AN ACCOUNT Of CAPTAIN Tho. HAMILTONS SEIZING ARGILES SHIPS, And taking from Him a Castle with Four hundred barrels of Powder, and several pieces of Cannon in Three letters from two several Persons of Honour in the North of Ireland to their friends in Dublin.  
Dublin, printed 1685.   

Balimenagh 15 June 1685. 
 Sir.  
LAst Night arrived here a son of Mr. Rowans from Scotland, and brings an account that this For might past, he has been at Air, and was a board the Fisher; Commanded by Captain Hamilton near Argile, and went with 10 men in a small Boat to Loghead last week, and returned very soon to Air. Argyle has 26 Birlings at Sea, together with the Vessells he brought from Holland with him: which he has man'd with about 3000 men; that the Kings Shipping have surrounded him, betwixt Boot cowel and iceland Magery.  
That on Friday last there were many Guns heard, and 'tis thought they have engaged at Sea: Charles Cambell, Argyle's Son is in Kintyre with 5000 men, Athol is in Jnerera with 6000 men, the late Marquels of Huntly now Duke of Gordon, was to join him last week with a thousand men, and the Mac Lanes with Four thousand, there are about Five hundred Whiggs got together in Galaway, and other Rebellious parts there abouts: headed by two gentlemen Capt. Stranger, and Capt. Welcome; against whom, there are Fourteen hundred of the Kings Forces gone; it is though those in Scotlantd, will not require any of the Army from hence, for they have now m●n and horse more then they can find provision for.  
Sir, John Coghran went last week to Grenock, dined there, and took thence forty or fifty bows of meal; it seems two Troops of the Militia commanded by two Nephews of sir, John Coghrans being informed that Argyles men were taking away Meal &c. Repaired to the shore, but were soon beaten off with the Guns from aboard.  
Mr. Rowan saw Sir John edgeworth last Thursday night at Air, from whence he partend next day to Edinborough, since the writing of this, I hear there is an Express come from Scotland that Argyle was surprised in his Fort, by Capt. Hamilton in the Fisher, that most of his men were killed, and taken prisoners, himself escaped narrowly, disguised in a livery Coat, that athol &c. are now pursuing his remaining Forces.   

Sea cost June 16th. 1685. 
 My Lord,  
Yesterday looking on Scotland, and thinking of the unhapiness, Argiles fate had hurried himself into; I received the account I now sand you, that intending to the main from Boot at the mouth of the River Clyde, he struck of into an Arm of the Sea, which ran some few miles into the Country, thinking from those places there abouts, to raise more men, but, before he could get back he was surrounded with Twelve thousand of the Kings Army, and in his passage out into the Sea, being very narrow, was blocked up by Capt. Tho: Hamilton, in the Kings Fisher riding about that cost,( which I myself saw on Sunday last) Argile finding himself beset, fortified himself in a strong Castle that is within a small iceland, in an Arm of the Sea, where he now is, and his Four Ships were with him, the Channel was too narrow for any of our Ships to enter in, being thus secured the Kings Army sent to the Privy counsel of Scotland to know, if they should immediately proceed to batter down the place where he was, which by taking down some guns from the Kings Ships, they could easily do from the main Land; his mad son Charles is with him, his Forces do not consist of above Three thousand men, many having lest him, his Son burnt the Bishops house in Boot, and had set Fire to the Castle, which his Father quenched and chid him for his violent Temper.  
Tho many preparations are making here for the wafting over of our Irish Army thither: yet I do not believe( tho the Fox were not yet in the toil) we should go for I know that those Country men are too proud, to admit of any Aid from abroad; having a great way to fend to the post. I conclude,  
Your Lordships Faihfull J. B.   

Sea cost June the 18th. 1685. 
 My Lord,  
IMmediately after my last to you was dispatched, I received this following Account, that yesterday morning, Capt. Tho: Hamilton that Commanded the Kings Fisher, attacked Argiles Fortification, and that the Cannon played so strongly that his men were force to quit it after having left matches and trains of powder to blow up the Castle, which Capt. Hamilton prevented by sending men on shore in the very neck of time, he has taken in the Castle Four hundred barrels of Powder, and several pieces of Cannon he has besides taken all his Ships, and Capt, Hamilton is actually in possession of the Castle, the marquis of athol is now in pursuit of Argile, and Capt. Hamiltons Letter says that he Questions not but his next news will be of Argiles utter destruction.  
Your Lordships faithful, J. B.