DOLEFULL NEVVES FROM IRELAND SENT IN A LETTER BY A GENTLEMAN TO A BROTHER-in-law here in London, wherein he relates the distressed condition the English are in, in that Kingdome. With the Copie OF A COMISSION GRANTED BY LUKE BIRNE a prime Commander of Ireland, whose Grandfather was M. Feagh Hugh an Arch Traytor in Q. Elizabeths raigne, to execute marshall Law upon all the Protestants.
Printed at London for T. Bates. 1642.
Good Brother, my love with your Sisters remembred to you and yours, &c.
I Have been long silent, because I determined ere this (by Gods permission) to have seen you; but such is our present condition, that a second resolution hath altered my former determination; And here now I intend to end my dayes with your Sister and her Children, preparing our selves for death, which we daily expect; for the hand of God was never stretcht out more against Christians then at this time in these parts against the English both Protestants and Papists, so inhumane are the cruelties of the Irish.
I presume you will be glad to heare from us, though sorrowfull to have such tydings, for not one syllable of comfort can I send you; for when the Rebellion first began, we expected ayde and speedy helpe from England, which might in some measure have quelled their out-rages, if supplyes had beene timely sent, but being now altogether hopelesse of such happinesse, we are not onely daunted and disheartned, but our mercilesse enemies hardned and encouraged to goe on in their bloody Massacres.
[Page]The last of December 2000. of the Rebels led on by Kilmore their Captaine, went against the Towne of Kilcallane, in the Province of Limster 18. miles from Dublin; and though the Towne gave them no opposition, but yeelded themselves to their mercie, hoping to have Q [...]rtor, yet the blood-thirstie miscreants spared neither man, woman nor child Protestant and Papist, but after they had ravisht their wives and daughters, put them all to the sword, sparing not so much as the Irish themselves, if they were lately discended of English parents.
Vpon the third day of this instant month January, the same Company of Rebels assaulted the Towne of Castle Dormott, nine miles from the former, who hearing how bloodily their Neighbours had been butchered, resolved to give them Battaile, and to dye manfully, their wives and children being as willing as themselves, but in the end they fared no better then their Neighbours had done formerly, for the enemies was of such force, that they were overcome, and put to the sword, except a poore-remnant that escaped by Flight, and what is become of them as yet is unknowne.
The like crueltie was committed the same day by another Company of Rebels upon the Towne of Navan, 20. miles from Dublin, as last night I had Intelligence, and though their massacre there was not so generall, yet their behaviour was so inhumane, as I blush, and my heart bleeds to write; For after they had hang'd up many womens Husbands before their owne faces, Knights, Gentlemen [Page] and others, they put their wives to take their choise of one of 3. Demands:
First, whether they would renounce their Religion, and marry such Irish men as they should tender unto them:
Secondly, whether they would freely and willingly prostitute their bodies to so many send all men as should desire it.
Thirdly, whether they would be kild and put to the sword.
Oh wofull conditions! Was there ever such villany read upon, or heard of to be amongst Christians: Nor are those all the cruelties that are here committed, for in the very Fields, men, women, and children lye scattered up and downe, most of them naked, being murthered and sterved, and many of them mangled and dismembred, some having their hands and feet cut off, others their eyes and tongues pulld out, and some their very bowels ript up: And in a little Village neere unto the Towne of Lurgan, wher a worthy and religious Knight one sir Thomas Betton lived, two of his Daughters were most barberously deflowred in the presence of their aged parents, and after all of stifled and put to the sword.
And that which addes more to our misery, is, that the Rebels Armie doe daily increase, and our Forces hourely grow weake, having our Forts and Townes blocked up by the enemies on every side, so that there is no hope but ere long Ireland will be totally lost, unlesse a considerable Army be speedily [Page] sent over, which we exceedingly feare will hardly be done in time, because we daily heare, to our great sorrow, that there are jarres and differences among you in England, which God prevent for his mercies sake.
More I have to write, but I feare I have enough unlesse my tydings were better, and therefore I will say no more on this Theme, lest it should grieve you asmuch in reading, as mee in writing; wherefore good Brother, let mee desire you and yours to pray for me and mine, as the best meanes to prevent those Judgements which otherwise God may bring upon us for our sinnes: And although we are all in danger each day of death, yet while wee live it will be a comfort to us to heare from you: And therefore since Dublin is so blockt up by Land and Water, that it is almost impossible for mee to receive any Letters there from you, be pleased to send them to your Cousin Iackson at London-derry, and if wee live they will come to my hands. So wishing you all health and happinesse, and that wee may heare better newes one from another, I rest, and ever will remaine,
The Post is in haste, otherwise our Brother Thomas would have writ unto you, who prayes me to present his best respects to you and yours in a Postscript.
THE COPIE OF A COMISSION GRANTED BY LUKE BIRNE a prime Commander of Ireland, whose Grandfather was M. Feagh Hugh an Arch Traytor in Q. Elizabeths-Raign, to execute marshall Law upon all the Protestants.
KNow ye to whom these presents shal come That I Colonell Luke Birne doe constitute, ordaine, and appoint my wel-beloved A. T. to be our lawfull Deputy and Substitute in our Names, and to our and his owne, and the wel-fare of the Weale publickes, uses and behalfe, to execute our power in the defence of our faith and the Liberties of our Country in all parts, to the uttermost of his power, according to our Superiours and our owne vowes and promises made and taken in that behalfe, and to seize, rescue, take, and keep all Protestants goods wheresoever they shall finde them, and to be responsible to us for the same, as occasion shall require: And also to execute Marshall Law after mature deliberation and due examination on all malefactors and Offenders, according to the nature of their offences, and as they shall demerit, and what our substitutes shall lawfully doe, execute, or cause to be done or execute in the premises, we doe ratifie allow, and confirme, as wee had been present, as witnesse our hand this 14. of December, Anno 1641.