A FULL RELATION Of the taking of ROCHE CASTLE, Together with St. Patrick's Cathedral, A place of great strength, wherein were put to the Sword Seven hundred Rebels, and many Priests and Friars.  
AS ALSO The taking in of many other places, all which was performed by the Army under the Command of the Lord INCHIQVIN, Lord Precedent of the Province of Munster in Ireland.  
SENT In a Letter from Colonel Alexander Pigot to a Commander of note in this City.  
LONDON, Printed for Humphrey Tuckey at the Black-spred Eagle in Fleetstreet, 1647.   

Noble Sir,  
BY this opportunity of your Brothers going over, I could not omit to let you know some particulars of the proceed of this Army, and of the successes that it hath pleased God to give us, since we marched against the City of Cashel: On the 12. of September the Soldiers Garrisoned in that City, being terrified with the sudden taking of Chair Castle (a place of very great strength, and importance on the River of Sewer) and with the storming of Roches Castle upon that River, and putting the Warders to the sword, being 50. in number, and with the burning of much corn, and divers Towns thereabouts, they deserted the City, and retreated to the great Rock adjoining, whereon the Cathedral Church (called St. Patrick's) is situated, being a large and stately Pile, and the Church yard fortified. In this Church and Church-yard they had six full Companies of Foot, and divers Townsmen and Gentlemen, in all 800. or there abouts, besides women and children, and all the goods they could in so short a time get together, conceiving they were able to make it good against any opposition, that could be made against it.  
My Lord precedent gave order for the summoning of it, and upon consideration of the strength of the place, and of our want of bread, and want of convenient means for storming the place, the Counsel of War resolved to grant quarter unto them with bag and baggage, if they would by an hour surrender, which they refused, and stood on very high terms, but soon after propounded other terms which my Lord refused to accept, and willed the Drum, and two Officers that came with him to return, for that not one man of them should come forth alive, and declared unto us his will to storm the place, though it seemed a very difficult work; whereupon Sir William Bridges, Major Wearden, and other horse Officers, cheerfully offered to unmount their men, and join with the Foot in storming the place, and both Horse and Foot were very willing to proceed therein, preparations being made with all possible diligence: on the 15 day of September, my Lord gave command, and we began the storm; Sir William Bridges led up above 150. unmounted men with their swords and pistols, four Majors of Foot led up 200. a piece as a Forlorn hope to each post, and were seconded by four Lieut. Colonels, with 300. men a piece, and the Lord Precedent marched up with the body of the Army, with their Colors flying, and Drums beating: the remainder of the horse (for the encouragement of the Foot) marching up within half Musket shot of the Rock. We fell on about three of the clock, and in an hour we were absolute matters of it, having but eight men slain in the service, besides almost an hundred hurt, whereof it was my fortune to be one, having received a thrust with a pike behind my right ear, but I give God thanks I am well recovered of it, and so are most of the rest, though they were sorely bruised by the throwing of stones from the wall before we could enter; we made almost all their pikes unserviceable by cutting off their heads. In the Church we killed above 700. men, whereof many were Priests and Friars, besides some women that perished in the action: I am confident so many men were not seen slain in so small a compass of ground these many years; they lay five or six deep in many places, not one Officer or Soldier escaped, but one Major and the Governor, who as I hear is since dead of his wounds: before the Storm began, divers of the prime gentry being come upon licence to speak with my Lord about rendering some other places, my Lord caused them to stand by, and see the storming performed, which you must think was to them no pleasant object: as soon as this was done the Soldiers fell to plundering, and many of them got good store of booty, among which were divers Pictures, Copes, Chalices and Vestments of the Priests, and the Mitre of the Titulary Archbishop (who was lately fled to the supreme Counsel leaving his Coach behind him) 600 Arms, good store of Powder, and also divers Colours with the Sword and Maces of the Mayor of the City, and some of the Alderman's Gowns that were brought to this City on the Soldiers backs, and here sold. In the Church was found a Letter of the Lord Taffe General of the Rebels forces to encourage Lieut. Colonel Butler their Governor to hold out, taking the place to be impregnable.  
I may not omit to tell you that the Rebels called on St. Patrick for help all the time of the storm and before, and some of them rung the bells in a very doleful tune, which our Soldiers told them was their knell, and so it proved, and divers of the Town and Country told us afterwards, that they would never trust St. Patrick more. Before the storm we understood by many in the Town that on new years' day 1644. the Citizens of Cashel murdered 120. Protestants whom they had kept in a dungeon to the knees in dirt a month before because of their Religion only, which is now paid home to them by the Providence of God.  
From hence my Lord Precedent sent a strong party and entered the walled Town of Fethard, six miles distant, and having sent the Foot home to refresh them, sent from these parts a strong party of horse under the command of Sir William Bridges into the County of Kilkenny with directions to do what spoil, and to bring away what  he could. Sir William Bridges pretended to quarter at Fethard, and gave orders accordingly, but used very great diligence in marching as near Kilkenny as he could, where he understood a great part of Owen R●●▪ O▪ Neals men were to defend the Supreme Council (as they call themselves) the sudden march of Sir William being noised at Callin an ancient Corporation, and a strong walled Town, lying within six miles of Kilkenny upon the river; the Suffrain and Burgesses thereof fled towards Kilkenny with what they could carry, and left the Town open, whereof the Troopers made as good use as they could; and having burnt all the Corn thereabouts, Sir William Bridges and that party brought away 4000 head of  towards Fethard, but that night proving stormy, and the Troopers wearied with their march, they lost near two parts of them, and the rest they brought home to this Garrison: In all this march we went over as rich and goodly a Country, as ever I saw in England.  
My Lord is now taking his Musters of the Army, and intends to be suddenly abroad in the field again, having this Summer burnt corn from the gates of Limerick to Chashel, Clomnel, and Callen near Kilkenny which terrified the Inhabitants exceedingly, and gave such an Alarm to the Supreme Counsel at Kilkenny, as they never had the like since the war began; and were it not that our Soldiers were almost naked, and much wanting means and medicaments, I am very confident you would have an account of some Winter service meriting thanks, as we think our former service doth; having not been in Garrison these six months, but only to get a little bread or biscuit, which if we had had, and Carriages in any reasonable proportion, we had scarce seen our Garrisons all this while; and therefore I beseech you, as you tender the service of the Parliament, and reducing of those bloody wrongs, labour to get us (over before Winter)  for our men, and some means to encourage the Officers and Soldiers, and to comfort them in sickness after a hard and successful Summer service: so, Sir, praying for the good and happy success of the Parliament, and for your safe and speedy return unto us with some to supply our wants, I remain  
Your very humble servant, Alex: Pigot. Cork, Octob. 6. 1647.   

Imprimatur  
G. M.  
FINIS.