A FULL AND TRUE RELATION OF THE LATE GREAT VICTORY, Obtained by the Protestants against the Rebels in Jreland; In which is declared the manner of the Fight, with the number of those that are slain; and the Names of such men of rank and quality, that are either slain or taken prisoners.  
All which was sent from Dublin in a Letter, dated the 5. of this instant month of April, and received the 11. of the same, 1643.  
London, Printed for Hen: Overton, and Edward Blackmore, April the 12. 1643.   

Dublin the 5●h. of April. 1643: 
 LOVING BROTHER,  
I Wrote you at large by the last Post, of the happy success and safe return of our Army; but because the times are dangerous both by Sea and Land, and our Letters like to miscarry on both, and because I would not have God's mercies and power shown for our defence, and confusion of our adversaries, to be cast into oblivion, I shall give you a brief rehearsal thereof at this time, as near as I can remember, and what I might then happily omit, I shall give you now to undestand. In my former Letters, I wrote of all the passages that were in their going forth from the first of March to the eighth, so far as Ballenepark in the County of Wexford, 15. miles from the Town of Wexford, as we received Intelligence on the return of the Earl of Roscommon. From Ballenepark they set forward the 9 towards Rosse, and the horse came to Rosse going before the foot, the 10. of March, at which time if the whole Army had been there, they had taken the Town, but the enemy being abroad in the field, hindered that part of our foot that was to accompany our horse in their journey, and forced them to retreat toward the Body of our Army; the horse having left them and gone before, so that our horse also made bacl again; In the mean time, they shalt their gates, and got store of men into the Town, before the main body of our Army could get thither, they came before the Town the eleventh, and lay there to the seventeenth, and being disappointed of their Granades, and their Garrison coming by Sea, was forced to leave it; for by that time the enemy were strong, both within and without, so that our Army expected that Preston would have given them Battle on St. Patrick's day; the 17. of March being Friday, and accordingly made ready to fight with him, which was accomplished on Saturday the 18th. at Knockduffe, alias, called the hill of Balleregagh, with much courage on the Rebel's side, in so much, that the right wing of our horse was routed, and the day given to be lost, in which some of our Commanders were very much to blame, and Sir Thomas Lucas being given to be lost, being twice cut over the head, it went by that means very ill there, and gave such advantage and courage to the Rebels to go on, that some of their horse broke through our Army, and came to the Carriages, but could not return the same way, and Lieutenant General Cullin came up to the very Ordnance, thinking to have surprised them; but his horse was shot under him, & himself (not being well seconded) taken prisoner. In which time the marquis of Ormond shown both his valour and inveterate hatred against his kinsmen and Countrymen for their Rebellion, he put himself so forward, that he was accounted to have been either slain or taken prisoner; In this time the left wing of our horse, (not knowing the danger of the right) did admirable good service, and the foot the like; mean while our Ordnance played, but at first did little hurt to the Rebels, but having new Masters, (by means of two Vessels that they sank to prevent the Rogues taking of them in coming towards Rosse with necessaries for our Army) they did in the end great execution; these men being Ship-men were nimble, and better skilled then those Gunners we had before, which put such terror into the Rogues, that the main body of foot fled, and the left wing of the horse had them in pursuit, but there were so much good  lay up and down by the way, that the wind of our Ordnance had scattered in the field, and such want of them among our men, that spoilt the pursuit: their horses could hardly be gotten to go by: the right wing of horse not able yet to set themselves again in order, was nothing expected to be done by them, Sir Thomas Lucas head being down, (but since on the mending hand, and great hopes of his recovery) whereby there were not above 200. slain as yet come to our intelligence for certain, not there in the place; but of those about fourscore Commanders, men both of wealth, note, and valour, besides the prisoners taken, but doubtless there were many hundreds that were carried away dead, and that carried away their deadly wounds with them, much good may it do them. The names of those that were found dead, viewed and known by our Army in the field, were Colonel Thomas Butler, son to Sir Richard Butler, Lieutenant Colonel Browne of Mulcankin, Beverly Britain of Lion's Castle. Captain Henry Bagnall. Captain Thomas Scarlock, one that did us much mischief in those parts. Sir Morgan Cavenagh, shot twice but escaped, since reported to be dead. Captain Brian. Captain Donogh O Brian. Captain Theobald Butler. Captain Edward Butler. Captain Masterson. Captain Synnot. Captain Newgent. Captain Gerald fitz Gerald. Captain Thomas Plunket, Major General of the Horse.  
Most of these were the Lord marquis of Ormonds' kinsmen, and men of great quality: my Lord took a good course with them, for fear of counterfeiting themselves dead, he caused them to be put into the ground. I hear of divers slain, as Robert Harthale, etc. and some others, but I know not if they be the men by name that I have set down above, as the brother to my Lord of Dunboyne, who is a Butler, and the second son to my Lord Mountgarret, whose name is Buttler. Those that are taken prisoners are, Lieut. General Cullin, who was a gentleman with Cardinal Loshellew in France. Sarjeant Major Buttler, I think his name is Pearce Buttler. Walter Buttler, Captain Bryan, Captain Grant Christopher Newsent, Edward Maisterson and his brother.  
There are 14. or 16. prisoners all Commanders that day in the field, whereof some are gone to Dublin, the Earl of Castlehaven made a very narrow escape, his horse was shot under him; and if the brave clothes lying in the Field had not dazzled our horsemen's eyes, he had not escaped taking or killing; But that Butler who kept my Lord Ormond out of his Castle near Tully, and would not yield it up was slain there, and with our horses running over him was trodden into the dirt. It is admirable to think and hear, that their Army consisting of about 7. or 8000. foot, and 6. or 700. horse, not an unnecessary (not an unarmed) man, all chosen men (and horse) of the Kingdom except the North parts of it; our right wing of horse being as it were lost should be overthrown by so weak an Army of ours, being wearied with travel, wanting bread, and rest as much or more, our horses worn out for want of hay and oats, and with much travel, and little rest, consisting of 2500. foot, and about 600 horse, but what shall I more writ, the Lord will help us if England will not: and if there be any affection to us here, or the cause in hand, I hope there will be no longer delay. In this great conflict it is to be admired, that we lost not 20. men, and not a man of any office slain, but Provost Martial General Borras, man more eminent in place then soldiership, and merely for want of care of himself, enduring in the cold without his wounds dressed. Indeed he was a good Gentleman, and very valiant but no Soldier. Those that we had hurt, were Sir Tho. Lucas, but upon recovery, Sarjeant Major Morris, (a notable piece of flesh) but not mortally wounded: I hope it will prove but a badge of Honour.  
Sir Richard Grynfield in the face, but no danger. We had news that Lieutenant Colonel Tillier and divers others were hurt, but (thanks be to God) it was not so: Colonel Cromwell and Captain Slaughter were unhorsed, Colonel Cromwel's horse slain, and Captain Slaughters horse fallen through weakness, neither of the Gentlemen hurt. The Rebels had intended a deadly plot, but the counsel of Achitophel amongst them (thanks be to God) took no effect: it was the advice of Lieut. General Callim (now in the Castle of Dublin) not to give our Army barrel at all, but our horses finding little food, and our men no bread, they should only follow our Army in their March home, and still as they grew wearier and fainter, to fall sometimes on the Rear, on sometimes on the Carriages, and so at last on our Ordnance in the night, and so utterly to cut off our Army, and to take Dublin, which might have been effected, but that God would defeat his counsel. Whereupon the Commanders knowing their own Forces to be great, and the weakness of ours would, and being greedy of their prey, they thought to get in Dublin, would admit of no delay; they could not have patience to stay any longer: now having Saint Patrick's blessings too, they made themselves sure (of what) not of their destruction, but ours, so and are yet confident, for surely he that is purblind may behold afar off their devises, and confidence of strong aid to us from England: But England hath heretofore suffered so much of the Romish bondage from the Crown to the foot, that I hope, which I almost fear; it is an ill sign when the Hemlock shall grow, and grow amongst the Corn, and none to pluck it out, will it not make the husbandman to have little fruit in time of harvest: I am sure they grow, and we diminish every day; but we will be tried by God, who hath his cause in hand. So prosper them O Lord.  
Our Army returned safe (blessed be God) the 27. March, weary and hungry, not having any bread amongst the poor footmen in five days: the horsemen got somewhat abroad riding hard for it, the poor footmen could not do so; and now we bless God for their return, we commiserate their misery, but cannot help them: we can hardly help ourselves. I wish I could but present most of their faces, and in the habit they are in, unto you in England, I hope that would make peace; no more but think what I writ not of them. I writ a letter of the 21. March, and the party that I was to send it by left it behind: it is worth the taking notice of, if I have not writ of it before. On Tuesday the 16. of March at Even, Colonel Crafford went forth into the County of Wicklowe, with about 600. foot, and about 60. horse, returned on Sunday night the 19 dicto, he brought home 800. oxen and cows, and about 1500. sheep, goats and lambs, and left a thousand sheep that he could not drive through the water. The Rebels pursued him to Bray, and took the Castle and Church before him for their Sanctuary, but God was not their Sanctuary; Colonel Crafford himself leading up the forlorn hope, beat them all out, and made them run; and came safe home with the loss of two men, but that plenty of cattles is not now known, through what are eaten and stolen from us. I rest,  
Your very loving Brother.  
FINIS.