A letter sent from Sr. Simon Harcourt, to a worthy member of the House of Commons. VVith a true relation of the proceedings of the English army, under his command, to this present March. Whereunto is added the many miraculous deliverances, in the relieving and defending of the city of Tredagh, by the providence of God. Exactly related, by the minister of the same town, who was an eye witnesse thereof, and is still resident there.

An Abstract of Newes Since our re∣liefe Ianuary. 11. to the 20^th of February.

AFter much misery we were relieved by the Pinnace with some Bisquet and Am∣munition, extremity of want drawing on of both, that it was not unobserved, that where we had bin solemly praying for it. The Rebells had sunck a Barque in the Channell, but two or three daies before the winde and tide had driven her out to Sea, they had hoysted an iron chaine, but that hindred not her passage over it 1000 shot were sent from either side the River, and had double returnes from ours, yet not one of our men lost, with what joy∣full acclamations the Pinace and her Shallope were re∣ceived within the Bay, what mutuall salutations of shot were given and answered; how the Streets rang againe with thanks and Prayers to God from all sorts, those who were eye and eare witnesses can never forget, at this reliefe the countenances of the Townesmen told asmuch, upon second thoughts towards night, they seemed to be very glad, and for an expression were very kinde to the Souldiers, offering them drinke upon every guard on free cost; the poore men not using to receive so liberally without their Officers knowledge, two parts of the Watch were drunke, about mid-night, (most being a∣sleepe) a breach was made in the wall, in an our orchard betwixt St. James gate, and the water, in which, as was confessed by one hanged the next day, an Officer had a chiefe hand in; about 3 of the clock 500 entred and con∣tinued an houre or two undiscovered, till being marched upon the key they shouted, which was either for asure∣ance of victory, or to invite the Towne to their promised assistance, some of them had adventured up to the Mill∣mount,

and killed the first Centinell, others had entred the Bridge. This shout being our first Allarum, the Go∣vernour ran out unarmed, and was the first that caused a Drum to beat, and in that hast, was compelled to take the maine guard, who were his owne company, and com∣manded men from by-guards, these were his present strength, first posted downe some Pikes commanded by his Ensigne, to make good the Bridge, untill the Musque∣teeres could make ready; we met the enemy upon the first entry, and finding them resisted by a guatd of ours charged home, and soone compelled them to retreate, the Governor immediatly relieved his Ensigne with Mus∣queteeres, who met not farre from the Bridge, another company of the Rebells, but being in the darke, tooke them by their an swere to be friends, untill hee found the contrary by a shot made at him, which went throw the brims of anothers hat next him. As soon as we gave fire it proved so effectuall, that they instantly scattered & were chased through the strees, leaving their dead bodies as stumbling blocks in our way. And now my Lord Moore with what Horse he could make ready, came to his assi∣stance, who chased the residue of them up the Hill, where they dropped a pase, but where the breach was, could not yet be found, till they directed us by their flight, through which 100 escaped: and now each Captaine had got together Forces, and environ'd them in each quarter and with ease layd them on heapes in every corner, so that the slain within the walls and prisoners taken with∣out, were 200. This deliverance the worst of men ac∣knowlege to be the hand of God, for had they marched towards the next Port, and cut the guard off there, who were most sleeping: one thousand of their owne men were there ready to enter, and we had bin lost. 'Twas Gods hand that their shouts gave us the first Allarum to our safety and their destruction. In this hot skirmish we lost but few, the most being butcher'd by them at their

first entrance unarm'd to prevent their giving ••ice, only three were lost in fight. This was the only night (of any neglected) which the joy of the present reliefe occa∣sioned, but for the future doubled our Watches, forty Horse in severall Divislons still riding the Rounds, and by their often visits, a Sentinel hath scarce time to wink. My Lord Moore one night, and the Governor another (as supervisors of the whole) have not failed since, con∣stantly to watch in their owne persons. The enemy with∣out, on the South-side of the Towne, seemed to be about 3000 who in severall bodies stayd one houre or two after day, believing the Towne to be taken, expecting the o∣pening of a Port, which we perceiving, and having taken, a Piper of theirs, caused him to play very merily on one of the Plat-formes, and to call out in Irish, that the Towne was theirs. It was good sport to see them shorten the way by leaping ditches, and runing themselves out of breath, who should be first taken, and so were brought in by tens. This extraordinary blessing, I conceive, deserv'd a speci∣all solemne thankes-giving, which wee performed two daies after. A faire winde inviting the Pinnace next day to returne, past with as many praiers for safety by the Soldiers on the walls, as she had bin received with prai∣ses. But a small Fisher-boate, as a full judgement of God for the former nights worke, by the unskillfulnesse of the Pilate, ranne aground, and that nigh•• was taken by the enemy, with foureteene Prisoners: also about three miles off, at Alermine Towne, the Pinnace fell into the like hazard, being most falsely left by the Shallopes, to the mercy of the enemy, who played upon her on both sides, 100 of the Rebells, under the shelter of Carre-loads of Furs, desperatly approached so neere, that they got under the Sterne, and with Crowes and Pike-axes began to bulge her, neither Pike nor Musquet could offend them: in this streight Captaine Stutvile (who hath much

deserv'd) in the adventure of relieving us twice, threw some Granadoes amongst them; they indured the break∣ing of six, but when the seventh was throwne, they ranne away and never attempted their designe after.

The number of the slaine is uncertaine, but by the mighty streame of blood it is conjectured 60. Whilst we saw this danger we ceased not in publique to pray for her safety, whose losse was likely to be our ruine: That night shee was freed into the Poole, and one the Mun∣day with a faire wind bid us farewell; We had another friggat which asisting the Pinnace in burning some Barques ranne the same casualitie and lay under the same advantage to the Enemie. Who having made a brest worke played on her all night, but returned with our a∣ny harme save the losse of one man.

Many Drums were sent by the Rebels for exchange of Prisoners, till theirs here being spent, they were for∣ced to send for more to Amagh, who have beene cherish∣ed by the Townes-men. as if they had beene Martyrs. they giving them good Victuals Caddoes and Capps, soe that they make no sute to be realeased. In 14. dayes our former supplies were wasted and a great Scarcitie began to grow among us: The whole designe of the Rebels we saw was to starve us, by burning all the Corne and Hay within two Miles of us, they drew often nigh us, in the darke Nights, and in mockerie asked our Sentinall, if we had yet eaten up our Cabidge stalks, and Horse hides, and indeed the Famine was such at length with the common Souldiers that Horses, Catts and Dogs were good meat. Some provisions by searching were found hid in Cellors this sufficed not but we were forced to Sallie out which was alwaies blest with some releife and without the losse of any Souldiers February the 7th. we sallied out 40. mus∣queteers and 25. Horse to secure others, appointed to bring in provision, who were unexpectedly set upon by 400. newly come out of the North; we instantly charged

them, kild 80. tooke two of their Cullors kil'd a Lieute∣nant, and on ensigne and took another, and 9. Prisoners, one dyed as soone as he came to Towne, and being un∣buttoned he was begirt with a Saint. Francis Girdle next his skin, not one of our men being hurt: Another time we marched out 100. Foot and a Troope of Horse, we were set upon by 500. but we having notice by some of their owne Partie, of their intention, we made a faire retreate through them and killed many of them, of ours not one hurt, one was shot through the Dublet and Shirt and had his skin rased: At length our store failed us, so that from the hartiest nothing could be heard but inten∣tions of desperate courses, our Friggatts and our Agents had beene long in Dublin but heard nothing of their re∣turne, and by the continuance of contrary winds our hopes wee saw were dashed from thence, also in this ex∣tremity (besides our ordinary meeting on Wensday) wee appointed the next Friday as a day extraordinary onely to begg our bread of God for my Subject I tooke the 4^th. Petition of the Lords Prayer, That day we continued in the Church from morning till evening, which was blest with much affection and teares, wherein some confident passages fell in assuring some present extraordinary an∣swer, it might have seemed to have bin without warrant, but see the event: That very night, the winde inclined, and the next morning suddenly changed to as fair a wind and weather as we could wish and so continued, that eve∣ning we received notice that our Supplie aproached on Sunday morning we met at church earlier then we used in the continuance of the same Subject, aad Petition and at the couclusion of the Sermon, a messenger came into the Church with the glad tidings of our releif within the barre; it being so received in Gods house we tooke it as from God himselfe: And so with thankes given to him from whom every good gift descendeth, we went and saw the salvation of God, I must not forget another delive∣rance

the same Sunday morning, the Enemy about foure a clock with their whole strength made a bold atempt with scaling Ladders to the wals, 2 or 3 were fixed in one place and some were gotten up the sentinall missing fire at one, knockt him downe with the butt end of his Mus∣ket, and crying out to the Guard who was nigh my cham∣ber window I was the first that heard him, and the clat∣tering of the Ladders, we instantly gave them their fill of Shot, and they left their ladders with some of their blood, the number of the slaine is uncertain they having drawn them away, but an English boy taking this op∣portunity escaped from them: said he saw 3 lying in one ditch, by which may be conjectured, what was slaine of them, on our side not one hurt, so that in the word of Psalmist, Psalmes. 136. verse 24. Wee may praise God for that one day, who gives food to all flesh, and who delivers us from our enemies, for his mercy en∣dureth for ever. And get a farther deliverance, we are now quitting the Towne of the Papists, who have bin the cause of all this evill, some of the Aldermen are par∣ting, some have offered to go to Church, but it is thought with the same affection as the Capernaites (for the Loaues) An Inventory of all their goods are taken and such of men and women as have bin suspected to side with the Rebells, have their dayly passes to them, some sober soules, and of good fashion have desir'd to be inform'd, in which worke shall be glad to be employed all day, and eyery day. A prize was also taken by the Pinnace laden with herring, Bisquets, and other provisions, which hath added some∣what to our store, we have 4. companies more so that we have in all 2000. Foote and 200. Horse more I could have writ but the unexpected haste of your Pinnaces returne, who is now ready to weigh Anchor causes me to breake off.

FINIS.