THe Rebels stomacking the losse of so faire a booty as that by Gods assistance we layd hold on in the Castle of Eniskenning cast about to meet with us some other way, and seeing that here in or about Dublin, or as farre as either our workes or our fortifications stretch, we are not onely God bee thanked so well provided, but so wary that little good is to be done upon us by Land, they attempted to mischiefe us by Sea, and on Munday last, the last of this moneth, between two and three of the clock in the morning. J suppose, hoping to have found us, as fast asleepe as we had them, two hundred of them, in a kind of homely clouterly Shallop, made and contrived in hast, as should seem only for this design, came up with the Tyde that then served in among our Ships, even to the midst of them in the Harbour vndescryed, being well acquainted with their Country Fogs, and how to make advantage by them, there were amongst others three Ships lately come from ENGLAND two laden with Meale, one with Ammu­nition, but see the goodnesse of God still continued towards us, for which we are more deeply bound to extoll and [Page] magnifie his mercy towards us, the Ship with Ammuniti­on lay in the reare of the other, and was passed by of them either vnseene (it being a mighty Fogge, besides the darke­nesse of the night) or mistaken, not thought, or understood by them to be the Ship they looked for, thinking as well they might, that she lay as neare the Key as possible could be for Covert and safeguard.

They comming in but that Sunday night late, and could not be unloaded possibly till morning, had the Rebels made up with this Ship called the Draggon of Chester, and plyed her, with Fire-Balls; yea and with Granadoes, as also with little drie Willow Faggots, all daubd over with Pitch and Rozen, which flew like Fire-Drakes into the said Ships, had they in this manner greeted that Ship, as they did theirs, as it was the onely sweet and mercifull providence of God that they should not, they had by all likelyhood done us a mighty displeasure, the Ship having in it 16. last of Powder, beside Bullets, Muskets, Pikes, and other Ammunition, as also Pioners tooles, viz. Spades, Shovels, Mattocks, Wheele­Barrowes, and the like Instruments, whereof the City stood in great need but especialy of the Powder, there being not onely a scarcity thereof in the City at that time, but almost a want: Whilest the enemies were thus busie about the Ships, the Masters and Marriners were not idle, playing not onely with their Ordnance, which indeed did little harme, or rather none at all unto the Rebels, shooting over them, but likewise with their small shot, whereof they had such store, and bestowed it so liberall amongst them, that the Rebels durst not board them, which questionlesse was their intent, but plyed us hot with their Fire-worke, whereof we wondred at their plenty, this Bickering in the Harbour which now had continued well nigh an houre, at last was heard of in the City, and the state thought as well they might, that all was not well there; whereupon the Alarum was all the City thorough, being so much terrible for that it [Page] was night, my Master Sir Charles drew downe unto the Key with 500. foote, whether once come; we plainly heard what the matter was by the cryes and clamou [...]s from the ships. Sir Charles Coote conceiving the dan­ger, and how, that without doubt the Rebels had notice of the arrivall of these three Ships, and where­with they were laden, thought there was no dallying, but present to worke, whereupon he commanded all the Ships and Barkes about the Key, immediately to lanch their Boates, which done; he caused as many Mus­kettiers as could possibly with convenience, man the Boates without let either to themselves, or to those that should row forthwith to enter, which was done, and the Boates being in number 11. wee stowed in them 140 men, & into the Harbour amongst them we came and in very good time, for the Rebels had boorded one of the Meale Ships, being to strong in number for the Saylors who were in all but tenne, and some fif­teene Souldiers wee made bould to enter the Ship upon them, and wee with the Saylors helpe, and they with ours, made shift, and quickly quit the Ship of them, sending them some alive and some dead, a breakefast unto the Fishes, the Seamen in the Harbour perceiving that wee were there, left their Ships, tooke both their Boates, and courages, and in amongst us; with this supply the Rebells were soone under water, whom we supposed by their attemps and tumult in the Harbour, to have beene a farre greater number then we found them, for by all descrie and guesse, they could not be above two hundred, and by all conjecture, their comming was to fire the Ships which brought over this last supply of Ammuniton, and other Engines as is afore rehearsed, as did manifestely appeare by the nature of the preparation they brought along with them, but God be praysed we are delivered of that feare now, the Ammunition on Munday morning be­twixt [Page] 10. & 11. of the clock being all safely Landed, and conveigh'd into the Castle, yet tis not all so well as it should be, the sweete of our successe is againe mingled with drugs of unexpected feares, and suspitious dangers; for foure Aldermen are againe missing in Dublin, who are gone without taking leave of some that I beleeve had they known of their going, would not so easily have parted with their companie, their names are Peter Welsh, Dominicke Rutter, Rabert Mahun, Patricke Ovannian, who scaped on Saturday night, it is sayd in womans apparell, under pretence of Soldiers wives or Trulls, to carrie victuals to their husbands, or Servants upon their guards in the out Works, for the other three I know not what correspondency they might have with the Feminine gender in any particular, but for Rutter, in womans apparell, he might passe for one ve­ry well without mufling, for I beleeve his beard and his eyes would come out together, being neare three­score, and not a haire on his face, being called the old woman of Dublin, they are gone with head and hoofe, having left nothing behind them valuable, that was portable, which proves that they had good helpe, and faire time, to make such a cleanely conveyance, the Lords Justices have seazed their houses, and two Cor­poralls with sixe common Soldiers, are in Prison close chopped up about their escape, and pray God, good proofe be not brought that they are fouly guilty of it, which if it shall, they shall all (Sir Simon Harcourt swears) fayrely trusse for it, seeing the Rebels now lye round a­bout the Citie, in all quarters, to the number of fif­teene or sixteene Thousands, these Aldermen may give light unto the Rebels, where the Citie may be most seis­able, it also puts the Commanders both of State, and Warre, into a grounded jealousie that they have strong intelligence in the Citie, which causeth Sir Simon Har­court to put upon his out-Worke, none but his owne [Page] Souldiers which he brought out of England with him, whom he thinkes he may boldly confide in, and lyes himselfe in the out Workes, the Rebells neare the Citie under another of the Barres, the Bastard Orocke, and Perigrine Oneale, are no lesse then Nine or Tenne Thousand strong Eastward, their is another Power Westward, at the head of Hoath, under the command of the Bastard Muskery, but of what number is not yet knowne.

That J shall goe neare to write at the next re­turne, when J write you the issue of the eight Soldiers, how they will come off about the escape of the Alder­men, we have in Dublin some sixe Thousand men, able expetienced, and well appoynted: yea and well pro­vided for by the State, and their Commanders, if ever Soldiers were, wanting neither meat, drinke, nor Cloathes fit for men, yea and for honest men, but in­deed they are as hard put to it for devoir and seruice, in watching and Centinels, J thinke as ever Soldiers were, and indeed it is but need as now the case stands, for questionlesse the Rebels shoote at the getting of this Citie, by their drawing into so great bodies so nigh the Citie in divers places, and cutting us off from all suc­cours by land, and were it not that we have our Ships continually active in the Harbour, and have built two good Sconces lately to better secure our entrance, and safe egresse into it, they would have gone neare to have raysed them for us, wherefore we find the benefit of being aforehand.