SInce my last by my Lord of Dungarvan, my owne indisposition and imbecility hath been such as in mine own person I have not beene able to attempt any thing, but have by my sicknesse beene confined to my chamber, but the forward earnestnesse and zeale to the service in my Lord of Inchonqid. Col­lonel Vavasor, Captain [...]rpson, and the rest of the Offi­cers of the small Army here, hath accomplished some exploits, whereof you may please to receive the ensu­ing relation.

I being besieged on the north side of the City by my Lord Mu [...]kry, M. Carty Lea [...]h, and all rest of the western forces, and having notice that my Lord Roche, my Lord [Page 2] of Ikarne Donbay, the Baron of Loghmay, M. Richard Bui­ler, and all the tipperary forces were drawing up to be­leager me on the south, I dispatched away the two Troops then newly landed, under the command of my Lord Inchequid, and Captain I [...]phton into the Lord Ro­ches Country, in expectance to divert him from his in­tended course hith [...]rwards, which sorted to so good purpose as that I since understand the tipperary forces have forsaken him, and that he remains himselfe upon his keeping in his owne Country. During the stay of these Troops there, they were desired to the reliefe of a Castle called Rathgogan by one M. Meade, which M. I [...]phson having performed with a Squadron of each Troop, and 80. Musqueters drawn out of his house and mine. In his retreat he was encountered by two or three Companies from Mimeallock, on whom he with a horse, and another officer with a Foot charged in severall pla­ces, and routed them, slaying about 150. beside 50 slain in relieving the Castle On the thirteenth of this instant my Lord of Muskry (who hath kept this Camp a long time at Rochforts Towne three miles from this City) caused a part of his Army to chase home our scouts to the very suburbs, where in a bravado they made a stand, whereat my Lord Inchequid, Colonell Vavasor, and the rest of the Officers being much incensed, obtained my leave to issue forth immediately with 300 musqueteers, and two Troops of Horse: upon the sallying out they found the enemy retreated, and pursued him to his quarters, where the main body consisting of 36 colours as they were numbered forthwith appeared, and after severall parties sent from the maine body to skirmish with our men, had beene beaten backe, they began to [Page 3] pack up their Baggage, and forsooke their Camp, after whom our men made all the speed they might: and ha­ving chased them two or three miles, charged upo [...] the Reare, routed the whole Army, which betooke it selfe to flight over a bog, unpasseable for our horse, and took all their carriage and luggage, wherof the Lord of Mos­keries own armour, Tent, and Trunks were a part, slew about 200 of their men that tooke to firm ground, and retired without losse of a man. Wherby it is very easie to observe with what facility the enemy might now be dealt withall before he can recollect himselfe anew, or receive forrain supplies, which they daily and hourely expect, and being once come to their hands, it will not then be trebble the charge and expence both of bloud and treasure that will suppresse them, which now would reduce them to a very great straight.

And therfore I do most humbly beseech your Lord­ship, that speedy supplies of men, monies, armes, muni­tion, and artilery, with all necessaries depending there­on, as Conducters, Pyoners, Mattrosses, Carriages, Tackle, Horses and Oxen for draught, and all other ap­purtenances may either be sent over, or Comission and meanes to raise and maintaine them here, here be­ing but one Canonere, and one Clerke of the store in this Province: without these your Lordship knows that it is to no boote to march into the field, where if the enemy be not too hard for us, he will certain­ly retire to his holds, and so secure himselfe against our forces.

The necessary use of Fire locks and Dragoones, and of a competent supply of victuall, the stocke of this Country being totally wasted, will deserve serious con­sideration: [Page 4] and if I had beene so fortunate as to have re­ceived any succours by those late Easterly winds it would have so discouraged the enemy now newly rou­ted and animated the Protestant party, as that I am ve­ry confident by Gods assistance I should have given your Lordship a good account of the quiet of these parts. Whereas the observing that this faire opportu­nity hath conveied us no reliefe do begin to muster up their forces afresh, and to take heart at the apprehnsion of our being deserted in England and left wholy to our selves, wherein I cannot sufficiently expresse how mi­serable our conditions is; for having from the begin­ning of these troubles supported the forces mentioned, in the inclosed list with moneys gained upon severall hard termes and ingagements (besides what I have im­pressed to the succour sent thence) I was at last con­strained to seize upon 4000. pounds b [...]longing to Sir Robert Tynte▪ & ready to be transported out of the king­dome (and which he refused to lend upon the publique faith of this state, which neverthelesse I gave him up­on the seisure) meerely to preserve the Army from dis­banding, which otherwise it must have undoubtedly done. And therefore I humbly desire, that mony may be sent over not onely to discharge that and other en­gagements, amounting to 4000 pounds more but that there may be order taken for the entring of those men into pay, and continuing them therein ever since the beginning of the present troubles which I raised at first (by direction from the Lords Justices) for this service, and that the same course may be taken for them as for the rest.

The heighth of insolency and arrogancy in the ene­my [Page 5] will appeare by the inclosed Remonstrance which they sent me after a motion made for a cessation, which in the condition I was in, I had some inclination to con­discend unto, in case it had beene sought for in befitting termes: to which purpose I willed them to adresse their humble Petition to his Majestie, and in case I did ap­prove thereof, I would give way thereunto, and to a cessation untill his pleasure were knowne; where­upon they transmit me that, whereof the inclosed is a copy: at which I tooke (iustly as I conceive such of­fence as caused me to returne them the inclosed answer which I should have seconded with such further testi­monie of my aversion to their insolency as would tend much to their disincouragement were I enabled with any reasonable strength so to doe, which I earnestly de­sire I may be, and with instructions what hand to car­ry in the procecution of them, and how to manage the warre against them for that every day they encrease in insolency and riot, hanging such prisoners as are not a­ble to pay ransome, ransoming others, hanging old women, and stripping all they can lay hold on. All that is lest in this Province is the City of Corke, the Townes of K [...]ngsale, Youghall, and Bandonbridge; the Cities of Limricke and Waterford being f [...]llen into defection, save that the Fort in the former is able to command the Towne if prouided with Munition, wherewith I have sent to supply it.

For persons in Action it is farre lesse difficult to no­minat those that adheare to the Crown, which are the Earle of Barrimore, (an industrious servitur) the Lord Viscount Killmallocke, Sir Andrew Barret, and Edmond FitzGerald of Ballmarter commonly called the Senescall [Page 6] of Imockilly, by whose care and countenance (ioyned with my L. Barrimores that barrony of Imockilly is kept in due subiection, and the passage betwixt this City & Youghall thereby open. But whilst we stand on these unable tearmes to stirre out of these walles, the enemy is at liberty to range and forrage over all parts of the Countrey. And indeed our wants of money are so great and pressing, as that for defect of entertainement and encouragement, the officers both of Horse and F [...]ote daily flocke unto me, and importune to be dismissed & left at liberty to seeke their preferment in England: and so soone as this little which is left me to feede the soul­diers with from hand to mouth is spent, I know no way to prevent their sudden disbanding: and therefore I do againe beseech your Lordship to endeavour that I may not bee exposed to the dishonour and misery of being abandoned by the Kings forces, and left my selfe single to the mercy of the enemy; but that monies may bee speedily transmitted unto me with directions what pay to allow the horse-men, and officers of the foote, with an overplus of money, as I have formerly desired, for extraordinary and emergent occasion, about either the Ordnance or Forts whereas yet nothing is in a right po­sture, but things onely shuffled together for a shift by reason wee had not wherewithall to the worke as it ought