A COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE LORD INTERIM IN IRELAND TO THE right Honourable the Earl of Rutland, bearing date the 25. day of Febr. Anno Dom. 1642. Wherein is contained the Description of Two Battles fought between the English and the Irish Rebels. As also the Number of those that were slain on either side. London, printed for T. Pā—ā—ā—l. 1642. My Lord, It is a great sorrow to me, my name and honour should be so much defamed and scandalised by false and slanderous reports, nay permitted to be published in print, that I have revolted from my King and turned Rebel, the very name wounds me sore, which never had the least thought of treason against my Sovereign or disloyalty to my Country, I am so fare from such imaginations, that I will rather perish at his Majesty's feet, and suffer any punishment what ever shall be thought requisite to bring a period to my life and fortunes, then live stained with such a horrid denomination as Traitor: And am so far incensed against these reports, that I vow to God I will to the uttermost of my power maintain the rightful power and prerogatives of his sacred Majesty, to whom I desire to approve myself an obedient subject and servant, and his Government as the undoubted and lawful King over his Majesty's Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland: I desire not to be disobedient to any the Laws and Ordinances of his Parliament for the good Government of his Kingdoms, that may not abridge and restrain the free exercise of the Roman religion, which I am devoted to and am engaged to maintain in duty to God and respect of my future happiness and salvation. Her Majesty, my Gracious Queen, I will to my power endeavour to obey, and her rightful reign in his Majesty's Dominions under his Government endeavour to uphold and maintain to the uttermost of my life and Fortune: And such respect and honour I own to my Lady, whom my prayers are daily for, and to whom I recommend my dearest affections, that she may be confident I will intermeddle with any affairs that may I hope prove destructive to myself or Family, or in defamation to mine or her Honour, which I humbly desire your Honour to certify her, and to present his Majesty with my unchangeable and dutiful Intentions. My Lord, Some passages of the affairs here in Ireland I thought good to present you with all which is necessary to be taken notice of. There was a great Battle fought before the City of Dublin, where was slain 4000 English and Scotch, and Sir Edward Denny one of our Captains with his forces of 400. Soldiers hath Slain Thomas Eger with five hundred more of his Soldiers, and put all the rest (besides some prisoners taken) to Flight. This is the greatest overthrow to the English as yet hath been: And Sir Edward Denny having the Victory, on the next morning being by his Soldiers saluted in a most Noble manner, for their better encouragement, gave to each Soldier five pounds, and in vindication of his reputation made a royal Feast to entertain his Soldiers, in a deriding and scoffing manner to the English. There was also another skirmish on saturday last, which continued some 8. hours between the Forces under the command of the Lord Osmond Neterfield and others, and the Forces under the Command of Sir Simon Harecourt, Sir William Cootes, Mr. Moor of the English; the L. Douglas, Sir Charles Bland, Mr. Henry Stewart, and others of the Scots, where were Slain 2000 Irish, and about 100 Scotch and English, the rest of the Irish being forced to retire, great spoils being left by them as a prey to the English of Ammunition and provision of Victual, sufficient to furnish and maintain 500 men for 6. months, which was a great weakening to the Catholic party: And thus having no more at this present, I will not be troublesome to your Honour, but humbly take my leave. Your Honours in all due observance INTERIM. Lemster 25. Febr. 1642. FINIS.