THE LAST true INTELLIGENCE FROM IRELAND.  
Dated in Dublin, 16. March, and received in LONDON 28. March. 1642.  
LONDON: Printed for H. Blunden. 1642.   

Dublin, THE 16th. March. 1641.  
Sir,  
I Have not else to present you withal, other than the passages of the times, which I know you much desire to hear of; in regard I know your affection is such, to the prosperity of God's Church, and People, that ye wait to hear after it, as old Ely did for return of the Ark. And therefore for your further satisfaction, that although we are far asunder, yet we may be thankful, and rejoice, together for all the good that God hath done for his Israel. I wrote to you heretofore at large, but the last week I writ only to my Brother Joh. Cole, knowing that you will be partaker of what I writ to him; I therefore shall fall upon what since is done: only the manner of the taking of Mackmaghan, whom I mentioned in my Letter; he had stripped himself from all his clothes, and lay down as a dead man amongst those that were slain, besmeerd with blood, but not wounded; with a friar's girdle girt about his naked body, which Captain Byron beholding, bid one of his men take it from his body, and perceiving a great head of hair, newly come from under the barber's hands, bid his man to cut it off; which his man taking aim, laid his sword once or twice on his neck, whereupon Mackmaghan suddenly rose up, and desired quarter: and that if they would spare his life, he would release my Lord Blany's wife and his children, which he told them were his prisoners: so I hear now (but I believe it not) that my Lady Blany and her children are come up to our Camp, and are to be in Town with our army this night. This Mackmagham titles himself Baron of Manahan; as Sir Pyealam O Neale doth title himself Earl of Tyrone. We understand that upon the getting in of the last shipping to Tredath, with provision for relieving of the Town, that the Rebels were so much discouraged at it, that colonel Relys soldiers lying on this side of Tredath, ran most of them from him into the North, which Sir Henry Tichborne (Governor of Tredath) hearing of; went the bolder on Sir Phealum O Neale, and Mackmaghan on the other side, so that when he had put them away, the country people presently brought him in store of provision of all sorts; The 11. present, the Earl of Ormond our Lieutenant general, went from Garrets town, where all the Foot Company lay (because of the bad weather they had) with 700 horse unto Tredath, where my Lord Moor and Sir Henry Tichbourne made him and all his Company very welcome. Whiles my Lord was there, came in divers Gentlemen of the country, and submitted unto him, Master Barnwell of Kilbene, Sir John Newtervill, son and heir to my Lord Viscount Newtervill, Edward Dowdall of the Mountyne, that was register of the Chancery, who had changed his Religion and his allegiance upon a sudden & became captain of a troop of rebels; there came in also and submitted at Tredath, and to my Lord in the country, Master Garret Elmor and his two sons, Master Talbot of Roberts town, and divers others, and are many of them brought and imprisoned in the Castle, every of them submitting themselves. The Earl of Fingully wrote a submissive Letter to my Lord of Ormond, and promised to come to my Lord and 100 more Gentlemen with him, but my Lord went to meet them, but they kept not promise. Whereupon our soldiers our Horsemen rid thither to Killeene the Earl of Fingully and burnt it and all other places belonging to him wheresoever they came. And from garretts-town our army removed to Baleoddry, and when they came thence they burned it: and from thence they sent out to my Lord of Germenstowne, but I hear not what is become of my Lord of Germenstowne, nor my Lord Newtervill, but I hear their Horses were left without any either men and much goods. I hear that they have only spoiled the waste houses about those Castles, but the Castles they have preserved. And from Ballroddry they came yesterday morning, purposing to come home near the Sea side, & they intended last night to lie about Sword, which is six miles from this place; and in their way to burn colonel Luke Newtervils house; and coming by Malehide, Master Talbot of Malehide did submit himself. You may please to take notice, that the furthest place that our Footmen went was to Garretts town, Which is but thirteen miles from hence, and there they lay some days, because of the extremity of the weather; but our Horse did scout abroad further; and did much mischief to the rebels, by firing their towns and houses. But in all this time they have not had so much as the sight of the enemy. In so much that I hear that my Lord of Ormond was resolved once to follow them into the North as far as the Newry, where their great Magazine, or store lies. I am persuaded they have much money there. And I am afraid that the Army expected out of Scotland, will fall upon it and get all the booty. I hear that our Lord justices did hinder our army going thither, fearing the Enemy should lie somewhere hereabout stronger than we are. We hear that colonel Birne and colonel More have left the Castle of Leastip, for most of their men fled from them upon the report that was amongst them of the coming of our army thither, and have told their soldiers, that they have three ships loaden with Ammunition come in for them to Wexford, and they are gone to leavie more money on the country to raise 1000 l or send for more arms. I believe it is to put money in their Purses, to get them out of the kingdom, God grant that our shipping may meet with them. The passage between this and Tredath by Land is almost free for a single man armed to pass. Our Army have sent three hundred of their men to Tredath, and one battering Piece of Ordnance. Upon our Armies return that is abroad under Command of the Earl of Ormond, colonel Harcot, Lord Lambert, and Sir Richard Grinfield, those which are here are to go forth under▪ Command of Sir Charles Coote and colonel Crayford; and it is thought they shall go towards Leastip, and to Kilkock, and so down to the Queen's country. I think they may go through the kingdom without any opposition; for they have wounded their own Consciences, and God their hearts, and they will never adventure the rest of their bodies; for now they see their estates gone, they have not any thing else to preserve. We hear that my Lord President of monster, hath joined his Forces with Sir Charles Vaviser, and is gone out against my Lord Mountgarrett and his army; and that my Lord Muzgrave is not at all in Rebellion. We hear also that Lymerick and the Fort there is safe on our side, and the Lord our God being also on our side, I trust will send us peace, although the Enemy be yet very strong. Some report that the town of Gallaway is not revolted. I trust that God will so prosper us, that I shall by the next Post write you better news. We hear that in the North our friends hold what is their own, and in every Battle put the rebels to flight. I trust that the Scots army will not now come over, if they be not already come; for it will grieve our soldiers to lose their expected booty, for all the toil they have had this Winter; yet we are beholding to them for their forwardness to come over. Thus for present I humbly take leave, resting ever.  
Your dutiful and obedient son, ROBERT Coal.  
FINIS.