WHen he came first into the Castle there were 200, able men, 60. of them were listed with Captaine Courtney to bee Warders, besides 28. of the old War­ders, and daily there came in more for safe-guard, and so in all there were 300. able men to beare Armes, and he verily beleeves there were men, wo­men and children 300. more.

He saith there was provision enough in the Castle brought in by the abler sort at first, but the most part of them that were Warders had small store of provision, being most of them men that had bin strip'd by the Irish, and poore Trades­men that had little but from hand to mouth, and could not be suffered by the Towne to carry any thing into the Castle, but such as could be gotten by favour and stealth.

Hee saith there were in the Castle weapons for 200. men such as they were, but not above sixty Muskets and Calivers that were serviceable, the rest were Petronells, Pistolls, Carbines, browne Bills, and fowling peeces, three Demy-canons, two Sa­gars and one Minion.

He saith that ever since Shrove-tide the English were stript, rob'd, and kild in the Towne, and all Letters were intercepted that came to the English by the Major, and many that came from the Lord President to Captaine Courtney, and sometimes the Castle people had liberty to goe to the Market and bring provision into the Castle, and anon they were hindred; all this while they were making a chaine thwart the River under the Castle, over a­gainst a place called Mock-begger, the chaine was made of long Aspine Trees fastned together with linkes of Iron, one end on Thomonside fastned to two Mil-stones, the other end to the Tower of the Key, the Castle perceiving that they intended to thwart the River, and so to hinder any releefe to come to the Castle by water, shot at them, so for a time hindred them, but afterwards it was set downe. He verily beleeves there was not above five or sixe firkins of powder, and some of that ve­ry bad at that time, which was about five weekes since, then the Towne shot at the Castle, and pre­sently as many English as were in the Towne fled to the Castle for safe-guard of their lives, and brought no provision with them which did much pester the Castle, and most of the rest of the Eng­lish that stayed in the Towne turned Papists, and so had some kind of protection. Then there was no quarter kept betweene the Towne and the Castle, but shot past betwixt them night and day, and some kild on both sides: In the Castle were killed one Thomas Young, Iohn Slegg, Iohn Wethers, one Leonard, and a boy, severall women and chil­dren hurt and kild, the shot played so continually [Page]from St. Maries Church, and other parts of the Towne, that none could stay in the Castle­yard, and some few dayes after the Castle per­ceived the Towne to begin a Mine neare Saint Nicholas Church-yard, which they were in about three weeks, and the Castle within Counter-mi­ned, and met the enemy, and the Castle men were beaten out by reason the enemies Mine was above the Castle Mine, so the enemy cast downe water upon them, and so the enemy came under the Bulwark, and there set fire on the Timber that propt up the earth: within three dayes, part of the Bulwark fell downe.

There was another Mine within two pierch of that, upon the street, going from New-gate to the Castle, which the enemy intended to bring under the Curtaine, next to the Bulwark, and with a counter-mine from the Castle was met, and the enemy forced out by the Warders and some of the enemyeskild, and so that Mine was destroyed.

There was another Mine began next to the Towne Wall, which was intended to be brought to the South plat-forme, and went not farre with it, but the Water came in upon them, and then they took another way Eastward to come under the other Curtaine, and brought in neare the Curtaine, but it is not yet fallen, but the e­nemy hath set fire to the underpropting, and certainly it will fall. He saith that there were 16. in the Castle went out at the Sally Port in the ni [...]gt before the enemy had turned the Mine, and before the water came in and wrought in that [Page]Mine a little hole, being not deep from the top of the ground, fell in amongst them, and beat them back to the Mine mouth, possest themselves of two Iron Sakers, both of them being laden, the one they discharged, and the other they cloyd the Touch-hole with an Iron nayle, and so forced to leave their place, two of their ablest men being shot, William Manwaring shot in the thigh, and afterwards dyed; Robert Helmes shot in the Thigh, and is yet alive: and so not se­conded with ayd they retreated, and came to the Castle, before the Bulwarke did crack, and be­fore any fire was put to the Timber, that did under-prop the wall. Garret Barey, and the Irish Generall, the Major sent to Captaine Courtney perswading him to yield the Castle, or else no Quarter. Answer was returned that the Castle was kept for the King, and would not bee yiel­ded. Then the Generall sent another Letter, advising them to yeeld, and they should have Quarter, and goe away with their wearing appar­rell. Answer was returned to the Generall, that if they did ayme at the Armes in the Castle, and the goods that were there, they might get their lives if they could, for which they were resolved to stand as long as breath lasted, whatsoever came of it; for the Armes they resolued to take that course, that they should not bee serviceable for them, and to destroy their goods by fire: where­upon a parley was desired, then Mr. Iones a Chaun­ler of Limrick, and Mr. Robert Lillies, were sent up to them, and then in fine it was agreed be­tween the Generall Major and the Castle, and an [Page]oath taken for performing the conditions, the particulars whereof he knoweth not: part was, That all should leave the Castle; and carry their goods with them that were their owne, but not other goods that were left there, and their persons to be protected for foureteen dayes, and to bee safely conveighed to Cork, or Youghall: all this was concluded on Wednesday the one and twen­tieth of June, 1642. But before the Castle was yeilded, one part of the Wall fell downe, and a­bout Wednesday following, at eleven of the clock, the Irish Generall, the Major, the Lord of Muskrey, Baron of Loglemay, and all the Irish Captains and Commanders came to the Castle, the gate being open to them, and they had ac­cesse to the Captaine: what past betwixt them he knowes not, but the Colours were possest by the Rebells: every one striving by much adoe to to carry away their goods, which they did, and then the captaine went the same night, and lay there, and the next day went into the Town againe. Hee faith the enemy hath excellent powder, it gives but small Report, but drives a Bullt with extraordinary force.

The powder is made in Towne by Doctor Hig­gins, Nich. Sower, Iohn Arthur, Fitz Iohn, and all St. Maries, and St. Iohns Churchare digged up three or foure foot deep, for salt Peter, and some say they make 100. pound a week, some say lesse, the certainty of it he knoweth not.

He saith that John Beech the Gunner, charging of the Cannon, and putting the powder, and some key shot, it fired at the mouth, killed the Gun­ner [Page]and three more, and William Bentley, and three more blasted with the powder. Hee saith there was killed and dyed in the Castle first and last 220. men, women, and children, buryed in the Castle; most of them dyed of the Fluxe, and of-swelling under their feet: Divers came forth of the Castle very weak, and some dyed as soone as they were forth of the Castle. Hee saith, that when the Castle was yeilded up, there was but a Ferkin and an halfe of powder left.

The Bishop, Doctor Webb, being Bishop of Limrick, being in the Castle, dyed the day be­fore it was yeilded up.

Sir VVilliam St. Leger Lord President of Mnn­ster, dyed this moneth of June, and was buried on Friday was a fortnight to the great griefe and sorrow of all the English in those parts.