309 
Carte, after relating the taking of the Castle of Rathfarn- 
ham by storm by the Royal troops, —the assailants showing so 
much mercy, that, though 500 common men got in before any 
officer of note entered the place, not one of the besieged was 
put to the sword,—proceeds to state, that the troops of the 
Parliament having no place to graze in but the pasturage on 
the south side, near the walls—there being no grass within the 
town, and no means of grazing on the north side, by reason of 
the army under Lord Dillon, there posted, —it was proposed to 
possess and fortify the Castle of Baggotrath, very near adjoin- 
ing that meadow; which, if effected, would have deprived them 
of the only pasture they had, and would have starved all their 
horse in five days. Orders were thereupon given to Major- 
General Purcell to summon thither, in the night, 1500 foot, 
with materials to fortify it; who accordingly began, as soon as 
it was dark, to march with that party; but met with so ill 
guides, that though it was within halfa mile of the leaguer, 
he did not get thither a full hour before day. 
Ludlow’s narrative informs us, that Baggotrath had a ram- 
part of earth about it, and that the Royal troops had wrought 
upon this to augment its strength a whole night before they 
were discovered. But the next morning, Colonel Jones perceiv- 
ing their design, concluded it absolutely necessary to endeavour 
to remove them from thence before their works were finished. 
To that end he drew all his forces, both foot and horse, to the 
works that faced the enemy, and, leaving as many as he thought 
necessary for the defence of the town, he sallied out with the 
rest, being between four and five thousand, and, falling upon 
them, beat them from their works, killing Sir William Vaughan, 
who commanded them, and most of the men that were with 
him, and closely pursuing the rest, who fled towards the main 
army, which was stationed near Rathmines. In this engage- 
ment, Burton relates, that of the Royal army 4000 men were 
killed, and 2517 made prisoners, having among them many 
