A LETTER FROM Sir Maurice Eustace Knight, His Majesty's Sergeant at Law in the Kingdom of IRELAND, and Speaker of the House of Commons, in Parliament there.  
Being a perfect Relation of the last true News from IRELAND.   printer's device (McKerrow 382) 
LONDON, Printed by E. G. for I. Wright. 1642.   

SIR,  
I Might have taken occasion many times since, you went from hence to have written unto you, concerning the Earl of Ormond, for in this great and general apostasy, which hath happened in this Kingdom, no man of either Nation hath stood more firm to the Crown of England, nor ventured his own person further for the suppressing of the present rebellion then his Lordship hath done. I could write much to demonstrate this, if there were any doubt to be made thereof: But this being a truth, which cannot but be acknowledged by all, I pass it over, & will only give you account of his Lordship's last journey, into our parts of the province of Leinster, where in a pitched field upon friday last in the afternoon, between th● hours of two and three; his Lordship gave in a field between Kelrush, and Rathemoore, a great overthrow to the whole power of the counties o● Wick●●w, Wexford, Cathercaghe, Kildare, Queen's County, Kilkenny, tipperary and some ●orces which were drawn out of the County of Westmeathe. And in this Battle, he had to deal with his great Uncle, the Lord Viscount M●untgarret, his own brother Mr. Richard Butler, the Lord of Ikerni● married to his Aunt, and the Lord of Dunboyne, his near kinsman, Tibet Funcell commonly known by the name of Baron Locher, who is married to his Lordship's Aunt, and whose Son and heir, is married to his Lordship's Sister; young Bagnau who is Cousin German to his Lordship; Philip O dare, Mr. Walter, and most of the Gentry of our Counties of Kilkenny, and tipperary; General Hugh Birne, Sir Morgan Cavenaugh, Colonel Fitz Gerrald of Ballysoran, Colonel Talbot, Colonel Moor, Colonel Sutton, Mr. Rob. Ha●pole, Mr. Thomas Davills; and many more of great rank and condition, who were all beaten, and put to a most shameful flight by his Lordship, who in the time of that battle, did like Levy forget father & mother, neither did acknowledge his own brethren, nor nearest kinsmen, but pursued them to the death. A service never to be forgotten, but to be had in remembrance, to his everlasting honour. I give you this in gross at first, because I would not keep the best news, which hitherto we have had long from you. And now having satisfied you to the full, give me leave to digest it further unto you, wherein I will faithfully and truly set forth unto you every day's service.  
Upon Saturday the second of this month, the Earl of Ormond did march from this City of Dublin towards the Naas, with 3000. Foot, and 500 Horse, and did encamp that night at Rathecoole, which is six miles from this City; his Lordship was not above two miles on his way, when a post was sent after him, to let his Lordship know, that his Countess & Children, were landed at the Ring's end, which many did think would have brought himself back that night; But his mind was so intent upon the great business of the Kingdom about which he was then sent, that though he had not seen his Countess nor Children in six months before, and could not assure himself that he should live to see them, if that he omitted that opportunity, yet neither this nor any other consideration could bring him back from the Army, but lodged with them in the fields that night, as if the spirit of that great warrior Vriah had been in him, who said, The servants of my Lord are encamped in the open field, shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife, I will not do this thing.  
Upon Sunday his Lordship marched from thence, the mountain way to the Naas, and burned all that part of the Country, and encamped there that night; there was no opposition given by the enemy all that way, only at Tipper, which is within one mile of the Naas, there was some shot made at some of our men, who went thither out of the Castle by some of the Rebels; there we lost a trumpeter, and four of our Souldi●r●, besides six which were hurt, which so enraged our men, that they sent for a barrel of powder to the Naas, and having made their approach unto it blew it up, and all who were in it, except three men, who were taken and hanged, there was in the Castle a Friar, uncle to Sutton of Tipper, a fit incendiary to be blown up amongst the rest, for it is such fiery spirits, which have put this poor and miserable Kingdom into that flame, wherein now it is: upon Monday, the hurt Soldiers were sent from the Naas to this City upon Carres, with a convoy of twelve horse, but these being set upon between Rathecoole, and this City by some of the Rebels, they were forced to leave the wounded men, to the cruelty of the Rebels, who most barbarously and cruelly murdered them, and the poor innocent Car men, who it may be did wish them better than our side.  
This accident thus happening, it stopped all intercourse, between our Army and the state, neither being able to spare that strength, which might pass with safety between them, which kept us and them in ignorance, until their return to us, we not knowing how the Army did move, nor the army hearing from us, which was a mighty advantage unto the rebels, and a very great disadvantage unto our designs.  
Upon Tuesday at night, our Army came to Athye and raised that Siege, but the Town, smen not knowing of the approach of our Army, and being hard set to by the Rebels the night before fired most part of the out Town not being able to keep it, which was some disappointment to our army when they came to quarter there.  
Upon Wednesday, his Lordship rested there with the Army, but sent Sir Patrick Weames Captain of his own troup, Captain Armstrong, and Captain Harman to Catherlagh, to relieve the Castle there, which for a long time had been beleaguered by the Rebels, but their Scouts discovering our troops gave notice thereof to the Rebels, and thereupon they fired the town and betook themselves to flight, which our horse perceiving, made what haste they could after them and killed of them in the chase, 70. men, and had done execution upon the rest, but that they betook themselves to a Bogg, where our horse could not serve upon them; But they relieved the Castle, and likewise the Castle of Clogh grevan, and returned that night to the Army. There was 700. of the Rebels in the Town of Catherlagh, when our horse made their approach thither. The same day was the Castle of Ballylivan likewise relieved by some horse, which his Lordship sent thither.  
Upon Thursday his Lordship marched to Stradebally; where he encamped that night, but left Colonel Crafforde at Athy, with some foot and horse to make good the Town until his Lordship's return; and the next day came to Marriborrow, and relieved the sort there, which is a place of very great consequence; and seated amongst ill and dangerous neighbours.  
Upon Saturday his Lordship was taken with a burning fever, which together with a great Flux, held him until Tuesday; the one did abate the violence and rage of the other; that Saturday Sir Charles Coot, and Sir Thomas Lucas, with some troops of horse relieved Ballynekill, and the Burris, and killed divers of the Rebels, which lay before Ballynekill to the number of 80. and returned that night to Marriborow upon the Sunday being Easter day, Sir Charles Coot, and Sir Thomas Lucas went with 250 horse, and relieved Birr and some other places, which were much distressed: The horse had of this a very hard service, being to pass through woods, Bogs, and great fastness, and in their way, had many skirmishes with the Rebels, but always had the good fortune to beat them, many horses were lost this journey, and it is Gods great goodness, that we did not suffer in this more than we did.  
Whilst these things were in acting, the Rebels did gather together from the Counties formerly mentioned; and upon Easter Sunday displayed above forty Colours, within two miles of Athy, on the further side of the Burrow in the Queen's County; whereof Colonel Crafforde gave notice unto my Lord of Ormond by letters, and thereupon his Lordship returned back to Athy upon Wednesday, and rested there with the Army upon Thursday.  
That Thursday, his Lordship sent to Sir Patrick Weames, and Captain Armesstrong, who were quartered at Grangomelan on this side of the river of the Barrow, and in a direct line opposite to the place on the other side of the river, where the enemy was encamped to discover their number and strength, whereupon they sent out ten of their horse to inform them of the truth hereof, which being perceived by the enemy, they sent 30. Horsemen over the river, and each Horseman had a Musketeer behind him, with an intention to cut off those ten Horsemen of ours, but this being discovered by Sir Patrick Weames, and Captain Armstrong, they sallied forth with some horse, cut off of the Musketeers, killed two of the horsemen, and the rest did in their haste miss the ford, and swimmed over the river, where some of them were drowned. Sir Patrick Weames had his Horse killed under him in that service.  
This being notified to the Earl of Ormond, his Lordship came thither with some Troops of H●rse to view the enemy, who appeared on the other side of the River of the Barrow at a place called Tankerdstowne right over against Grangemellam, and as his Lordship and the rest of the Commanders who were then with him could judge, they could be no less than six or seven thousand foot, besides 300. horse. His Lordship thus satisfied by his own eye, returned to Athy, and gave out that the next day h● would draw out of the Town and advance thither to fight with them, but his resolution was to march away the next day, & in regard that he had done the business, he went for, not to sight upon such odds, if that he might avoid it. But this was not so secretly carried, but the enemy had notice thereof, which made ●●● to dislodge that night, and to pass over the River by the Bridge of Moygame, and prepare themselves for a pursuit.  
Upon Friday morning about seven of the clock our Army did rise, and began their march, and kept the high and nearest way coward this City, but they were not half a mile on their way, when they discovered their bells marching wide of them on the right hand in another road way, and it 〈…〉 that there was a bog which was three quarters of a mile in breadth between both the Armies, which ran between them for three or four miles; and so they marched in view of each other all that way, with their Colours flying and Drums bearing; when our Army halted they likewise halted, and when ours did move they did move, and so they kept this posture until both ways did meet, by which time the vanguard of the Rebels was within 3 furlongs of our van. And at the meeting of both the ways there was a narrow passage through which our Army was to pass, where it was thought the enemy did intent to charge our rear, and cut off our men, which if we had advanced forward, they might have done with much ease, it being a place of very great advantage for the enemy, which the Earl of Ormond perceiving, he caused Sir Charles Coote who commanded in chief under his Lordship, and the rest of the Commanders and Officers of the field together, and told them that before he went any further he would fight with the enemy, though all the Rebels in Ireland we●e there together, to which they all most cheerfully and willing assented and his Lordship further told them that they had God and a good curse on their side, and that that day should be his, and he doubted not but that God would fight for them; and thereupon drew up his battle in that s●rt as did best sort with the ground where it was pitched, and the enemy did the like in another great field which was opposite to the place where our Army was. But the battle of the enemy was much sooner in order then ours by reason that they had nothing to hinder the drawing up of their men, and that our Carriages which were very many, so divided the Van from the Rear that it took up some time to bring them together, so as if the enemy had fallen upon us as soon as they were ready, we should have been in some hazard, but they stood still where they pitched their battle, and did not move forward: whereupon my Lord of Ormond gave order to Sir Charles Coote and the rest of the Commanders and Officers according to their several charge to advance forward, which they most courageously did, and came up to the field, where the enemy stood in battle array; and the ditches being leveled by our pioneers our Field-pieces were drawn up, and order given that they should play upon the enemy, which was done, but with little or no loss unto them, only the noise with which they were not much acquainted did seem so to amaze them as they stood like so many statues without life or motion. After this our Musketeers did their part, and soon after by direction from my Lord of Ormond, Sir Thomas Lucas, Sir Richard Greenowill, Sir Patrick Weames, Captain Garnyer, Captain Armstrong, and the rest of the Captains of Horse did in an instant and so gallantly charge the Rebels that upon the sudden they routed them, and had the execution of them for two or three miles, only there was a great body of 2000 led by the Lord Vicecount Mountgarret and General Hugh Birne which wheeled about and thought to possess themselves of our Ordinance, Carriage, and Ammunition, which my Lord of Ormond perceiving, he drew out one of his divisions to attend that great body, and with them and some few volunteere Horse, to the number of thirty, which were then with his Lordship (for all the rest were following the execution) he faced that body, and within a short time did likewise break them and put them to rout. There were six or seven hundred of them killed in the place, and very many wounded; and if our Horse had not been harrowed by their journey to Birne the execution had been very great, but that & the evening drawing on, and a great bog which was near, whereunto they did run, did preserve very many of them, who otherwise had been cut off: divers who have been in the battle, have assured me that the bog was all over black with them like a field in seedtime with Rookes. They lost twenty Colours, and many Drums, all their Powder and Ammunition, the Lord Vicecount Montgarrets Wain drawn with eight Oxen, where all his provision was, his Sumpture, and the Lord of Ikernies' Sumpture. There were many of note and quality slain and wounded in battle who were not known, and only the heads of the Lord of Dunboyns brother, the Lord of Ikernis son, and Colonel Cavenaghe, brought by some of the soldiers hither. We did not lose one of our Foot in this conflict, and very few of our Horse.  
This victory must be attributed wholly to God, for we were not above two thousand Foot strong, and 500 Horse, in regard that very many of the Army which went forth were sick, and divers of them left in garrison in the places which were relieved; and the enemy was at least 300. Horse, and 7000. Foot well appointed, besides 2 or 3 thousand more who were not so well appointed but attended to do execution if they had broken upon our men. They had likewise all the advantages that they could desire, for our men and horse were harrowed with long and continual marches, but there men were fresh and vigorous, and all the day before hastening to the fight like Lions to the prey, parturiunt montes, etc. They had the advantage of the ground being upon a hill, and our men forced to march up unto them, and they had likewise the Wind of us. But the Lord of Hosts was on our side and took away their former spirits and resolutions from them, having neither hearts nor resolutions to fight, only in the flight many of themselves did kill one another, and some of them who escaped the battle, being afterward asked how they lost the field, they said that no reason could be given for it, but that God was on our side: The night before the battle, they were so confident of the victory, that they laid down rules to whom quarter should be given, and to whom not, and how the Wagons and spoils should be divided, and that after the defeat they should march to this City of Dublin with our Colours, and fall upon it. If we had lost the day, the Kingdom certainly had been in great hazard, and if that we do well consider it, we shall find this victory to be of as great honour to our side, and of as much consequence, all things considered, as that which was given at Kinsale, The Lord make us thankful. Friday is appointed for a solemn day of due public thanks in our Churches for this victory which was got the last Friday, which is the day of our public fast and humiliation. And sure we were then in our Churches striving with God like Moses in prayer at the time of the battle, and God heard us.  
As soon as this victory was thus miraculously gained, and a retreat sounded, the Earl of Ormond called together all the Commanders, Captains, and Soldiers, and in the same place where God shown himself so gloriously for them they did give God solemn thanks, herein imitating Moses and the children of Israel who being pursued by their enemies, and delivered from them, sung this song unto the Lord, and spoke saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously, the Horse and his rider he hath thrown down, etc.  
I dare not venture to set forth the particular acts of every Commander and valiant soldier in this battle, but sure every man's valour was such that he who did best might envy his companion, every man striving to outgo each other in this common cause. I have tired myself, and I do believe that by this time I have tired you, and yet I do wish that the like subject may often fall out for me to write, and you to read; I commit you to God, and remain,  
Your faithful friend, and servant, Mau. Eustace. Dublin April 24. 1642.   
FINIS.