causing them to become a prey to the soldier who in their piracies had made preys of so many families, and now with their bloods to answer the cruelties which they had exercised upon the lives of divers poor Protestants! Two 'instances' of which I have been lately acquainted with. About seven or eight score poor Protestants were by them put into an old vessel; which being, as some say, bulged by them, the vessel sank, and they were all presently drowned in the Harbour. The other instance' was thus: They put divers poor Protestants into a Chapel (which, since, they have used for a Mass-house, and in which one or more of their priests were now killed), where they were famished to death. - 6 We The soldiers got a very good booty in this place; and had not they had opportunity to carry their goods over the River, whilst we besieged it, it would have been much more: -I could have wished for their own good, and the good of the Garrison, they had been more moderate.2 Some things which were not easily portable, we hope we shall make use of to your behoof. There are great quantities of iron, hides, tallow, salt, pipe- and barrel-staves; which are under commissioners' hands, to be secured. believe there are near a hundred cannon in the Fort, and elsewhere in and about the Town. Here is likewise some very good shipping: here are three vessels, one of them of thirty-four guns, which a week's time would fit to sea; there is another of about twenty guns, very near ready likewise. And one other Frigate of twenty guns, upon the stocks; made for sailing; which is built up to the uppermost deck for her handsomeness' sake, I have appointed the workmen to finish her, here being materials to do it, if you or the Council of State shall approve thereof. The 1 The Townsfolk. 2 Not forced us to storm them. Frigate, also, taken beside the Fort, is a most excellent vessel for sailing. Besides divers other ships and vessels in the Harbour. This Town is now so in your power, that of the former inhabitants, I believe scarce one in twenty can challenge any property in their houses. Most of them are run away, and many of them killed in this service. And it were to be wished, that an honest people would come and plant here;—where are very good houses, and other accommodations fitted to their hands, which may by your favour be made of encouragement to them. As also a seat of good trade, both inward and outward;—and of marvellous great advantage in the point of the herring and other fishing. The Town is pleasantly seated and strong, having a rampart of earth within the wall, near fifteen feet thick. Thus it hath pleased God to give into your hands this other mercy. For which, as for all, we pray God may have all the glory. Indeed your instruments are poor and weak, and can do nothing but through believing,—and that is the gift of God also. I humbly take leave, and rest, Your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. 'P.S.' A day or two before our Battery was planted, Ormond, the Earl of Castlehaven, the Lord of Ardes and Clanneboyes were on the other side of the Water, with about 1,800 horse' and' 1,500 foot; and offered to put in four or five hundred foot more into the Town; which the Town refusing, he marched away in all haste. I sent the Lieutenant-General after him, with about 1,400 horse; but the Enemy made haste from him.* • Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, pp. 65-7); completed by Tanner мss. (in Cary, ii. 168-185), and the Dublin Autograph given above at p. 78. Young Charles II., who has got to the Isle of Jersey, decidedly inclining towards Ireland as yet, will probably be staggered by these occurrences, when the news of them reaches him. Not good quarters Ireland at present! The Scots have proclaimed him King; but clogged it with such conditions about the Covenant, about Malignants, and what not, as nothing but the throat of an ostrich could swallow. The poor young King is much at a loss;1-must go somewhither, and if possible take some Mrs. Barlow with him! Laird Winram, Senator of the College of Justice, is off to deal with him;2 to see if he cannot help him down with the Covenant: the Laird's best ally, I think, will be Oliver in Ireland. At Edinburgh these are the news from that quarter: 'In October and November this year there ran and were spread frequent rumours that Lieutenant-General Oliver Crom'well was routed in Ireland, yea killed; and again that he bore 'all down before him like ane impetuous torrent: how that ' he had taken Tradaffe and Washeford,' Tredah and Wexford; ' and there, neither sparing sex nor age, had exercised all the 'cruelties of a merciless inhuman and bloody butcher, even 'brutishly against Nature. On these rumours Will Douglas,' no great shakes at metre, did write these lines: "Cromwell is dead, and risen; and dead again, And risen the third time after he was slain : What's past; and for more game new counsel takes LETTER CII. UNDER date 5th November, 1649, we read in the old Newspapers: 'Our affairs here have made this progress: Wexford 'being settled under the command of Colonel Cooke, our Army 1 Carte's Ormond Papers, i. 316, &c. 211 October, 1649, Balfour's Historical Works (Edinb. 1825), iii. 432. 3 Ibid. p. 433. stayed not long there; but hasted further unto Ross. Which is a walled Town, situated upon the river Barrow, a very plea'sant and commodious river, bearing vessels of a very consider'able burden. Upon Wednesday, the 17th of this instant October, we sat down before Ross ; and my Lord Lieutenant, the same day, sent in this following Summons :' 6 For the Commander-in-Chief in Ross: These. 'Before Ross,' 17th October, 1649. Since my coming into Ireland, I have this witness for myself, That I have endeavoured to avoid effusion of blood; having been before no place, to which such terms have not been first sent as might have turned to the good and preservation of those to whom they were offered; this being my principle, that the people and places where I come may not suffer, except through their own wilfulness. To the end I may observe the like course with this place and people therein, I do hereby summon you to deliver the Town of Ross into my hands, to the use of the Parliament of England. Expecting your speedy answer, I rest, Your servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.* The trumpeter that carried this summons was denied en'trance into the Town. They received his paper at the gates; ' and told him that an answer should be returned thereunto by a 'drummer of their own. Hereupon we prepared our batteries, ' and made ready for a storm. Ormond himself, Ardes, and · Castlehaven were on the other side of the River; and sent in supplies of 1,500 foot, the day before it was surrendered to us ; '1,000 foot being in it before we came unto it. Castlehaven was * Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 67). in it that morning they delivered it, and Inchiquin too had been 'there not above two or three days before our advance thither. They boated over their men into the Town in our sight; and ' yet that did not discourage us in making ready all provisions fitting for a storm. On Friday, the 19th of this instant, our 'great pieces began to play, and early in the morning the Governor sent out his answer to my Lord Lieutenant's Sum" mons: "For General Cromwell, or, in his absence, For the Commander-in"Chief of the Army now encamped before Ross. "Ross, 19th October, 1649. 'SIR,-I received a Summons from you, the first day you appeared before this place; which should have been an"swered ere now, had not other occasions interrupted me. And although I am now in far better condition to defend this place "than I was at that time, yet am I, upon the considerations "offered in your Summons, content to entertain a Treaty; and "to receive from you those conditions that may be safe and "honourable for me to accept of. Which if you listen to, I "desire that pledges on both sides may be sent, for performance "of such Articles as shall be agreed upon; and that all acts of hostility may cease on both sides, and each party keep within "their distance. To this your immediate resolution is expected "by,-Sir, your servant, "LUCAS TAAFF.” 'Hereunto my Lord immediately returned this Answer,'which counts here as our Hundred-and-third Letter: LETTER CIII. SIR, For the Governor of Ross: These. 'Before Ross,' 19th October, 1649. If you like to march away with those under your command, with their arms, bag and baggage, and |