VERY SAD NEWS FROM IRELAND, Two strong Garrisons taken from the REBELS: Mariborough Fort, and the Castle of Athlone. A thousand Protestants, Men Women and Children, at the mercy of the bloody Rebels Besides the loss of the Lord Dillon, Viscount Castelow, Sir William Gilburt and his Son, 4. Ministers, and divers Officers. With Lists of their Names, and particulars of the losses in either of the Garrisons, and the names of the chief Rebels, and their places. A Remonstrance of the Protestant Clergy in Ireland, and the fortifying of Dublin by the marquis of ORMOND. October 25. 1646. These Papers concerning Ireland are printed and published according to ORDER. LONDON, Printed for N. S. Anno Domini 1646. Very bad News from Ireland. Honoured Sir, A Little help will save this Kingdom, neglect will hazard the loss of it; the ruin of which will be a fearful Alarm to both the other. Sir William Gilburt Governor of the Fort of Mariborough in the Queen's County, in the Province of Leimster, had before the Cessation three complete Companies of Foot, and a Troop of good Horse, with which he did not only secure his own. Garrison, but preserved the Lord Dillon, Viscount Castle low. and his Forces in the Castle of Athlon, in the County of Conaught upon the borders of Leimster, a Protestant Garrison some ten miles, or more from him; but the Cessation being agreed, two of those three Companies, and the Troop of horse were called off by the marquis of Ormoud, and not only the Castle of Athlone was (by this means left naked) but Mariborough Fort in great danger. Sir William Gilburt having only one Company left to keep the Garrison, and the Lord Dillon not 100 men in Athlone. Sir William Gilburt therefore sent up his eldest Son, his Deputie-Governour, and a Gentleman that hath done good service against the Rebels, to the Parliament of England, whose dispatch for employments hath been much wished for by us. Supplies so much, and so long desired, not coming, makes the old Irish to insult the more, though one rout would (I verily believe) turn the scales. But a Peace being concluded between the supreme Council, and the marquis of Ormond, it puts us into a far worse condition: Ormond and Digby with their forces are got fafe to Dublin, and there they are fortifying, and mending their Works from the College to St. Kevan, and Newstreet, and so to St. james Gate, and since their return from Kilkennie the Guards have been stronger about the City; For the marquis of Ormond and the Lord Digby are in some fear of the Rebels that are risen against the peace concluded. The Rebels missing their design of murdering the marquis of Ormond, and Digby, with them in Kilkennie, as was plotted, they with their Forces marched into the Queen's County in Leimster, within 20 miles of Kilkennie, and there took the Fort of Mairborough by surprise, notwithstanding the Peace concluded, Sir William Gilburt, with all the Officers and Soldiers, Ministers, and Inhabitants, to the number of 1000 men, women, and children of the Town that are Protestants, all being at the mercy of the Rebels. And the Castle of Athlone in Conaught was also taken by them in the like manner. The Lord Dillon and all his Officers and Soldiers were surprised, and are at the mercy of those bloody Rebels. These Forces of the Irish (in number almost 1000 and all armed) are within little now then twenty miles of Dublin. These two places which they have taken, the loss of them is great, Athlone stands upon the River side just upon the mouth of Lough Ree, towards Castle-More, and Mariborough Fort is in the hart of Leimster. Sir, for your further satisfaction herein, I refer you to the Papers here enclosed, and shall ever apply myself to be Cork the 2. of Septem. 1646. Your most humble Servant, N. T. A Remonstrance from the Protestant Clergy of Ireland, to the marquis of ORMOND. May it please your Excellency, WE Archbishop, Bishops, and the rest of the Clergy of the Kingdom of Ireland subscribing, are wonderful sensible how your Excellency (out of zeal to God's glory and the Protestant Religion, and out of loyalty to his Majesty) hath in this great distemper, with much hazard, singular wisdom, and vigilant care, preserved not only in this City, but also in all the out-garisons the free and full exercise of the true reformed Religion, according to the liturgy and Canons so many hundred years received in the Church, which (with bleeding hoarts we may say) is more than we know to be in any part of the three Dominions. As also we do most hearty acknowledge, that by your very great pains and labour, you have at last concluded a most necessary peace, which we humbly conceive to be the only means to continue those great blessings of Religion and Loyalty amongst us, & to be the only hopeful way to reduce this whole Kingdom to his Majesty's obedience. And withal we do most ingeniously profess, that out of your Piety and Nobleness, you have vindicated our Callings and Places from contempt, and protected in from personal injuries, and provided a subsistence for us, without the which many of us had undoubtedly starved. Out of the deep sense of all which, and many more favours than we are able to express, we were the most unthankful of all men, if we should not praise God for your Excellency, and return to you our most hamble and hearty thanks, faithfully promising to cotinue our fervent prayers to God, & our very best endeavours for strengthening your hands in managing the great trust His Majesty reposeth in you, and in maintaining Religion, and the peace now established amongst us. Having made this just and necessary Remonstrance of our gratitude and resolutions, we do most humbly beseech your Lordship to continue (as we are very confident you will) your care to preserve the Religion, book of Service, public worship in the decency and comeliness thereof, and the true Apostolical government of the Church now exercised amongst us, against all opposition whatsoever, And graciously to persist in your care to provide some competent maintenance for us, till we may conveniently return to our Benefices. And if any of our number shall be disaffected to the Religion, Book of Service, public worship and government of the Church, His Majesty's Service, or disturbers of the present peace, we do not supplicate for such, but leave them to your Lordship to be proceeded with as you shall find convenient. Subscribed by the Protestant Bishops and Clergy A List of the Names of the Families of the Rebels that risen against the Peace. THE Family of the O-moores. The Family of the Fitz-patricks'. The Family of the Brennons. The Family of the O-Conners. The Family of the O-Ryleyes, A List of the Places out of which these Rebels rise. In Leimster. The King's County. The Queen's County. County Catebigh. The County of Wexford. The County of Kilkennie. The County of Westmeath. The County of Raymond. In Conaught. The County of Galloway. The County of Clare. The County of Towmond. They had their Rendezvouzes between Caterlagh and Kilkennie in Leimster. A List of the chief places from whence these Rebels are relieved. O. Carolus, O. Drone, Kilkennie, Caterlagh. O Kirne, Slewmerosle, O. Donne, Laghlin, Ido. A List of what was taken in the Castle of Athlone, in the County of Roscomen, which is taken by the Rebels. The Lord Dillon, Viscount Castelon. The Governor of the Castle. 8 Officers. 80 Soldiers. 100 Arms. With the rest of the Ammunition of the Castle. A List of what was in the Fort of Mariborough in the Queen's County, which is taken by the Rebels; As also in the Town, where they were all at the mercy of the Rebels. Sir William Gilburt, Governor of the place. Mr. William Gilburt his Son. An Officer under him. E. Fitz-Gerhard. All Sir William Gilburts Officers and Soldiers. All the Arms and Ammunition in the Fort. 4 Protestant Ministers. (VIZ.) Mr. Humphrey Gore. Mr. Hugh Gun. Mr. Essex Digby. Mr. john Birkhead. 1000 Protestants, men, women, and children. FINIS.