Exceeding Happy news FROM IRELAND.  
DECLARING The proceedings of the Protestant Army in Kildare, against the Castle of Ithlone, the Castle of Knock and Moor's Castle, with the manner of the fight, and the Victories obtained by these worthy Champions, August 26, namely 

The Earl of Ormond,  
The Earl of Ballamore,  
The Lord Lisle,  
Colonel Vavasor,  
Colonel monk,  
and Noble captain Ogle.    
Expressing the manner of the Rebels meeting the Protestant forces, and the number of those that were slain on both sides, and taken prisoners.  
Sent from Ca●taine Stephens, to his brother William Stephens, living in Crutcher-Fryars, London, and now published by Authority.  
Sept. 9 London, Printed for T. Rider, 1642.   

Lo. gossip,  
Our martial affairs goes on so slow since the death of Noble Sir Charles Coote, that there is but little done to participate unto you one Thursday last was fortnight there went out 4000 Horse and Foot, and six pieces of Ordnance towards Athlone, of which number 2000 were for the relief of Connoght, and the rest went for their Convoy, and in their way set on a Castle called the Knock, which cost them 40 men, besides some that were hurt before it was taken and the women and men standing on the top of the Castle defied our Army a good while, and called them traitors and Parliament Rogues, but after 2 days fighting at the said Castle, our Army gave quarter to all the Gentlewomen, excepting 2 or 3, which the Soldiers laid hold on, and killed all the men, being in number about 100 only one proper man that stripped himself to his shirt and rushed out through the Armey and scaped away with some little hurt; and on Saturday last was sennight, our 2000 came home, but at Manoth the Lord Lisle's wagons and his laundress coming before, were there surprised by the Rebels and she hanged, and his carriage taken away. And on the tuesday following their coming home being tuesday last, colonel monk went forth, with 2000 Foot and Horse, with two great brass battering pieces, to a Castle of one moors near Monothe, where there were many Commanders of the Rogues, and good pillage, but the Rebels had presently notice, and so got away before our Army came, and burned the Castle; Then our Army Marched further into the County of Kildare to a Castle called Blackwood, which was a strong place, and there were many women and children and Commanders besides, besides soldiers of the Enemies, yet before our Army came thither, it is reported that Sir John Dungan, who cometh and walketh safe and quietly here among us, sent the rogue's notice, whereby the chiefest men got away before, and those that remained held out stoutly, and the women from the top of the Castle did much mischief on our side, by casting of stones down thence and after much shooting on both sides, the great pieces were made use of, and shot some 50 and odd shot before they yielded, the women before that time did from the top of the Castle call our Army traitors to the King, and Parliament Rogues; but these creatures desiring quarter, the soldiers told them they should have quarter, and thereupon they came forth: the soldiers being enraged against them, because they did the greatest mischief by flinging of stones, quartered both women and children, excepting some 5 that are brought to town, and the men desiring quarter, colonel monk gave them quarter, that they should be brought safe to Dublin, and there left to the justice's pleasure; and so on this Monday our Army came to town and brought with them the five women and 68 lusty proper men, and before they yielded, there were lost and hurt of ours about 12 men, and colonel monk escaped well, for a stone scraped his chin a little, but did but little harm, God be praised for it. But the more is our sorrow, we are in great want of more men and money, and the summer stealing away and nothing to any purpose done, but these small frats. In August last, the Rogues being at my brother Rams house, and taking all his father's books to burn them, there came a swarm of Bees out of the garden into the house were the Rogues where & did sting them so bitterly, as that they were forced to flee away, and for that time left their mischief undone; Honest Tho. Haward is come out of the Rebels hands, but not without 200 l. Ransome: Thus desiring of God to settle an union between his Majesty and his people with my kind respects to yourself and Bedfellow, I shall ever continue.  
Dublin the 30 of August, 1642. Your assured loving friend and gossip Steven Stephens.   

Worthie●● SIR,  
YOurs I received of the last of August, wherein I think you were pleased to give some intelligence of all the main occurrences of these times, I was very sorry to hear of the great and grievous distractions wherewith your kingdom of England doth labour with all, occasioned by the disagreement of his Majesty, and the high Court of Parliament now assembled▪ I hope it will suddenly please Almighty God to bring the causers of these so great distractions to light, that so the King and Parliament being united, there may be a general reformation established with you in England, and afterward we may obtain by the same means a cessation of those bloody times, which yet by reason of an insolent enemy are frequent amongst us. Now sir as I stand bound unto your goodness for many favours of your bounty expressed both to my youth and also to my riper years, so sir, in respect of this particular favour whereby you were pleased to let me understand the condition of your times, I durst not be so ungrateful to commit a crime of so foal a nature, but out of my respects, let you understand the newest occurrences of our kingdom. Conflicts we have almost every day with the rebels, whom thanks be unto God, we have much abated of their former insolency and strength, albeit not so subdued, but yet they make every day some or other new opposition. Upon the fifteenth of this present May, Sir William Sentleger precedent of Munster, and the Lord Moor with their forces, being of strength about thousand foot and five hundred Horse, marched from Cork toward Tredarth, having information given unto them, that the enemy had a design to molest Tredarth afresh, having now marched on, not above two days' march, a Post presently informed them that the Enemy had left their design against Tredarth, and that they were now making forward that way, under the command and Government of Viscount Musgrave of Musgrave, who lately revolted from his Loyalty and King unto the rebel's side. This news was no sooner arrived unto them, but it was entertained with a joyful expectation of their coming, they forbear to march any farther for the present, but within ten miles of Tredarth expected their approach, and provided themselves for the Encounter. Upon the tenth day the Enemy was espied to approach, Sir William and the Lord Moor made ready for his welcome which was so fierce and violent, that I believe, he never was entertained to so hot a feast in all his life time. For he lost within the space of five hours' fight 700. men, beside there were maimed very sore in that Skirmish, which notwithstanding their wounds, made a shift to fly, 80. odd men, the Viscount himself was very hardly brought off. The Skirmish being ended those two Cavaliers for that season betook themselves to the next adjoining town, and there took up their repose, leaving their force still in the field. The next morning by break of day came with all speed four soldiers, who pretended themselves to be weary of their Rebellious confederacy, with Petitions in their hands desired access unto Sir William, who being weary with his late conflict, was yet in bed taking his repose, and solacing himself after his tedious fight. These fugitives still aiming at their design did stay until he rose, and left his chamber, and at his coming forth out of his house to go to take horse they presented him with a paper, wherein was expressed their desires, as he was perusing the scroll, they drew each of them out of their pockets a Case of pistols ready charged and ready cocked, which they endeavoured to let fly, but by the providence of the eternal goodness, the powder fired in the pan, and would not go off; whereupon they drew out their weapons, and were resolved, if the success had favoured their intents, to have dispatched him with their swords whom their pistols thought most unjust to wound or injure, but the Company of Servants who then attended his person, prevented this damnable design, and took the Actors without any harm unto them, who immediately after their apprehension were had in Examination, and they confessed that the lately vanquished Viscount hired them to this attempt, and that they were to receive of him for the Execution 500 marks, after this their Confession they were according to their desert taken, and hanged in the place where they did attempt the fact. These are the occurrences for the present of most note; with other frivoulous matters of small observation or consequence, I will not trouble you from your more serious occasions, but with my best respects to yourself, and your virtuous bed fellow take my leave and rest.  
Your most respective friend, ANTHONY HASLEGROVE.   
FINIS.