Horse; Colonels Warren, Wall, and Byrn, of Foot, with their Lieutenants, Majors, etc.; the Lord Taaff's Brother, an Augustine Friar; forty-four Captains, and all their Lieutenants, Ensigns, etc.; 220 Reformadoes and Troopers; 2,500 Foot-soldiers, besides Staff-Officers, Surgeons, etc.* Venables went on, rapidly accomplishing his service in the North; without much hurt; though not without imminent peril once, by a camisado, or surprisal in the night-time, which is afterwards alluded to in these Letters. The Lord Lieutenant, we observe, still dates from Dublin, but it is to quit it this day'; his Army has already marched': Southward now, on a new series of operations. LETTER CVII STORM OF WEXFORD FOR THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM LENTHALL, ESQUIRE, SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND: THESE Wexford, 14th October 1649. Sir,—The Army marched from Dublin, about the 23d of September, into the County of Wicklow, where the Enemy had a Garrison about fourteen miles from Dublin, called Killincarrick; which they quitting, a Company of the Army was put therein. From thence the Army marched through almost a desolated country, until it came to a passage over the River Doro,1 about a mile above the Castle of Arklow, which was the first seat and honour of the Marquis of Ormond's family. King's Pamphlets, small 4to, no. 441, art. 7, 'Letters from Ireland, printed by Authority' (p. 13). Parliamentary History (xix. 207-9) has copied this Letter from the old Pamphlet (as usual, giving no reference); and after the concluding 'Surgeons, etc.' has taken the liberty of adding these words, and many inhabitants,' of which there is no whisper in the old Pamphlets;-a very considerable liberty indeed! 1 River Darragh ;—a branch of what is now called the Avoca; well known to musical persons. Which he had strongly fortified; but it was, upon the approach of the Army, quitted; wherein we left another Company of Foot. From thence the Army marched towards Wexford; where in the way was a strong and large Castle, at a town called Limbrick, the ancient seat of the Esmonds; where the Enemy had a strong Garrison; which they burnt and quitted, the day before our coming thither. From thence we marched towards Ferns, an episcopal seat, where was a Castle; to which I sent Colonel Reynolds with a party to summon it. Which accordingly he did, and it was surrendered to him; where we having put a company, advanced the Army to a passage over the River Slaney, which runs down to Wexford; and that night we marched into the fields of a Village called Enniscorthy, belonging to Mr. Robert Wallop;1 where was a strong Castle very well manned and provided for by the Enemy; and, close under it, a very fair House belonging to the same worthy person,-a Monastery of Franciscan Friars, the considerablest in all Ireland: they ran away the night before we came. summoned the Castle; and they refused to yield at the first ; but upon better consideration, they were willing to deliver the place to us: which accordingly they did; leaving their great guns, arms, ammunition and provisions behind them. We Upon Monday the First of October we came before Wexford. Into which the Enemy had put a Garrison, consisting of "part of" their Army; this Town having, until then, been so confident of their own strength as that they would not, at any time, suffer a Garrison to be imposed upon them. The Commander that brought in those forces was Colonel David Sinnott; who took upon him the command of the place. To whom I sent a Summons, a Copy whereof is this enclosed; between whom and 1 Wallop is Member ('recruiter') for Andover; a King's-Judge; Member of the Council of State; now and afterwards a conspicuous rigorous republican man. He has advanced money, long since, we suppose, for the Public Service in Ireland; and obtained in payment this 'Fair House,' and Superiority of Enniscorthy: properties the value or no-value of which will much depend on the Lord Lieutenant's success at present.-Wallop's representative, a Peer of the Realm, is still owner here, as it has proved. me there passed Answers and Replies, Copies whereof these also are: 1. TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE TOWN OF WEXFORD 'Before Wexford, 3d October 1649. 'Sir,-Having brought the Army belonging to the Parliament of England before this place, to reduce it to its due obedience: to the end effusion of blood may be prevented, and the Town and Country about it preserved from ruin, I thought fit to summon you to deliver the same to me, to the use of the State of England. "By this offer, I hope it will clearly appear where the guilt will lie, if innocent persons should come to suffer with the nocent. I expect your speedy answer; and rest, Sir, your servant, 'OLIVER CROMWELL.' 'FOR THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL 'Wexford, 3d October 1649. 'SIR, I received your Letter of Summons for the delivery of this Town into your hands. Which standeth not with my honour to do of myself; neither will I take it upon me, without the advice of the rest of the Officers and Mayor of this Corporation; this Town being of so great consequence to all Ireland. Whom I will call together, and confer with; and return my resolution to you, tomorrow by twelve of the clock. In the mean time, if you be so pleased, I am content to forbear all acts of hostility, so you permit no approach to be made. Expecting your answer in that particular, I remain,―my Lord,—your Lordship's servant, 'D. SINNOTT.' 2. TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE TOWN OF WEXFORD 'Before Wexford, 3d October 1649. 'Sir, I am contented to expect your resolution by twelve of the clock tomorrow morning. Because our tents are not so good a covering as your houses, and for other reasons, I cannot agree to a cessation. I rest, your servant, 'OLIVER CROMWELL.' FOR THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL 'Wexford, 4th October 1649. SIR, I have advised with the Mayor and Officers, as I promised, and thereupon am content that Four, whom I shall employ, may have a Conference and Treaty with Four of yours, to see if any agreement and understanding may be begot between us. To this purpose I desire you to send mine a Safe-conduct, as I do hereby promise to send unto yours when you send me their names. And I pray that the meeting may be had tomorrow at eight of the clock in the forenoon, that they may have sufficient time to confer and debate together, and determine the matter; and that the meeting and place may be agreed upon, and the Safe-conduct mutually sent for the said meeting this afternoon. Expecting your answer hereto, I rest,—my Lord,-your servant, 'D. SINNOTT. 'Send me the names of your Agents, their qualities and degrees. Those I fix upon are: Major James Byrne, Major Theobald Dillon, Alderman Nicholas Chevers, Mr. William Stafford.' 8. TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE TOWN OF WEXFORD 'Before Wexford, 4th October 1649. 'Sir,-Having summoned you to deliver the Town of Wexford into my hands, I might well expect the delivery thereof, and not a formal Treaty; which is seldom granted but where the things stand upon a more equal foot. 'If therefore yourself or the Town have any desires to offer, upon which you will surrender the place to me, I shall be able to judge of the reasonableness of them when they are made known to me. To which end, if you shall think fit to send the Persons named in your last, intrusted by yourself and the Town, by whom I may understand your desires, I shall give you a speedy and fitting Answer. And I do hereby engage myself, that they shall return in safety to you. 'I expect your answer hereunto within an hour; and rest, your servant, OLIVER CROMWELL. 'FOR THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL 'Wexford, 4th October 1649. SIR, I have returned you a civil Answer, to the best of my judgment; and thereby, I find, you undervalue me and this place so much, that you think to have it surrendered without Capitulation or honourable Terms, as appears by the hour's limitation in your last. · Sir, had I never a man in this Town but the Townsmen, and Artillery here planted, I should conceive myself in a very befitting condition to make honourable conditions. And having a considerable party, "along" with them, in the place, I am resolved to die honourably, or make such conditions as may secure my honour and life in the eyes of my own Party. To which reasonable terms if you hearken not, or give me "not" time to send my Agents till eight of the clock in the forenoon tomorrow, with my Propositions, with a farther Safe-conduct, I leave you to your better judgment, and myself to the assistance of the Almighty; and so conclude. -Your servant, D. SINNOTT.' 6 FOR THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL 'Wexford, 5th October 1649. SIR,-My Propositions being now prepared, I am ready to send my Agents with them unto you. And for their safe return, I pray you to send a Safe-conduct by the Bearer unto |