DEFEAT of the MARSHAL (SIR HENRY BAGNALL) at the BLACKWATER.

DEFEAT of the MARSHAL (SIR HENRY BAGNALL) at the BLACKWATER.

14 Aug 1598

"The Order and Direction given to the Army, as well for their marching as order in fighting, going to the Blackwater, the 14th of August 1598."

"It was ordered that the army, setting forth in six regiments, should, if occasion required, join and make three bodies, and turn out their wings as they should see cause. Colonel Percye having the vanguard, the Marshal his second, should both join, and make one vanguard. Colonel Cosbie, having the vanguard of the battle, Sir Thomas Maria Winfeild his second, were appointed the like. Colonel Cunie, then Sergeant-Major, having the vanguard of the rear, Colonel Billings his second, were appointed the like.

"The Marshal, in respect that his regiment had the vanguard, would go there, notwithstanding that he was advised and persuaded by Sir T. M. Wingfeild to come in the battle and leave the vanguard to him. The like did Colonel Cunie, but neither could persuade him.

"The battle was commanded by Sir T. M. Wingfeild, the rear by Colonel Cunie. The horse were divided into two bodies. The vanguard led by Sir Callistine Brooke, General of the horse; the point by Captain Mountgue, Lieutenant General; the rear by Captain Fleminge, marching betwixt the two rear regiments.

"The army thus marching, having bog and wood on either hand, within less than caliver shot, was fought withal within half a mile of Ardmaghe. The vanguard passed on over the lord, at the first bog, where the saker was left without stay until it came to the trench, and so forward. Cosbie likewise passed the bog and left the saker. Sir T. M. Wingfeild, coming thither, made there a stand, as well to carry off the saker as to attend the coming up of the rear regiments, whom he doubted to be greatly engaged, for that he heard them in great fight, and had no sight of them in long time before, by reason of a hill betwixt them. Of this he went to acquaint the Marshal, thinking to find the vanguard but a little before him, which could not then be seen by reason of the hill, purposing to have it to make good that place, and that himself would go with the battle to fetch off the rear, but it was so far off as the Marshal sent to them to make their retreat to that hill where he stood, and returned with Sir T. M. W. to the saker, which he then brought off by force of men, and went again with the Marshal, thinking that the vanguard had been come up, which was still advancing forward; and in all this time there was no sight of the rear.......

"Sir T. M. W., being come to his own regiment, saw the rear coming up, for whom he made a stand with his regiment at the boggy ford, and went to tell the Marshal of their coming, in which time he was slain; and the vanguard, either having received message to make a retreat, or overlaid with the multitude of the enemy, wheeled about disorderly, which advantage the enemy took, and brake them." Captain Evans was shot. Much of our powder took fire, wherewith many of our men were slain and hurt. The Sergeant-Major and Captain Mountague then came to Wingfeild, and they determined to retreat to Ardmaghe. Colonel Cosbie, however, without orders, made an attack on the enemy. He was fetched off, "broken as the rest."

Endorsed: "14 August 1598. The manner of the defeat given to the Marshal at the Blackwater."

<p>MS 621, p. 61 Copy of MS 600, p. 222.</p>

MS 600, p. 222

English

2 Pages.