The Irish Occurrences. COMFORTABLE marshmallows FROM IRELAND, OF THE BRAVE VAlour and policy of war by the Lord Jones, and the Lord Diboney, who fought the greatest battle, with the Rebels; and gave them the greatest overthrow, as the like hath not been in Ireland, this hundred yeers and more. In which skirmish there were six and twenty thousand of the Rebels slain, and three of their chief Commanders taken Prisoners. And now there is great hope( if the English and the Scottish Forces hasten to help them) that they will be easily subdued, and that kingdom settled.  
Brought hither, January 8. 1642.  
LONDON: Printed for R. H. 1642.   

COMFORTABLE marshmallows from IRELAND, of the great overthrow which the Lord Jones, and the Lord Diboney gave the Rebels, in a battle which they fought with them, &c.  

1. Sect. sheweth how the Rebels great Plot was discovered by one John Boreman a Butcher.  
near unto the Castle at Athkyn doth inhabit a Butcher, an English man, a very honest Protestant, but a good Fellow, and one of a great acquaintance, by name John Boreman, who being in company with some Irish Merchants, that are Papists, with whom at the same time was the sergeant and corporal of the Castle, who had great whispering amongst them, but would not let the Butcher John Boreman know any discourse that they had; so that he did imagine that it was about some Plot or other: so he called for good store of drink, and drank very hard, but made a show of drinking more then he did, in so much that he began at last to demean and carry himself as if he had been drunk, and in his talk pretended to be very sleepy, as many drunkards are: so he laid himself all along a bench that stood by them, and lay as if he had been asleep, which they thought had been true indeed; But he heard all their discourse. One of them spake to this effect.   

2. Sect. Of their Discourse.  
ONe of them began to discourse of 30000. of their own Company, and so the rest began to discourse of the same matter, for they thought that John Boreman the Butcher had been sure enough. But he perceived and understood their discourse which was to this effect: that 30000. of them,( that is of the Rebels) should be gathered together in those parts, in few dayes after, for a design on the next Sunday following. And that fifteen thousand of them were to go against Athlon, and the other fifteen thousand were to go against two places more; Alegge, and Roscomen, and so to suppress those three Castles together in one day. Then they discoursed of their intents, whereby he understood by them, that their discourse was to massacre the English that were dwelling in those places, and then they should have time and opportunity to use the Protestants in Conoth as themselves pleased, and then they should have and enjoy that Province to themselves, and hold it as a redeemed Province under themselves.  
Then spake one Mr. Garret Norton to this effect to the Sergeant and corporal: Cozens( quoth he) if you do perform your part well, you shall be rewarded more then was promised you by a great deal.  
And they answered him to this effect: that if they came on Sunday night, they should be sure to have way made to enter the Castle, without any great molestation. And after their discourse, the Merchants gave the sergeant and corporal, each of them 20. s. a piece, and so partend.   

3. John Boremans care in making the Plot known.  
Then the said John Boreman went immediately to the Lieutenant of Athlon Castle, and  told him what he had heard. And the Lieutenant very carefully sent to Alegge Castle, to give them notice of it, and likewise to Roscomen,( but they privately) and likewise gave notice to one of the Captains of the Lord Jones troop, and likewise to the Lord Diboney.   

4. Sect. Of the battle.  
THe Lord Jones and the Lord Diboney marched out with their Forces to meet the Rebels on Sunday morning with 20000. foot, and 200. horse, and they met the Rebels at Knock,( a league that is) 3. miles from Athlon, with 10000. Foot, and 100. horse, and placed the other 10000. Foot, and 100. horse beyond a great bog, where usually the Rebels that formerly came to these parts entred into the wood( for there is a great wood in that place) to the end that when the Rebels should come to take the wood, they might there meet with them; if it should please Almighty God to give them the victory. The battle began on Sunday morning about 10. of the clock; and there was in the first place a very great and bloody skirmish, for the space of about three houres: in which time there was slain about the number of two thousand of the Rebels, as appeared by the dead corps which were left in the field; and the rest retreated. But the Lord Jones and his Company pursued them close, and slay about a thousand of them more upon the Retreat. The rest of them hasted over the bog, as was expected, expecting to take the wood to rescue themselves there: But they were prevented by the other part of the Army which waited for their coming there, for the 10000. Foot, and an hundred horse fell upon them and there was another bloody skirmish between them and the Rebels. In which skirmish the Rebels had a great deal the worse.  
And whilst they were not in the battle, the L. Jones and his Company that followed the Rebels, appeared in the pursuing of them, and gave them a great overthrow again, for by the dead corps did appear to the number of about two and twenty thousand and five hundred to be slain: So there was in all slain of the Rebels, 25500. And of the Lord Jones, and Lord Diboney their Company, about five hundred foot, and 20 horse.  
There were also taken three of the chief Leaders of the Rebels, and sent them to prison. Then they marched to the Castle of Balney lake, which is a Castle that the Rebels had lately taken, and there they fell upon the Rebels, and slay about five hundred of them, and redeemed the Castle.  
So there were slain of the Rebels that day in all besides these, two honourable Lords, and their company, about six and twenty thousand.  


The names of the chief Rebels.  
Sir Oliver Tude.  
Daniel Dolton.  
Garrot Norton.  
James Perserall.  
roland Brandon.  
James Muleram.     

5. Sect. Of the reason why the Rebels came so strong to surprise Athlon.  
THe Rebels desired to take Athlon very much, and therefore drew so great a Force thither, hoping to surprise the Town and Castle, to overcome the Lord Jones his forces: and then they intended to take his armor, and so have strengthened themselves: and then they would have kept the Town and Castle in their own hands, which would have strengthened them very much, should they have effected it: for it is a strong walled Town, and great store of Irish Papists do live within the walls; amongst which are many Merchants of great worth.  
At the West end of the Town there is also a great River, over which is a bridge, it is called the Sharond. This River brings great Boats to Limbricke, at the West end of the Bridge doth stand the Lord Jones his Castle, which is one of the greatest and strongest Castles in Ireland,( except Dublin) and one of the best stored with Ammunition for war. The Papists in this Town had promised the Rebels, that at their coming they would cause the gates to be opened. And moreover the Papists of the Town had plotted with some of the Commanders of the Castle, that promised to procure them entrance when they came.  
Now so it is, that should they have taken this Town, and Castle, they then might easily have taken the Castle of Roscomin, and the Castle of Aleg, and then it would be very hard for any of the Kings forces to enter the Province of Coneth: because there is no way for them to pass into that Province, but onely at Athlon, and at Alegge, save onely the Bridge at Balney lake, which the Rebels had before taken, and was then in their hands. But through Gods mercy they were prevented, and they have fallen into the same pit which they had digged for others.  
Therefore blessed be the Lord God of Ireland, for with his own right hand he hath gotten himself the victory.   
FINIS.