On Sunday, the 13th of August, the Marshal reached Newry
with some trifling loss from skirmishes on the route. He
had with him, by the best accounts, six regiments of
infantry, numbering in all about 4,000 men and 350 horse.
After resting a day, his whole force marched out of the
city in three divisions; the first under the command of
the Marshal and Colonel Percy, the cavalry under Sir
Calisthenes Brooke and Captains Montague and Fleming;
the rear guard under Sir Thomas Wingfield and Colonel
Cosby. The Irish, whose numbers, both mounted and afoot,
somewhat exceeded the Marshal's force, but who were not
so well armed, had taken up a strong position at Ballinaboy
("the Yellow ford"), about two miles north of Armagh.
With O'Neil were O'Donnell, Maguire, and McDonnell of
Antrim--all approved leaders beloved by their men. O'Neil
had neglected no auxiliary means of strengthening the
position. In front of his lines he dug deep trenches,
covered over with green sods, supported by twigs and
branches. The pass leading into this plain was lined by
500 kerne, whose Parthian warfare was proverbial. He had
reckoned on the headlong and boastful disposition of his
opponent, and the result showed his accurate knowledge
of character. Bagnal's first division, veterans from
Brittany and Flanders, including 600 curassiers in complete
armour, armed with lances nine feet long, dashed into
the pass before the second and third divisions had time
to come up. The kerne poured in their rapid volleys; many
of the English fell; the pass was yielded, and the whole
power of Bagnal debouched into the plain. His artillery
now thundered upon O'Neil's trenches, and the cavalry,