Dublin Febr. 7. 1641. OR, The last true news FROM IRELAND.  
WRITTEN In a Letter sent from Thomas Lancton, chief clerk unto Sir CHARLES COOTE, chief Commander of his majesty's Infantry in Dublin.  
Consisting of these particulars, 

1. How 200. Rebels attempted to Fire the Ships in Dublin Harbour, Saturday Febr. 5. and how prevented.  
2 Of two Aldermen that escaped out of Dublin, and is supposed they are fled to the Rebels.  
3 How two Corporals and six soldiers are Imprisoned about their Escape.  
4 What it is likely that the Rebels labour to effect, and how the English endeavour to defeat them.  
5 In what State and Posture of defence, Dublin is now in, what strength within for us, and what force without against as, and what distance from us.    
By the postmaster of England and Ireland, Febr. 15. 1641.  
London, Printed for John Thomas, 1641.   

True news from Ireland.  
THe Rebels stomacking the loss of so fair a booty as that by God's assistance we laid hold on in the Castle of Eniskenning cast about to meet with us some other way, and seeing that here in or about Dublin, or as far as either our works or our fortifications stretch, we are not only God be thanked so well provided, but so wary that little good is to be done upon us by Land, they attempted to mischief us by Sea, and on Monday last, the last of this month, between two and three of the clock in the morning. I suppose, hoping to have found us, as fast asleep as we had them, two hundred of them, in a kind of homely clouterly Shallop, made and contrived in haste, as should seem only for this design, came up with the tide that then served in among our Ships, even to the midst of them in the Harbour undescried, being well acquainted with their Country Fogs, and how to make advantage by them, there were amongst others three Ships lately come from ENGLAND two laden with meal, one with Ammunition, but see the goodness of God still continued towards us, for which we are more deeply bound to extol and magnify his mercy towards us, the Ship with Ammunition lay in the rear of the other, and was passed by of them either unseen (it being a mighty fog, besides the darkness of the night) or mistaken, not thought, or understood by them to be the Ship they looked for, thinking as well they might, that she lay as near the Key as possible could be for Covert and safeguard.  
They coming in but that Sunday night late, and could not be unloaded possibly till morning, had the Rebels made up with this Ship called the dragon of Chester, and plied her, with Fire-Balls; yea and with Granadoes, as also with little dry Willow Faggots, all daubed over with Pitch and resin, which flew like Fire-Drakes into the said Ships, had they in this manner greeted that Ship, as they did theirs, as it was the only sweet and merciful providence of God that they should not, they had by all likelihood done us a mighty displeasure, the Ship having in it 16. last of Powder, beside Bullets, Muskets, Pikes, and other Ammunition, as also pioneers tools, viz. Spades, Shovels, Mattocks, wheelbarrows, and the like Instruments, whereof the City stood in great need but especially of the Powder, there being not only a scarcity thereof in the City at that time, but almost a want: whilst the enemies were thus busy about the Ships, the Masters and mariners were not idle, playing not only with their Ordnance, which indeed did little harm, or rather none at all unto the Rebels, shooting over them, but likewise with their small shot, whereof they had such store, and bestowed it so liberal amongst them, that the Rebels durst not board them, which questionless was their intent, but plied us hot with their firework, whereof we wondered at their plenty, this Bickering in the Harbour which now had continued well nigh an hour, at last was heard of in the City, and the state thought as well they might, that all was not well there; whereupon the Alarum was all the City through, being so much terrible for that it was night, my Master Sir Charles drew down unto the Key with 500 foot, whether once come; we plainly heard what the matter was by the cries and clamou●s from the ships. Sir Charles Coote conceiving the danger, and how, that without doubt the Rebels had notice of the arrival of these three Ships, and wherewith they were laden, thought there was no dallying, but present to work, whereupon he commanded all the Ships and barks about the Key, immediately to launch their boats, which done; he caused as many musketeers as could possibly with convenience, man the boats without let either to themselves, or to those that should row forthwith to enter, which was done, and the boats being in number 11. we stowed in them 140 men, & into the Harbour amongst them we came and in very good time, for the Rebels had boarded one of the meal Ships, being to strong in number for the sailors who were in all but ten, and some fifteen soldiers we made bold to enter the Ship upon them, and we with the sailor's help, and they with ours, made shift, and quickly quit the Ship of them, sending them some alive and some dead, a breakfast unto the Fishes, the Seamen in the Harbour perceiving that we were there, left their Ships, took both their boats, and courages, and in amongst us; with this supply the rebels were soon under water, whom we supposed by their attempts and tumult in the Harbour, to have been a far greater number than we found them, for by all descry and guess, they could not be above two hundred, and by all conjecture, their coming was to fire the Ships which brought over this last supply of Ammuniton, and other Engines as is afore rehearsed, as did manifestly appear by the nature of the preparation they brought along with them, but God be praised we are delivered of that fear now, the Ammunition on Monday morning betwixt 10. & 11. of the clock being all safely Landed, and conveyed into the Castle, yet 'tis not all so well as it should be, the sweet of our success is again mingled with drugs of unexpected fears, and suspicious dangers; for four Aldermen are again missing in Dublin, who are gone without taking leave of some that I believe had they known of their going, would not so easily have parted with their company, their names are Peter Welsh, Dominic Rutter, Rabert Mahun, Patrick Ovannian, who scaped on Saturday night, it is said in woman's apparel, under pretence of Soldiers wives or Trulls, to carry victuals to their husbands, or Servants upon their guards in the out Works, for the other three I know not what correspondency they might have with the Feminine gender in any particular, but for Rutter, in woman's apparel, he might pass for one very well without mufling, for I believe his beard and his eyes would come out together, being near threescore, and not a hair on his face, being called the old woman of Dublin, they are gone with head and hoof, having left nothing behind them valuable, that was portable, which proves that they had good help, and fair time, to make such a cleanly conveyance, the Lords Justices have seized their houses, and two corporals with six common Soldiers, are in Prison close chopped up about their escape, and pray God, good proof be not brought that they are foully guilty of it, which if it shall, they shall all (Sir Simon Harcourt swears) fairly truss for it, seeing the Rebels now lie round about the city, in all quarters, to the number of fifteen or sixteen Thousands, these Aldermen may give light unto the Rebels, where the city may be most seisable, it also puts the Commanders both of State, and war, into a grounded jealousy that they have strong intelligence in the city, which causeth Sir Simon Harcourt to put upon his outwork, none but his own soldiers which he brought out of England with him, whom he thinks he may boldly confide in, and lies himself in the out works, the rebels near the city under another of the bars, the Bastard Orocke, and Peregrine Oneale, are no less than Nine or ten Thousand strong Eastward, their is another Power Westward, at the head of Hoath, under the command of the Bastard Muskery, but of what number is not yet known.  
That i shall go near to write at the next return, when i write you the issue of the eight Soldiers, how they will come off about the escape of the Aldermen, we have in Dublin some six Thousand men, able expetienced, and well appointed: yea and well provided for by the State, and their Commanders, if ever Soldiers were, wanting neither meat, drink, nor clothes fit for men, yea and for honest men, but indeed they are as hard put to it for devoir and service, in watching and sentinels, i think as ever Soldiers were, and indeed it is but need as now the case stands, for questionless the Rebels shoot at the getting of this city, by their drawing into so great bodies so nigh the city in divers places, and cutting us off from all succours by land, and were it not that we have our Ships continually active in the Harbour, and have built two good Sconces lately to better secure our entrance, and safe egress into it, they would have gone near to have raised them for us, wherefore we find the benefit of being aforehand.  
FINIS.