A Full RELATION OF THE LATE EXPEDITION Of the Right Honourable, the Lord MONROE, major-general of all the Protestant Forces in the Province of Ulster.  
With their several marches and skimishes with the bloody Irish Rebels, and what Towns and Castles they have taken. And the number of Horse and Foot on both sides.  
ALSO, Two Declarations, and an Oath of Confederacy, whereby they bind themselves utterly to ruin and destroy the Protestants in that kingdom.  
AND A Letter from the Lord Digby, His majesty's Secretary, of great concernment; sent to the Duchess of Buckingham: which was intercepted.  
Published by Authority.  
LONDON, Printed for I. Wright in the Old bailie, August 27. 1644.   

July 23. 1644. A Relation of the late Expedition made by general-major Monroe; with the Army of the united British Protestant Forces, within the Province of Ulster in the Kingdom of IRELAND. Begun the 27 of June, and ended the 15 of July, 1644.  
IT being unanimously agreed, that so many of the British Forces in Ulster as could be spared from their Garrisons, as well as the Regiments of the Scottish Army, should march out under the conduct of general-major Monroe, to seek out the Army of the Irish Rebel● (wheresoever they could be found,) who not satisfied with the innumerable barbarous and bloody murders, and other villainies that they have committed since the beginning of this execrable rebellion, have ever since they obtained the Cessation of arms been preparing an Army of their choicest men, out of all the Provinces of this kingdom to invade Ulster, and to destroy all the Protestants therein● as by good intelligence from time to time, and by several D●clarations, Lette●s, and O●●ers of their prime Leaders, which hath come to our ha●d●, has pl●i●ly been made appear. By Order therefore from the Ge●●●●ll-m●jor, a party of the Forces under the command of ●h● 〈…〉 ●●untgom●ry of the Ardes, the Lord V●scount of Cl●●●●●●, 〈◊〉 of the F●c●● un●er the command of Sir Iam●● 〈◊〉 K●●g● and C●lon●ll ●ei●g all of the V●lst●● B●i●tish fo● 〈…〉 a p●●t of the general-majors own R●giment and T●oop o● ho●se, and of the E●●le of Lind●ayes regiment, and of Co●onel H●m h●●●●giment, an● of Colonel James Mountgomeries regiment, being all of the Scottish Army, were appointed to have their rend●z●ze within a mile o●Lisnega●vie the 27 day of J●ne last, upon the 28 there marched from thence to Drummor seven Colours of the regiment of Foot, under the command of the Lord Viscount Mountgomery, and himself in person with them, and two Troops of horse, the one whereof belong●d to captain George Mountgomery, the other to the Lord Viscount himself, and both under this command. T●ere were also five Colours out of the Lord Coudeboys regiment of Foot, commanded by some C●ptaines of that regiment; and the said Lord Cloudeboys his Troop, commanded by his Lieutenant; and Sir James Mountgomery his troop of horse, and seven Colours out o● hi● Regiment of Foot, commanded by himself in person; And out of four Scotch regiments: there were six colours out of the Earl of Lindsays' regiment, sev●n out of colonel Hu●●s commanded by his Lieutenant colonel, seven of colonel Iam●s Mountg●meries commanded by himself, and eight out of the Gen●rall-m●j●r● own regiment of Foot, together with his troop of Hor●e: We arrived at Ardmagh upon the 30 of June, where Colonel Hill his regiment of horse, consisting of five troops met us, commanded in chief by M●jor George Royden, and also the Lord Conawayes troop, commanded by C●ptaine Bruff; and a part of the Lord Crumwel's troop, commanded by his Lieutenant; and also five Colours of the Lord Conaways regiment of Foot, commanded by the Lord Bleny his lieutenant-colonel, and Major Jones. Upon the first of July came there also a part of the Earl of Argiles regiment, a part of the general's regiment, a part of the Earl of Glancarnes regiment, and also three Troops of horse, all commanded b● their several Lieutenant-colonels, and with them also five Colou● of Sir John Clotworthys regiment, commanded by Major O Conelly, and other captains. There met us also Sir Robert Stewart, and his whole regiment of Foot, and Troop of horse, and Colonel Merveine with his regiment; and nine Colours of Sir William Stewart's regime●t of Foot commanded by his lieutenant-colonel, his Major, an● o●h●● C●ptaines, whereof two were his sons; and also his Tro●pe of ho●se co●mm●ed by his Lieutenant. There were there also four Companies ●ut of Lond●n-derry, under the conduct of several Captaine●; and a commanded company of musketeers ●ut of Sir W●●●●am C●l●s regiment from Eneskilline, led by captain Ross● and his Troop of horse, commanded by his Lieutenant; there were also some more Troop●. The horse in all confuted of 22 Standards● and were reckoned to 1000 Horse; and the Foot of 110 Colours mak●ng good 10000 Foot, marching in rank● and file, bende● two thou●●nd soldiers more th●t attended the baggage. All our Soul●●●●●f the army carried ten days victuals in oatmeal upon their bac●es, besides their arms; and ten days more was carried upon b●gg●ge horses; more we could not car●y, nor other shi●t we could not make, for want of carriage horses, and other accommodations ●or a march: and all this twenty days' victuals for the soldiers did n●t ●xceed 24 pound weight of O●temeale, without any other supply of meat or drink but Water.  
Being thus joined together, all under the command of the general-major, we marched through the C●unties of Ardm●gh, Monagoon, and Cavan, to the uttermost confines of Ulster, wi●hout finding any opposition at all. As we marched from Cluvice to Cavan the fift day of July, a party of horse of Colonel Hills regiment that were sent out upon our right hand towards Belturbet, found some houses standing in it, but new deserted, and some store of beer, and Aquavitae in them, for their present use; and not far from thence in a Church they found that the people of the country had carried good store of their household stuff, and there they found also som● beer and Aquavitae and some S●cke, which the Earl of Castlehaven had sent for his own provision before him, who they learned was then at Granard in the County of Longford, with his army; where he and general Owen Mac Art O Neale (as was reported) were to mee● to come down to destroy all the Protestants in Ulster.  
Being then come to Cavan, we resolved to march out of V●l●●e● with the army to Granard the next day, being 12 miles from Cava●● Sir Will. Stewart, Sir Robert Stewart, and Sir Wil. Coles Troop● were sent before, who killed in Granard about 60 of the rebels, and g●t so●ne seven or eight score Cowes, and had a light skirmish with some of their Troops by the way, with the loss of one man only; but the E. of Castlehaven with his Army having been almost three weeks in that County, and himself lying at a pretty town called Ballenely four miles from Granard, and the most part of his cavalry quartered at the Town of Longford, general Owen, Mac Art O Neale no● being then come to Granard the fi●st rendezvous, the Earl getting intelligence of our approach, did the very night before retire with his whole forces out of that country, and c●ossed the river of the every into Weast-meath to a strong hold called Partlester, where the Lord Moor was killed the last yeare● And left all the passes upon the river well manned, bridges and C●st●es being at each pass, and did write to general Ow●n O Neale, to meet him with all expedition with all his forces, and as we were then informed their next rand●z●ouz was to have been at Kells in East-meath. We having rested at Granard upon the Sabbath day being the 7. of July, we sent out and burnt the towns of B●llynlie, and Longford, where the rebels had quartered, and all the Castles that were of any avail to them● all which they wholly deserted, not one man staying within the country, except such as hid themselves in lands. At one of the chiefest of the passes upon the every water, is the bridge of Fyna, where the Earl of weast-meaths' Castle is at the end of it, about two miles from Granard, There the Earl of Castle-Heav●n had put 200 musqueteers, and three troops of horse, whereof his own lifegard was one; It happened that Major Royden with seven English Troops were quartered near unto that place, who orderly setting out his guards and scouts got the Alarm several times given him by the rebels horse from the Castle upon the Sunday, who when the rest horsed, and strengthened their guards did still retire to the Castle; At last about 12 of the Clock Major Royden expecting that they would stand and skirmish drew to them with his troops, but they retired, yet espying 5 or 6 of their horsemen riding to the top of a hill about half a mile from the Castle; whereupon he sent out captain Brauff with six well horsed men, who endeavoured to g●● betwixt them & the Castle, which the rebels perceiving rod hard, and being nearer, gained the pass and stopped; Then one of them terming himself a captain, called to our men to know if there wer● ever a captain amo●gst them, who durst change a pair of bullets with him; captain Bruff with his men seeming to retire slowly, the enemy followed him out; whereupon he upon a sudden wheled about with his men and charged them, and having discharged their Carbines, the rogues took the flight; captain Bruffe charged home near to the pass the chief man of them he run him quite threw the body with his rapier, and killed him, and so retired himself and his men without hurt, and had no more alarms that night; The next morning Sir William Stewart's Troop, Sir William Coles, and Sir Robert Stewart's had the Van and marched before the Army, three troops of the rebels horse came out and skermished with their troops and scouts, (and had four troops more in readiness to second them,) for upon the Sunday at night late colonel John Buttler the Lord Montgarats uncle, who i● colonel of 800 horses raised by the rebels, out of the three Provinces of Lemster, Munster and Conaught, came to Fyna with four of their best Troops; whereof Owen Mac Arts lifegard was one, the reb●lls horse following our scouts close up to their body, our three Troops being all Landfirs, did resolutely charge them, though the enemy's horse were far more in number, and much better horsed and armed, yet after the first salve they took a flying retreat, the rest of their horse came out to second them, but the first were so charged home by our horse, who were pell mell amongst them, that all of them were put to confusion, and took the retreat in disorder; They had also laid an ambuish of musqueteers for our men, but seei●g all their own horse retired in such disorder, took their flight also; And our men charged their horsemen to the very bridge, and killed some of them upon the bridge, notwithstanding that the musqueteers were playing both from the Castle, and from ditches near the Castle and Bridge upon them; yet by God's favour retired having only three men killed, whereof two were a corporal and a Trooper of Sir Stewart's, and the Lieutenant of Sir William Coles troop called Graham, who having charged over the Bridge in the o● i● of the rebels was killed at the Castle gate, one Fulerton a v●●iant soldier a corporal of Sir William Stewart's troop was hu●t and after died of the wound, and two or three more hurt. The rebe●l● finding that they had received so resolute a charge and rout from s●●ew of our troops, whom they before despised glorying ●b●ve mea●ure in their own troops (●s in deed they might for h●rses and arms, if God did not fight on our side) seeing our Army be●ding that way, God took their hearts from them, and they straight forsook both the Bridge and Castle, with all their horse and foot, which their two hundred musqueteers might have kept against 20000, longer than our victuals would have permitted our stay, so the foot having fled through a bog towards a Wood, and the Horse towards Kells, with all their speed, the B●idge and House was fi●st taken up by some of our horsemen, whilst the foot we●e marching towards it, which after taking was burnt, and a number of their Houses about it. The rebels lost at the pass about a dozen of their best men that were left near, amongst which were two captains that were known, and a third captain was taken prisoner, many others were hurt and k●l'd, whom they carried off; And some of them were buried the same day at a Church some six miles from thence, as we got intelligence by other prisoners which we took afterward; From thence the same day w●e marched towards K●lls, whether we heard the next Rand●zouz between the Earl of Castlehaven, and Owen Mac Art was appointed, there we arrived the next day, but Owen Mac Art who removed from thence before to Port-Leister, to the Earl of Castlehaven, trusting more to the strength and advantage of that hold, then to their Army, or cause. And it is like enough that if we could have gone thither also, they would have retired further from us, but that being the 14 day from the time that we set out, we had not m●●le for six days to bring them home. So having burned that town and likewise sent out a party of Horse who burned the town of the Navau also, and 47 good Castles more in the County of Longford, and Westme●●h, want of victuals forced us to retreat homewards, an● to march as far in two days, as we did in 3 before. From Kells the 10 of July we came to Ardye where Owen Mac Art lay with his army & Cre●ts before he went to Kells, that town (with divers of the rest) had been formerly burnt by the English Army, in the beginning of the Rebellion, but began to be rebuilt by the Irish: This we also burnt, all the people still flying before us, carrying and driving with them towards Drogheduth and Dublin, all their goods and cattle.  
From Ardie the twelfth day we came to Dundaik an● leagured, within a mile of it near Bedloes Castle, where the general Major took a special care, that no hurt at all was done to them, or to any place which he heard belonged to any of the Eng●ish Garrisons. From thence the Forces under the command of Sir William Stuart, Sir Robert Stuart, and the rest, in, and near London-dery, and Eviskillin did march the next way homewards.  
The thirteenth day we came and leagured also by the Neur●y. The general Major with 5 or 6 Officers did ride into the Town, and desired Lieutenant colonel Mathewes (who after the Scots Garrison left that place, was appointed governor there, by the Lord marquess of Ormond) that he might have passage through the town with the Army the next morning, which he r●fus●d; whereupon some hot words grew betwixt them, and one captain Perkins, a young captain in that Garrison, gave some offensive words both to the general Major, and some of the Officers that were with him; Whereupon after the general Major r●tu●ned from the town to the camp, he sent a Drummer to the governor, and charged him to give him passage, or if not to be upon his guard, being resolved to have stormed the town, and taken it in, Mathewes persisted obstinate in his denyall● after two several fair messages which were sent unto him by the general Major, which being perceived by the Commanders of the Army● and foreseeing the mischief that might come to that place, and the spilling of Protestants blood, did labour earnestly with the General Major to pass by that time, and not to take notice of their folly and indiscretion, which he (out of his respects to the Lord Conway, who had then a company in that place; an● to show he could better rule his passion, than the governor and the rest of that Garrison) was nobly pleased to do; From thence the next day we marched to a pl●ce near the banside.  
T●● f●urteenth da● live passed two miles further than Less●e G●r●●. An● the fi●t●●nth day every Regimen● retired towards t●●ir 〈◊〉 quarters, in the Counties of Downe and Antrim.  
Si●●e our r●turne the Earl of Castle-haven and Owen Mac-Art d●e threaten hard, that they will immediately follow us down into our quarters, and drive us into the Sea) if God and we will give them leave) and truly we and all other Protestants, of whatsoever nati●n they be in this kingdom, may expect this measure from them if they get their will, as by all their proceedings since the beginning of this detestable Rebellion may plainly appear to any man that will not wil●ully blind himself.  
Their late oath of con●ederacy published in May last (or at least then came to our knowledge, may demonstrate it. And for further testimony to every une, cannot omit a Declaration which they have lately published upon occasion of some disturbance and divisiions that did begin and were like to come to a great height amongst themselves, the original whereof did come to my hands amongst some papers that were gotten at one Robert Nugent's house, uncle or cousin to the Earl of Westmeath, which though a gallant house and a good Bawne, he deserted, where we gained the pass at Fynam; A true copy whereof I herewith send for the better satisfaction of every true hearted Protes●ant. The original under the hands of M●c Mahon, O Rely, Ro. Nugent, and others of that hellish crew I keep, and if perchance you have not seen the oath of confederacy before mentioned, I also send you a copy hereof, each of these two instruments will expound one the other; The Declation will show how hateful the English Government is, and hath been unto them, which they term a servitude. And that design therein mentioned is to shake it off, and to get the Government in their own hands, and for Religion to establish the Catholic Roman profession.  
It is then clear how they intend to maintain the Kings prerogative● dignity and power over Ireland, which hath so long been annexed to the imperial crown of England, and what is that episcopal jurisdiction, power of the Church, and priv●ledges of prelates; they swear in their oath of confederacy to maintain, though by both severally it is clear eno●gh, that they intend to give the King no ●urther obedience, ●ither in matters of policy or Religion● than he shall con●orm himself to their desires, which God I hope will let his Majesty see. And this expedition of ours will make t●ose that are of their party ashamed to put his Majesty in furt●er ●opes● that these bragging impostures, who are not able to de●●nd their own Country from a hand●ull of us marching out of a corner of two or three Counties, with God's blessing and 20. days' provision, and not 20. days before in p●eparation against them, who from all the parts of the kingdom have these seven or eight months been preparing themselvas for a land expedition against us, will never be able to per●orm their vast (and not believed by themselves) undertakings to his majesty for his assistance in England, who at the best are a broken reed, and will run in the hand of every one that will rest upon them, from which good Lord deliver our King and his posterity, and send a happy accord betwixt him and his people of England and Scotland, and a prosperous war in Ireland, until God's justice be satisfied, the Kings honour vindicated, the true Religion established, and the professors thereof secured against the barbarous and bloody designs and attempts of those unhuman and merciless Rebels.  
After the writing hereof, advertis●ment came unto me Ma●or Rawden, that intelligence is this 23. of July, 1644. came unto him that the Irish Army consisting of 15000. horse and foot, are upon their march towards, and as far adv●nced Dundalk, whereupon we are putting ourselves in a present posture of readiness to go out and meet them, but I am afeard that all our Army who were last upon the fields, cannot be brought together for want of provision: But● God I hope will be on our side, and so we will not fear who can be against us.   

A Declaration and Oath of confederacy against the English and Scottish Protestants, inhabiting within the Kingdom of Ireland, 1644.  
Whereas we are informed● that it is generally conceived and believed by the English and Scottish Protestants, inhabitants of this kingdom: That we the Lords, Gentry, and others of the said Kingdome● have taken arms, and raised forces, for the extirpation and banishing them out of this kingdom, thereby to acquire to ourselves their Goods and Estates.  
We therefore desire to be rightly understood, for we hereby declare, t●at we consented not nor intend, nor never will intend, not con●iscend to any such act● but do utterly declaim therein, but that each man known to be a conformable mo●erate Protestant, may as well as the Roman Catholic respectively, live and enjoy the ●reedome of there own Religion and quietly and peaceably possess● their own, so far as they or any of them, shall join with us in this Oath following: ay A. B. Doc in the presence of almighty God, and all the Angels and Saints in Heaven, and by the contents of this Bible, promise, vow, swear, and protest, to bear faith and true allegiance to our Soverane L●rd King Charles, and the heirs and successors of his ●egotten, and will defend him, and as far as I may, with my life, power, and estate, against all persons as shall attempt any thing against his, or their persons, honours, estates, and dignities. And that I will, with the exposing of my life, power, and estates, join with the Irish army, or any other to recover His majesty's royal prerogatives forc●bly wrested from him by the Puritans in the houses of Parliament in England, and to maintain the same against them and all others, that ●hall directly or indirectly endeavour to suppress or do● any hast contrary to regal government. As also to maintain episcopal jurisdictions, and the lawfulness thereof, the Churches power, and privileges of Prelates, and the lawful rights and privileges of the subjects; and I will do no act or thing, directly or indirectly to hinder the free and public exercise of the Roman Religion in any of his majesty's Dominions, and that I will join with, and be assisting to the members of this commonwealth, for redress to be had of the grievances and pressures thereof, in such manner and form as shall be thought fit by a lawful Parliament, and to my power, and as far as I may, I will pass and bring to condign punishment, even to the loss of life, liberty and estate, all such as either by force, practice, counsels, plots, conspiracies, or otherwise, do or attempt any thing to the contrary, of any Article, clause, or thing in this present Oath, Vow and Protestation contained, and neither for hope of reward, or fear of punishment, nor any respect whatsoever, shall relinquish this Oath and Protestation, So help me God.  
This Declaration and Oath was entered in the council book of K●●kenny & this is a true copy thereof, witness my hand, 1644.  
Phil. Kerny, Cler. Counsi. Hibernae.   

The second Declaration of the Irish rebels against the British forces, in the Province of ULSTER.  
WE and others the Natives of this Kingdom of Irland, profess●ng the Catholic Religion, having long suffered the oppression of English, who deprived us of the benefits of all our native soyle● made us under colour of Religion, incapable of dignities and offices, separating of us from being part●ers of the Government of our own Country, his royal Majesty being pleased to express his favour to his subjects of England and Scotland, in admitting them to the place of government in these kingdoms, and to express their inveterate malice against us, have threatened to extirpate us and banish our Religion our of this dominion, contrary to his majesty's graces and royal favours hitherto extended towards us● and have trampled on his majesty's royal prerogatives above p●e●●d●nt of preced●nt times, we having for these many years con●●●●ed in this servitude● and our complaints rejected and thtea●ed w●th wor●e usage, ●●nding our souls touched with zeal to our Re●●●i●n without which we cannot subsist● and the true loyalty which 〈◊〉 owe to our Soverai●ne P●ince, whose prerogative we hold e●●psed, and conceive our Natives as well worthy to manage the affairs of our C●untry, as those of the English nation that are sent to govern amongst us● being for the most part of the meanest of t●at people● have for the defence of his majesty's royal prerogatives, the liberties of our laws and Country, and the establishm●nt of our Religion taken arms without intention to prejudice any manner of person, in his life, liberty or goods, or estate, other t●en such as pro●●sse adversaries to that ou● just design. And for that we are informed that many under colour of furthering those our int●n●m●nts, raise arms, and convert those their arms and fo●●es to revenge their private quarrels, oppress and prey their neighbours.  
We therefore do publish this our Declaration, and desire all men to take notice thereof, that whosoever shall seek to avenge him upon any man for private respect, or shall take any prey or booty of any nature of this kingdom or any English, Scots, or other borne out of this kingdom, professing the Catholic Religion, that are or shall be converted to the Catholic Religion, or shall enter upon any of their possessions; We do hereby declare it to be contrary to our intentions● and contrary the intentions of all those that are joined in league with us; and i● any party that doth seek any such avenge, shall not desist; and that such persons as hath taken possessions of any lands, or taken any goods from any persons qualified, as aforesaid, and will not forthwith make restitution, that we will deem him a disturber of the commonwealth, and take revenge of him as of our public enemy.  
Call Maghoure, Philip Orely. Ro. Nugent, and others.   

A copy of my Lord Digby's Letter to the Duchess of Buckingham.  
Madame,  
THe shame of my fault to have been thus long without acknowledging the honour of a former Lettter from your grace, would have destroyed the joy of a redoubled happiness in the same kind, did not the extreme uncertainty of our condition hereof late, and the hazard of the passages, excused delay in the performance of that duty, wherein I shall never be guilty of a voluntary neglect. Madam, I esteem it a great misfortune to the King's affairs, that the Ships provided to, and expected by my Lord o●Antrim, have failed him: but misfortunes are many times without faults, I am sure he is guilty of none, having so nobly complied with his undertakings, nor indeed can, that then hath been of the King's party.  
For all council imaginable hath been taken to procure ships both in Ireland and in England, but how the former failed, I cannot say, having not heard thence these many months; and for these here in England, particularly the Barkleys' ships, they have been shut up by the Parliament ships in the Port, but I hope the taking of Leverpool may now set them free.  
I am now dispatching away Bryan O. Neale to the Marquis of Ormond with a Commission to meet and conclude either a peace, or farther cessation; for God's sake Madam contribute an interest in the procuring of a good one; there is no way by which my Lord of Antrtm can want more, which I confess he hath done already, to a degree beyond that which your Grace desired should pass as a mark of it, wherein I humbly thank your Grace, for your noble confidence of my desires to serve you, which shall never be wanting to any command of yours with all imaginary industry but in this I can be but a second instrument, the work● of this time must be the Queens, whose pleasure once t●orowly expressed in it will not quicken more, but make more comfortable the design in soliciting,  
So Madam, Your Graces most faithful humble servant, GEORGE DIGBY.  
FINIS.