A MESSAGE Sent from the Earl of DERBY Governor of the Isle of Man, To His Dread Sovereign, CHARLES the TWO, King of Scotland; And his Lordship's Declaration to His Majesty, concerning the Treaty, and Major General IRETON. WITH The discovery of a strange and dangerous design against the Parliament, the Lord Lieut. Cromwell, Major Gen. Ireton; and his Resolution to sacrifice his life, rather than to sell his loyalty. ALSO, The Proposals of the said Major Gen. Ireton, to the Earl of Derby, his Lordships Answer thereunto, and a true account of the strange and incredible Relation of his seizing upon his person, and sending him for a Present to the Prince. Together with the last Intelligence from Dublin.  
Printed at York by T. Broad, and reprinted for W. R. 1649   

A MESSAGE Sent from the Earl of DERBY Governor of the Isle of Man, To his Dread Sovereign, Charles the second, King of Scotland; concerning the Treaty between his Lordship, and Commissary Gen Ireland.  
Right Honoured,  
THe Earl of Derby (King in Man) having entered into a Treaty with the Commissioners of Parliament, touching the surrender thereof to their due obedience and authority, Commissary Gen. Ireland propounded to his Lordship, That it was the pleasure of the Parliament of England to receive him into favour, and to mitigate the Fine of his Lordship's estate, by taking off the Sequestration thereof, and to make his Composition for 15000. li. provided, That he would surrender that Island, with all the Forts, arms, ammunition, and other warlike provisions thereunto belonging, for the use and service of the State & Commonwealth of England; and after mature deliberation on the result thereof, his Lordship returned a very strange answer, saying, That he abhorred with his soul, the resenting or harbouring the least thought of perfidiousnes, that he would never be instrumental, in casting such an Odium upon the House of Derby, as to betray the trust reposed in him by h● Sovereign, and that he was resolved to sacrifice his life, and all that was near and dear unto him then to forfeit his Allegiance and sell his Loyalty for 15000. l.  
These resolutions seem exceeding strange and opposite to such fair overtures and propositions, insomuch that the transactions of the treaty are like to take little effect, as may appear by his Lordship's Letter, to the declared King of Scotland, wherein he remonstrates,  
That he was resolved, never to alienate or divert his loyal affections from his sacred Majesty, but to improve all possible interests whatsoever for the propagating of the Work in hand, and advancing so glorious a Cause, tending to the honour of God, the peace and prosperity of his Church and kingdoms, and the liberty freedom, and tranquillity of all loyal Subjects throughout his Dominions; and as for the present Treaty, he was resolved to wave the same, he having no other end nor intentions therein, but only a demur to the present advance of the English Army for Ireland; in prosecution whereof, he was resolved not to desist, assuring his Majesty, that for faciliating of the same, no means should be left unattempted by  
Your Majesty's loyal, faithful, and obedient Subject and Servant, DERBY.  
Yet notwithstanding the non-prevailing of the present overtures, we doubt not but a good account will (in process of time be given of the reducement of that Island, and his Lordship be forced (for the future) to make a final recantation, for his former presumption and disobedience.  
As for our intelligence from Ireland, I shall refer you to the enclosed letters, which came out this day in print, viz.  
SIR,  
SInce the taking of the three Impregnable and strong Garrisons of Tredagh, Dundalk, and Trim, the enemy hath exceedingly straightened us, & have now gained more than ever they lost before, having encamped themselves within half a mile of the City, and many of their Outworks and trenches are less than musket shot of our walls: The last night about 10 of the clock they alarmed us, our Governor and the Captains of the Guards were soon in a readiness to receive them, and gave them a great volley; insomuch that we received some respite of ease, till two in the morning; at which time, the Lord Inchiquin (with a select party of horse and foot of his own Brigade) gave us a visit, and very desperately and resolutely fell upon our man in some in the Outworks, who being overpowr'd, were forced to quit the respective places, and make their retreat to the next place of sanctuary, but not without loss; for by their sudden assault, the poor Defendants sel● the terror of their Bloodthirsty Sword, and about 30 sacrificed their lives in the place; which action being with great vigour prosecuted, Inchiquin returned to his Tents, singing hallelujah for his triumphant success; but we doubt not, but to make our scores even, before many days are expired.  
The Enemy make their near approaches to our Live, to threaten a storm; but it's believed, their repuls the other night at the storming of Patrick Fo●t, will somewhat retard that work; for they were disorderly beaten off with the loss of about 50 men. The Lord Inchiquin hath sent a peremptory Letter to our Governor, intimating, That he heard Crumwell was advancing into that Nation with an Army of English Rebels, to relieve him; but if he durst come thither, he should be welcome, and better entertained by his Lordship than he was ever, either by England, Wales, or Scotland, etc. Our Governor returned a very modest and resolute answer, That as he had undertaken a Trust, so he should be faithful therein to the last moment, whether any forces or none, came for relief of him.  
But the thing that our Soldiery are most doubtful and dubious of, is, that they fear the enemy will not give them a field upon the additional forces landing, but that they will rather betake themselves to the ●ogs and Woods.  
And although we cannot but represent ourselves in a very sad condition (without timely relief) yet we cannot but exceedingly rejoice at the gallantry of faithful Col. Jones our Governor, under such a state, in this his present condition.  
Since the enemy's receipt of the intelligence of the Lord Lieutenant Crumwels' designment for this bleeding City, they have somewhat awakened us with stronger alarms, and (as we hear) have entered into Protestation, to live and die, stand and fall together, and to fight it out to the last man, and that upon receipt of the foresaid intelligence, Ormond called a Council of Officers, at the head quarters near Fingles, the result was, whether they should prepare for a storm, before his Lordship's landing, or whether they should begird the City, straighten other Garrisons, take in what they could and then randezvouz and draw into a Body, and give him battle at his landing: Upon mature deliberation thereon, it was unanimosly declared by most of that Popish and Prolaticall faction, That if he set footing there they would fight him; in the mean time they would us● their utmost endeavours for the reducing of those Garrisons which the Parliament had in possession.  
On Wednesday morning last, a party of the Marq. of Ormonds' horse and foot faced our frontier Guards, keeping a great careering up & down near the City Wa●s, and— making several bold attempts within Pistol shot of our Line, Spurs, and Sconces, which continued for the space of half an hour; till at the last Cape, Cambray (Commander in chief of the new Fort) made a sally out with a party of horse and foot, who placed the Musquetiers in an obscure trench, for an Ambuscado; he himself being the Coy, for the calling in and ensnaring of the adverse party; but upon his first advance towards them with his horse, he found it a Work very full of difficulty, by reason that they had used the like point of policp: However, he resolved to dispute the place, and thereupon divided his horse (being 60 in number) into two parties, he himself commanding the one, and ●ornet Jackson the other; Capt. Cambray charged the Van of the Enemies Forlorn, Corne● Jackson flanked them, and upon their first charge exchanged ground, with the loss of three men on both sides; but upon their present wheeling, both parties received each other with a second desperate Onset, who with great courage & resolution kept their stations, disputing the place with great gallantry; but at last our men being overpowred (by the coming on of a fresh supply of horse) were forced to embra●● an honourable retreat; the enemy pursued to the very ●●●n; pikes, where they were soon welcomed by the sons of Mar●, both from the mouth of the Canon and Musket, at which Volley, 7 of them were forced to yield obedience to the earth, which caused the enemy to desert further dispute or engagement, leaving dead and wounded upon the place about 17. of our party five slain and two wounded.  
By Letters further from Dublin it is advertized, that the Marq. of Ormond, and the L. Inchiquin with 20000 Horse and Foot, have entrenched themselves (in many places) within Musket shot of the Walls, and by their strong alarms (being very resolved, since the taking of Tredah) keeps us in continual action: the last night their Pioners wrought exceeding hard, and raised an half Moon within musket shot of our Outworks, where was placed about 400 musketeers, and four pieces of Ordnance; it was contrived very artificially and strong, with a running Trench from their frontier encamp, which secures their men from great annoyance of our round shot: this morning we sallied out upon them, with a resolution to beat them off from the said Fort; but finding too much opposition retreated to our Redout, which was within Pistol shot thereof; about 4 of the clock several parties of horse and foot were drawn forth on both sides, who engaged each other, and after a sharp conflict disputed with great gallantry the enemy retreated, and having a Reserve ready at hand our men durst not embrace the pursuit, but returned Victors with 17 prisoners, & left dead and wounded upon the place about 15 with the loss of 14 men, which the enemy in the night time set off, and buried.  
Thus having given you a brief account of that which is most remarkable and extant amongst us, I remain  
Yours, etc. W. A. York 26. July, 1649.  
As for the rumour, that the Earl of Derby hath seized upon Commissary Gen. Ireton, and a suit of  amounting to the value of 700. l. and sent them both for a Present to the Prince, it is false and incredible.  
FINIS.