A LETTER From Lieutenant Colonel Knight IN The Province of Munster IN IRELAND, Setting forth the Extraordinary wants of the Soldiery; AND The carriage of the Army since the Lord Lisle's coming thence.   Tudor rose  Scottish thistle  French fleur-de-lis  depiction of Irish harp 
Printed in the Year, 1647. July 22.   

SIR,  
SInce my last Letter, our Army are remaining in Garrison when they ought to be in the Field; but Soldiery is grown a Trade, and if they can but get a good name at first, by putting off ware at a very reasonable rate, 'tis no matter what they put off afterwards, being but at first cried up; 'tis so with my Lord Inchiquine: The taking of Dungarvan (we hear) is looked upon in England as an action of great concernment, and so 'tis thought here, truly by many of the best Officers, as causing in a manner the loss of the Army, I am confident of this Summer's work; for at the departure of the Lord Lisle, who by his great care had provided all things in readiness to take the Field, and left the Army in a very good condition, if we had at first marched into Butler's country (we having then a month's provision) which swarmed at that time with , we had first annoyed the Rebels, by being in their country: Secondly, our staying there had cut off all possibility of their joining together: Thirdly, our Army lying so conveniently to intercept any party of theirs that should advance, doubtless we being then so strong in horse, (and this Butler's country being not far off from Dongarvan) if my Lord had but sent Five hundred horse to have blocked up the Town, they must of necessity have been forced to yield, they having but little provision in town, and no fresh water at all: Lastly, his Lordship, in all possibility, if his Lordship would have been persuaded to this course, (allowing but a little more time) had taken this place without the loss of any men, had kept his Army together, and half the Army had not been starved as now they are; for his men wanted so much at that siege, that the poor Soldiers were forced by hunger to run to the walls of the town to beg bread of the Rebels, and the men starved so fast, as my Lord said if they had not delivered up the town the same day they did, he must have been forced to have drawn off; and the Rebels when they marched out they said, they could not have kept the town four and twenty hours longer for want of water; I leave the conclusion to yourself, who by this may see the conscience of an Irish General, who starves his Army here to feed his good name in England: His Lordship, as soon as he had taken this Town (if I may so call it, consisting but of twenty poor tiled houses) returned to Cork with the remainder of his poor Soldiers that were not starved, either at the siege, or by the way in their return (which every ditch can show were many) his Lordship rested here about a fortnight: The 29 of May his Lordship marched no farther than Caperqueen with the Army, a thing much wondered at, being in a starving condition, and such plenty of provisions to be had in the Rebel's country, without any apparent opposition by them: The third of June 300 horse under the command of Major Vordham was sent the directest way to Karrick, from thence to drive all the country to kill Mac Thomas, where Major General Sterling one of the Lord Inchiquines' new Model, met with four Regiments of Foot, who returned suddenly to Caperqueen, where my Lord remained; they got some , but 'twas an inconsiderable prey for so considerable a party: The fifth of June his Lordship commanded out one Captain Poor an Irish man, with a good party of the choicest horse of the Army, to discover the Enemy; they having intelligence of the sign, drew together a good body of horse and foot, and advanced toward Captain Poor, which the Scouts perceiving returned, and advertised Captain Poor that they were advanced with a very great body; but it seems that the said Captain Poor sent his Trumpeter to a Rebel's Castle for drink, and neglected the Alarm; thus Irish men prefer the gains of a little Irish drink, before the shedding a great deal of Protestants blood; for in the interim the Rebels got between him and home, charged our men, routed them, killed near sixty, which they most cruelly butchered, took twelve prisoners, most that escaped loft their horses, pursued our men till they came within half a mile to Caperqueen, where my Lord remained with the Army, Lieutenant Selby, besides three Cornets lost; one Colonel Grady that escaped out of London, was a chief actor in this defeat, which (God be praised) was never paralleled in this Province; this Captain Poor is not at all questioned for this business, my Lord said, He hath got a great deal of Honour by it; his Lordship having spent fifteen days provision at Caperqueen, and performed this gallant Exploit, is returned in the middle of Summer to his Winter-quarters at Cork, having a great part of his Army starved to death, great store for hunger run away to the Rebels, and at least Twelve hundred fallen sick; Colonel needham's Regiment marched out of Cork toward Caperqueen Five hundred and seventy, and marched in but One hundred; another Colonel (they report) marched out Six hundred and returned but One hundred and twenty, and Sic de ceteris, many Officers report that the Army is no more able to march out this Summer: Thus you see the greatest Army that ever was in Munster, is metamorphosed to a little or nothing. Truly our Soldiers are become the obstacles of so great misery, as I believe could melt the hardest hearts into pity that should behold them, which many much wonder at, considering 'tis but nine weeks since my Lord Lisle left this Province, and his Lordship left behind him 6500 l. in money, a full month's provision since arrived here, 5000 l. in money and good store of provision, the Contribution since, Excise and other Rents cannot amount to less than 4000 l. the  taken to 1500. which sums being cast up cannot amount to less than 20000 l. yet for all these great sums received, the Officers want, the Soldiers starve, those Soldiers that are able to march have six pennyworth in bread per week, poor sick Soldiers have sometimes nothing; but the best is, the Lord Inchiquine is well, and able to play at bowls on the Fast day, to sit up whole nights a Feasting, with Dancing and Fiddling, while the poor Soldiers daily starve under his window: If this be Religion and Zeal to the Cause, Good Lord deliver me from the like. For all the starving condition, yet his Lordship permits Officers and others licence to Transport Cows, and some Oxen, though they are extremely wanted to draw the Artillery; a licence which doth dishearten many: Sir Piercy Smith is made Quarter-master-General of the Field. I could say much more of this nature, but I am in haste to conclude: The present state of the Army is very aguish, and the approach of the Rebels, I fear, will put us into a shaking fit.  
Cork, june 22. 1647. Your humble servant, R. K.   

SIR,  
HAving so convenient an opportunity, I could not omit giving you the Relation of some Passages here that have happened since my Lord Lisle's (unhappy) calling over: 'Tis true, some (especially those that have Custodiums) were glad of his going, but more do now wish he had stayed, especially the poor Soldiers, for then, I verily believe, we had not been in such extraordinary want (both Officers and Soldiers) as now we are: I doubt not but the Relation of taking Dungarnon is stolen with you; but whether you heard of the men lost there, that were starved for mere hunger (and knocked on the head as they lay in the Ditches, by the protected Irish) being not able to march away when the Army drew from thence, I know not; but confident I am there was many a poor Soldier lost there.  
Truly, the poor Soldiers are starved, and die in the very streets, notwithstanding there are great store of Cows and Oxen transported into England from hence by licence from my Lord: What will be the issue of these things, I know not; the Soldiers that are not sick, are so faint that they are not able to march three miles aday, but as they march, fall sick and die in the ditches and hedges: As the other day there was a Regiment consisting of Five hundred, that marched forth of Cork, and was not above a week abroad, and (upon no Service all the while, that) when they came home marched not in again One hundred and fifty. At Youghal there is no less than One thousand two hundred Soldiers sick, some of them lie in the streets for quarter, and beg of the people that pass along; yet for all that, the Soldiers are in such extraordinary want: yet there are those that never served the State, that have what would keep many a good man's child from starving: God put into the Parliaments hearts to take some speedy course for our deliverance out of this Irish Bondage.  
The other day there was a party of horse consisting of 〈◊〉 some out of every troop commanded by Captain Poor (an Irishman) to discover a party of the Enemy's Horse and Foot that lay beyond Capperquin; the Enemy had intelligence (I will not say by Poor's means) of it, sent a party of theirs to surround them, fell upon our men, routed them, killed in the place about Sixty private Troopers, one Lieutenant, and two Cornets; but the Irish Captain escaped, and left his Soldiers to the mercy of his merciless Countrymen; yet for all this was never questioned: 'Tis strange we have not English men enough in England to Command us here, but must be Commanded by the natural Irish.  
There was two Frigates bound to Dungarnon, for the Relief of that Garrison, laden with Provision, Ammunition, &c. and were about the fifth of this instant taken by the Washford Pirates: I fear God doth not give a blessing to our Endeavours, there is such ungodly, unjust, and corrupt dealing amongst us.  
But amongst all these sad Stories, I will give you a pretty Relation of (my Cousin) a great man in person (and now in Command) and though he be a friend of mine, I cannot omit it; he was commanded with a party of Horse consisting of 500 to march into the County of Kerry for a prey (that County you know being full of ) after they had marched a great way into the County, on the side of a high Hill they discovered a great moving body, which the Commander in chief swore (God damn him) was a body of the Enemy marching to surround; whereupon he retreated, and on his retreat took a Prisoner, and examined him what Forces of Horse and Foot were in the County; the Prisoner swore, None; then they asked him what body of men were them on that great Hill; He swore they were no men, but Cows driving away for fear of them, because the Alarm was in the County that they were in it: So the Cows through their fear escaped, and they came home like fools as they went.  
I pray present my humble service to my Colonel; and use your endeavour to make my peace with him: I know now that since his Recruit is Disbanded, and Field-Officers dispersed, he cannot be against my being Lieutenant Colonel to the Regiment: Let him know, That I am hearty sorry that ever any difference should happen between him and me, or any of the Officers: I hope we shall for all this love and live together like friends. I will carry a fair correspondency with you know whom, till I see the tide turn, which I hope will be shortly (let what will come to me) And farther tell my Colonel, That if he pleaseth to accept of it, I will give him the true Relation of all passages here, as often as I can meet with a hasty Messenger: it is very dangerous writing, for many Letters have been intercepted both going and coming (a guilty conscience needs no Accuser) this being all at present, but that I am  
Signed by▪ Lieutenant Col: Knight. Cork, July 4. 1647.  
FINIS.