I Might have taken occasion many times since , you went from hence to have written unto you , concerning the Earle of Ormond , for in this great and generall apostacie , which hath happened in this Kingdome , no man of either Nation hath stood more firme to the Crowne of England , nor ventured his owne 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 passe it over , & will only give you account of his Lordships last journey , into our parts of the province of Leinster , where in a pitcht field upon fryday last in the afternoone , betweene th● h●ures of two and three ; his Lordship gave in a field betweene Kelrush , and Rathemoore , a great overthrow to the whole power of the counties o● Wick●●w , Wexford , Cathercaghe , Kildare , Queenes County , Kilkenny , Tipperarie and some ●orces which were drawne out of the County of Westmeathe . And in this Battaile , he had to deale with his great Uncle , the Lord Viscount M●untgarret , his owne brother Mr. Richard Butler , the Lord of Ikerni● marryed to his Aunt , and the Lord of Dunboyne , his neere kinsman , Tibbet Funcell commonly knowne by the name of Baron Locher , who is marryed to his Lordships Aunt , and whose Sonne and heire , is marryed to his Lordships Sister ; you●g Bagnau who is Cousin German to his Lordship ; Philip O darre , Mr. Walter , and most of the Gentry of our Counties of Kilkenny , and Tipperarie ; Generall Hugh Birne , Sir Morgan Cavenaugh , Colonell Fitz Gerrald of Ballysoran , Colonell Talbot , Colonell Moore , Colonell 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 shamefull flight by his Lordship , who in the time of that battell , did like Levy forget father & mother , neither did acknowledge his owne brethren , nor neerest 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 grose at first , because I would not keepe the best newes , which hitherto wee 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 dayes service .

Upon Saturday the second of this moneth , the Earle of Ormond did march from this City of Dublin towards the Naas , with 3000. Foot , and 500. Horse , and did encampe 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 Countesse & Children , were landed at the Rings end , which many did think would have brought himselfe back that night ; But his mind was so intent upon the great businesse of the Kingdome about which he was then sent , that though he had not seene his Countesse nor Children in six moneths before , and could not assure himselfe that hee 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 warryer Vriah had beene in him , who said , The servants of my Lord are encamped in the open field , shall I then goe to my house to eate and to drinke , and to lie with my wife , I will not doe this thing .

Upon Sunday his Lordship marched from thence , the mountaine 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 Rebells ; there we lost a trumpeter , and foure of our Souldi●r● , besides six which were hurt , which so inraged our men , that they sent for a barrell of powder to the Naas , and having made their approach unto it blew it up , and all who were in it , except ●hree men , who were taken and hanged , there was in the Castle a Friar , unckle to Sutton of Tipper , a fit incendiary to be blown up amongst the rest , for it is such fiery spirits , which have put this poore and miserable Kingdom into that flame , wherein now it is : upon Munday , the hurt Souldiers were sent from the Naas to this City upon Carres , with a convoy of twelve horse , but these being set upon betweene Rathecoole , and this City by some of the Rebells , they were forced to leave the wounded men , to the cruelty of the Rebells , who most barbarously and cruelly murthered them , and the poore innocent Car men , who it may be did wish them better then our side .

This accident thus happening , it stopped all intercourse , betweene our Army and the state , neither being able to spaire that strength , which might passe with safetie betweene them , which kept us and them in ignorance , untill their returne to us , we not knowing how the Army did move , nor the army hearing from us , which was a mighty advantage unto the rebells , and a very great disadvantage unto our designes .

Upon Tuesday at night , our Army came to Athye and raised that Seidge , but the Towne , smen not knowing of the approach of our Army , and being hard set to by the Rebells the night before fired most part of the out Towne 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 Captaine of his owne troup , Captaine Armestrong , and Captaine Harman to Catherlagh , to releeve the Castle there , which for a long time had beene beleagured by the Rebells , but their Scouts discovering our troups gave notice thereof to the Rebells , and thereupon they fired the towne and betooke 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 betooke themselves to a Bogg , where our horse could not serve upon them ; But they releeved the Castle , and likewise the Castle of Clogh grevan , and returned that night to the Army . There was 700. of the Rebells in the Towne of Catherlagh , when our horse made their approach thither . The same day was the Castle of Ballylivan likewise releeved by some horse , which his Lordship sent thither .

Upon Thursday his Lordship marched to Stradebally ; where hee encamped that night , but left Colonell Crafforde at Athy , with some foot and horse to make good the Towne untill his Lordships returne ; and the next day came to Marriborrow , and releeved 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 feaver , which together with a great Flux , held him untill Tuesday ; the one did abate the violence and rage of the other ; that Saturday Sir Charles Coot , and Sir Thomas Lucas , with some troupes of horse releeved Ballynekill , and the Burris , and killed divers of the Rebells , 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 releeved Birr and some other places , which were much distressed : The horse had of this a very hard service , being to passe through woods , Boggs , and great fastnesse , and in their way , had many skirmishes with the Rebells , but alwayes had the good fortune to beat them , many horses were lost this journey , and it is Gods great goodnesse , that we did not suffer in this more then we did .

Whilst these things were in acting , the Rebells 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 Queenes County ; whereof Colonell 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 Captaine Armes-strong , 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 informe them of the truth hereof , which being perceived by the enemy , they sent 30. Horsemen over the river , and each Horseman had a Musquetier behind him , with an intention to cut off those ten Horsemen of ours , but this being discovered by Sir Patrike Weames , and Captaine Armestrong , they sallyed forth with some horse , cut off of the Musketiers , killed two of the horse-men , and the rest did in their haste misse the ford , and swimmed over the river , where some of them were drowned . Sir Patricke Weames had his Horse killed under him in that service .

This being notified to the Earle of Ormond , his Lordship came thither with some Troopes 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 lesse then six or seven thousand foot , besides 300. horse . His Lordship thus satisfied by his owne eye , returned to Athy , and gave out that the next day h● would draw out of the Towne 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 oddes , if that he might avoyd it . But this was not so secretly carried , but the enemy had notice thereof , which made ●●● to dislodge that night , and to passe over the River by the Bridge of Moygame , and prepare themselves for a pursuit .

Upon Friday morning about seven of the clocke our Army did rise , and began their march , and kept the high and neerest way coward this City , but they were not halfe a mile on their way , when they discovered their bels marching wide of them on the right hand in another rode way , and it 〈…〉 that there was a bog which was three quarters of a mile in bredth betweene both the Armies , which ranne betweene them for three or foure 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 untill both waies did meet , by which time the vantgard of the Rebels was within 3 furlongs of our van . And at the meeting of both the waies there was a narrow passage through which our Army was to passe , where it was thought the enemy did intend to charge our reare , 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 Earle of Ormond perceiving , he caused Sir Charles Coote who commanded in chiefe 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 battell 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 battell 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 Reare that it tooke up some time to bring them together , so as if the enemy had fallen upon us as soone as they were ready , we should have beene in some hazzard , but they stood still where they pitched their battell , 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 severall charge to advance forward , which they most couragiously did , and came up to the field , where the enemy stood in battell array ; and the ditches being levelled by our Pioners our Field-peeces were drawn up , and order given that they should play upon the enemy , which was done , but with little or no losse unto them , onely the noise with which they were not much acquainted did seeme so to amaze them as they stood like so many statues without life or motion . After this our Musketiers did their part , and soone after by direction from my Lord of Ormond , Sir Thomas Lucas , Sir Richard Greenowill , Sir Patricke Weames , Captaine Garnyer , Captaine Armestrong , and the rest of the Captaines 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 , onely there was a great body of 2000. led by the Lord Vicecount Mountgarret and Generall Hugh Birne which wheeled about and thought to possesse themselves of our Ordinance , Carriage , and Amunition , 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 excution ) he faced that body , and within a short time did likewise breake 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 neere , whereunto they did runne , did preserve very many of them , who otherwise had been cut off : divers who have been in the battell , have assured me that the bog was all over blacke with them like a field in seed-time with Rookes. They lost twenty Colours , and many Drums , all their Powder and Amunition , the Lord Vicecount Montgarrets Waine drawn with eight Oxen , where all his provision was , his Sumpture , and the Lord of Ikernies Sumpture . There were many of note and quality slaine and wounded in battell who were not known , and only the heads of the Lord of Dunboyns brother , the Lord of Ikernis sonne , and Colonell Cavenaghe , brought by some of the souldiers hither . We did not loose one of our Foot in this conflict , and very few of our Horse .

This victory must be attributed wholy 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 releeved ; and the enemy was at least 300. Horse , and 7000. Foot well appointed , besides 2 or 3 thousand more who were not so wel appointed but attended to doe 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 continuall marches , but there men were fresh and vigorous , and all the day before hastning to the fight like Lyons to the prey , parturiunt montes , &c. 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 tooke away their former spirits and resolutions from them , having neither hearts nor resolutions to fight , onely in the flight many of themselves did kill one another , and some of them who escaped the battell , 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 battell , they were so confident of the victory , that they laid downe rules to whom quarter should be given , and to whom not , and how the Wagons and spoiles should be divided , and that after the defeate they should march to this City of Dublin with our Colours , and fall upon it . If we had lost the day , the Kingdome certainely had been in great hazzard , and if that we doe well consider it , we shall finde 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 thankfull . Friday is appointed for a solemne day of due publike thanks in our Churches for this victory which was got the last Friday , which is the day of our publique fast and humiliation . And sure we were then in our Churches striving with God like Moyses in prayer at the time of the battell , and God heard us .

As soon as this victory was thus miraculously gained , and a retreat sounded , the Earle of Ormond called together all the Commanders , Captaines , and Souldiers , and in the same place where God shewed himself so gloriously for them they did give God solemne 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 spake saying , I will sing unto the Lord , for he hath triumphed gloriously , the Horse and his rider he hath thrown downe , &c.

I dare not venture to set forth the particular acts of every Commander and valiant souldier in this battell , but sure every mans valour was such that he who did best might envy his companion , every man striving to out-goe each other in this common cause . I have tyred my selfe , and I doe beleeve that by this time I have tyred you , and yet I doe wish that the like subject may often fall out for me to write , and you to read ; I commit you to God , and remaine ,