A DECLARATION OF THE Irish Army IN ULSTER: Sent to the Parliament in a Letter from WIILLIAM BASILL Esquire, Attorney General of IRELAND: Which Letter and Declaration are ordered by the Parliament to be Printed: And were referred to the Council of STATE to see it done accordingly.  
To which is added some remarks thereupon, by a private Pen.  
LONDON, Printed by William Dugard, by the Appointment of the Council of State, 1650.   

Die Veneris, Junii 28, 1650.  
A Letter from Dublin of the 20 of June, 1650. from Mr William Basill, with a Declaration of the Nobility, Gentry, and Commanders of his Majesty's forces, of the Province of Ulster, dated 20 of May, 1650 were this day read.  
Ordered,  
That the said Letter and Declaration be forthwith Printed.  
Ordered,  
That it be referred to the Council of State, to take care to see the same printed accordingly, and to take such course touching the Printing thereof, as they shall think fit.  HEN. SCOBELL Cleric. Parliament. 
Right Honourable!  
I Have sent your Honour here enclosed a Copy of a Declaration lately put out by the Northern Irish-Armie, who are fallen down toward the Legan, and have done much mischief in our Quarters there, Colonel Venables writes that the Scots there come under the Enemy, and contribute to their relief, and that he himself durst not leave those parts where he is, lest they should rise in Arms.  
Those in Tecrohan sent out on Saturday last to surrender upon terms to march away with bag and baggage, and three Pieces of Ordnance; but their Conditions were rejected by Ours.  
My Lord Deputy continues yet about Catherlogh. The sickness exceedingly increaseth in the Place; Not having else to trouble your Honour at present, I humbly crav leave to be  
(Right Honourable!) Your Honour's most humble Servant William Basill. For the right Honourable, William Lenthal Speaker of the Parliament of England. Dublin 20 Junii 1650   
THE DECLARATION OF THE Nobility, Gentry, and Commanders of His Majesty's Forces of the Province of ULSTER.  
WHereas we are given to understand, That some ill-affected Members, for private respects of their own, and malice to our Party, have endeavoured to sow sedition, and discord betwixt us, and such as are well-affected to his Majesty, both of the Scottish Nation, and others, alluring many of them, from time to time, to harbour very prejudicial and jealous thoughts of our proceedings, by casting the calumny, and asspersion on us, That our intention and actions tend rather to our own particular Ends and private Aim, then to the advancement and preservation of his sacred majesty's Interest, Crown, and Dignity in this Land; which evil practice can produce nothing, but sad, destructive, and lamentable effects, as it is too too well known already by woeful experience: For it is most palpably evident that the like unhappy misconstruction enforced the Scots at first to rise in Arms, and invade England against his Majesty, their own flesh and blood; that occasioned the falling out of the Irish, and Scots in the beginning of these Wars of Ireland. That was only and solely the cause of the beheading of his late Majesty of happy memory, all these mischiefs being perpetrated by the practice, and policy of the Up-starts of England that this day trample under foot in misery, thraldom, and slavery, the Nobility, and Gentry of England by raising and exalting the basest abortive Scums of that Kingdom, to the greatest height of Honour, Power, and Command; that alured the Scots hitherto to endanger their lives, endeavours, and fortunes, first in England, as aforesaid, and secondly in this Kingdom against our Nation when we little expected ever any such sedition, or quarrel could be fomented betwixt us, and them, or that they having once in their hands all the Forts, and Garrisons in this Province (excepting a few) should be so far deceived by the sinister practice of the Parliament of England, as that they have not at present the Command of any of them in all Ulster; so as consequently it is to be feared, ere long none of the Scottish will be suffered, either Gentry, or Commonalty to inhabit in any part of this Province, bordering on their native Kingdom of Scotland: All which we cannot choos but sadly take to heart; and that the rather, because we see our fellow-subjects so misled, and with-drawn from their obedience to his Majesty in not siding with us in the present service, mis-constructing, by the evil suggestion of others, our endeavours and intentions, which might sufficiently give us an occasion of discouragement; whereas our Party, and Nation for the clearing and removal of all past mischievous practices of that kind on our parts, and prevention of any the like jealousy, and discord hereafter, We thought it necessary, and do accordingly declare and avow, in the sight of the great God of Heaven and the World, That our Intentions and Resolutions are, to the last man, to endeavour, with the loss of our lives, estates, and fortunes, the advancement and preservation of his Majesty's service and interest in this Kingdom, and of all those whatsoëver that prosecute his quarrel so far forth, as we be not troubled in the free exercise of our Religion, as we will no way hinder or trouble any person or persons of what Nation, or quality soëver adhering to his Majesty, to exercise, and embrace his or their own profession, or Religion: All which, with God's assistance, our actions shall ere long more expressly manifest in the view of the world.  
Finally, It is our intention that we shall make no distinction or difference between our selus, and so many of the Scottish, or other Nation whatsoëver, that now shall (as we invite them with Heart and Hand) join in his Majesty's service, or any way freely contribute to, or countenance the same, but as becometh Brethren, and fellow-subjects engaged in one quarrel for their true and lawful King. Dated at Charlemount the 20 of May, 1650.  

Emerus Cloughensis,  
Rich. Farrall,  
J. Lough,  
In. Skillen,  
Ter. O Neale,  
Alexander mac donnel,  
Shane O Cahant,  
Hugh mac Choir,  
Turt. boil,  
Br. O Neale,  
Miles Swine,  
Hugh mac Mahoon,  
Owen O Dougherdy  
Turl. O Quin,  
Br. O Neale,  
Ph. O Neale,  
Fer. O boil,  
Br. mac Mahoon,  
Cormock Mahellen,  
Cull. O donnel,  
Jo. Mr. donnel,  
Jo. Mr. donnel.   

Remarks, or Observations upon the foregoing DECLARATION.  
THat Truth is the Daughter of time hath been said of old, and is made manifest by every day's experience. What hath been contrived and transacted heretofore in Closets, comes now to be published by the Actors themselves to the view of the world. It hath been long believed by those who took the boldness to examine those Acts of darkness (and by those things that did appear, and were in motion, to judge the things unseen, and the Principles of those proceedings) that there was a very good understanding between the late King and the Irish Assassins. And though at first they were to bear the Odium of their horrid and ever to be detested Murders, and endeavour of the exstirpation of the English Name and Interest there: And for that purpose were direfully devoted to destruction, and marked out and distinguished for it by Proclamation; of which yet a special care was taken, by the late Tyrants express Order, that only forty Copies, and no more, should be printed, and none of them delivered out, without his like special Order, lest too many should know he had called them Enemies, whom he intended to make use of, as of his good Catholic Subjects of Ireland, for special service; when the work, agreed on between them, had once been finished there. And accordingly soon after they had acted their Butchery, and made that miserable destruction of the poor unarmed English, whom the rare government and policy of that place, managed by the Bassa's of his Tyranny, had kept unarmed; (for their better security no doubt among inveterate Enemies) And that sufficient forces were sent hence by the Parliament of England to chastise with a just retribution those bloody Murderers, whereby they were like to receiv another reward for their good service to his sacred Majesty, than they had agreed for, and be like enough to give eye for eye, tooth for tooth, and life for life, They were then presently taken into his Protection, and a Cessation made with them, that they might be reserved for the future sevice they were designed unto, namely the Conquest of Scotland: To which service some of them were dispatched, so soon as by the drawing over of those apostatising English who being sent thither by the Parliament, to whom by special Act the managing of that War was committed, for reducing that Kingdom to the obedience of this, the rest of these good Irish could be left in a condition of security against those few English that remained faithful to their Trust and Interest. And how fairly they attempted, and how nearly effected that conquest under the leading of Montross joined with his Northern and Western Mountaineers, is very well known: when, after several bloody skirmishes beyond the Forth, at last, by the total rout of all their forces at Kilsyth, there was no place of safety left for any persons of quality that were Covenanteers, but they were forced to seek it in England. But all this is now dissembled and must be forgotten; And their good souls being now as full of Love and Candour, as they were once of Blood and Murder, are extremely afflicted with a pang of Ingenuity, to think there should be some ill-affected Members, (they say not of what body) that should go about to sow sedition and discord, they mean sure (for their Declaration is not guilty of proper expression every where) to beget some misunderstanding between them who have but one End, Namely, the Scots-Kings sacred Majesty's Interest; And they think it a foul Calumny, that they should be said to have any particular ends or private aim, but only are carried with a single intention to the preservation of the said Interest. We should not much dispute what they affirm, if they would tell us what this Interest is, whether the true Interest of the late King, or an assumed one; for of the present Interests, We shall say nothing. The true one all rational men, that are acquainted with affairs of State, can judge as well as he could, or as they can; and do believe that it was not for that Interest that so many people of the English Nation were Murdered and destroyed, and that the Popish Religion should be only permitted there. But 'tis very probable the Interest that Tyrant propounded was a perfectly- arbitrary and Despotical rule, which he could find none, but they, so base as to be subservient to settle. The reward of their service should therefore be to settle the Popish Religion in Ireland, and to tolerate the practice of that worship in England. And to come certainly to the End, viz. Tyranny, he would balk no way; War, Murder, Popery, all acceptable, all lawful; only the nearest was best, and ruled his election.  
But that they should be such true and loyal Subjects, as they thus publicly pretend, is a little hard to believe; We must therefore examine upon what grounds they became so; Old quarrels and inveterate feu'ds are not usually exstinct, but upon very evident advantages and signal obligations. 'Tis well known, when King James had a design to make a nova Scotia in Ireland, he was not very dainty of oppressing the Irish, to make way to gratify his unblushing begging Nation; whose deep since of their beggary made them insensible of what ever they received; and the obversation of the dreadful and hated Images of their former state of life kept them in continual fear, that nothing could be sufficient to assure them they should not again be as they were: And therefore with a wild profuseness, which only the Scots call liberality, he introduced multitudes of them into the Province of Ulster, into those lands which the Irish then believed they might have deserved as well, if an Act of grace had restored them to the possession of that which 'twas their ill hap, their Ancestor's former Rebellion had forfeited. And indeed, by reason of his known weakness and impotency in giving, that whole Province was already possessed in their hopes, and a design was laid in time to have in reality, by finding some or other to forfeit also the English Plantations there; and accordingly they began with that belonging to London, that the strong Town of Derrie, and also that of Coleraine coming into the dispose of the Royal bounty, bestowed for the rewards of an unknown virtue, might also be made Scottish, for the better security of all the rest: during all the time the Irish, were full of Complaints, and there was no such affection in them to the Royal Interest, which was then to enrich his own flesh and blood with the donations and distributions of the large Patrimony of their Predecessors. And after the late Tyrant came to rule, while his covetousness was yet chiefly in his eye, the whole Province of Connaght must be planted for satisfying of it, That is, it must be taken from the Irish and old English (now become also Irish) upon the account of some forseitures by former Rebellions, and in order thereto a survey was made of the whole Province, and there wanted nothing but distribution. But upon the coming hither of the Commissioners from the Parliament of Ireland in the year whereof the most part were Papists, and who by the Queen's mediation were received with special favour, that whole business was laid aside, and there was no more speech of the Plantation of Connaght; but after many secret conferences with the Popish part of those Commissioners, with the effect whereof their fellows were never acquainted, they were received into the Tyrant's special favour, and went home with great satisfaction of him. And it must be believed that it was some special service they were to do, for which he would give a whole Province, which he already accounted his own. And the first apparent Act of their gratitude for giving over the prosecution of that plantation, and receiving them into such special intimacy was their Barbarous Murder and Assassination of the English, and their endeavour to exstirpate all Monuments not only of the English name, but of every thing of civility, that was brought thither by them; and yet, after this, the same favours continued to them by that King, and all endeavours used by him, to keep them from just punishment for their perpetrated nameless, matchless wickedness; in Comparison whereof, the Sicilian Vespers, the Parisian Nuptials, and the Matins of the Valtoline have lost much of their fame, and must give place in all thoughts of abhorrency to the infernal actions of these Monsters. And the grants after made them in favour of Popery by Ormond in his first Treaty with them, and those additional secret ones by Glamorgan, which his own Instructions take notice of, as such as were not fit for him publicly to grant by Ormond, his Lieutenant, as he called him, or as the condition of his affairs then stood openly to own all these things (which to open largely, were the subject of a Volume, and can be here but touched) do evidence beyond contradiction that the Interest, to which those loyal souls do with so great candour and integrity adhere, is the Interest of Popery, as agreed to be made subservient to the ultimate Royal Interest of absolute Tyranny.  
And yet these poor Scots must be bored through the nose with a bulrush, and made believ that this Interest and their Kirk-Interest are very reconciliable in that Communi tertio of the King's sacred Majesty. And that they might well enough agree, if it were not for Ill-affected Members that would cause some misunderstanding between them. They would make them believ that at the breaking out of the Rebellion in Ireland (which they will needs call a War) they had no quarrel against the Scottish Nation, but 'twas brought on and occasioned by this party working division. Indeed 'tis true that for a few of the first days after the beginning of that horrid Butchery, they did forbear the Scotch Nation, knowing their good natures such, as they would be content to sit still, and see the English destroyed, so they might escape, there would be the more room for Colonies of their Nation; And it would be much more easy to deal with one Nation then with both. And also for that they knew the Scots had then in Scotland some form forces standing, that might in few hours have been transported, being once at the water's side, that might have much distracted their proceeding, till they had made some good progress in their execrable work. But when they had destroyed the most of the English, save those in strong Towns, and found that the Scots were only upon Treaty for sending of forces, which were not like to arrive so soon but that they might without danger deal also with them, They then let Them, as well as the English, taste of their humanity, as to all their gudes and gear. And that they did not so generally fall upon their lives is not to be imputed to their Mercy, because they knew they should die often, or be long a dying (and feel themselves to be so) by being compelled to return into Scoland, believing that transmigration to be worse than that into the other world. And yet now th●se Scots can be all one with these Irish, against the English, for carrying on the Interest of their King, according to the Covenant, against the Commonwealth of England, and present Government of it; upon whom they bestow the free expressions of their natural dialect, dignifying them with the honourable Epithets of Upstarts, and basest abortive Scum of this Kingdom. This dirt of theirs we shall cast aside, and not trouble our selus to answer, only tell them, there are none in the Government of England but are descended from Adam, and have no ambition to derive themselves higher. And our envy shall never carry us (against so evident demonstration, as their natural disposition and constant manner of life holds out in all their convers, both among themselves and towards others) to deny that they be derived from a stem of some hours greater antiquity, unless any could believ (notwithstanding their bodies) that they are the Children of that Father, who according to the opinion of some good Antiquaries, was creäted before this visible world. Abortive and Scum are fit flowers for their invective; notwithstanding the Abortion (for the Scum we shall not touch, being properly their own) there hath been strength enough to chastise them, through the assistance of God, to whom the cry of blood is asscended, and from whose most just and irresistible hand more judgements than one pursue's both them and the whole family that they pretend to advance. They seem to be sorry the Scots have no strong holds in their hands in Ulster, but that they are deprived thereof by the subtlety of the English. Indeed when they began to unite with them by the setting on of their Priests at Belfast, under that ridiculous stalking horse of the King's Interest, it was time to unkennel that vermin. And he should be very credulous that could believ that the Irish would have left them in perpetual quiet possession; especially if they shall but consider how George Monroe, who had contracted a better understood agreement with them, and came with his forces from among them, used the rest of the Scot's party. But this is too much for opening of their eyes who will be blind; let them go together till they fall together under the ruins which they pretend to support.  
But their next peng of good nature is very remarkable, by the violent working whereof they cannot choos but wondrous tenderly take it sadly to heart, and are full of fear, that ere long none of the Scottish either Gentry or Commonalty will be suffered to inhabit in that Province, bordering upon their native Kingdom of Scotland. Poor Scots! can ye swallow these Gudgeons? do ye think the Irish do so perfectly love your company for Presbytery and Covenants sake? or for what other good quality is it that they would never yet take notice of, that ye are become so dear to them? Is there never an one remaining of all their ancients Clan's or Septs, that can derive a title to the land in that Province? They were wont to keep their pedigree well enough without an Herault's-office; And took a course their families might not be extinct for want of Progeny, which were never used to be differenced among them by that nice distinction of Natural and Legitimate children: 'tis hard to be believed but some of their spawn would at one time or other pretend a Title, and (notwithstanding this same new dearness upon your King's account) had rather have your room, than your company there; and that they will make you believ too, had they none else to fear or defend themselves against, but the Scots in Ulster, or their assistance from Scotland.  
But how comes Emerus Cloughensis their Bishop-General (if at least the Declaration be his work, the weakness whereof agrees not with such parts, as report hath given him) to be in this humour of prophesying? Perhaps his fury hath transported him into an ecstasy; or hath heated him to a temper of vaticination; or rather, perhaps it is for that he see's in policy and prudence it ought to be so; and therefore believing that it will, he habit's his expression with the mantle of sear and sorrow, to serve a turn withal for once upon those wretched Scots. But however it were no shame to be taught of an Enemy; at least we may well let them be our Remembrancers, and as soon as may be make good those Irish fears, and remove those Scots, if not out of the Land, yet at least so far from the Sea as they may keep no correspondence with the rest of their Nation, which yet, in spite of all, will have this of favour, that it they live within Land, they will be out of the view of those shores that must needs awaken their memories to unpleasant suggestions.  
At last they come to speak out without any implication for the removal of all misconstruction of their past or future actions, Declaring in the sight of God and the world, their intentions and resolutions to the last man, with their lives, estates and fortunes, to endeavour the advancement and preservation of his Majesty's service and interest in that Kingdom, and of all those whoever that prosecute his quarrel upon the condition of the free exercise of their Religion; Behold the ground of their former and future service to this King of Scotland, and to his Father: And the price of the Massacre and Assassination of the English, and of the present union and good understanding between the Scots in Ulster and them. They will be equal too, they will give, as well as take a liberty 10 any person of what Nation or quality soever (so he adhere to their King) to exercise and embrace his or their own profession or Religion. They that know them will not be much taken with their Concessions, they have here provided for an evasion without coming to their sheet Anchor of fides non est haereticis servanda. They will have free exercise of their own Religion, but allow only to exercise and embrace that of others; what mean's the emission of that Modification [free] if their intention were fair, and the addition of [embrace] which, applied to Religion, can only signify an internal Act, and may be, when they pleas, interpreted exclusive of outward or public and free exercise: But if they mean fair, 'twere good they would tell how long they have been of this mind; or how long'tis since they received a faculty to make such a promise. We did not expect this holy year would have given any thing of Indulgence to the Heretics. And for fact, we certainly know they would hardly suffer Ormond (though their adored King's Lieutenant, and General of all his Forces, and therefore also of their Forces, if they were then the King's Forces) have a Preach made him in Kilkennie by his own Chaplain (though privately) when he was lately there among them, although perhaps there would have been but little difference between one of their Preachments and his. And 'twill be very hard for them to give an assurance that will bind that they shall not do the like hereafter by the Scots, or any else who trust them. They conclude they will make no distinction nor difference between themselves, and as many of the Scots Nation, or any other that shall now, upon their invitation (which they do with heart and hand) join in their King's service, or any way contribute to, or countenance the same. And we believ there will be no difference put between them, by this Commonwealth, and the Governors and Forces of it. But as they together have espoused the Interest, and carry on the designs of the declared Enemy of this Commonwealth; so they must expect to be used as Enemies; and therefore let them no longer impose upon the world, with the dissimulation of a Religious Interest, and complain of a persecution for conscience sake. This Declaration of theirs having taken off that mask, And taken away from them the pretence of urging their conscience for a moderation of punishment, or impetration of pardon, they having barefaced owned another Interest, the fate of which they must now be content to suffer; which if it prove happy, it is more than it hath been hitherto. And it is not like to thrive much the better for their assistance, upon whom their black guilt of so much innocent blood is like to draw an heavy vengeance from the just hand of that God who hath given it for a Law to these times, when he had rested from punishing the cruelties of the first, That he that sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. And 'tis neither their pretences can blind his Allseeing Eyes, nor any of their combinations or conjunctions avoid the powerful executions of his irrefistible Arm, by the mighty goings out whereof he will abate every Pride and Tyranny that think's to exalt itself against the providential dispensations of his infinite wisdom carrying on his work, his strange work in this last period, verging towards the end, and consummation of all things.  
FINIS.   

SInce the former part hereof was in the Press, the following Relation is come to hand, which containing the History of the proceeding of this Irish Army, since their last coming into Ulster, until they were destroyed, I thought it necessary to publish it with their Declaration: And the rather, that all men may take notice, that the constant going on of Providence is, that so soon as any undertake the Caus of that accursed family, which lies under direful fates, they presently fall under the same Curs and speed accordingly.   

A perfect Relation of the total Overthrow of the Irish Army in Ulster, by my Lord Precedent of Connaught.  
SIR!  
I Have sometime since divorced Virgil's Aeneids from his Georgics. Arma virúmque cano— sound's in my ears as the Cataracts of Nilus, when Tityre tu patulae yield's to no aër, but of a Psalm. SIR! could I resist your sweet violence I suffer from you, I would not force my weaned temper to the Relation of a Battle, it comes so near Lot's wife looking over her shoulder. Besides, I know this late Overthrow given by my Lord Precedent of Connaught to the Army of Ulster will cross the Seas with emulation of Letters, which shall have the Van: yet it being the first complete Victory, and, in this conjuncture of time, deriving such important consequences, I shall offer it you in the draught of a Landscape: for truly to attempt a draught of it to the life, I might as profitably whisper to the slain carcases to react their own Tragedies.  
SIR! I must not bring you presently upon the field to view the corpse; Rarities are not to be presented to the expectation in the bud, but full blown: and certainly Canaan was more welcome and beautiful for the Spiral March the Israêlites made thorough the Wilderness: and truly that solidity of Conduct, and dexterity in arresting alladvantages that preceded the Battle, weigh-equal in my scales with the Victory itself. For my L. Precedent of Connaught was matched with a person of as signal abilities as this Kingdom afforded, the Bishop of Chogher, a man of a deep judgement, quick apprehension, indefatigable spirit, ready execution; and then qualified with as handsome a compacted Army to actuate his designs, as I have seen in this Kingdom. He was the Irish Adam; for they stood and fell in him.  
It was the 14th of April, that my Lord Precedent rendezvouzed the forces quartered in the Laggan, having sent Orders to Colonel Venables to do the like with those quartered in the Claneboys, appointing their general rendezvouz about Charlemont with all speed. The Enemy with no less vigilance draweth to an head about Monaglan, seeking to make good some quarter about Charlemont, whereby to disappoint the Conjunction of our forces. My L. Precedent resolves to advance upon the Bishop, & to crush his Army before it grew to sinewey. But what my Lord intended to have done by retale, God ordered for wholesale.  
In this instant of time my Lord understands that a Party of the Bishops had surprised the Castle and Fort of Toom, which commanded the passage, where Lough Neauf runs into the Banna, and that they had passed over a party of Horse and Foot into the Country of Antrim. This was a sad check; it gained time to the Bishop, and divided our forces: for Venables was ordered back, to take it in: My Lord in the interim marcheth all by the Lough side on Tyrone, both to pray their Kireaughts which lay in those great fastnages of Glankankan which were guarded with some five troops of horse, and Colonel Phil. Mac Touls Regiment, Turlough Mac Art Oges Regiment, and General Major O Lanes Regiment: as also to engage those Regiments so, as they might not infest Venables at Toom: and accordingly my Lord did fetch two or three preys from them, which gave much refreshment to his men, skirmished and killed divers of those Regiments, and returns again to Draganon, to let the Bishop see he would not quit him his ground, though single. Toom yield's to Venables, after it withstood a strong Battery, and a Mortar-piece upon quarter, and being reintrencht, could not have been gained without loss of Foot, of which my Lord stood most in need of. The Bishop's Army by this time grew round and thick, and my Lord was forced to retire towards Omagh for some provisions, which he had sent up thither to supply his forces withal: so the Bishop advanceth about Charlemont: and now it is an hard game to bring my Lord and Vevables together.  
The Bishop was too hard a match for any one of them, although my Lord Precedent with the Lag 'gan forces, and his Brother. Audly Coats Regiment of Horse kept the field against him, held him up, and daily with his horse road to seek advantage upon him; but could neither find, nor force any; his quarters were too strong: my Lord perceiving the Bishop would not quit that ground, out of which there was no forcing of him, (it was the same ground that Owen Mac Art encamped in, when the General Major Monroe, and we lay about him with 10000 men, and he marched away in spite of us) and that his provisions grew low, and his men discouraged, that no overture of service could be made, he retired into the Country. Now the Bishop advanceth and keepeth the Mountain-way from Charlemount to Dungeven (the places the ordinary Map will show you) by which means still Venabls & my Lord are disjoined; My Lord Precedent not able on that ground to serve with his horse, sent Orders to all the Country to put over their goods & remove themselves on this side Lough-foyle, by which means the Bishop's Army was straightened for Victuals, and the Corn being in the ground the Country suffered but little. Dungeven only was taken in by storm, and defended gallantly by Lieutenant Col. Michaël Beresford, to the last man: Ballicastle was as poultron-like delivered: and Limavaddy Castle, belonging to Major Philip's, was only attempted by menacing parties, Major Philip's having resolutely burnt all his out houses, or any thing that might advantage the Enemy's covert-approach. My Lord Precedent encamped on the other side of the River of Strabane and Neauf at 28 miles' distance from Dungeven, twice or thrice beat up his Guards: but the Bishop's Army was all encamped upon a shaking bog. My Lord Precedent had, upon his retiring from the Omagh, commanded Major King with three Troops of horse to Eleskillin, and Major Read with 300 foot both to Garrison the place, and to make a division by falling into their Quarters, and to cut of their Convoys of Victuals, and the daily recruits the Bishop expected; which was performed by Major King, with much diligence.  
The master-point was all this while how to work a conjunction of the Claneboye's forces: for my Lord resolved, if it could be effected, immediately to put it to a day: and the Bishop knew not well how to enter the Country, or at least feared it, my Lord so ordering himself, that nothing could be got without fight, and that upon disadvantage, my Lord being now upon the Defensive. There is a passage close under Lifford called Clanlee, fordable over Lough foil, though very much disused. The Bishop over this intended to fall in behind my Lord, and so to shut him out of the Country. This that the Bishop thought his masterpiece, my Lord Precedent made use of to his destruction; for my Lord dissembled the knowledge of it: and my Lord under pretence that the soldiery did straggle into the Countrie-houses, being so near, advised them to retire behind Breag-dough, another strong pass behind this Chanlee 3 miles, and made himself ready, that assoon as the Bishop should enter Clanlee-pass with his Army, he would rise, and make good Breag-dough; so that the Bishop should find nothing but trouble; and that now Venables men being ready at Colerain, should march to Derry, and so ferry over. This was so handsomely managed, that when my Lords forces saw the Enemy at Clanlee-foard, they thought the Country lost, when it was the first step to his safety. The Bishop, to carry his intention the closer, marched up past Clanlee to Strabane, as if he would force his passage upon my Lord that way. My Lord send's parties over the River, skirmisheth, beat's his Horse to their Foot: so the Bishop retire's as if he would encamp above Clanlee, and, after a little halt, rusheth into the Lough with Horse and Foot: at the same instant my Lord Precedent riseth, and marcheth to Breagh-dough, for which pass the Irish strove hard: My Lord dispatcheth away to Colerain for Claneboys men to advance to Derry, and that he would engage the Enemy so, that he should not return to stop them. The Bishop was very angry to be thus deluded; drawe's all his horse and foot into Battalia, as if he would give battle, faceth my Lord Precedent. My Lord drew up his, who had only his own Regiment of Horse, and four Troops of Col. Rich. Coats (his other being with major King) and about 300. Country horse commanded by Colonel Sanderson, and about a 1000 foot of his own Regiment, and his brother Colonel Thomas Coats Regiment, they continued 9 or 10 hours pickering: my Lord Precedent had no reason to fight, for he was sure to have the accession of Venables forces speedily; So the Bishop towards evening began to draw off his Army towards the Pass: my Lord well supposing that the Bishop (finding that he had no ways advantaged himself) might draw over to prevent the conjuncture with Venables, fell to a dispute with the Bishop in hors-logick, charging him home with 4 Troops of horse, which the Irish very gallantly received: in it Captain Tailor of our side was killed in the midst of their Pikes, Capt. Carchart shot very dangerously, and about 8 Troopers: the Enemy lost about 60 men, and divers sorely wounded. The hot charges from so small a party, and in bad ground, made the Irish march the mountainest ground they could find to Litterkenny, my Lord coasting by them, and keeping the Country under his protection By this time Venables foot being about a 1000 are come to Derry, my Lord and they are joined, & they advance upon the enemy now at Litterkenny. My Lord understanding that the Bishop had sent off a party into Kilmacrenan to take in Dee, & to fetch in provision, thought it not fit to let the opportunity slipof fight him; so upon the 21 June at Schear follis two miles above Litterkenny, they both imbattailed; the Irish were about 4000 foot and 400 horse, my Lord Precedent about 2000 foot and 800. horse; the Irish were in gross Battalia's my Lord drew up his in small ones handsomely, disposed to succour one another. The forlorns encounter fiercely on both sides, till at last all hands were engaged at push of Pike, and clubbing of Muskets; the ground was such that my Lord's horse, nor the Enemies could encounter each other, or my Lord's horse charge their foot; but the smallness of my Lords divisions, were easily rallied, moved nimbly, whilst the Enemies gross of infantry fought themselves into a rout, and at last into a flight: but what horse my Lord ordered for a rescue, followed the execution, which was as noble a one, & victorious as ever was in this Kingdom. They lost all their Arms and provisions of the field. They have lost all their Officers and all their men. My Lord Precedent hath made a List which I have sent you, but Sir, 'tis impossible for him to know it, for the execution hath been 33 miles from the place he fought in; for Major King being at Elleskellin with those Irish, fell on by my Lord Presidents order sent to him, upon the defeat betwixt that and the Omagh; and hath slain many hundreds, and after my Lord had completed his List, Major King took the Bishop on the 25 of this month and 200 horse, and scattered and killed all the rest, who escaped the execution of the field: it's possible that a fortnight hence we may know the Officers; But I, who have spoken with the protected people am certain, that they can not learn of a 100 men escapid, and some 3 or 4 Officers, whereof Sir Philem Oneale, and Alex. Mac-donnell (the Earl of Antrims brother are two: my Lord Precedent lost one Captain about seven men, Col. Fennicks shot, Major Harry Gore shot, Captain Gore and Ensign Gere hurt with Pikes; and some common Soldiers hurt at push of Pike.  
The holds of Bellicastle, and Dungeven, and Lifford which they had fortified, they have quitted. Thus God hath wrought a great deliverance, first to us in these parts, who, certainly if my Lord had miscarried, had been all put to the sword; and next unto the whole Kingdom, this being the Armado the Irish relied upon. It was not only the greatest strength of Foot this Kingdom of Ireland had, but that Foot likewise whose merit they esteemed much.  
These were the first that began the Rebellion, that continued it, and these are they (praised be God) that have ended it. My Lord Precedent is immediately for the field, though these ten weeks he hath been in constant action, and I am sure put to as hard straits to preserv the Province of Ulster, as ever any one hath been; and truly an ordinary spirit would have fainted under the work. His experience is best able to represent his own wants, though they are palpable enough; no man ever served masters upon a cheaper rate; and had not the forces under him a clear apprehension of his self-racking to supply them, the affairs in Ireland, by my dial, would have gone back many degrees. Sr, though I have tired you, you would be content to read another volume to the same tune: a sharp and well supplied prosecution end's this work this Summer, in humane appearance. How much my Lord Precedent hath contributed to it within this half year, obtaining two Victories, in the first against Sr George Monroe, in which he spoiled all the horse of Connaught and Ulster, besides the slaughter he made of the foot; and in this clean one, which left no glean but such as Major King gathered up, envy itself must confess. I shall only add my observation, The instability of my Lord President's friendship with this Ulster Army, for about this time twelu-moneth the heads of this Army were at my Lord President's table and now their heads are upon the gates and marketplace of Derrie, a dear ordinary and great interest for the forbearance. It seems my Lord knows how to borrow crutches, and then burn them. Sir, I will rest in expectation of a line from you.  
Omagh, June 2●. 1650.  
FINIS.