I Might have taken occasion many times since, you went from hence to have written unto you, concerning the Earle of Ormond, for in this great and generall apostacie, which hath happened in this Kingdome, no man of either Nation hath stood more firme to the Crowne of England, nor ventured his owne person further for the sup­pressing of the present rebellion then his Lordship hath done. I could write much to demonstrate this, if there were any doubt to be made thereof: But this being a truth, which cannot but be acknowledged by all, I passe it over, & will only give you account of his Lordships last journey, into our parts of the province of Leinster, where in a pitcht field upon fryday last in the afternoone, betweene th [...] h [...]ures of two and three; his Lordship gave in a field betweene Kelrush, and Rathemoore, a great overthrow to the whole power of the coun­ties o [...] Wick [...]w, Wexford, Cathercaghe, Kildare, Queenes County, Kilkenny, Tip­perarie and some [...]orces which were drawne out of the County of Westmeathe. And in this Battaile, he had to deale with his great Uncle, the Lord Viscount M [...]untgarret, his owne brother Mr. Richard Butler, the Lord of Iker­ni [...] marryed to his Aunt, and the Lord of Dunboyne, his neere kinsman, Tib­bet Funcell commonly knowne by the name of Baron Locher, who is marryed to his Lordships Aunt, and whose Sonne and heire, is marryed to his Lordships Sister; you [...]g Bagnau who is Cousin German to his Lordship; Philip O darre, Mr. Walter, and most of the Gentry of our Counties of Kilkenny, and Tippera­rie; Generall Hugh Birne, Sir Morgan Cavenaugh, Colonell Fitz Gerrald of Bal­lysoran, Colonell Talbot, Colonell Moore, Colonell Sutton, Mr. Rob. Ha [...]pole, Mr. Thomas Davills; and many more of great rank and condition, who were all beaten, and put to a most shamefull flight by his Lordship, who in the time of that battell, did like Levy forget father & mother, neither did acknowledge his owne brethren, nor neerest kinsmen, but pursued them to the death. A ser­vice never to be forgotten, but to be had in remembrance, to his everlasting honour. I give you this in grose at first, because I would not keepe the best newes, which hitherto wee have had long from you. And now having satis­fied you to the full, give me leave to digest it further unto you, wherein I will faithfully and truly set forth unto you every dayes service.

Upon Saturday the second of this moneth, the Earle of Ormond did march from this City of Dublin towards the Naas, with 3000. Foot, and 500. Horse, and did encampe that night at Rathecoole, which is six miles from this City; his Lordship was not above two miles on his way, when a post was sent after him, to let his Lordship know, that his Countesse & Children, were landed at the Rings end, which many did think would have brought himselfe back that [Page]night; But his mind was so intent upon the great businesse of the Kingdome about which he was then sent, that though he had not seene his Countesse nor Children in six moneths before, and could not assure himselfe that hee should live to see them, if that he omitted that opportunity, yet neither this nor any other consideration could bring him back from the Army, but lodged with them in the fields that night, as if the spirit of that great warryer Vriah had beene in him, who said, The servants of my Lord are encamped in the open field, shall I then goe to my house to eate and to drinke, and to lie with my wife, I will not doe this thing.

Upon Sunday his Lordship marched from thence, the mountaine way to the Naas, and burned all that part of the Country, and encamped there that night; there was no opposition given by the enemy all that way, only at Tip­per, which is within one mile of the Naas, there was some shot made at some of our men, who went thither out of the Castle by some of the Rebells; there we lost a trumpeter, and foure of our Souldi [...]r [...], besides six which were hurt, which so inraged our men, that they sent for a barrell of powder to the Naas, and having made their approach unto it blew it up, and all who were in it, except [...]hree men, who were taken and hanged, there was in the Castle a Fri­ar, unckle to Sutton of Tipper, a fit incendiary to be blown up amongst the rest, for it is such fiery spirits, which have put this poore and miserable Kingdom into that flame, wherein now it is: upon Munday, the hurt Souldiers were sent from the Naas to this City upon Carres, with a convoy of twelve horse, but these being set upon betweene Rathecoole, and this City by some of the Re­bells, they were forced to leave the wounded men, to the cruelty of the Re­bells, who most barbarously and cruelly murthered them, and the poore in­nocent Car men, who it may be did wish them better then our side.

This accident thus happening, it stopped all intercourse, betweene our Ar­my and the state, neither being able to spaire that strength, which might passe with safetie betweene them, which kept us and them in ignorance, untill their returne to us, we not knowing how the Army did move, nor the army hearing from us, which was a mighty advantage unto the rebells, and a very great disadvantage unto our designes.

Upon Tuesday at night, our Army came to Athye and raised that Seidge, but the Towne, smen not knowing of the approach of our Army, and being hard set to by the Rebells the night before fired most part of the out Towne not being able to keep it, which was some disappointment to our army vvhen they came to quarter there.

Upon Wednesday, his Lordship rested there with the Army, but sent Sir Patrick Weames Captaine of his owne troup, Captaine Armestrong, and Cap­taine Harman to Catherlagh, to releeve the Castle there, which for a long time had beene beleagured by the Rebells, but their Scouts discovering our troups [Page]gave notice thereof to the Rebells, and thereupon they fired the towne and betooke themselves to flight, which our horse perceiving, made what haste they could after them and killed of them in the chase, 70. men, and had done execution upon the rest, but that they betooke themselves to a Bogg, where our horse could not serve upon them; But they releeved the Castle, and like­wise the Castle of Clogh grevan, and returned that night to the Army. There was 700. of the Rebells in the Towne of Catherlagh, when our horse made their approach thither. The same day was the Castle of Ballylivan likewise releeved by some horse, which his Lordship sent thither.

Upon Thursday his Lordship marched to Stradebally; where hee encamped that night, but left Colonell Crafforde at Athy, with some foot and horse to make good the Towne untill his Lordships returne; and the next day came to Marriborrow, and releeved the sort there, which is a place of very great con­sequence; and seated amongst ill and dangerous neighbours.

Upon Saturday his Lordship was taken with a burning feaver, which toge­ther with a great Flux, held him untill Tuesday; the one did abate the vio­lence and rage of the other; that Saturday Sir Charles Coot, and Sir Thomas Lucas, with some troupes of horse releeved Ballynekill, and the Burris, and killed divers of the Rebells, which lay before Ballynekill to the number of 80. and returned that night to Marriborow upon the Sunday being Easter day, Sir Charles Coot, and Sir Thomas Lucas went with 250 horse, and releeved Birr and some other places, which were much distressed: The horse had of this a very hard service, being to passe through woods, Boggs, and great fastnesse, and in their way, had many skirmishes with the Rebells, but alwayes had the good fortune to beat them, many horses were lost this journey, and it is Gods great goodnesse, that we did not suffer in this more then vve did.

Whilst these things were in acting, the Rebells did gather together from the Counties formerly mentioned; and upon Easter Sunday displayed a­bove forty Colours, within two miles of Athy, on the further side of the Bur­row in the Queenes County; whereof Colonell Crafforde gave notice unto my Lord of Ormond by letters, and thereupon his Lordship returned back to Athy upon Wednesday, and rested there with the Army upon Thursday.

That Thursday, his Lordship sent to Sir Patrick Weames, and Captaine Armes-strong, who were quartered at Grangomelan on this side of the river of the Barrow, and in a direct line opposite to the place on the other side of the river, where the enemy was encamped to discover their number and strength, whereupon they sent out ten of their horse to informe them of the truth here­of, which being perceived by the enemy, they sent 30. Horsemen over the ri­ver, and each Horseman had a Musquetier behind him, vvith an intention to cut off those ten Horsemen of ours, but this being discovered by Sir Patrike Weames, and Captaine Armestrong, they sallyed forth vvith some horse, cut off [Page]of the Musketiers, killed two of the horse-men, and the rest did in their haste misse the ford, and swimmed over the river, where some of them were drow­ned. Sir Patricke Weames had his Horse killed under him in that service.

This being notified to the Earle of Ormond, his Lordship came thither with some Troopes of H [...]rse to view the enemy, who appeared on the other side of the River of the Barrow at a place called Tankerdstowne right over against Grangemellam, and as his Lordship and the rest of the Commanders who were then with him could judge, they could be no lesse then six or seven thou­sand foot, besides 300. horse. His Lordship thus satisfied by his owne eye, returned to Athy, and gave out that the next day h [...] would draw out of the Towne and advance thither to fight with them, but his resolution was to march away the next day, & in regard that he had done the business [...], he went for, not to sight upon such oddes, if that he might avoyd it. But this was not so secretly carried, but the enemy had notice thereof, which made [...] to dislodge that night, and to passe over the River by the Bridge of Moygame, and prepare themselves for a pursuit.

Upon Friday morning about seven of the clocke our Army did rise, and began their march, and kept the high and neerest way coward this City, but they were not halfe a mile on their way, when they discovered their bels marching wide of them on the right hand in another rode way, and it [...] that there was a bog which was three quarters of a mile in bredth betweene both the Armies, which ranne betweene them for three or foure miles; and so they marched in view of each other all that way, with their Colours flying and Drums bearing; when our Army halted they likewise halted, and when ours did move they did move, and so they kept this posture untill both waies did meet, by which time the vantgard of the Rebels was within 3 furlongs of our van. And at the meeting of both the waies there was a narrow passage through which our Army was to passe, where it was thought the enemy did intend to charge our reare, and cut off our men, which if we had advanced forward, they might have done with much ease, it being a place of very great advantage for the enemy, which the Earle of Ormond perceiving, he caused Sir Charles Coote who commanded in chiefe under his Lordship, and the rest of the Commanders and Officers of the field together, and told them that before he went any further he would fight with the enemy, though all the Rebels in Ireland we [...]e there together, to which they all most cheerfully and willing assented and his Lordship further told them that they had God and a good curse on their side, and that that day should be his, and he doubted not but that God would fight for them; and thereupon drew up his battell in that s [...]rt as did best sort with the ground where it was pitched, and the enemy did the like in another great field which was opposite to the place where our Army was. But the battell of the enemy was much sooner in order then ours [Page]by reason that they had nothing to hinder the drawing up of their men, and that our Carriages which were very many, so divided the Van from the Reare that it tooke up some time to bring them together, so as if the enemy had fallen upon us as soone as they were ready, we should have beene in some hazzard, but they stood still where they pitched their battell, and did not move forward: whereupon my Lord of Ormond gave order to Sir Charles Coote and the rest of the Commanders and Officers according to their severall charge to advance forward, which they most couragiously did, and came up to the field, where the enemy stood in battell array; and the ditches being levelled by our Pioners our Field-peeces were drawn up, and order given that they should play upon the enemy, which was done, but with little or no losse unto them, onely the noise with which they were not much acquainted did seeme so to amaze them as they stood like so many statues without life or motion. After this our Musketiers did their part, and soone after by di­rection from my Lord of Ormond, Sir Thomas Lucas, Sir Richard Greenowill, Sir Patricke Weames, Captaine Garnyer, Captaine Armestrong, and the rest of the Captaines of Horse did in an instant and so gallantly charge the Rebels that upon the sudden they routed them, and had the execution of them for two or three miles, onely there was a great body of 2000. led by the Lord Vice­count Mountgarret and Generall Hugh Birne which wheeled about and thought to possesse themselves of our Ordinance, Carriage, and Amunition, which my Lord of Ormond perceiving, he drew out one of his divisions to at­tend that great body, and with them and some few volunteere Horse, to the number of thirty, which were then with his Lordship (for all the rest were following the excution) he faced that body, and within a short time did like­wise breake them and put them to rout. There were six or seven hundred of them killed in the place, and very many wounded; and if our Horse had not been harrowed by their journey to Birne the execution had been very great, but that & the evening drawing on, and a great bog vvhich was neere, where­unto they did runne, did preserve very many of them, vvho otherwise had been cut off: divers vvho have been in the battell, have assured me that the bog vvas all over blacke vvith them like a field in seed-time vvith Rookes. They lost twenty Colours, and many Drums, all their Powder and Amuni­tion, the Lord Vicecount Montgarrets Waine drawn vvith eight Oxen, where all his provision vvas, his Sumpture, and the Lord of Ikernies Sumpture. There vvere many of note and quality slaine and vvounded in battell who were not knovvn, and only the heads of the Lord of Dunboyns brother, the Lord of Ikernis sonne, and Colonell Cavenaghe, brought by some of the souldiers hi­ther. We did not loose one of our Foot in this conflict, and very fevv of our Horse.

This victory must be attributed vvholy to God, for we were not above two [Page]thousand Foot strong, and 500. Horse, in regard that very many of the Army vvhich went forth were sick, and divers of them left in garrison in the places which vvere releeved; and the enemy was at least 300. Horse, and 7000. Foot vvell appointed, besides 2 or 3 thousand more who were not so wel appointed but attended to doe execution if they had broken upon our men. They had likewise all the advantages that they could desire, for our men and horse were harrowed vvith long and continuall marches, but there men vvere fresh and vigorous, and all the day before hastning to the fight like Lyons to the prey, parturiunt montes, &c. They had the advantage of the ground being upon a hill, and our men forced to march up unto them, and they had likewise the Wind of us. But the Lord of Hosts vvas on our side and tooke away their former spirits and resolutions from them, having neither hearts nor resolu­tions to fight, onely in the flight many of themselves did kill one another, and some of them vvho escaped the battell, being afterward asked how they lost the field, they said that no reason could be given for it, but that God vvas on our side: The night before the battell, they vvere so confident of the victory, that they laid downe rules to vvhom quarter should be given, and to vvhom not, and how the Wagons and spoiles should be divided, and that after the defeate they should march to this City of Dublin vvith our Colours, and fall upon it. If vve had lost the day, the Kingdome certainely had been in great hazzard, and if that vve doe vvell consider it, we shall finde this victory to be of as great honour to our side, and of as much consequence, all things con­sidered, as that vvhich was given at Kinsale, The Lord make us thankfull. Friday is appointed for a solemne day of due publike thanks in our Churches for this victory vvhich vvas got the last Friday, vvhich is the day of our pub­lique fast and humiliation. And sure vve vvere then in our Churches striving with God like Moyses in prayer at the time of the battell, and God heard us.

As soon as this victory was thus miraculously gained, and a retreat sounded, the Earle of Ormond called together all the Commanders, Captaines, and Souldiers, and in the same place vvhere God shewed himself so gloriously for them they did give God solemne thanks, herein imitating Moses and the chil­dren of Israel vvho being pursued by their enemies, and delivered from them, sung this song unto the Lord, and spake saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously, the Horse and his rider he hath thrown downe, &c.

I dare not venture to set forth the particular acts of every Commander and valiant souldier in this battell, but sure every mans valour was such that he who did best might envy his companion, every man striving to out-goe each other in this common cause. I have tyred my selfe, and I doe beleeve that by this time I have tyred you, and yet I doe wish that the like subject may often fall out for me to write, and you to read; I commit you to God, and remaine,