AN ACT FOR The setting apart a Day of public Thanksgiving, to be kept on Friday the 26th of this instant JULY: Together with a Declaration & Narrative, Expressing the grounds & REASONS thereof.  
THe mighty Wonders that God hath wrought in and for England, and the multitude of Mercies with which he hath followed the PARLIAMENT throughout, in this great Cause which they have undertaken, for Asserting and Recovery of their Just Rights and Liberties, with the Establishment of Truth and Righteousness, are always to be had in thankful Remembrance by us and our Posterities, and ought to endear this Commonwealth, after a most peculiar maner to seek the Lord, and become a People in whom his Soul may take delight. For he it is that hath removed our shoulders from the burden, and hath delivered us from Tyranny and Bondage; He hath gone forth with our Armies, and the Weapons that have been formed against us, He hath not suffered to prosper. A most eminent Example of this His Grace and Goodness to us, we have occasion at this time to Celebrate in respect of Ireland, where God hath not onely begun his saving and delivering Work, to our Admiration, and the Astonishment of all our Enemies, but hath almost made an end, and that in a most glorious and remarkable maner; so as we may truly say, The Lord hath soon subdued our Enemies in that Nation, and turned his hand against our Adversaries; The haters of the Lord have been found liars, and have not been able to stand in the day of battle; but those Cruel and Bloodthirsty men have had his just Vengeance so seasonably poured out upon them, that the Innocent Blood of the many Thousands Protestants there slain since this Rebellion, hath been Revenged and Punished upon the prime and eminent Actors of it. God( that is unsearchable in his councils, and in his ways past finding out) having called them to a strict account, and given them blood to drink, of which they were worthy, that all Nations may fear before him, and take heed how they set themselves against him and his People. It is as yet very little more then Twelve Moneths, when Dublin and London-derry were the onely considerable places in all Ireland, that remained under the Power of the Parliament; and those were so straightly blocked up and besieged by powerful Armies of the Enemies, that there was nothing left, but marvelous & extraordinary appearances of God, whereby to set them free, and make passage, & give footing unto the Army sent last year from hence for the reduction of that Dominion; whose progress, by the Blessing of God, hath been such, as that neither in Field nor garrison the Enemy is much considerable. The particulars of this last great Mercy given unto the Parliaments Forces under Sir charles coat, Lord President of Connaught, against the whole Army of Irish Rebels in ulster, commanded by the Popish Bishop of Clogher, have been by an Express from the said Lord President, certified to the Parliament, and are summed up in the Narrative following, and the Letters and Papers themselves herewith, and heretofore printed and made public.  
IT having pleased God so to bless our Armies in Lemster & Munster, that the enemy durst no longer keep the Field in those parts, The Irish Rebels( having reduced themselves into a Body merely Popish, putting all Protestants, of what quality soever, from amongst them, and till when, they thought themselves less capable of Success or any Blossing) looked upon the Province of ulster as the fittest Refuge for their preservation and subsistence, where the Parliaments Forces lay scattered in smallest proportion, and( as the nature of that large country required) at greatest distances, and where the country was well-near wholly at their Devotion, the Papists( which in those parts are the most zealous, and therefore the first in the Rebellion, and most bloody in the Execution) upon their own account entirely, and the Scots upon their Kings, by whose Authority, and for whose Service this Army was raised; and therefore as by the last years experience they were sure of the Scots upon that Common Interest, so for their encouragement now, they did by many Declarations dispersed amongst the Scots, assure them of Security and Protection, if they continued to own the said Kings Authority. These Forces, which upon the death of own row O Neal, were destitute of a Commander, were supplied with Ever mac Mahon Bishop of Clogher, by Commission from Ormond, authorised thereunto by charles Stuart, Eldest Son to the late King, into whose Service and Protection they were taken, by a Treaty mentioned in the said Commission itself of the said Ormonds, herewith Printed.  
This is that Army, which while it was under the Conduct of own row the last year, did occasion some jealousies and reproaches upon the Proceedings of this present Parliament, as if they had been taken into their Service, and that such bloody Rebels should have been made use of against the Protestant Party of English and Scots, then under the Command of Ormond and Monroe, that had declared themselves against the Parliament of England, as Sectaries, and Murtherers of the late King: And great use was made thereof by Ministers and others, not affencted to this present Government, to alienate the mindes of men from their duty to this Parliament, and foment new Distractions and Divisions amongst us. But as we did then in the sight of God and sincerity of our hearts, vindicate our innocency in reference to any such Designs, as by the Votes we then passed doth appear; so the vigorous and constant opposition all along maintained against them, and the thorough execution now done by our Forces upon them, gives an undeniable evidence of our clearness therein, and leaves to future Ages, the marks of our just Indignation against them. This Army provided of this General about the end of May last, fell down into Sir charles Coot's Quarters, and presently took by storm a place upon the Frontier of ulster, called Dungeven, where they put all to the Sword, except the Governor, whom they sent dangerously wounded to Charlemont; from thence they marched to Bally Castle, which was presently surrendered to them without opposition, by the treachery of some therein. These successses exceedingly puffed up the Rebels, and made them considerable, not in their own eyes onely, but to the judgement of Ormond, Clanrikard, and the rest of their Party, who therefore advice their General, by all means to keep off from putting things to the hazard of a battle, having hopes upon this foundation, and by the well managing of this so well begun Success, to recover again, not onely their late Interest in, but the whole Dominion of Ireland: For though the Army in effective force did not consist of above Six hundred Horse and Four thousand Foot, yet they were reckoned Fourteen Regiments of Foot, and had Officers of all degrees proportionable to that number, which by their Interest in the country as aforesaid, and by the countenance of these successful beginnings, they might reasonably promise themselves; & by them upon the place it is believed, that within a very few days they would have gathered in a force of Soldiers, answerable to those Officers: In the mean time, all the force that the Lord President of Connaught could draw into the Field to resist this powerful inroad( leaving the garrisons tolerably provided for) was but Eighteen hundred Foot, and Six hundred Horse, whereof One thousand Foot came up to him under Colonel Fenwick, but three days before he engaged the Enemy: But England may say as well as Israel, It is as easy with the Lord to save with few as with many; who was pleased to put such zeal and courage into the Soldiers of the Parliament, that on the One and twentieth of June last, they marched up towards this Army( so exceeding them in number, and heightened Resolution by late successses) as it lay Encamped near Letterkenny upon the side of a Mountain, inaccessible either for Horse or Foot; upon sight of which, the Enemy drew forth upon a piece of ground( being indeed enticed thereunto by the giving back of some of our Forlorn-Hopes( ordered for that purpose so to do) and though that ground were extremely bad, yet it pleased God to put it into the hearts of our Forces, with that small Body to advance towards them, where they presently engaged them, and by the wonderful blessing of God, after an hours hot dispute, even to push of Pike, with great resolution on both sides, the Enemy was totally Routed, many of them killed upon the place, and the Execution pursued ten or eleven Miles every way that night; so as the number computed to be slain that day in the pursuit, and the next day, was Three thousand at the least, in which Action were slain and taken Prisoners most of their Officers, from, the highest to the lowest, few escaping; and many of the Heads of the principal Septs or Families in that country of the old Irish Rebels, some of whom are since Executed, and their Heads set upon the Walls of London-Derry, for the terror of others, and as Monuments of Gods goodness in their overthrow, the most considerable of all which, so far as they were then discovered and known, are set forth in the List herewith printed. There were also taken in that glorious Day, all their Arms, Ammunition; Colours, Bag and Baggage, and most of their Horse; and though their General the Bishop got off with a Party, yet he was met with( so sure doth Divine Justice pursue, and overtake the men of Blood) and taken by mayor King and his Troops near Eniskellen, whose Head was also sent for by Sir charles, to accompany the rest of his wicked complices at Derry. In this day of Vlsters Danger and Distress, it might reasonably have been expected, That the Scots( who notwithstanding their general defection from the Parliament to the contrary Party the last year, had yet enjoyed Peace and Protection from us) would have come out against this perfectly-Popish Army, and help the LORD against the mighty; but such was their ingratitude, and so great their hatred to them whom they term Sectaries, above what they bear to the worst of Papists, and the most bloody Rebels, as that they sate Neutral all the while, as reserving themselves to declare, and fall in with the Conqueror, which they also did accordingly.  
In all this Business, the loss on our side was very small, so mercifully did the LORD cover the heads of his servants in the day of battle; so as onely Captain Sloper of Colonel Venables Regiment, with eleven or twelve private Soldiers, were slain, and Colonel Fenwick, mayor Gore, Captain Gore, and an Ensign, with some few others, wounded: And it is a thing most worthy Observation, That those who first began the Rebellion in that very country of ulster, and where they executed most Cruelty and Inhumanity, should be reserved for Gods Vengeance to be poured out upon them in that place; so that we may justly say, Who is a GOD like our GOD, our enemies themselves being Iudges! To him alone therefore be the Praise and the Glory.  
Nor was this great Mercy more Wonderful then Seasonable, in regard of the terms wherein we stand to Scotland, and the Necessity of our Armies marching thither, amongst other things, for pursuing the Head of this Army of Popish and Irish Rebels, charles STUART, Eldest Son of the late King, who being beaten out from his Confidences and Intimacies with the Popish Army in Ireland, by the wonderful Success which God hath been pleased to give our Army this year and the last, hath now no other Refuge left him but Scotland, where his hopes are( Montross also having run out his course, upon whose Assistance 'tis known he most affectionately depended) to do that by Stratagem and Deceit, with the Reformed Party, which he could not carry on by Force and Power, by means of the Popish Rebels, and purely Malignant Party; And thinks now, under the fair Vizard of Reformation and the Covenant( which he hath swallowed, like ill-pleasing physic, for a desperate Cure) to raise up a Party for himself in this Nation also, for the Rooting up this present Government, and with it the English Liberty, Purchased at so high a Rate, and whatever else is near and dear to honest and good men: But the same God, who is mighty in Strength, and also wise in heart, and having shown himself in Power to subdue open Enemies, will not suffer his Arm to be shortened, in his going forth against Hypocrites and false Friends, that he in all may be glorified, and his Praise spread abroad throughout the whole Earth.  
UPon consideration of all which, together with the taking of Trecroghan about the same time, and other prosperous proceedings of our Forces in Ireland, The Parliament, for manifestation of their high and extraordinary Sense of so signal and seasonable Mercies, have thought it sit, and their duty, to set apart a time for public and solemn Thanksgiving, to be rendered to the Lord, the Author of these Mercies: And they do therefore Enact and Ordain, That Friday the Twenty sixth of July, be observed and kept as a Day of public and holy rejoicing and Thanksgiving to the Lord, in all the Churches and chapels, and places of Divine worship within this Commonwealth of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed; And that the Ministers of the respective Parishes and places aforesaid, be, and hereby they are Required and enjoined to give notice on the Lords-Day next preceding the said Twenty sixth of July, of the day so to be observed; to the end the People of their several Congregations may the more generally and diligently attend the public Exercises of Gods Worship and Service there to be dispensed upon that occasion; At which time, that the People may be the more particularly and fully informed of this great Deliverance and Success, the said Ministers are hereby Required, and( under the Penalty set down in the Resolves of Parliament of the Ninth day of July, One thousand six hundred forty nine) enjoined to publish and read this present Act and Declaration. And for the better observation of the day, the Parliament doth hereby inhibit and forbid the holding or use of all Fairs, Markets, and servile works of mens ordinary Callings upon that day: And all Majors, Sheriffs, Iustices of Peace, Constables, and other Officers, be, and are hereby enjoined to take especial care of the due observance of the said day of Thanksgiviving accordingly.   

A LIST OF Such Officers and Soldiers of the Army Commanded by the Tituler Bishop of Clogher, Commander in Chief of the Army of the Irish Rebels, as were slain and taken in the Fields of Scarfollis the 21th of June, 1650. and upon the Pursuit being known to our ARMY.  
THe Bishop of Clogher Prisoner.  

Killed.  
The Lord of Eniskellen, Col.  
The Bishop of Down.  
Shane O Cane mayor General.  
Henry row O Neil Gen. O Neil his Son Colonel of Horse.  
Nice mac Collehittagh Colonel.  
Hugh mac Guier Colonel.  
Phelemy mac Tool O Neal Col.  
Hugh mac Maghan Colonel.   

Lieut: Colonels killed,  
Torlogh O boil.  
Shane mac Donnel.  
Shane mac Donnel.  
James O Donnally.  
Shane O Haggan prisoner.  
Henry O Neil prisoner.  
Quarterm. Gen. Saxton prisoner.  
Phelemy O Neal Adjutant Gen.  
Torlogh O Neal Adjutant Gen.   

Majors,  
Phelemy O Neal.  
Donnel O Neal.  
Emer mac Guillon.  
John mac Guier.   

Captains of Horse killed,  
Artoge O Neal.  
Coll mac Maghan.  
Mull Holland.  
O Guire.  
Farrel.   

Captains of Foot,  
Stewart.  
Fergus Farrel.  
Bryan O Neal.  
own O Guire.  
George Russel.  
James mac Cartain.  
Patrick O Connally.  
Donnel mac Guier.  
Gollagher.  
Bryan mac Gill.  
Teige oge mac Hugh.  
Mac oge O Guine.  
Cormache O Mullan.  
Henry Benalds.  
Conagher.  
Three Priests and friars killed.   
With several other Field-Officers, Captains, Lieutenants, Ensigns, which we know not; and Three thousand private Soldiers, with all their Ammunition, Colours, Arms, Bag and Baggage.   

A Copy of the Commission under the Hand and Seal of the Lord Ormond to the Bishop of Clogher; The Original whereof was taken, and sent over to the Parliament.  
James Marquis of Ormond, Earl of Ormond and Ossory, Viscount Thurles, Lord Baron of Arclo, Lord Lieutenant General, and General Governor of the Kingdom of Ireland, Chancellor of the University of Dublin, and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter. To Our Trusty and well-beloved, Bishop Ever mac Mahon. ORMOND.  
WHereas upon the Treaty with General own O Neile deceased, it was( amongst other particulars) concluded and agreed upon, That in case of the death or removal of him, such other General, or Commander in chief, should be authorised by Commission from us, to Command his Majesties Forces of the Province of Ulster, Natives of the Kingdom, as should be by general consent of the Gentry of that Province elected and made choice of for the same. And whereas in a general meeting, lately held by the said Gentry for that purpose, it was agreed upon, and so represented unto us, That you should exercise that Command over the said forces: We therefore, upon consideration thereof, and of the Care, Iudgement, Valor and Experience in marshal affairs, as also of the readiness and good affections of you, to do his Majesty good and acceptable service, Have nominated and appointed, and we do hereby nominate and appoint you the said Bishop Ever mac Mahon, to be General of all his Majesties said forces of horse and foot of the Province of Ulster, Natives of the Kingdom; Giving hereby unto you the said Bishop Ever mac Mahon, full power and authority to take the said charge and employment upon you, and the said forces and every of them to led and command, according to the use and Discipline of War, and such further Order and Instructions, as you shall from time to time receive from us, or other his Majesties chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom for the time being in that behalf; Willing, and hereby requiring all the Officers, Troopers and Soldiers of the said forces, to obey you as their General, and to be at and perform your Commands, as they shall issue unto them upon all occasions of his Majesties service, as they will answer the contrary.  
In witness whereof we have Signed this your Commission, and caused our Seal of Arms to be thereunto affixed at Loghreogh the first day of April, 1650.   

Die Jovis, 11 Julii, 1650.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Act, together With the List of the Officers and Soldiers slain and taken, and the Commission to the Popish Bishop of Clogher, be forthwith printed and published.  
Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.