JULY 22. 1642.  
A Brief RELATION OF The late Passages that happened at His Majesty's Fort of Duncannon, in the County of Wexford in Leinster, since the 8 of June, 1642.  
With the taking and burning the Town and Castle called Dunmore, being a place of shelter for the Rebels, with divers other matters of Note.  
Written by Captain Thomas Aston, employed in that service under command of the Lord Esmond; And by him sent to a Gentleman of good credit in London.  
London, Printed for Ralph Rounthwait.   

A Brief RELATION OF The late Passages that happened at His Majesty's Fort OF DUNCANNON.  
June 8.  
WEdnesday about noon, when all our soldiers were at dinner within the fort, the enemy gave us a sudden Alarm, being discovered on the side of an hill, about a mile distant from the fort, marching towards the same, consisting of the number of 300 men, and 10 horse, they having made a stand upon the top of a plain; Our men in short time were in arms, than I, together with Lieutenant Esmond, my Lord's Lieutenant sallied forth with 120 Musquetiers and Pikes, and marched up unto the enemy, pitching ourselves in battle array, within Musket shot of them: Then I commanded my men to give fire upon them by ranks, which the enemy (Sergeant Major Butler being their Commander) answered very boldly: The skirmish continued very hot between us for the space of two hours, till at last (it pleased God that divers of their men falling to the ground) their courage began to fail them, which we well perceiving, came up boldly, giving fire upon them as thick as we could, and forced them to retreat, pursuing them about three quarters of a mile, where we discovered another company of the Rebels about 100 of them, that were coming to second them; we then retreated towards the Fort, but as we were retreating, we discovered six other horsemen that were coming on the backside of us, thinking that Sergeant Major Butler had maintained fight against us, and kept his ground, but presently I commanded six of our horsemen to ride up unto them, which the enemy no sooner beheld them approaching, and withal fearing that the Sergeant Major had lost his ground, and been forced to retreat, but they retreated also down a hill into a bottom, whom our horsemen followed, until such time as they discovering another company of Rebels, with Colours flying, being about 100 of them: Then our horsemen made a stand, but immediately a great storm of rain arose, so as we could not pursue any further attempt against them, they having then the advantage against us, by reason of their firelocks, I caused the Drums to beat a retreat, and brought off every man of ours, not one of them (thanks be given to God) being so much as touched by any shot that came from the enemy that day, but 'tis conceived that divers of the Rebels were slain and hurt, for when as we had beaten them off from the place where they maintained skirmish against us, we found in several places great store of their blood, as also a piece of Sergeant Butler's Buff coat, which was shot from his body that day: Moreover, at the same time we took Sergeant Major Butlers own Saddle-nag, with his furniture, and one Petronel, his rider being his Brother Pierce Butler, trusting to his footmanship more than to his valour, escaped, or otherwise he had been taken, together with the horse.   

A continuance of the Passages that happened unto us at His Majesty's Fort of Duncannon since the 8. of June, 1642.  

June 13.  
Monday, hearing divers Guns to be shot off towards Tintern, and fearing that the enemy had besieged them there, I obtained leave of the Lord Esmond to march forth with some Musquetiers and Pikes, and 6 horsemen, to learn what News; and having marched so far as a place called Kilbreed, about the midway to Tintern, I made a stand, and commanded the horsemen to scout abroad, who riding by the the Castle of Dungulp, about a mile from Kilbreed, they discovered some 30 horses of the enemy, feeding near the Castle, which our horsemen brought away, they being most of them labouring horses, and not above one or two fit for service: Our horsemen being come up unto me, and finding the shooting to cease, I marched back again unto the Fort, not being assaulted by the enemy that day.   

June 16.  
Thursday morning at break of day having obtained leave of his Lordship to go to Tintern, to see in what case they remained there, I marched forth with my whole company, and six horsemen, and came unto Tintern in safety, not being molested by the enemy, where I remained by the space of 2 or 3 hours, and demanded the reason of the shooting, which had passed the Monday before; they told me, that 10 of their men had sallied forth unto Dungulp, & from thence taken 20 Cows, and brought them away in despite of the enemy, who pursued them almost within a Musket shot of the Castle of Tintern. Then I returned with my Drums beating a march towards the Fort, but when I came to Kilbreed, there I found a party of fifty Musquetiers and Pikes, which his Lordship had sent to second me, as occasion had served, where I made a stand, and by and by we discovered the enemy, being about 200 of them, distant from us on our right wing, about a mile, I commanded our horse to advance towards them, to see if they would come on, but they kept their standing, and only came to show themselves and no more; then I marched back again unto the Fort, not having any resistance given me by the enemy that day.   

June 19  
Sunday night a Consultation being had between the Lord Esmond, Captain Weldon, and myself, concerning a surprisal, and an assault to be made in the night time upon the enemy, whereas they lay quartered in a Town called Shelbeggan, and another small Town called Burkestown, near thereunto adjoining, being about 4 miles distant from the Fort, and to fire the same, his Lordship then conceived it to be most fit, that I should give the first onset, and give the Alarm: and therefore his Lordship under his Honour's hand, ordered me the Sunday night before mentioned, to march with 60 Musquetiers and Pikes unto Tintern, there to procure what horse and men I could get (leaving a competent Guard to defend the Castle) as also some good guides to conduct me the best way to shun the enemy's Sentinel, and bring me unto that part of the Town which was appointed me to fall upon, between Shilbeggan and Burkestown, according to his Lordship's order, Captain Weldon being likewise ordered by his Lordship under his Honour's hand, to meet me in another place of the Town, with some 120 Musquetiers and Pikes, and six horsemen, and likewise immediately so soon as I had given the Alarm, and fired one house, to fall on into the Town to second me.  
In pursuance of his Lordship's order, I marched to Tintern with my men that night, and there got a friend of mine, by name Edward Aston, who was Commander of the Soldiers that defended the Castle, to furnish me with 8 horses & 24 Musquetiers, amongst whom were some good guides, and to march along with me himself (leaving behind him at Tintern a reasonable guard) not having stayed above half an hour. In our marching towards Shilbeggan, by the help of our guides, we came so fortunately (albeit the enemy had placed many Sentinels) as that we came to the place appointed, where making a stand, we heard one of our enemy's Sentinels singing, whom we had cut off, but that one of our horses neighing, upon a sudden the Sentinel ran into the Town, crying out, Arm, arm: The Town was presently in arms, although confusedly, then immediately I commanded our horsemen to advance forwards in the Van towards the Town, to see if they could descry the enemy's horse, which were first to be intercepted, myself and company drawing up also unto the Town, our horsemen having found the enemy's horse feeding just under the Town, drove them away, than I gave the onset upon the Town, and fired one house, the first man that was slain, was the Captain of the Watch, one of their Commanders, whose name we do not as yet know, and eleven more, which we could discern, it being scarce break of day, but 'tis conceived there were divers more slain and burned, and having given the Alarm, and fired the house as aforesaid; Thinking Captain Weldon would have fallen on, and joined with me according to his Lordship's order, I proceeded in firing of the houses, and firing upon the enemy, who shot at us very roundly on our Van; and Captain Weldons men on our Rear from off a hill near adjoining to the Town, that we were forced to retreat, conceiving the enemy had been round about us, having fired only 10 or 12 houses. And when as we had retreated out of the Town, and and gotten out of the smoke thereof, the day being broken, I discerned a body of men standing upon the top of an hill close by the Town, whom afterwards I found to be Captain Weldon and his Company, I marched up unto him, and there made a stand also; the enemy then increasing a pace round about, we sent forth divers muskiteers to hold them play, until such time as I had got my Ensign off, who stayed behind to make good the place between both Towns with 20 muskiteers, which I had formerly commanded him to do; I sent twenty muskiteers more and six horsemen to fetch him off, he came up unto me, and brought all our men safe with him, not one of our men being so much as once touched with any shot that came from the Rebels.  
So having gotten all our men into a full body, we resolved to retreat, marching toward the Fort, Captain Weldon leading the Van, my son in the body, and myself in the Rear. The enemy beholding our retreat, came against us in the Rear, and gave fire upon us very thick, but we maintained our retreat and made good our Rear so well, that the enemy notwithstanding their many numbers, and the great advantages which they took against us from ditches, could not gain any ground or advantage at all upon us. The enemy still followed us retreating by the space of 3 miles, giving fire upon us in the rear, & now and then on either wing, as they found occasion and advantage by ditches; but we still kept them off, giving fire upon them so roundly, that they did not so well relish our powder & shot as to dare to approach within the command of our Arms, it being their chiefest drift and intent (presuming upon their overplus of numbers) to come in upon us pel mel; This skirmish continued until we came within a mile of the Fort, where in a bottom the Lord Esmond having heard the report of our Guns, sent his Lieutenant with some forty muskiteeres to have seconded us, as also to make good that place, where were divers ditches cast up; which if the enemy should have gotten, might have proved very dangerous to our men in our retreat; but his Lordship well knowing the drift of the enemy and the danger of the place, prevented the same in time, for about 20 of the rebels were making all the speed they could thither thinking to have come between us and the Fort, but his Lordship's Lieutenant man'd the ditches, and maintained them against the Enemy, until such time as our men had passed over a brook of water, and recovered the top of the hill within command of the Fort, than the enemy retreated, and we drew off our men, and marched into the Fort, having lost but one man all that day, and two or three more that were wounded but nothing dangerous.  
The numbers of the enemy that came against us that day were conceived to be about six hundred, which would have fare increased the whole Country being raised, and would have fallen upon us, have we not retreated and come off so soon as we did; the certain number that we this day killed or hurt on the enemy's side, we cannot tell, by reason that so soon as a man falls, (they having men enough) he is presently conveyed away, so as we can ne'er come to know any number of them to be slain.  
This day also we took eight of the enemy's best and choicest horses most fit for service at my first onset upon the Town, the residue being but plow-horses I rather chose to leave behind, then to hazard any of my men in the dangerous attempt of driving them away.   

june 20.  
Tuesday morning my Son, and his men being the day before compelled to retreat with me to the Fort, I obtained leave of my Lord to conduct them unto Tintein, which I did with my Company; And by the way we found where the Enemy had lain in an Ambuscadoe, to have cut them off, imagining they would have come that way the night before; As we were returning back again to the Fort, we descried a company of the Rebels on our left Wing near unto Dungolph they made a stand and only showed themselves, bu● would not advance towards us, So we marched back unto the Fort, not being intercepted by the Enemy that day.   

june 27.  
Monday in the evening there being two ships which were employed in his Majesty's service, riding at Anchor under the Fort, the one the good ship called the Confidence of Dublin, Captain Thomas Bartlet being Commander thereof; the other the Mary of Bristol, Captain William Chapel being Commander thereof: his Lordship, Captain Weldon, and myself, together with the said Captains, upon due consideration had of a Town and Castle called Doumore lying in a bay without the harbours mouth towards the Sea, fare from the sight and command of the Fort, as also a place wherein the Rebels belonging to Waterford kept divers fishing-boats and used to randevouze and shelter themselves, waiting and expecting the coming of any ships bound for this harbour with supplies of Ammunition from foreign parts for them, and to give them notice of their expectance and attendance there, being a place where (unless it proved to be tempestuous weather) shipping might safely Anchor and discharge their lading unknown to the Fort, resolved that sixty muskiteeres, twenty to be chosen out of each Company within the Fort, should go aboard the said ships that night, Captain Weldon being their Commander in chief, and that the ships should fall down before the said Town by break of day, and then land the men and fire the same, which accordingly they landed, fired the Town, and took three of their fishing boats with their tackling, and came aboard again without being interrupted by the enemy, who about 300. of them only appeared a fare off, but fearing the Ordnance of the ships durst not draw near.   

june 30.  
Thursday morning, having obtained leave of his Lordship to relieve the men at Tintein with some corn which we got out of a Ship that was at the Fort, they being in great distress (Captain Weldon being appointed by his Lordship to second me with his Company at Kilbreede) we came to Tintein within shot thereof, but before I came thither I must be enforced (by reason of the many bogs, which are unpassible) to march through Battlestowne, wherein was a Castle which we formerly had burned, which Castle if the enemy had gotten and manned the same, might have proved very dangerous to us in our retreat, the enemy being very thick round about us, wherefore I commanded twelve musketeers, Captain Weldon being appointed to send so many more to strengthen them, which was done accordingly, to make good the same until my return; Before I had marched within musket shot of Tintein as aforesad, and the Corn was delivered, the enemy was gathered together round about us in several places, some of them about 200, made towards Battlestowne thinking to have gotten that, but whenas my men shot at them, they retreated and kept a loof off them, about 200 more came from Dungolph, and manned the ditches that lay between Dungolph, and Batlestowne, whereas we must of necessity be forced to march along by them, whenas I came to Battlestowne I commanded of my men from off the Castle, resolving to make our passage through them that lay before us, for the enemy had gotten the advantage both of our Van, and Rear, and shot at us very thick, being in this dangerous case I led up the Van of my Company, mine Ensign bringing up the Rear, my men gave fire upon the enemy so roundly both in the Van, & R●are, that we forced them to keep off at distance, so as they could not gain any advantage upon us, and manteined the same so well, that I had gotten my men over a narrow passage of water, in a bog which lay between us and Captain Weldon: which we God be praised having recovered in safety, only I lost one of my men and an other was hurt upon the first onset: But 'tis conceived the enemy lost more on their side, for there was heard a great cry among them. Then marching up to Kilbreede to Captain Weldon there also was an other Company of the Rebels within half a mile thereof, that intended to have got that place, which Captain Weldon was compelled to make good, and therefore could not safely come to relieve, or second me, which if it had fallen out otherwise I do presume he would have done, Then we marched unto the Fort, the enemy not pursuing us any further.  
Where we had not remained above the space of two hours, but that the enemy just a our men were at dinner gave us a sudden Alarm, sending their Horses skouting abroad, who took two of our Horses, as they were feeding, without command of the Fort, and drove them away unt● a place called Ramsegrange, about a mile and a half from the Fort, where whenas our men were gotten in Arms, and some of them had sallied forth, they were discovered about 300 of them: Captain Weldon and I sallied presently forth with 200 Musketteeres, and Pikes, towards them, offering to meet with them in a plain plot of ground, but they would not come on, intending solely to have drawn us so fare from the Fort, that there Ambuscadoes might have cut us off, But we well knowing their accustomed treachery, made a stand, and maintained all such places of advantage that we could, for prevention of any sudden attempt that might be given against the Fort, which the enemy perceiving, immediately they appeared in several bodies, whereas they lay formerly concealed, amounting in the whole number as near as we could guess to a thousand Foot, and an hundred Horse, than we retreated, only a few Shot were bandied between us and came into the Fort, All which companies of the enemies had (as we conjecture) intelligenee of my going to relieve Tyntein, and were fully bend to have cut me off, and my company, had it not pleased God to protect us, it hastening our return from thence, and likewise to protract most of them, who came under the command of the Lord Mungarralds. Son, to have joined with the rest of the Rebels (which I met withal in the morning) so long that their intended proditious design was altogether made frustrate and prevented.   
FINIS.