considered what means were fittest to be used at present for the prevention of the further spreading of that hideous Rebellion in Ireland as well as stopping of the ill influence it might make upon their affairs in England where great troubles even then began to appeare within view And after much time spent in this debate they came to these severall Conclusions which being put to the question were assented unto by the Committee and so resolved as followeth 1. That 50000. l. be forthwith provided 2. That a Conference be desired with the Lords to move them that a select Committee of the Members of both Houses may be appointed to go to the city of London and to make a Declaration unto them of the state of the businesse in Ireland and to acquaint them that the leading of monies at this time will be an acceptable service to the Commonwealth And that they propose unto them the Loan of 50000. l. and to assure them that they shall be secured both of the Principall and Interest by Act of Parliament 3. That a select Committee may be named of both Houses to consider of the affaires of Ireland 4. That Owen O Conally who discovered this great treason shall have 500. l. presently paid him and 200. l. per annum pension untill provision of land of inheritance of a greater value be made for him 5. That the persons of Papists of quality within this Kingdome may be secured within the severall Counties where they reside 6. That no person whatsoever except those who are Merchants shall be admitted to go over into Ireland without Certificate from the Committee of both Houses appointed to consider the affaires of Ireland These with severall other particulars concerning Ireland and tending in order to the safety of the kingdome of England were resolved upon the question and Master Whitlock appointed to report them to the House as heads of a conference desired with the Lords concerning the affaires of Ireland which was accordingly had with their Lordships the same day At which conference the L. Keeper did expresse the very great sense the Lords had of the exceeding great care taken by the house of Commons for the prevention of the further spreading of the Rebellion in Ireland And his Lordship by command of the Lords did further let them know that their Lordships did think fit to agree with them in all those particulars presented unto them by the house of Commons without any materiall alteration only adding such further things as they conceived might serve to further and expedite their desires in the more speedy putting them in execution The house of Commons having proceeded thus far in the affairs of Ireland upon the two first dayes after the discovery made unto them of the Rebellion there raised did notwithstanding their own present distractions set apart some portion almost of every day that they sate during the whole moneth of November for the considering of the affairs of Ireland and so upon the third and fourth of the same resolved upon the question and accordingly ordered these particulars following 1. That the House holds fit that 20000 li. be forthwith supplied for the present occasions of Ireland 2. That a convenient number of ships shall be provided for the guarding of the Sea-coasts of Ireland 3. That this house holds fit that 6000 foot and 2000 horse shall be raised with all convenient speed for the present expedition into Ireland 4. That the Lord Lieutenant shall present to both Houses of Parliament such Officers as he shall think fit to send into Ireland to command any forces to be transported thither 5. That Magazines of victuals shall be forthwith provided at Westchester to be sent over to Dublin as the occasions of that Kingdome shall require 6. That the Magazines of armes ammunition powder now in Carlile shall be forthwith sent over to Knockfergus in Ireland 7. That it be referred to the Kings Councell to consider of some fit way and to present it to the House for a publication to be made of rewards to be given to such as shall do service in this Expedition into Ireland and for a pardon of such of the Rebels in Ireland as as shall come in by a time limited and of a sum of money to be appointed for a reward to such as shall bring in the Heads of such principall Rebels as shall be nominated 8. That Letters shall be forthwith sent to the Justices in Ireland to acquaint them how sensible this House is of the affairs of Ireland 9. That the Committee of Irish affairs shall consider how and in what manner this Kingdome shall make use of the friendship and assistance of Scotland in the businesse of Ireland 10. That directions shall be given for the drawing of a Bill for the pressing of men for this particular service for Ireland These particulars together with severall others being resolved upon the question they passed an Ordinance of Parliament enabling the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to raise 3500 foot and 600 horse for the present service there And they further expressed their resolution not to make use of the assistance offered unto them by their Brethren of Scotland further for the present then for the furnishing them with 1000 foot which they desired might be transported out of Scotland into the North of Ireland And on the same day they ordered that the Master of his Majesties Ordnance should deliver to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland the number of 1000 arms for horse and 8000 arms for foot and ten Last of powder to be presently sent into Ireland And that the Lord Admirall should suddenly provide shipping for the transporting of men arms and ammunition and other provisions according to the former resolutions of the House Now while both Houses of Parliament were taking Order for raising men money and sending provisions and other necessaries for Ireland there arrived those other Letters of the 5 of November formerly mentioned which being addressed to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell were communicated to both Houses of Parliament and after a conference upon them took further resolutions for the speedy sending away supplyes into Ireland And such were the forward affections and zeal of the House of Commons to promove what concerned the service of Ireland as they thereupon voted 200000 li. to be raised for the suppressing the Irish rebellion and for securing of the Kingdome of England and payment of the publick debts And that they might facilitate this great work of raising such a summe of money upon the credit of an Act of Parliament before the money could be collected throughout the Kingdome they thought fit for the better encouragement of the City of London and for the giving them full satisfaction in point of security for the monies formerly lent them to make this Order following THe Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled having a due regard to the good affections of the City of London expressed
the Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale did not rise and joyn with them in the very beginning of this Rebellion adding these words or to this effect that if they would have let us alone and not set us on we were so well at ease as we would never have begun this troublesom work It cannot certainly be imagined that those of the English Pale unlesse they had been the first projectors or deep adventurers would have yeelded that the meer Irish should have seized upon the City and Castle of Dublin places of refuge for them in all former troubles and which would now have given them protection and safety against the incursions of the Irish But I hold it not necessary to produce further evidence in this particular I purpose now to declare how those great Instruments of mischief that were the supream conductors of this wicked design moved forwards so succesfully in the beginning toward the accomplishment of their long intended extirpation of all the British and Protestants out of the Kingdom The Romish Clergy and the Popish Lawyers great instruments in the first Plotting and carrying on the Rebellion I find two sorts of persons who did most eminently appear in laying those main fundamentals wherupon their bloody superstructions were afterwards easily reared up And these were such of the popish Lawyers as were natives of the Kingdome and those of the Romish Clergy of severall degrees and orders For the first they had in regard of their knowledge in the Laws of the Land very great reputation and trust they now began to stand up like great Patriots for the vindication of the liberties of the Subject and redresse of their pretended grievances and having by their bold appearing therein made a great party in the house of Commons The Irish Lawyers draw a great party in the House of Commons to adhere to them here then sitting some of them did there magisterially obtrude as undoubted maximes of Law the pernicious speculations of their own brain which though plainly discerned to be full of virulency and tending to sedition yet so strangely were many of the Protestants and well meaning men in the house blinded with an apprehension of ease and redresse and so stupified with their bold accusations of the government as most thought not fit others durst not stand up to contradict their fond assertions so as what they spake was received with great acclamation and much applause by most of the Protestant Members of the house many of which under specious pretences of publike zeale to this Country they had inveigled into their party And then it was that having impeached Sir Richard Bolton Lord Chancelour of Ireland of high treason together with other prime Officers and Ministers of State that were of English birth some of those great Masters took upon them with much confidence to declare the Law to make new expositions of their own upon the Text to frame their Queres challenges fitter to be taken to a long wilfully over-grown misgovernment then to be made against an authority that had for many yeers struggled against the beloved irregularities of a stubborn people and which had prevailed far beyond former times towards the allaying of the long continued distempers of the Kingdom They disdained the moderate qualifications of the Judges who gave them modest answers such as the Law and duty to their Soveraign would admit But those would not serve their turn they resolved upon an alteration in the government and drawing of it wholly into the hands of the Natives which they knew they could not compas in a Parliamentary way and therefore only made preparatives there and delivered such desperate maximes which being diffused abroad would fit and dispose the people to a change As they declared it to be Law that being killed in Rebellion though found by matter of record would give the King no forfeiture of estate that though many thousands stood up in arms in a Kingdom working all manner of destruction yet if they professed not to rise against the King that it was no Rebellion That if a man were out-lawed for Treason and his land thereby vested in the Crown or given away by the King his heir might come afterwards and be admitted to reverse the Outlawry and recover his Ancestors estate And many other positions of a perilous consequence tending to sedition and disturbance did they continue to publish during that Session and by the power and strength of their party so far did they prevail at last as they presumed to attempt a suspension of Poynings Act and indeed intended the utter abrogation of that Statute which remains as one of the greatest tyes and best monuments the English have of their entire dominion over the Irish Nation and the annexion of that Kingdom to the imperiall Crown of England They further assumed power of Judicature to the Parliament in criminall and capitall ofences A right which no former age hath left any president for neither would this admit the example And thus carrying all things before them they continued the Session of Parliament begun in May till about two moneths before the first breaking out of this Rebellion it being very ill taken that even then they were adjourned And this they have since aggravated as a high crime against the Lords Justices and as one of the chief moving causes to the taking up of Arms generally throughout the Kingdome But to let those things passe how finely soever these proceedings were carried on and being covered over with pretences of zeale and publike affection passed then currant without any manner of suspition yet now the eyes of all men are opened and they are fully resolved that all these passages together with the other high contestations in Parliament not to have the newly raised Irish Army disbanded the importunate solicitation of their Agents in England to have the old Army in Ireland cashiered and the Kingdom left to be defended by Trained Bands of their owne Nation As likewise the Commissions procured by severall of the most eminent Commanders now in Rebellion for the raising men to carry into Spain were all partes of this Plot Prologues to this ensuing Tragedy Preparatives such as had bin long laid to bring on the sodain execution of this most bloody Designe all at one and the same time throughout the Kingdome The meanes used by the Priests Jesuits to stir up the people to rebell Now for the Jesuits Priests Fryers and all the rest of the viperous fraternity belonging to their holy Orders who as I said had a main part to Act and have not failed with great assiduity and diligence to discharge the same They lost no time but most dexteriously applyed themselves in all parts of the Country to lay such other dangerous impressions in the minds as well of the meaner sort as of the chiefe Gentlemen as might make them ready to take fire upon the first occasion And when this Plot was so surely as they
be Prorogued the House sitting And now that this Rebellion hath over-spread the whole Kingdome and that many members of both Houses are involved therein so as the Parliament cannot sit We humbly desire to know his Majesties pleasure therein and if his Majesty shall think fit to Prorogue it which in present we hold expedient that then we may receive his commandment for Prorogation and that the doubt concerning that be cleared for to assemble at that time cannot be with safety Our Letters of the third of December have been hitherto with-held on this side by contrary winds In this most miserable condition the Lords Justices and Councell continued shut up within the City of Dublin strugling with all their power for a short preservation from those dismall calamities which had generally over-spred the whole Kingdome Their care travell and endeavours had hitherto in some measure extended to the most remote parts how they might asswage the swelling distempers or yeeld some reliefe to the lamentable complaints and bitter out-cryes daily brought up unto them But now the evils abroad were grown past their cure and their own dangers so multiplyed as they were enforced to spend their time almost in a perpetuall consultation never at rest sometimes raised in the night by sudden advertisements alwayes in constant perplexity and trouble desperately threatned on every side so as what through treachery within or from without they had just reason to apprehend the losse of the City and Castle wherein they had enclosed themselves and so consequently the ruine and destruction of all the British and Protestants throughout all other parts of the Kingdome And thus they continued untill the most happy and welcome arrivall of that truly valiant Gentleman and gallant Commander Sir Simon Harcourt The arrivall of Sir Simon Harcourt with Forces out of England who being designed Governour of the City of Dublin was dispatched away by speciall Order of Parliament with his Regiment for the preservation of that place and landed here on the last of December 1641 to the great joy and comfort of all his Majesties Protestants and well affected Subject and to the terrour of those Rebels now in Armes who had made themselves believe that no Succours would be sent out of England towards the suppressing of their notorious Rebellion And now my intentions were to have proceeded further on in setting down what hath fallen out within the next foure Months and then to have added a briefe account of all such particular passages as have been acted during the space of those six Months within all the severall Counties of this Kingdom and so having recollected and presented as it were at one view the publike calamities and miserable desolations of all the foure Provinces there to have sate down and made the first period of this Story But I must here take up being unexpectly called away I resolve therefore patiently to attend the restoring of this Kingdome and the resettlement of our affaires and then if I find not this work undertaken and perfected by some more skilfull hand I shall hope to get the rest of my tailing together and make such further provision of all other materialls as may enable mee to goe through with the same In the meane time it will not be amisse to take notice that the Rebels within very few Moneths after their first breaking out had so ordered their affaires as that by their sudden surprises their sharpe and bloody executions their barbarous stripping and despoyling of all sorts that fell into their hands they had cleared the Inland Counteys of all the British Inhabitants And except some few Castles and other places of strength which they held severally besieged and had most of them suddenly after surrendred for want of reliefe they had in a manner made themselves absolute Masters in all those Parts of the Kingdome And for the Maritime places there were only some of the chiefe Cities which were held out against them besides some few other Forts and places of no great importance As in the Province of Lemster the Cities of Dublin and in the Province of Munster the Cities of Cork Youghall and Kinsale in Vlster London-Derry Colraine and Caregfergus And all these they held either besieged much distressed or they were otherwayes so over-pestred with the multitudes of poore stripped people fled to them for safety as they were confident they could not long hold out but that either open force treachery famine or sicknesse would within a short time inevitably put them into their hands Thus it pleased God to humble his own people in this Land and for their sinnes to give them up into the power of their cruell Enemies who began now to sacrifice to their own neâ—s to celebrate the memory of their Victories And upon the prosperity of their undertakings and late successe they were become so confident of prevailing even to the totall extirpation of all the British and Protestants out of this Kingdome as they proceeded to set down a certaine form of Government nominated the persons whom they intended to entrust with the management of their affaires what Lawes they would have revoked what Statutes newly enectad And in the meane time they erected a Councell which they stiled the Supreme Councell which they invested with absolute Power and Authority to order and governe the whole Kingdome This consisted of certaine Noblemen Gentlemen three or foure Lawyers and one Physitian who being elected unto this charge had the place of their residence appointed unto them at Kilkenny a City in the Province of Lemster where they sate ordinarily for the dispatch of all the great and weighty affaires of their State They there erected severall Courts of Judicature they made a new broad Seale appointed severall great officers of State coyned money settled an excise upon all kinde of commodities and performed many other acts of regall power Now how they proceeded on in the ordering these their great affaires what Councels they took what meanes they used to enable themselves to make opposition against the Forces sent over by the Parliament of England into all the foure Provinces of Ireland I shall here forbeare to speak of These particulars must be reserved for the ensuing part of this Story where they will most properly fall in to be related And where likewise we shall finde so strange a turn such a remarkable declination of their power their hearts failing them for feare their Councells infatuated their designs blasted their Forces routed their sieges raised such a generall defailliance and inprosperity in all their undertakings as we must needs give glory to our Maker and acknowledge that God hath most wonderfully wrought for the deliverance of the poore small remnant of his people which were here shut up and designed to the slaughter For after a considerable number of Horse as well as Foot sent over by the Parliament of England arrived at Dublin and had in some petty encounters thereabouts tried the mettaile of the Rebels and found their spirit of a poore and base allay they began extreamely to disvalue them and would be no longer abused with the fabulous reports of their great strength or numbers which with much advantage they had long made use of Therefore now they began to seek them out in all places and wheresoever they came to meet with them they alwayes prevailed even with small numbers very often against great multitudes of them sparing not many times to pursue them into the midst of their greatest fâ—â—tnesses and made the very bogges and woods unsafe receptacles for their broken Troopes And with so great successe was the warre prosecuted by the English from the first landing of their Forces out of England untill the Treaty of that most unhappy Cessation concluded in Sept. 1643. as that in all the incounters they had with the Rebels during that time they never received any scorn or defeats but went on Victoriously beating them down in all Parts of the Kingdome And so they carried on their work before them without any assistance either from the meere Irish or the English Irish For I can not my selfe remember any Gentleman of quality throughout the whole Kingdome that was there born and breed up a Papist that put himselfe into that service or desired to be listed as a member of the English Army It is true some of the common Souldiers there were of the English Irish that came in and though they were not considerable for their number yet they did good service and still with much fury and sharpnesse followed on upon the execution FINIS
down to posterity the noble atchievements and great victories already obtained by small numbers of the English forces over huge multitudes of these Irish Rebels THE TABLE THe Oiginall of the Irish fol. 1. The first enterprize of the English for the conquest of Ireland made by private adventurers during the reign of King Henry the 2d. King of England fol. 3. Christian Religion setled in Ireland in the fourth Age after the birth of our Saviour fol. 4. The numbers of British and Protestants murthered or otherwise destroyed since the beginning of the Rebellion unto the time of the making of the first Cessation of armes with the Irish Rebels fol. 6. The ancient malice born by the Irish towards the English fol. 7. The royall endeavours of Queen Elizabeth for the reducing of Ireland fol. 8. The miserable condition of Ireland when King James came to the Crown of England fol. 11. The Irish Commissioners present their grievances to King Charles His great readinesse to redresse them fol. 12. The Earl of Leicester declared L. Lieutenant of Ireland fol. 14. The happy condition of Ireland at the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion fol. 16. The manner of the discovery of the Conspiracy of the Irish for the seazing upon the Castle and City of Dublin fol. 18. The rising of the Irish within the Province of Ulster fol. 24. A Letter from the Lords Justices and Councell to the Lord Lieutenant fol. 28. A Proclamation issued out for the satisfaction of the Lords and chief Gentlemen of the English Pale fol. 37. The names of the chief Rebels in Ulster severall Forts and places of strength suddenly surprized by them fol. 39 Severall policies used by the Irish to prevent the rising of the English against them fol. 41. Sir Phelim O Neals proceedings in Ulster fol. 44. The second dispatch of the Lords Justices and Councell into England fol. 46. The Proceedings of the Parliament in England upon the first advertisements brought unto them of the Rebellion raised in Ireland fol. 48. Order taken for victualling the Castle of Dublin and for the safety of the City fol. 53. The sad condition of the City of Dublin fol. 61. The particulars of the first plot of the Rebellion fol. 65. The plot for a generall Rebellion in Ireland of an ancient date fol. 66. The Plot for this late Rebellion first discovered to the Lord Mac Guire upon Mr. John Bellewes return out of England with Commission to continue the Parliament in Ireland fol. 69 That the Lords of the English Pale were engaged in the first Plot is very probable fol. 73. The Romish Clergy and the Irish Lawyers great instruments in raising the Rebellion fol. 76. The means used by them to stir up the people fol. 78. The resolution of the Irish to root out the British out of Ireland fol. 84. Vpon their first rising they seize upon all the English mens goods and cattell next strip them naked and so turn them out of their doors fol. 88. A particular enumeration of severall bloody massacres and horrid cruelties exercised upon the British all testified upon oath and taken out of severall examinations inserted in the margine fol. 90. The Remonstrance of the Protestants of Munster fol. 110. The examinations of severall persons inhabiting within the severall Provinces of this Kingdom taken upon Oath wherein are deposed severall particulars concerning the murders and cruelties used by the Rebels to the British in all parts of the countrey fol. 116. Severall examinations concerning the Apparitions at Portnedown Bridge fol. 133. The cruelties acted by the Irish upon the British were before any provocation given them fol. 1. Concerning the adjournment of the Parliament in Ireland fol. 4. The approach of the Rebels to Tredagh and the defeat of the English forces sent for the relief of that Town fol. 16. The defection of the Lords and chief Gentlemen of the English Pale fol. 18. The manner of their conjunction with the Northern Rebels fol. 19. Their refusall to repair to the Lords Justices and Councell fol. 24. Their proceedings after they had joyned with the Northern Rebels fol. 29. The Kingdome of Scotland sends Commissioners to treat with the Parliament of England concerning the relief of Ireland fol. 32. Their Propositions debated in the House of Peers fol. 34. The revolt of the Province of Munster fol. 35. A Letter from the Lords Justices and Councell to the Lord Lieutenant fol. 39 The Irish Rebellion OR An History of the beginnings and first progresse of the generall Rebellion raised within the Kingdom of Ireland in the Year 1641. THE Kingdome of Ireland which hath for almost five hundred yeares continued under the Soveraignty of the Crown of England was presently after the first conquest of it planted with English Colonies long since worn out or for the most part become Irish And therefore it hath again in this last Age been supplyed with great numbers of people drawn out of England and Scotland to settle their habitations in that Country Now the most execrable plot laid by the Irish for the universall extirpation of all these British and Protestants the bloody progresse of their Rebellion within the compasse of the first two moneths their horrid cruelties in most barbarously murdering or otherwaies destroying many thousands of men women and children peaceably setled and securely intermixed among them and that without any provocation or considerable resistance at first made I intend shall be the present subject of the first Part of this ensuing Story The originall of the Irish The Irish want not many fabulous inventions to magnifie the very first beginnings of their Nation Whether the Scythians Gaules Africans Gothes or some other more Eastern Nation that anciently inhabited Spaine came and sate down first in Ireland I shall not much trouble my selfe here to enquire If wee should give credit to the Irish Chronicles or their Bards who deliver no certain truths we might finde stuffe enough for an ancient pedegree made up out of a most various strange composure of the Irish Nation But to let them passe there are certainly a concurrence of divers manners and customes such affinity of severall of their words and names and so great resemblance of many long used rites and still retained ceremonies as do give us some ground to believe that they do not improbably deduce their first originall from some of those people It may very well be conjectured for infallible Records I finde none that as the Eastern parts of Ireland bordering upon England were first planted by the old Brittaines * Toole of the old Britein word Toll a hil-country Birne of Brin woods Cauvenagh of Cauve strong The view of Ireland by Spencer fol. 33. Toole Birne and Cauvenagh the ancient Septs and still inhabitants of that part of the country being old British words And as the Northern parts of Ireland were first inhabited by the Scythians from whom it was called ** Ireland is often called Scotia maior
the affairs of great Brittain when Scotland lately in Arms had by their own power and wise managements drawn his Majesty to condiscend to their entire satisfaction as wel in their Church discipline as the liberties of that Kingdom And in England the distractions being grown up to some height through the great misunderstanding betwixt the King and his Parliament Ireland was at this time left naked and unregarded the Government in the hands of Justices the old Army dispersed in places of so great distance as it could be of little advantage the common Souldiers most of them Irish and all the old Commanders and Captains except some few worn out and gone This as the first plotters thought was the time to work out their own ends and masking their perfidious designs under the publike pretences of Religion and the defence of his Majesties Prerogative they let loose the reins of their own vindicative humour and irreconcilable hatred to their British Neighbours I will not presume to say they knew what would fall out in England or what miserable embroilments that Kingdom was ready to break out into for undoubtedly the first plot was laid and most exactly formed many moneths before the war brake out betwixt the King and his people But thus much I shall be bold to affirm that upon the very first breaking out of this Rebellion they did strangely conjecture and beyond all appearance of reason even somewhat positively divine of the dismal breach and fearfull distempers which afterwards followed to the disabling of the Kingdome of England from applying remedies towards the reducement of Ireland For the attestation of this truth I could produce the generall concurrence of severall circumstances many private discourses and advertisements as also a particular Letter which I had long by me written as it seems from a very intelligent Papist a great Zealot in the cause unto a Nephew of Sir Toby Matthew's then in Dublin who though lately converted retained yet a great friendship among them He tels him in the beginning of the Letter that he was desired from some well wishing friends to advise him as he tendered his safety and security upon the sight of those instantly to forsake and abandon that troublesom and most unfortunate Kingdom for God and man had speedily resolved to afflict and punish the overgrown impieties of these prophane times all hearts and hands happily conspiring to it and that he should be as speedy in his passage as was possible and rather as the case stood hazard all dangers by sea then the least at land to be sure not to stop in England especially at London that sink of sin as he cals it and center of disorders for by that time he arrived there he should be sure to find nothing but troubles factions and desperate distempers that he should dispatch therefore for Paris or rather Brussels where there should be order taken for the removall of all mistakes betwixt him and his Uncle This Letter was written about the beginning of Novem. 1641. which was some few dayes after the breaking out of this Rebellion and full six moneths before the taking up of Arms in England Now for the very time when this great Plot received its first forme The Plot for a Rebellion in Ireland first discovered to the Lord Mac Guire and others about the time of Master John Bellewes return out of England with commission to continue the Parliament in Ireland which was in Jan. 1640. though I conceive it of somewhat a more ancient date yet by all the examinations I have hitherto seen I can carry it up no higher then the moneth of January 1640. and that it was about that time communicated to some of the chief Gentlemen of Vlster the Lord Mac Guire doth sufficiently testifie as well in the relation written with his own hand in the Tower and delivered by him to Sir John Coniers then Lieutenant to be presented to the Lords in Parliament as also in his Examination taken before the Lord Lambart and Sir Robert Meredith Kinght in Ireland March 26. 1642. In both these he acknowledgeth that he being in Dublin in Candlemas Tearm about the time when Master John Bellew came out of England with the Commission for the continuance of the Parliament in Ireland Roger Moore acquainted him that if the Irish would rise they might make their own conditions for the regaining of their Lands and Freedome of their Religion and further saith that he had spoken with sundry of Lemster to that purpose who would be ready to joyn with them as likewise a good part of Conaught and that he found all of them willing thereto if so be they could draw to them the Gentlemen of Vlster Now for the manner of putting this Plot in execution the said Lord Mac Guire doth further testifie in his relation aforesaid that the said Roger Moore having the next day acquainted Philip O Rely Turlagh O Neale Brother to Sir Phelim O Neale Master Cosloe and Mac Mahone herewith did propose that first every one should endeavour to draw his own friends into that act at least those that did live in one Country with them and that when they had so done they should send to the Irish in the Low-Countries and in Spain to let them know of the day and resolution so that they might be over with them by that day or soon after with supply of Arms and Munition that there should be a set day appointed and every one in his own Quarters should rise out that day and seize upon all the Arms he could get in his own County and this day to be neer Winter so that England could not be able to send Forces into Ireland before May and by that time there was no doubt to be made but that they themselves would be supplied by the Irish from beyond the Seas Then he told them further that there was no doubt to be made of the Irish joyning with them and that all the doubt was in the Gentlemen of the Pale but he said for his own part he was really assured that when they had risen out the Pale Gentlemen would not stay long after at lest they would not oppose any thing and that in case they did that they had men enough in the Kingdom without them Moreover that he had spoken to a great man who then should be namelesse who would not fail at the day appointed to appear and to be seen in the act but that till then he was sworn not to reveal him but yet that upon their importunity he afterwards told them it was the Lord of Mayo who was very powerfull in the command of men in those parts of Conaught where he lived He further saith that in Lent following Master Moore according to his promise came into Vlster but that nothing was done there but all matters put off till May following where they met at Dublin it being both Parliament and Tearm time and that from thence they dispatched
thought laid as it could not well faile and the day once prefixed for execution they did in their publicke Devotions long before recommend by their Prayers the good successe of a great Designe much tending to the prosperity of the Kingdome and the advancement of the Catholick cause And for the facilitating of the Worke and stirring up of the people with greater animosity and cruelty to put it on at the time prefixed they loudly in all places declamed against the Protestants telling the people that they were Hereticks and not to be suffered any longer to live among them that it was no more sinne to kill an English-man then to kill a dogge and that it was a most mortall and unpardonable sinne to relieve or protect any of them Then also they represented with much acrimony the severe courses taken by the Parliament in England for the suppressing of the Romish Religion in all parts of the Kingdome and utter extirpation of all professors of it They told the people that in England they had caused the Queens Priest to be hanged before her own face and that they held her Majesty in her owne person under a most severe discipline That the same cruell Laws against Popery were here ordered to be put sodainly in execution and a designe secretly laid for bringing and seizing upon all the principal Noblemen and Gentlemen in Ireland upon the 23. of November next ensuing and so to make a generall Massacre of all that would not desert their Religion and presently become Protestants The Irish revive their ancient animosities against the English And now also did they take occasion to revive their inveterate hatred and ancient animosities against the English Nation whom they represented to themselves as hard Masters under whose government how pleasant comfortable and advantagious so ever it was they would have the world beleeve they had endured a most miserable captivity and envassalage They looked with much envie upon their prosperity considering all the Land they possessed though a great part bought at high rates of the Natives as their owne proper inheritance They grudged at the great multitudes of their faire English Cattell at their goodly Houses though built by their own industry at their own charges at the large improvements they made of their Estates by their own travails and carefull endevours They spake with much scorne and contempt of such as brought little with them into Ireland and having there planted themselves in a little time contracted great fortunes they were much troubled especially in the Irish Countries to see the English live handsomely and to have every thing with much decency about them while they lay nastily buried as it were in mire and filthinesse the ordinary sort of people commonly bringing their Cattle into their owne stinking Creates and there naturally delighting to lye among them These malignant considerations made them with an envious eye impatiently to looke upon all the British lately come over into the Kingdome Nothing lesse then a generall extirpation will now serve their turne they must have restitution of all the Lands to the proper Natives whom they take to be the ancient proprietors and onely true owners most unjustly despoiled by the English whom they hold to have made undue acquisitions of all the Land they possesse by gift from the Crown upon the attainder of any of their Ancestors And so impetuous were the desires of the Natives to draw the whole Government of the Kingdome into their owne hands The ends proposed by the first plotters of the rebellion to enjoy the publicke profession of their Religion as well as to disburthen the Country of all the British inhabitants seated therein as they made the whole body of the State to be universally disliked represented the severall members as persons altogether corrupt and ill affected pretended the ill humours and distempers in the Kingdome to be growen to that height as required Cauteries deepe incisions and indeed nothing able to worke so great a cure but an universall Rebellion This was certainly the disease as appeares by all the symptomes and the joynt concurrence in opinion of all the great Physitians that held themselves wise enough to propose remedies and prescribe fit applications to so desperate a Malady In those Instructions privately sent over into England by the Lord Dillon of Costeloz presently after the breaking out of the Rebellion the alteration of the supream power in the government and setling of it in the hands of the Earl of Ormond giving leave to the Grand Councell of the Kingdome to remove such Officers of State as they thought fit and to recommend Natives to their places were there positively laid down to be a more likely meanes to appease these tumults then a considerable Army In the Remonstrance of the County of Longford presented about the same time to the Lords Justices by the same Lord Dillon as also in the frame of the Common-wealth found at Sir John Dungars House not farre from Dublin and sent up thither out of Conaught to be communicated to those of Lemster peeces which publikely appeared soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion the main points insisted upon in them and severall others The true causes of the Rebellion were restauration of the Publick profession of the Romish Religion restitution of all the Plantation Lands unto the Natives and settlement of the present Government in their hands All the Remonstrances from severall parts and that came out of the severall Provinces of the Kingdome doe concurre in these Propositions with very little or no difference And therefore that the desires with the first intentions of those who are now out in Rebellion may more cleerly appear I have thought fit here to insert them as I found them Methodically digested into certain Propositions termed The meanes to reduce this Kingdome unto Peace and quietnesse 1 THat a generall and free pardon without any exception be granted to all his Majesties Subjects of this Kingdome and that in pursuance thereof and for strengthning the same an Act of Abolition may passe in the Parliament here 2 That all marks of Nationall distinctions between English and Irish may he abolished and taken away by Act of Parliament 3 That by severall Acts of Parliament to be respectively passed here and in England it be declared that the Parliament of Ireland hath no subordination with the Parliament of England but that the same hath in it self supream Jurisdiction in this Kingdom as absolute as the Parliament of England there hath 4 That the Act of 12. Henry the seventh commonly called Poynings Act and all other Acts expounding or explaining the same may be repealed 5 That as in England there past an Act for a Trienniall Parliament there may passe in Ireland another for a Sexenniall Parliament 6 That it may be enacted by Parliament that the Act of the 2d of Queen Elizabeth in Ireland and all other Acts made against Catholicks or the Catholick Religion
Councell of the ill condition and most imminent danger he found the Town to be then in that it was not possible to preserve it out of the hands of the Rebels without further strength both of horse and foot That in case the enemy should make any sudden approaches or attempt to surprize the Town he found such poor preparatives for defence within such apparant signes of disloyalty in the Townsmen and all things in such a desperate confusion as they should not be able by the best endeavours they could use to give any good account of that place Hereupon their Lordships presently resolved A Regiment raised by the Lo. Iustices at Dublin sent down under the command of Sir Henry Tichborne for the defence of Tredagh Novemb. 3. to leavy in the City of Dublin a Regiment of foot and to place them under the command of Sir Henry Tichborne for the defence of Tredagh And for this purpose there was very oportunely in the hands of the Vice Treasurer 3000 li. in a readinesse to be at that time sent over into England for the satisfaction of a publick engagement there This the Lords thought fit to make use of for the leavying and setting out of those men which Sir Henry Tichborne got together in very few dayes and having a Commission of government for the Town with some other private instructions he marched away with great alacrity and diligence the 3 of November and happily arrived next day at Tredagh A Regiment raised by Sir Charles Coot The Lords granted another Commission to Sir Charles Coot to levy a thousand men more which he most carefully endeavoured and within a very short time made up his Regiment wherein very many of the English who came up stripped and despoiled out of the North listed themselves for most of the men which escaped from thence with their lives being better able to suffer then the women and children outlived the miseries of their journey and putting themselves into severall companies some of them had the contentment to revenge the barbarous cruelty used by the Rebels towards them The second dispatch made by the L. Iustices and Councel into England Nov. 5. VPon the 5. of November the Lords made their 2d. dispatch unto His Majesty still at Edenburgh in Scotland At the same time they sent severall Letters into England to the L. Keeper Speaker of the house of Peers to the Speaker of the house of Commons to the Lo of his M ties most hon Privy Councel to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland in all which they did with much earnestnesse declare their present dangers together with the necessity of sending sudden relief In their Letter to the Lords of the Councel they did more particularly set down the miserable estate of the whole kingdom and the large progresse that the Rebellion had in few dayes made since it broke out They represented unto their Lordships the great outrages the Rebels had committed upon the British inhabitants in Vlster that they had seized upon all their estates and houses in five Counties of that Province possessed their Arms detained many of the principall Gentlemen prisoners That they had already slain many most barbarously hewed some to peeces that they have exposed thousands to want and beggery who had good estates and lived plentifully That the Rebellion began then to diffuse it self into the counties of Longford and Letrim and to threaten the English plantations in the King and Queens county that the inhabitants of the counties of Meath and Lowth began to fall upon the English near about them that they conceived there could not be lesse then 30000. who had already openly declared themselves in this Rebellion and were assembled together in severall great parties that they understood their designe was having got Dondalke to take in Tredagh and so to come up immediately to besiege the city and castle of Dublin that they gave out publikely their purpose was to extirpate the English and Protestants and not to lay down Arms untill the Romish religion were established the Government setled in the hands of the Natives and the old Irish restored to the lands of their supposed ancestors That they held it their duty to acquaint their Lordships with the lamentable estate wherein the Kingdome stood that his Majesty and the Parliament might understand it and so speedily provide for sending over to their relief 10000 Foot 1000 Horse together with some able Commanders 100000. l. in money and further provisions of Arms That unlesse these were presently sent to them they craved leave to repeat it again and again the Kingdom would be utterly lost all the English and Protestants in Ireland destroyed the peace of the kingdome of England disturbed by the Irish from thence and so England enforced to make a new conquest of it for that a Politique reformation would then be impossible But now before I passe further The proceedings of the Parliament of England upon the first advertisements brought unto them of the Rebellion raised in Ireland I shall here give an accompt of the arrival of these and the former Letters of the 25. of October addressed by the Lords Justices and Councel to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland Owen O Conally the happy discoverer of the first Plot who carried the first Letters over arrived at London the last day of October and late in the evening delivered those Letters to his Lordship who having read them over and received from him full information of all other parriculars within his knowledge repaired the next morning to the Councel-board and having there acquainted the Lords of His Majesties Privy Councel with them he was required by their Lordships to communicate them unto the Lords of the upper house of Parliament which he did accordingly the very same morning And they considering the high importance of them as soon as they had perused them Ordered that they should be presently sent down to the house of Commons by the Lord Keeper the L. Privy Seal L. High Chamberlain L. Admiral L. Marshal L. Chamberlain Earl of Bath Earl of Dorset Earl of Leicester Earl of Holland Earl of Berks Earl of Bristol L. Vicount Say E. Mandevile L. Goring L. Wilmot all of them being of His Majesties most honorable Privy Councel There were Chairs provided for these Lords in the house of Commons and they sate down there till the Letters were read and then having informed the house of such other parciculars as they had received concerning the generall Rebellion in Ireland they departed without any further conference or other debate upon them leaving the house of Commons to consider further of them Who presently Ordered That the House forthwith should be resolved into a Committee to take into consideration the matter offered concerning the Rebellion in Ireland as likewise to provide for the safety of the Kingdom of England This being done they fell into a most serious debate of this great businesse then before them they fully
one Tooly Conley parish Priest to Master Moore to Colonel O Neale in the Low-Countries who within few moneths after arrived with this answer from the said Colonel desiring them not to delay any time in rising out but to let him know of the day when they intended it and that he would not faile to be with them within fourteen dayes of that day with good ayd also desiring them by any means to seize on the Castle of Dublin if they could And further he saith that during the time of these their private meetings there landed at Dublin Colonel Birne Colonel Plunket Captain Brien O Neale and others who came with directions to carry men away and that these were acquainted with the Plot and did offer their service to bring it on and that they would raise their men under colour to carry them into Spain and then seize on the Castle of Dublin and with the arms found there arme their Souldiers and have them ready for any action that should be commanded them He further also saith that they had divers private consultations about the carrying on of this conspiracy not onely at Dublin but in severall other places in the Province of Vlster and that they had set down severall days for the putting of it in execution but meeting with some obstacles did not come to conclude of the certain time till about the beginning of September and that then they peremptorily resolved on the 23. of October for the day to execute this long designed plot in and that they had respect unto the day of the week which did fall on Saturday being the Market-day on which there would be the lesse notice taken of people up and down the streets that they then setled what numbers of men should be brought up out of the severall Provinces for the surprize of the Castle and what Commanders should lead them on that seeing the Castle had two Gates that the Lemster men should undertake to seize upon the little Gate which lay neerest to the place where the arms and munition was placed and that the great gate should be undertaken by those of Vlster and that Sir Phelim O Neale should be there in person but that he excused himself because he resolved at the same time to seize upon London Derry and that thereupon by the impottunity of the undertakers it was imposed upon him the said Lord Mac Guire to be there in person at the taking of the Castle of Dublin That it was further resolved what number of Forces should be brought up out of the other Provinces to make good those places if possessed by them and that Sir James Dillon did undertake to be there with 1000. men within four dayes after the taking of the Castle as also that it was resolved that every one privy to that matter in every part of the Kingdome should rise out that day and seize on all the Forts and Arms in the severall Counties as likewise on all the Gentry and make them prisoners the more to assure themselves against any adverse fortune and not to kill any but where of necessity they should be forced thereunto by opposition These particulars together with many other circumstances very considerable are set down in the relation given in by the Lord Mac Guire while he remained prisoner in the Tower of London but I have thought fit to forbear to relate them at large because I find that relation published by authority and so presented to the common view We shall find also that Mac Mahone in his examination taken when he was first apprehended by the Lords Justices and Counsel here doth testifie that all the chief of the Nobility and Gentry in this Kingdom were acquainted with the first plot and particularly that all the popish party in the Committee sent into England as likewise in both houses of Parliament knew of it In the Examnation of William Fitz Gerald it is there affirmed that Sir Phelim O Neale sending for him five days after his rising in Arms told him what he did was by directions and consent of the prime Nobility and Gentry of the whole Kingdom and that what he had done in the Northern parts the same was executed at Dublin and in all other Forts and Towns throughout Ireland As being a course resolved upon among the Lords and Gentry for the preservation of his Majesties Prerogative their own Religion and Liberties against the Puritan faction in England Scotland and Ireland and that the Lord of Gormanstone knew of this plot while he was in England is testified by Lieutenant Colonel Read in his Examination as also by the Lord Mac Guire in his relation who saith that Colonel Plunket told him that he being at London had acquainted some of the Irish Committee and particularly the Lord of Gormanstone with this plot and that they approved it well Colonel Plunket in his Letter to Father Patrick Barnwal Lord Abbot of Mellifont as he stiles him doth seem much to glory in the means he had used to incite the Lords and Gentry of the Pale to appear in that blessed cause as he tearms it and assures him that the Lord of Gormanstone whom he there cals Lord General will goe bravely on And now it will be no difficult matter to resolve what were the secondary steps and motions of this great plot as well as by what persons it was wrought out in Ireland and carried on to the very point of execution And first it is to be observed that howsoever Sir Phelim O Neale the Lord Mac Guire Philip O Rely Colonel Mac Brian The first contrivers of the Rebellion did not first openly appear in it Hugh Mac Mahone and their adherents chief of the Irish Septs in Vlster and other counties neer adjacent did first appeare upon the stage and by their bloody execution notoriously declare themselves chief actors in this horrid tragedy Yet this Rebellion was either altogether nor originally plotted by them most of them had but subordinate notions of it and they as other of the chief Nobility and Gentry throughout the Kingdom had severall parts assigned them to act at severall times in severall places and did but move according to the first resolutions taken and such directions as they had received from the first Conspirators I take it to be most probable after the generall plot came to be reduced into form that as the Lord of Gormanstone was one of the first and chief movers in it so he and the chief of the Pale joyned together to draw in as they had done in all former Rebellions the principall septs of the old Irish to engage themselves and to appear first in the businesse That the Lord of Gormanston and some others of the Engl. Pale were engaged in the first Plot is very probable And after they had joyned together and so finely ordered the matter as they had made it a generall rising as Sir Phelim O Neale tearms it of all the Catholicks throughout the
Kingdom with the generall consent of the prime Nobility and Gentry thereof then as it were with one generall voice they sounded forth from all the four Provinces of Ireland the same language they used the same Remonstrances and made the very same pretences for their justification they began the very self-same course first in stripping then banishing and murthering the British and Protestants onely in the North they drove on somewhat more furiously and spilt much more innocent blood then in any of the other three Provinces They agreed likewise in recalling their Commanders all the four Provinces had their particular Emissaries abroad Those of Lemster brought back Colonel Preston a Branch out of the House of Gormanstone who had long lived with good reputation in Flanders and him they made Generall of their Forces there but of Vlster they sent into Flanders likewise for Owen Roe O Neale upon whom they conferred the same charge in that Province The Munster men brought over Garrat Barry whom they made Generall of their forces And those in Conaught drew back one of the Burks to whom they gave the chief command of such men as they were able to draw together for the advancement of the common design All these held a due correspondency and in all their actions had a just concurrency towards the main end The great instrument chiefly imployed in this work of drawing the meer Irish into a firm combination with the old English as appears by the Lord Mac Guire's relation before mentioned was Roger Moore Esquire a person of a broken fortune Roger Moore the chief Person imployed to make a conjunction between the meer Irish and the English for raising a Rebellion by discent meerly Irish and issued out of the chief family of the O Moores in the County of Leax but by inter-marriages allied to some of the principall Gentlemen of the Pale He Treated with them about the Association he first broke the design to the northern Irish he was the man that made severall journeys in Lemster into Vlster and Conaught Sundry messages were enterchangeably sent and returned the summer before the breaking out of the Rebellion by his means and entercourse between them And all things were so ordered for their agreement as they were to goe hand in hand together some of the principall Gentlemen of the Pale as Colonel Plunket Captain Fox and others were designed to joyn with the Lord Mac Guire Mac Mahone Brian O Neale Con O Neale Hugh Birne for the surprize of his Majesties Castle of Dublin Cartan Major Domi to Owen O Neale in Flanders in his Examination taken February 1641. tels among many other remarkable passages of severall preparatives to this Rebellion as that Con O Neale brother to Daniel O Neale was sent by Owen O Neale into England and that while he resided there he received letters from the President Rosse which was Sir Phelim O Neale and that he assured him he went on very well in his businesse for Bâ—abant and Valence were joyned together which as he affirms signified in those Characters Vlster and Lemster and that he expected the comming of Lewes Lenoy viz. Daniel O Neale Besides as James Talbot Esquire testifies in his Letter of the 9. of November 1641. written to the Lords Justices out of the County of Cavan that he understood from Phillip Mac Mulmore O Rely that there were certain Covenants passed between the Lords of the Pale and the Northern Irish for the advancing of the Rebellion and that the Remonstrance from the principall Irish in the County of Cavan unto the Lords Justices and Councel sent by Dean Jones and Master Waldrone there then prisoner was framed in the Pale and brought unto the said Irish by Colonel Plunket one of their own And this was in the very beginning of the Rebellion long before any jealousies were entertained by the State of the adherence or conjunction of the old English with the Irish What those Covenants or Contracts were I cannot say but it is most certain some there were and some Covenants also entred into between the Northern Irish and the Lords and Gentlemen of the chief of both the other Provinces as well as Lemster and these were signed with their blood as Doctor Maxwel testifies in his examination he heard Sir Phelim O Neale say on the 19. of December 1641. in his own house and in the hearing of Master Joseph Travers and others If the Lords and Gentlemen meaning the Papists of other Provinces then not in arms would not rise but leave him in the lurch for all he would produce his Warrant signed with their own hands and written in their own blood which should bring them to the Gallowes And certainly had there not been some very strange and extraordinary engagements and more then I can well imagine it had not been possible that so many persons of quality having great possessions and many children should have declared themselves after they saw the main part of the plot for the surprize of the Castle of Dublin to fail and the power of the Northern Rebels begin to decline that the Parliament of England had with great alacrity and readinesse undertaken the War and not only engaged themselves to his Majesty to send over powerfull supplies both out of England and Scotland but by their publike Order of both Houses sent over to the Lords Justices and printed at Dublin in the Moneth of November fully declared their resolutions for the vigorous prosecution of the war of Ireland Nay the Cities of Galway and Limeric kept their designs very covertly not doing any open acts of hostility till after the arrivall of some Forces at Dublin out of England and that the siege of Drohedagh or Tredagh was raised and those bold perfidious Traitors beaten back into the North the Lords of the Pale banished by force of his Majesties Arms out of their own habitations which were all spoiled and laid waste Now that then they should declare themselves is more then a miracle to me and such a mystery as I should not know what to think of but that I find in the Lord Mac Guires relation before mentioned that they were acquainted with the first beginnings of this great plot and had a particular interest from time to time in the carriage of it on so as I think I shall not wrong them positively to determine that they were too deeply engaged slightly to retire and that howsoever upon the failing of it in the main piece they at first stood at a gaze and were put to take up second Counsels yet such was the strength of the conspiracy and their great confidence in the power of their arms as made them appear in due time to entertain their severall assignations and act their parts with great diligence and iudustry The wife of Philip O Rely in the County of Cavan told James Talbot as he openly related it to the Lords Justices at Counsel Board that she wondred very much
apparent danger and disturbance and that peradventure they might there finde as ill affections as they brought and so both joyning together they might easily destroy the state with the poore remainders of the English Nation in these Parts Whereupon the Lords thought fit to hold to their Prorogation yet to endeavour so to attemper and sweeten it as those who were most averse might in some measure rest satisfied therewith And therefore after a long debate of all particular circumstances they came at length to this resolution that the Earle of Ormond the Master of the Rolls and Sir Pierce Crosby three Members of the Board should have a meeting with Mr Darcy Mr Burk and some others of the most active and powerfull Members of the House of Commons and that they should let them know from the Lords that they have understood of their good affections and desires to doe somewhat in the House that might tend towards the suppression of this present Rebellion that they approved extreame well thereof And that howsoever they could by no meanes remove absolutely the Prorogation yet that they would descend so far to their satisfaction as to limit it to a shorter time and that at present they would give them leave to sit one whole day in case they would immediatly fall upon the work of making a cleer Protestation against the Rebels As also that they should have liberty if they pleased to make choyce of some Members of their own House to send down to Treat with the Rebels about laying down of Arms And for their grievances that their Lordships would with all readinesse receive them and presently transmit them over to his Majesty for a speedy redresse All this was accordingly performed the meeting was in the Gallery at Cork House Those of the House of Commons seemed at first to be extreamly troubled when they found there was no possibility of altering the present Prorogation But upon a further debate when they came to understand how ready the Lords were to yeeld to their satisfaction and that the time of the Prorogation should be shortned they seemed to rest indifferently contented undertook to make the Protestation in such full and ample manner as was desired and that they would fall immediately upon it and make it the work of the whole day Upon the 17 of November the Lords and Commons met in Parliament which was held in the usuall place of his Majesties Castle of Dublin And for the better security of the place as well as of the persons of those that were to meet there was a Guard of Musketiers appointed to attend during the time of their meeting but such care taken that they should carry themselves so free from giving any offence as no manner of umbrage might be taken at their attendance there The Houses were both very thin there were only in the House of Peeres some few English Lords three or foure Lords of the Pale and some two or three Bishops In the House of Commons they took into their consideration upon their first meeting the framing of the Protestation against the Rebels But those of the Popish party spake so ambiguously and handled the matter so tenderly as they could not be drawn to stile them by the name of Rebels so as they sent up unto the Lords a very meager cold Protestation against them which being in their House taken into debate it was strongly contested by the Protestant Lords that they should be stiled Rebels but that as stiffely opposed by the others They therefore fell upon a meane betwixt both which gave a kinde of accommodation saying they had Rebelliously and Traiterously raised Armes and so both parties being reasonably satisfied the Protestation was drawn up and returned back to the House of Commons in this Tenour as followeth The Protestation and Declaration of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in Parliament assembled WHereas the happy and peaceable Estate of this Realm hath been of late and is still interrupted by sundry persons ill-affected to the Peace and Tranquillity thereof who contrary to their Duty and Loyalty to His Majesty and against the Lawes of God and the fundamentall Lawes of the Realm have Trayterously and Rebelliously raised Armes have seized upon some of his Majesties Forts and Castles and dispossessed many of his Majesties faithfull Subjects of their Houses Lands and Goods and have slaine many of them and committed other cruell and inhumane Outrages and Acts of Hostility within this Realme The said Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled being justly moved with a right sense of the said disloyall Rebellious Proceedings and actions of the persons aforesaid doe hereby protest and declare that they the said Lords and Commons from their hearts doe detest and abhorre the said abhominable Actions and that they shall and will to their uttermost power maintaine the Rights of his Majesties Crown and Government of this Realm and Peace and Safety thereof aswell against the persons aforesaid their Abettors Adherents as also against all forreine Princes Potentates and other persons and Attemps whatsoever and in case the persons aforesaid doe not repent of their aforesaid Actions and lay down Armes and become humble Suitors to his Majesty for Grace and Mercy in such convenient time and in such manner and forme as by his Majestie or the chiefe Governour or Governours and Councell of this Realm shall be set down The said Lords and Commons doe further protest and declare that they will take up Armes and will with their Lives and Fortunes suppresse them and their Attempts in such a way as by the Authority of the Parliament of this Kingdome with the Approbation of his most Excellent Majesty or of his Majesties chiefe Governour or Governours of this Kingdome shall be thought most effectuall Copia vera Exam. per Phil. Percivall Cleric Parliament Both Houses of Parliament sate two dayes and the time of the Prorogation being shortned unto the 11. of Ian. The Lords made choyce of the Lord Viscount Costelo to goe into England to carry over their desires to his Majesty concerning the meanes they thought fit to be used for the quenching this present Rebellion And besides those instructions formerly mentioned he had as I heard from the Popish Lords some more private which were to negotiate the staying such Forces as were intended to be sent out of England for that end Both Houses joyned together to appoint certaine Lords and some Members of the House of Commons to goe down to the Northen Rebels The Houses of Parliament send to Treat with the Rebels to understand the cause of their rising in Armes and referred them to the Lords Iustices for their instructions which accordingly they received together with a Commission under the Great Seale But the Rebellion having a farre deeper root then was at that time discovered this Commission was of little operation and the intended Treaty soone vanished The Northern Rebels were then so puffed up with their late victories
over the poore surprized unresisting English in those Parts and had so deeply drenched their hands in the blood of those innocents as they thought to carry the whole Kingdome before them and therefore would yeeld to no Treaties but in a most barbarous manner tore the Order of Parliament together with the Letter sent unto them and returned a most scornfull Answer fully expressing thereby how farre they were from any thought of laying down Armes or entertaining any overtures towards an Accommodation Within few dayes after the adjournment of the Parliament the Lord Dillon of Costelo accompanied with the Lord Taffe imbarqued for England but by a most impetuous storme were driven into Scotland where they landed and went up to London At the Town of Ware their papers were seized upon by directions from the Parliament of England and their persons committed unto safe custody Mr Thomas Burk went over much about the same time and certainly upon the same errand When the unhappy breach began first betwixt the King and the Parliament of England and that his Majesty thought fit to retire to York those two Lords found meanes to make an escape and all three constantly followed the Court where in those high distempers that afterwards hapned in England they easily found meanes to ingratiate themselves at Court and had the opportunity to doe those good offices for their Country-men which brought on the Cessation of Armes with them in due time The Lords Iustices and Councell by their Letters bearing date about the 20 of November Letters written to the Lord Lievtenant gave unto the Lord Lievtenant a more certaine and full account of the state of the Kingdome then they could any wayes doe at the first breaking out of the Rebellion and thereby making known the very ill condition of their present affaires they moved that the supplies of men money Commanders and Armes mentioned in their former Letters might be with all speed sent over unto them and that his Lordship would presently repaire hither in his own person to undertake the management of the warre About the tenth of the Month of November their Lordships received an Answer from the Lord Lievtenant to their former Letters of the 25 of October whereby he gave them to understand that he had communicated their Letters to the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell and that by Order from their Lordships he had acquainted both Houses of Parliament with them that he had also sent to his Majesty still continuing at Edenborough in Scotland to represent the condition of their affaires and that he understood his Majesty had received some advertisements out of the North of Ireland of the present Rebellion there His Lordship also farther let them know that his Majesty had referred the whole businesse of Ireland to the Parliament of England that they had undertaken the charge and management of the warre that they had declared they should be speedily and vigorously assisted and had designed for their present supplies the summe of 50000 l. and had taken order for making of all further Provisions necessary for the Service as may appeare by the Order of Parliament made there at that time and trans-mitted over by the Lord Lievtenant together with his said Letters unto the Lords Iustices by whose command it was reprinted at Dublin November 12. 1641. as here followeth being intituled An Order of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament in England concerning Ireland THe Lords and Commons in this present Parliament being advertised of the dangerous Conspiracie and Rebellion in Ireland by the Treacherous and wicked Instigation of Romish Priests and Jesuites for the Bloody Massacre and Destruction of all Protestants living there and other his Majesties Loyall Subjects of English blood though of the Romish Religion being ancient Inhabitants within severall Counties and Parts of that Realme who have alwayes in former Rebellions given Testimony of their fidelity to this Crown And for the utter depriving of his Royall Majestie and the Crown of England from the Government of that Kingdome under pretence of setting up the Popish Religion Have thereupon taken into their serious Consideration how those mischievous Attemps might be most speedily and effectually prevented wherein the Honour Safety and Interest of this Kingdom are most nearely and fully concerned Wherefore they doe hereby declare that they doe intend to serve his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes for the suppressing of this wicked Rebellion in such a way as shall be thought most effectuall by the Wisdome and Authority of Parliament And thereupon have Ordered and Provided for a present Supply of Money and raysing the number of six thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse to be sent from England being the full proportion desired by the Lords Iustices and his Majesties Councell resident in that Kingdome with a Resolution to adde such further Succours as the necessity of those Affaires shall require They have also resolved of providing Armes and Munition not only for those Men but likewise for his Majesties faithfull Subjects in that Kingdome with Store of Victuals and other Necessaries as there shall be occasion and that these Provisions may more conveniently be transported thither they have appointed three severall Ports of this Kingdome that is to say Bristoll Westchester and one other in Cumberland where the Magazines and Store-houses shall be kept for the Supply of the severall parts of Ireland They have likewise resolved to be humble Mediators to His most Excellent Majesty for the encouragement of those English or Irish who shall upon their own charges raise any number of Horse or Foot for his Service against the Rebells that they shall be honourably rewarded with Lands of Inheritance in Ireland according to their Merits And for the better inducing the Rebels to repent of their wicked Attempts they doe hereby commend it to the Lord Lievtenant of Ireland or in his absence to the Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices there according to the power of the Commission granted them in that behalfe to bestow his Majesties gracious Pardon to all such as within a convenient time to be declared by the Lord Lievtenant Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices and Councell of that Kingdome shall return to their due obedience the greatest part whereof they conceive have been seduced upon false Grounds by the cunning and subtle practises of some of the most malignant Rebels Enemies to this State and to the Reformed Religion and likewise to bestow such Rewards as shall be thought fit and publisht by the said Lord Lievtenant Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices and Councell upon all those who shall arrest the Persons or bring in the Heads of such Traytors as shall be personally named in any Proclamation published by the State there And they doe hereby exhort and require all his Majesties loving Subjects both in this and in that Kingdome to remember their duty and conscience to God and his Religion and the great and eminent danger which will
involve this whole Kingdome in generall and themselves in particular if this abhominable Treason be not timely suppressed and therefore with all readinesse bounty and chearefulnesse to conferre their Assistance in their Persons or Estates to this so important and necessary a Service for the common good of all Io. Browne Cleric Parliament About the same time the Lord Lievtenant finding that he could not procure so speedy a dispatch of all things necessary for the service of Ireland Commission granted to the Earle of Ormond to be Lievtenant Generall of the Forces in Ireland as would enable him presently to repaire thither in his own person made the Earle of Ormond Lievtenant Generall of the Forces there and sent him over a Commission for the same And the said Earle did within few dayes after receive a Letter from his Majesty out of Scotland wherein he was graciously pleased to let him know it was his pleasure to conferre upon him that charge There was then likewise brought over the summe of 20000 l. from the Parliament the coyne which arrived here was all in Spanish pieces of eight which went for 4 d. in a piece here more then in England and this gaine the Parliament was content the Merchants that undertook the transportation should make at that time in regard of the charge and venture they undertook to stand to It arrived most seasonably even when all that little money they had was quite spent in raising and paying the new Companies and that they were wholly destitute of all meanes to draw in any contributions towards the relieving of their present necessities There continued daily to repaire unto the City of Dublin great numbers of poore distressed English Commissions issued out for the Examination upon Oath of the losses of the British and the cruelties exercised by the Irish upon them who had been most barbarously stripped robbed and despoiled of all their goods and substance by the Rebels Now that it might appeare what their losses were what cruelties were acted what murders committed and who were the chiefe actors in them thorow out the severall Provinces The Lords Iustices and Councell thought fit to issue out a Commission under the Great Seale directed to certaine of the Clergy to take upon oath the severall Examinations of all such persons that having suffered by this present Rebellion would think fit to repaire unto them as will appeare by the Commission it selfe a Copy whereof I have thought fit to insert CHarles by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To our well-beloved Henry Jones Deane of Kilmore Roger Puttock William Huthcok Randall Adams Iohn Sterne William Aldrich Henry Brereton and Iohn Watsons Clerks Greeting Whereas divers wicked and disloyall people have lately risen in Armes in severall parts of this Kingdome and have robbed and spoiled many of our good Subjects British and Protestants who have been separated from their severall habitations and scattered in most lamentable manner And for as much as it is needfull to take due Examination concerning the same Know ye that we reposing special trust and confidence in your care diligence and provident circumspection have nominated and appointed you to be our Commissioners and doe hereby give unto you or any two or more of you full power and authority from time to time to call before you and examine upon Oath on the holy Evangelists which hereby we authorize you or any two or more of you to administer as well all such persons as have been robbed and despoiled as all the witnesses that can give testimony therein what robberies and spoyles have been committed on them since the 22 of October last or shall hereafter be committed on them or any of them what the particulars were or are whereof they were or shall be so robbed or spoiled to what value by whom what their names are or where they now or last dwelt that committed those robberies on what day or night the said robberies or spoiles committed or to be committed were done what Traiterous or disloyall words speeches or actions were then or at any other time uttered or committed by those robbers or any them and how often and all other circumstances concerning the said particulars and every of them And you our said Commissioners are to reduce to writing all the Examinations which you or any two or more of you shall take as aforesaid and the same to return to our Iustices and Counsell of this our Realme of Ireland under the hands and seales of any two or more of you as aforesaid Witnesse our right trusty and well-beloved Counsellours Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet and Sir Iohn Borlace Knight our Iustices of our said Realm of Ireland Dublin 23 of December in the seventeenth year of our Raigne Carleton The Commissioners above nominated did very seriously addresse themselves to this work employing their paines therein with great diligence and faithfulnesse and have so well performed the charge imposed upon them as that by severall Examinations many principall Gentlemen of good estates were discovered to be the chiefe actors in the depredations of the British and to have committed many most horrid murders and other notorious cruelties which thorough their industry will now remaine upon Record but had otherwayes been concealed from Posterity and wrapt up in oblivion The like Commissions were in a short time after sent into Munster and Vlster In the Provine of Munster the Commissioners took great care in the Execution of it many Examinations of high concernment were taken by vertue thereof though they remaine as yet concealed and not returned up according as is required by the said Commissions Towards the latter end of November the Lords Iustices and Councell considering the miserable desolations brought upon the whole Kingdome A weekly Fast appointed by the Lords Iustices and Councell and the further calamities threatned by Warre and Famine did by a Proclamation set forth in print give strict charge and command That upon every friday a publike and religious fast should be devoutly and piously observed in and thorow the whole City and Suburbs of Dublin by all his Majesties people therein and that Divine Service and Sermons be celebrated and heard upon the said day weekly in every Cathedrall and other Church and Chappell in the said City and Suburbs thereof And this to be performed as is expressed in the said Proclamation to the end that the severe wrath and indignation of Almighty God may be averted from this Kingdome his divine aide and assistance implored and that some reliefe in these calamitous times may the better be afforded to such miserable persons as these Traytors by their rapine and cruelty have deprived of their fortunes and sent naked and almost famished up to this City The Lords Iustices and Councell being advertised of the neare approach of the Rebels to Tredagh The approach of the Rebels to Tredagh prepared to send down supplies both of
brought down out of every part for the victualling of those that lay encamped about the Town There was allotted to every Company consisting of a hundred men for their daily allowance one biefe and halfe a barrell of corne And that they might with the more facility bring in the Country people to furnish their Army with these proportions they made not only prohibitions that no corne should be carried to Dublin but so blocked up the wayes as the poore churles that lived somewhat distant from the City could not carry their corne thither without apparent danger whereby the Market began to be very ill provided and great want and scarcity was much feared by reason of the large accession of people come from severall parts of the Kingdom up unto the City for safety Whereupon the Lords Justices and Councell made Proclamations to be published That all such as had corne remaining within some few miles distance should as their usuall manner was bring it to the Market at Dublin and they should receive ready money for the same in case they did not that they would presently send out Parties and burn their corn as it stood in the haggards and so prevent the use the Rebels intended to make of it for the victualing of their Army By this meanes the City was indifferently well supplyed all that winter with corn the Country people though otherwayes very malicious against the English and Protestants being content though with much hazard to adventure the bringing their corn where they sold it at a good rate for ready money rather then to suffer it to be threshed out by Warrants from the Lord of Gormanston for the use of the Irish Army then lying before Tredagh But while they continue their fruitlesse and unprofitable attemps there having neither skill courage experience The sad condition of the publike affaires of the State nor any meanes to bring about their impetuous desires and fond endeavours for the taking in of that Town I shall briefly represent a view of the sad estate of our affaires in Dublin It was now almost full two Months since the breaking out of this Rebellion The Lords Justices and Councell out of their deep apprehensions of a generall revolt of all the Irish through the Kingdome did in the very beginning with much earnestnesse sollicite the present sending over of Succours out of England And as soone as they began to make a little further discovery into the strength of this Conspiracy and found their own wants and utter disabilities to make any long or considerable opposition against the universall power of the whole body of the Irish as it then began to appeare unto them firmly united with almost all the Old English that were of the Romish Profession incorporated into their party throughout Ireland they did with much more earnestnesse by their frequent Letters and severall Agents represent unto his Majesty and the Parliament of England the very ill even desperate condition they were in and therefore desired that supplyes both of men money and all kinde of warlick provisions might be sent away with all speed unto them declaring that unlesse they received them presently and that in great proportions they were not able longer to subsist as they stood now environed on all sides with multitudes of the Rebels but had just reason to apprehend their own present ruine and the inevitable losse of the whole Kingdome And because they conceived the Levies in England could not be so suddenly made nor the men so easily transported from thence into the North of Ireland where the Rebels appeared in greatest numbers and had by their most unparalled cruelty towards the English done most mischeife as out of Scotland They made a proposition to the Lord Lievtenant to move both his Majesty and the Parliament The sending of 10000 Scots into Ireland pressed by the Lords Iustices and Councell that 10000 Scots might be presently raised and sent over into those Parts This they pressed with much earnestnesse representing the very great terrour the meere Irish had of that Nation that their bodies would better sort with that Climate endure more hardship and with lesse distemper undergoe the toile and miseries of an Irish war that the transportation would be made with much more facility and lesse charge it being not above three or foure houres saile from some parts of Scotland into the North of Ireland That the Kingdome of Scotland had been lately in Armes and so had all provisions necessary for the furnishing of their men for this expedition in readinesse And lastly they having so good a foundation in the multitude of their own Countrymen so advantagiously settled there already would no doubt undertake the work with all alacrity and vigorously prosecute the warre with such sharpnesse as might testifie their deep resentment of the horrid cruelties exercised upon so many thousands of their own Nation by that barbarous people Commissioners sent out of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the reliefe of Ireland These Letters arrived very opportunely about the time of the Kings return from Edenburgh to the Parliament of England then sitting at Westminster And there being even then two Scotish Lords come out of the Kingdome of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the sending Forces from thence for the reliefe of Ireland His Majesty sent to the Lords and Commons to give them notice of their arrivall and withall desired that certaine Commissioners appointed by himselfe and both Houses of Parliament might bee presently named to Treat with them and from time to time give an account of their proceedings to his Majesty and both Houses This motion was with very great readinesse yeelded unto and it was ordered that the Earle of Bedford the Earle of Leycester Lord Lievtenant of Ireland the Lord Howard of Estric nominated by the House of Peeres And Nathaniel Fiennes Esquire Sir William Ermin Baronite Sir Philip Stapleton Knight John Hampden Esquire nominated by the House of Commons should Treat with the Scotish Commissioners concerning the affaires of Ireland and that there should be a Commission granted unto them to this effect under the great Seale of England together with particular Instructions to regulate the manner of their proceedings In the propositions given in by the Scotish Commissioners they did in the first place make offer of 10000 men in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland Propositions presented to the Parliament of England for the reliefe of Ireland And that they might be enabled to send them speedily away they desired an advance of 30000 l. of the brotherly assistance afforded unto them by the Kingdome of England and that what Armes and Munition they sent into Ireland might in the same proportions be returned unto them with all expedition Next they desired that some ships of Warre might be appointed to guard the Seas betwixt Scotland and Ireland to waft over their Souldiers which they designed to transport