ON Sunday, Captain Stutevile late in the night set saile, having with him the Swan, two Frig­gots, one Gubard, and two long Boats. And going along the Coasts, the Captain sent out of the Swan some Musqueteers to the Sherreis, where he found the enemy fled, but had left be­hinde them much goods, which being all taken aboord by them, they set the Town on fire; and with it got above 500 l. worth of Corn. Then returning unto their Ship on Tuesday, they came safe to the Bar of Droghedab, where Captain Stute­vile with his five small Vessels loaden with victualls and Am­munition put over, and went up the River not without much danger; the Rebells having made a kinde of a Block-house upon the entrance into the River, whereon they had planted two Peeces of Ordnance, and all along in Trenches within both sides of the River were placed Musqueteers; and he be­ing not able to passe, but continually within Musquet-shot of either, for two myles together, his Ordnance but seldome availing him any thing (by reason of the heigth of the shore above him;) yet (God be thanked) he got la [...]e within the [Page 4] Town with his Vessels, without the losse of a man (he having with him 124 Musqueteers, besides Ship-men.) But to ex­presse the joy of the Souldiers in the Town, requires a quicker Genius than mine own, or at least one that had felt their wants. The Rebells supposing that there would be such joy, and tha [...] by reason of the Souldiers now having store of victualls, they would altogether drown themselves in security, (as it is thought) dealt under hand with some Centeries that were on the Walls, and brake in at a place where there had been a Shallop-Port, so that two might come with stooping low, on a breast; in at which, 'tis certain 500 got, and marched a great way into the Towne; untill at last one of their chiefe Captains was perceived by a common Souldier of ours, to turn a Peece of Ordnance that stood upon the bridge, towards the Town.

The Souldiers seeing this, shot, and kill'd the Captain, and gave the Allarum. Whereupon our Souldiers gathered so fast, that they wholly discovered the Rebells, and had the killing of 160 of them, and took prisoners 40: some escaped through the place they came in at, and others over the Wall, yet many brake their necks at that sport; some one hundred is thought to be yet in Town, hidden in Papists houses, and is confessed by some of the Housholders that were found faulty that way; that it was intended by the Townsmen to have cut the throats of all the Officers that lay in their houses, upon this assault. But (God be thanked) in all this we lost not one man. And on Thursday, Captain Steutevile set forth out of the Town, and came with lesse danger than before to the Bar, where he was on ground, and was forced to stay for want of water; for the Tyde being spent, he lay in a manner dry, the rest of the Shipping forsaking him; whereupon the enemies came down thinking to have taken him and his Ship: but he layd about him so well, that he killed 20 of them; yet they not contented with this (but like desperate villains) got under­neath the stern of the Ship some 30 of them, where he could do them little hurt; and there they be-laboured themselves [Page 5] with a Pick-axe and a crow of iron, and brake the Ship al­most through; wherupon he threw some 6 Granadoes amongst them, and they finding themselves fewer by six, by reason of them, and many of themselves to want plasters about the thighes and shins; and the seventh cast, thought their heels their best safegard, leaving behinde them some pikes and swords, one Target, Pick-axe, and a crow of iron. Then he finding himselfe quit of them, the next Tyde hoisted up sayls, and came in this day safe into our Town of Dublin; but we cannot hear any certainty of the other Vessells that forsooke him, only we fear that by reason of the winds, they were dri­ven Northerly.

WHereas we have hitherto sustained severall inconveni­ences, in regard of the great want of able Command­ers, concerning the Forces in the Northern parts of this King­dom; For the speedy prevention whereof, We Sir Phelome O-Neal, Knight, Elect Generall of the two Provinces of Lemp­ster and Ʋlster; by the free will and consent of the Right Ho­norable, Lords, Knights, and Commons there, Are out of our pi­ous care for the safety of the said parts, moved to nominate and appoint One whose Birth and Honors, together with his Wisedome, Prowesse, and Magnanimity, may animate, advise, and discipline our Army within the said parts, as well to a due obedience, as unto fight, in a time of Warre. In tender consideration whereof, we the said Phelome O-Neal, Knight, Generall of the said Forces, and Commander in Chief, Have thought fitting, and most expedient, for the speedy advance­ment [Page 7] of the holy Romane Catholike Religion, together with the great contentment, satisfaction, and welfare which shall therein ensue unto our Soveraign Lord,By this may be seen the inso­lency and false pretence of the Popish Rebels. the Kings most Excel­lent Ma^tie, Have Nominated, Ordained, and Constituted, and by These our letters do Nominate, Ordain, and Constitute our trusty and well affected kinsman and friend, Colonell Richard Pluncket, to be our Lievtenant Generall, and next in Commis­sion unto us, over the said Catholike Army within the Province of Lempster and Ʋlster: Under whose Conduct and Com­mand, we do hereby straitly charge and require all manner of persons within the said bounds and limits of Lempster, to yeeld their ready service and obedience whatsoever. And further­more it is our said will and pleasure, That it should be lawfull unto him our Lievtenant Generall Pluncket, to perform and do whatsoever in his wisedome and prudence shall be requisite, unto the expediting of these our Affairs.

SInce the relieving of Tredagh, the Rebells have drawn their greatest Forces thither, hoping to make that their purchase, which hath been, of late, so fatall to them.

Two Iesuites are at this instant brought from Yong­hall; they came from Spain in English Bottomes, with ten Barrells of Powder, and Letters full of knavery, with a false superscription, to R. B. Earl of Cork.

Our Souldiers are in a great want of Money; they begin to play mad pranks. For us in Town here, we are like to be in great distresse, if Men, Money, Victualls, and Provisi­on come not speedily, indeed with farre more speed than hi­therto they have done. The promises we have had, and the stay there hath been in the performance thereof, doubtlesse much animates the Rebells in their massacres and daily cru­elties. Besides, it makes us fear the whole Kingdom, which by a reasonable supply of Men, Monies, and other necessaries, would be able (which otherwise will be suddenly put to a very neer extremity) to encounter their greatest oppositi­on. And so looking (even with the first Windes) for a con­siderable relief, till the next opportunity. Farewell.

Dublin, Jan. 24.