I Wrote you at large by the last Post, of the happy successe and safe returne of our Ar­mie; but because the times are dangerous both by Sea and Land, and our Letters like to mis­carry on both, and because I would not have Gods mercies and power shewen for our de­fence, and confusion of our adversaries, to be cast into oblivion, I shall give you a briefe re­hearsall thereof at this time, as neere as I can remember, and what I might then happily omit, I shall give you now to un­destand. In my former Letters, I wrote of all the passages that were in their going forth from the first of March to the eighth, so far as Ballenepark in the Countie of Wexford, 15. miles from the Town of Wexford, as we received Intelligence on the returne of the Earle of Roscommon. From Ballenepark they set forward the 9. towards Rosse, and the horse came to Rosse going before the foote, the 10. of March, at which time if the whole Army had been there, they had taken the Town, but the enemy being abroad in the field, hindred that part of our foote that was to accompany our horse in their journey, and forct them to retreat toward the Body of our Armie; the horse having left them and gone before, so that our horse also made backe againe; In the meane time, they shat their gates, and got store of men into the Towne, before the main body of our Armie could get thither, they came before the Towne the eleventh, and lay there to the seventeenth, and [Page 2] being disappointed of their Granadoes, and their Garrison coming by Sea, was forct to leave it; for by that time the enemy were strong, both within and without, so that our Armie expected that Preston would have given them Battle on St. Patricks day; the 17. of March being Friday, and ac­cordingly made ready to fight with him, which was accom­plished on Saterday the 18th. at Knockduffe, alias, called the hill of Balleregagh, with much courage on the Rebells side, in so much, that the right wing of our horse was routed, and the day given to be lost, in which some of our Commanders were very much to blame, and Sir Thomas Lucas being given to be lost, being twice cut over the head, it went by that meanes very ill there, and gave such advantage and courage to the Rebells to goe on, that some of their horse brake through our Armie, and came to the Carriages, but could not returne the same way, and Lievtenant Generall Cullin came up to the very Ordnance, thinking to have surprised them; but his horse was shot under him, & himselfe (not being well seconded) taken prisoner. In which time the Marquesse of Ormond shewed both his valour and inveterate hatred against his kinsmen and Countreymen for their Rebellion, he put himselfe so forward, that he was accounted to have been ei­ther slaine or taken prisoner; In this time the left wing of our horse, (not knowing the danger of the right) did admira­ble good service, and the foote the like; meane while our Ordnance playd, but at first did little hurt to the Rebells, but having new Masters, (by meanes of two Vessels that they sanke to prevent the Rogues taking of them in comming to­wards Rosse with necessaries for our Army) they did in the end great execution; these men being Ship-men were nim­ble, and better skild then those Gunners wee had before, which put such terrour into the Rogues, that the maine bo­dy [Page 3] of foote fled, and the left wing of the horse had them in pursuit, but there were so much good Cloaths lay up and downe by the way, that the winde of our Ordnance had scat­tered in the field, and such want of them among our men, that spoyld the pursuit: their horses could hardly be gotten to goe by: the right wing of horse not able yet to set them­selves againe in order, was nothing expected to be done by them, Sir Thomas Lucas head being downe, (but since on the mending hand, and great hopes of his recovery) whereby there were not above 200. slaine as yet come to our intelli­gence for certain, not there in the place; but of those about fourescore Commanders, men both of wealth, note, and va­lour, besides the prisoners taken, but doubtlesse there were many hundreds that were carried away dead, and that carried away their deadly wounds with them, much good may it doe them. The names of those that were found dead, viewed and knowne by our Armie in the field, were Colonel Thomas Butler, sonne to Sir Richard Butler, Lievtenant Colonell Browne of Mulcankin, Beverly Brittaine of Lyons Castle. Cap­tain Henry Bagnall. Captain Thomas Scarlock, one that did us much mischiefe in those parts. Sir Morgan Cavenagh, shot twice but escaped, since reported to be dead. Captain Brian. Captain Donogh O Brian. Captain Theobald Butler. Captain Edward Butler. Captain Masterson. Captain Synnot. Cap­tain Newgent. Captain Gerald fitz Gerald. Captain Thomas Plunket, Major Generall of the Horse.

Most of these were the Lord Marquesse of Ormonds kins­men, and men of great qualitie: my Lord took a good course with them, for feare of counterfeiting themselves dead, he caused them to be put into the ground. I heare of divers slaine, as Robert Harthale, &c. and some others, but I know not if they be the men by name that I have set downe above, [Page 4] as the brother to my Lord of Dunboyne, who is a Buttler, and the second sonne to my Lord Mountgarret, whose name is Buttler. Those that are taken prisoners are, Lieut. Generall Cullin, who was a gentleman with Cardinall Loshellew in France. Sarjeant Major Buttler, I think his name is Pearce Buttler. Walter Buttler, Captain Bryan, Captain Grant Chri­stopher Newsent, Edward Maisterson and his brother.

There are 14. or 16. prisoners all Commanders that day in the field, whereof some are gone to Dublin, the Earle of Castlehaven made a very narrow escape, his horse was shot under him; and if the brave clothes lying in the Field had not dazled our horsemens eyes, he had not escaped taking or killing; But that Butler who kept my Lord Ormond out of his Castle neer Tully, and would not yeeld it up was slaine there, and with our horses running over him was troden in­to the dirt. It is admirable to think and hear, that their Ar­mie consisting of about 7. or 8000. foot, and 6. or 700. horse, not an unnecessary (not an unarmed) man, all chosen men (and horse) of the Kingdome except the North parts of it; our right wing of horse being as it were lost should be overthrown by so weak an Army of ours, being wearied with travell, wanting bread, and rest as much or more, our horses worne out for want of hay and oates, and with much travell, and little rest, consisting of 2500. foot, and about 600 horse, but what shall I more write, the Lord wil help us if England will not: and if there be any affection to us here, or the cause in hand, I hope there will be no longer delay. In this great conflict it is to be admired, that we lost not 20. men, and not a man of any office slain, but Provost Martiall Generall Borras, man more eminent in place then souldier­ship, and meerly for want of care of himself, enduring in the cold without his wounds drest. Indeed he was a good Gen­tleman, [Page 5] and very valiant but no Souldier. Those that we had hurt, were Sir Tho. Lucas, but upon recovery, Sarjeant Ma­jor Morris, (a notable peece of flesh) but not mortally wounded: I hope it will prove but a badge of Honour.

Sir Richard Grynfield in the face, but no danger. We had news that Lieutenant Collonel Tillier and divers others were hurt, but (thanks be to God) it was not so: Collonel Cromwell and Captain Slaughter were unhorst, Collonel Cromwels horse slain, and Captaine Slaughters horse fallen through weaknesse, neither of the Gentlemen hurt. The Re­bels had intended a deadly plot, but the counsell of Achito­phel amongst them (thanks be to God) took no eff [...]ct: it was the advice of Lieut. Generall Callim (now in the Castle of Dublin) not to give our Army barrell at all, but our horses finding little food, and our men no bread, they should onely follow our Army in their March home, and still as they grew wearier and fainter, to fall sometimes on the Reare, on sometimes on the Carriages, and so at last on our Ordnance in the night, and so u [...]terly to cut off our Army, and to take Dublin, which might have been effected, but that God would defeat his counsell. Whereupon the Commanders knowing their own Forces to be great, and the weaknesse of ours would, and being greedy of their prey, they thought to get in Dublin, would admit of no delay; they could not have patience to stay any longer: now having Saint Patricks blessings too, they made themselves sure (of what) not of their destruction, but ours, so and are yet confident, for sure­ly he that is purblind may behold afar off their devises, and confidence of strong aid to us from England: But England hath heretofore suffered so much of the Romish bondage from the Crown to the foot, that I hope, which I almost fear; it is an ill signe when the Hemlock shall grow, and [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] grow amongst the Corn, and none to pluck it out, will it not make the husbandman to have little fruit in time of har­vest: I am sure they grow, and we diminish every day; but we will be tried by God, who hath his cause in hand. So prosper them O Lord.

Our Army returned safe (blessed be God) the 27. March, wearie and hungrie, not having any bread amongst the poore footmen in five dayes: the horsemen got somewhat abroad riding hard for it, the poore footmen could not do so; and now we blesse God for their return, we commiserate their miserie, but cannot help them: we can hardly help our selves. I wish I could but present most of their faces, and in the ha­bite they are in, unto you in England, I hope that would make peace; no more but think what I writ not of them. I writ a letter of the 21. March, and the party that I was to send it by left it behind: it is worth the taking notice of, if I have not writ of it before. On Tuesday the 16. of March at Even, Collonel Crafford went forth into the County of Wicklowe, with about 600. foot, and about 60. horse, retur­ned on Sunday night the 19. dicto, he brought home 800. oxen and cows, and about 1500. sheep, goats and lambes, and left a thousand sheep that he could not drive through the water. The Rebels pursued him to Bray, and took the Ca­stle and Church before him for their Sanctuary, but God was not their Sanctuary; Collonel Crafford himself leading up the forlorne hope, beat them all out, and made them run; and came safe home with the losse of two men, but that plen­tie of cattell is not now known, through what are eaten and stolne from us. I rest,