Sad NEWS from IRELAND: HOW The Lord hath been pleased to Chastise the Parliaments forces by a loss from the Rebels, where the Soldiers transported in five Boats, were afterwards repulsed by the enemy, and all but eight killed and drowned.  
Where we lost Major Walker, Cap. Graves, Cap. Whiteing, the Lord Deputies Ensign, and divers other precious stout men.  
With a List of the particulars, and the manner of the Fight.  
ALSO The taking of the Castle in the Wear, and Col. Tuthill and others Cashiered for killing some of the Irish after quarter was given them.  
And the taking of the Fort at Limbrick Bridge, by storm, with other considerable News.  
CERTIFIED By a Letter from the Lord Deputy IRETON.  
July 4. 1651.  
IT is thought fit that this Letter from the Lord Deputy of Ireland, be forthwith Printed and published, to prevent the misinformation of others.  Imprimatur Hen. Scobel Cleric. Parliamenti. 
LONDON, Printed for Robert Ibbitson dwelling in Smithfield near Hosier Lane end. 1651.   

Sad News from Ireland, Certified by a Letter from the Lord Deputy Ireton, From before Limbricke 15 July, 1651.  
COL. Tothill being lately put out of his place by a Council of War (for breach of quarter to some of the Enemy that were taken prisoners flying out of the Castle on the Wear, when we had begun to batter it) I intent Col. Lehunt (if he return) shall be Col. of that Regiment, and that his Lieutenant Col. Eton (shall be Lieut. Col, to , or at least Major to some other Regiment, his intended Maj. Warren that lately came over we shall dispose of otherwise. And therefore I pray you let Col. Lehunt and his Lieut. Col. be acquainted with so much (as from me) and know that I desire both of them (if the Lieut. Col. be not come over before you can give them notice hereof) or at least that Col. Lehunt himself do forbear the raising of any new Companies, or new men to bring over, either for themselves or any other (as for their old Regiment) but that if any be already raised, for that purpose, they be disbanded (if not already come over) though we lose the money advanced (if need be) we having men enough (with the remainder of the Pressed men expected) to fill up all our Regiments to 1200 a piece or very near (if not more. We took about a fortnight ago the Castle on the Wear. those of the Enemy that were in it quitting it upon the first shot of two guns we had planted against it, one of which killed three of the men within, so as the rest fled out immediately in their Cots, but being commanded from each side the river with the shot of our men, and some of them wounded in their Cots; they came in to our men, part of them to this side (where Tothils and Slades Companies were) upon promise of Quarter, the other half to the other side (where Colonel Ingolsby was) rendering themselves at his mercy.  
The first being stripped immediately, and committed to a guard by Slades men (that gave them Quarter.) were presently after sent for by Col. Tothill and by his order knocked in the head, notwithstanding the Quarter promised. The latter that came in to Ingolsby at his mercy were spared, and not so much as stripped or pillaged.  
This we rejoiced in, as some balance to the breach of Quarter upon the other (being about equal in number.) And giving notice to the Enemy of what was done to both parties, we did towards reparation release and send them in freely (without exchange or ransom) those that were prisoners with Col. Ingolsby at mercy, tendering what other satisfaction they would reasonably desire, but they asked no more, and for Justice amongst ourselves, I appointed Col. Tothill (that commanded and his Ensign that acted the Violation) to be presently tried by a Court of War.  
But he alleging, that he did it partly from an opinion, that no Soldiers or inferior Officers had power to give Quarter without consent of himself, then being chief in command on that Quarter, and partly from an apprehension, that I would have been offended with him if he had spared them; The Court thought fit to do no more justice, but cashier him, and his Ensign for it.  
But I fear it fell short of the Justice of God required therein to the acquitting of the Army from the guilt of so foul a sin (the excuses whereof were equally abominable, for the base and servile fear pretended in the latter part, as for the pride of spirit (I doubt) predominate in the former.  
About the same time we on this quarter having battered and opened the nearer side of the Castle on the Bridge, and filled up (with the rubbish of the Breach and some Bavins) the open Arch under their Draw-bridg before the Castle, stormed it, and God gave it into our hands; and we have ever since possessed it, and partly repaired it, and by other works since carried on beyond it upon the Bridge are possessed of about half their Bridge, so as they are sufficiently locked in on this side; But they have quite broke down two new Arches towards the further end, so as we have little hopes of making further use of it, to work ourselves over the bridge, (as otherwise we might) into the further Gatehouse, and so into the Town.  
After this we attempted (by great Boats drawn from the ships below over land, towards the upper end of their Island, and by other less boats, and a great float brought over from Castle connel to the Wear, and thence by water to the head of their Island) to storm and possess the Island, which they had encompassed with a Line all along the water side, pretty well flankt, and a great Fort in the middle of it, which if we had possessed we might suddenly have been Masters of the Town.) But herein it pleased the Lord, not to favour us, but on the contrary, to put a greater check and rebuke upon us, than I can remember or have heard to have fallen upon any party of ours in this War (for so clear and sad a loss both of the party engaged, and the business attempted.)  
We had 11 Boats and two Cots (besides the great Float,) in the five boats first launched (which were the least) there went over my Maj. Walker (who was appointed to command the whole party with Cap. Graves of Col. Stubbers' Regiment, Cap. Whiteing of Col. Axtels, and my own Ensign, and about 90 Soldiers, and non-Commissioned Officers, most of my Regiment, and Col. Stubbers. Four of these boats landed their men, and came off again to fetch more.  
The men ran up to the Enemy's line, beat off their Guard, and some of them pursued that Guard over the Line towards the Fort in the middle of the Island: But a fresh body of the Enemy from the Fort and other Guards of the Line (being betwixt 2 and 300 and not more as we could discern, or can since learn,) came suddenly upon those of ours that were pursuing beyond the Line, beat them bacl to the rest on this side the Line, and suddenly forced the whole party (being in confusion, and no Officer having any entire party of his own, as yet got over to make a body) from the Line unto the River again, where pressing into the 5th. Boat that was but then landing, and half sunk before with shot from the Enemy, they sunk her and so all the Officers and Soldiers that went in those five boats (being pressed upon by the Enemy's Pikes, and shot and forced further into the River were all drowned or killed before the rest of the boats which were coming) and the Float could get over to second or relieve them, except about 6 or 7 Soldiers that by swimming to those other boats that were coming, got off alive and one Soldier that had quarter from the Enemy.  
The rest of the boats being (before this) launched and filled as fast as could be, and the four that came back being filled again were got most of them to the middle of the River; by that time our first Parties were forced into the water and drowned, & divers of them went on to the further shore offering to land. But beyond their expectation, finding not any of our party left on the shore, but such a body of the Enemy ready to receive them, they turned head again, and so the rest came back to us without attempting further.  
And by this time the morning was grown too light, and the enemies too numerous, pouring out their shot so plentifully upon our naked shore as it was too late to set on more men (though we had more then enough in reserve) or to renew the attempt, and besides our men too much discouraged by the sad loss fallen upon our first parties: We find missing of the Party 86 or 87 men, besides the four Commissioned Officers aforementioned, and not more, what ever may be reported.  
The most visible occasions of this defeat were, the going over and landing of the four first and smallest Boats so hastily before the rest, their boating so confusedly (not one Officer with any one entire party together their keeping no order nor holding a body together when landed, their overhasty and disorderly pursuit of the enemies first Guard beyond their line; whereas by appointment they should, after beating the Guard from the line, have kept the line only (which having no Ditch before it towards us, but as we understood, a small one beyond it, on the enemy's side was better to us against them, then to them against us, and have kept a body standing betwixt the line and the River, to make good that part of the line, till the whole party of Foot, and a party of Horse also upon the Float had landed) and the slowness of launching the greater Boats; the slackness and confusedness of the rest of the parties getting into them, and slowness of their motion when filled: But all this made not above a minute's difference betwixt the landing of the first Boats, and the coming over of the rest (within which space the first party was destroyed out of sight, as if it had not been) and what ever we in that dusky time of twilight could discern over the River or can learn of miscarrage in our party, or what ever men may (as occasions of miscarriage) attribute the loss unto, the hand and will of God was eminently appearing against us in the whole; The security of landing, and facility of making good a landing (enclosed to us perfectly from any infall of their horse by the very work the enemy had made) was far greater than where we attempted, and God gave us passages for the Army over the River; you know we had there but two Cotts and another small Boat (which carried not at first above 24 Soldiers) here besides the five first Boats which carried near 100) we had eight more to follow which would carry much above 200. and a great float of Cask & Deals) reaching near half over the River, which would bear near 300. men, or a Troop of Horse at once; yet in the other case God made the enemy both horse and foot fly from those few landing, and not hearts to return upon them, when so little or so slow possibility of their being seconded) but in this gave the enemy hearts (against all the danger and preparations threatening them, though I dare say they dreamt not of such a thing, nor had the least Alarm till one minute or less before our first Boats went over) to stand at first till our men came up to their line, & after beaten thence to return upon our party again in the face of all the seconds coming after) and to prosecute them and the shot both of them and a great reserve of foot placed all along our shore and to act in the whole business with as much courage, vigour, and resolution as ever I saw men, and on the other side, so took away both the hearts and judgements of our party, that they did nothing with advantage, either to the justifying of the attempt, or their own security, nor had confidence, when their lives were at stake, to fight one quarter of a minute for their own lives, but distractedly (and yet at last in an heap together in the Water) cast themselves upon a certain death (as to such as could not swim) to avoid an uncertain and short danger, when they knew before hand, and might easily discern then so many seconds coming over, as much out numbered the Enemy and (had they but stood and fought for their lives one quarter of a minute) they might evidently either have carried the attempt, (if the Lord had pleased) or been relieved and brought off in the Boats and Float, sufficient to have saved all; And yet I dare say both the Officers and Soldiers were men of as great natural Courage and Resolution ordinarily in this Cause as any in our Armies, and have done as valiantly when God hath pleased to favour them, Major Walker you know) commanded the party at our attempt for the passage of the Army at Brian-Bridge.  
Captain Graves did the like the same day at Castle-Connell, both these failed and fell here under the hand and good pleasure of our God, we had many other advantages here, above what we had in the other case, more than I have leisure to set forth, and almost as great as we could wish and (if poor Creatures may say so) it was not resolved or gone upon without the fear of God, and much and oft seeking to him before and (I am persuaded in much simplicity; yet blessed be his name we find cause (in truth) to say, That most justly the Lord hath rebuked us, and cast reproach and confusion of face upon us.  
I touched on one thing before, concerning the violation of Faith, and Quarter to Enemies coming out of the Water (who were some at the execution of them, forced into the same River again and drowned.  
God hath taught us also (in dreadful language) who it was that gave us passage over this River, by his outstretched arm, and taught us how to value such a mercy and reproved our undervaluings and unmindfulne● of it. Divers other things he hath hereby given us hints of his mind in (more than I can well make out) the wound was deep, and the rebuke and loss most sad upon us all; yet thus far already appears to be from the good will of a Father, That through his grace it hath had (so far as we can judge of ourselves or of others in the Army) a more deep through impression, and tender kindly sense of his hand then any such dispensation I have known. But alas, we are apt (without daily new awakenings one way or other) to forget, grow cold, secure, and sleepy again, and soon lose (even though in part we have found somewhat of) the fruit intended; and though this hath had some effects of humbling melting and teaching upon many hearts amongst us; yet for the foregoing reason, and because such a signal and eminent testimony of his displeasure towards us, in so un-used a kind of both blasting our enterprise, and giving us up that party so clearly, and in view of all the rest of us into the hands of our enemy is surely not without some extraordinary ground and ends; and when this insolent enemy took occasion of reproach, blaspheming against our God with sacrificing to their own, and the hearts of his poor Servants that much sought to him in that business have temptation to discouragement, and to be ashamed of their hope & confidence, (as I desire and beg that myself & others here may not lightly or soon pass it over, or take it up with slight humiliation, or with short and easy inquiries into our own hearts & ways & the mind of God in such a thing, so) it calls for humiliation and earnest supplication of all God's people concerned with us (that shall have notice o● it) that the full meaning and effects intended of such a thing both to themselves and us, may be made out, and not fallen short thereof: To which end I have thus largely set forth these things, though much short of wha● was observable and remarkable therein; we were before this in Treaty fo● the Town, but made at that time the delay, indeed too politicly on our parts: It hath been since renewed by them and readmitted by us, but now is in a manner broke off, (I am persuaded) from duty and in faith on ou● parts, they are high and like to be hardened; Let's pray and commit all 〈◊〉 the good pleasure of our Father, to whose abundant and immutable grace I commend you, and rest,  
Your true friend, H: IRETON. Imprimatur Hen. Scobel Cler. Parliaments From before Limbricke 15. July 1651.  
FINIS.