<125> After the Lord Lieutenant-general and Governor of Ireland had rested certain days at Dublin, for establishing the state of the kingdom, and for making his necessary provision for the war, (which I can but conjecture) his Lordship departed thence (May 10) toward the champion<129> fields between the villages Kilrush and Castlemartin: in which place (on the 12th) he appointed to meet him 17 ensigns of foot and 300 horse; which his Lordship divided into regiments, appointing the same to be commanded by colonels. The day following, the rebels showed themselves in small numbers, delivering some few shot out of woods and ditches upon our vant-couriers, but without any hurt. This night the army lodged by Athy, which hath been a great market, but brought by these wars into the state of a poor village. It is divided in two parts by the river Barrow, over the which lieth a stone bridge, and over that a castle, occupied by James Fitz Dean (a gent. of the family of the Geraldines,) who yielded himself to the mercy of the Lord Lieutenent; as did also, the same day, the Lord Viscount Mountgarret and the Lord of Cahir (both Butlers) who were presented to his Lord by the Earl of Ormond, who in that place joined his forces to our army. His Lord having put a guard in the castle of Athy, passed his forces over the Barrow by the bridge of the castle; whose river being not otherways fordable but with difficulty, and the bridge thereof the only way which leadeth into the Queen's County, the importance of this enterprise must appear to the most dull and ignorant sense. At Woodstock (a village situate upon Barrow) his Lord expected victuals a day or two for the relief of Maryborough, (a fort of much importance, but of contemptible strength,) in the Queen's County; to which his Lord now hasted, not permitting other stay in his journey, than necessity gave cause. During the time the army encamped (May 14) by Woodstock, the rebels attempted the stealing of some of our horses; which being perceived by Sir Christopher St. Lawrence (son to the Lord of Howth) he passed by the Barrow naked, and, followed by his men, rescued the prey, and returned with the head of a rebel. About the same time, the rebel presented himself about 200 strong, in the sight of the Castle Reban, (a house of Capt. Leas, a mile from the army,) which, upon sight of the Earl of Southampton, who hasted towards them in most soldierlike order, with a small troop of horse and foot, retired themselves to their bogs, and from thence to their woods. There the Lord Grey, being carried nearer to the rebel by heat of valour (natural to such years and nobility) than was reasonable, and contrary to the commandment of the Earl of Southampton, was, for his contempte punished by the Lord Lieutenant with a night's imprisonment.<126> So soon as his Lord was provided of victuals, he marched with his army towards the fort Maryborough, in the Queen's County. In the way, the rebel showed himself by a passage called Blackford; through which my Lord marched in such excellent order, that it terrified him not to attempt upon any part of the army, but to approach near unto the same. His Lord having victualled the fort, (where he knighted Sir Fra. Rushe, the general lately of the province of Leinster, and increased the garrison,) lodged that night (May 17) at the foot of a very high hill, called Croshy Juffe, where the rebel once in Rory O'More showed himself, with about 500 foot and 40 horse, 2 miles from our camp, renewing that night, and continuing the next morning, a challenge, which he had made a few days before, to fight (some of his with some of ours) with swords and targets;<127> which was consented unto by his Lordship, but the rebel never came to perform it. His Lordship having, from the top of Croshy Juffe, viewed the country round about, and particularly the way of that day's journey, led the army towards Cashel, half a mile from that night's quarter. The nature of the passage is such:— through a thick wood, half of a mile long, leadeth a high way, in most places 10 going paces broad, which, in the midst, was traversed with a trench, and the wood plashed on both sides; from behind which, the enemy might with facility gall our men in their passage. To the other two sides of the wood are adjoined two bogs, which serve the rebel for a very sure retreat from all force of our army: but upon an elevated piece of ground between the wood and bog, on the left hand, was a village, from behind which the rebel might fall in, and return to his strength. His Lordship to make his way secure through this passage, ordered his army in this sort:—The whole army was divided into seven battalions; before the vanguard marched the forlorn hope,<121> consisting of 40 shot and 20 short weapons, with order that the shot should not be discharged till they presented their pieces to the rebels' breasts in their trenches; and that suddenly the short weapons should enter the trenches pell-mell. Upon either side of the vanguard (which was observed in the battle<128> and rearguard) marched wings of shot, interlined with pikes, to which were sent seconds, with as much care and diligence as occasion required. The baggage and a part of the horse marched before the battle; the rest of the horse fell in before the rearguard, except 30, which, under the conducte of Sir Henry Davers, made the retreat of the whole army. These going to the release of Capt. Morrisham, who was engaged by the rebel, they repelled him without any other loss, than that Sir Alexander Ratcliffe had his horse shot in the head of the troop. The vanguard, followed by the other parts of the army, having by provident march gained the end of the passage (where discovered itself a large champion<129>) was commanded to make halt, until the horse, and whatsoever was unprofitable in the strait, were advanced to the plain. This was the order (as I have heard) appointed by the Lord Lieutenant; which being not observed in all parts of the army with like diligence, there were lost by folly Capt. Gardner and Capt. Boswell, with some 3 private men. His Lp. was that day in no place, (that is, in every place) flying like lightning from one part of the army to another, leading, directing, and following the vanguard, battle, and rearguard. The deaths of our captains were revenged by our quartermen and scoutmen, who accompanied with divers gentlemen, slew 7 of the rebels, which essayed to force the quarter; of which were Alexander Donnell, a gentleman, and Donal Knogger, of base birth, but for the proof of his daring and skill, of especial esteem with Tyrone. In this conflict, Edmond Bushell, gent. usher to his Lp. received a hurt in the breast with a pike. The day following (May 19) the Lord Lieutenant, observing the former order of march, led his men through the passage called Ballyragget, where we found the rebels so few in number, and so timorous in attempting, as their behaviour (on the 20th) proved, that the order of the other day's march was terrible unto them. These passages thus overcome, to the no small terror of the rebel, and admiration to the soldiers, his Lord came to Kilkenny, where he was received with as much joy of the citizens as could be expressed, either by lively orations, or silent strewing of the streets with herbs and rushes. To Clonmel (on the 24th) his Lp. was well welcomed, to the like joy of the people, and with a Latin oration, or rather a dialogue, wherein the author had adjured his Lp. concerning the establishing of peace in Ireland; which, being delivered in unfit terms, his Lord reproved, protesting his antipathy concerning matters of justice; to moderate which, her sacred Majesty had given him both sword and power. The day after (the 25th) the castle Darenclare, which had long time offended the citizens of Clonmel in their traffic by the river of Suir to Waterford, yielded to his Lps. mercy. In the midst of the river of Suir lieth an island, the same a natural rock, and upon it a castle, which, although it be not built with any great art, yet is the site such by nature, that it may be said to be inexpugnable. Of this castle, which is called Cahir, is the Lord of Cahir entitled Baron; which being held by James Butler, his younger brother, the Lord Lieutenant sent the Lord of Cahir to parley with him; and with him Sir Henry Davers, whom he adjured, during the parley, to understand as much as he might the nature of the place: who, returning with the Lord of Cahir, (well satisfied that his brother would not yield up the castle) related the site and strength of the castle to be such as is mentioned. This night his Lordship reviewed the place himself in person, and caused the same to be done by the Lord Marshal and Serjeant Major, commanding that after a diligent review, the approaches, (taking the advantage by way of old ditches and walls,) should that night be removed to the wall of the counter-scarp. One day being intermitted, without doing anything, for want of the artillery, which could not arrive in short, the same being only drawn by the force of men: there passed a day or two, before the battery was commenced. The same night that the battery was planted (May 28) his Lordship sent the Lord Marshal and Serjeant Major, with 300 men, to occupy a garden which adjoined to the castle, upon the southwest part. Although the passages to this garden were such, that a very small number might have made front to an army, yet, did these beasts first quit that place, and presently after, they abandoned the castle, except 8 persons; to the relief of which were sent, early in the morning, 100 kern<130> by the White Knight. In the beginning of the night, (May 29) Sir Christopher St. Lawrence was sent, with 300 kern men, to possess an island which lieth from the castle north-east (not more than harquebus<131> shot) and to break up two bridges; one of which leadeth from the island to the main, and the other from the same island to the castle. The rebels (on the 30th) seeing themselves, in the morning, secluded from that relief which they hourly expected from Desmond, and from the White Knight, at night they conveyed themselves (with much stillness) out of the castle, which yet being perceived by our guards, they fell presently to execution, and entered as well the castle without resistance as direction; by which accident was repossessed for her Majesty, with the slaughter of 80 rebels, one of the strongest places by nature that is in Ireland, or that can be imagined elsewhere. During this siege, Capt. Brett was shot in the body with a harquebus, as was also Capt. George Cary, through both cheeks and through the body, the bullet entering above the left shoulder, and passing through the opposite arm hole; which hurts were more than miraculous, for that there were only 3 shot made, and his body in all other parts covered with an armor of musket proof. These 2 worthy captains, having in this siege, as in many other places, made honourable proofs of their virtue, left, within a few days, the example thereof to be admired of all, but to be imitated of few, and they themselves departed to a happier life. His Lordship having (May 31) repaired the breaches of the castle, and left such a garrison in the same as must annoy the frontering<132> rebel, (his sick men being sent to Clonmel,) he arrived by easy journeys at Limerick, where he was entertained with two English orations; in which I know not which was more to be discommended, their particular excellencies in barbarism, harshness, and rustical both pronouncing and action. The army, which had endured much, as well by foul ways as by unseasonable weather, being well refreshed by the release it received from Limerick, was conducted by his Lordship to Adare, a ruinated abbey; in which village his Lordship lodged a regiment of foot. Passing the same day (June 4) over the river Adare, over a narrow bridge, which was well perceived by the rebels Desmond and Lacy; who never made a show to prohibit the passage, although they had (not much more than musket shot from the same) about 12 foot under 5 ensigns and 2 cornets of horse, either appearing at least to be a 100. They were trained in sight of our army, (divided from it by an unfordable river and a bog) but in such disorder, that it rather seemed a morris dance, by their tripping after their bagpipes, than any soldier-like exercise; they conveying themselves (after a while) in a ringdance into the wood which they had close at their backs, and from which they have not departed farther at any time, since our army entered Munster, than an old hunted hare doth from her covert for relief. Early in the morriing the army passed the river, and marched towards a passage, half a mile from Adare, which had on either side a wood, but under that on the right hand a bog, by the head of which extended itself the wood on the left hand; the passage lay over the bog, which was very deficient both for main natural strength which we found in the same, and for pillages made that morning by the rebel. At the entrance into the passage between the woods, the dexter wings being not so far advanced as the forlorn hopes; his Lordship (being in the head of his troops to direct them) had delivered upon close at hand, a volley of at least 100 shot; which were instantly repelled by some troops which his Lordship caused to be drawn forth of the vanguard, commanded that day by the Earl of Thomond. His lordship, having with the loss of more than an 100 without any loss of his own, put the rebel to retreat on that part, possessed himself of the passage, placing on either side a regiment to assure the same; and, that done, returned to give order to the rearguard, where he was in like danger as before in the vanguard, overcoming the same with the like order, but not altogether with so much slaughter. The rebel thus repelled, by the prudence of his Lordship, the whole troops marched through the passage, not alone without loss, but without any difficulty. On the left hand of the passage was Plunkett lodged, who with 300 rebels (making show that day, and with apt echo in the wood, with the report of 30 or 40 shot) was constrained the next day to give pledges to for th'assurance of his faith. From the passage his lordship conducted his army to the Castle Askeaton, which was then something distressed by the rebel, who intercepted the passage in such sort, as until the time it could not conveniently receive any relief from Limerick, from whence it was now victualled by his lordship, the rebel neither hindering his lordship to pass nor repass his army over the river of Deel, upon which Askeaton is situate, where a small number might have made head to a copious troop; nor endeavoring any notable offence, in any place where they might have proved their force with much advantage. His Lordship (as I conjecture, to give the rebel an inexcusable provocation) diverted his journey towards the Castle Conon in county of Cork, Desmond's chief house.

            In the way, passing between woods, (hard by Pheinter's town) which flanked the army on either side within musket shot, his Lordship, peradventure to let the rebel know the virtue of his men, and their weakness, entertained skirmish with them in their own strength; forcing them to abandon the same, without other loss, than that Sir Henry Norris,<133> presenting a charge with his troop of horse, had his leg broken with a shot; the which, to prevent the last evil, or rather the first, [on] entrance into guard, was cut off, a few days after, at Kilmallock. He endured the same with extraordinary patience. His Lordship, according to his custom, finding himself in every place of action, was this day in as much danger as any private man. So was likewise the Earl of Southampton in much danger, expecting perpetually in the head of the troop (all the time of the skirmish) opportunity to charge the rebel. The Lord Grey, having that day the vanguard of horse, gave charge, with 12 of his horse, to as many of the rebels; forcing them into the woods to their foot. There died of the rebel clan, Donnell, and one of the Burghes, both commanders; only of ours, Capt. Jennings, Sir Henry Norris being, by report, certainly recovered, as is also Fra. Markham, a gent. of known valour, who had his right cheek pierced with a bullet (June 16.) The same day that the army passed by Castle Connor, was the same entertained in skirmish from the skirt of a road called Banno Coulaghe by Mac Carthy's men, where Sir Henry Davers (endeavouring to save certain stragglers that indiscreetly had engaged themselves) was shot in the face, the bullet passing to the root of his left ear, where it still resteth, but without any anoyance, he being already perfectly recovered. Desmond, instead of defending his castle, razed the same; by which, through his whole country, the army marched without any offence, although he might have presented himself in our way in places of exceeding advantage; so that, without any impeachment of the rebel, his Lordship arrived, on the 22nd (notwithstanding great brags by Desmond) unfought withal, at Waterford, where his Lordship was received with two Latin orations, and with as much joyful concourse of people as any other town of Ireland. During his Lordship's abode in Waterford, the importance of the plan requiring the same, on the 23rd, he reviewed with careful diligence the harbour, as also the fort Duncannon, which guard the same; the site and fabricature of which declare Sir John Norris<134> (by whose approbation that was chosen, and then allowed) as judicial an engineer, as his other arts have ennobled him for a worthy soldier. For the site, it is so overtopped by a imminent height, not distant from it more than 150 paces, that no man can stand firm in the piazza of the fort; and as for any art of fortification, whereof the fort should participate, and whereby skilful engineers are accustomed to render places more defensible, I should think the same (submitting yet my censure to the controlment of more experienced judgments) an insufficient entrenchment, and consequently a most defective fortress; whose shelter affordeth firm lodging under it to an enemy, covering him from all offences of the parapet, and yet not the same raised to such height as may secure the defendants in the strata cooperta;<135> whose ditches are low and narrow and shallow; whose rampart and parapet are low and slender; whose defences are a forbici and in barba; and, that which is worse, there correspondence hindered by the casemates in the ditch, whose piazza is narrow, affording no place for retreat, when that rampart which is, shall either be beaten or topped; all which misfortunes are found in that part of the fort which regardeth the navy.<136> The part of the fort towards the water, although it hath not so many defects as the former, yet hath it as gross errors as any are mentioned. The two platforms being both of them so scant that they are not alone capable of such a number of pieces as might serve to command the water, but that they which are there have not sufficient place for their recoil: the defects of which platforms are suited with answerable parapets, which being slender and of stone, they promise (instead of security) death, to as many as shall, in time of necessity, present themselves to defence.

            From Waterford to Dublin (whither his Lordship was now (June 25) in return with his army) leadeth a double way; the one through the glens, which denieth passage to horse and carriages; the other along the sea shore, by which his Lordship reviewed his army, as well, peradventure, for the convenience of the passage, as to visit in his way the garrisons of Enniscorthy, Arklow, Wicklow, and Newcastle. Until the army had passed Enniscorthy, the rebel never showed himself; for all the former day's march was through a plain. champion,<129> where he never trusteth himself; but before the army was advanced the midway from Enniscorthy towards Arklow, the rebel, (aided with the opportunity of woods and bogs,) presented himself in our way, for the destroying of certain villages; all which (and only which) his Lordship caused, in despite of him, to be consumed with fire, on June 30. About three miles from Arklow, the army was to pass a ford, where the enemy presented himself in our way, with opinion, as may be conjectured, if not to prohibit, yet to trouble the army in the passage. The skirmish was for one half hour hotly maintained, either part contending the forme; the other, by fresh seconds, borrowed from their gross<139> which they had at hand. The Lord Lieutenant, thinking to inclose the rebel between his horse and foot, commanded the Lord of Southampton (who was now passing the ford) to take the first opportunity to charge; but the rebel (whose dread of our horse causeth them to observe diligently all their motions) perceiving the Earl of Southampton to advance with his troops, retired himself into his strength, a part of them casting away their arms for lightness, which yet escaped not altogether the execution of the Lord Lieutenant, who directed the foot in that part. The rebel was to pass in his strength through two small fields enclosed; through the end of the second of which lay a horse way unto a neighbour wood. His Lordship, invited by the opportunity of the place, commanded [Lieut. Busshell, <137>] an Irish commander of horse, to charge, who committed a double error: the one, that he sent out 20 or 30 of his troop before the rest, which might have broken the rebels, and have received his first volley; the other, that, for about 12 shot that were delivered upon his troop, he turned head, when his trumpet sounded a charge; giving life to more than 200 rebels that stood at his mercy. In the meanwhile, while these things were in hand, the whole troops were passed the sands, and his Lordship began to continue his march towards Arklow; laying in a village upon the way an ambuscade of about 40 horse, which might cut off the rebel, &c. (which his Lordship most judicially supposed he should approach to offend the rear: but the rebel (who is not easily surprised by ambuscade) either perceiving or suspecting deceit, made an halt with his two troops, which appeared to be about 800 foot and 50 horse, (a number which, howsoever it seem contemptible, yet is it sufficient to fight, in the strengths of the country, with 50 such armies as ours.) His Lordship, perceiving the rebels stay, rallied his horse to their place; and, the country being (to appearance) plain and firm champion, the whole army seemed to promise to itself security, and the rebel not presuming, every man attended only to hasten to the quarters in a speedy march, whereby the army was distracted into an excessive length, and brought thereby (although into no disorder) yet into some unreadiness. While the army marched, his Lordship, nothing being more familiar unto him than to observe the order of his own troops in their march, ascended for this purpose the top of a hill, whose height discovereth the whole plain; and perceiving from thence that the rebel prepared to give upon the rear of the sinister wing of the vanguard, led by Marmaduke Constable, Ensign to Capt. Ellis Jones, he commanded the Lord of Southampton (to whom gathered suddenly a few straggling horse) to haste to their succour. In the meantime, while the Lord of Southampton was occupied in the assuring of the feat, and endeavouring to draw the rebel (which held him in his strength) upon firm ground, the Lord Lieutenant, not attended upon by more than 6 or 7 horse,<138> presented a charge to the rebels' gross<139> of horse and foot, which was now making towards the Earl of Southampton, whom they saw to be engaged and to be upon a ground disadvantageous for horse; but, perceiving the resolution of the Lord Lieutenant, who constantly expected them upon the side of a bog which lay between him and them, they made a halt; about which time, the Lord Southampton, having increased the number of his horse to about 24, seeing it lost time to endeavour to draw the vermin from their strength, resolved to charge them at all disadvantage; which was performed with that suddenness and resolution, that the enemy, which before was dispersed in skirmish, had not time given him to put himself in order; so that, by the opportunity of occasion taken by the Earl, and virtue of them that were with him, (which were almost all noble) there was made a notable slaughter of the rebels. Such as escaped from their gross were intercepted from their gross (to which they laboured to retire) by our foot, sent thither by the Lord Lieutenant in relief of the horse; many of which, by the too much forwardness of the riders, were there embogged; by whose enfortunate death, Capt. Cayen, whose industry had adorned him with much both science and language, died in the plain; and Capt. Constable, after a double wound, saved himself by his own virtue. That which the foot did in this part was not less glorious than that of the horse, their being a stand made by Sir Henry Poor, Capt. Courtney, and Ensign Constable, with 100 against (at least) 400 rebels. But that which hindered the coming down of the rebels was the presence of the Lord Lieutenant, who stood in a place fit to offend both by direction and number, having a little before joined unto him the rearward of foot and horse. The rebels, Donogh Hispanagh, and Phelim MacFeagh, moved either with the slaughter of theirs, whereof died more than a 100, (five of which were commanders;) or terrified with the order, readiness, and virtue of our men, which drew their route, desired Sir Thomas Davers,<140> who that day commanded the rearguard of horse, to come out unto his Lordship, upon pretexts which his Lordship denied, as a course unfit for rebels, refusing to receive them upon other terms than upon submission to her Majesty's mercy. The next day following (July 1) his Lordship viewed the place, where (some weeks before) Phelim MacFeagh, with 400 foot and 150 horse (on a plain of unspeakable advantage to our men) had overthrown Sir Hen. Harington, Knight, who had with him 450 foot and 60 horse. They which escaped by flight, or by base hiding of themselves from the force of the rebels' sword, were by a martial court condemned (on the 3rd) to be hanged on the gallows; which sentence was mitigated by his Lordship's mercy, by which every 10th man was sentenced only to die; the rest appointed to serve in the army for pioneers.

            Thus is my discourse, guided by the footsteps of victorious and successful journeys, returned as it were (in a circular revolution) to Dublin, his first period, where the Lord Lieutenant now remaineth, meditating, as it is thought, a second journey.

            If in this relation I have omitted any thing of note, or noted any thing superfluous, either error is ignorance, neither judgment; my purpose being to discourse briefly the journey, without either amplifying small accidents, or detracting from well-deserving persons, which, for their satisfaction, as many as know me will believe; and, as for the rest, I desire not to know them.

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