A LETTER from a Soldier of good place in Ireland, to his friend in London, touching the notable Victory of her majesties Forces there, against the Spaniards, and Irish Rebels:  
And of the yielding up of Kynsale, and other places there held by the Spaniards.  
LONDON Imprinted for Simon Waterson. 1602.   

TO THE RIGHT Worshipful my especial good friend, Sir W. D. Knight.  
SIr in my last of the 19 of December I wrote to you at large of the arrival of the new supply of Spaniards at Castel-hauen, Baltemore, and Beerhauen, and of their intents and beginnings to fortify, in all those three important places. Likewise that Sir Richard Leuison towing out of Kinsale Haven against wind & weather, fought with them within Castle Haven most valiantly, and of their ships being six, sunk and made unserviceable five: the men being most landed before he could come to them, by reason of the weather, and beating upon him very dangerously from the land with their ordinance. That they were said to be 2000 in number, with great store of ordinance and munition, & that as they reported, some thousand more were coming after. That a great part of the Irishry of Munster becomen Rebels of new, were revolted to them, and received into the King of Spain's pay. That Odonell with good Forces of horse and foot out of the North, by the benefit of the then extreme & sudden frost, got passage almost unlooked for by himself, and slipping by the Lord Precedent of Munster (who was sent to impeach him) with such forces as could be spared from the Army) was joined with them. That Tyrone, with O Rourck, Redman Bourck, Mac Guyre, Mac Mahone, Randal Mac Surley, Oconor, Slygoes' brother, Tyrrel, the Baron of Lixenho, and the rest of the old fugitive Rebels of Munster, with the greatest and choicest force that was ever amassed in Ireland, were drawn near our Camp. And that these all, together with six Ensigns of those newly arrived Spaniards, in all to the number of 6000. foot, and 500 horse, by paul, were on foot ready to march towards Kynsale and our Camp, with intent and most assured confident hope with help of them in the Town, which should have sallied out on the Camp, upon the attempt of Tyrone and Odonell, and were above 2000 Spaniards, almost all old soldiers, aswell to relieve and rescue the Town, as to remove our siege, and utterly to break, dishonour, and defeat us. And truly Sir, when I did then consider, on the one side this great strength, the newly joined men and horses to be all fresh, vigorous, and strong, having all the Country open to them, abounding with victuals, forages, armies, munition, and all furnitures: those in the Town, the most of them experienced soldiers, well armed, and in no such want as was supposed: On the other side, our men in numbers scant equal to them, all almost tired and wearied out with the misery of a long Winter's siege, our horses decayed, lean and very weak, our best means of victuals and forage likely to be cut from us, with many other impediments whereof I speak not; When I say, I well weighed and pondered with myself these points, and laid together withal, this one of great importance, that when we should be forced (as it was likely) to answer two forces at once, one from the Town, another without, a great part of our men were like enough to shrink, or at least not to stick firmly to us (which by good conjectures I could make probable to you) Blame me not, if upon these considerations I wrote to you then somewhat distrustfully of our estate, as taking indeed our lives and honours, this service, and by consequence this whole Country likely to be put to an unequal jump. And so may I well say they were, although by the goodness of GOD especially, and by the most vigilant circumspection and valiant prows of our worthy General, things out of these difficulties have now sorted to so happy success, as by that which followeth you shall sufficiently perceive. To continue therefore my accustomed Relation to you, and to begin from that said day of the 19 of December, It may please you to know, that on Sunday the 20. we still plying our attempts to the Town, with face and show as though we nothing cared for Tyrone and his company, at night certain intelligence was brought us, that he would be the next night within a mile and a half of us, with all the above recited Forces. And accordingly upon Monday the 21. towards night, he showed himself with most part of his horse and foot, on a hill between our Camp and Cork, a mile off us. At which time seeing two Regiments of our foot, and some horse drawn out of our Camp, and making a resolute march towards him, he fell back to the other side of the hill, where he encamped that night, strengthened with a fastness of wood and water. Whereby though his retire might be imputed to some touch of credit, yet had he this advantage, that he might keep from our Army all passages and means for forage: The other side over the River of Ownibuoye being wholly at his disposition, by reason of the general revolt of those parts.  
On Tuesday the 22. some of Tyrones' horse and foot made show again in the place where they had done the day before, and that night were some of their horse, and 500 foot discovered, searching if they might find fit way to the Town.  
On Wednesday the 23. aswell by intelligence otherwise, as by letters of Don john d'l Aquila, General of the Spaniards, and Captain of the Town newly intercepted, we found that he had importuned Tyrone and his company very much, to give an attempt upon our Camp; inumating unto them his own necessity, and likelihood to be shortly forced within the Town, their faithful promises to secure him, the facility & undoubted success of the enterprise, he assuring them, that our numbers could not be but much lessened, and those that were remaining, greatly decayed and weakened with the long winter siege, so that it was not possible we should be able to maintain so much ground as we had taken when our strength was full, if they on the one side, and he on the other put us well too it: which he for his part promised them assuredly to do very sound from the Town, whensoever they should think fit to do the like from their Campe. And it seemeth that upon this advise they took their determinate resolution for this course, and to put it in execution with all speed, either that night or the next at the furthest. Those of the Town in the mean time gave us alarms, made Sallies, and did by all means what they could to keep our men in continual travel, that they might be the less able for resistance when this attempt should come to be performed. The Lord Deputy till now applied himself in show wholly towards the Town, but indeed not meaning any forcible effectual attempt upon it, till he saw what would become of Tyrone and his Forces.  
and therefore had an especial eye, by continual espial, upon his meanings, and lest sudden hurt should be taken from him, or the Town, if both he without, and they within should invade at once, he made Forts and Barracadoes, heightened the ditches, déepened the Trenches, stopped and strengthened all the avenues to the Town, had the whole Army in a readiness upon every sudden warning, and kept strong and watchful guards always in all places. And now late in the night of this Wednesday, the three and twentieth day, being assuredly informed of their intent of attempt upon his Camp that night, or the morrow after, his Lo. gave order to strengthen the ordinary guards, and to put the rest of his Army in readiness, but not as yet into Arms: commanding that the Regiment volant, which was a squadron of viii. Companies of foot, selected out of all the old Bands, conducted by Sir Hen. Poor, and appointed to be always in a readiness to answer all Alarames, and therefore exempted from all other duties, should draw out beyond the west part of the Camp, and there stand in Arms, not far from the main guard of horse.  
A little before the break of day Sir Ric. Greame, who had the guard of horse that night, sent the Lo. deputy word, that the skowts had discovered the rebels matches in great numbers, whereupon his Lo. caused the Army presently to arm, and 300. choice men to be drawn out of the quarter, where the Earl of Thomond and 3. other Regiments lay, to make stand between that quarter, and the Fort upon the west hill, himself with Sir George Carow, Lo. Precedent of Munster, Sir Richard Wingfield, marshal of Ireland, advanced forward towards the skowt, and having given order to Sir Hen. Davers Livetennant general of the horse, for the ordering of those troops, sent the Marshal, to take view of the Enemy, who sent word he was advanced horse and foot near the top of the hill, where the Earl of Thomond first quartered, within less than 2. musket shot of the town. Whereupon the Lo: deputy calling to him sir Oliver Lambert Governor of Connaught, who being there without Charge, was commanded to attend his Lo. that day, made choice of a piece of ground between that and the town, of good advantage, both to embattel, and fight, as having on the back a Trench drawn from the Earl of Thomonds' quarter, and so secured from the Town: And on the front, a boggish glyn passable with horse only at one ford: The ground whereon the Enemy must have drawn in gross to force the passage flanckfered from the Earl's quarter by the canon, and situate in the midst of allour Forces, and returned word to the Marshal, that in that place he was resolved to give the Enemy battle, if he came forward: commanding further, the Regiment of Sir H. Folya● and three old Companies of the Regiment of Sir Oliver Saint-Iohn to be brought thither, the rest of the Army being all ready in Arms, together with five hundred Seamen, brought by Sir Richard Leveson to attend, when, and what, he should command.  
But Tirone, whose meaning over night, was, to have been with us before day, and as we since learned, to have put all the Spaniards into the Town, with viii. hundred of the best Irish under Tirrell seeing it now fair day light, and discovering the Marshal and Sir Hen: Dauers to be advanced with all the horse, and Sir Hen: Poer with his Regiment, stopped at the foot of the hill, and anon, thinking it to be no day for him, retired the Troops he had advanced again, to the body of his Army beyond the Ford. Presently the Marshal sent the Lord deputy word, that the Enemy retired in some disorder, whereupon his Lo: commanding the forenamed troops to follow him with all speed, advanced himself into the head of all, to see with his own eye, the manner of the enemy, & in what sort thereupon he might determine to proceed. But before he could, either well view, or direct, a violent storm, during some quarter of an hour, gave the enemy opportunity, not yet perfectly disconered, to draw off over a plain in three great bodies of foot, all their horse in the Rear, and the wings with all their other lose men fallen up into the head. Which the L. deputy, the day now clearing, perceiving and dicsovering, by this their disorderly March, that they were in fear, being certified also, that there was not before them any place of so good advantage to make head on, as those they had passed and quited, resolved to follow, and to see what profit might be made of an enemy thus troubledly retiring. Whereupon dispatching presently Sir Geo. Carew, Lo. Precedent of Munster with three cornets of horse back to the Camp, to attend there against the Town, and whatsoever other attempt, because he was to be the fittest Commander in his Lo. absence, and because there had otherwise no horses been left in the Camp, himself having with him, in all, between three and four hundred horse, and under 1200. foot, made after the Enemy. And advancing some mile further on, pressed him so hard, that he was forced to stand firm in three bodies upon a ford of a bog (which bog to assail them, we must of necessity pass) and in all appearance, with a Resolution there to abide us and fight. They maintained a good skirmish on our side the Bog, with their lose wings, newly drawn out of their bodies, and hurt some of our men and horses, till with our wings they were at length beaten back.  
The Marshal being somewhat advanced, espied a Ford, a musket shot off on the left hand, neglected by their foot, and only guarded by their horse: whereof advertising the Lord Deputy, with desire of leave to force them that way: the Lord Deputy approving it, and commanding to draw up draw up the foot with all expedition, the first wings of foot once arrived, seconded with sir Henry Poers regiment, the Marshal, with the earl of Clanricard, who never ceased urging to fight, taking with them sir Richard Greame, and other companies of horse: with them, and those foot, forcing the enemy's horse that kept the passage, passed over, and with that advantage, finding themselves side by side with the enemy's battle, and further on then their rear, charged their battle in flank, but finding them to stand firm, whéeled about. At which the enemies taking courage, drew on their horse, with a cry to a charge, who came on bravely within fifty or sixty paces of our horse, and there after their country fashion stopped, shaking their staves, and railingly vaunting, but durst charge no further. Which the Lord Deputy seeing, sent presently over the Ford to them his own cornet of horse, under sir William Godolphin, and the Lord Presidents cornet under Captain Minshow, (which two cornets he had appointed before, to keep still a gross in the Rear, to answer all accidents) together with two of our three bodies of foot under sir john Barkeley Sergeant mayor of the Campe. Whereupon the Marshal and Earl of Clanrickard seeing a second at hand, uniting themselves with Sir Henry Davers, having with him Captain Taffe, Captain Fleming, and other companies of horse, charged again the Enemy's horse, who not abiding the shock, fled. At the sight whereof, the battle dismaying, our men thought it better to charge again upon them, then to follow the horse, and so courageously doing, utterly broke them. The rearward of the Enemy, in which was Tyrrell, and all the Spaniards, stood firm upon the bog on the right hand, unto whom, within caliver shot, the Lord deputy had drawn up our Rear, which was Sir Oliver Saint john's 3. companies, commanded by Captain Roe, in absence of sir Oliver, (dispatched few days before by the Lord deputy, and Counsel, for special affairs to her Majesty) charging him first, not to stir, till he received direction from him. But seeing Tirrell, and the Spaniards drawing between our horse, being on the execution, and the bodies of our foot, his Lo. having hitherto, by direction, set all other men's swords on work, himself now in the head of our said Rear, where he had before resolved to fight, charged the Enemy in flank, and put them to a disorderly retreat after their fellows to the top of the next hill, where they made stand a little while. But the Irish quitting the Spaniards, the Spaniards in short time were broken by the Lord Deputies horse, commanded by sir William Godolphin, and most of them slain. The vanguard of the Enemy, with all the lose wings, which were many, seeing what happened, threw away their arms (and all our men being otherwise busy) escaped. The chief Commander of the Spaniards, Don Alonso d'Ocampo was taken prisoner, with three Captains, six Alferrez, and forty soldiers. Tirone, and Odonell, with the rest of the Irish Lords, ran apace, and saved themselves. Those of the battle were almost all slain, and there were (of the Irish Rebels only) found dead in the place, about twelve hundred bodies, and about eight hundred were hurt, whereof many died that night: and the chase continuing almost two miles, was left off, our men being tired with killing. The Enemy lost two thousand Arms brought to reckoning, besides great numbers embezzled, all their powder and drums, and ix. ensigns, whereof 6. Spanish. Those of the Irish that were taken prisoners, being brought to the Camp, though they offered ransom, were all hanged. On our side, only one man was slain, the Cornet of sir Richard Greame. Sir Henry Davers was hurt with a sword slightly: sir William Godolphin a little razed on the thigh with a holbert, Captain Crofts the Skowt-master with a shot in the back, & not above six more common soldiers hurt. Many of our horses were killed, and more hurt. And thus were they utterly overthrown, who but the very night before, were so brave and confident of their own good success, as that they reckoned us already theirs, and as we since have understood, were in contention whose prisoner the Lord Deputy should be, whose the the Lord Precedent, and so of the rest. The Earl of Clanrickard carried himself this day very valiantly, and after the retreat sounded, was Knighted by the Lord Deputy, in the field amongst the dead bodies. So did all the rest of the Captains, Officers, and Soldiers, named and unnamed, and especially the Lorenzo Deputy himself, who broke, in person, upon the flower of the army the Spaniards, and omitted no duty of a wise diligent Conductor and valiant soldier. Upon the fight ended, he presently called together the Army, and with prayers, gave God thanks for the victory. A victory indeed given by the God of Hosts, and marvelous in our eyes, if all circumstances be duly considered, and of such consequence for the preservation and assurance to her Majesty, of this deeply endangered kingdom, as I leave to wiser consideration, contenting myself with this, that I see the God of power and might, disposed to protect the just cause of his servant, our gracious Queen Elizabeth, against the pride, malice, and powerful disdain of the greatest potentates, her enemies. To him be the glory.  
After this glorious victory thus valiantly achieved, the Lord Deputy the same day hasted to his camp, lest any thing (in his absence) might happily have been attempted there. But, not finding the Enemy to have made any sally, which indeed had been but vain for him, considering the small fruit he reaped by them heretofore, every one that he made hitherto redounding still to his own detriment and loss, and every place of our Camp, at this time, being so well and sufficiently strengthened and provided for against him as is said before.  
The next day his Lordship commanded Captain Bodlegh Trench-maister general of the Camp, who as well in the fight, as in the works, had deserved special commendation, to see the formerly begun Fort and platforms, to be undertaken again, and nearer approaches to be cast out towards the town. But after five or six days labour Don john d' lAquila, captain of the Town and Forces within, offered a parley, sending the Drum mayor of the Town with a sealed letter to the Lord Deputy, by which he required, that some gentleman of special trust and sufficiency might be sent into the town from his Lordship, to confer with him, whom he would acquaint with such conditions, as he then stood upon. His Request being assented unto by his Lordship, sir William Godolphin was employed in the negotiation, which was carried in this fort, word for word, as it is taken out of the originals here, viz.  
Don john told sir William, that having found the Lord Deputy (whom he termed the Viceroy) although a sharp and powerful, yet an honourable Enemy, and the Irish, not only weak and barbarous, but (as he feared) perfidious friends, he was so far in his affections reconciled to the one, and distasted with the other, as did invite him to make an overture of such a composition as might be safe and profitable for the State of England, with least prejudice to the Crown of Spain, by delivering into the Viceroy his power, the Town of Kynsale, with all other places in Ireland, held by the Spanish, so as they might departed on honourable terms, fitting such men of war, as are not (by necessity) enforced to receive conditions, but willingly induced, for just respects to disengage themselves, and to relinquish a people, by whom their King and Master had been so notoriously abused, (if not betrayed.) That if the Viceroy liked to entertain further parley touching this point, he would first be pleased to understand them rightly, & to make his propositions such as might be suitable, to men thoroughly resolved, rather to bury themselves alive, and to endure a thousand deaths, then to give way to one Article of accord, that should taste of baseness or dishonour, being so confident of their present strength, and the royal Second of Spain, that they should make no doubt of yielding good account of themselves and their Interest in this Kingdom, but that a just disdain, and spleen conceived against the nation, dissuaded them from being further engaged for it, then of force they must, Sir Wil Godolphin being commanded by the L. deputy only, to receive Don john's propositions and demands. Having made his L. and Counsel this Relation, was by them returned with the answer following. That howbeit the Lord deputy having lately defeated their succours, did so well understand his own strength and their weakness as made him nothing doubt of forcing them within a short time, whom he did know to be pressed with unresistible difficulties, how much soever they laboured to cover and conceal the same, yet knowing that her sacred Majesty out of her gracious and merciful disposition would esteem the glory of her victory to be blemished by a voluntary effusion, and an obstinate expense of Christian blood, was content to entertain this offer of agreement, so as it might be concluded, under such honourable articles for her highness as the advantage she had against them gave reason to demand: being the same which are set down in the Articles of agreement following, signed by the Lord deputy, and Don john & others: saving that there was in them beside, the leaving of his treasure, munition, artillery, and the queens natural Subjects to her disposition, all which points he did peremptorely refuse, with constant asseveration that both he and all his would rather endure the last of misery then be found guilty of so foul a Treason against the honour of his Prince and the reputation of his profession, though he should find himself unable to subsist, much more now, when he might not only hope to sustain the burden of the war for a time, but with patience and constancy in the end to overcome it. That he took it so ill, to be misunderstood in having Articles of that nature propounded unto him, as were they but once again remembered in the Capitulation, the Viceroy should from thenceforth use the advantage of his sword and not the benefit of his former offers: adding, that the Viceroy might rather think to have made a good and profitable purchase for the Crown of England, if with the expense of 200000 ducats he had procured Don john to quite his interest and footing but in Baltymore alone, to say nothing of Kynsale, Castell-haven, and Beerehauen: for (said he) suppose that all we with the rest of our places here had perished, yet would that Pen Insula (being strong in it own nature, bettered by our art and industry, provided as it is of victuals, munition, and good store of Artillery) preserve unto the King of Spain a safe and commodious port for the arrival of his Fleet, and be able to maintain itself against á land Army of ten thousand, until Spain (being so deeply engaged) did in honour relieve them: which would draw on a more powerful invasion than the first, being undertaken upon false grounds, at the instance of a base and barbarous people, who in discovering their weakness and want of power, have armed the King my Master to rely upon his own strength, being tied in honour to relieve his people that are engaged, and to cancel the memory of our former disaster. But this was spoken (said he) in case the Viceroy were able to force this town, as I assure myself he cannot, having upon mine Honour within these walls at this instant, above two thousand fight men, that are strong and able, besides those, which having been sick and hurt, recover daily: the greatest part of these, composed of old Soldiers, which fall not but by the sword, and those that were new, being now both trained to their Arms & grown acquainted with the Climate, are more able to endure then at the first: our means as good as they have been any times these two months, such as the Spaniards can well away withal, and thereof to suffice us for three months more. We lodge in good warm houses, have store of munition, and (which is best of all) stand well assured that our succours will be shortly here. To be plain, we preserve our men, and reserve our strength the best we may, hoping to front you in a breach, which if our hearts fail us not, we have hands and breasts enough to stop against triple your forces: though I will give the Viceroy this right, That his men are passing good, but spent and tired out with the misery of a Winter siege, which he hath obstinately maintained beyond my expectation, but with such caution, and upon so good guard, as having nicely watched all advantages, I could never fasten a sally yet upon him, but with loss to myself: wherein I must acknowledge my hopes deceived, that grounding on some error in his approaches, promised myself the defeat of at least a thousand men at one blow. But when we meet on the breach, I am confident on good reason, to lay five hundred of your best men on the earth, and rest hopeful that the loss of those will make a great hole in an Army that hath already suffered so much extremity.  
But to conclude our business, the king my Master sent me to assist the Condées, Oneale & Odonnell, presuming on their promise, that I should have joined with them within few days of the arrival of his forces. I expected long in vain, sustained the viceroys Army, saw them drawn to the greatest head they could possibly make, lodged within two miles of Kynsale, reinforced with certain companies of Spaniards, every hour promising to relieve us, and being joined together to force your camps, saw them at last broken with a handful of men, blown asunder into divers parts of the world, O donnel into Spain, Oneale to the furthest of the North, so as now I find no such Condées in rerum natura (for those were the very words he used) as I came to join withal, and therefore have moved this accord, the rather to disengage the King my Master from assisting a people so unable in themselves, that the whole burden of the war must lie upon him, and so perfidious, as perhaps might be induced in acquittal of his favour, at last to betray him. Upon relation made by Sir William Godolphin to the Lord deputy and Council, of these offers of Don john, which at several conferences had been brought to such heads, as are spoken of before: it was thought good, for diverse important reasons, to proceed roundly to the agreement. For whereas in the propositions by him made; there was not any thing that admitted exceptions on our part, but only, that he required to carry with him his ordinance, munition, and treasure, that being no way prejudicial to the main scope or drift of our Treaty, which chiefly respected the common good and safety of the kingdom, deserved not almost to be thought upon. Besides that, the Treasure being at the first but a hundred thousand ducats, with four months payment of so many men, and other necessary deductions, could not but be very near wasted; and that little remainder, more fit for a prey to the poor soldier, after his tedious travel, than for a clause in the composition. Furthermore, how needful it was to embrace this accord, may clearly be seen by whosoever considereth the state of our Army, almost utterly tired: how full of danger and difficulty it was to attempt a breach defended by so many hands: how long time it might have cost us, if we had lodged in the Breach, before we could have carried the Town, it being full of strong castles: how her majesties ships and others lying in the harbour, should have been forced speedily to forsake us for want of victuals: how by a long contrariety of winds, ourselves were not provided for above six days, at the time of this parley, though within few days after good store arrived: it being indeed worthy of observation, that by her majesties great care, & the diligence of her ministers, so good providence was used, as, though this descent of Spaniards drew into that quarter all the forces of the kingdom which could be spared, all which were only to live by provision out of England; notwithstanding all the difficulties of transportation, in so unseasonable a time, no notorious wants were found in the Army, but that which is unseparable from a Winter siege, in that Climate: that we had neither munition nor Artillery left but for one battery in one place at once, five of our pieces being before crazed: and finally, that if we had miss of our purpose, the whole country had been hazarded. Furthermore, that which seemeth of greatest consequence to induce his Lordship to this agreement, was: That the Spaniards in Baltymore Castle-hauen and Beerehauen, by virtue of this contract were likewise to surrender those places, and departed the country, which would have proved a matter of more difficulty, and have drawn on a long war in a corrupted kingdom, to root them out, being strongly fortified and well stored with victuals, munition, and artillery, for that of necessity the Army for some space, must have rested, and in the end have been constrained after a new supply of all necessaries, to her majesties intolerable charge, to transport themselves thither by sea, the way by land being altogether unpassbale. In which time, their succours out of Spain in all likelihood, would have been come unto them, the king being so far engaged in his honour to second his enterprise, and we barred of that prosecution of the Rebels, which now by this Agreement we may wholly intend.  
The Treaty therefore was thus concluded, as by the Articles ensuing, signed on both parts, appeareth.  

Mountioye.  
IN the town of Kynsale, in the kingdom of Ireland, the second day of the month of januarie, 1601, between the noble Lords, the Lord Mountioye, Lord deputy, and General in the kingdom of Ireland, for her Majesty the Queen of England, ●and Don john d'L Aquila, Captain and Campe-maister, General and Governor of the Army of his Majesty the king of Spain, the said Lord deputy being encamped, & besieging the said town, and the said Don john within it, for just respects, and to avoid shedding of blood, these conditions following were made between the said Lords Generals, and their camps, with the Articles which follow.  
First, That the said Don john d'L Aquila shall quit the places which he holds in this kingdom, as well of the town of Kynsale, as those which are held by the soldiers under his command in Castle-hauen, Baltymore, and in the castle at Béerhaven, and other parts, to the said Lord deputy, or to whom he shall appoint: giving him safe transportation, and sufficient for the said people, of Ships and victuals, with the which the said Don john with them may go for Spain, if he can at one time, if not, in two shippings.  
Item that the Soldiers at this present being under the command of Don john, in this Kingdom, shall not bear arms against her Majesty the Queen of England, wheresoever supplies shall come from Spain, till the said soldiers be unshipped in some of the Ports of Spain, being dispatched as soon as may be by the Lord deputy, as he promiseth upon his faith and honour.  
For the accomplishing whereof the Lord deputy offereth to give free passport to the said Don john and his army, aswell Spaniards as other nations whatsoever that are under his command, and that he may departed with all the things he hath, Arms, Munitions, Money, Ensigns displayed, Artillery & other whatsoever provisions of war, and any kind of stuff, aswell that which is in Castlehaven, as Kynsale and other parts.  
Item that they shall have ships and victuals sufficient for their money, according and at the prices which here they use to give. That all the people and the said things may be shipped if it be possible at one time, if not, at two: and that to be within the time above named.  
Item that if by contrary winds or by any other occasions there shall arrive at any Port of these kingdoms of Ireland or England, any ships of these in which the said men go, they be entreated as friends, and may ride safely in the harbour, and be victualled for their money, and have moreover things which they shall need to furnish them to their voyage.  
Item, during the time that they shall stay for shipping, victuals shallbe given to Don john's people, at just and reasonable rates.  
Iten, that of both parts shallbe cessation of arms, and security that no wrong be offered any one.  
Item, That the Ships in which they shall go for Spain may pass safely by any other Ships whatsoever of her Majesty the Queen of England: and so shall they of the said Queen and her Subjects by those that shall go from hence: & the said Ships being arrived in Spain, shall return assoon as they have unshipped their men without any impediment given them by his Majesty, or any other person in his name, but rather they shall show them favour, and help them if they need any thing, and for security of this, they shall give into the Lord Deputies hands Three Captains such as he shall choose.  
For the security of the performance of these Articles, Don john offereth that he will confirm and swear to accomplish this Agreement: and likewise some of the Captains of his charge shall swear and confirm the same in a several writing,  
Item that he in person shall abide in this Kingdom where the Lord deputy shall appoint till the last shipping upon his lordships word: and if it happen that his people be shipped all at once, the said Don john shall go in the same Fleet without any Impediment given him. But rather the Lord deputy shall give a good Ship in which he may go, and if his said men be sent in two shippinges, than he shall go in the last.  
And in like sort the said Lord deputy shall swear and confirm, and give his word in the behalf of her Majesty the Queen and his own, to keep and accomplish this Agreement, and jointly the Lord Precedent, the Lord Martial of the Camp, and tother of the Council of State, and the Earls of Thomond & Clanrykard shall swear and confirm the same in a several writing.  
I promise and swear to accomplish and keep these Articles of Agreement, and promise the same likewise on the behalf of his Majesty Catholic the King my Master. 

Don John d'l Aquila.  
George Carew.  
Thomond.  
Clanrikard.  
R. Wingfeild.  
Ro. Gardemor.  
Geo. Bourcher.  
Rich. Liveson.     
And so is this troubled Cloud, of most likely perilous danger for this time dissolved, to her majesties most singular renown; Not so much for the glory of the event, as for her own Magnanimity and Princely resolution, to leave nothing undone which might preserve that Crown, how dear so ever it cost her; to the great honour of our General, Leaders, and Soldiers by land and Sea Actors therein, who, if it be well considered, that after the Enemy's arrival xxviij. September, it was xxvi. October before they could get all things ready to sit down near the Town: xxix. October before their Ordinance could play, And that by j November. they had gotten Ricorren castle, And then seven. November were driven shrewdly to diminish their strength by sending the L. Precedent from them with two Regiments of foot and 325 horses against Odonell, That he returned not till xxv. November, his Companies 26. And then that the Supplies of Spain were landed. That the most of our shipping that did us special service were gone towards them, That Odonell was already come, Tyron shortly after, and xx. December all in sight: 24 beat: That xxxj. December the Parley begun, ij. januarie the Articles were sworn: ix. the Town yielded. These things (I say) considered, it cannot be thought they spent any idle time, as by the journals also which I sent you heretofore doth particularly appear. Nay, let it be duly considered indeed, that the Town though not regularly fortified after the modern sort, yet was of strong situation, well walled, and rampired of the old fashion, and apt to receive fit fortification, which the Enemy by his skill and leisure had given it, both within the Town and without, as being accounted of great knowledge in fortification, and having been a month in it before our men could come near much to molest him. And it may rather be marveled, the such an Enemy with such a Company, so provided, not being constrained by sickness, famine, or other defect of provision, and expecting shortly (as himself termeth it) a Royal supply from Spain, should so soon yield up, not only it, but the other Castles, & that of Baltymore especially so important, so strong, so furnished to hold so long out, as by his own acknowledgement appeareth before. Well, going they are with the loan of ordinary vessels which they also pay for: for whom yea and almost for any enemy of less quality than these, all ancient estate wisdom would have advised to have made and given them a golden bridge to pass over, rather than they should have stayed longer upon any Condition, much less upon doubtful hope of a small contemptible pillage to have been gotten of them, which must needs also have been bought with much blood, and with what further Charge and hazard to the main, God knoweth. And howsoever any particular humour may take it, I think Don john (all Circumstances considered) did advisedly for his King to leave it: And for our part I take it a Service to have been most honourably performed, with singular evident profit, and all probability of certain future security to our Prince and Country, and that otherwise it cannot be conceived off, of any that will indifferently judge. The proof whereof by the fruit beginneth here presently to appear, by the diminishing of her majesties Charge, daunting of the Rebels, quiet, comfort, and encouragement of the good, and before dismayed Subject, and will (I doubt not) but be generally felt with you there, by sparing your men and monneys, and putting you out of fear hereafter, of your and our, and all England's potent Enemy for his further attempting this way. And this for this of the late victory and yielding of the Town, which is my purposed task unto you at this time. As for that which was done from the first landing of the Spaniards till the fight, I refer you to the journals sent you before. And for the general course of the noble Lord Deputies whole proceed in this Land, since his first arrival here, I leave it to others to be treated of more at large hereafter, only this I will now say in general, let it be but without humour judicially considered, in what estate he found this Land, and to what he hath now brought it, and there is none so unindifferently affected, but must be forced to confess, Quantum mutatus ab illo! And here I end my object of the fight, and yielding of the Town, and whole quitting of all the Invaders, with Salmacida Spolia, an unbloody victory of our part, most befitting a Virgin Queen, and a Bachelor General. And so do betake you to the Almighty. At Corcke this 13 of januarie, 1601.  
Your assured at command. I. E.