A JOURNAL OF The most Memorable Passages in IRELAND.  
Especially that Victorious Battle at Munster, beginning the 2●. of August 1642. and continued.  
Wherein is related the Siege of Ardmore Castle; Together with a true and perfect Description of the famous Battle of Liscarroll.  
Written by a worthy Gentleman, who was present at both these Services.  
LONDON, Printed for T. S. October 19 1642.   

A journal of the most memorable Passages in Ireland, especially that victorious battle at Munster, beginning the 26 of August, 1642. and continued.  
AFter the Irish had gathered together the greatest part of their Forces about Killmallocke, with intention to pass the Mountains into the County of Cork, and found they should receive opposition by our Army, which was drawn up to Duneraile and Mallo, with resolution to encounter them, if they once descended into the Plains, they again retreated towards Limmericke, and we about the 20. of August, Disbanded and went to our several Garrisons, both with like intentions of gathering the Harvest of the Country. Sir John paulet's, and Sir William Ogles Regiments went to Cork, and Kingsale, the old Regiment was Garrisoned about Duneraile, part of Sir Charles Vavasors, lay at Malle, the rest that went to Youghall were commanded to obey the Lords Dungarvan, and Broghils, who having procured a Culverin to be sent along with them, resolved, as soon as our men were refreshed after their March, to take in the Castle of Ardmore. The Fort is of its own nature, strong and defensible, it was well manned with 100 able Soldiers besides the people of the Country, it had munition sufficient, so we expected not to gain it, but after a long Siege. Notwithstanding it being a place of good consequence affording the Enemy means of getting the Harvest on that side in security, and blocking us up in Piltowne and Youghall, so that a man durst not appear on the other part of the River, we resolved the taking of it, and upon Friday, being the 26. of August, we marched from Lismore, towards the Castle. Our Forces were about 400. all Muskets, besides 60. Horse, part of the two Lords Troops, by the way we summoned the Castle of Glogh Ballydonus which promised to yield and receive our Garrison, if Mr. Fitzgerard of Dromany would permit; we were satisfied with the answer, Mr. Fitzgerard being yet our Friend; and the place being of no great importance, so that it was not thought convenient to lose time there, but Marched away and sat down before Ardmore; The same day about three of the clock in the afternoon we summoned it, but they not admitting of a Parley, we Quartered ourselves about the Castle, expecting our Culverin which we sent down by water; In the mean time our men possessed themselves of some outhouses belonging to the Castle, whereby we with more security might play upon the Enemies Spikes, and they in the evening fired the rest. All the beginning of the night they played from the Castle very hotly upon us, but nevertheless we ran up and took the Church from them, so that now we were within Pistol shot of the Castle; this did much advantage us, for besides provision, whereof there was good quantity, the Church standing high beat into their Bawne, so that from hence they lost the use of it, and were forced to contain themselves within the Walls of the Castle. There was yet the Steeple of the Church, something disjoined from the body of it, yet remaining, which was well manned, Powder and Bullets they had sufficient, but wanted Guns, there being no more than two Muskets only among forty men, the Church cut off all hope of supplies from them; so that we were confident to have it surrendered either for want of provision or Ammunition. Thus we spent that night; next morning there appeared about 100 Horse, and 300. Foot of the Enemy, and it was generally believed there was a more considerable number following; we received the Alarm with joy and courage, and leaving only sufficient to continue the Siege, drew forth the rest of our men, resolving to encounter them; but as our men advanced, they retreated towards Dungarvan, our Horse could not follow by reason of a Glinne betwixt us and them, and our Foot would have been too slow to overtake theirs. We returned therefore to our Quarters, where we received intelligence from M●llo, that all the Enemy's Forces were again drawn into a Body, and upon their march towards Duneraile; whereupon we were commanded to be at an hour's warning: this troubled us, only because we feared we should raise the Sieges, and now more than ever we wished for our great Artillery, which came about noon to us; And such diligence we used, that before three of the clock we drew it up within half Musket shot of the Castle, and there planted it, though they played upon us all the way both from the Castle and Steeple, which we so carefully avoided by wooll-packes we carried before us, that there was not one man shot in that Service.  
We placed our piece to ruin one of the Flankers first, but when it was ready to play, the Castle desired a Parley, wherein they asked Quarter for goods and life, but that being denied, they were content to submit themselves to the mercy of the Lords, who gave the Women and Children their , lives, and liberty to departed, the men we kept prisoners.  
All this while the Steeple held out, nor would they yield until they had conferred with their Captain, after which they submitted to mercy.  
In the Castle were found 114. able men, besides 183. Women and Children, 22. pound of Powder, and Bullets answerable: in the Steeple were only 40. men, who had about 12 pound of powder, and shot enough. The next day we hanged 117. The English Prisoners we freed, the rest we kept for exchange of such of ours as were with the Enemy.  
Thus was this Castle delivered unto us after one day's Siege only, wherein we lost not a man: The next day we left a Guard of 40. men in the Castle, and marched away to our several Garrisons, expecting further command from our General, which we received upon Wednesday, being the last of August.  
Upon Thursday, the first of September, we Marched to Mallo, where we were advertised from Liscarroll, that the Castle was straight besieged, and that it was impossible, without relief, they should hold it more than three days: the messenger was rewarded and dispatched with answer they should expect us within four and twenty hours; and that night we mounted our Artillery, two Sakers, two Minions, two Falconets upon their Carriages: and on Friday, the second of September, we came about eleven in the forenoon to Bontinant, our Rendezvous, being a Village about four miles distant from Mallo, and as fare from the enemy; where, in regard the greatest part of the Army had been wearied with the former days March, we encamped that night.  
Here we were now with the Lord Inchequin our General's forces, full 1700. foot, and six tropes, out of which forty commanded horse were sent with Captain Bridges to view their forces, but they returned without any perfect discovery.  
About two in the afternoon their Artillery began to play against the Castle, which continued till night; it was determined therefore by a Council of War, that we should the next morning show ourselves before the Castle, with resolution to adventure a battle rather than not to raise the siege, here they ordered that the Lord Inchequin should command the horse, Sir Charles Vavasor the foot, and Mynne his Lieutenant Colonel, should be Sergeant Major General for that service.  
But because the ground where the enemy stood was extremely disadvantageous, they determined a full troop should March a a good distance before our men, with orders, as the enemy advanced, to retreat; this we did to draw them from their Quarters, which we heard they had fortified.  
Thus we spent the day, at night orders came we should refresh ourselves with rest a while, and be ready to March the next morning before day.  
The Irish, (who have still quick intelligence of all our actions) resolve to use all diligence to take in the Castle first, after which they thought to set upon us in our own Quarters, promising themselves a victory, which would secure the whole Province to them; and indeed it was not to be doubted but Youghall, Cork, and Kingsale, in all which were not more than four hundred Soldiers left, would have cut the throats of their Garrisons, and declared themselves for the Rebels, had it succeeded; herein for their mutual encouragement, they bond themselves by oath, receiving the Sacrament upon it, not to quit the field without the victory.  
The next morning about two hours before day, when we were in readiness to March, we sent our forlorn hope before us, consisting of thirty commanded horse, led by Master Sturges a Gentleman of King sale: the whole Army marched about half a mile distance after them according to our resolution the night before.  
About break of day they discovered a troop of the enemies, which stayed not the encounter, but fled to their main body; we continued our March, and about half an hour after we came in sight of the Castle: the main body of our horse was here commanded to make a stand on a hill side a good English mile distant from it, the Lords, Inchequin, Dungarvan, Kinalmeaky, and Brogbill, Master Francis boil, Captain Jepson, and Bridges went with the Lord Inchequins troop to our forlorn hope which stood upon a little rising ground in middle way betwixt us and the Castle of Liscarroll, the whole Army of the Irish lay about a mile from them; which upon our first appearing was drawn out in perfect good order; and this was the first time we saw their whole strength, which was I believe about six thousand foot and three hundred horse.  
The enemy's horse began now to advance toward our forlorn troops, who being now a little nearer the Castle, were unkindly saluted with a peal of shot from the place we came to relieve, whereby we first discovered we had lost the Castle.  
Their horse which came on in good order, were all lined with Musqueteeres, so that our forlorn hope and the Lord Inchequins troop were commanded to retreat, which they performed with much bravery, by making frequent stands and facing about to express how little they feared them: the enemy plied them with continual shot, and got ground of them, yet they kept a most perfect order in their retreat; the four Lords Inchequin, Dundarvan, Kinalmeakie, and Broghil, marching still in the rear, and in this height of gallantry, fell the valiant Gentleman, the Lord Kinalmeakie, his horse was brought off by his brother Master Francis boil, as his body had been, had any life at all remained in him, but that they were forced to leave a prey to the enemy, and retreat to us, who stood all this time on the side of the hill.  
But this could not stop the current of their good fortune, for they still pursued, their Musqueteeres running before to bushes and ditches, from whence, with security they played upon us; their body of horse following to second their Muskets, and their whole Army ready to relieve their horse upon all engagements: the order the enemy here used was excellent, and certainly they had that day Commanders of greater judgement than valour, otherwise both we and the whole Province had suffered.  
All our horse was now forced to retreat toward our foot, but so slowly that their grand Body of six thousand advanced faster than we went off; we retreated thus more than half a mile, till our foot came to us, out of which we drew sixty Musqueteers of Sir John Brownes company to beat off their Ambushes, they played hotly upon us at first, ours did the like; the Lord Inchequin standing by them on foot, giving directions till the Ambuscadoes fled, whereupon their whole Army retreated to the place where they first stood near the Castle; in their retreat they lodged shot in divers places to play on us as we advanced, which were all beaten back by Captain Saint-Leger, Captain Thornton, and Lieutenant Rowning, who were commanded upon that service.  
And now both sides began to prepare for battle, resolving that place should decide all doubts betwixt them; they divided their foot into three bodies, each consisting of near two thousand men, the right Wing was placed upon the top of a little ri●ing ground near a fortification they had made, which was well manned with store of shot, their left Wing stood near the Castle within half Musket shot of another work wherein their Artillery was planted as a guard to it; betwixt these two a little behind them stood their main body, consisting most of pikes; thus were their foot ordered; the horse advanced all in one entire body, and made a stand near their right Wing upon the brow of the hi●l.  
Accordingly we divided our men into three parts, our battle which was composed of Pikes and Muskets, being about eight hundred, stood upon a little hill where our Artillery was planted almost opposite to their greatest body; our right wingled by Sir Charles Vavasor, wherein were about 600. all Musqueteers, stood over against their left Wing, and just opposite to their right Wing we drew forth three hundred Muskets led by Captain Cooper and Hutton Lieutenant to Sergeant Major Appl●yard: on the left hand of these we placed our horse to encounter theirs: thus were the two Armies ranged in Battalia, between which was a plain flat valley interposed about twenty score in breadth.  
You see upon what disadvantages we fought, they had advantage in number three to one, advantage in ground, besides two Forts and the Castle, to any of which, upon a die faster, they might have retreated; the Sun was for them too, only God was for us, Et si Deus nobiscum (it was the word of one of the Colours we took) quis contra nos? In this posture we stood about half an hour, in which time they made fourteen shot at our horse, but without any execution, ours played as fast upon them, and not with much better success, for only one shot hit which slew five of them; our greater shot effecting so little, we resolved to charge them with our less, and our horse was appointed to give the first onset; the Lord Inchequin to charge the left hand seconded by Captain Jepsons troop, and Captain Bridges, who had the Rear. The right hand the Lord Dungarvan was appointed to charge, seconded by his brother the Lord Broghill, and Oxenbridge Lieutenant to the Lord Barrimore brought up the Rear; between the two Armies (as was before expressed) was a little meadow interposed about twenty score in breadth, at the upper end of which, near the place where our horse must necessarily pass to the charge, stood their Huts well lined with Musqueteeres, which we imagined (knowing they used not to lose any advantage) and sent down sixty of the three hundred to clear that passage, they discharged hotly one upon another at first, but in fine they left their Huts, and sought security behind their Army. Lieutenant Oxenbridge was sent to pursue them, wherein he so far engaged his men, that had not all the troops come to his relief, he had been cut off, the enemies whole troops coming down upon him. But when they saw us advance, they made a stand, and so received the charge: the Lord Inchequins troop had the Van, he himself performed it bravely and resolutely, but his troop (by what misfortune I know not) retreated, and in it disordered the Lord Dung revans, and the Lord Broghils, and all the troops that followed. The Lord Inchequin charged Oliver Stevenson a Captain of their horse, slew him, brought off his horse with a rich saddle, and was himself in great danger, had he not been relieved by Captain Jepson and Bridges, in which service Jepson was slightly wounded in the hand, and his hat cut. The Lord Dungarvan charged another of their Captains, shot him with a Pistol and wounded him, but so near they were, that before he could recover his other shot, he gave him such a stroke with his sword, that certainly his Lordship owes his life to the goodness of his Armour, without which, out of doubt he had been slain, he was fare engaged and still accompanied by his brother the Lord Broghill who behaved himself very gallantly that day, and had been taken, had the enemies pursued, the advantage they had of our disordered retreat, but our 300 Muskets, who that day did gallant service, plied them so fast with shot, that they gave both him and the rest time to get off to ralley their troops, who were in such confusion, that it was absolutely impossible to order them so soon as the necessity of the service required; we feared likewise lest our confused retreat should have discouraged our Foot; we resolved therefore to fall about only, and to the charge again, which was performed with courage, and good success for the Rebels seeing us resolute, they stayed only the discharging of their first shot, and fled.  
Their Foot supposing they should be unable to resist the fury of both Horse and Foot, who all this time had found our three hundred Muskets an equal, (if not an overmatch for them) would have accompanied their horse in their flight, could they have followed fast enough, but a great part of this body fell short; our Horse breaking in and doing much execution, one of their Ensigns, and the first that I saw fall, was slain by the Lord Broghill, who shot him and brought off his Colours. While we were thus employed, Sir Charles Vavasour with his 600. fell bravely upon their left wing, which stood to guard their Ordinance; the fight there was sharp while it lasted, divers fell on their fide, some of ours were wounded. Both their Artillery and small shot played thick upon our men from the Fort, one of their Sakers they discharged at Sir Charles when he was within half Musket shot, but without doing execution. At length seeing our men's resolution, and that they were already deserted by their own, that their Artillery wherein they did much confide, did not that service was expected, they quitted the Fort and left Sir Charles the Artillery, which had been unserviceable to them.  
The third body, which stood firm all this time, (and well it might, for it was out of Gunshot) seeing the rest fly, turned their backs and hasted to their best Fort, a Bog, which was about half a mile from them; We pursued, and indeed the execution was bloody and cruel, no man gave Quarter, nor was it fit, considering their multitude. Our Horse was now beyond the furthest part of the Wood and Bog where most of the Rebels lay, our Foot marched on in good order towards it, so that they were on all sides encompassed, and I believe they thought themselves it was impossible they should any of them escape, and indeed I am confident no considerable number had come off from that day's service, had not my Lord Inchequin unfortunately mistaken our own men for enemies, and caused us to retreat almost a mile, before we discovered our error, in which time they fled to another Bog, where it was impossible to follow them, notwithstanding we pursued them two miles along the skirts of the Wood, but did no great execution.  
Thus after a long and doubtful fight, which continued full seven hours, we at last obtained a glorious Victory. These were not such as formerly we met, naked Rogues, but brave and gallant men, armed as well as ourselves, nor did they want any thing but a good cause. Twice they made our Horse, whereon we most relied, to retreat, once they disordered and almost routed us, and then God, as if he would manifest it was he alone in whom we ought to repose our trust, caused us in that disorder to vanquish those, from whom when we charged them in perfect order, we but newly had fled. There was slain in this battle about 600. of the Rebels, on our side we lost but five beside the Lord Kinalmeakie, about 30 were wounded, whereof divers died since, some of theirs were hurt, but the number is uncertain.  
We took from them three pieces of Artillery whereof one was a brass Demi-canon, of almost 7800 weight, the fame of which had won more Castles than the valour of their whole Army, the other were Sakers, one Brass, the other Iron; besides these we took two or three hundred Muskets, and so many Pikes they served us for firewood; Of powder we had th●ee Barrels, and about 200. Bullets, all which were sent with the Artillery to Cork.  
Fourteen of their colours we carried away with us, whereof five were taken by the Lord Broghils troop, besides that he took himself: The prisoners were few, because the execution was so bloody; notwithstanding some we have of good quality, as Colonel Butler, whose valour was heretofore recommended by his Majesty to the King of Poland, and indeed this day he shown much gallantness, being the last man that stood of their whole Army; besides him we took Captain Butler, Thomas Burgale, and their Commissary General.  
In the Wagons, whereof thirty were taken, we found store of pillage, and some of good value: there were present at this fight almost all the Lords of Munster, viz. the Lord Bache, Lord Muskry, Lord Ikerine, Lord Dunboine Bureh, Lord Britas Bureh, Lord Casteronnell Buller, Brother to the Lord Ormond, Sergeant major Furcell, Sergeant major Henesy.  
Thus you have the Relation of that Memorable Battle was fought at Lisearroll on Saturday the third of September, where, next God, nothing did contribute more to our Victory, than the necessity we had of sighting; advantages they had of us every way, only we were Virtute pares, & necessitate superiores.  
FINIS.