A Wild-fire PLOT▪ Found out in IRELAND: SHEWING How the REBELS VVould haue consumed the City of Dublin with Wild-fire.
Also how three Lords were taken Prisoners, and committed to the Castle.
Also how the Scots have joyned Battell against the Rebels.
Together with the names of those Lords which led the forces, and tooke the Rebels prisoners, with their nu [...]ber of forces, both of horse and foote.
With the exact Coppies of two Letters, sent from two Marchants in Ireland, one to Mr. Walterhouse, Citizen in London, and the other to a worthy Divine, concerning all the proceedings of the Plots, which the Rebels ever did intend to this very day.
London Printed for Thomas Bates, 6641.
A WILD-FIRE PLOT found out in Ireland.
IF there were ever found deadly enemies to true Christian Religion, they are now found out in Ireland, that Mother of all treachery, and Nurse of treason. For their inveterate malice is now grown to the full perfection of disloyalty: and what they could not perfect in one nefarious plot, they did now intend to performe in another. Their late pretended Gun-powper plot is not unknowne to all men, which they being frustrated of (having much powder by that meanes ready by them) did make therewith many balls of wild-fire, with which they intended to burne the whole city of Dublin with a vast inflation. The number of all the Rebels are conceived to be for certainty about 30000. and their multitude increaseth daily: many of them lye in Caves of the earth, some others are in Dandalke, which they tooke the 30 day of October, others are in the counties of Ʋester, Canney and Cavin, but especially in the county of Manahom in great number: But not to wander thus from my intent, I will [Page] speake more largely of the wild-fire, which they plotted very lately for the tuine of the whole Kingdome. About the dead time of Thursday night, being th 11. of Nov▪ 500 of them or thereabout, came out of the Caves in the earth with balls of wild-fire in their hands, casting and tossing them over the city walls of Dublin. There were five houses burnt downe thereby equall to the ground, & the fi [...]e took hold of many other houses, but (as it was Gods great mercy) they were suddainly quenched by the great labour of the people, and thankes be to Almighty God, no more hurt was done by them.
There was an English Merchant lived in one of those houses, that were burnt, whose estate, was supposed to be no lesse then 35000l & he lost most part of his estate there. The rest were all Protestants, men of very good fashion, and reputation: but by the reason of that calamity, now scarse worth any thing: all whose estates we do much deplore, and commiserate. But there are a 1000, men doe guarde the City day and night: who hearing of this combustion, did immediately march out of the Gates, and tooke three Lords, Lord Casmahawne, L▪ Mackamaveire, L. Bohoune, with about the number of fifty other Rebels, whom they committed all to the Castle, the other fled, and ran about the fields and woods, & raised a great number of the Rebels presently; whowere about nine thousand the next day, and marched against the city: but the Lords and Iustices having some suspition before thereof, did that very night send a Post into Scotland, & some English colonels, who very lovingly did assist them. There came from Scotland, & the Northern parts of England▪ 4000 foot men, & 400 horsemen, who did in some manner qualifie [Page] them. Sir Francis Ʋ Ʋilloughby Governor of the Castle comman [...]ed 50 pieces of Ordinance to be brought out, which were discharged against the Rebels, he had 200 men under him. My Lord Moore [...]ame from Broghed [...] vith 700 foot men, Sir H. Iuckbourne with ten foot Companies in compleat Armes, Sir Charles Coot with 1000 foot. So that in all the number of the Rebels that were slaine, were about 3000 and 80, besides many Armss, which the English, Scottish, and Irish protestants did take from them.
The rogues are very resolute, for they put both man, women, and children to the sword, wheresoe're they meet them, without any distinction of sex with cruell tyranny. But they very sildome appeare armed; so that sometime they are not knowne, and so under pretence of Protestants, they cut their throats; for they bury all their armor in Caves in the woods, Wherfore all things are most excessive deare in the city, neither can they scarce buy any thing for their money, for the Country dare not venture to bring in any Commodities to the City, for feare the Rebels should assault them, wholy in ambush almost every where thereabout. They dare nor travell in the day, much lesse in the night, for then the Rebels are most obvious, and doe range more frequently about. So that things of meere necessity can scarce be had in the city to the great reliefe of the Inhabitants thereof.
O egregious treachery! or rather treason to the King, and Kingdome! These things would make a very Democritus to cry out in dolefull exclamations. But let those that delight thus in such fire, feare lest they fall into an everlasting fire: and let them take heed lest a sudden fire descend from heaven, & consume them Praecipitiously, like as the fiery Serpents did the Israelites.
The true Coppy of a Letter sent from Mr. Ioseph Watson Merchant in Dublin, to Mr. Watterhouse Citizen in London dated November the 4. 1641.
After our loves remembred unto you, hoping of your good health which the Lord in his mercy long continue: this is to certifie you concerning our condition. I doubt not, but you have heard of the Papists which are risen in Rebellion, but God did deliver our City from their bloudy device: else we had not a man of us beene alive this day. For they had intended to take the Castle, where all the strength of the Kingdome was, and then they would have ruinated us, and all the English in the Kingdome; had not God miraculously delivered us. The discovery was but at tenne of the Clocke on Friday night: and the next morning they might have tooke the Castle, had not one in company revealed it to the Lords: and though we seeme to have beene delivered, yet we are still in great feare; for we know not who are our enemies, and friends. Many enemies we have amongst us in the City, that should have bin the fi st, that should have cut our throats, as it hath been in the Country in one of the best plantations of the English, that is now in the County of Manahom, and Cavin▪ and orher Counties. The whole County of Manahom the Irish thereof are in Rebellion, and many English are destroyed, & loit their lives, and all their meanes; some worth [...] 1000. pounds over night, and not a rag to cover them the next day. There is by Relation, 500 people of them now in our City, all stripped of their cloaths: no difference betweene rich and poore, onely the Rich were worse dealt with. Now our Lords have sent out y [...]terday an Army downe, & the [Page] Scots in the North parts are risen to meet them. But it is thought the Scots have met with them ere this, and have driven them from one place, but there are a great number of them, but not a quarter of them armed men, but they have good store of Armes: Wee hope the Lord will stay them. Many of them are taken, and more every day, but it will be a great while before they be suppressed: and our Souldiers prove many false, and still we every day & night watch them. There is above 500 men in Armes watch our City every night, Housholders and other men, are I may say a 1000. We have in our out Stee [...]s 200. they would have set our Towne on fire, for they are maynly inraged,, and daiely Trecheries are found out, which is Gods great mercy to us. By this meanes we have no trade in our City more then needs require, that is for victuals, and candles, & such like things, which men cannot be without, & wee can get in no debts, for men will pay no moneyes. For my part I shall be a great loser by these times, for wee are at a great charge, it is one mans worke to watch, and there is great distraction.
Thus with my love to you, desiring your prayers, which I know are not wanting, for us, I ever rest
The Coppy of another Letter sent to a worthy Divine in this City &c.
AFter my best respects recommended unto you I thinke it expedient to acquaint you of all affaires, that belong to our Irish businesse. My Lord Moore is in Dro [...]heda with 700. foote and a Troope or two; Some of my Lords children are already come hither, and we expect my Lady Moore and their children this night: my Lord hath sent hither severall trunkes: they are this day put into the Castle to be safely preserved.
There is 200. Souldiers in the Castle victualled for 12. months and about 50. peeces of Ordinance, mounted to keepe the City in awe. Sir Francis Willoughby is governour, and Sir Iohn Borlasse lodgeth therein.
The Justices sit at Cork-house to free the Castle from recourse of people thereto. This morning have marched toward Drogheda 10. foot companies in compleat armes, under the command of Sir Henry [...]ckbourn. Dandalk [...] was taken on Sunday. And the Scots and some English have come upon the Rebels, and have restrayned the New [...]e from the Rebels with the losse of a few men▪ 80▪ of the Rebels are slaine, with good stoore of Armes. The Scots and English from the North are 4000. foot, and 400, horse & their armie encreaseth: There are in the County of Cavan under the command of Sir Charles Coot a 1000 foot. We are in good hopes that the Lords of the Pole will prove true, for they are here offering their service dayly. Great in number the Rebels are, and dayly increasing both in Ʋester and Carney. My Lord Moores Troope have lately taken about 60. of the Rebels, and kil'd 3. or 4. and rescued 7. score head of cattell from them. We doe not as yet heare of any rising in Mountser, or Lemster: so as we hope these broyles will cease when the English army as well as the Scots fall upon them. Thus hoping I have satisfied you herein, I commend you to God and rest.