text could not proceed for weeping my minde would gladly 〈◊〉 from my intentions and they digresse from a more peaceable subject 1641. 〈◊〉 Climatericall yeare of the English Nation in Ireland some well affected 〈◊〉 sent divers abroad with Petitions for subscriptions to supplicate from the â—â—â—â—rable Houses of Parliament which are the refiners of Religion and Laws a â—â—â—â—rall Reformation which was an Apostolicall act This net was not cast out by 〈◊〉 save those that were truly Piscatores hominum Satan and Antichrist his first-borne as malitiously suggest that this arrow was shot not only at their spirituall good 〈◊〉 temporall goods The man of sin imploying his Sodomiticall Seminaries 〈◊〉 call Prelates and Jesuiticall Incendiaries to fow these tares firebrands in the wombe of their Hecuba borne for the destruction or disquiet of their natural â—â—â—â—rents and native Country Men borne in antipathy to Prometheus for as he 〈◊〉 fained to have stolne fire from heaven to restore life into dead bodies they 〈◊〉 fire from hell to bring death to the living not only by murdering the Religious 〈◊〉 Religion as if the death of the spirituall life as well as the temporall were in 〈◊〉 ballance or line with them that observe neither weight nor measure The 〈◊〉 mish Salamander lives not but in fire nor can lesse flames then a Kingdome 〈◊〉 him surviving Now was it that God for our sinnes determined the English prosperity should be like Jaâ—shua's Sunne be a day permanent but retrograde like Fleâ—chiahs it being the miraculous expression of his Justice in ruining either the forgetters or contemners of his blessings Then began the despised blasts of 〈◊〉 Rams-hornes to demolish the walls of Brittish Jericho's when by a judgement a terrible as their cruelty armed forts were surprised by unarmed men then ranne the Lion from the Hare the shaking lease and trembling Partridge now terrifio the Oake and hawke the thistle and beards the cedar the base Lackey not running by but away with his mistris whilst innocencie and chastity become the reprovers of that life they would lose but cannot Judge of that great contestation between honour and life beauty and deformity and resolve me in this blanke list for thy opinion if God ever shew'd or Nation ever suffered a greater judgement 〈◊〉 ruined and ravined by his pack of pleasures for indeed we had too much â—ied the Diana of Ephesus not the piety but the pomp of a church the silver shrines â—ad toe many Advocates most men exclayming but few besides profitable respects either desired a reformation or knew what a one to desire Thus was the golden Calfe preferred to Moses Barrabas to Christ Garlicke to Manna Nature a prompt master having taught us to advance politick ends before pious As a period to out â—â—rill distructions fell these publicke and whilst many were distasting the present government God tooke away all the rejection of Samuel that made his publicke vindication cannot prejudice the election of Saul whom God deserted Thus God makes our curiosity our scourge Midâ—â— his wish shall be his famine Phaetonâ— desire his death and Jupiters diety the consumer of his concubine Them that would not quietly enjoy what they had shall unquietly dispose of what they 〈◊〉 or would enjoy Civill dissentions and dislikes being terminated by a martiall or shall I say an impartiall sword The Church like Dianah is ravisht by lustfull Shechem as a punishment of her roâ—â—â— had she kept the tents of Jacob she had been free from his rage had we not like her erred from our paternall protection we had not endured their rapines The just with God to expose them to all malediction that out of wandring fancie 〈◊〉 the â—anges of the sanctuary Athaliah was there slaine for destroying the 〈◊〉 royall which I spiritually conceive to be the integrity of a Church born and continued without the milke or meat of Canaanltish and adulterous traditions which being spurious slips cannot floursh nor have a longer prosperity then the gâ—â—â—d of Jonahs or the infortunate and earthy wombe that gave them conception Sin ripened like the pride of Gath desies the Host of the Lord of Hosts bathing the monstrous spearhead of his rage in the bloud of the chosen how feeble hath the fall of Adam made his haplesle posterity the glorious English long clad in the victorious spoyles of that barbarous people become the rebaters of their â—keins but not of their rage finding now how dearly the Israelites paid for their cruell mercy in not extiâ—pating the Idolatrous Canaanites those that policy left for hewers of wood and draw â—â—s of water hew the flesh and draw the bloud of their masters thus humane policy is punisht by in humane impiety teaching us that all the purposes of flesh and bloud having not godlinesse for their basis have sandy foundations and that policy without piety is a damnable discretion The Dove and the Serpent should like those two kine of Bethshemesh at once be yoked to draw the Arkâ— of God from the possession of the heathens to the people of God or like Cleaâ—â—s and Biton to draw their mother to the Temple where observe the kins and brethren were rewarded by death the kine sacrificed to the true God the brethren to the false O God so blesse my pilgrimage that at my termination my last act may be best that so I may like Mâ—â—â—hs sacrifice ascend up unto thee by an Angelicall convoy Those that sacrificed up the calves of their lips are now like beasts sacrificed The rude reed runnes through the hand that sustained it whilst the hoofes of untamed and untaught monsters trample on those heads that shod them all 〈◊〉 turning rebell either to civill or legall contracts Those Nationall tyes held sacred and Gordian of gossip or fosterer are denied by the brutish to the Brittish Hazael and Zimri murthering their Masters the act not disavowed but countenaâ—â—â—â— pardoned and applauded by depicted Jezabel that Romish harlot 〈…〉 sacrifice at the Temples dedication was here outvied in number but not 〈…〉 Beast was not offered but preserved for here the Minister was the chiefe sacrifice the Beast the sacrificer The Ram was not offered for Isaac but he for the Ram as if the gold had been more holy then the Temple or sacrifice then 〈◊〉 Eliahs once flew the priests of Baal but now Baals priests slaughter the somes of the Prophets nor place nor person is regarded but the Protestants are murdered in the very Churches as if Protestant bloud were only the hallowed water to sanctifie those places for their Idolatrous prophane damned and accursed Masses Certainly it may be feared that we did something that displeased God which 〈◊〉 called for his exploding Now are the fountaines of living waters the balme of Gilead the holy 〈◊〉 of the Covenant the sacred columnes of Gods word made the derision of the â—â—â—â—ly whilst they are rent in pieces and dasht about the heads of the owners till 〈◊〉 drew bloud on their heads
and faces with these and the like opprobrious and 〈◊〉 pious speeches here you English dogs and hereticks you shall have Bibles 〈◊〉 Surely had not those holy legacies of the blessed Spirit been first by our selve â—â—â—â—der valued it had not been in the power of those reprobates thus to have prophaned the holy food or the feeders thereon Their first expressions began in the ruine of our estates having first publisht 〈◊〉 correspondence with the Scottish our brethren whether out of an intent 〈◊〉 awaken their dislikes of these new insolencies or perchance conceiving they had not forgot our hostil preparations against them the foregoing years and therefore might hope to make them Newters at all which conceits I admire had they but conceived the irreconciliable distance between their Religions yet thei◠〈◊〉 pretence and disguised affection too much wrought in those dismall dayes in which every head wa s perplext if not darkened with distractions on that valiant Nation insomuch that one Barhome by title but by name John Mac. Culloh Captaine of a foot company with others advised me when I had kept my house seven weeks after the Rebellion began to fly for my life adding they were reasonably well secured by a Proclamation publisht by the Rebells by direction of theiâ— chiefe for the Scottish protection in returne of a favour done him in his infancy by a Scottish Gentle woman who either saved his life or liberty in his swathing bands And but that God determined they should mingle with us in that great confusion and effusion of estates and bloud I admire so wise a people and perspicuous in the darkest aenigmâ—s should be so deluded but where God intends an infâ—mation all humane wisdome is emerged The deepest reaches of earthly knowledge have had as deep precipices none had a fearfuller fall then him the Scripture stiles as an oracle of God we the defeats of those great projects of Pharaoh and Herod that neither of their designes or wise intendments could suffocate the type or substance the penner of the Law or publisher of the Gospel the Scribe of the sacrifices or him sacrificed by the Scribes But this Romish Machiavilian plot tooke effect so the prevention of bloudy and helborne projects are seldome prevented nay nor suspected by those of a holy an upright conversation T is for the sonnes of darknesse to bring those things to light But our brethren paid dearly for the cruell mercy of the Irish for they staying after the English of which some were slain some stript and sent away were most of them man woman and child cruelly massacred The English are now left as God left his when they had first left him some â—â—ying when none pursued sin addes to the stature of our feares for nothing makes men terrible even to themselves but their transgressions whilst the greedy pursuers seem like Mercury with winged feet to fly with a devouring sword to kill them already near death with the expectation of death whilst the enemies swords are as drunke with our bloud as they with our drink of both which they seem insatiable the thirsty earth not more greedily receives the early and latter raine then they of both liquors insomuch that one O Mallon was heard to boast inhumanely that he with his owne hands had murdered sixe and twenty English and Scotch in two dayes whereof there were twenty five Scottish O unheard of cruelty it is a wonder to me that this man should be borne by the common course of generation for certainly his sire or dam must needs be an Irish wolfe in whose bosome was harboured so little humanity Now doe these like those Philistims inflamed with rage and drinkâ— their soules intoxicated more then their bodies with the cuppe of the Whores Fornications Revelat. 17.2 drawe out the poore Captives to death as if the best banquet were the bloudiest The sonne of Hagar now abuses the heire of the Promise now is disoculated Sampson that grindes his abused soule more then their meale brought forth to make pastime to the Philistims I knew one Bel of Muckamore near Antrim whose eyes they stubbed out to make him confesse his money then abused him and lastly murdered him thaâ— death which is terrible to our selves afford us delight if inflicted on others With what delight and pleasure can wee reade those cruell persecutions of Nero Domitian Trajan Adrian Marcus Aurelius Severus and the rest â—â—may the bloudiest of our murthering Mary who drew the bloud instead of milke from the paps of her Nurse having such a Catholicke Spanish 〈◊〉 in het veines that the bloud of many English Martyrs could not allay The cruelties exercised at Merindol and Cabriers when the craggy 〈◊〉 exprest more mercy to the hunted martyrs then the flinty soules of their perâ—â—â—ters That damned massacre of Charles the ninth anno 1572. whose bloud issuing from severall parts of his body at his death fully exprest his belluine disposition Not King themselves profusely wasting or unmercifull exhausting the bloud of their Subjects shall finde exemption at that great and just Audit kept by Jehovah The highest deputations have the heaviest cares How soon is Saul lost in his new Monarchy These I say could we peruse with patience and pleasure The Spanish cruelty more heathenish then those on whom it was exercised in the Indies which were till now the grand patterns of abused hostility invasion and victory are so far unfit to parallell with the Irish inhumanity as they have lost our wonder The horse-leeches of Rome bloudily conceiving that Protestant bloud 〈◊〉 marle of their Religion and that nothing produces so rathe a spring to the Catholicke cause as the carcasses of purer professors when as it is the generall 〈◊〉 that the bloud of martyrs is the seed of the Church Sacks of wool are held the best foundations for bridges in the strongest currents as on those were built upon the martyred carcasses of our predecessors the Protestant Religion so 〈◊〉 that all those great inundations from the Apostolicall or rather diabolical 〈◊〉 could never overwhelme yet then was our profession but like to 〈◊〉 who though he was of the seed royall had Sauls possessions and eat bread at 〈◊〉 Kings table yet was he lame in his feet 2 Sam. 9.3 and I suppose his cure would have been more needfull and acceptable to him could it have been effected then either his possessions or honour God alwayes preserved his Church of which the Arke was a type which shall float over the world-drowned-shores to preserve a holy remnant and the earth swallow up those streams of poysonous malice vomited by the serpent against his love his dove his fair one all these persecutions could not so much as startle the English lethargy the evils that we expect are lessened if not prevented when as sudden alarms not only awake but astonish The great battells of Canna Marathon and those two daughter of Epaminondus Mantinea and Leuctra with those more famous where the
Starres fought in their order and Kishon like a besome swept them away even so let thine enemies perish O Lord those great defeats given and recieved by the Turke and Christian the sword fire famine pestilence and desolation of the Jews with what other horrors have eradicated the Roman and Gretian Empires were by us perused with pleasure and yet now that a destructive insurrecton drawes his daggar at our throats death walking over our owne thresholds famine having entred to cling up our bowels fire to dissolve our beings and unkinde exile to shoulder us from our abodes poverty rushing like an armed man meager and pin'd visages meeting us at every pace wounded and mangled carcasses peeping out of bushes like ghosts from the grave Christians expos'd naked to unmercifull cold and mountainous wayes with not a fig leafe to hide their nakednesse poore women with childe brought a bed and dead in woods and caves in that unchristian manner that my pen dares not expresse but leaves their miserable condition to the consideration and commiseration of those that expect a happy deliverance heaps of slaughtered Christians to part of which the dogs had given sepulchre many hanged upon trees and boughes part of which we could perceive had been burnt before at these sights and many more horrid how are our resolves amated our courages queld our resolutions daunted now doth poore Germany and our right neglect of their calamities deeply possese us the afflictions of Joseph are afresh bemoaned and the martyrdomes of the Apostles are now lamented and what is more the poverty of our Messias his teares pilgrimages stripes spittings contempt revilings agony and bloudy passion which before was read over as an ordinary story of Scripture and if read not remembred if remembred not lamented if lamented t was but a qualme of sorrow now are we sufferers in his sufferings On bitter miserie how sweet are thy lectures teaching sorrows are cordiall griefes and t is a blessed maim that heals the soule give me those wounds O God through which as a glorious mirror I may behold the mirror of glory Now began the famine of some to conclude that the violentest death was the best and the lengthned life the only miserable that the shortest way to the grave was the sweetest and that the last gaspe was most comfortable many searching for the pangs of death as the only Elixar to cure all diseases the feared winding sheet and insatiable grave proving now desired which was before horrid That heaven the seat of God under which we regardlessely walked is all the canopy is left the English the humble earth the footstoole of God and mother of us all on which we proudly trampled lets her wofull children lie on her bosome that fain would lye within it the woods and bogs becomming either our shelter or sepulchre the contemned food of the Irish sorrell watergrasse three leaved grasse weeds and water is now made our delicates The tender and loving wife repines at the nourishment eaten by the husband of her bosome whilst the infants complaints begets fresh throws in that breast which used but could not nourish it the mothers tears shewing a compassion but not a redresse happy were the infant could it have been cherished with tears as before with milke for the eye was wet to see the breast so drie fruitfulnesse is now held a greater curse to the forlorne English then sterility was to the Jews Jeremy thou mourning turtle of Sions sorrows I wish not a double portion of thy spirit but thy sorrow that I might be that silver trumpet that should publish to all posterity the calamities of those our brethren that did and do want those succours our luxury devours She is no Nube that cannot finde one teare to cast into our Ocean of brine and lend a sigh to those broken hearts that sorrow hath rather made statues then men Suffer not the afflicted of the Lord to tread the winepresse alone lest when thy aloes are given thee to drinke thou findest none of Elishas salt to cure the brackishnesse Partnership in sorrow hath the power of mitigation and thou shalt have the praise if not to have relieved to have eased our pangs But whither am I transported Summons to griefe finde but deafe eares and a dead welcome every man desiring rather to go to a theater then a tribunall 〈◊〉 having as many assistants too many as tribulation too few Solomon is as little followed in these two Proverbs as in any better is the house of mourning then the house of mirth and the day of death then the day of ones birth but when he comes with an inviting exultation Eccles. 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eâ—es he shall have more followers then Darius or Xerxes thâ—â— gripe or pleasure hath gotten Rome so many Proselites when Religion complies with Nature our corruptions are wooed and wedded to a glowe wormy happinesse The great Belshazzers in their greatest elevations finde their knees knocking and discerne the handwriting of death on their walls and those Nebuchadnezzars that prided themselves in their spacious structures as many there were that built with marble which contemned the corner stone are now sent amongst the beasts of the field not only for their abode but sustenance Those holy duties before neglected are now with a compulsive trepidation observed T is a miserable thing for a soule inur'd to sinne to be hurried into his devotions death at the heeles and hell in the eyes seldome produce any but distracted supplications when as he that dies dayly hath wrested the iron scepters out of the power of death and hell having an infallible interest in him that not only got the conquest but sung the comfortable soule-cheering insultation over both these till then indomitable tyrants Oh deah where is thy sting Oh grave where is thy victory Therefore Quid retrihnam but thankes be unto God which hath given us victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 15.55 57. Now would those that had consumed a patrimony rejoyce to finde those hâ—â—ks that none shall give them How gladly would the gripple hand receive that almes it hath deâ—ayned finding a sad returne of his uncharitable repulses That Dives that would not give a crumme demanded shall find a drop denied O God so inlarge my heart that I may give what I can and so enlarge thy mercies I may receive what I would It was no single arrow God shot in that Nation or us poore English for as if the sword had beene too blunt a sithe or sickle to mow both the wheat and darnell and a single punishment too favourable a scourge God sent the fire and lest that should be too sparing in consuming our sinnes that made us so combustible and not fully refine the oare from the drosse God sent the famine to devour
those that had nothing to eat and left that should leave any gleanings in this Irish Aceldama the Lord sent a pestilent Feaver that swept away innumerable people insomuch that in Colerane there died in fowre moneths by computation six thousand in Carickfergus two thousand and five hundred in Belfast and Melone above two thousand in Lisnygarvi eight hundred and in Antrym and other places a proportionable number So that heer the chariot of Gods justice was drawne by those fowre horses Rev. 6. a white a red a blacke and a pale horse this disease augmented our miseries the Feavers being so contagious that the living durst not see them sicke nor bury them dead that I have scene the husband carry his dead wife to the Church-yard and borrowing a spade digge a grave for her that living was his life and the same man have I seene the next day die in the same Church-yard the like affection have I seene the wife expresse toward her departed husband the sonne to the father father to the son and the like Heere were the words of our Saviour not onely metaphorically but verbally true for the dead did not only bury the dead but the dying buried the dead also Not any that escaped this Feaver but lost all their hayre I had it in the Newry seven weekes where not only without but contrary to meanes my God preserved mee to whom on my bended knees I give all possible thankes This sicknesse beyond the power of perswasive Divinity shewed me God thwarting Nature preserving in the grave quenching the flames of my sicknesse even with what Physitians say it is inflamed my cordialls and julips were running water in stead of barly and sometimes a little milke salt beefe or porke oaten bread and cheese the allayes to my heat and hunger Thus from the jawes of death and brims of the grave hath God delivered me to lament and publish the death of those of my owne Tribe For on them fell the brunt of this martyrdome they were those appointed to slaughter at the birth of this designe they could expect no quarter others might ransome their lives with their hidden goods but this profession was sure to cope with death in the horridst shape as if Iaacobs curse were renovated for they met with a wrath more fierce a rage more cruell then they used to Shechem and found a division in Iaacob and a scattering in Israel Gen. 49.7 Which I the rather undertake because some ill affected to the condolements of the Irish Clergy heere distressed and by some harsh tongues depraved have lightly run over the miseries of that despised and dispersed Ministry to whom I owe that little I have left as being of the same â—esse with those sonnes of the Prophets that find Mors in olla I shall but in two passages digresse from the Martyrology of the Ministry in the Province of Ulster and the one is my engagement that I ought to Mr. Morgan Aubry Esquire my honoured friend and his Man to this I am drawne by my love the other is the unmanly and unchristian usage shewed to Mrs. Smithson a Ministers wife and her mayd that lived within sowre miles of Dublin to this I am drawne by my wonâ—â—â— and these two I shall transfer to the last The first on whom their unsanctified hands were fastned was Master Mâ—â—â—â— of Donnamoore Rector who in a most cruell and bloudy mâ—â—â—â— they cut in pieces and left unburied Secondly Mr. Blith Minister of Dungannon whom they hanged whole Wife with 3 small children after 8 months miserable captivity I saw in the Newry great with child stripped naked and ready to perish for want of reliefe Then Mr. Fullerton of Loughgall Rector to whom Sir Phelomy ô Neale owed at least six hundred pounds upon mortgages who though he and Mr. Aubry abovesaid had his Pasle and Convoy for their safe conduct was payd that debt by his paying his debt to Nature for he at a â—oggesside was stript murthered and left unburied With this coyne hath that flaming firebrand payd his debts such cancelling of bonds must they all expect that traffiqe with the progeny of the Babilonish whore Mrs. Fullerton with two children and great with child came to the Newry after eight months imprisonment with sevenscore women and children in her company her selfe having not to hide her nakednesse nor no thing to keepe her feet from the ground ' but two pieces of a raw cow hide tied upon her feet with pieces of packthred and what was more miserable she was constrayned to leave two of her children upon the mountaines to the mercy of their Fathers murtherers judge now you that tie your lives upon the prosperity of your infants of the agonies of this distressed Gentlewoman which made me call to mind that mination of God Deut. 28 56.57 The tender and delicate woman amongst you which never would venter to set the sole of her foot on the ground for the softnesse and tendernesse shall be grieved at her husband that lieth in her bosome and at her sonne and at her daughter and at her after birth that shall come out between her feet and at her children which she shall beare for when all things lacke she shall eat the them secretly during the siege and straitnes where with thine enemies shall besiege thee in thy strong Cities Mr. Matchett Minister of Maharafelt was after long imprisonment and extream hard usage the Lord having given him the bread of teares and ashes to drinke he being an aged and reverend Gentleman was most cruelly murthered at Lievetenant Thursbies in the County of London-Derry the Lievetenant and his wife being both Recusants could not by any meanes or intreaties eyther save or respite him from death such favour found the English Papifts amongst the Irish and such finde the English revolters with the Spaniard between whom is as great correspondence as between the Scotch and French Nations Mr. Hudson Minister or Desert Martin after many troubles and calamities was taken from betweene two fetherbeds out of Mr. Chappels house where that vertuous Gentlewoman had long fed and concealed him but at length the Rebels gave a date to her charity to him and to his life for the Rebels in a most cruell and most barbarous maner murthered him Mr. Campion of Kilowen being at the battell of Ballemony which the English in regard of the fatability of the day call Blacke Friday having received a great overthrow which in all possibility had beene the losse of Colerane and a dismall day to all the poore Protestants within it had not God infatuated eyther the wisedome or daunted the courage of those Rebels under the command of Colkittoes sonnes there did this Gentleman seale his love to the Gospel with his bloud like Zuinglius in the head of his Company honourably expiring amongst his slaughtered Brethren In the same cause and maner was slaine a Scottish Minister whose name I cannot remember though I was then in the same
County who tooke his leave and shewed his love to the cause in which to their honours that Nation is forwardly zealous under the command of Colonel Archibald Steward late Agent to the Earle of Antrym Mr. Tudge Minister of the Newry after long imprisonment and many perfidious promises from the Lord Magenis Sir Con Magenis Governour of the Newry and the rest was with thirteene more under a pretence to be exchanged for other prisoners at Downe-Patricke cruelly put to death of which none but one Greene a Tapster to Mr. Butterfield of the Newry escaped ransoming his life for forty shillings this Greene brought me this Relation in May 1642. and as they were leading to their slaughter the poore Gentleman called upon Sir Con Magenis for mercy and performance of his promise but the perfidious tyrant stopped his eares to his and their complaint upon which Mr. Tudge in the bitternes of his soul desired God to require his bloud at their hands with these words of the psalmist Judge and revenge my cause O Lord then he with his fellow Martyrs taking the Communion in a little running water in stead of the bloud and a piece of an oaten strowen in stead of the body of their Saviour commending themselves and their vile bodies into his hands that was able to translate them into glory yeelded their lives to the stroke of the bloudy executioners by whom he was hanged but Lievtenant Trever and his wife with some of the rest which were divers were cut to pieces Soone after as all the English Inhabitants of that place often affirmed Sir Con Magenis was by the strange judgement of God strucken with a strong frenzy running home to his owne house on foot the Lord taught him by the way as Gideon taught the men of Succoth and Penuel his clothes and skin being justly torne by the bushes and briers in those uncouth wayes his madnesse made choyce of raving on his death bed Take away Tudge take away Tudge doe you not see how hee pursues me for his bloud in which desperate condition he died Thus God made this Rebell and mercilesse beast by the lash of his Divine Justice acknowledge his transgression in taking away the lives of the innocent The same Sir Con having besides innumerable other murthers at one time betweene Greene Castle and Carlingford drowned sixty and eight Protestants to which he had promised quarter affirmed by Mr. Holland who with some others in a boat miraculously escaped to Dublin at that time by which meanes he and the rest escaped from tasting Sir Cons holy water Mr. Hastings Minister endowed into a living of Mr. Fairfax being School master in Ballisâ—gart a house belonging to my honoured friend the virtuous Mrs. Clotwoâ—thy for which deliverance after a grievous thraldome my heart â—â—â—â—yceth Him they caused to swim in the Lough till he was drowned Mr. Dorâ—h my Lord Canifield Chaplaine killed Mr. Fleming Ministero Clanseekle murdered Mr. Mercer inster of Mulijrâ—â—â— murdered Mr. Burns Curate of Lâ—ughgilly murdered Mr. Bradleyes Curate of Artray Mr. New killed Mr. Wilkingson of Clovins killed at the Cavan he cemming to the Crosse-keyes lnne desired a lodging to whom an Irish man tendred himstlfe telling if he walked into the garden he would provide him one the innocent Gentleman was no sooner in the garden but the Serpent betrayed him asking him doe you want a lodging yes replied he I have faies Judas provided you one and with that drew his Skeane and stroke him so violently on the head that his braines fell out this lodging was intended for the whole Clergy had not God miraculously defeated the purposes of these bloudy hel-hounds children whose mothers have sore breasts doe sometimes draw bloud as well as milke which makes me beleeve that the breasts of the Church of Rome are sore and full of corruption that her children draw so much bloud amongst their milke if any that they generally during their whole time thirst after it Mr. Thomas Traford killed by the Rebells after quarter was promised Mr. Mongommâ—ry hanged by the Rebells he was of Duâ—amain Parish Mr. Paulmaster that once lived at Carickfergus Minister there was as his wife informed me hanged at his Church doore Mr. Flack of Fermannah a Minister of speciall note was with two of his sons taken out of Castle Crevenish and also offered up to God as a sacrisice Mr. Michart Berket of Salters Towne flying for safety with his wife and seven small children to Carickfergus where his wife and all his poor children died most miserably for want of ordinary nourishment himselse being famished to the point of death finding the pangs strong upon him got leave to goe into the Church of Carickfergus where he had not long stayed sitting himselfe for the reward promised to them that made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe to that land of Goshen where they shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat Rev. 7.16 did there depart this life Mr. Griffin All of Ardnah and murdered by those bloud suckers on the sixt of May Mr. Bartly All of Ardnah and murdered by those bloud suckers on the sixt of May Mr. Starkey Curat All of Ardnah and murdered by those bloud suckers on the sixt of May For about the fourth of May as I take it we put neare forty of them to death upon the bridge of the Newry amongst which were two of the Popes Pedlers two Seminary Priests in returne of which they slaughtered many prisoners in their custody where of these three were part Mr. Bevâ—â—rage a of Kiâ—laman Ministers of the same County were sufferrs in this massacre Mr. Robinson of Kilmoore Ministers of the same County were sufferes in this massacre Mr. Lutfoot oof Castle Blany tasted of the same mercy being cruelly murdered Romulus the first founder of that City is faind to be fosterd by a Wolfe and was the murderer of his brother Rhemus a presage of the cruelties should procecd from that foundation certainly there was some bloud which is a great cementer mingled in the morter for I am assured both the Empire and Hierarchy the temporall and anti-spirituall dignity have been supported by cruell massacres or bloudy machinations no act of hostility conspiracie treachery murder symony or what ever is accounted detestable amongst meer moralists but hath beene columns to uphold that grand bawdy-house wherein not only corporall whoredomes but spirituall are tollerated from thence was fined and on the grindstone of Rome was this sacrificing knife ground that cruelly cut off these Martyrs Thus have I shewd the unhappinesse of the Irish who perchance are yet living the happinesse of them that are slaine but yet alive Well did the Jewes call the grave domus viventia from thence did arise that life that assures us of the resurrection to life whereas the wicked man is accursed in his grave Esay 14.19 These are but a remnant of them that could not escape the
Rebells tyranny or my intelligence many more must needs suffer that never came my care for the Inland Countries of whose passages I am not informed so credibly I dare report it must needs afford great slaughters being remote from those garison Townes upon the coast where many God be praised spared their lives Besides these that were thus massacred there dyed of the pestilent feaver who chiefly miscaried through poverty famine and succors in their sicknesse The reverend learned and famous Martyr Bedle Bishop of Kilmore who supported many distrested English and was kept in restraint at Clowater and died at Mr. Scrednies house after some five monthes imprisonment where like paul he spent his time in converting his jailors making his prison his pulpit wicked tyrants may barre Gods people from the congregation of the righteous but not God from the habitations of his people M. Peirce Minister of the Lurgan at Carickfargus Mr. Simon Chichester Minister of Belfast Mr. Ducket Curate of Lisnigarvy Mr. Redshaw Minister of Colerane Mr. Collins Minister of Kilrac And three Ministers more whose names I cannot learne but was informed of their deaths by Anne Jackson Francis Barnaby and Wentworth Moulsworth that came from thence and are now all in this City All these dyed in Colerane Mr. Tailor of Carlingford Mr. Chesman of Moninmoore Minister Mr. Winter of Astra Minister Mr. Luke Astrie Minister of Ballekelly Mr. Farwood Deane of Drummoore Mr. Edward Stanhop Archdeacon Mr. Backster of Kildallon dyed in Castle Crag Mr. Edward Livesly Mr. Erskin of Fermanah who tooke his sicknesse in Derry but dyed in Scotland at Antrim Captaine John Kilner of Jaughen-vale having a Commission from His Majesties Commissioners for a foot Company issued out in Decem. 1641. as also a Commission from the Lords Justices to be Provost Marshall of the City and County of London-Derry in both which his sonne being a Minister became his Lieutenant and Deputy being a preaching Souldier and a military Minister who preacht to his Souldiers when they were not in fight and fought when he could not preach shewing at once his love to Christ and hate to Anti-Christ who having done exceeding good service he being a forward and well qualified Gentleman but striving above nature to shew his zeale in that holy war by many heats colds and other sufferings contracted that sicknesse wich ended his daies having time to apply that Swan-like song of Paul the second of Timothy the 4 5 6 7 8. verses Which a legacie to his brethren and cordiall to himselfe was his last antheme But watch thou in all things suffer adversâ—â—y 〈◊〉 the worke of an Evangelist make thy Ministery fully knowne For now I am ready to be offered and the time of my departing is at hand I have fought a good sight I have finished my course I have kept the faith For henceforth is laid up for me the Crown of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but to all them that love his appearing I have seen a large certificate of his fathers unparalled services in which he ought to be a partner as being an assistant all wich is subscribed under the hands of Sir Jahn Vanghan Knight governour of the City of London-Derry and one of the Privy Councell of that Kingdome Robert Thornton Major of that City Henry Vaughan Simon Pits Henry Finch Henry Osborne Aldermen Mr. Newcomen Minister of Fawne at Fawne Mr. Richard Walker Minister of Lifford at Lifford Now you have seen Steven ston'd you shall see Peter and John Paul and Silas in interiorem carcerem you shall see Jeremiah in the stocks Jer. 20.2 You shall behold Pashur putting him downe into the dungeon with cords where the poore Prophet is not only fast in prison but in mire Jer. 38.6 for as they held the Ministers the basest of men so they provided for them the basest of prisons should we returne their cruelties we should put their Priests and Jesuits into our common shoares Dignum pattella operculum those not marked with the letter T for destruction or on the lintells of whose doors the Angel had sprinkled the marks of deliverance found the protraction of life a death the taskmasters of Ireland being more cruell then those of Egypt and enjoyning more cruell conditions for what can be more horrid then for an Apostle to be urged to be an Apostate to be constrained to leave the way the truth and the life to walke in the labyrinths of falshood and death I shall shew you some of the Lords captives in that Province Mr. Archdeacon Price of Drumlane Mr. Adam Watson of Kilshanar both of the County of Cavan besieged in Castle Crag eight months getting off by quarter Mr. Creighton of Virginia kept in misery eleven months Mr. Fitzgarret Minister in hard and cruell restraint till the fixt of May 1642. who though a native and next to the Primate of Armagh a man of the greatest splendor for Urim and Thummim of that Nation Mr. Boyle of Carickmaharosse Minister in bondage five months Mr. Gil Minister of Killally of the County of Monahan imprisoned five months Mr. Edward How Curate of Dartrie in bonds six weeks Mr. Ferchar Parson of Clâ—unish County Fermanah two months Mr. Francis Sympson of Kilmore County Monahan imprisoned eight months Mr. James Fathie Minister kept in restraint eight months having been preserved from famine by M. Fitzgarrets goodnesse who for his County take found a little more cruell favour then other of his brethren Mr. Bradly Minister of Artra imprisoned eight months being often brought out to be hanged but next unto God preserved by the unmatchable goodnesse of Mrs. Chappel now in the City finding save from one friend raised up for her by Almighty God a small returne of that talent of charity which she in those dayes of bloud and famine extended to many especially the Ministery which sometimes brought her owne life in hazard Mr. Archdeacon Maxfield of Glaslough or if you will Buchamon junior for his elegant and smooth expressions in divine posies kept in restraint by the Ovendens halfe bothers to Nero junior Sir Philomy ô Neal nine months A Scotch Minister that after long imprisonment made a miraculous escape with Lievtenant Smith Lievtenant to Captaine George Blunt of Montjoy and some others in a small boat and oares hackled out with their knives over Lough Neaugh to Antrym it being above twenty miles by water in the Winter season a dangerous passage whose name I have forgotten yet I heard him preach in Belfast upon this portion of Scripture Jer. 4.4 Thus we see as Antichrist strives to drownd kill and famish the elect even so Christ by a Divine providence sowes up the mouths of these ravening elements and preserves his owne paul in spite of the whistling Euroclydon and angry Adriaticke hee shall have his Angell aboord to bring him blest tidings of his life and his companions Act. 27.23 That passage of Esay 43.2
Feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine when thou passest thorow the waters I will be with thee and thorow the flouds that they doe not overflow thee was fulfilled on these distressed escapers Mr. George Cottingham Rector of Monahan was put into a close dungeon where his frankiseense was the excrements of men in heaps it being the dungeon belonging to the goale where five dayes he was detained obscured living himselfe unrelieved with any kinde of nourishment having his wife and foure children in the same misery Mr. Beale prisoner at Clowater and in restraint nine months Mr. Dennis Serreduie an Irish man but a minister still in restraint Mr. Henry Steel minister of Clautubeit was the space of nine weekes sometimes in the dungeon and sometimes in the gaole having a young childe to keep not above a quarter old which he cherisht sometimes with milke and sometimes with water out of a sucking bottle that now those that wanted tongues or language to call for gengeance on these homicides make their bloud louder orators to implore justice he was at last deprived of his childe himselfe being stripped escaped to Dublin where and here he hath indured by the flux and other sicknesse extream misery Mr. Dennison minister of Tedawnet was stript naked and beaten worse the a Turkish gallyslave lying naked in a ditch all night and brought from thence to Monahan Castle where he lay long halfe dead and benumed Thus is poore Joseph because he will not lye with Potiphars wife unjustly condemned to a miserable bondage because we were betrothed to the Spouse of Christ and would not mingle our selves with the harlot of Rome therefore is the lapof our garment our profession made our destruction But these resolved martyrs though tempted with the beauty of that Romish Thais upon a holy consideration ponder Josephs consultation and with that armed themselves against their temptations and their owne persecutions saying with him Gen. 39.89 Behold my master knoweth not what he hath in the house with me but hath committed that he hath to mine hand there is no man greater in this house then I neither hath he kept any thing from me but only thee because thou art his wife how then can I doe this great wickednesse and so sin against God mistake me not I intend not to have that application hold in all the particulars for I dare not derogate from Gods presence so will I not arrogate to our Ministery giving them any thing that may more honour them then that which will be onerous to them the weightinesse of their charge so great that he is like unto Issacar or so made Thus far of the slaughters deaths by the feaver and cruell thraldomes of the Ministery I come now to render an account of such as I left in Carickfergus Belfast Newry Lisnygarvy and the neighbouring parts in so unfâ—thomed a misery as my plum and line is to light and short to expresse their indigencies Mr. Cloggir of Dean Parish Co. Cavan Mr. Doctor Tate of Ballihaire In Cavan Mr. White of Kilmore In Cavan Mr. Mosse of Newtowene in Fermanah Mr. Commin of Clankee in the Co. of Cavan Mr. Jenton senior Cou. Down Mr. Jenton junior Coun. Antrim Mr. Slack of Callee hill Cou. Cavan Mr. Hudson of Belturbutt Co. Cavan Mr. Henry Fethy mr. James Fethy mr. Lutefoot of Strangford mr. Patrick Gar thee thre Watsons the father son and nephew mr. Massy mr. James mr. Jues and mr. Paul Read of Blackstaffe both which were compelled to lead a horse and a carre with either hay or wood for a groat or six pence a day to keep themselves from famishing mr. Wilson of Enver mr. John Dunbar mr. George Lesly mr. Andrew Law mr. Craford mr. Ogleby mr. Laurence Tompson mr. Durry of Ballimenah mr. James Tracy mr. Hardir mr. Walter Lamont mr. Jorrest of Dumagur mr. Robert mc. Neal mr. mc. Neale mr. Dr. O Neale mr. Veazy mr. Major mr. Backster mr. Charles Vaughan mr. Cade mr. Holland mr. Dean Rhodes mr. James Stewart of Garvahir mr. David Roven of Redbay mr. Nicholas Todd mr. John Michel of Ana Clowen mr. Hugh mc. Lecinan late of Lâ—akin-larke mr. James Creighton mr. James Melvin of Down-Patrick mr. Johnson mr. Fâ—â—â—erton for distinction sake called red Fullerton mr. Monopeny mr. James Portâ—â—s mr. Downes mr. James Downham mr. Lambert mr. Brooks mr. Patrick Doncan mr. Dr. Blare mr. Joster mr. Hamilton mr. Travis mr. Thomas Stewart mr. Bel mr. Waâ—et mr. Woodridge These with some others that escaped like Jobs messengers to bring sad tydings of their brethrens deaths but not intermits and are now on the dunghills of calamity with holy Job finding as ill comfort as comforters and still hangs at the bloudy and dry paps of the Church in Ireland whence they can draw nothing but winde and that may be heard from their full soules though empty bellies in their sighes and groanes the silent interpreters speaking sorrows so that there needs no winde but that to overthrow their houses of clay Now if you please survey with a commiserating eye those whose wearied steps fainting bodies and wounded soules have repaired to the Bethesda of England for cure of their heart-rending sorrowes where in all acknowledgements of gratefull humility some of them have found the Angel stirring the sovereigne balme water of your charities to their reliefe which many of the feebler sort either through weaknesse of friends abilities of expressions or a selfe-killing modesty lye at the brinke unremied to them divine Charity open the doores of thy Physicke and Chyâ—urgery and into their bleeding wounds poure thy oyle and thy wine Samaritan-like eye the robbed and bleeding Levite pay thy penny for his present harbour and promise for a slender remainder these undertakings Angelicall vertue shall make thee be translated with Enoch or â—liahs in a fiery chariot thy owne immortality will guide thee to the preservation of us mortallmen Mr. Mors of Fermanah and Parish of Rammullie after he had beene robbed and stripped was constrained being starke naked to carry his two children twelve miles upon his backe by which time she grew so suâ—bated that his uxoriousnesse prevailed beyond his paternall love to his children so in that a great agony of spirit he was forced to leave the fruit to the mercy of the enemies and to preserve the tree carried his wife above eight miles upon his back they being both naked Enâ—as could not out patern this affection to aged Anchises From that Province are here under thy wings as chickings sâ—arâ—ng famine that predatory Kite Mr. Richard Buerowes Mr. Baker Mr. George Walker Mr. Bedle Mr. Dr. Bayly of the Cou. Cavan the two Sings of A haderick the other of Dundalke mr. John Freeman mr. Hammond mr Bunburie and as I heare his brother mr. Boyle mr. Cottingham mr. Nathaniel Draiton mr. william Green mr. Francis Sympson mr. Gabreath mr. Cohâ—â— mr. Henry Steel mr. Edward Carter mr. Clearke mr.