News FROM London-Derry IN IRELAND: OR, A true and sad Relation of the deplorable and lamentable estate of London-Derry, Which is much distressed by reason of the Rebels near approaches unto it, and the menaces and threats they daily send unto them, to make them deliver up their City. Also how they burned the town of Strabam, with many people in it. Related in a Letter from one Mr William Griffin, to one Mr James Humphrey of Stuke in Berkshire, Gent. Febr. 20. 1641.  
LONDON, Printed for William Ley 1642.   

News FROM London-Derry IN IRELAND; OR, A true and sad Relation of the deplorable and lamentable estate of London-Derry.  
My beloved x,  
I Hope my last Letters of January 14. sent by a Scotch Gentleman, are come in safety unto your hands; for I perceive that by means of our sending into Scotland, and from thence by Post or such assured speedy conveyance unto London, (if life and safety here permit,) you may sometimes understand the passages here. By my last Letters, I intimated my being here in London-Derry, and that I have been here since December; And I mentioned unto you the most inhuman cruelty and bloody practices that the Rebels have inflicted upon the poor Protestants here; how they have dealt with our Ministers, worse than the Turks do by their Mutes and Eunuchs; how barbarously they have dealt with Ladies and modest Gentlewomen, as others of that sex; how many children they have burnt, taken by the heels and dashed out their brains: And of that diabolical and unchristianlike practice, when they have by menacing persuasions prevailed upon the weakness of some Protestants, to go to their mass and partake of their Sacrament, and then cause that they be hanged with scoffings, that they are fitted and prepa●ed for death.  
I did also let you know the present distress that we then were in, and yet are, here within this City of London-Derry; You shall understand that within these walls are above four thousand persons, which never heretofore endured such misery and hardness; sweet dispositioned virtuous Ladies, and Gentlewomen of singular quality, many of them ready to famish, some without clothes, all without money, and what is necessary for their sustenance, but that we share in common upon hopes of relief from England, if we be not wholly forsaken (as the Rebels say we are.) This is a very strong City, and may hold out for our safety and the good of all this kingdom, if it be speedily supplied as is necessary, with victuals, men, arms and Ammunition; without which we have no hopes to subsist, but must be made a prey to the merciless Rebels. O, that England would lay it to heart and consider our distress! although we are a particular, yet very considerable, as well for the general good as for the preservation of us miserable abjects; (if not objects of pity:) we had not been exposed to this misery, had not that devilish invention defeated the City of London from their just possessions, or surely we had ere this been comforted in some measure: O, as I said formerly, we are wholly deserted and left, as a people not worthy the mentioning; and in truth if it hold thus for a while longer, you may be assured of our utter destruction; for the Rebels have vowed, and by their messages threatened, that unless we render unto them, they will not spare either man, woman or child: and truly for us to accept their conditions is as dangerous; for they hold no faith with any. They show themselves of an infinite number upon a hill over against the Ferry, and have possessed themselves of all the boats from a place called Ballakelley, to Strabam, burnt the town of Strabam, where they destroyed many in the fire, and took from us there one great piece of Ordnance; and they have another, which they got further in the country, with which and their force they may beat down all the houses in this town; for we have in strength of men and arms to oppose them now, but four pieces of Ordnance great and small; this town doth need at least twenty pieces of Ordnance, and a thousand men. Good x proclaim our distresses far and near. We have sent to Dublin twice, and no remedy, but our last messengers return with this; that our former are gone for England, but what they do there, God knoweth; we can hear of no comfort or relief from thence. O'neal, Mac-Guyrr, Mac-Gennes, and O-Gallows are joined in one body of at least a thousand men, to assail us: Connaught hath advanced above so many more to their assistance: we expect them every day to assault us, and we are in admiration that they show themselves, and no way as yet assault us, although very near unto us. I did formerly write of the great loss at Garvagley, above two hundred of our men were stain, in which Master Rayley and Master Canning were lost: great men are in this Rebellion; the Irish, make new laws and Statutes amongst themselves, and yet they say they are true and loyal Subjects: they plough and seem to be absolute and secure amongst themselves, and vow never to suffer the English again amongst them. In this little City are many Families, some famished, others grievously pined and annoyed; so that as I believe the rebel's policy is, that without blows the place must be forsaken although the people be exposed to death or more barbarous cruelty. Are we not of England very flesh and very bone, and shall we thus suffer for want of help! We hear that that arch-rebel Mac-Maghon is taken, and O-Relly hanged at Dublin: But all Lemster is so strong of Rebels, that Dublin, Droghedaugh and Youghall is in aparent danger: All Ulster is lost, excepting London-Derry, Colraine and Carric-Fergus. I shall not be more tedious at this present, pray for us all, amongst which you cannot forget  
Your distressed poor Kinsman, WIL. GRIFFIN. February, 20. 1641.  
FINIS.