TWO LETTERS FROM TWO CHIEF OFFICERS under the Command of the EARL of ORMOND.  
Particularly relating their good and happy Success in their late Expedition.  
LONDON: Printed for H. Blunden. 1642.   

DUBLIN 21. April 1642. 
 Dear Brother,  
I Hope my former Letters are come safe to your hands, I have been these 16. days from Dublin. Three thousand Forces, horse and foot, went forty miles into the Country towards Kilkenny, to relieve some Towns and strong Castles, kept by the English; (God be praised we had good success, In all our undertake;) we effected all things according to our desires: we burned the Rebels Towns, and put all to the sword all the way We marched, and gave them a greater defeat than hath been known these many years, since Kingsale Camp, there hath not been known the like multitude of Rebels in Arms, near a Town called Athye (where our Army lay) the Rebels kept their Rendezvous, we saw their strength the day before, and counted their Colours, which was between fifty and threescore, as We plainly saw; we could not judge them to be less than 8000. men; the next morning we began our March homewards, with a full resolution to fight with them if they came near us; we had not marched a mile but we perceived them on the right hand of us a mile and half distant, coming very fast towards us, which made our Soldiers taken with much joy, hoping to encounter them, and do execution on them, (I never saw better resolution in men in all my life) we marched five miles before we could come at them, for there was a great Bog between us, they marched on our right Flank up even with us all the time: when we made a stand, than they likewise did so too; and in the place where we charged them, they also drew themselves into a full Body on the top of a Hill, we being in the bottom, (a great disadvantage to us) howsoever we poured valleys of shot among them with our ordnance, and small shot likewise: they stood us till we came almost within Carbines shot, and then they face about, and fell into disorder, running away as fast as they could; but we pursued them, and our Horse did great execution on them, but were too nimble for the foot, we followed a mile to a great Bog, where they got for their defence. The number that we slew of them, was at least six hundred: Amongst which was four of their chief Commanders, whose heads we brought along with us, and placed them on the gates of Dublin: Six of their Colours likewise we took, and very much of their Carriages; we understand that they were the absolute strength of seven Counties in this part of the Kingdom, and did as confidently assure themselves of cutting us all off, as of meeting with us; in so much (they being so many more than us as they divided our baggage long before we fought with them, and were resolved to show no mercy to us; But it pleased God to bless and strengthen us with such hearts and courage, that we made them fly before us, like dust before the wind. I pray God to continue our hopeful proceed; shortly we expect to go to Kelkenny, where the Rebels are exceeding strong; so with my true love unto you remembered, I rest,  
Your very loving Brother, D. B.   

Dublin, April 21. 
 SIR,  
I Do acknowledge myself engaged to you for your care of my business which I understand by your letter, and will study whereby to requite it: We have great store of provision for the present, but I doubt a famine will suddenly follow, by the reason of the spoil that is made of Corn and Cattell: for where ere we come, we kill and burn all before us, because we would not have it relieve our enemies, and they do the like by us. We have received no pay since we came into this Kingdom, but the more is behind; We will trust the Parliament. We were three thousand foot, and four hundred horse, and five field Pieces, commanded into the County of Wicklow, and Kildare, the second of April to relieve some English that were besieged by the Rebels, and very little resistance was made: for they ran away still before us. And thus we marched three weeks about the Country, and relieved what places we were sent to relieve. We were coming back to Dublin, but my Lord Montgarret, one of the chief of the Rebels, thought to out us all off before we came to Dublin. On Friday in the morning last passed, they shown themselves, and marched by us twelve thousand till two of the clock. In the afternoon before the battle began, they had divided our Wagons, and our clothes, and appointed whose prisoner every man of any quality should be, and the rest should be killed, and hanged: they brought a cartfull of Halters for that purpose, so confident they were of victory After we had been at prayers, Sir Charles Coote ordered our small Army, and towards them we marched, and all the way our Ordnance played upon them, and then the Musketeers came up within shot, and gave so good fire, and came on so fast upon them, that those Irish Commanders durst not stay till we came to push of pike, but away they ran; then had we the killing of them till 5. a clock at night: And instead of their dividing our Wagons, we now divide theirs. We killed near a thousand men, besides the prisoners we took they were hanged. My Lord Montgarrets son was killed in the battle, and his head brought to Dublin. There was not a man killed of ours, and not above eight hurt. I received a small hurt, but it is almost well already. I desire you send this Letter to my father when you have read it.  
Tho. Wyld.  
FINIS.