in so good a Condition (which was neverthelesse taken before that) till
now was wanting which that they may receive, be pleased to peruse a
third from the same hand, and I presume 'twill satisfy,
SIR,
I MUST Crave your Pardon for what your received in my two last of
the twentieth and two-and-twentieth wherein I intimated the holding
out of Tredagh : For though they bee true in every Particular, as to the
Repulsing of Crumwell the taking of three Peeces of his Cannon, and the
losse therein mentioned &c. yet this day came certaine newes that the Towne
was taken by storme some few daies before; and the Governour (Sir Arthur Aston)
with the greatest part of the officers and Soldiers put to the
Sword: Which yet wee know not how to beleeve, considering the frequent
Alarmes brought us of the losse before it, and the Advance of Ormond
to it's Reliefe. But though wee believe their losse exceedes one halfe of their
Army since they first sate downe before it; yet wee found it too true that at
last they had possessed themselves of the Towne, and used all crueltie imaginable
upon the Besieged, as well Inhabitants as others, sparing neither
Women nor Children : and after that martched to Trym and Dundalke,
Which thereupon were both quited and slighted; yet in all this time no Ormond
appeared, to the Wonder and amazement of all the Kings Friends:
Whether it were out of an over-weening confidence in the Strength of the
place and the gallantry of the men within it, or what other Reason wee know
not: But this wee are sure of, that Oneale and hee are joyned, so that wee
can think of no interruption, unlesse occasioned by Inchiqueene, which wee
have not the least of ground for; and that they had a Power sufficient to
fight Cromwell with, is out of question. Sir, the truth is Affaires
are wrapped up in such Clowdes (and that on both sides) wee
know not how to judge of them. For, is it not strange, that Tredagh,
Trim and Dundalke should bee all theirs betwixt the Twelfth and
fifteenth day, and yet wee at Dublin have no certainty thereof till eight
daies after at the least? And yet this is the least to bee wondered at, Considering
the Strictnesse that is heere used to prevent all Intilligence, but what
comes immediately from the hand of Cromwell, not any man being suffered
to write to his friend either in England or Ireland, nor to ride or Walke a
mile out of Towne without Speciall license first obtained from a Committee
for Intelligence, which they have here erected, as also another at Chester
and Liverpoole, who have power to examine, let passe, or stay, all Persons
and Papers they meete with. Since the taking of Tredagh they are marching
Southwards; and aime Principally (as wee heere) at Wexford, which
I should feare much, but that themselves tell us the Royallists have re-inforced