I Have received divers Letters with severall dates, wherein you taxe me for not writing to you; you have no cause so to do, in regard all passage by Land hath been stopped in these parts by the Rebels; many have I written, and doubtlesse some of them which I wrote might miscarry, For I assure you, I have written by every passage that went from hence, which were by Barques that carried passengers, and poor distressed people, which have been landed in Wales, Padstoe Ilfordec [...]e, and Barnestable; but none of them at their return have brought any Letter from you, my Wife, or any friend there­abouts. In shipping away the poor people, I have taken a great deal of pains, and disbu [...]sed much monies to pay for their passage, and there is still as much need of doing the same, as before; for though the number of receivers be not altogether so many, yet the givers are much decreased, the inhabitants of this Town, I mean the English, were for the most part Tradesmen, who of a long time have not gotten a penny, but gone wasting and consuming the little which they had, and in a very little time more, we shall be all of one condi­tion, and suffer a like (but to the purpose.)

The Rebels have persisted in their cruell, and their tyrannicall ways, blocked us up round about, and have taken from us whatsoever we had lying without the Gate, what was not usefull for them, they despightfully burnt, and whomsoever they took of our Nation, whether man, woman, or childe, have most cruelly, and inhumanely hanged and murthered; and for this three weeks space we have not been able to sond a Letter to the Lord President, but by water, and that with a great deal of difficulty, but praised be God, about seven or eight dayes since, the Lord President upon our bleeding importunity, appointed the Lord Baltingl [...] his half Company, to come hither by Sea to help us, which consisted of 44. or 45. men, who arrived hear the 15. and brought with them eight Barrels of Powder, and a hundred Skears of Match, whereof six Barrels, and fifty Skears, were allotted for Bandonbridge, the other fifty Skeans, and two Barrels, do remain bear for the defence of the Town, which did savour well with us, because is was the first that ever we received. The 16. the Troops of Bandonbridge came hither to renew, and carry away the [Page]said provisions, and for their better Conv [...]y, we sent with them our Troop, which consisted of about 40, horse, and 40. foot, which went with them a­bout four miles, and drew up all our forces we could make, to make good the retraite, if occasion had been; our forces no sooner parted from our friends, but those of Bandon fell into an Ambuskadoe, which was laid purposely for them, consisting of about 300. men, who fired each upon other; such was the great work of God Almighty, that ours consisting of about 80. horse went through in despight of them, slew, or killed about 80. of them, with­out the losse of a man, they wanted four, which they imagined had been slain, but they remained here, playing the ill husbands, and went not with their friends; our people in their retreat, pillaged, and burned all the houses they could espy; and being come altogether, we marched in a body, toward a mul­titude of them, which appeared upon a Mountain towards Belgolie, and lay in ambush on the further side of the Mountain; the Hils round about us were covered with them, we marched within Musket-shot of the main body of them, and made a stand, every man desirous to march up to them, but night was at hand, and they had very much advantage of the ground; while we stood in sight of them, they made many hideous shouts, calling us English Rebels, and traiterous villains, and threatned, that before Munday following, to burn, and ransick our Town; but these were but flourishes, for that night, they retreating to their accustomed place Belgolie, where their Camp lay, many of their people run away, and it seems their Sabbath-Sacrifice wrought little effect, for the chief of them, which was Barrie Oage and Iere­my Longe, commanded the armed men, to march towards my Lord of Muskrie his campe, and the rest they advised to shift for themselves: we are informed that many of the armed men, did not march farre, but run every man his way; this I conceive, could not be in any policie, but meerly the Finger of God, that strook their hearts with such fear and t [...]rrour, as they could not stay any longer.

On Monday morning we marched thither, where we found good store of provisions, some we brought away, the rest we burned with the houses, and all the Country thereabouts, so they cannot in haste incamp themselves there again with any commodity; some few straglers we found there, which were kill [...]d, only two or three, which we brought home prisoners, which I be­leeve we shall hang this day; some things they have discovered, but to no great purpose, that it was meerly fear that drove them away, thinking those [...]s [...]erly windes which then blew, had brought n [...] great store of men out of England.

On Tuesday we went forth again, and took possession of a Castle called [Page] Arcloyne, where we have left a guard of 12. Muskettiers, it lyeth a mil [...] from the Town toward Bandonbridge, which was good service, for by that means we have gained a Mill, which lyeth under command of the Castle, and hope we shall keep it, we had not the use of any Mill this three weeks, till now, which caused us (though we have store of Corn) to want Bread.

We have certain advice, that about seven dayes since, the Lord Presidents forces, about 600. foot, and 200, horse, sallied out of Cork, and let upon my Lord of Muskrie, and Lord Generall Barries great Camp, which consisted of about 8000. the Rebels stood a while, but at last as many as could did fly, only on [...] Company led by Mac Finins, Brother of Glonerogh, which was known by a nick name, Captain Sogone, who fought very valiantly, and received 7. or 8. shot into his body before he fell to the ground, his head and his hands, are brought in, and set upon the Gates of the Citie. There were slain of the Rebels no man knows how many, our men brought in about 600. Muskets, and Pikes, which lay amongst the dead, they brought in aboundance of pro­visions, my Lord of Muskries Plate, and Apparell, and many other good things, So I hope they will not be able to recover in hast such a head again; their Bogs and Woods must be their chiefest Forts. A passage, or two more, though I be something tedious, I will relate; In my former Letters, I related the great losse sustained, at a Farm which I had called Eneskonnis, it yeelded me 92^l per anuum, and the stock was my own, the Tennant was to make it good at each yeers end, only I had great store of Corn which I could not get threshed, to bring it away; for after this Rebellion began, none of the villains would la­bour; I had of Wheat the growth of 35. Acres, and as good, as any in the Country; besides, Barley, and Oats, my Landlord Patrick Rach of Polelodge, taking it for his own, as he formerly had done with my Castle, and all things else, got two or three hundred with their Colours, to come thither to thresh, and carry it away, half for himself, and the other half for those that did labour and stand by to guard him, but whiles they were about it, the Troops of Bandon, and a few Muskettiers fell in among them, killed neer 100. of them put the rest to flight, and carried with them a great part of the Corn, which was made ready at their hands; and in this service they lost not a man, a while after some of the Rebels attempted to steal away some Cows neer Bandon, and took two or three small Children that were keeping of the said Cows, which they killed most barbarously, took them by the Legs, and Arms, and tore them a sunder, one of the Children they found stabbed with a Sk an, in a douzen places, which did so incage them, that the next day they made another sally upon the Rebels, and afterwards set upon a Castle called [...]doniell Castle, where sometime the Iron work stood; it was so full of [Page]men and provisions, that they had made Linnies without side, against the walls of the Castle, which they filled with hutches of corn and houshold-stuff: which they had taken from the English: Our men placed Musketiers round about them, in such manner, that none of them within durst appear upon the Battlement, nor peep out their nose at the Loop-holes; sent in five or six men that were skilfull in Myning under the said Linnies, who laboured so lustily, that in 3 or 4 hours they had made a hole thorow the wall; where they put in furze and straw, which did set the lower rooms of the Castle on fire, so that the Rebells and the provisions that were within, were burnt together; of what was in the Linnies they saved about 200 horse load, and carried it by de­grees to the Town of Bandon: had we but 3 or 400 men more, we should soon be able to clear the river of Bandon, upon which are three Castles very well fortified. Kilg [...]bane, Polelonge, and Corge [...], the Landlord of Polelonge Pat: Roch fitz Richard was a Parliament-man, and hath been a long time out in re­bellion, and his eldest sonne is made a Captain amongst them. Had I men in place, I would be content to maintain them with victualls and pay at my own charge, untill I had taken the said Castle of Polelonge, so that I might enjoy the said Castle and Land thereunto belonging, which is nine plow-lands and a half, and so of the rest of the Castles. I pray, if you have any friends a­mongst that Honorable Assembly, petition for some thing that might do us good: For my part, I have lost all, and for merchandizing there will be no lit­tle hopes while I live in this kingdom; so that unlesse it please God to move their hearts to support me in some good way, I must be enforced to stere such a course as after so much losse, will not well sute with my age.

The Irish Inhabitants of this Town, Cork, and Yongball are no better than those that are abroad in action; they did generally give intelligence of all that passed, and kept all things from us: I have discovered that many of the chiefest of the Town did go dayly to Belgolie Camp; and if friends to them, they must needs be enemies unto us: I have laid hold of some of them, I will advise my Lord President of their proceedings.

Had not God Almighty dealt thus mercifully with us, that the hearts of those miscreants should thus fail them, to fly when none pursues them, that in our encounters with them we lose not one for 100; and seeing that all these la [...] Easterly windes have brought no supplie for us out of England, we should have been in despair, and clean cut off; but it doth plainly teach us. That it is his mighty hand and stretched-out arm, and not an arm of flesh that doth pro­tect us.

At the beginning of these troubles our watches were mixt Irish and Eng­lish together, but since we have divided our selves, the English have all retired [Page]to the water side, and the Irish keep the upper old Town; so that if they pro­fesse any treachery, the Fort and our Ship Charles will presently beat down their houses about their ears, and do us no harm. My Lord President and Co­lonell Banester did very well approve of their doings: now a little of businesse I take notice what you write of the Ship Charles, I have thereupon thought it the best course to perswade M^r J. Brooks to go over to inform that Honour­able House what manner of Ship she is, and what she has and will stand us in to set her forth compleatly to Sea, she will stand us upwards of 5000^l. I shall defire you to be an assistant to the bearer M^r J. Brooks, to petition to the Parliament to have satisfaction for the time we have spent in Harbour from the 12 day of January, for the defence of the Fort, Town, and Harbor, which, under God, was the chief preservation of them all; for till of late, the Fort was very weak, and ill manned; and to gether to be employed in the Kings service, and to allow us the rates which other Ships have, three pound 16 per Month each man: she is already in place, and doubtlesse may do as good ser­vice as any Ship that is employed; she will carry, and hath ports for 30 pieces of Ordnance; we have already 24 Barrells of Powder, five Cables, and double Sailes: but for this I referre you to the relation of the Bearer, praying you to assist him effectually; he is a very able deserving man he carrieth a Letter from Captain Dewricke; a part owner to a kinsman of his, one M^r Norcket, a good friend to M^r Pime and M. Strowd; the said M. Strowd is a very able deserving Gentleman, I knew him when my Brother Nich. Glanfield lived in Panestocke, but I believe he doth not remember me. I pray God direct their heares; that we may have some ayd come over in time, to keep them from reaping what they have sown, and before they have Powder and Arms from other parts, lest they should take head again: 10000 men in M [...]st [...]r would, in my opini­on, in a very short time do the businesse, and fetch back our Cattle and Horses which they have driven into Musgro [...] Woods. If I had but 200 men at pre­sent, to what we have, I am very confident I should do some service to Gods glory in the defence of my Religion and Nation; and thus much believe of my conceited opinion, That if these Rebells be pardoned, this kingdom will never be secure; the abuses are so unhumane, and so devillish, that if it become pardonable, none will care what offence be committeth: and the hatred be­tween the Nations is so great, that it is impossible that ever it can be forgot­ten. Let us have leave to fight it out to the last man; or if not, and that they must five here, set us have leave to depart, and seek some other place for our [...]bitation.

I have between 6 and 7000^l in debts upon the Irish, which will be all lost, and [Page]never expect a penny of it; and I have not a peny left, onely what is in the new ship, and those that are gone for Gennoa, and a little provision for my self and Family for 5 or 6 Months if I can keep it, which I hope I shall, or I shall lose my life with it. Pray be helpfull to my Brother Salie in what he shall desire you, and think not upon any Trade for these parts for a while, for the Countrey affordeth no commodity, neither is there any money to buy any commodity that is brought to us, unlesse you can contract with the Honorable House of Parliament to furnish these Ports with provisions, making your condition at some reasonable gaining rate, to be paid out of the Chamber of London. We have at present abundance of Corn, by reason of two or three prizes, French-men laden with Wheat and Rye brought in by our men of War. It is a gre [...] over-sight, that in all this time we have not more Ships, one or two to ride constantly in each Port, to hinder the coming of provision and Ammunition to the Rebells, which cannot be so securely done by keeping a few ships at Sea: the sure way is, as I have said, to have a ship or two to ride constantly in each Port, and half a dozen of nimble ships to keep at Sea upon the head Lands. I pray be vigilant, that we may have satisfaction for our los­ses, and some reward for our honest endeavours. I have furnished his Maje­sties Fort of this place, Cork, Kings ship, and otherwise in his Maiesties service, to the value of 400^l in Deal boords, Iron, Pitch, Tarre, Train, Ammunitions, and Monies, and know not yet when, or by whom I shall be satisfied for the same; and whatsoever I have yet remaining, I will willingly part with in the said ser­vice, and am ready to seal this my intent to the last drop of my blood. There have been a great many of our Nation who are very able both in person and estate to serve in this cause, that have stollen away, and carried their estates, mo­nies, and provision with them; it were good, in my opinion, that an inquiry were made after them in England, and compelled not onely to return in their own persons, but to being over others upon their own charge; it would be but an easie punishment for their cowardly basenesse. I shall desire you to be mind­full of us in your prayers to God Almighty. In whom I rest

Remember me to all my friends, and excuse my not writing; distractions would not permit me.

I have a conceit, and am almost confident, That a great reason of those rebells run­ning into corners is, That they have some intelligence that their good friends and great pillars, of whom they boasted, either have, or must leave them to themselves.