; the Earle of Antrim, Earle of Castle-haven, and Dutchesse of Buckingham met the Army, who were entertained by Sir Charles with a volley of shot of Musketieres, and 3. Peeces; at our comming into Athy, we found most part of the Towne burnt by the Inhabitants the day before, because a great Company of the Rebels thought, by the helpe of the standing, to a forced the whole Castle, standing on the Bridge, on the gate wee found newly set up a head of one of their Captaines that was slaine, which by the generall vote of all that knew him, was the head of one of the Fitzgarrets, a Fencer in Dublin.
The 6. Wee rested in Athy, in the meane time Sir Charles Coote releeved Captaine George Grymes at Ballilyon, who most valiantly did defend the Countrey according to his ability, and brought Sir Iohn Bowen with him to Towne: in the meane season some of the troopers went to Carlow, of whose comming the Rebels hearing, fired the Towne and fled, yet not so fast but our troops slew about 70. of them: this day at night were 4. Rebels hanged, and one Luke Maly, a great Receiver of the robbed English goods: Also George Walters governor of the Town of Athy came in of himselfe, who had reconciled himselfe to the Church of Rome, as by a certificate found from a Priest was made knowne; for which next day hee was hanged, and after him eight others, and one Pioner for firing his quarter without warrant.
The 7. Wee marched to Sradbelly, and lay that night, and hanged the next morning 14. Rogues, and burnt all the Townes of the Rebels.
The 8. We marched to Maribrough where the people told us, that the Rogues made an incursion or two upon them, they slaying 22. of them, but none of ours hurt, and yet there hath dyed of miseries and diseases above 300 since these troubles: Sir Charles hearing Ballanakill to bee straightly besiedged went that night thither, put to flight 600. of them, with a few troops of Horse, killed 60 and odde, brought home 4. muskets, 6. Peeces, some Pikes and Darts; one of our Conductors being shot through the Arme with two bullets, and one Trooper cleare through the thigh.
The 9. Wee rested in Mariborough, and Richard Grace the Burgonor came in before, having delivered up the Towne, Castle and White-rod: and as is supposed went to the Rebels, there came in also George Fitzgarret, whose sonne is in Rebellion, and Captaine Crosby, and others.
10. Sir Charles with 400. Horse, and 20. Muskettiers went to relieve the Burrage, which was so hardly beset, and almost famished, having but foure horses left, whereof one they had eaten: Giving them into the Castle 40. Cowes, beside sheepe and swine, powder and shot; in his progresse in the woods hee was set on by the Rebels, who after two or three shots fled, and in the chase there were killed two Commanders, the head of one set on the gate of Burrage, of them, and neare 50. others, Captaine Armestrong being shot thorough the buffe coat, the bullet grased on his belly, and Captaine Yarner with a bullet shot through his cap, and his head only rased with the shot, that night they rod through the Byr, and relieved them, which are now provided in the Castle for 12. moneths, the enemy as yet not daring to approach them.
The 11. They returned with horse, and men, much wearied to Maribrough late at night, having lost some of their horses in the bogs, but the men came safe off not without divine providence: for the Rebels thought to encompasse them: but Leiut. Hughes, and some other going and firing divers Townes in the woods adjacent, drew off the Rogues, whereby they came off safe the same day; some of our souldiers going out to forrage, by their neglect lost one fire Lock, and two Pioners by the Rogues.
The 12 Wee rested in Mariborough, and that night were handged 3. poore Rogues, one whereof a bastard of Iohn a Youghall, that had hanged five English people in the same towne, all dying without any shew of penitence.
Wee marched from Mariborough to Athy: Captaine Hughes firing all the countrey with 300. men on the edge of Clanmelyra, killing few of the Rogues, they being fled into the woods: in the mid way at Stradbally, they found a smiths man, his Master being a little before fled, making Pike heads, and skeanes for the Rebels, whom they instantly hanged on a gate, [Page 3]in our absence the Rebels made an approach towards Athy, to the number of 58. others say 32 colours, but the just number is uncertaine, though our Scouts went out to descry, they lying on the west-side of the Burrow a River running downe from Athy to Water-ford.
The 14 Captaine Armestrongs troop being quartered at Captaine Burrowes, some of them issued out, and found some of the Rebels Scouts, who they put to flight, killing and drowning 18. of them, they having passed on this side the River, and took from them 6. fowling Peeces, & one Musket: In the after-noone the Lord Lievtenant of the Army with some troopers going to take a view of the Army, a horse of Mr. Iames Cootes, was shot in the fore-head, and the enemies scouts rode betweene the bridge and them; but nothing done, and about three of the clock in the afternoone, were hanged eight Rebels, one of them was Brock, an ancient English Papist, and a most subtle Seducer of the English, a man of acute wit, and well spoken; as also an Intelligencer of the Rebels, abold and malapert knave, not daring to tell the English in Athy, that before Christmas next, that he hopt to heare Masse said in the Church there: nay, that he would reade it there himselfe (which is a marvell in a Romish Catholike, their Church not allowing a married Clergy; yet this Rebell having a wife at the Galhouse.) This night it was the generall report that the enemy would give us battell next morning, whereupon order was given by the Lord Lievetenant Generall, that wee should be ready to march by breake of day the next morning, the newes giving cause of Ioy to all our Army, they being all desirous to fight, I conceive, as to eate or drinke.
15. About 6. a clock in the morning, our army beganne to move in a faire and easie martch, at which time were 3. hanged one Rebell by name Donne, and the other two, souldiers of ours, who would have runne to the Rebels in our absence; Two of the Kealings of Sir George Wentworths troope, ranne to the Rebels before wee had fully marched 2. mile, to a place called the Morter Ascull where it was supposed, the enemy would ly in ambush; by our scoutes, the Rebels were discryed, that they had passed the old Bridge, and were marching on this side Kilkey, a House of the Countesse Dowagers of Kildare, a great Fortresse of the Rebellion, as we thought to meet them on the Hill adjacent unto Kilsonan Castle, which caused the Army to march faster, whereby wee might obtaine it before them; so to have the Hill wind and Sunne: the enemy conceiving as was after confessed by one taken prisoner that wee did slie from there puisant power, when in my hearing a Captaine unknowne to mee, demanded of the Lord Lieutenant Generall, why hee did not martch an other way, (as I conceive to the carrow of Kildare,) his Honour answered laughing, hee would not boodge afoote out of the way hee came, for all the Rogues, not long after wee did see them apparently martch in three full bodies, & that so fast, which caused us all to mend our pace for attaining the aforementioned [Page 4]Hill, on which were already some of our troopes, but wee drawing within halfe a mile of the foote of it, the Rebels marched very fairely, having about 40. Colours, and pitched on the brow of a Hill, adjacent to Castle Towne (a Towne of the Lord Vicount of Elis,) having Hill, wind, and Sunne of us, yet had wee a very faire champion to order our battle in (the Rebell having set themselves ready to entertaine us in 3. bodies;) The Earle of Ormond taking infinite paines with much alacrity to give the enemies battle: neither can I without injury forget the extraordinary care and industry of that checkmate of Rebels, Sir Charles Coote; now our army being devided into 3. bodies, the outmost wings flanked with our horse, and our 5. pieces of Ordnance marching betweene the bodies, and two loose wings, whereof, that of the left hand was led by Captaine Prime Rochford, each man committing himselfe to God, and care of his duty; Drums and Trumpets, declaring our willingnesse to meet with the Rogues, every man marcht forwards with as much joy, as if hee went to a wedding; our men approaching neare our enemy, the Lord Generall gave order, that if the Gunners thought, they were within reach of execution, they should let fly at the enemies middle body standing on a Hill, the first shot out of a Saker Drake being 400. paces at the least being given fire unto by Captaine Stutvile Master Gunner of Ireland, devided an ensignes body into two parts which was strange, in regard, the Rebels were seated on the brow of the Hill in a naturall Fort, that we had no other marke, but halfe head the Colour and pike, and with two Drakes wee made eight shots, which did little hurt in regard of the situation, our two Sakers and Demi-Culverin playing on the enemies right hand body, one of the Sakers whereof Will: Hampton had the command, making a lane by shattering the upper parts of the pikes the bodies of the men, being secured as is related before; hee shot seven shots, and at the seventh shot, beat downe three of the Rebels Colours; immediately, after which, a shot made out of the Demi-Culverin, put the Roges to astand like a heard of deare that gaze at the opening of a hound, in the meane time, our private souldiers being led on by the Lord Lieutenant Generall, all came within musket shot of the Rebels, which caused the two last Peeces to forbeare, least they should hurt our owne men in there going on, going on said I, nay rather dancing, such was there resolution, and discharging so continually quick, that there was not space of the motion of the heart, or the twinckling of an eye for an houre and a halfe together; such musick did they make, that I am perswaded to a souldiers eare, chamber fidling will bee hardly accepted, but with little hurt to the Rebels, in respect of the banke before them, yet were they so astonished that to runne or stay they knew not: and now behold an act of the Divine providence, for at this very time, the wind that was South East, and so against us, turned [Page 5]Northwards, being a great help to us, but the enemy seeing our men come on so couragiously, turned tayle like hagard faulkon, and likewise runne away; our horse men and foot pursuing, with might and mayne, untill they came to a long Bog wherein the Rogues tooke, but were bravely fetcht off with our firelocks, and troopes; part of our Troopes that flanked on the right, thinking the Rebels would have tooke to Castle Towne, rod that way, but they not appearing, fired the Towne and returned to the Chase, in which was some 500. men amongst them slaine; one Butler, Sonne to the Viscount of Iberring, and Sonne in Law to the Wolfe Mountgaret: as also Birne a Lieutenant Collonell, and Collonell Cavanaugh; there was taken a Cart of the Rebels with three barrels of powder, aqua vitae, and other good provision drawne by eight Oxen, which made mee wonder, that they discharged no more shot at us, but it was their policy not giving us, I thinke, a 100. shot, for by an Englishman that was taken who was a Sumpter bearer to the Lord Viscount Iberring, it is reported, that hee confest, there was a watch word, that though with losse, they should rush upon our army, rout us, and so become Masters both of the field and all our ammunition; there Achitophell Mountgarret having set in order the day before, how all the pillage should bee devided, but having failed in his purpose: I hope he will conclude as his former Projectour in a halter, such ends God send the enemies of our Church, King, and State, and let all true harted Protestants, that shall read this, say Amen.
There were in this battle of the Rebels, the Viscount Mountgarret, and Iberring, the Barron of Dunboin, the flower of the Gentry of Kildare Wicklow, Catherlow, Kilkenney, Queenes County, Westmeath, and other parts adjacent, who did really beleeve to have destroyed us; but God our God rose up and delivered us from the hands of those bloudy minded men, who thought to have devoured us having now nothing to glory of, but there shamefull flight with the losse of 4. of there Colours, and the parts, which were painted on them, being not able to deliver them out of our hands; but as Trophies of Gods mercy and our deliverance, wee brought to Dublin as also the three heads of the three forenamed Traytours, which stands as spectacles of Gods justice, on perfidious Traytours and Devilishly minded Monsters, begotten by the Locusts by the Whore of Babylon; after the chase, wee found onely two Troopers slaine, and one hurt, with one Ancient, and some seven private souldiers of our army; glory bee to God.
When having drawne our forces into good Array, in came that valiant Commander Sir Charles Coote, who was so eager in the Chase, that hee lost his Mountero and rode bare head amongst the thickest of them, so marching forwards towards Kildare, wee thought to have lodged in it that night, it being night when wee came within two miles of it.
But the Rebels had the Castle, so that it was dangerous to adventure thither, whereupon the Lord Lieutenant Generall, and Sir Charles agreed, that wee should march that night to Newconnel a Towne of Sir Nicholas Whites standing on this side the River of Loffie, to which wee marched over the Carrow of Kildare, and passed through the River with our peeces, am nunitions, and carriages betweene twelve and one a clock that night; our van lying at Connel, and our carriages lying on this side the River, and the reere of the farther side of the same, and came in the next morning about right of the clock.
16. About eleven a clock, wee marched towards the Naas, the way wee went being about some foure miles and a halfe, and in the way amongst many houses that wee burnt, wee burned the House of Fitz-garret Steward to Sir Nicholas White and Captaine of the Rebels, who the day, the battle was fought came to Connel aforesaid with one Sutton of the Naas; and being demanded what newes from the armies, hee replied, that the Irish were shamefully routed and runne away; further adding these words, that hee thought God fought for the English, and the Devill for them. Thus doth the Governour of all things, made false Traytours speake the truth to his glory, and our comforts: at the Naas wee rested that night, but found little provision but what wee brought with us, and over night warning given us, that wee should bee ready to march by the breake of the day.
17. And being ready in the morning, and our Wagons droven out to march; even as our peeces were going, a command came, that the Demiculverin and the two Sakers should stay at the Naas, and also 600. men and two Troopes, the Lord Liles, and Sir Charles Cootes Drogoones, who also stayed with them, wee marching and burning all the Rebels houses in the way home, and when wee came neare, wee heard, and that with joy of the arrivall of 700. horse more for the further service of Gods glory, the Kings honour, our Churches peace, and the hopefull enjoyment of our ancient liberty, and thus much concerning our first march out of Dublin, being above 40. miles in the Countrey of the Rebels under the conduct of the right honourable and truly hopefull Commander Iames Earle of Ormond and Ossory &c. and divers other brave valiant Captaines, whom to nominate would bee too tedious though their acts are fit to be eternized by a more able penne, then a point blanke Gunner.
Deo Gloria Solo.