Besides round shot, Backs, Brests, Head-pieces, Pioniers Tools, Powder, Flasks, etc., whereof an account is not yet taken.
Nath: Boysh.
Friday, October 31. The marching part of our army was drawen out and quartered on Thomond side of Limerick not farre from the towne. His Ex: removed out of his field quarters into Limerick.
November. Saturday, 1. The Lt. Generall marched with the army into the co: of Clare. His Ex: staid in Limerick for a time for ordering affaires there. That the late Governor of Limerick's letter mentioned professing his desires and endeavours for the surrendering the place from the beginning being after testified by other circumstances, his condition was this day againe taken into consideration and the former vote concerning his execution with the rest was recalled.
Lord's day, 2. Coll. Warden (sent before into the co: of Clare) this day summoned the Castle of Clare. Hereunto was the following answer returned:
Sir,I can hardly beleue that the Governor of Limerick was brought to such low conditions as you make mention of in your letter. Howsoever, the officers here desire a respite of time untill Monday next, seeing our Gouernor is not in place, and in the interim we may send him notice of the contents of your letter, and then resolve you; wherein we desire a speedy answer, and rest
Your servant,
W. Butler. Clare Castle, 1. November, 1651.
Monday, 3. This day the Lord President of Conaught came to the heade quarters at Limerick. His Lordship certified us how impossible a thing it was to attempt at this time the shutting up of Galway on the other side: 1. That the bridge prepared for the river at Galway could not be cast over so to passe the water, the enemy having fortified the other side against us. 2. That the marching from Galway about the Lough by the way of Conge to the other side of Galway was above was above 60 miles. 3. That at the entrance of the passage aboue the Lough at Conge (being a passage betweene two Loughs about halfe a mile over) lay Clanricard with 3000 foote. 4. That the Castle of Aghanure would oppose our passing the river by boats in the ordinary way after our entring into Couaught. 5. That therefore we were to march 16 miles about, and in the march to passe 8 rivers, the least of them not passable if any raine should fall, and thereby might our army be shut up within waters. 6. That the way from Cong to Aghanure was such that horses could be only led, and from Aghanure to Galway (12 miles) they could not be led, besides that all the
Tuesday, November 4. The Lieutenant-Generall coming before Clare Castle it was at a councell of warre debated whether it had beene adviseable to summon or attempt the strong Castle of Clare. The strength of it would make a seige or a storme equally dangerous, considering the time of the yeare and the strength of the place not short of any that we had to deale withall appearing by description of the place and the mappe of it before given. A refusall on a summons would be tending to Carigaholt in the co: of Clare on the Shannon, which was to be now looked after, and the place had beene already summoned by Coll: Warden, and the time passed wherein an answer should haue been given as if not inclining to a surrender. In this difference of opinions it pleased God to encline us to a second summons from the Lt. Generall, which was this day sent, and God thereupon ordered the delivering of the place contrary to our expectation or hopes. The conditions of surrender are as followeth:
- That the Castle and all places of strength within the same with all the armes, amunition, stores, and other utensils of warre (except heerafter excepted) shall be delivered up to such as shall be appointed to receiue the same without imbezlement or spoile by 8 of the clock tomorrow morning, being the 5 of November.
- In consideration whereof all the officers and souldiers shall haue free liberty to march away with their armes, bagge, and baggage, drum beating, colours flying, musquets loaden, matches lighted, bullets in pouch.
- That all persons of what degree and quality soever shall haue libertie to march away with bag and baggage, chattell of all sorts.
- That all persons (except Romish preists, Jesuites, and friers) who desire to live in protection shall have libertie so to doe, submitting themselves to all acts and ordinances of Parliament.
- That convoys and passes shall be allowed to such of them as desire the same.
- That Coll. Stephen White shall haue the benefit of these articles in case he accept of it within twelve daies.
- Each Musqueteer shall carrie with him halfe a pound of powder with bullet and match proportionable.
- That none shall suffer for another mans default in breakeing of the articles.
- That 2 hostages be forthwith given by the Lt. Coll. for the performance of these articles.
In testimonie whereof we haue hereunto set our hands the day and yeare within written.
Edmund Ludlow. William Butler. Donogh O Connor.
This day the place was delivered according to the Articles and comitted to Coll. Sadlers government, and in his absence to Lt. Coll. Fowkes of his regiments. There marched away of the enemy about 230. We found there 8 barrels of powder, 70 bundles of match, 2 barrels of bullets, some old unfixed armes, with provision of meale and corne, etc.; also a small iron peece mounted on the workes, and heere we recouered our morter-peece and shels (about 23) and our 2 guns (one a cannon of 7 the other a demie cannon) with their shot, about 60 which had beene lost as is before mentioned, July 5.
Wednesday, Nov. 5. This day was at Limerick kept a day of praise and thankesgiving to God for his goodness to us in deliuering to us this citie after so long a seige like unto which was never any in Ireland holding out 5 months from the 30 June to the 29 of October, and taking up the greatest part of this yeares worke with this army. God's time is the best time; in this (as in all other things concerning us) we found it so. 1. Considering the strength of the place, haveing in itselfe (within and without) walls and workes necessary and sufficient for defence. Indeed that part of the wall intended to be by us battered affoorded advantage to the worke above any other part of it; yet haue we since found that our attempts there (had they proceeded) might haue beene little lesse then desperate. 2. Considering the number of the defenders the city bands were accounted little lesse then 2000, to whom were added 1200 foote and horse drawen in thither they [gap: illegible] the other commanded by [gap: illegible] well experienced [gap: illegible] Generall Hugh O Neile [gap: illegible] of whom we to [gap: illegible] proofe formerly at [gap: illegible] Clonmell upon [gap: illegible] less [gap: illegible] advantages. 3. Considering that all (or most) of both theire militias were as one man united against us, untill the holy God himselfe pointed out and prepared for us, 1. By his owne hand of visitation heavy on those within of whom 8000 by [gap: illegible] were so swept [gap: illegible]. By removing the then Major (Alderman Strech) comanding the city militia, and by his malignancy hardning them and others unto an obstinate resistance untill the 6 of October (the time by their charter limited for electing another in his place), and who was (if not affected yet) not so disaffected to us. 3. In the divideing first the city militia from the other, and after gaining on the other also, some of the principall officers appearing for deliuering up a port to us if a speedy conclusion were not made as hath beene declared. If it be thought that want of provisions enforced for us the surrender of the place, so indeed it ranne in our intelligence; and though it appeared to those of the meaner sort daily resorting to us, who spake as they found it, many of them being pincht with wants in that kind.
And as a prudent way this might moove with us to proceed as wee did, rather expecting then at aparant hazards forcing the place. But we now finde the stores in the city more then were reported or more then the owners would before have acknowledged, and much more then would have consisted with the well being (if with the being) of our army to sit by it at this season untill these should haue been consumed.
It was God alone who in his wisedome and goodnesse ordered our worke and our way and our time and all for us. Had it been done at first in the full strength of our army, or had it beene done after by battery or forces (an hopefull way in the eies of many) then had our corruptions stept in for part of ye praise which now appeareth Gods onely, it being done in our weaknesse (our number being diminished by sicknesse) and [gap: illegible].
The MS. of the Diary ends here.