the Foote. And that Balishments and Athboy (two Garrisons of theirs)
are since taken: So that all things considered, it will appeare this Victory
is not neere so absolute as talk'd of; and yet a favourable construction
may bee made of Jones's words, where hee saith There were not
twenty of his men missing, for they might easily bee found, if so many
of them lay dead as the Letters tell us. However it is some comfort
to us (for singula [unr]lli [unr], erunt nobts singula bona) that hee so freely
acknowledges, not all this is any ground of security to him, in that the
Enemy may recover to a considerable number, hee being in no condition to
Prosecute his Victory.
That 13000. have escaped him, who are in a possibilitie to joyne
with inchequeene's 15000. (then in Munster) Clanrickard's 3000.
and the Lord of Ardes his 7000. Scotts, whereby hee allowes us yet
24500. (all in readynesse) to encounter the great Goliah [Oliver] if
hee dares adventure; besides the Forces under Oneale, which (faith
the Moderate) will not doubtlesse joyne with Ormond, seeing the Parliament
hath voted a disapprovall of Major Generall Moncks concluding
a Peace with him, and the 3000. (others say 4000.) Horse
which the same Author tells us are landed by the Duke of Lorraigne in
Ireland and added to the rest; but of this last I have not as yet any
certaine information by Letters or otherwise; and therefore 'tis safest
we suspend our beliefe until wee heare futher.
For oneales joyning with the Marquesse, 'tis probable enough, not
so much because of the Regicides disowning the Cessation with him,
as their disabilitie of assisting him, although they would continue the
Truce, having lost all or the greatest part of all their Garrisons in that
Kingdome: And hee not of strength sufficient to maintaine his owne
Interest of himselfe alone, against such Powerfull Enemies, as are the
English Regicides on the one hand, and the English, Irish and Scotoh
Royallists on the other: So that his Ruine is inevitably certaine, without
a speedy composure, or complyance with the Marquesse, and than
wee shall heare of speedily.
But 'tis pretty to consider how decently the Juncto and Connoell.
of State would wipe off the staine of Muncks joyning with Oneale: for
having received Letters from Cromwell, wherein hee complained of
what sad consequence the miscarriage of that Cessation had proved in
Relation to his present expedition against Ormond, for that many both
Officers and Soludiers had quitted their Imployments under him,
meerely upon the dislike of that Action, and desired that some speedy
meanes might bee used to, cleare the Parliament and Councell of State