A New and true Relation FROM IRELAND, Sent in a Letter from Sir Robert Traverse, to Lieutenant James Finch in London. Of a great Defeat given by the Protestants Army, under the command of Sir Charles Vavasour, to twenty four thousand of the Rebels, under the command of O Sulivan Bear, and Macharta Reh, besieging Brandonbridge: Where five hundred of ours with two thousand of the Town routed them, killed two thousand of them, and took O Sulivan Bear, prisoner: and a great booty.  
London, Printed by A. N. for Edward Blackmore, dwelling at the Sign of the Angel in Paul's Churchyard, 1642.   

Worthy Sir,  
I Know you cannot but much desire to hear from your Friends especially having left them in this miserable distracted Kingdom, where nothing is frequent but tumults and bloody massacres; yet in the midst of these it hath pleased Almighty God to bless your Friends with health: your bed fellow is in good health, and your Father in law Master Freak, and your brother Master Arthur Freak, I know you do expect some news from hence, and God be praised, I never had more cause, nor better news to certify you of, which hath conduced to the glory of Almighty God, and the comfort of all us poor distressed Protestants, against whom that devouring beast of Rome, hath advanced all her Force. About the beginning of this month O Sulivan Bear, came from the Western parts with twelve thousand men, and came to Timoleague, where Sir Roger O Shahons dwells and pillaged the town, and killed a great many of the English barbarously, ravishing their Wives and Daughters, taking the prey of all the town, and setting fire to the most part of the town, marched away, and came to Macha●●a Reh. a great Rebel who had 12000 men, joining their Forces, marched to Bandonbridge, and there besieged the town and us in it, threatening to put us all to the sword if we did not presently render the town, but upon refusal, they set the base town on fire, hoping by that means to fire the town of Bandonbridge, but God be thanked, it took not that effect which they expected, for the wind blowing pretty hard from the West, kept the fire from us, to our no little joy, and their vexation, who were thus disappointed of their wicked intentions only by the providence of Almighty God, to whom let all good Christians render perpetual thanks for his great mercies showed to his distressed people: these Rebels and their Forces continued before the town strictly besieging us, & daily shooting into the Town, the space of four days, in which time we had dispatched certain Messengers to my Lord Precedent of Munster to Cork, who hearing of our distress, sent Sir Charles Vavasour, who came in the night with only 500 men, and some other English Commanders, and two pieces of Ordnance, who made an assault upon them before it was light (they not expecting any such thing) which being so suddenly performed, did so distract and amaze the Rebels that they seemed to be men without life, and we hearing this Alarm into the Town, having 2000 men in readiness under the command of the Right Honourble the Lords of Kenelmech and Brahull, both my Lord of Corks sons (as having before had intelligence of the stratagem) did issue out upon them, and valiantly assailed them, who at the coming of the Town forces, they were absolutely routed, and every man began to provide for his safety by flight, nor could the threats nor persuasions of their Commanders cause them to stay, but they all run away, and left their chief Commander O Sulivan Bear, who was there shot and taken prisoner, and had not Macharta Reh fled, he had been his companion in imprisonment, as he was before in Arms, yet for all their haste there was at this bickering slain and wounded on the Rebel's part to the number of 2000 men, we losing but twenty men beside some prisoners that were presently conveyed to Cork to my Lord Precedent, who presently caused them all to be hanged, as for O Sulivan Bear we have him in sure custody until he may be safely conveyed to Dublin. Thus we daily see by experience how mightily God fighteth for us, to whom be praise and glory for evermore: After the flight and massacre of these miserable people, the whole spoil of their Camp was taken, which was great, & a great part of it was divided amongst the the Soldiers to encourage them, the rest is kept for the relief of our men, there was taken some 60. head of cattles, some provision of bread & meat, three barrels, of powder 300. Muskets, 200. Pikes, with certain Swords and Skeenes, seven Colours, and certain other things, not worth expressing, to the great disheartening of them, and and encouragement of us.  
The Rebels have since assembled their scattered runaways, which our forces hearing did march towards them, but could not cause them to stay, nor durst they fight, the fear which the last skirmish had stricken them into being still in them, and the want of Arms and powder (which if they had, they would soon be with us) doth cause them (when our men come near them) to shift away through woods and other by ways, so that they will not by any means stand the hazard of a fight: we want men and money extraordinarily (for had not God blessed us with this little pillage to relieve our men, we had been in a miserable condition, but we hope, and daily expect supplies of both from England, which if a speedy course be not taken, it will much endanger the loss of this Kingdom, and the lives of many thousands of poor distressed Protestants, for there is scarce an Irish Gentleman, but is turned to the Rebels, for they call themselves the holy Catholic Camp, and do expect supplies from some foreign Enemy. And further to certify you, they have burned your Father Freaks house at Rose and the Deans house, and have taken all the pillage in and about the Town, and have left a Garrison there: Your friend hopes shortly to see you here again with a supply of men and money, your wife, children, and friends are all well, and remember you daily in their prayers to God: so till I see you (and ever) I shall remain,  
Your assured loving friend, ROB. TRAVIRS. Brandonbridge this 14th of May. 1642.