THe wofull miseries which have too long afflicted the pleasant and plente­ous Kingdome of Ireland, have been a long time a Theame for discourse thorowout Christendome, which ha­ving been neglected, since the present distractions in England, how lamentable has beene the face of all things in the said wretched Ireland; e­very place abounding with fire, famine, sword, and all the ruines incident to mortality; though, thanks be to the Divine mercy, we have lately some better hopes that we shall at last respire from these cala­mities, by reason God has been pleased, when this Kingdome, especially Munster, the best peopled Pro­vince of that Iland, and most faithfull of the English government, was most aflicted and oppressed by the rebellious Mutineers, till lately they exalted with the constant successe of their proceedings had drawn out of the North, where the malice of the rebellion is prety well spent into these Western parts. Rory Mac Guir, brother to the Lord of Inniskillin, out of most desperate inhumane and bloody of all the brood of Traitors, wherewith some two thousand, or therea­bout [Page 4]of his followers, well experienced in mischiefes and murders, by coasting the Countrey, he arriv'd about the second of November last past, in the County of Korke, where he immediately had the welcome given him by all the Rebels in those parts, being at least eight thousand persons of the Lord Muskrey his Forces, with those of the families of the O Caitys, O Connors, and other of the Irish Septs or Tribes, which they preserve with as much integrity and care as the ancient Jewes did theirs: the Munster forces being under the command of one Sir Turlogh Mac Henry O Carty, and Patricke Mac Philim O Connor, the chiefe of those two avaritious families, men that had both serv'd abroad in Flanders in Tyrons Regiment, and therefore better experienced then ordinary in War­like rudiments. Their forces therefore conjoyn'd in one body with those of Kory Mac Guires, they made full ten thousand, with which forces, esteeming them­selves invincible; on they marched, thundring through the lands of the English, burning up Villages, ravish­ing Wives and Virgins, killing old men and children, nay sucking Infants were not protected by their inno­cence from their violence; all was fish that came to net, their quarrell was nationall, nor would they spare for any respects, any that had the least affinity with the English in this bloody hostile manner they proceeded, till they were arriv'd neer Bandon Bridge, a handsome neat Colony of the English in the Coun­ty of Korke, which they intended with avaritious hopes to plunder, and then to set fire off, and there­fore through the woods with as much secrecy as pos­sible, they drew towards it, knowing that if they were [Page 5]discovered, the consequence of that good town would ingage all the English forces thereabouts, which in­deed was not very many, being some thousand of the veterane Munster Bands, under the command of Sir Iohn Paulet, a Gentleman of good extract and undaun­ted courage, to whom, the fourth of November, the day before the fatall stroake was strucken, joyn'd the yong Lord Inchequid a gallant Gentleman, faithfull to the English Crowne, of valiant resolution, and of good and fortunate successe in his Military proceedings; with some three thousand foot of his owne and my Lord of Ormunds, and five hundred horse, being the best part of the strength of the Cavalry in that Pro­vince; having notice by their Spies, of the silent march of the Rebels, they instantly conceited their intenti­ons, and so resolved, nothing terrified with the report of their numbers, to set downe on a Plaine between those woods (where the Rebels were) and Bandon, and there if they would come on to give them b [...]ttell with as little noyfe as was possible; therefore they intren­ched themselves, cast up in their Front some slight brestworkes, and planting conveniently among some very high Furres or Brakes their Ordnance, which consisted of six indifferent good field Peeces, and some three or foure Sakers. Sir Turlogh Mac Henry O Carty with the Van of their forces, were advanced out of the wood into the Plaine, had notice from his Vaunt Cur­rers, that there were some English forces neer at hand, but as they conjectured no very considerable number, being at most not above three thousand, some horse­men, with Sir Iohn Paulets Regiment, lying so close among the Furres, that they were not discernable, [Page 6]the whole Army of the English part, being not five thousand men; but in resolve and herformance double the number.

S^r Turlogh having given notice to Rori and O Conner of these tydings, very joyfull they seemed and assured of victory, beleeving the secure English had no know­ledge of their arrivall, and Rori according to the vio­lence of the Rebels disposition, would needs have the honour of the on-set, with some two thousand Horse; therefore he galloped in towards the English quar­ters, commanding and desiring Turlegh and O Conner with their Foot Forces, to wheele about under the co­vert of those high Firs, and when he was engaged in combate with their Front, which they would make as strong as possible against his furious charge of horse, they should then fall pell mell upon their quarters, and so inclose them and cut them off every Mothers son. My Lord of Incequin in the meane perceiving Roris approaches had plac'd his horsmen in their op­position, leaving their Troops with a Muskettier to every horse; who as soone as Rori approached within distance, let fly their fatall bullets, which gall'd him shrewdly in the head of his Troops; they charging and discharging as fast as possibly they could, till Rori was mingled with his horsmen among others, & after the discharging their Petronels and Carabines either at other, wherein fell at least two hundred of Rori's horse they came to handiblowes; Wherein our able men at Armes did gallant execution on them with their swords. The Irish Skeins not cutting with that vigor and edge that did our English Back-swords, our Mus­kettiers then recharg'd, sending another volly of lead [Page 7]into the Irish mens bosomes and Foot Companies, now comming into the reliefe of our horse, gave Mac-Guire an entertainment, which made his horsemen reele out of their order; but he bringing fresh men on though he had at least 800 of his horsemen slaine, the poore garones running up and downe the field with­out riders. Our men had much adoe to resist their fu­ry, though my Lord Inchequin performed all the offi­ces of a resolute man and a wise Commander: When behold on the sudden Sir Turlegh O Conner and the rest broke in on Sir Iohn Pawlets quarter, where was the Ordnance and a thousand more of resolute souldiers, who thinking to have surpris'd our men were sur­prised themselves; the Field-peeces charg'd with murdering shot, as Muskets and Pistoll bullets, pelli­ting them downe by heapes, and our excellent fire­men safe among the Firs, spending not one shot in vaine; yet the multitude of their numbers made them scarce sensible of their losse till valiant Sir Sir Iohn Paulet, Captaine Robert Sandys with troops charged them through while the Ord­nance againe charg'd, plaid hotly upon raking them thorow and thorow their flanks, that their slaughter with the fall of Patrick Macphelme O Conner, did so dishearten the Irish, that they turn'd their backs, and in spight of S^r. Turloghs perswasions with nimble heeles, sought to recover the woods Rori Mac-Guire, between whom and my Lord of Inchequid, the fight stood in equall termes; the Irish rather defending themselves with offending us, perceiving the coward­ly flight of his foot, giving them to a thousand divels, turn'd his horse, and fled also toward the woods, then [Page 8]they were in apparent rout, our men doing that, and plaine execution upon both their horse and foot, beating them downe with the but end of their Mus­quets, and slaughtering them as they deserv'd, with­out all mercy, especially the Munster Rebels, of Sir Turloghs and O-Connors Regiment went to racke, scarcely a tenth man escaping into the woods. There fell in all at least three thousand foot, and some thou­sand horse, being the vere flower of the Rebels. O-Connor, and two or three of the Cartys being the chief. Prisoners there were taken to the number of seven hundred, or thereabouts, of which of most note, Brian Mac-Henry, O Carty, Sir Turloghs eldest sonne, and halfe a dozen Friers, with one of their Bishops, whom are in safe custody.

In Bandon wee got good store of armes and pretty number of serviceable Garroones: Rori Mac­Guire, with Master Turlogh and the rest of their forces, fled by their knowne by-wayes through the woods are reported to be retir'd into Vlster. Of our side there were lost only 200. men, and never a one of marke or quality, but a Lievtenant to Captaine San­dys; so that we may perceive how easie it were to quet the forces of these pertinacious and bloody re­bels, were there an unity in England between the King and the Parliament, which God in his mercy send speedily to be effected, that the afflictons of us here may be considered: And we have afforded some speedy and competent succours of men, money, and horses, with which wee should easily, not onely defend and secure our selves, but to reduce the whole kingdome to it's antient obedience to the English Crowne.