TWO LETTERS OF NOTE. THE ONE FROM THE LORD DIGBY TO THE QUEEN: THE OTHER OF A LATE OVERTHREW WHICH THE ENGLISH GAVE THE REBELS IN IRELAND. LONDON: Printed in the Year, 1642. A TRUE COPY OF THE LORD DIGBIES LETTER TO THE QUEEN. MADAM; I Shall not adventure to write unto your Majesty with freedom, but by expresses, or till such time as I have a cipher, which I beseech your Majesty to vouchsafe me. At this time therefore I shall only let your Majesty know where the humblest and most faithful servant you have in the world is, here at Middleborough, where I shall remain in the privatest way I can, till I receive instructions how I shall serve the King and your Majesty in these parts. If the King betake himself to a safe place, where he may avow and protect his servants from rage and violence, for from justice I will never implore it. I shall then live in impatience and in misery till I wait upon you. But if after all he hath done of late, he shall betake himself to the easiest and compliantest ways of accommodation, I am confident, that then I shall serve him more by my absence, than by all my industry: and it will be a comfort to me in all calamities, if I cannot serve you by my actions, that I may do it in some kind by my sufferings for your sake, having (I protest to God) no measure of happiness or misfortune in this world, but what I derive from your Majesty's value of my affection and fidelity. Middleborough the 21. Jan. 1641. joyful News from Jreland, or a true relation of the great overthrow which the English gave the Rebels before Droheda, etc. Noble Sir, IN my last to you, I signified to you, the difficulties which were like to befall us by the relieving of Droheda, but God by his infinite mercy hath freed us (I may say miraculously) from that hazard: for when our men there were driven to that extremity to eat horseflesh, Sir Henry Tichbourne sallied out of the Town with only forty Musketeers, and forty Horse, and beat off four hundred of the Enemies, killed above threescore of them, recovered fourscore Cows and Oxen, and two hundred sheep; burned four Towns, and brought home two of their Colours. Besides, I must relate unto you Gods abundant goodness unto us, in that the night before the relief and succours which we sent by Sea from Dublin to them, should have entered into the Harbour of Droheda, (which was strongly fenced over with a Chain and several boats) there happened a storm which broke their chains, and gave our men so free a passage, as with little difficulty they came safely to the Town. The Rebels were gathered at Kilshalgham within seven miles of Dublin, above two thousand men, where they were settled in a very strongwood. My Lord of Ormond carried out part of our Army, and beat them out of that great strength (for they would not come into the Champain) and killed above a hundred of them, without any considerable loss of our side, only Captain James Rochfort, a most gallant and courageous Gentleman. This was an act of great bravery, wherein Sir Charles Coote did, (as he doth always) beyond expectation, exposing his person to as much danger as any man living could; and in truth he is a gallant man, full of courage and good affections, and deserves great encouragement from that side. Our Soldiers are in great want of money, which causes a general want of all other necessaries, yet notwithstanding God hath infused such courage into them (for undoubtedly it is his work) that they think there is no danger so great, but they may attempt it. Colonel Monk is arrived here with my Lord Lieutenant's Regiment of fifteen hundred foot, and Sir Richard Grevill with near four hundred Horse, which puts much heart into us, and makes us look big upon our neighbours, yet we grieve we cannot be able to relieve our friends in other parts; but I hope when our full succours shall come, we shall not only defend this place, but add comfort to our poor distressed friends abroad. The enemy though their numbers be very great, even beyond belief, yet their hearts begin to faint, and I believe they repent their furious madness. If my Brother be in London, I pray you impart this Letter to him, I would have written to him, but that I thought he was at Chester, or in his way thither; By the next he shall hear from me at large, and I shall likewise trouble you. I must now only tell you, that I thank you for your care of those things which concern me, and that I am, Sir, your most affectionate servant, Ed. Loftus, Martii 7 more. Feb. 27. 1641. 'tis this day ordered forthwith that this Letter be published in Print. H. Elsing. Cler. P. D. Com. FINIS.