A continuation of the diurnall passages in Ireland: declared in tvvo letters. The one being sent from the Lord Antrim in Ireland, to the right honourable the Earle of Rutland, dated February 25 1641. The other was sent to Sir Robert King knight, bearing date the 27 of February, 1641.

A Coppy of a Letter from the Lord Antrim in Jreland, sent to the Right Honou∣rable the Earle of Rutland, dated the 25. of February 1641.

My Honourable Lord,

HAving nothing of that weight and consequence, that befits me to accommodate your Ho∣nour withall, worthy of your Lordships acceptation, I am inforced to present your Ho∣nour with what I can, as a small signe of the great observance in many respects I owe to your Lordship, for the noble favour I have had, the honour formerly to receive from your Lordship, and the mutuall cor∣respondencie that have bin between your Honour and my selfe, which when opportunity may permit, I shall with humble thankfullnesse acknowledge.

My Lord, It is a great sorrow to me, my name and Honour should be so much defamed and scandali∣zed by false and scandalous reports; nay, permitted to be published in Print, that I have revolted from my King, and turned Rebell, the very name wounds me sore, which never had the left thought of Treason against my Soveraigne, or disloyalty to my Country. I am so farre from such imagination, that I will

rather perish at his Majesties feet, and suffer any pun∣ishment whatever shall be thought requisite to bring a period to my selfe, my life and fortunes, then live stained with a horrid denomination as Traytor, and am so farre incensed against these reports, that I vow to God I will to the utmost of my power main∣taine the rightfull power and prerogatives of his sacred Majestie, to whom I approve my selfe an o∣bedient subject and servant, and his Government, as the undoubted and lawfull King over his Majesties Kingdomes of England, Scotland and Jreland: I desire not to be disobedient to any the Laws and Ordinan∣ces of his Majesties Parliament, for the good govern∣ment of his Kingdomes; that may not abridge or restraine the free exercise of the Roman Religion which I am devoted to, and am ingaged to main∣taine in duty to God, and respect of my future hap∣pinesse and salvation: Her Majesty my gracious Queene I will to my power indeavour to obey, and her rightfull Raigne in his Majesties Dominions, under his government, endeavour to uphold and maintaine to the utmost of my life and fortune: and such respect and honour I owe to my Lady, whom my prayers are daily for, and to whom I recommend my dearest affections, that she may be confident I will intermeddle with any affaires that may I hope not prove destructive to my selfe or Family, or in defamation of mine or her honour, which I humbly desire your honour to certify Her, and to present his Majesty with my unchangeable and dutifull in∣tentions.

My LORD,
Some passages of the affaires here in Jreland, I thought good to present you withall, which is ne∣cessary to be taken notice of. There was a great Battaile fought before the City of Lemster, where there was slaine 4000 English and Scots, and Sir Ed∣ward Denny one of our Captaines, with his Forces of 400 Souldiers hath slaine Thomas Bland Esquire, with 500 more of his Souldiers, and put all the rest, besides some Prisoners taken to flight, that is the greatest o∣verthrow to the English that hath yet bin. And Sir Edward Denny having the victory, on the next morn∣ing being by his Souldiers saluted in a most noble manner, for their beter encouragement, gave to eve∣ry Souldier 5 li. and in vindication of his reputation made a royall Feast to entertaine his Souldiers in a deriding and scoffing manner to the English.

There was also another Skirmish on Saterday last which continued some 8 houres between the Forces under command of the Lord Osmond Netterfield and others, and the Forces under command of Sir Si∣mond Harcourt, Sir William Cootes, Mr. Moore of the English, the Lord Douglas, Sir Charles Bland, Mr. Hen∣ry Steward, and oters of the Scots, where was sl••ine 2000 Irish, and about 100 of the Scots and English, the rest of the Irish forced to retire, and great spoyles were left by them as a prey for the English of Amunition and provision of victualls, sufficient to maintaine 500 men for 6 months, which was a great weakening to the Catholique party. And thus ha∣ving no more newes at this present, I will not be troublesome to your Honour, but humbly take my leave.

Your Honovrs in all due observance Antrime.