of Dublin full of contumely and dishonour both to the Parliament and Army And on the other side an Insolent and seditious Representation from the Scotch Presbytery at Belfast in the North of Ireland no lesse dishonourable to the State and much about the same time brought hither there will be needfull as to the same slanderous aspersions but one and the same Vindication against them both Nor can we sever them in our notice and resentment though one part intitl'd a Presbytery and would be thou ghta Protestant Assembly since their own unexampl'd virulence hath wrapt them into the same guilt made them accomplices and assistants to the abhorred Irish Rebels and with them at present to advance the same interest if wee consider both their calumnies their hatred and the pretended Reasons of their hatred to be the same the time also and the place concurring as that there lacks nothing but a few formall words which may be easily dissembl'd to make the perfetest conjunction and between them to divide that Iland As for these Articles of Peace made with those inhumane Rebels and Papists of Ireland by the late King as one of his last Master-pieces We may be confidently perswaded that no true borne English-man can so much as barely reade them without indignation and disdaine that those bloudy Rebels and so proclaim'd and judg'd of by the King himself after the mercilesse and barbarous Massacre of so many thousand English who had us'd their right and title to that Countrey with such tendernesse and moderation and might otherwise have secur'd themselvs with ease against their Treachery should be now grac'd and rewarded with such freedomes and enlargements as none of their Ancestors could ever merit by their best obedience which at best was alwaies treacherous to be infranchiz'd with full liberty equall to their Conquerours whom the just revenge of ancient Pyracies cruell Captivities and the causlesse infestation of our Coast had warrantably call'd over and the long prescription of many hundred yeares besides what other titles are acknowledg'd by their own Irish Parlaments had fixt and seated in that soile with as good a right as the meerest Natives These therefore by their own foregoing demerits and provocations justly made our vassalls are by the first Article of this peace advanc'd to a Condition of freedome superior to what any English Protestants durst have demanded For what else can be the meaning to discharge them the Common Oath of Supremacy especially being Papists for whom principally that oath was intended but either to resigne them the more into their own power or to set a mark of dishonour upon the Brittish Loyalty by trusting Irish Rebels for one single Oath of Alleageance as much as all his Subjects of Brittaine for the double swearing both of Alleageance and Supremacy The second Article puts it into the hands of an Irish Parlament to repeale or to suspend if they thinke convenient that act usually call'd Poynings Act which was the maine and yet the civillest and most moderate acknowledgement impos'd of their dependance on the Crown of England whereby no Parlament could be summond there no Bill be past but what was first to be transmitted and allowd under the great seale of England The recalling of which Act tends openly to invest them with a law-giving power of their own enables them by degrees to throw off all subjection to this Realme and renders them who by their endlesse treasons and revolts have deserv'd to hold no Parlament at all but to be govern'd by Edicts and Garrisons as absolute and supream in that Assembly as the People of England in their own Land And the 12th Article grants them in expresse words that the Irish Parlament shall be no more dependent on the Parlament of England then the Irish themselves shall declare agreeable to the Lawes of Ireland The two and twentieth Article more ridiculous then dangerous coming especially from such a serious knot of Lords and Politicians obtaines that those Acts prohibiting to plow with horses by the Tayle and burne oates in the Straw be repeald anough if nothing else to declare in them a disposition not onely sottish but indocible and averse from all Civility and amendment and what hopes they give for the future who rejecting the ingenuity of all other Nations to improve and waxe more civill by a civilizing Conquest though all these many yeares better shown and taught preferre their own absurd and savage Customes before the most convincing evidence of reason and demonstration a testimony of their true Barbarisme and obdurate wilfulnesse to be expected no lesse in other matters of greatest moment Yet such as these and thus affected the ninth Article entrusts with the Militia a Trust which the King swore by God at New-Market he would not commit to his Parliament of England no not for an houre And well declares the confidence he had in Irish Rebels more then in his Loyaliest Subjects He grants them moreover till the performance of all these Articles that 15000 foote and 2500 horse shall remaine a standing Army of Papists at the beck and Command of Dillon Muskery and other arch Rebels with power also of adding to that number as they shall see cause And by other Articles allows them the constituting of Magistrates and Judges in all Causes whom they think fie and till a settlement to their own minds the possession of all those Townes and Countreys within their now Quarters being little lesse then all the Iland besides what their Cruelty hath dispeopl'd and lay'd wast And lastly the whole managing both of peace and warre is committed to Papists and the chiefe Leaders of that Rebellion Now let all men judge what this wants of utter alienating and acquitting the whole Province of Ireland from all true fealty and obedience to the Common-wealth of England Which act of any King against the Consent of his Parliament though no other Crime were layd against him might of it selfe strongly conduce to the dis-inthrowning him of all In France Henry the third demanding leave in greatest exigencies to make Sale of some Crown Lands onely and that to his Subjects was answerd by the Parlament then at Blois that a King in no case though of extreamest necessity might alienate the Patrimony of his Crown whereof he is but onely Usu-fructuary as Civilians terme it the propriety remaining ever to the Kingdome not to the King And in our own Nation King John for resigning though unwillingly his Crown to the Popes Legate with little more hazard to his Kingdome then the payment of 1000 Marks and the unsightlinesse of such a Ceremony was depos'd by his Barons and Lewis the French Kings Sonne elected in his roome And to have carried onely the Jewells Plate and Treasure into Ireland without consent of the Nobility was one of those impeachments that condemn'd Richard the second to lose his Crown But how petty a Crime this will seem to the alienating of a whole Kingdome which in these
to you or any of them or out of any dis-esteem I had to your power to advance or impede the same but out of my fear whiles those that have of late usurped power over the Subjects of England held forth the least colourable shadow of moderation in their intentions towards the settlement of Church or State and that in some tollerable way with relation to Religion the interest of the King and Crown the freedom of Parliament the Liberties of the subject any addresses from mee proposing the withdrawing of that party from those thus professing from whom they have received some and expected further support would have been but coldly received and any determination thereupon deferred in hope and expectation of the forementioned settlement or that you your selfe who certainly have not wanted aforesight of the sad confusion now covering the face of England would have declared with me the Lord Inchequeen and the Protestant Army in Munster in prevention thereof yet my fear was it would have been as difficult for you to have carried with you the main body of of the Armie under your command not so clear sighted as your self as it would have been dangerous to you and those with you well inclined to have attempted it without them but now that the mask of hypocrisie by which the Independent Armie hath ensnared and enslaved all estates and degrees of men is laid aside now that barefaced they evidently appear to bee the subverters of true religion and to be the protectors and inviters not only of all false ones but of irreligion and Atheisme now that they have barbarously and inhumanely laid violent sacrilegious hands upon and murthered Gods annointed and our King not as heretofore some Patricides have done to make room for some usurper but in a way plainly manifesting their intentions to change the Monarchy of England into Anarchy unlesse their aime bee first to constitute an elective Kingdome and Crumwell or some such Iohn of Leiden being elected then by the same force by which they have thus far compassed their ends to establish a perfect Turklsh tyranny now that of the three estates of King Lords Commons whereof in all ages Parliaments have consisted there remains only a small number and they the dregs and scum of the House of Commons pickt and awed by the Armie a wicked remnant left for no other end then yet further if it be possible to delude the people with the name of a Parliament The King being murthered the Lords and the rest of the Commons being by unheard of violence at severall times forced from the Houses and some imprisoned And now that there remaines no other libertie in the subject but to professe blasphemous opinions to revile and tread underfoot Magistracie to murther Magistrates and oppresse and undoe all that are not like minded with them Now I say that I cannot doubt but that you and all with you under your command will take this opportunitie to act and declare against so monstrous and unparaleld a rebellion and that you and they will cheerfully acknowledge and faithfully serve and obey our gracious King Charles the second undoubted heir of his Father Crown and Vertues under whose right and conduct we may by Gods assistance restore Protestant Religion to puritie and therein settle it Parliaments to their freedome good laws to their force and our fellow-subjects to their just liberties wherein how glorious and blessed a thing it will bee to be so considerablie instrumentall as you may now make your self I leave to you now to consider And though I conceive there are not any motives relating to some particular interest to be mentioned after these so weightie considerations which are such as the world hath not been at any time furnished with yet I hold it my part to assure you that as there is nothing you can reasonably propose for the safety satisfaction or advantage of your self or of any that shall adhear to you in what I desire that I shall not to the uttermost of my power provide for so there is nothing I would nor shall more industriously avoid then those necessities arising from my duty to God and man that may by your rejecting this offer force me to be a sad instrument of shedding English blood which in such case must on both sides happen If thir overture finde place with you as I earnestly wish it may let me know with what possible speed you can and if you please by the bearer in what way you desire it should bee drawne on to a conclusion For in that as well as in the substance you shall find all ready complyance from me that desire to bee Your affectionate friend to serve you ORMOND Carrick March 9. 1648. For Colonel Michael Jones Governour of Dublin My Lord YOur Lordships of the ninth I received the twelfth instant and therein have I your Lordships invitation to a conjunction with your self I suppose as Lord lieutenant of Ireland and with others now united with the Irish and with the Irish themselves also As I understand not how your Lordship should be invested with that power pretended so am I very well assured That it is not in the power of any without the Parliament of England to give and assure pardon to those bloodie Rebels as by the Act to that end passed may appear more fully I am also well assured that the Parliament of England would never assent to such a Peace such as is that your Lordships with the Rebels wherin is little or no provision made either for the Protestants or the Protestant Religion Nor can I understand how the Protestant Religion should bee setled and restored to its puritie by an Armie of Papists or the Protestant interests maintained by those very enemies by whom they have been spoiled and there slaughtered And very evident it is that both the Protestants and Protestant Religion are in that your Lordships Treaty left as in the power of the Rebels to be by them born down and rooted out at pleasure As for that consideration by your Lordship offered of the present and late proceedings in England I see not how it may be a sufficient motive to mee or any other in like trust for the Parliament of England in the service of this Kingdome to joyn with those Rebels upon any the pretences in that your Lordships letter mentioned for therein were there a manifest betraying that trust reposed in me in disserting the service and work committed to me in joyning with those I should oppose and in opposing whom I am obliged to serve Neither conceive I it any part of my work and care to take notice of any whatsoever proceedings of State forreign to my charge and trust here especially they being found hereunto apparently destructive Most certain it is and former ages have approved it that the intermedling of Governors and parties in this Kingdom with sidings and parties in England have been the very betraying of this kingdom to the
and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against His or Their Crowne and Dignitie and do my best endeavour to disclose and make knowne to His Majesty His Heires and Successors or to the Lord Deputy or other His Majesties cheife Governour or Governors for the time being all Treason or Traiterous conspiracies which I shall know or heare to be entended against His Majesty or any of them And I doe make this Recognition and acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian so helpe me God c. Neverthelesse the said Lord Lieutenant doth not hereby intend that any thing in these concessions contained shall exten'd or be construed to extend to the granting of Churches Church-livings or the exercise of Jurisdiction the authority of the said Lord Lieutenant not extending so far yet the said Lord Lieutenant is authorized to give the said Roman Catholicks full assurance as hereby the said Lord Lieutenant doth give unto the said Roman Catholicks full assurance that they or any of them shall not be molested in the possession which they have at present of the Churches and Church-livings or of the Exercise of their respective Jurisdictions as they now exercise the same untill such time as His Majesty upon a ful consideration of the desires of the said Roman Catholicks in a free Parliament to be held in this Kingdome shall declare his further pleasure 2 Item it is concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said parties and His Majestie is further graciously pleased that a free Parliament shall be held in this Kingdome within six months after the date of these Articles of Peace or as soon after as Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costologh Lord President of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Allexander Mac Donnell Esquire Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnewall Baronet Jefferey Browne Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neile Miles Reily and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or the major part of them will desire the same so that by possibility it may be held and that in the mean time and untill the Articles of these presents agreed to be passed in Parliament be accordingly passed the same shall be inviolably observed as to the matters therein conteined as if they were enacted in Parliament And that in case a Parliament be not called and held in this Kingdom within two yeares next after the date of these Articles of peace Then His Majesties Lord Lieutenant or other His Majesties cheif Governour or Governours of this Kingdome for the time being will at the request of the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costollogh Lord President of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Allexander Mac Donnell Esquires Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnewall Baronet Geffery Browne Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neile Miles Reily and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or the major part of them call a Generall Assembly of the Lords and Commons of this Kingdom to attend upon the said Lord Lieutenant or other his Majesties cheife Governour or Governours of this Kingdom for the time being in some convenient place for the better setling of the affairs of the Kingdome And it is further concluded accorded and agreed by and between the said parties that all matters that by these Articles are agreed upon to be passed in Parliament shall be transmitted into England according to the usuall forme to be passed in the said Parliament and that the said Acts so agreed upon and so to be passed shall receive no dis-junction or alteration here or in England Provided that nothing shall be concluded by both or either of the said Houses of Parliament which may bring prejudice to any of his Majesties Protestant party or their adherents or to his Majest. Roman Catholicke subjects or their adherents other then such things as upon this Treaty are concluded to be done or such things as may be proper for the Committee of priviledges of either or both Houses to take cognizance of as in such cases heretofore hath been accustomed and other then such matters as his Majesty will be graciously pleased to declare his further pleasure in to be passed in Parliament for the satisfaction of his Subjects and other then such things as shall be propounded to either or both houses by his Majesties Lord Lieut. of other cheif Goveror or Governors of this Kingdome for the time being during the said Parliament for the advancement of his Majesties service and the Peace of the Kingdom which clause is to admit no construction which may trench upon the Articles of peace or any of them and that both houses of Parliament may consider what they shall thinke convenient touching the repeale or suspension of the Statute commonly called Poynings Act entitled an Act That no Parliament be holden in that land untill the Acts be certified into England 3 Item It is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said parties and his Majesty is graciously pleased that all Acts Ordinances and Orders made by both or either houses of Parliament to the blemish dishonour or prejudice of his Majesties Roman Catholicke Subjects of this Kingdome or any of them fithence the seventh of August 1641. shall be vacated and that the same and all Exemplifications and other Acts which continue the memory of them be made voide by Act to be past in the next Parliament to be held in this Kingdome and that in the meane time the said Acts or Ordinances or any of them shall bee no prejudice to the said Roman Catholickes or any of them 4 Item It is also concluded and agreed upon and his Majesty is likewise graciously pleased that all indictments attainders outlawries in this Kingdome and all the processes and other proceedings thereupon and all Letters Pattents Grants Leases Customes Bonds Recognizances and all Records Act or Acts Office or Offices Inquisitions and all other things depending upon or taken by reason of the said Indictments Attainders or outlawries fithence the seventh day of August 1641. in prejudice of the said Catholickes their Heires Executors Administrators or Assignes or any of them or the widdowes of them or any of them shall be vacated and made void in such sort as no memory shall remain thereof to the blemish dishonour or prejudice of the said Catholikes their heires executors administrators or assignes or any of them or the widows of them or any of them and that to be done when the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costologh Lord President of Connaght Donnogh Lord Vise Muskerry Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Alexander Mac Donnell Esquire Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnwell Baronet Jeffery Brown Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neal Miles Reilie and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or the major part of them shall desire the same so that by possibilitie it may be done and in the mean time that no such
inditements attainders outlaries processes or any other proceedings thereupon or any letters patents grants leases custodiums bonds recognizances or any Record or acts office or offices inquisitions or any other thing depending upon or by reason of the said indictments attainders or outlawries shall in any sort prejudice the said Roman Catholikes or any of them but that they and every of them shall bee forthwith upon perfection of these Articles restored to their respective possessions and hereditaments respectively provided that no man shall be questioned by reason hereof for measne rates or wastes saving wilfull wastes committed after the first day of May last past 5. Item It is likewise concluded accorded and agreed and his Majesty is graciously pleased that as soon as possible may be all impediments which may hinder the said Roman Catholikes to sit or vote in the next intended Parliament or to choose or to be chosen Knights and Burgesse to sit or vote there shall be removed and that before the said Parliament 6. Item it is concluded accorded and agreed upon and his Majestie is further graciously pleased that all debts shall remain as they were upon the 23. of October 1641. Notwithstanding any disposition made or to be made by vertue or colour of any attainder outlawrie fugacie or other forfeiture and that no disposition or grant made or to be made of any such debts by vertue of any attainder outlawrie fugacie or other forfeiture shall be of force and this to be passed as an act in the next Parliament 7. Item It is further concluded accorded and agreed upon and his Majesty is graciously pleased that for the securing of the Estates or reputed estates of the Lords Knights gentlemen and freeholders or reputed freeholders as well of Connaght and county of Clare or country of Thomond as of the counties of Limerick and Tipperary the same to be secured by Act of Parliament according to the intent of the 25. Article of the graces granted in the fourth year of his Majesties Reign the tenor whereof for so much as concerneth the same doth ensue in these words viz. Wee are graciously pleased that for the Inhabitants of Connaght and country of Thomond and county of Clare that their several estates shall be confirmed unto them and their heires against us and our heires and successors by Act to be passed in the next Parliament to be holden in Ireland to the end the same may never hereafter be brought into any further question by Us or our Heires and Successors In which Act of Parliament so to be passed you are to take care that all tenures in capite and all rents and services as are now due or which ought to be answered unto us out of the said lands and premises by any letters pattents past thereof since the first year of King Henry the eight or found by any office taken from the said first year of King Henry the eight untill the 21. of July 1645. whereby our late dear father or any his Predecessors actually received any profit by wardship liveries primer-seisins measne rates ousterlemains or fines of alienations without licence be again reserved unto us our Heires and successors and all the rest of the premises to be holden of our Castle of Athlone by Knights service according to our said late Fathers letters notwithstanding any tenures in capite found for Us by office since the 21. of July 1615. and not appearing in any such letters patents or offices within which rule his Majesty is likewise graciously pleased that the said lands in the Counties of Limerick and Tipperarie be included but to be held by such rents and tenures only as they were in the fourth year of his Majesties Reign Provided alwaies that the said Lords Knights Gentlemen and Freeholders of the said Province of Connaght county of Clare and Countrey of Thomond and Counties of Tipperarie and Limerick shall have and enjoy the full benefit of such composition and agreement which shall be made with his most Excellent Majestie for the Court of Wards tenures respits and issues of homage any clause in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding and as for the lands within the counties of Kilkennie and Wickloe unto which his Majestie was intituled by offices taken or found in the time of the Earl of Straffords government in this Kingdom His Majestie is further graciously pleased that the State thereof shall be considered in the next intended Parliament where his Majestie will assent unto that which shall be just and honourable and that the like act of limitation of his Majesties Titles for the securitie of the estates of his Subjects of this Kingdome be passed in the said Parliament as was enacted in the 21. year of his late Majestie King James his Reign in England 8. Item it is further concluded accorded and agreed upon and His Majestie is further graciously pleased That all incapacities imposed upon the Natives of this Kingdome or any of them as Natives by any Act of Parliament Provisoes in Patents or otherwise be taken away by Act to be passed in the said Parliament and that they may be enabled to erect one or more Innes of Court in or neer the city of Dublin or elsewhere as shall be thought fit by his Majesties Lord Lieutenant or other chief Governour or Governours of this Kingdom for the time being and in case the said Innes of Court shall be erected before the first day of the next Parliament then the same shall be in such place as his Majesties Lord Lieutenant or other chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom for the time being by and with the advice and consent of the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costologh Lord President of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskerrie Francis Lord Baron of Athunrie Alexander Mac Donnell Esquire Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnwall Baronet Jefferie Brown Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neal Miles Reily Gerrald Fennell Esquires or any seven or more of them shall thinke fit And that such students natives of this Kingdom as shall be therein may take and receive the usuall degrees accustomed in any Innes of court they taking the insuingoath viz. I A. B. Doe hereby acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world that our Soveraign Lord K. Charles is lawful and rightful King of this Realm and of other His Majesties Dominions and Countries and I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to His Majesty and His Heirs and Successors and Him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Crown and Dignity and do my best endeavour to disclose and make known to His Majesty His Heires and Successors or to the Lord Deputy or other His Majesties cheife Governour or Governors for the time being all Treason or Traiterous conspiracies which I shall know or heare to be entended against His
said Act of oblivion or any thing in this Article contained shall not hinder or interrupt the said Tho. Lord Visc. Dillon of Costologh Lord Presid. of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Allexander Mac Donnell Esquire Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnewall Baronet Jeffrey Browne Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neile Miles Reily and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or any seven or more of them to call to an account and proceed against the Councell and Congregation and the respective Supream Councells Commissioners generall appointed hitherto from time to time by the Confederate Catholickes to manage their affaires or any other person or persons accomptable to an accompt for their respective receipts and disbursements since the beginning of their respective imployments under the said Confederate Catholickes or to acquit orrelease any arrears of excises customes or publicke taxes to be accounted for since the 23 of Octo. 1641. and not disposed of hitherto to the publicke use but that the parties therein concerned may be called to an account for the same as aforesaid by the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costologh Lord President of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Allexander Mac Donnell Esquire Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnewall Baronet Jeffrey Browne Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neile Miles Reily and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or any seaven or more of them the said Act or any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding 19 Item it is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said parties and his Majestie is graciously pleased That an Act be passed in the next Parliament prohibiting that neither the Lord Deputy or other chief Governor or Governors Lord Chancellor Lord High-Treasurer Vice-Treasurer Chancellor or any of the Barons of the Exehequer Privie Councel or Judges of the foure courts be farmers of his Majesties customes within this Kingdom 20. Item It is likewise concluded accorded and agreed and his Majestie is graciously pleased that an Act of Parliament passe in this Kingdom against Monopolies such as was enacted in England 21. Jacobi Regis with a further clause of repealing of all grants of Monopolies in this Kingdom and that Commissioners be agreed upon by the said Lord lieutenant and the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costologh Lord president of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskerrie Francis Lord Baron of Athunrie Alexander Mac Donnell Esquire Sir Lucas Dillan Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnwall Baronet Jeffery Brown Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neal Miles Reily and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or any seven or more of them to set down the rates for the custome and imposition to be laid on Aquavitae Wine Oile Yarne and Tobacco 21. Item it is concluded accorded and agreed and his Majestie is graciously pleased that such persons as shall be agreed on by the said Lord lieutenant and the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costologh Lord president of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskerie Francis Lord Baron of Athunrie Alexander Mac Donnell Esquire Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnwell Baronet Jeffery Brown Donnogh O Callaghan Tirlagh O Neal Miles Reilie and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or any seven or more of them shall be as soon as may be authorized by Commission under the great Seal to regulate the Court of Castle-chamber and such causes as shall be brought into and censured in the said Court 22. Item It is concluded accorded and agreed upon and his Majesty is graciously pleased that two acts lately passed in this Kingdom one prohibiting the plowing with Horses by the tail and the other prohibiting the burning of Oates in the straw bee repealed 23. Item it is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said parties and his Majestie is further graciously pleased for as much as upon application of Agents from this Kingdome unto his Majestie in the fourth yeer of his Reign and lately upon humble suit made unto his Majestie by a Committee of both houses of the Parliament of this Kingdom order was given by his Majestie for redresse of severall grievances and for so many of those as are not expressed in the Articles whereof both House in the next insuing Parliament shall defire the benefit of his Majesties said former directions for redresse therein that the same be afforded them yet so as for prevention of inconveniences to his Majesties service that the warning mentioned in the 24. Article of the graces in the 4. yeer of his Majesties Reign be so understood that the warning being left at the persons dwelling houses be held sufficient warning and as to the 22 Article of the said graces the proces hitherto used in the Court of Wards doe still continue as hitherto it hath done in that and hath beene used in other English Courts but the Court of Wards being compounded for so much of the aforesaid answer as concernes warning and processe shall be omitted 24. Item it is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said parties and his Majesty is further graciously pleased that Maritine causes may be determined in this Kingdome without driving of Merchants or others to appeal and seek Justice elsewhere and if it shall fall out that there bee cause of an appeal the party grieved is to appeal to his Majestie in the Chancerie of Ireland and the sentence thereupon to be given by the deligates to be definitive and not to be questioned upon any further appeal except it be in the Parliament of this Kingdome if the Parliament shall then be sitting otherwise not this to be by Act of Parliament and untill the said Parliament the Admiraltie and Maritine causes shall be ordered and setled by the said Lord lieutenant or other chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdome for the time being by and with the advice and consent of the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costologh Lord President of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskerie Francis Lord Baron of Athunrie Alexander Mac Donnel Esquire Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnwall Baronet Jeffery Brown Donnogh O Callaghan Tyrlagh O Neal Miles Reily and Gerrald Fennell Esquires or any seven or more of them 25. Item it is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said parties and his Majestie is graciously pleased that his Majesties Subjects of this Kingdom be cased or all rents and increase of rents lately raised on the commission or defective titles in the Earl of Straffords government this to be by Act of Parliament and that in the mean time the said rents or increase of rents shall not be written for by any processe or the payment thereof in any sort procured 26. Item it is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said parties and his Majestie is further graciously pleased that by Act to be
Irish whiles the Brittish forces here had bin thereupon called off and the place therin laid open and as it were given up to the common enemie It is what your Lordship might have observed in your former Treatie with the Rebels that upon your Lordships thereupon withdrawing and sending hence into England the most considerable part of the English army then commanded by you thereby was the remaining Brittish party not long after over-poured and your quarters by the Irish over-run to the gates of Dublin your self also reduced to that low condition as to be besieged in this very Citie the Metropolis and princpall cittadell of the Kingdom and that by those very Rebels who till then could never stand before you and what the end hath bin of that party also so sent by your Lordship into England although the flower strength of the English army here both officers and souldiers hath bin very observable And how much the dangers are at present more then in former ages of hazarding the English interest in this Kingdom by sending any parties hence into any other Kingdom upon any pretences whatsoever is very apparent as in the generalitie of the Rebellion now more then formerly So considering your Lordships present conclusions with and concessions to the Rebels wherein they are allowed the continued possession of all the cities forts and places of strength whereof they stood possessed at the time of their Treatie with your Lordship and that they are to have a standing force if I well remember of 15000 foot and 2500 horse all of their own party officers and souldiers and they with the whole kingdom to be regulated by a Major party of Irish Trustees chosen by the Rebels themselves as persons for their interests and ends to be by them confided in without whom nothing is to be acted Therein I cannot but mind your Lordship of what hath been sometimes by your self delivered as your sence in this particular that the English interest in Ireland must be preserved by the English and not by Irish and upon that ground if I be not deceived did your Lordship then capitulate with the Parliament of England from which cleer principle I am sorrie to see your Lordship now receding As to that by your Lordship menaced us here of blood and force if dissenting from your Lordships waies and designes for my particular I shall my Lord much rather chuse to suffer in so doing for therein shall I doe what is becomming and answerable to my trust then to purchase my self on the contrary the ignominious brand of perfidie by any allurements of whatsoever advantages offered me But very confident I am of the same divine power which hath still followed me in this work and will still folllow me and in that trust doubt I nothing of thus giving your Lordship plainly this my resolution in that particular So I remain Dublin March 14. 1648. Your Lordships humble servant Signed Mic Jones For the Lord of Ormond these By the Lord Lieutenant Generall of Ireland Ormond WHereas our late Soveraign King Charles of happie memory hath bin lately by a party of his rebellious Subjects of England most traiterously maliciously and inhumanely put to death and murthered and forasmuch as his Majestie that now is Charles by the grace of God King of England Scotlana France and Ireland is son and heir of his said late Majestie and therefore by the Laws of the Land of force and practised in all ages is to inherit We therefore in discharge of the dutie we owe unto God our allegiance and loyaltie to our Soveraign holding it fit him so to proclaim in and through this his Majesties Kingdome doe by this our present proclamation declare and manifest to the world that Charles the second son and heir of our late Soveraign King Charles the first of happy memory is by the grace of God the undoubted King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Given at Carrick Febr. 26. 1648. God save the King A NECESSARY REPRESENTATION of the present evills and eminent dangers to Religion Lawes and Liberties arising from the late and present practises of the Sectarian party in England together with an Exhortation to duties relating to the Covenant unto all within our Charge and to all the well-affected within this Kingdome by the Presbytery at Belfast February 15th 1649. WHen we doe seriously consider the great and many duties which we owe unto God and his people over whom he hath made us Overseers and for whom we must give an accompt and when wee behold the laudable Examples of the worthy Ministers of the Province of London and of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland in their free and faithfull testimonies against the insolencies of the Sectarian party in England Considering also the dependency of this Kingdome upon the Kingdome of England and remembring how against strong oppositions we were assisted by the Lord the last yeare in discharge of the like dutie and how he punished the Contempt of our warning upon the despisers thereof We finde our selves as necessitated so the more encouraged to cast in our Mite in the treasury least our silence should involve us in the guilt of unfaithfulnesse and our People in security and neglect of duties In this discharge of the trust put upon us by God we would not be looked upon as sowers of sedition or broachers of Nationall and divisive motions our record is in heaven that nothing is more hatefull unto us nor lesse intended by us and therefore we shall not feare the malicious and wicked aspersions which we know Satan by his Instruments is ready to cast not onely upon us but on all who sincerely endeavour the advancement of Reformation What of late have been and now are the insolent and presumptuous practises of the Sectaries in England is not unknowne to the world For first notwithstanding their specious pretences for Religion and Liberties yet their late and present actings being therewith compared doe clearly evidence that they love a rough garment to deceive since they have with a high hand despised the Oath in breaking the Covenant which is so strong a foundation to both whilest they loaden it with slighting reproaches calling it a Bundle of particular and contrary Interests and a Snare to the people and likewise labour to establish by Lawes an Universall Toleration of all Religions which is an Innovation over-turning of Unity in Religion and so directly repugnant to the word of God the two first Articles of our Solemne Covenant which is the greatest wickednesse in them to violate since many of the chiefest of themselves have with their hands testified to the most high God sworne and sealed it Moreover their great dis-affection to the Settlement of Religion and so their future breach of Covenant doth more fully appeare by their strong oppositions to Presbyteriall Government the hedge and Bulwarke of Religion whilest they expresse their hatred
Articles of Peace we see as good as done by the late King not to friends but to mortall Enemies to the accomplishment of his own interests and ends wholly separate from the Peoples good may without aggravation be easily conceiv'd Nay by the Covenant it self since that so cavillously is urg'd against us wee are enjoyn'd in the fourth Article with all faithfulnesse to endeavour the bringing all such to public Triall and condigne Punishment as shall divide one Kingdome from another And what greater dividing then by a pernicious and hostile Peace to disalliege a whole Feudary Kingdome from the ancient Dominion of England Exception we finde there of no person whatsoever and if the King who hath actually done this or any for him claime a Priviledge above Justice it is againe demanded by what expresse Law either of God or man and why he whose office is to execute Law and Justice upon all others should sit himself like a demigod in lawlesse and unbunded anarchy refusing to be accountable for that autority over men naturally his equals which God himself without a reason givn is not wont to exercise over his creatures And if God the neerer to be acquainted with mankind and his frailties and to become our Priest made himself a man and subject to the Law we gladly would be instructed why any mortal man for the good and wellfare of his brethren beeing made a King should by a clean contrary motion make himself a God exalted above Law the readiest way to become utterly unsensible both of his human condition and his own duty And how securely how smoothly with how little touch or sense of any commiseration either Princely or so much as human he hath sold away that justice so oft demanded and so oft by himself acknowledg'd to be due for the bloud of more then 200000. of his Subjects that never hurt him never disobeyd him assassinated and cut in pieces by those Irish Barbarians to give the first promoting as is more then thought to his own tyrannicall designes in England will appeare by the 18th Article of his peace wherein without the least regard of Justice to avenge the dead while he thirsts to be aveng'd upon the living to all the Murders Massacres Treasons Pyracies from the very fatall day wherein that Rebellion first broke out he grants an act of Oblivion If this can be justified or not punisht in whomsoever while there is any faith any Religion any Justice upon Earth there can no reason be alleg'd why all things are not list to confusion And thus much be observd in brief concerning these Articles of peace made by the late King withhie Irish Rebells The Letter of Ormond sent to Col. Jones Governour of Dublin attempting his fidelity which the discretion and true worth of that Gentleman hath so well answerd and repulst had pass'd heer with out mention but that the other part of it not content to doe the errand of Treason roves into a long digression of evill and reproachfull language to the Parlament and Army of England Which though not worth their notice as from a Crew of Rebells whose inhumanities are long since become the hornour and execration of all that heare them yet in the pursuance of a good endeavour to give the world all due satisfaction of the present doings no fit opportunity shall be omitted He accuses first that we are the Subveters of true Religion the protectors inviters not only of all false ones but of irreligion atheism An accusation that no man living could more unjustly use then our accuser himself which without a strange besottednesse he could not expect but to be retorted upon his own head All men who are true Protestants of which number he gives out to be one know not a more immediate and killing Subverter of all true Religion then Antichrist whom they generally believe to be the Pope and Church of Rome he therefore who makes peace with this grand Enemy and perscutor of the true Church he who joynes with him strengthens him gives him root to grow up and spread his poyson removing all opposition against him granting him Schools Abbeyes and Revenues Garrisons Fortresses Townes as in so many of those Articles may be seen he of all Protestants may be calld most justly the Subverter of true Religion the Protector and inviter of irreligion and atheism whether it be Ormond or his Maister And if it can be no way prov'd that the Parlament hath countenac'd Popery or Papists but have every where brok'n their Temporall power thrown down their public Superstitions and confin'd them to the bare enjoyment of that which is not in our reach their Consciences if they have encouragd all true Ministers of the Gospel that is to say afforded them favour and protection in all places where they preacht and although they think not money or Stipend to be the best encouragement of a true Pastor yet therein also have not been wanting nor intend to be they doubt not then to affirm themselves not the Subverters but the maintainers and defenders of true Religion which of it self and by Consequence is the surest and the strongest Subversion not onely of all false ones but of irreligion and atheism For the Weapons of that Warfare as the Apostle testifies who best knew are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of Strong Holds and all reasonings and every high thing exalted against the knowledge of God surprising every thought unto the obedience of Christ and easily revenging all disobedience 2 Cor. 10. What Minister or Clergy-man that either understood his high calling or sought not to erect a secular and carnall Tyranny over spirituall things would neglect this ample and sublime power conferrd upon him and come a begging to the weak hand of Magistracy for that kind of ayd which both the Magistrate hath no Commission to afford him and in the way he seeks it hath been alwayes found helplesse and unprofitable Neither is it unknown or by wisest men unobserv'd that the Church began then most apparently to degenerate and goe to ruine when shee borrow'd of the Civill power more then fair encouragement and protection more then which Christ himself and his Apostles never requir'd To say therefore that We protect and invite all false Religions with irreligion also and atheism because wee lend not or rather missapply not the temporall power to help out though in vaine the sloth the spleen the insufficiency of Church-men in the execution of spirituall discipline over those within their Charge or those without is an imputation that may be layd as well upon the best regulated States and Governments through the World Who have been so prudent as never to imploy the Civill sword further then the edge of it could reach that is to Civill offences onely proving alwayes against objects that were spirituall a ridiculous weapon Our protection therefore to men in Civill matters unoffensive we cannot deny their Consciences we
leave as not within our Cognisance to the proper cure of instruction praying for them Neverthelesse if any be found among us declar'd atheists malicious enemies of God and of Christ The Parlament I think professes not to tolerate such but with all befitting endeavours to suppresse them Otherwaies to protect none that in a larger sense may be tax'd of irreligion or atheism may perhaps be the ready way to exclude none sooner out of protection then those themselves that most accuse it to be so generall to others Lastly that we invite such as these or incourage them is a meer slander without proof He tells us next that they have murderd the King And they deny not to have justly and undauntedly as became the Parlament of England for more bloudshed and other hainous Crimes then ever King of this Land was guilty of after op'n tryall punisht him with death A matter which to men whose serious consideration thereof hath left no certain precept or example undebated is so farr from giving offence that wee implore and beseech the Divine Majesty so to uphold and support thir spirits with like fortitude and Magnanimity that all thir ensuing actions may correspond and prove worthy that impartiall and noble peece of Justice wherein the hand of God appear'd so evidently on our side Wee shall not then need to feare what all the rout and faction of men basely principl'd can doe against us The end of our proceedings which he takes upon him to have discover'd The changing forsooth of Monarchy into Anarchy sounds so like the smattering of some raw Polititian and the overworne objection of every triviall talker that wee leave him in the number But seing in that which followes he containes not himself but contrary to what a Gentleman should know of Civility proceeds to the contemptuous naming of a person whose valour and high merit many enemies more noble then himself have both honour'd and feard to assert his good name and reputation of whose service the Common-wealth receaves so ample satisfaction t is answerd in his behalf that Cromwell whom he couples with a name of scorne hath done in few yeares more eminent and remarkable Deeds whereon to found Nobility in his house though it were wanting and perpetuall Renown to posterity then Ormond and all his Auncestors put together can shew from any record of thir Irish exploits the widest scene of thir glory He passes on in his groundless conjectures that the aime of this Parlament may be perhaps to set up first an elective Kingdome and after that a perfet Turkish tyranny Of the former wee suppose the late act against Monarchy will suffice to acquitt them Of the latter certainly there needed no other patterne then that Tyranny which was so long modelling by the late King himself with Strafford and that arch Prelat of Canterbury his chief Instruments whose designes God hath dissipated Neither is it any new project of the Monarchs and their Courtiers in these dayes though Christians they would be thought to endeavour the introducing of a plain Turkish Tyranny Witnesse that Consultation had in the Court of France under Charles the ninth at Blois wherein Poncet a certain Court projector brought in secretly by the Chancellor Biragha after many praises of the Otteman Government proposes means and wayes at large in presence of the King the Queen Regent and Anjou the Kings Brother how with best expedition and least noyse the Turkish Tyranny might be set up in France It appeares therefore that the designe of bringing in that Tyranny is a Monarchicall designe and not of those who have dissolvd Monarchy As for Parlaments by three Estates wee know that a Parlament signifies no more then the Supream and generall Councell of a Nation consisting of whomsoever chos'n and assembld for the public good which was ever practis'd and in all sorts of Government before the word Parlament or the formality or the possibility of those three Estates or such a thing as a Titular Marquess had either name or being in the World The Originall of all which we could produce to be farr newer then those all Ages which he vaunts of and by such first invented and contriv'd whose authority though it were Charles Martell stands not so high in our repute either for himself or the age he liv'd in but that with as good warrant we may recede from what he ordain'd as he ordaine what before was not But whereas besides he is bold to allege that of the three Estates there remaines onely a small number and they the Dreggs and Scum of the House of Commons this reproach and in the mouth of an Irish Man concernes not them onely but redounds to apparent dishonour of the whole English Nation Doubtless there must be thought a great scarcity in England of persons honourable and deserving or else of Judgement or so much as honesty in the People if those whom they esteem worthy to sit in Parlament be no better then Scum and Dreggs in the Irish Dialect But of such like stuffe wee meet not anywhere with more excrescence then in his own lavish pen which feeling it selfe loose without the reines of discretion rambles for the most part beyond all Soberness and Civility In which Torrent he goes on negotiating and cheapning the Loyalty of our Faithfull Governour of Dublin as if the known and Try'd Constancy of that valiant Gentleman were to be bought with Court fumes He layes before him that there remaines now no other liberty in the Subject but to professe blasphemous opinions to revile and tread underfoot Magistracy to murther Magistrates to oppresse and undoe all that are not like minded with us Forgetting in the mean while himself to be in the head of a mixt Rabble part Papists part Fugitives and part Savages guilty in the highest degree of all these Crimes What more blasphemous not opinion but whole Religion then Popery plung'd into Idolatrous and Ceremoniall Superstition the very death of all true Religion figur'd to us by the Scripture it selfe in the shape of that Beast full of the names of Blasphemy which wee mention to him as to one that would be counted Protestant and had his breeding in the house of a Bishop And who are those that have trod under foot Magistracy murder'd Magistrates oppress'd undone all that syded not with them but the Irish Rebels in that horrible Conspiracy for which Ormond himselfe hath either been or seem'd to be their enemy though now their Ringleader And let him aske the Jesuitea about him whether it be not their known Doctrine and also practise not by faire and due processe of Justice to punish Kings and Magistrates which we disavow not but to murder them in the basest and most assassinous manner if thir Church-Interest so require There will not need more words to this Windy Railer convicted opnly of all those Crimes which he so confidently and yet falsely charges upon others We have now to deale though in the
the bold ignorance and sloth of our Clergy tends no less now then in the Bishops days to make thir bare sayings and censures authentic with the People though destitute of any proofe or argument But thanks be to God they are discern'd Thir next impeachment is that we oppose the Presbyteriall government the hedg and bulwark of Religion Which all the Land knows to be a most impudent falshood having establishd it with all freedom wherever it hath been desir'd Nevertheless as we perceave it aspiring to be a compulsive power upon all without exception in Parochiall Classicall and Provinciall Hierarchies or to require the fleshly arm of Magistracy in the execution of a spirituall Discipline to punish and amerce by any corporall infliction those whose consciences cannot be edifi'd by what authority they are compell'd we hold it no more to be the hedg and bulwark of Religion than the Popish and Prelaticall Courts or the Spanish Inquisition But we are told We imbrace Paganism and Judaism in the arms of toleration A most audacious calumny And yet while we detest Judaism we know our selves commanded by St. Paul Rom. 11. to respect the Jews and by all means to endeavor thir conversion Neither was it ever sworn in the Covnant to maintain a universal Presbytery in England as they falsly allege but in Scotland against the Common Enemy if our aid were calld for being left free to reform our own Country according to the Word of God and the example of best reformed Churches from which rule we are not yet departed But heer utterly forgetting to be Ministers of the Gospel they presume to op'n their mouths not in the spirit of meeknesse as like dissemblers they pretend but with as much devillish malice impudence and falshood as any Irish Rebell could have utter'd and from a barbarous â—ook of Ireland brand us with the extirpation of laws and liberties things which they seem as little to understand as ought that belongs to good letters or humanity That wee seisd on the person of the King Who was surrendred into our hands an Enemy and Captive by our own subordinate and paid Army of Scots in England Next our imprisoning many Members of the House As if it were impossible they should deserve it conspiring and banding against the public good which to the other part appearing and with the power they had not resisting had bin a manifest desertion of thir trust and duty No question but it is as good and necessary to expell rott'n Members out of the House as to banish Delinquents out of the Land and the reason holds as well in forty as in five And if they be yet more the more dangerous is thir number They had no privilege to fit there and vote home the author the impenitent author of all our miseries to freedom honour and royalty for a few fraudulent if not destructive concessions Which that they went about to doe how much more clear it was to all men so much the more expedient and important to the Common-wealth was their speedy seisure and exclusion and no breach of any just privilege but a breach of their knotted faction And heer they cry out An action without parallel in any age So heartily we wish all men were unprejudic'd in all our actions as these illiterat denouncers never parallelld so much of any age as would contribute to the tithe of a Century That wee abolish Parlamentary power and establish a representative instead thereof Now we have the hight of them these profound Instructors in the midst of thir Representation would know the English of a Representative and were perhaps of that Classis who heretofore were as much staggerd at Trienniall Thir grand accusation is our Justice don on the King which that they may prove to be without rule or example they venture all the credit they have in divine and human history and by the same desperate boldness detect themselves to be egregious liars and impostors seeking to abuse the multitude with a show of that gravity and learning which never was their portion Had thir knowledge bin equall to the knowledge of any stupid Monk or Abbot they would have known at least though ignorant of all things else the life and acts of him who first instituted thir order but these blockish Presbyters of Clandeboy know not that John Knox who was the first founder of Presbytery in Scotland taught professedly the doctrine of deposing and of killing Kings And thus while they deny that any such rule can be found the rule is found in their own Country givn them by thir own first presbyterian institutor and they themselves like irregular Friers walking contrary to the rule of thir own foundation deserv for so grosse an ignorance and transgression to be disciplin'd upon thir own stools Or had thir reading in history bin any which by this we may be confident is none at all or thir malice not highth'n'd to a blind rage they never would so rashly have thrown the dice to a palpable discovery of thir ignorance and want of shame But wherefore spend we two such pretious things as time reason upon Priests the most prodigal mis-spenders of time and the scarsest owners of reason T is sufficient we have publishd our defences giv'n reasons giv'n examples of our Justice don books also have bin writt'n to the same purpose for men to look on that will that no Nation under heav'n but in one age or other hath don the like The difference onely is which rather seemes to us matter of glory that they for the most part have without form of Law don the deed by a kinde of martial Justice wee by the deliberate and well-weighd Sentence of a legal Judicature But they tell us It was against the interest and protestation of the Kingdom of Scotland And did exceeding well to joyn those two together heerby informing us what credit or regard need be givn in England to a Scotch Protestation usherd in by a Scotch interest certainly no more then we see is givn in Scotland to an English Declaration declaring the interest of England If then our interest move not them why should theirs move us If they say wee are not all England we reply they are not all Scotland nay were the last year so inconsiderable a part of Scotland as were beholding to this which they now term the Sectarian Army to defend and rescue them at the charges of England from a stronger party of thir own Countrymen in whose esteem they were no better then Sectarians themselves But they add It was against the former Declarations of both Kingdomes to seize or proceed against the King We are certain that no such Declarations of both Kingdomes as derive not thir full force from the sense and meaning of the Covnant can be produc'd And if they plead against us the Covenant To preserve and defend his person we aske them briefly whether they take the Covenant to be absolute or conditionall
If absolute then suppose the King to have committed all prodigious crimes and impieties against God or nature or whole Nations he must neverthelesse be sacred from all violent touch Which absurd opinion how it can live in any mans reason either naturall or rectifi'd wee much marvell Since God declard his anger as impetuous for the saving of King Benhadad though surrendring himselfe at mercy as for the killing of Naboth If it be conditionall in the preservation and defence of Religion and the peoples libertie then certainly to take away his life beeing dangerous and pernicious to both these was no more a breach of the Covnant then for the same reason at Edinburrow to behead Gordon the Marquess Huntley By the same Covnant we made vow to assist and to defend all those that should enter with us into this league not absolutely but in the maintenance and pursuing thereof If therefore no man else ever were so madd as to claime from hence an impunitie from all Justice why should any for the King Whose life by other Articles of the same Covnant was forfet Nay if common sense had not led us to such a cleer interpretation the Scotch Commissioners themselves might boast to have bin our first teachers who when they drew to the malignance which brought forth that perfidious last years irruption against all the bands of Covnant or Christian neighbourhood making thir hollow plea the defence of his Majesties person they were constraind by thir own guiltinesse to leave out that following morsell that would have choakd them the preservation and defence of true Religion and our liberties And questionless in the preservation of these wee are bound as well both by the Covnant and before the Covnant to preserve and defend the person of any private man and the person and authoritie of any inferior Magistrate So that this Article objected with such vehemence against us containes not an exception of the Kings person and autoritie to doe by privilege what wickedness he list and be defended as som fancy but an express testification of our Loyaltie and the plaine words without wresting will beare as much that wee had no thoughts against his person or just power provided they might confist with the preservation and defence of true Religion and our liberties But to these how hazardous his life was will be needless to repeat so oftn It may suffice that while he was in custody where wee expected his repentance his remorse at last and compassion of all the innocent bloud shed already and hereafter likely to be shed for his meer wilfulness he made no other use of our continuall forbearance our humblest Petitions and obtestations at his feet but to sit contriving and fomenting new plots against us and as his own phrase was playing his own game upon the miseries of his people Of which wee desire no other view at present then these Articles of peace with the Rebells and the rare game likely to ensue from such a cast of his Cards And then let men reflect a little upon the slanders and reviles of these wretched Priests and judge what modesty what truth what conscience what any thing fit for Ministers or wee might say reasonable men can harbour in them For what they began in shamelesness and malice they conclude in frenzie throwing out a sudden rapsody of Proverbs quite from the purpose and with as much comliness as when Saul propheci'd For casting off as he did his garments all modestie and meekness wherewith the language of Ministers ought to be cloath'd speaking especially to thir supreme Magistrate they talke at random of servants raigning servants riding and wonder how the Earth can beare them Either those men imagin themselves to be marvellously high set and exalied in the chaire of Belfast to voutsafe the Parlament of England no better stile then servants or els thir high notion which wee rather beleeve falls as low as Court parasitism supposing all men to be servants but the King And then all thir paines tak'n to seem so wise in proverbing serves but to conclude them down right slaves and the edge of thir own proverb falls reverse upon themselves For as Delight is not seemly for fooles much less high words to come from base minds What they are for Ministers or how they crept into the fould whether at the window or through the wall or who set them there so haughtie in the Pontificall See of Belfast wee know not But this wee rather have cause to wonder if the Earth can beare this unsufferable insolency of upstarts who from a ground which is not thir own dare send such defiance to the sovran Magistracy of England by whose autoritie and in whose right they inhabit there By thir actions we might rather judge them to be a generation of High-land theevs and Red-shanks who beeing neighbourly admitted not as the Saxons by merit of thir warfare against our enemies but by the courtesie of England to hold possessions in our Province a Countrey better then thir own have with worse faith then those Heathen prov'd ingratefull and treacherous guests to thir best friends and entertainers And let them take heed lest while thir Glence as to these matters might have kept them blameless and secure under those proceedings which they so feard to partake in that these thir treasonous attempts and practices have not involv'd them in a farr worse guilt of rebellion and notwithstanding that faire dehortatory from joyning with Malignants in the appearance of a co-interest and partaking with the Irish Rebells Against whom though by themselves pronouncd to be the enemies of God they goe not out to battell as they ought but rather by these thir doings assist and become associats The End