A BLOODY BATTELL: OR THE REBELS OVERTHROW, And Protestants Victorie.
Being a true Relation of a great skirmish fought betweene Sir Thomas Moore of the Protestant party, and Maqueres the Generall of the Rebels, on the 2. day of Decemb. 1641.
Also, of a cruell and detestable Murther committed by 7. Soldiers on the body of Mr. Atkins, his Wife, and young Child.
In what a horrid manner they Ript up his Wives wombe being great with Child, and afterward burnt her and her Child in most lamentable manner.
LONDON, Printed for John Greensmith, 1641.
A Bloody Battell, OR The Rebels overthrow, and Protestants victory.
ON Thursday being the second of Decemb. the chiefe Commander of the Rebels Maqueres, marched toward Kilkanie with intent to plunder it, but Sir Thomas Moore having had intelligence of his purpose, with all speed rais'd the Protestants that were resident in those parts, encouraging them to make resistance, who were already resolved, rather to dye in defence of their Christian liberties, then to live in servitude to the Papists cruelty, yet neverthelesse, Sir Thomas Moores pious and Heroick exhortations made them more confident, and added wings of expedition to their wisht design, so that in one three houres there were assembled above 3000 Protestants armed with offensive armes though not defensive, indeed, they had a confidence in God, whose power they knew could shield them; therefore thus armed as they were, they marcht in order toward Kilkanie, where being once arrived, they found the Town making [Page]a weake resistance, but Maqueers being strong in men and Ammunition (which he obtaind when he surpris'd the Neweries) fell on most fiercely forcing of a passage, despight of their resistance, on both sides men were slaine, whose Carkcases bestrewed their mothers bosome, the earth wept in blood to see, her natiue children foster crueltie, each trod the wine presse of rebellious wrath, Death triumpht in his colours, this bloodie conflict made the earth appeare a Marian Golgotha, the ground had chang'd it's verdant Liuerie, and put on Scarlet, it was roab'd in blood, the Sunne did hide it's glorious Rayes, the heauens were mantled in a dusky cloud mixt with some streakes of red, which seem'd to expresse the blushing of the skye, to see man vse such inhumanity. Death and Destruction reveld in the fight, for each man there did striue, who first should die, thinking it base to liue subiect to fortunes scorn.
Vnto this doubtfull Combate soone arrived Sir Thomas Moore, and his associates, who with a sierce alarum fell vppon the reere of those Rebellious Papists, who had almost obtaind an en trance into Kilkanie, but finding that they were surprised, and that Sr. Thomas Moore was at their heeles, they left the towne, and drew themselues into a Compleate body, fronting those new come forces with such courage: as if it were a pleasure unto them to spill poore Protestants blood.
The Battell ioynd, and many men lay gasping on the ground on either side, especially the Rebels, for the Protestant forces being in two divisions, did so bestirre them, that had not Maqueers his heeles [Page]beene better then his hands, he had happily beene higher by the head then he is; in breife, it pleased God of his abundant mercy so to blesse the poore Protestants, that though their foes were three for one in number, yet they had the Victory and their foes were put to flight, onely there was slain almost 300 Rebels, and many taken prisoners which plead that it was contrary to their wills to serue, onely they were forced by Macqueers, who they say in every place that hee comes in forces the Kerns to serve him, threatning to seale their deniall with death, and by that meanes fortifies and strengthens himselfe, and his adherents, animating them on to mischiefe of all sorts and degrees, to wit, Rapes, Murthers, and most Inhumane and incestuous Acts, gilding over all their Vices with a pretended shew of Religion, calling their warre a Religious warre, nay they are so impudent that they say they are warranted by their holy Father, his Holinesse the Pope.
Likewise many outrages are daily committed by those Rebels, which are disperst about the South-West of Ireland, to the intent that they may breed Commotions and disturbe the Kingdome, and have the greater possibility to obtaine their desires, which J trust to God will never have any period, except it be in their owne ruines, I beseech thee O Lord let them fall themselves into that pit of destruction which they provided for us,
Heare us good Lord we beseech thee.
Here followes the Relation of a horrid Murther committed by the Rebels on the bodies of Mr. Atkins, his wife, and his young child, being an Jnhabitant some five miles from Kilkanie.
It chanced the next day after the flight of the Rebels from Kilkanie, that 7. Soldiers of the Papists faction, happened to the house of one Mr. Atkins who rushing in resolutely, demanded money of him, he being astonished at the sudden approach of those fellowes, stood a prittie while, not knowing what answer to make, or how to satisfie their desires, yet after a little consideration, he told them, that they were welcome, and what hee had to his power was at their service; yet neverthelesse they being blood-thirsty Salvages, not deserving the title of humanity without any more words beate out his braines, then they layd hold on his wife being big with child, & ravisht her, then ript open her wombe, and like so many Neroes undantedly viewed natures bed of Conception, afterward tooke her and her Infant and sacrifiz'd in sire their wounded bodies to appease their immaculate soules, which being done, they pillaged the house, taking what they thought good, and when they had done, they set the house on fire, this and innumerable more horrid murthers are committed by those Rebellious Papists which count [Page]it a meritorious worke to imbrew their hands in the blood of the poore Protestants, God I beseech him of his aboundant mercy, send us ayd, so that we may be able to advance Christs Standard, in despight of those Romish Crosses, and let all true Christians cry, Amen.