True and happy News From IRELAND, Being the Copy of a Letter Written from Sir W. Saintliger Lord Precedent of Munster, to the Lord Lieutenant of IRELAND.  
Relating several Vallorous defeats given to the Rebels, wherein many of them Were slain, the rest put to flight and much pillage taken.  
Read in the honourable House of Commons on Tuseday April 25. 1642  

Martis 25. April. 1642.  
It is this day ordered by the Commons now assembled in Parliament, that this Letter be forthwith published in print.  
H. Elsinge Cler. parl. Come   
London printed for john Wright. 1642.   

TRUE AND HAPPY NEWS FROM Ireland.  
Right Honourable my very good Lord.  
SInce my last by my Lord of Dungarvan, my own indisposition and imbecility hath been such as in mine own person I have not been able to attempt any thing, but have by my sickness been confined to my chamber, but the forward earnestness and zeal to the service in my Lord of Inchonqid. Colonel Vavasor, Captain ●●rpson, and the rest of the Officers of the small Army here, hath accomplished some exploits, whereof you may please to receive the ensuing relation.  
I being besieged on the north side of the City by my Lord Mu●kry, M. Carty Lea●h, and all rest of the western forces, and having notice that my Lord Roche, my Lord of Ikarne Donbay, the Baron of Loghmay, M. Richard Builer, and all the tipperary forces were drawing up to beleaguer me on the south, I dispatched away the two Troops then newly landed, under the command of my Lord Inchequid, and Captain I●phton into the Lord Roches Country, in expectance to divert him from his intended course hitherwards, which sorted to so good purpose as that I since understand the tipperary forces have forsaken him, and that he remains himself upon his keeping in his own Country. During the stay of these Troops there, they were desired to the relief of a Castle called Rathgogan by one M. Meade, which M. I●phson having performed with a Squadron of each Troop, and 80. Musqueters' drawn out of his house and mine. In his retreat he was encountered by two or three Companies from Mimeallock, on whom he with a horse, and another officer with a Foot charged in several places, and routed them, slaying about 150. beside 50 slain in relieving the Castle On the thirteenth of this instant my Lord of Muskry (who hath kept this Camp a long time at Rochforts' Town three miles from this City) caused a part of his Army to chase home our scouts to the very suburbs, where in a bravado they made a stand, whereat my Lord Inchequid, Colonel Vavasor, and the rest of the Officers being much incensed, obtained my leave to issue forth immediately with 300 musqueteers, and two Troops of Horse: upon the sallying out they found the enemy retreated, and pursued him to his quarters, where the main body consisting of 36 colours as they were numbered forthwith appeared, and after several parties sent from the main body to skirmish with our men, had been beaten bacl, they began to pack up their Baggage, and forsook their Camp, after whom our men made all the speed they might: and having chased them two or three miles, charged upo● the Rear, routed the whole Army, which betook itself to flight over a bog, unpasseable for our horse, and took all their carriage and luggage, whereof the Lord of Moskeries own armour, Tent, and Trunks were a part, slew about 200 of their men that took to firm ground, and retired without loss of a man. Whereby it is very easy to observe with what facility the enemy might now be dealt withal before he can recollect himself anew, or receive foreign supplies, which they daily and hourly expect, and being once come to their hands, it will not then be treble the charge and expense both of blood and treasure that will suppress them, which now would reduce them to a very great strait.  
And therefore I do most humbly beseech your Lordship, that speedy supplies of men, moneys, arms, munition, and artillery, with all necessaries depending thereon, as Conductors, Pioneers, Mattrosses, Carriages, Tackle, Horses and Oxen for draught, and all other appurtenances may either be sent over, or Commission and means to raise and maintain them here, here being but one Canonere, and one Clerk of the store in this Province: without these your Lordship knows that it is to no boot to march into the field, where if the enemy be not too hard for us, he will certainly retire to his holds, and so secure himself against our forces.  
The necessary use of Fire locks and Dragoones, and of a competent supply of victual, the stock of this Country being totally wasted, will deserve serious consideration: and if I had been so fortunate as to have received any succours by those late Easterly winds it would have so discouraged the enemy now newly routed and animated the Protestant party, as that I am very confident by God's assistance I should have given your Lordship a good account of the quiet of these parts. Whereas the observing that this fair opportunity hath conveied us no relief do begin to muster up their forces afresh, and to take heart at the apprehnsion of our being deserted in England and left wholly to ourselves, wherein I cannot sufficiently express how miserable our conditions is; for having from the beginning of these troubles supported the forces mentioned, in the enclosed list with moneys gained upon several hard terms and engagements (besides what I have impressed to the succour sent thence) I was at last constrained to seize upon 4000 pounds belonging to Sir Robert Tynte▪ & ready to be transported out of the kingdom (and which he refused to lend upon the public faith of this state, which nevertheless I gave him upon the seizure) merely to preserve the Army from disbanding, which otherwise it must have undoubtedly done. And therefore I humbly desire, that money may be sent over not only to discharge that and other engagements, amounting to 4000 pounds more but that there may be order taken for the entering of those men into pay, and continuing them therein ever since the beginning of the present troubles which I raised at first (by direction from the Lords Justices) for this service, and that the same course may be taken for them as for the rest.  
The height of insolency and arrogancy in the enemy will appear by the enclosed Remonstrance which they sent me after a motion made for a cessation, which in the condition I was in, I had some inclination to condescend unto, in case it had been sought for in befitting terms: to which purpose I willed them to address their humble Petition to his Majesty, and in case I did approve thereof, I would give way thereunto, and to a cessation until his pleasure were known; whereupon they transmit me that, whereof the enclosed is a copy: at which I took (justly as I conceive such offence as caused me to return them the enclosed answer which I should have seconded with such further testimony of my aversion to their insolency as would tend much to their disincouragement were I enabled with any reasonable strength so to do, which I earnestly desire I may be, and with instructions what hand to carry in the procecution of them, and how to manage the war against them for that every day they increase in insolency and riot, hanging such prisoners as are not able to pay ransom, ransoming others, hanging old women, and stripping all they can lay hold on. All that is lest in this Province is the City of Cork, the Towns of K●ngsale, Youghall, and Bandonbridge; the Cities of Limricke and Waterford being f●llen into defection, save that the Fort in the former is able to command the Town if provided with Munition, wherewith I have sent to supply it.  
For persons in Action it is fare less difficult to nominat those that adhere to the Crown, which are the Earl of Barrimore, (an industrious servitur) the Lord Viscount Killmallocke, Sir Andrew Barret, and Edmond FitzGerald of Ballmarter commonly called the Senescall of Imockilly, by whose care and countenance (joined with my L. Barrimores that barony of Imockilly is kept in due subjection, and the passage betwixt this City & Youghall thereby open. But whilst we stand on these unable terms to stir out of these walls, the enemy is at liberty to range and forage over all parts of the Country. And indeed our wants of money are so great and pressing, as that for defect of entertainment and encouragement, the officers both of Horse and F●ote daily flock unto me, and importune to be dismissed & left at liberty to seek their preferment in England: and so soon as this little which is left me to feed the soldiers with from hand to mouth is spent, I know no way to prevent their sudden disbanding: and therefore I do again beseech your Lordship to endeavour that I may not be exposed to the dishonour and misery of being abandoned by the King's forces, and left myself single to the mercy of the enemy; but that moneys may be speedily transmitted unto me with directions what pay to allow the horsemen, and officers of the foot, with an overplus of money, as I have formerly desired, for extraordinary and emergent occasion, about either the Ordnance or Forts whereas yet nothing is in a right posture, but things only shuffled together for a shift by reason we had not wherewithal to the work as it ought  
Your Lordship's most humble servant, W. Saintleger.  
FINIS.