April 6.  
News from the West OF IRELAND: Relating what happened to Captain Weldon and Captain Aston after their passage from Bristol to the Fort of Duncannon in the mouth of the River of Waterford, with many particular enterprises performed against the Rebels in those parts, to the terror of our Enemies, the glory of God, and the honour of all brave English Commanders.  
With a Letter sent from the Mayor of Waterford to Captain Aston in excuse of his rebellious designs, with Captain aston's sharp and worthy Reply sent in a Letter to the said Mayor.  
Published by the consent of a worthy Member of the House of COMMONS.  
London, printed for Francis Coles. 1642.   

A brief Relation of all the passages that happened unto us, Captain Anthony Weldon, and Captain Thomas Aston, in pursuance of His Majesty's design for Ireland, sithence our departure from the City of Bristol.  
SHrove-monday the 20. of February we departed out of Bristol with 200. proper men well armed, and colours flying, and shipped them aboard, in the good Ship called the Lamb of Bristol.  
Tuesday the 21. we set sail from King-roade, near Bristol, for Ireland, having with us for our Convoy, the good Ship called the Fellowship of Bristol, a man of war. Tuesday night, and Wednesday all day, we kept company together at Sea. Wednesday night the wind being contrary, ere Thursday morning our Ship and Convoy were separated.  
Thursday about noon we descried land, and in the evening we arrived before the Fort of Duncannon, in the mouth of the River of Waterford.  
Friday and Saturday we landed our men safely within the Fort, wherein we found the noble old Lord Esmond Governor thereof, with 100 men resident for the defence thereof; the enemy laying within Musket shot thereof.  
The Enemy's Commanders under their General the Lord Mongarret, are Colonel Butler, Lieutenant Colonel Maylor, and Sergeant Major Butler.  
The enemy before our landing had made a Truce or cessation of Arms with his Lordship for five days, which was expired the Sunday following our arrival: During the time of the Truce, a Parley was sought by Sergeant Major Butler; the effect whereof was, that the eunemie might be admitted to bring into the Fort as many men of theirs as his Lordship had therein, upon pretence to strengthen the same: If this might be granted, they would lay down their arms, but his Lordship would not embrace any of their treacherous propositions.  
At the time of the Parley his Lordship demanded restitution for the wrongs and injuries done unto His Majesty, and His Highness' Subjects, the poor Protestants in Ireland; Answer was made by the Enemy, They could do nothing in that particular without conference with their General.  
Before their first Truce was ended, the Enemy desired a second for 14. days, but his Lordship would not condescend thereunto.  
Monday the last of February, Colonel Butler sent a Letter unto his Lordship, perporting a further cessation of Arms, as also a parley with four of our best men of quality, and then with eight men; and by and by a Messenger sent from Colonel Butler, to desire private conference with his Lordship in person, which his Lordship refused; for that he would have no conference at all with any one of them, without public notion to myself and Captain Weldon.  
Wednesday the 2. of March, we sallied forth upon the enemy's quarters with 60. Musketeers, intending to have fired their quarters, and bring away such necessaries for lodging as we could get, for lodging for our Soldiers: Our men came bravely on, and exchanged divers bullets with the enemy; but by extraordinary numbers of men increasing upon us, (being but an handful) occasioned by the sudden intelligence sent unto the neighbouring Garrisons, as by burning of Furzes, setting Beacons on fire, etc. we retreated into our Fort without loss of any man, only one man received a small hurt in his shoulder.  
Friday the 4. of March, we sallied forth again upon the Enemy, removed their Sentinels, forced them to retreat from their quarters, and brought away their Court of Guard, made of Deale boards, which served very well to make our Soldier's Huts, lodging being somewhat scarce within the Fort. This day also we brought our men safe off, only one man shot in the face, but not mortal. This day likewise our Convoy, together with a Pinnace, came into the Harbour.  
Sunday morning the 6. of March we sallied forth again, intending to have some further bandying of bullets with the Enemy; but marching up their quarters, we found they had raised their siege, and were gone we knew not whether; of which opportunity we taking advantage, presently fired divers of their houses, near adjoining unto the Fort, and brought away divers small stacks of Corn, to our no small comfort, and then retreated (to give God praise) into the Fort, resolving to sally forth again in the afternoon.  
Sunday in the afternoon we sallied forth again, and then marched forth with some 150. men, about a mile and half distant from the Fort, where we fired divers other houses, there being good store of Corn, Goats, Sheep, and Swine; some Sheep, Goats, and Swine we brought away, but could not bring any Corn: First, in regard the day was almost spent; and secondly, for that the Enemy was discovered drawing to a place of ambush, that was between our men and the Fort; but some of our men remaining behind in the Fort, perceiving their drift, prevented their coming; and presently some 50. Musketeers were commanded to march thither, and make good the same against the Enemy, until our men should come off, which was done accordingly; the Enemy not daring to approach any further, but were forced to retreat with shame.  
Sunday night, his Lordship, myself, and Captain Weldon resolved together with the Captain of the Man of War, that on Monday morning by the break of day, the Ship together with the Pinnace, should go up the River about two miles distant from the Fort, and there lie between a Town called Passage, and another small Town called Ballyhacke, opposite against Passage, the one having a Fort with four guns in it, the other a strong Castle, but no Artillery in it.  
Monday morning the seventh of March, I went up myself in the Man of War together with the Pinnace, and lay between those two Towns, the Fort of, Passage shot thrice at us, than our Ship shot one shot into the Fort, and presently the Fort hanged forth a flag of Truce; whereupon, and for that there were divers of the poor English Protestants Prisoners within the Town, we made no more shots, but wholly intended our battery against the Castle of Ballyhacke, being the only convenient place of Rendezvous and Garrison for all the rebellious Crew, that besiege the Fort of Duncannon; our Ship lay before it most part of the day, sending many shots to the Castle, but could make no breach therein, than I commanded some 20. Musqueties to go on shore, and set fire on one side of the Town, which they did landing at one end thereof, where they set a fire one house, thinking the rest of the houses on that row would have taken fire by degrees. All this while the Rebels from the Castle played upon our men with their small shot, very thick; our men retreated into the Boats, and came aboard again all safe, only one man at the first landing was shot through the shoulder.  
But finding the fire not to take effect, I commanded the Boats to be manned forth again, and to land our men on the other side of the Town, and set that on fire: Our men being landed, marched up very boldly to the Town, in despite of the Castle, (which still played upon our men with their small shot) and fired the most part of the Town, and came off bravely, only one other man (one of the Ships company) received a shot into his belly, but none of our men mortally wounded.   

A true Copy of the Letter which was sent me from the Mayor and Recorder of Waterford, at the time when I lay before Ballyhacke.  
M. Aston,  
I Understand, you are come with ships to the haven of Waterford, the King hath granted the port protection, and jurisdiction of it to our Corporation, and I would be glad you would give us an account, why you come so far to the port, and what your intent is, and why you would not acquaint me with your purpose before you came, and sought not my licence, I desire an account rather, that I am informed you offer battery, and offence to the King's subjects, I writ an answer to my Lord Esmonde, what the reason is the English went not down, and infer the effect was their faults, not ours, I would desire to know by what Commission you come, as well as the rest,  
Waterford, March 7. 1641. Francis Briver, Major of Waterford. john Leonard, Recorder.   

A Copy of my answer to the Mayor and Recorders Letter.  
M. Mayor, & M. Recorder,  
I have received your Letter dated the 7. of March instant, wherein you desire an account from me, why we come so far to the port, and what our intent is, and why you should not be acquainted with our purpose, before our coming, and wherefore your Licence had not been first sought, and further you desire an account the rather for that you are informed, Battery and offence are offered to the King's subjects, and for countenancing of these your peremptory demands, you infer His Majesties grant of the protection and jurisdiction of the port unto your Corporation, in all which particulars I shall render an account, not as you desire, but deserve: first, admit you had his Majesties grant as aforesaid, I do aver the same to be (by your revolt) annihilated and made void, and whereas you say we offer Battery and offence against his Majesty's subjects, I utterly deny that honourable stile to be appropriated unto any one of them, who have in pursuance of the breach of their fidelity and loyalty, to his Majesty and the Crown of England, most insolently and rebelliously taken up arms, and in defiance of his Majesty and the Crown of England, advanced themselves against his Majesty's Fort of Duncannon, and against my Lord Esmond, his Majesty's true and loyal subject, Governor thereof; and whether they can justly or at all deserve the denomination of his Majesty's subjects, when as they have so rebelliously demeaned themselves as aforesaid, I refer myself to his Majesty's Proclamation, which I have sent you herein enclosed, the like whereof hath been delivered unto Colonel Butler, the tenor whereof, I do intent, (by the grace of God) fully to observe, and prosecute with effect, which you may assure yourself of, by the example of Ballyhacke, this is the account you may expect from  
Your loving Friend if his Majesty's Subject you shall really demonstrate yourself to be Thomas Aston. Duncannon Fort, March 8. 1641.