Exceeding Joyful News FROM IRELAND. OR, A true Relation of a great and happy Victory, obtained by Colonel David Douglasse and Sir james Carr, two Scottish Commanders, with the help of the Scots planted in the North of Jreland, against the Archrebels Philemy Oneale, the Earl of Delvin, and Sir Denis Butler.  
Where there was 6. or 7000 of the Rebels slain upon the place, 4000 Arms taken from them, and 4. Field-Pieces. Within 9 Irish miles of Knockfergus, February, 16. 1641.  
Written from Dublin, Febr. 18, by Tho. Lancton, Secretary unto Sir Charles Coote, and received by the last Post, Febr. 23. 1641.  
LONDON, Printed by T. F. for J. Thomas, 1641.   

Joyful News from IRELAND.  
THough I can write nothing of mine own personal knowledge as being there present. Yet the matter being such, as that the whole State and Council here at Dublin is undoubtedly informed of the truth and certainty of it, and public thanks openly given in the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick here in Dublin in that behalf you may without scruple embrace it as for good so credible tidings: Victory hath not only shined divers ways lately upon the English Banner hereabouts, but God hath also granted a most successful day to our friends and Brethren, the Scots in the Northern parts, within 9 miles of the Town called Knockfergus, on the 16. of February last betwixt 3. and 4. of the clock in the afternoon, as we are here credibly informed by divers Letters and messengers that are here arrived by Sea from those parts, which Victory was obtained under the conduct and command of two Scottish Commanders, Colonel Davie Douglas, and Sir james Car Colonel, with the aid and assistance of all the Scottish Inhabitants in those parts, which Scottish Victory very great and glorious, was occasioned as followeth.  
The Archrebels Philemy Oneale, the Earl of Delvin, and Sir Denis Butler, having intelligence that great aides and forces, are with all speed making ready in Scotland, under the Command of General Lasley, and the other three Lords, Commissioners, to be transported into that part of Ireland viz. the North where their Countrymen are already planted, thought it their chiefest play to be aforehand, and to attempt the the utter extirpation of the Scots: before any farther strength would join with them from Scotland, being assured, as well they might, that what good success we for our parts might wish them in heart, yet being so encumbered by their fellows almost at Dublin gates, we could afford them little help by hands, seeing our Supplies with the Lord Lieutenant, are not yet arrived out of England, hereupon these foresaid Rebels to the number of 12. or 14. Thousand as well armed for this Country, and for so great a number as ever was seen in Ireland, drew directly into the North to accomplish their design: the Scots for certain hearing of their coming, and that they were within 5. and thirty Miles march of them, and that with so great a Power, began at the right end, and considering the danger so great and so eminent, Proclaimed a Fast, and General Humiliation the next day, through out all their Quarters, and the next day after, under the Command of the two Commanders aforesaid, Colonel Douglas and Sr. james Carr, old Soldiers that ha● served long in the Swedish War, they mustered all their infantry, and cavalry, which consisted of 4. or 5. Thousand Foot, and about Nine Hundred and Fifty Horse, some three Thousand Muskets, and about as many Pikes, and halfepikes, their Horsemen had their Swords and Lances, some 200. their Pistols such as they were, and this was sent ●●on 〈◊〉 Council, the chiefest of the Armour they had was their Courages, (being the chiefest thing that did it) their greatest number being armed with such things as their Country would afford, being Tools rather than Arms, and fit to make tillage withal then to fight a pitched Battle, as Pick-Axes, Forks, great long Clubs Iron B●tes, long Poles, but God saith Solomon, doth not always give the day unto the strongest and likeliest Army, as will appear by the ensuing discourse, the Scottish Colonels had sent out Spies to see the behaviour of the Irish Rebels, and by them had tidings that their Horse, which they judged in number to be about 14. Hundred, marched, and began to plunder the Scottish Cabins, and drive away their Herds, being afore in distance as they deemed, at least 2. Irish Miles from the Gross of their Foot, the Scottish Commanders, old Soldiers, were not a whit sorrowful to hear that News, hoping as it fell out, the next day to take their Horse at that distance on the morrow, and to entertain them a part from the Rebel's Infantry, for by their own report they feared most the Irish cavalry, as being better Armed, and more in number, whereupon Douglas, with Fifteen Hundred of his best shot, and but Five Hundred Pikes, clapped at three of the clock in the morning, into a Wood called the Bower of St. Patrick, without Drum or any Warlike musical Instrument, councelling Sir james Carr to keep his station, and to suffer the Enemy, to come to him if he pleased: not to stir a Foot to meet him.  
About 8. in the morning Oneals Horse set 〈…〉 as cock sure, and therefore careless of their 〈◊〉, and advanced all along the borough of the Bower, e●●n within half a Mile of Carr, whom they espying to stand still, and not to move, thinking he had been daunted, forgetting how fare their own Gross was behind, put Spurs to horse, and fiercely charged upon him crying all is ours, all is ours, Carr soberly and sadly received them, and made them stand, out came Duglis just behind them playing most furiously with his shot, the Scottish horse though but weak and few, in respect of them, seeing them thus cooped in, thinking what was to be done, was to be done before their Foot came near, gave them a furious charge in the Flank, as Duglis did not omit to do his part in the Rear, as Carr in their Van, the Irish thus seeing themselves hemmed in and cast off their Foot, were uttely quelled in their courages, and casting about to retire, but seeing no way, presently plundered in their Order, and were immediately confounded, slain and cast to the ground, now drew on their Gross of Infantry, who seeing the overthrow of their Horse, and the Scots reunited into a main Grosse again, and in posture to charge made a stand, which the Scottish Colonels peerceiving, Duglis commanded Andrew Steward who had the charge of the Horse, to pass over a shallow Brook, and under shelter of that wood called the Bower, to round the Rebels, and upon signal given to charge behind.  
When Steward was gone upon this command, Oneale construing the Action in worse sense than it was meant, beat a charge with his Drums, an● shocked Gross to Grosse, where was a hot and cruel fight Fortune perceivable inclining to neither party, the Scots behaved themselves very valorously, and it is hard to say, whether the men were more active in performance, than the women, of whom there were no small number, in emboldening and crying upon them, at last Steward broke out of the Wood upon them in the Rear, whose unexpected charge breaking in upon them that were slightest Armed, and expecting no hurt from that end of the World) so both amazed, disheartened, and routed them, that they supposing that there was some not dreamt on power of foot as well as horse behind them, betook themselves to a plain flight, shifting here and there every man for himself, casting down their weapons, and abandoning their 4. pieces of Artillery unto the dispose of the Scots, who made no scruple of the leisure; here the Irish were to swear for the Scots not in only standing to it, but in flying from it, for the Scots followed faster than they could fly, being as ably disposed in that point as the Irish, in the battle and pursuit were slain between 16 and 17000. but no man of note as the State and course are informed save Sir Denis Butler, Bastard brother unto the Lord Mount Garret, who was shot with a Musket through the right eye, there was sufficient Arms, for betwixt 3. and 4000 men was there left upon the ground, for those that would take it up, which by God's mercy happened to be the Scots, for one especial gift is observed among the Irish, if they chance to lose the day, they love to go as light away as they can; the wing of this field I hope will so humble the Rebels, that the State shall little fear to give any other answer unto the peremptory Demands of their associate Rebels, that by the means of a Letter were presented unto them, February 〈◊〉. Signed with the Seal of Arms of divers of the Rebels Lords, of whom with their Impudent Demand, I have here sent you a list, the State I say shall have little cause I hope to answer any such Demands, save with Shot and Powder, I trust that this great overthrow hath passing well cooled their fiery cruel Spirits. * ⁎ *  
FINIS.