on the morning of 7 august 1642, to the ""considerable agitation and suspense [of the] town"", a naval squadron of seventeen ships appeared in galway bay. led by alexander, 11th lord forbes (died 1671), they had come to relieve the garrison of forthill at the request of the english parliament, and which had authorised him, as lieutenant-general, to waste the coasts of ireland. launching long boats from the ship, forthill was resupplied with food, arms and ammunition. forbes then sent a messenger with a letter for mayor walter lynch fitz james, ordering them to ""confess themselves to have been rebels, and humbly submitting to beg his majesty's intercession for them to the parliament of england, and to declare they would admit such governors as the king and state should appoint, and until then put themselves under the protection of lord forbes.""