THE season suiting my de­sire having found so fit an occasion to send to you, I thought good things be­ing for the present so well with us, (by Gods blessing, and the valour of our small forces) to give you a true information in what Estate the Kingdome is in at this present.

Many Townes of indifferent strength wee have taken from the Rebells. Namely these,

Drogheda taken by Captaine Christopher Lof­tus with the losse of twenty five men, the Re­bells loosing neere three hundred.

Likewise taken by the Lord More, who [Page 4]beate the Rebells, and tooke store of Muniti­on which the Rebells were forced to leave behind them, by reason that the Towne was too hot for them.

VVickloo, and Waxford taken by young Charles Coote, sonne to that valiant (and deplo­red) Commander sir Charles Coote; Colorane taken by the Deputy President of Munster.

A [...]k [...]oo taken by the Lord Grandeson, who in that service was shot through the left thigh, entering a breach.

Clogham was taken by Captaine Gibbs, Ma­nah [...]m was taken by sir Richard Greenevill, Gal­way and Garmaston having beene besieged long by the Rebells, was releived by the Earle of Ormond, Leivtenant Generall of his Majesties Forces. As for Lymrick, that was a place which did do much hurt to our proceedings, being so strongly fortified by the Rebells, that though our English forces had made many at­tempts against it, yet they were repulst, and forced to recreate as vanquished.

Neverthelesse so it pleased God to blesse us, that he put it into the heart of Captaine Bart­let, [Page 5]a Scotch Commander, to frame a project, and to put that project in execution.

For on satterday the 9th. of August, the said Captaine Bartlet came to my Lord Lievte­nant Generall, and desired him that he would bee pleased to let him imploy five hundred men, and a troope of horse, in a designe a­gainst the Castle of Limrick, withall promising confidently, that hee would take the Castle, or upon the fayling thereof hee would loose his head, the Lord Lievtenant being loath that a Commander of such worth should en­gage himselfe in a designe of such probable danger, and improbable to prosper, used much perswasions, desireing him to avert his inten­tion, since an attempt upon that Castle so strongly fortified must of necessity prove the ruine of him and his Company, withall in­timating that if hee should receive a defeat by the Rebells, and bee lost in that designe, it would give an occasion of incouragement to the Rebells, and bee a meanes to dishearten the English, who were in great want of such noble and well disposed Commanders as himselfe.

Notwithstanding all this the said Captaine Bartlet would not be perswaded but that hee should take the Castle, which the Lord Leivte­nant seing, gave way to his desire, withall gi­ving command that five hundred of the pro­perest and forewardest men should be assign­ed for him, and sir Richard Greenevills Troope of Horse, which hee having received, marcht presently away from the Army to a little vil­lage, which they had that day plundered, where hee caused them to search for all the Trouses and habits of the Irish, with which he habited one halfe of his men, making them appeare just like Irish Kemes, having so done, he out of that part of his men which remain­ed elected thirty musquetiers which he placed, (being befriended by the darknesse of the night) on the backside of the Castle in a deep ditch, giving them command not to stirre till they see the Irish forces out of the Castle. Likewise his troop of horse he placed in a little grove, which was of one side of the Castle, some three Bowes shots off, having thus pla­ced his men, and giving them directions what they should doe, hee sent out those that were [Page 7]habited like Irish men, to walke round the Castle, and to waite till that hee should come up to charge the Castle.

The day appearing Captain Bartlet led on his men and beat a feirce alarum, which the Irish in the Castle seeing, began straight to arme them­selves, but on the sudden they see the supposed Irish come to their rescue, for the disguised English seemed to charge Captaine Bartlet very fiercely, onely with powder to be shot, after a little time spent in this seemeing combate, the English falling down thicke and threefold, lying as if they were dead, and the rest flying, which the Rebells seeing, straight issued out of the Castle, pursuing the English that fled, not once noting or medling with those that lay on the ground as dead.

Which the 30. Masquetiers seeing rose, and with all speed seised on the Castle, killing those that were the guard, who were unpro­vided of defence being overjoyed with their supposed victory.

The Troope of horse clapt in betweene them and the Castle and the supposed dead men rose and charged them cutting them off [Page 8]without mercy, so that they at that time kild above 3. thousand of the Rebells, and tooke many prisoners, not loosing above three men, only some few hurt, this is a reall truth, and the true manner of his taking the Ca­stle of Limrick, for which service he is so admired, that the souldiers are greedy to goe with him upon the most desperate designes.

Thus it pleaseth God to fight for us, and wee doubt not (were the present distractions of England once com­posed) and more ayd sent over, we should quickly re­duce this Kingdome to its former obedience, and ba­nish all those blood-thirsty Papists out of the Land.

This is the summe of all that hath happened lately, or is worthy my paines or your knowledge.

Onely I desire you in requitall to retaine me the chiefe Heads of your proceedings in England, for now English newes is as much longed for here, as Irish newes was lately in England.

I received a letter from Chichester, which informed me that my Lord Deputies sonne was taken prisoner at Portsmouth, and sent up to the Parliament, pray send me word whether it be true or otherwise.