TWO GREAT FIGHTS In IRELAND, On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday last, between the Marq. of Ormonds' Forces, and the Lord Lieut. Cromwel's, at the two strong Garrisons of Tredah and Dundalke; showing the manner how they four several times sallied out upon the Parl. forces beat up the Guards, the manner of their repulse, the number killed & taken prisoners, together with 6 pieces of Ordnance, and great store of Arms & Ammunition. As also, the Declaration of the great Engineer Col. Ashton, to fight under the Banner of loyalty, in preservation of the town of Tredah for Charles the TWO, and his new Engine of War for the cutting off both Legs and Arms of any that shall oppose him.  
  

TWO FIGHTS IN IRELAND ON Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday last, between the Forces commanded by the Marq. of Ormond, and the Lord Lieutenant Cromwell.  

SIR,  
UPon the Lord Governor Cromwel's near approach with his Army, to the frontier and impregnable Garrison of Tredah, his Lordship sent a Summons to the Governor Colonel Ashton, for the surrender thereof to the power and obedience of the Parliament of England, but the Governor returned a very resolute and peremptory Answer, intimating, That he abhorred with his soul the brand of perfidiousness, that he was resolved to display the banner of loyalty, and to stand in the defence and preservation of the trust reposed in him to the last man, etc. Whereupon, the Lord Governor immediately called a Council of Officers, for the well-ordering of the Army, to the end the work might appear more facile and easy, and indeed so excellent were the debates and consultations thereof, that their Design was looked upon with great admiration.  
And upon Saturday morning being the 8. of this instant Septemb. twelve thousand Horse, Foot, and Dragoons, marched up in battell-array, with Trumpets sounding, and Drums beating against the Town, where they soon encamped themselves, cutting off divers passes, & using the rarest stratagems of war, for straightening the enemy's quarters.  
About 7 at night, the Army advanced somewhat nearer, and divers strong Guards both of Horse and Foot were placed within twice musket shot of the walls, where the Foot entrenched themselves. And about 5 in the morning, the besieged discovered us, who drawing nearer to each other, said, they would give us a dinner to welcome us into Ireland; and indeed they were very circumspect in keeping of their word, for between 11 and 12 they gave us a visit, sallying forth with a considerable party of Horse, and lining the obscure places with many hundreds of foot, but failed in their promise; for upon their first charge against one of our horse-guards, they were so gallantly received, that they soon quitted the place, our horse pursued them within musket shot of their works, receiving a great volley from their Ambuscado, in which we lost 4 men, and 7 horse; of the enemy killed and taken 13. The next morning being Monday they attempted another sally, but not daring to put it in execution, retreated in again without action, remaining all day very silent, till the Curtain of the most high Canopy began to expel and darken the splendour of Sols beauty, who even at the close of the day upon the relieving our guards, gave us a volley both with great and round shot, which grazed and did no execution.  
On Tuesday being the 11. instant, about break of the day, we received a new alarm from these troubled spirits, who (upon an unexpected sally) suddenly fell upon Col. Hewsons' foot guard, but were repulsed, and the loss equally balanced.  
On Wednesday being the 12. instant, Lieu. col. Ashton (a great Papist, and Nephew to the Governor) about two of the clock in the morning made a very desperate sally upon two of our foot-guards, with 500 Irish, which by reason of the sudden surprisal of our Perdews, and Sentinels, caused great difficulties to intervene, yet notwithstanding, the Wings of providence seeming as a great Bulwark to preserve and defend us, our men received their furious onset, but being overpowred, the Vau-guard retreated to the next, and bodying, advanced to the other engaged, fell upon the Irish killed 40, took 20 prisoners, and forced the rest to a dishonourable retreat, with the loss of ten; besides those in the former engagements, prisoners exchanged were equal, about 50. above 100 killed and wounded, whereof on our part 30.  
From the Siege at Tredah Sept. 13. 1649.   

Other Letters from Ireland, purport the further engagement of the two Armies.  
SIR,  
Upon the advance of the Lord Governor Cromwell horse towards Trim, great was the preparation of the Marq. of Ormond, and the Lord Inchiquin to receive him, and upon his near approach with the Van, a selected party were drawn forth to represent the Royal salutation (as they called it) and accordingly the Lord Inchiquin had the honour and conduct of leading those vaunting Troops, who no sooner had marched four miles from the town, but a discovery were made of a great Body of the Parl. horse; whereupon he drew out a Forlorn consisting of two hundred horse, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gerrard, who advanced about Musket shot from the Body, the rest marching after.  
The Parliaments forces seeing this, immediately eced choforth a great deal of alacrity to dispute an engagement, drawing out a Forlorn likewise, and advancing towards them; insomuch, that after an hours rallying, and wheeling for wind and ground, both bodies had embattled themselves in a welldisciplined posture for the receiving of each others charge with the most advantage and safety.  
And after some short time spent in consultation by the Officers, the Trumpets sounded, and both parties joined battle, a most violent and desperate charge being given to each other at the first on set, during which conflict, sharp and cruel was the action, each man striving for Conquest, and endeavouring to become master of the field; but the victory seemed dubious a long time, until by main force; the enemies left wing were disordered and put to a retreat, which the right wing, and the Center-body seeing (for they were divided into three bodies) began to decline farther engagement, endeavouring an honourable retreat, but the L. Governors' horse falling in with them, upon their wheeling off, divers of them were killed and taken prisoners, the rest received sanctuary near a spacious bog, where they rallyed, and by the coming in of a fresh Reserve of three Regiments of horse, commanded by Colonel Steward, Colonel Cotton, and Colonel Cunningham, the Lord Inchiquin attempted a second Onset against the Lord Governors' forces, who finding themselves to be both overpowred and unfitting for an second engagement, made an honourable retreat with the loss of thirty men, the enemy not daring to embrace pursuit for a mile together, whose loss we hear was exceeding great in the first engagement, by estimation at least three hundred.  
Since which time they wholly decline engagement, and dare not stand a charge, unless at a place of great advantage; many of the English Horse under the conduct of the Lord Inchiquin desert him daily, and come in to the Lord Governor, who solemnly protest and declare to be true to the English Interest, and to assist his Lordship, in the defence of the Parl. of England, with their lives and fortunes.  
By Letters further from the Siege at Tredah in Ireland, thus: The Marq. of Ormond hath exceedingly victuald and strengthened this place, and all other Garrisons adjacent, most of the Foot being quartered there at present, but hath a very considerable Party in the field, which they call the flying Army, consisting of three thousand horse, three thousand Irish Foot-boggers, and fifteen hundred Dragoons; all which are well mounted and completely armed, men resolute & well disciplined, and as many affirm, not inferior to the greatest Sons of Chivalry in Europe; yet notwithstanding, the English renowned Heroes hath challenged them to a field, promising fair play, and to equalise them in number; but they decline engagement, and will not fight them, unless forced. We hear that the Lord Lieutenant is advanced with a considerable party of horse and foot to Dundalk, and hath besieged the same threatening a storm, if they do not speedily surrender; which they deny; the Lord Lieut. hath as stubborn an enemy to deal withal there, as at Tredah, some affirming that they have made a desperate sally, and disputed a sharp conflict, in which many lost their lives, but soon after the Lord Governor stormed a Fort, and at his gaining thereof, took and killed above four hundred prisoners, 6 pieces of Ordnance, 2 Carriages, great store of arms and ammunition.  
The great Engineer Col. Ashton (it's said) hath studied a new stratagem of War, for the taking off either leg or arm, the Engine runs upon three wheels, and is to be planted both at Gates or Breaches upon any attempt or storm.    

Imprimatur,  
J. T.   
FINIS.