Very sad newes from Ireland,: two strong garrisons taken from the rebels: [brace] Mariborough Fort, and the Castle of Athlone. A thovsand Protestants, men women and children, at the mercy of the bloody rebels. Besides the losse of the Lord Dillon, Viscount Castlelon, Sir William Gilburt and his son, 4. ministers, and divers officers. With lists of their names, and particulars of the losses in either of the garisons, and the names of the chief rebels, and their places. A remonstrance of the Protestant clergy in Ireland, and the fortifying of Dublin by the Marquesse of Ormond. October 25. 1646. These papers concerning Ireland are printed and published according to order.

Very bad Newes from Ireland.

Honoured Sir,

A Little help will save this Kingdom, neglect will hazard the losse of it; the ruine of which will be a fearfull Alarum to both the other. Sir William Gilburt Governour of the Fort of Mariborough in the Queens County, in the Province of Leimster, had before the Cessation three compleat Companies of Foot, and a Troope of good Horse, with which he did not only secure his own. Gar∣rison, but preserved the Lord Dillon, Viscount Castle low. and his Forces in the Castle of Athlon, in the Countie of Conaught upon the borders of Leimster, a Protestant Garison some ten miles, or more from him; but the Ces∣sation being agreed, two of those three Companies, and the Troop of horse were called off by the Marquesse of Ormoud, and not only the Castle of Athlone was (by this meanes left naked) but Mariborough Fort in great dan∣ger. Sir William Gilburt having only one Company left to keep the Garrison, and the Lord Dillon not 100. men in Athlone.

Sir William Gilburt therefore sent up his eldest Son, his Deputie-Governour, and a Gentleman that hath done good service against the Rebels, to the Parliament of Eng∣land, whose dispatch for employments hath been much wished for by us.

Supplies so much, and so long desired, not coming, makes the old Irish to insult the more, though one rout would (I verily believe) turn the skales.

But a Peace being concluded between the supreame Councell, and the Marquesse of Ormond, it puts us into a far worse condition: Ormond and Digby with their for∣ces are got fafe to Dublin, and there they are fortifying, and mending their Workes from the Colledge to St. Ke∣van, and Newstreet, and so to St. Iames Gate, and since their return from Kilkennie the Guards have been stron∣ger about the City; For the Marquesse of Ormond and the Lord Digby are in some feare of the Rebels that are risen against the peace concluded.

The Rebels missing their design of murdering the Mar∣quesse of Ormond, and Digby, with them in Kilkennie, as was plotted, they with their Forces marched into the Queens Countie in Leimster, within 20 miles of Kilken∣nie, and there took the Fort of Mairborough by surprize, notwithstanding the Peace concluded, Sir William Gil∣burt, with all the Officers and Souldiers, Ministers, and Inhabitants, to the number of 1000. men, women, and children of the Town that are Protestants, all being at the mercy of the Rebels.

And the Castle of Athlone in Conaught was also ta∣ken by them in the like manner. The Lord Dillon and all his Officers and Souldiers were surprised, and are at the mercy of those bloudy Rebels.

These Forces of the Irish (in number almost 1000. and all armed) are within little now then twenty miles of Dublin.

These two places which they have taken, the losse of them is great, Athlone stands upon the River side just upon the mouth of Lough Ree, towards Castle-More, and Mariborough Fort is in the hart of Leimster.

Sir, for your further satisfaction herein, I referre you to the Papers here inclosed, and shall ever apply my selfe to be

Cork the 2. of Septem. 1646.

Your most humble Servant, N. T.