Letter, dated the 22 instant, at Workington from an honest and impartiall
hand.
------ The Straits that Dublin is now reduced to, being close surrounded
by the Marquesse of Ormond, are no lesse numerous then Grievous &
insupportible : For, hither it is brought us, that hee sate downe before it
the 14, or 15, of this instants, being in all about eighteen thousand Horse and
Foote, the rest being left behind him, to take in some small Garrisons, which
(as wee beare) are no sooner summoned then surrendred; and the Officers
and Souldiers admitted in pay. The [unr] of Monies and Provisions
within the Citie (except a certain quaintity of Corn, which came in to them
accidentally) are equally great; And indeed had it not beene for that, they
had beene starved long before this: But by that meanes the Souldier is alowed
a sixpennys-brown-Loafe a weeke, with twelve pence in money, and
there's his subsistence. The Shops throughout the City are all shut up, and
the greatest part of the Inhabitants forced to the Bullworks, and to pull down
Houses about the Suburbs, which they feare might prove of any advantage
to the Enemy. Some foolish Redouts are like wise making without the
Gates, and a guard of Horse and Foote appointed to defend the workemen, in
the mean while. Divers of the chiefe Townes-men are Imprisoned, for what
them salves know nos, but 'tis thought for being suspected to hold Intelligence
with Ormond, whom indeede the generalitie of the Towne Wonderfully affect.
It is supposed Jones will make his own Conditions with the Marquesse,
especially now that upon the returne of his brother from London, whither hee
was sent to acquaint them with the Condition of the Place, hee under stands
they provide so stenderly and slowly for his Reliefe : For, by the Storie it appeares
hee found such neglect and dilaterinesse amongst them, that hee returned
without any Letter, not so much as taking his farewell of the Parliament.
The Souldiers run away daily, especially Thelwell's Regiment,
which is now reduced but, at the most, to some sixtie Men. Weesmses his
whole Troope went away Long since, with his Lieutenant in the Head of
them. So that that Garrison is now but very thin, and they that bee left, as
well Officers as Souldiers, strangely dejected; not a penny of Money to bee
seene amongst them. What the issue of all this will bee, a few daies will manifest;
but I feare wee shall not feare thereof so constantly as formerly: For
now wee understand that Prince Rupert rides, with some fifteene or sixteen
Ships, before the Bay, to prevent any Reliefe by Sea; Which is very Strange
to us, when wee Read him blak't up in King-Sale. There is no such thing as
Owen Roes joyning with Jones or Monke (they are idle Fopperies) or of any
Cessation at all amongst them, as wee meete with in your London Newsbooks;
But this wee have heard; That Oneale stands Excommunicated by the