Account of the Storming of Tredagh
[Thomas] would tell [his family] of the most terrible assaulting and storming of Tredagh[1], wherein he himself had been engaged. He told them that 3000 at least, besides some women and children, were, after the assailants had taken part, and afterwards all the towne, put to the sword on the 11 and 12 of Sept. 1649; at which time Sir Arthur Aston the governour had his braines beat out, and his body hack'd and chop'd to pieces. He told them, that when they were to make their way up to the lofts and galleries in the church and up to the tower[2] where he enimy had fled, each of the assailants would take up a child and use it as a buckler of defence, when they ascended the steps, to keept hemselves from being shot or brain'd. After they had kil'd all in the church[3], they went into the vaults underneath where all the flower and choicest of the women and ladies had hid themselves. One of these, a most hansome virgin and arrai'd in costly and gorgeous apparel, kneel'd downe to Tho. Wood with teares and prayers to save her life: and being strucken with a profound pitie[4], took her under his arme, went with her out of the church, with intentions to put her over the works and to let her shift for her self; but then a soldier perceiving his intentions, he ran his sword up her belly or fundament. Whereupon Mr. Wood seeing her gasping, took away her money, Jewells &,c. and flung her downe over the works, &c.