Account of the Storming of Tredagh

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Account of the storming of Tredagh (Drogheda)
by Antony Wood

Shortly before his death in 1650 Thomas Wood then a captain in the New Model Army (and previously an Royalist officer who had fought for King Charles I and had been a defender during the siege of Basing House), returned to England from the Irish Wars and while staying with his family told the following tale as related by his brother Antony Wood.

References
  • Wood, Anthony. The life and times of Anthony Wood, antiquary, of Oxford 1623-1695 Volume: 1, Printed for the Oxford Historical Society, at the Clarendon Press, January 1, 1891. p. 172
619557Account of the storming of Tredagh (Drogheda)Antony Wood

[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.


  1. Wood 510 (8) is "Letters from Ireland relating to the taking of Drogheda," Lond. 1649.
  2. the Harl. MS. has "in churches and up the towers"
  3. "churches," in the Harl. MS.
  4. "with a deep remorse," in the Harl. MS.