A perfect and particular RELATION Of the several Marches and proceedings of the army IN IRELAND, From the taking of DROGHEDA, to this present The taking of Killenc●r●ick, Athl●e, Lymerick, Fernes, Enescorthy, The particulars fully of the taking of Wexford, with several other passages, and the armies advance to Rosse. LONDON, Printed for Francis leech, Anno Domini 1649. A perfect and particular Relation, of the several marches and proceedings of the Armies in Ireland from the taking of DROGHEDA to this present. SIR, YOurs I received at Dublin a little before we took our march, after our taking of Drogheda unto this place; And now having some more news, even the mercies of God towards us, to impart unto you, I re-salute you, and give you this account of transactions here. O● Thursday the 27th. of September wee marched out of Dublin, some part of the Army for expedition sake. being marched before: In our passage hither, several Castles held by the Enemy ●ell in unto us. The first was Killencarick, which was quitted by the enemy, having heard of our intentions to march that way. On Friday the 28th. we came to Athloe, situate upon the Sea, and they had fired that, and quitted it. So likewise on saturday the 29th. wee passed through Limmerick; which they had fired, and left: that night a party was sent to Fernes, which was surrendered upon terms, that they should march away, only leaving all their arms, Ammunition, and Provisions behind them. On Sunday the 30th. wee came to Enescorthy, ● very fine strong Castle, belonging to Mr. Wallop of Huntshire, but garrisoned by the enemy; This was surrendered to us on the same terms as the former. Having cleared all before us, We came on Thursday the second of this instant October and encamped before Wexford. Two or three dayes before we came hither, the enemy from Kilke●●y had sent some Regiments of Foot into the Town for its strength, and security, O● Wednesday my Lord sent in this summons. Sir, Having brought the Army belonging to the Parliament of England before this place to reduce it to its due obedience; to the end effusion of blood may be prevented, and this own and country about it preserved from ruin, I thought fit to summon you to deliver the same into my hands to the use of the State of England; By this offer, I hope it will clearly appear ▪ where the guilt will lie, if innocent persons should come to suffer with the ●nocent. I expect your speedy answer, and rest. October the 3d. 1649. Sir Your Servant O. cronwell. For the Commander in chief within the Town of Wexfo●d these. Whereunto this Answer was returned. Sir; I Have received your Letter of summons for the delivery up of this Town into your hands, which stand●th not with my honour to do of myself: neither will I take it upon me, without the advice of the rest of my Officers, and the Mayor of this Corporation;( this town being of so great consequence to all Ireland,) whom I will call together, and confer with, and return my resolution un●o you to morrow by 12. of the clock: in ●he mean time ▪ if you be so pleased, I am content to forbear all acts of hostility ▪ so you permit no approa●h to be made: expecting your answer in that articular I remain, My Lord, Your Lordships Servant Da. Sinnot. For the Lord General cronwell, these. My Lord returned this Answer. Sir, I have received your resolutions to return your answer by 12 of the clock to morrow morning, which I agree unto, but for your other part of your letter to forbear all acts of hostility, I consider, that your houses are better then our Tents, and so shall not consent unto that, I rest, Sir, Your servant, O. cronwell, For the Commander in chief in Wexford, these. The Mayor and A dermen were so courteou●, that in the interval before they return'd their posi●ive answer, they sent my Lord a present o● sack, strong waters and strong beer. On Thursday the 4 of this instant, about 12 of the clock, this paper was sent out of the town. Sir, I have advised with the Mayor and Officers as I promised, and thereupon am content; that four whom I shall employ may have a conference, and treaty with four of yours, to see, if any ag●eement, and understanding may be begot between us: To this purpose, I desire you to sand mine a safe conduct, as I do hereby promise to sand unto yours, when you sand me their names; And I pray, that the meeting may be had to morrow at eight of the ●●ock in the forenoon, that they may have sufficient time to confer, and debate tog●●her, and determine, and compose the matter, and that the meeting, and place may be agreed upon, and the safe conducts ●utually ▪ sent for the said meeting this afternoon, expecting your Answer hereto, I rest, My Lord, Wexford October 4 1649. Your Servant. Da. Sinnot. sand me the names of your Agents, their qualities, and degrees, Those I fix upon are Maior james Byrne, Maior Theobald, Dillon, Alderman Nicholas Cheevers, Mr. William Stafford, For the Lord general cronwell these. Hereunto my Lord replied thus. Sir, Having summoned you to del●ver the town of We●ford into my hands, I might well expect the delivery thereof, and not the desire of a formal ▪ Treaty, which is seldom granted, but whe●● the things stand upon ● more equal foot. If therefore yourself, or the town have any desires to off●r, upon which you will surrender the place to me, I shall be able to judge of the reasonableness of them when they are made known to me: To which end if you shall think ●●t to sand persons name in your last, entrusted by yourself, and the town, by whom I may understand your desires, I shall give you a speedy, and fi●ting answer. And I do hereby engage myself, that they shall return in safety to you, I expect your Answer hereunto within an hour, and rest, Your Servant O. cronwell October ● h. 1649. To the Commander in chief in Wexford these. This begot this further reply. Sir, I have return'd you a civil Answer to the best of my judgement, and thereby I find you undervalue me, and the place so much, as you think to have it surrendered without capitulation, or honourable terms, as appears by your hours limitation in your last, Sir, had J never a man in this town, but the townsmen ▪ and Artillery here planted, I should conceive myself in a very b●fitting condition to make honourable conditions, and having a considerable party with them in the place, J am resolved to die honourably or make such conditions ▪ as may secure my honour, and life in the eyes of my own party, to which reasonable terms, if you harken not, or give me time to sand my Agents, till eight of the clock in the forenoon to morrow with my Propositions ▪ with a further safe conduct, J leave you to your better judgement, and myself to the assistance of the Almighty, and so conclude Your Servant Da. Sinnot. Wexford, October the 4●h. 1649. For the Lord general cronwell these. My Lord return'd no answer to this Letter, but the governor of Wexford the day following sent this ensuing overture, Sir, My Proposi●ions being now prepared, I am ready to sand my Agents with them unto you ▪ and for their safe return, I pray you to sand conduct by this bearer unto me, in hope an honourable agreement may thereupon arise between your Lordship, a●d My Lord, Your Lordships servant, Da. Sinnot. Wexford, October the 5. 1649. For the Lord Gen. cronwell these. According to the contents of this last Letter, my Lord sent a permit unto him for his Agents to come, and return safely, but the Governours mind was altered before the morrow, and it was occasioned by the coming in unto him of two fresh Regiments sent by the Lord of Castle-haven; For on Saturday the 6. of this instant there came relief into the Town on the other side the water, which we had no notice of, neither if we had, could we have prevented it ▪ and thereupon the governor sent out this excusall, for the non sending of his agents according to his promise and permit. My Lord, Even as I was ready to sand out my agents unto you, the L. general of the horse came hither with relief; unto whom I communicated the proceedings between your Lordship and me, & delivered him the propositions, J intended to dispatch unto your Lordship, who hath desired a small time to consider of them, and to speed them unto me; which, my Lord I could not deny, he having a commanding power over me. Pray my Lord, believe, that I do not do this to tr●fle out time, but for his present content; and if I find any long delay in his Lordships returning them back unto me, I will proceed of myself according to my first intention: To which I beseech your Lordship give cr●dit at the request, My Lord, of Wexford October 6. 1649. Your Lordships ready servant, Da. Sinnot. For the Lord Gen. cronwell these. Hereunto my Lord gave this reply, Sir, You might have spared your trouble in the account you give me of your transaction with the Lord general of your horse, and of your resolutions in case he answer not your expectations in point of time. These are your own concernments ▪ and it behoves you to improve them, and the relief ye mention, to your best advantage ▪ all that I have to say, is to desire you to take notice, that I do hereby revoke my safe conduct from the persons mentioned therein. When ye shall see cause to treat, you may sand for another. I rest, Sir, Your Servant, O. cronwell. October the 6th. 1649. For the Commander in chief in Wexford, these. Hereupon the messages between my Lord and the governor ceased, and we prepared for Batteries, after consultation had, it was resolved, that all our Batteries should be raised against the Cast●e on the Sou●h end of the town that being the strongest part, it would easily command all the town if once taken, and the rest would fall with it. The Wall of the Town is very strong, being rampier'd with earth very thick, we had now possession of the Fort that lies upon the entrance into the bay, and commands the passage, For when we sent a party towards it the enemy had quitted it before, This was of great advantage to us, for our ships thereby ●ome into the bay and land provisions more conveniently unto us. On monday the 9th. of this instant, News came to us that Ormond with his whole Army was come over the River on this side R●sse for the relief of this town whereupon we sent a party of 15. Troops of horse, and three Troops of dragoons under lieutenant general jones to meet them, and fight with them. Ormond hearing of the march of our men kept no● on his way, but wheeling about, he drew off towards Kilkenny ▪ On Thursday the ●1th ▪ of this instant, all things being ready, our Canon played against the Castle, and we prepared to storm. The Ordnance played their parts very handsomely, ●nd by ●oone the battlements of the Castle were beaten down, & three great breaches were ●ade in 2 of the Towers great sear, & ●mazement self upon the hearts of the inhabitants of the towns, the governor sent a Dru● ▪ and beat a parley, the ●ajor and some of the Aldermen came with Propositions for a surrender. The governor of the Castle came out, and submitted to my Lords mercy, and gave him the possession of the Castle ▪ My Lord being willing to save the Inhabitants of the Town, and to preserve it from plunder, condescended to let the soldiery repair every one to their own homes, they engaging not to bear arms any more against the state of England; And the Officers were to have their lives, but to render themselves Prisoners. Just as my Lord was ready to sign this ▪ and sand it into the Town, such a fear fell upon them, tha● the souldiers left the Wall, and all both men, women, Officers, and Souldiers endeavoured to betake themselves to fly over the water in Boats, for the safety of their lives. Our men saw this and presently scaled the walls to stop them in their intended fl●ght; They did not find very much opposition ▪ but in less then the space of an hour the whole town was clee●'d and gained. There was a wonderful providence seen in it. That when they were even on the brink to have condi●●ons, it should be so marvello●sly denied them. The hand of God was mightily in it; this town which was a ●eace of piracy, and the ruin of many familyes in England, was thus justly met with, we may red much of God in the whole carriage of this business; yes, even his righteous anger against this place, two things were very remarkable, The one was, that when the English in the beginning of this rebellion fled hither out of the Countrys for protection they sent many of them to shipboard, and there they were drowned; even in the famed waters many of these now through hast sank, and perished: The other was, That some priests and Friers were now killed in that Church, where they had caused many of the English to be fam●shed to death, Thus the Lord has fou●d out their wickedness, and repaid it, many escaped over the water, and carried some goods along with them. Our soldiers had the plunder of the Town for the space of two hours, and ●●en my Lord caused a Pro●lamation to be published, That all further violence, and plunder should cease upon peril. The rest of the goods that were saved together with the ships are to be valued for the State, wee lost not one man in the storm, and not above 3 or 4. were wounded, our Souldiers killed many, both in the town, and as they fl●d out of the Town on the W●st side, a great Slaughter was made, ●●n any were drowned, as they thought to escape by Boat over the water, Some are taken Prisoners; one Col● one Lieut. Col. five Cap●ames, six Leiutenants, four E●signes, three Serjeants, One hundred fourscore and fifteen Soldiers, fourscore and fifteen whereof are taken to be pioners in our Army, thus has the Lord been pleased to give this strong place into our hands, Blessed be his name for ever. Wee are now gone to Rosse, The Lord has done great things for us beyond our thoughts, great mercies in the North, very high successses there and now he has enlarged our borders towards the South, The Lord keep us humble, and his presence be wi●h us still. A present supply of more foot would and h●●hly advantageous, for many garrisons do swallow up our infantry. Let us have your prayers, and bless God for what he has already done. October 22 1649 October 27. 1649. Imprimatur, Jo. RUSHWORTH. FINIS.