'latter' he attempted; and they, refusing conditions seasonably offered, were put all to the sword. Indeed some of your soldiers did attempt very notably in this service :I do not hear there were six men of ours lost. Butler's Castle was delivered upon conditions, for all to march away, leaving their arms behind them. Wherein I have placed a company of foot, and a troop of horse, under the command of my Lord Colvil; the place being six miles from Kilkenny, From hence Colonel Reynolds was sent with his regiment to remove a Garrison of the Enemy's from Knocktofer (being the way of our communication to Ross); which accordingly he did.

We marched back with the rest of the body to Fethard and Cashel where we are now quartered,-having good plenty both of horse meat and man's meat for a time; and being indeed, we may say, even almost in the heart and bowels of the Enemy; ready to attempt what God shall next direct. And blessed be His name only for this good success; and for this also,' That we do not find our men are at all considerably sick upon this expedition, though indeed it hath been very blustering weather.

I had almost forgot one business: The Major-General was very desirous to gain a Pass over the Suir; where indeed we had none but by boat, or when the weather served. Wherefore, on Saturday in the evening, he marched with a party of horse and foot to Ardfinnan; where was a Bridge, and at the foot of it a strong Castle. Which he, about four o'clock the next morning, attempted; -killed about thirteen of the Enemy's outguard; lost but two men, and eight or ten wounded: the Enemy yielded the place to him, and we are possessed of it,-being a very considerable Pass, and the nearest to our Pass at Cappoquin over the Blackwater, whither we can bring guns, ammunition, or other things from Youghal by water, and

'then' over this Pass to the Army. The County of Tipperary have submitted to 1,500l. a-month contribution, although they have six or seven of the Enemy's Garrisons yet upon them.

Sir, I desire the charge of England as to this War may be abated as much as may be, and as we know you do desire, out of your care to the Commonwealth. But if you expect your work to be done, if the marching Army be not constantly paid, and the course taken that hath been humbly represented,—indeed it will not be for the thrift of England, as far as England is concerned in the speedy reduction of Ireland. The money we raise upon the Counties maintains the Garrison forces; and hardly that. If the active force be not maintained, and all contingencies defrayed, how can you expect but to have a lingering business of it? Surely we desire not to spend a shilling of your treasury, wherein our consciences do not prompt us. We serve you; we are willing to be out of1 our trade of war; and shall hasten, by God's assistance and grace, to the end of our work, as the labourer doth to be at his rest. This makes us bold to be earnest with you for necessary supplies:-that of money is one. And there be some other things,—which indeed I do not think for your service to speak of publicly, which I shall humbly represent to the Council. of State,-wherewith I desire we may be accommodated.

Sir, the Lord, who doth all these things, gives hopes of a speedy issue to this business; and, I am persuaded, will graciously appear in it. in it. And truly there is no fear of the strength and combination of enemies round about, nor of slanderous tongues at home. God hath hitherto fenced you against all those, to wonder and amazement; they are

1 to have done with.

tokens of your prosperity and success :-only it will be good for you, and us that serve you, to fear the Lord; to fear unbelief, self-seeking, confidence in an arm of flesh, and opinion of any instruments that they are other than as dry bones. That God be merciful in these things, and bless you, is the humble prayer of, Sir,

Your most humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

Commons Journals, 25th February, 1649-50: A Letter from

'the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, from Castletown, 15° Februarii,

1649, was this day read; and ordered to be forthwith printed and published. Ordered, That a Letter of Thanks be sent to 'the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; and that Mr. Scott do prepare 'the Letter; and that Mr. Speaker do sign the same. Resolved, That the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland have the use of the Lodg'ings called the Cockpit, of the Spring Garden and St. James's House, and the command of St. James's Park.'

This Letter of Thanks, and very handsome Resolution did, as we shall find, come duly to hand. The Cockpit was then and long afterwards a sumptuous Royal Lodging' in Whitehall; Henry the Eighth's place of cock-fighting :-stood till not very long ago, say the Topographers, where the present Privy-Council Office is. The Cromwell Family hereupon prepared to remove thither; not without reluctance on Mrs. Cromwell's part, as Ludlow intimates.

LETTER CXIV.

DEEP sunk among the Paper-Masses of the British Museum is an anonymous Fragment of a Narrative of Oliver's Campaign in Ireland; Fragment copied, as would seem, several generations ago, from an earlier Original, the beginning and end of which

* Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 77); see also Commons Journals, 25 February, 1649-50.

were already lost,-torn off by careless hands, and consumed as waste paper. The Copyist, with due hopeful punctuality, has left blank leaves at the beginning and end: but to no purpose; they are and continue blank leaves. In this mutilated obscure state, it lies among the Manuscripts of the British Museum;will perhaps be printed by some Dryasdust Society, in time. It is by no means a Narrative of much merit: entirely anonymous, as we say, without specific date or outward indication of any kind; but written as if by a contemporary or even a fellow-actor, in a flat, diffuse, but authentic and exact manner. In obscure cases, as we have already found, it is worth consulting here and there;-contains, in particular, the following and some other unimportant Cromwell Letters, not found elsewhere, which we make a duty of preserving.

SIR,

For the Governor of Cahir Castle: These.

'Before Cahir,' 24th February, 1649.

Having brought the Army and my cannon near this place,- according to my usual manner in summoning places, I thought fit to offer you Terms, honourable for soldiers: That you may march away, with your baggage, arms and colours; free from injury or violence. if I be necessitated to bend my cannon upon you, you must expect the extremity usual in such cases. To avoid blood, this is offered to you by,

Your servant,

But

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

What became of Cahir Castle, of it and of others, will appear in the next Letter.

* Narrative Fragment (in Ayscough мss. no. 4769, cited above).

LETTER CXV.

'For the Honourable John Bradshaw, Esquire, President of the Council of State: These.'

SIR,'

Cashel, 5th March, 1649.
It pleaseth God still to enlarge

your interest here. The Castle of Cahir, very considerable, built upon a rock, and seated in an island in the midst of the Suir, was lately rendered to me. It cost the Earl of Essex, as I am informed, about eight weeks siege with his army and artillery.' It is now yours without the loss of So also is the Castle of Kiltinan; a very large and strong Castle of the Lord of Dunboyne's: this latter I took-in with my cannon, without the loss of a man.

one man.

We have taken the Castle of Golden Bridge, another pass upon the Suir; as also the Castle of Dundrum, at which we lost about six men,-Colonel Zanchy, who commanded the party, being shot through the hand. We have placed another strong Garrison at Ballynakill, upon the edge of King's and Queen's Counties. We have divers Garrisons in the County of Limerick; and by these we take away the Enemy's subsistence, and diminish their contributions. By which in time, I hope they will sink.

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

LETTER CXVI.

HENRY CROMWELL, Colonel Henry,' and the Lord Broghil are busy with Inchiquin in Limerick County, to good purpose; as

1 In 1599 (Camden; in Kennet, ii. 614); but the eight weeks' are by no means mentioned in Camden! The ruins of the Castle now stand on a rock overlooking' the River: the island,' I conclude, had been artificial. * Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 77): see also Commons Journals (vi. 381), 12 March, 1649-50.