THe 3d . of Iuly I came from Corke , and was faine to stay 4 or 5 , dayes at Moyallo before the Forces and Artillery were al come up , then I marched directly towards Rathkele in the County of Lymerick ; and sent out 2. partyes in the night from the Mountaines foote on this side Ballyhea , the one under the command of Leiftenant Col. Cooke , with 400. Foote , and Major Frenchard with about 200. Horse ; the other under the command of Leift . Colo . Knight 600. Foote , and under Major Purdon 350. Horse : unto the first I gave order to go close by Sleuelober , towards the Shanon , and drive all they could light upon to Rathkell and the other to march by the River Maige ( being on the other hand ) towards the Shanon , and drive all they could get to the same place , where I intended the next day to mee● them with the rest of the body , but the way being ill , I could not get up with the Ordinance , so as I was faine to lye that night at Ballingary 3. Mile short of them ; where I found abundance of Plunder and Victualls , to the value of 1000 l. at least , and had two Castles delivered up to me , one wherof was very strong , belonging to one R. Lacy , the other was a Castle belonging to my Lord of Corke . I sent word to the Rendevous where I lay , and sent 200. Horse under Major Ieffords command , to help those that had been upon the parties , who I knew would be extreame weary , having gone 20 myle before they began to drive , and then spent almost the whole day in gathering of cattle , where they could spie them . But the Party that went with Knight and P●●do● having gotten 6000. Cowes and Sheepe , which were very troublesome to drive and keep them up together , were sorced to stay 2 Mile from the Rendevous ; and it seemes Purdon thought himselfe so secure , that he neither appointed Guards or Centry , but let every one do as he pleased , so as my Lord of Muskery was in the midst of them with 500. horse , before they perceived any enemy , nor did they then beleive them to be so , till he beganne to doe execution , whereupon Capt . Fenton providently tooke a course to preserve Sir William an Heire , who with Capt . Dethick came away with all the hast they could , and brought me word , that all the party horse and foote were lost , and having told me the place , I instantly marched with all the hast possible I could , to get between the Rebells , and the passe of Abdare , which they ( as I since heard ) were apprehensive of , and therefore made such hast , as that they were gone 2 howers before I could get thither : then I met Major Iefford , who was also in pursuit of them , but could not overtake them , of him I demonded what harther accompt was to be had of the businesse , and found it to be thus . The Rebells fell into our Quarters more then ●n hower before day , and first lighted upon the Dragoneers , who thought they had been friends , till they were better inform'd by their blows , and then the firebrands being the readyest armes , Trumble and his men tooke them up , and with them kept off the Horse , that their Riders could not them force upon our men , till they got to their Armes , then the Foot drew up and somely , and so pelted these Horse , though they charged them 4. times , they were still beaten off with loss , which made them turne from them , and fall among our Horsemen , where they tooke Capt . Cour●●●rup prisoner , and 5. more , flew 2. men , and tooke away about 40. Horse with as many Saddles and Armes , we had but 2. Horsemen and one footman killed , but about forty Horsemen much wounded , among whom was Major Choppyus Cornet , who is since dead , and so are 4. or 5. more ; I was not a little joyed to finde the businesse no worse , perceiving also that the Rebels lost two Captaines , and two Leiutenants of Horse , and hearing by a Prisoner that they had many wounded , thus it pleased God to worke for us , when in ●ll prebability every man of ours might have bin lost , and without a ●iracle they had beene so ( for the most part ) if my Lord of Muskery had stayed till breake of day ; that they might have seene the advantage they had , which he durst not doe , lest I should get between him and Adare , for then I had , had him in a Pound , In this businesse a great part of our prey was lost , but what remained to us of both parties preyes , amounted to 1500. Cowes , and 4000. sheepe , whereof the Souldiers destroyed and imbezled all but 700. Cowes , and 800. sheep at Rathkell , we found in the three severall Castles we took , and the houses in the towne , at least 3000. pounds worth of plunder , which ( discernably ) no man was five pounds the better for , except two or three Common Souldiers , who found in severall places three Bagges of mony that amounted in all to about 100 l. the Wards of these Castles , and foure more neer the Towne , gave up upon summons ; one other we took by force , but the men had quarter for their lives , which with their wearing Apparell was the best quarter they had , that gave upon summons , five dayes were spent about this town , and then hearing that the Rebels Army lay within 8. myles of us , we marched towards them , lying the first night at A●dare , and the next day , as soone as we advanced towards them , they withdrew to the Wall of Lymericke , but though wee could not fotce them to fight , wee wreaked our vengeance on the Country , where wee burnt all houses Corne and Hay , insomuch as that I am confident 40000 l. will not Ballance their losse by that meanes , from A●dare we marched to Kilpehan , and thence to Monaster an Enagh , which your Father sold , from thence to the Broff , where my Lord Castle Connels Company of about 80. men , well arm'd and provided , were placed two dayes before , who changed their resolution of defending the place upon the first treaty betweene me and their Captaine , who took quarter for life , and wearing apparell , leaving us good store of plunder and 150. Armes in the House , which was almost as many as we had taken in all the other Castles , the same night I lay at the Broffe , I sent two Regiments to see what they could do upon a Castle of one Boxes within halfe a myle of it , where his son was Commander , and denyed to yeeld to me upon such quarter as I had given others , These two Regiments , assaulted the great ditch , which was their Banne fence , and carryed every man a burthen of the thach of houses to the Grate of the Castle , which being fired , and the wind sitting favourably , they maintained the fire so , as in two houres the people were unable to stay within , and having no other way , began to come out of the Windowes , but our men killed the first that came , the rest fled to the Battlements , where they stayed till our men had made a breach with barres of Iron , and then they comming up to them , some leaped over the top of the Castle , which was very high , but they were all slaine except one , who was saved by meere accident , the next day I sent a party of Horse to Baggots Castle , who had taken over night two of our horsemen , with their Horses and Armes , supposing that they would bee glad to give up my horsemen upon condition I would let him alone , which of necessity I must have done for want of Ammunition , for I had not one graine of Powder left that was serviceable , when the Horse surrounded and summoned him , he desired to speake with me , whereupon I came thither , whilst the army was marching towards home , in expectation to have the place presently given up , but the Monsier propounded only coming under contribtion , and said he ment not to yeeld ( if we did our utmost ) upon other tearms , whereat I was troubled , that I was come thither in person , and though I saw the place weak , not able to force it But I spoke big words of sending for the Ordinance instantly , and told him , I would make him purchase his abuse of my expectation at a dear rate , and that I would heare of no further treaty . Whereupon the Gentleman desired some time of consideration , and at length was perswaded to give us our prisoners , with their Horses and Armes , and 16. Horses more , whereof 10 were the best in that Country , we got also a 100 l. in mony to be rid of us , and so came away that night into our own Quarters to Ardskiegh , and the next day hither to meet with what provision and ammunition was provided for us , which being but 2 l. of Bisquet , and 1 l. of Cheese a man ; we are this day marching away to the releife of Ballagary and Castlematresse , where we left wards , who have been besieged these 3. dayes ( that I have been out of the County of Lymerick ) but to morrow I shall with Gods help be with them , and I must indeavour to do now , as I did last time , live all the time we are abroad upon the Country , which now I doubt will afford us only Pease and Beans , which we hope will keep us from starving , though we should get nothing else , if it do not , there is no visible means for us to avoyd it , for we have not a bit of provision , nor a penny of mony in our Garrisons , where the Towns relieve the sick men , and the well subsist by their own acquisitions . Wherefore , I beseech you Sir , either get us releife that may enable us to live here , or get me leave to come off , and let them give my Command to whom they please . I can contribute Faithfullnesse and Integrity to the preservation of their intrests , but I can work no Miracles .