A Little help will save this Kingdom, neglect will hazard the losse of it; the ruine of which will be a fearfull Alarum to both the other. Sir William Gilburt Governour of the Fort of Mariborough in the Queens County, in the Province of Leimster, had before the Cessation three compleat Companies of Foot, and a Troope of good Horse, with which he did not only secure his own. Gar­rison, but preserved the Lord Dillon, Viscount Castle low. and his Forces in the Castle of Athlon, in the Countie of Conaught upon the borders of Leimster, a Protestant Garison some ten miles, or more from him; but the Ces­sation being agreed, two of those three Companies, and the Troop of horse were called off by the Marquesse of Ormoud, and not only the Castle of Athlone was (by this meanes left naked) but Mariborough Fort in great dan­ger. Sir William Gilburt having only one Company left to keep the Garrison, and the Lord Dillon not 100. men in Athlone.

[Page] Sir William Gilburt therefore sent up his eldest Son, his Deputie-Governour, and a Gentleman that hath done good service against the Rebels, to the Parliament of Eng­land, whose dispatch for employments hath been much wished for by us.

Supplies so much, and so long desired, not coming, makes the old Irish to insult the more, though one rout would (I verily believe) turn the skales.

But a Peace being concluded between the supreame Councell, and the Marquesse of Ormond, it puts us into a far worse condition: Ormond and Digby with their for­ces are got fafe to Dublin, and there they are fortifying, and mending their Workes from the Colledge to St. Ke­van, and Newstreet, and so to St. Iames Gate, and since their return from Kilkennie the Guards have been stron­ger about the City; For the Marquesse of Ormond and the Lord Digby are in some feare of the Rebels that are risen against the peace concluded.

The Rebels missing their design of murdering the Mar­quesse of Ormond, and Digby, with them in Kilkennie, as was plotted, they with their Forces marched into the Queens Countie in Leimster, within 20 miles of Kilken­nie, and there took the Fort of Mairborough by surprize, notwithstanding the Peace concluded, Sir William Gil­burt, with all the Officers and Souldiers, Ministers, and Inhabitants, to the number of 1000. men, women, and children of the Town that are Protestants, all being at the mercy of the Rebels.

And the Castle of Athlone in Conaught was also ta­ken by them in the like manner. The Lord Dillon and all his Officers and Souldiers were surprised, and are at the mercy of those bloudy Rebels.

[Page] These Forces of the Irish (in number almost 1000. and all armed) are within little now then twenty miles of Dublin.

These two places which they have taken, the losse of them is great, Athlone stands upon the River side just upon the mouth of Lough Ree, towards Castle-More, and Mariborough Fort is in the hart of Leimster.

Sir, for your further satisfaction herein, I referre you to the Papers here inclosed, and shall ever apply my selfe to be

VVE Archbishop, Bishops, and the rest of the Clergie of the Kingdome of Ireland subscribing, are won­derfull sensible how your Excellency (out of zeale to Gods glory and the Protestant Religion, and out of loyalty to his Majesty) hath in this great distemper, with much hazard, singular wisdom, and vigilant care, preserved not onely in this Citie, but also in all the out-garisons the free and full exercise of the true reformed Religion, according to the Lyturgie and Canons so many hundred yeares received in the Church, which (with bleeding hoarts we may say) is more then we know to be in any part of the three Dominions. As also we doe most heartily acknowledge, that by your very great pains and labour, you have at last concluded a most neces­sary peace, which we humbly conceive to be the onely meanes to con­tinue [Page]those great blessings of Religion and Loyalty amongst us, & to be the onely hopefull way to reduce this whole Kingdome to his Majesties obedience. And withall wee doe most ingeniously pro­fesse, that out of your Piety and Noblenesse, you have vindicated our Callings and Places from contempt, and protected in from personall in­juries, and provided a subsistence for us, without the which many of us had undoubtedly starved. Out of the deep sence of all which, and ma­ny more favours then we are able to expresse, wee were the most un­thankefull of all men, if we should not praise God for your Excellency, and return to you our most hamble and hearty thankes, faithfully pro­mising to cotinue our fervent prayers to God, & our very best endevors for strengthning your hands in managing the great trust His Maje­sty reposeth in you, and in maintaining Religion, and the peace now e­stablished amongst us. Having made this just and necessary Remon­strance of our gratitude and resolutions, we doe most humbly beseech your Lordship to continue (as wee are very confident you will) your care to preserve the Religion, book of Service, publick worship in the decency and comelinesse thereof, and the true Apostolicall government of the Church now exercised amongst us, against all opposition what­soever, And graciously to persist in your care to provide some compe­tent maintenance for us, till we may conveniently return to our Bene­fices. And if any of our number shall be disaffected to the Religion, Book of Service, publick worship and government of the Church, His Majesties Service, or disturbers of the present peace, we do not sup­plicate for such, but leave them to your Lordship to be proceeded with as you shall find convenient.