A True Representation TO THE KING and PEOPLE of ENGLAND How Matters were carried on all along in IRELAND BY THE Late King James In Favour of the Irish Papists there From His Accession to the CROWN To the Tenth of April 1689. By an Impartial Eye-Witness LICENS'D Aug. 16. 1689. J. Fraser LONDON Printed for Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCLXXXIX A True Representation to the King and People of England how Matters were carried on all along in Ireland by the Late King James in Favour of the Irish Papists there c. TO satisfie those that make it their business to reflect on the Protestants who left Ireland in the late Calamities the following Reasons are briefly offered First It is clearly evident That Ireland is a Kingdom depending on England and that the Acts passed in it are to be altered amended and confirmed by the King and Council of England as by Poyning's Act in Ireland may more fully appear That England receiv'd K. J. as their lawful King is likewise granted and that Ireland intirely submitted is evident And here I will not enter into a tedious discourse of all the measures taken since 1660 to subvert the Protestant Religion and the Laws Established which will be shortly at large set forth by another Hand to the full satisfaction of every Impartial and Vnprejudiced person but briefly and truly give an account of the Proceedings in Ireland since his Accession to the Crown It is plain that his whole endeavours were bent to introduce Popery and establish it in these Kingdoms and that he could not more readily effect it and try the Genius of his Protestant Subjects of Ireland who were taught to yield him Passive Obedience by the easie compliance of some of their Party then in power to his fierce Incroachments than by a new modelling of the Army there which in a very little time was so purged that scarce a true Protestant or honest Gentleman was left in it And tho' it began by degrees whilst his Excellency the Lord Clarendon had the Sword yet it was fully executed to the almost ruine of many a worthy Gentleman whose fortune depended on it a little after the Lord Tyrconnel had the honour of being his Deputy in that Kingdom This being the first step the Irish were made Officers and Troops and Companies filled every where with them and were trained and exercised by an extraordinary diligence of some good old Officers kept in I suppose of purpose for it who soon became not only contemners of their Protestant Commanders but were preferred to their places So that the Sword and consequently the Military command of that Kingdom was wholly in their power The next thing to be looked into was the Civil Magistrate and he who was known to be a true Protestant was laid aside and new Judges of the right stamp were first Coyned who had command in their respective Circuits to inform the Government of all Protestant Justices or Cromwell's favorers as they called them who were likewise presently eased of their Commissions and all other Impoloyments Then the Officers of the Revenue were also purged and several of the Irish who had got in among them in inferiour Stations yet in regard they were not so well qualified as the Protestants by a knowledge in those affairs some were removed and the most useful of the Protestants restored for a while yet as the Irish grew skilful the Protestants still were outed again Matters being thus acted and the Protestant Nobility and many of the Gentry knowing of no better Expedient than to come into England since they could not struggle against the King's will which was a Law in Ireland therefore they removed hither to make a Remonstrance of the Grievances of that Kingdom to the late King and tho' they flock'd over out of all parts yet they prevailed so little to gain any redress that they saw plainly they could not return into Ireland without apparent hazard of their Lives And now was it judged by the Ld. Deputy the fittest time for him to put his long contrived designs of Subverting the Protestant Religion and introducing Popery into full Execution upon which in November last there was a motion made in Council for disarming all the rest of the Protestants of that Kingdom which being known and most concluding that as soon as their Arms were taken there being then a hot Discourse of a general Massacre intended 't was only to leave them more naked and exposed so as that might have its full effect more easily and with less opposition upon them which alarm'd the Protestants so that many thousands came flocking over to avoid that fatal stroke Now were the few Protestants who lived disperst left to shift for themselves In the mean time the Lord Tyrconnel who still had the Sword undemanded and undisposed of to any other issues new Commissions not only to the Ro. Ca. who had some Estates but to all who were willing to stand up for the Cause that were men of broken Fortunes and worse Fame but could influence the Rabble and raise Companies only with this Salvo that they should maintain them for 3 months on their own cost and charge and then they should have their Commissions given them by which it was adjudged that in regard there was but little Money in the Treasury they should be fitted for service against the time K. J. should come or send them Money or that if the Deputy found an Army ready to Land out of England what Money was there would be little enough to bear his Charges and furnish him with Necessaries on his flight But these Commissions or rather Incouragements being very many for every one who could get about 60 Kearnes or Country Fellows to joyn with them and own him as their Captain immediately strutted and looked very big and was honoured by the name of Captain so that it was nothing strange to have 20 or 30 Companies in a County and these the noted Idlers and Cow-stealers So that presently the Captains many of which had not 3 Cows of their own had several scores of Cattle driven into Nooks and By-Paths and all that were branded were sure to go to Pot in regard the Horne as they called it spoke English the rest were sent into other remote Counties to the Officers there and those again sent their stolen Cattle in exchange for the other which was done to elude a Proclamation from the Lord Deputy on the many and daily Complaints and Petitions he receiv'd on account of the stolen Cattle requiring all Officers and Soldiers as well as others to be aiding and assisting to recover the stolen Cattle and to punish the Offenders which pass'd for currant For it was well if a Protestant could go safe to the Captain of the next Garrison who sometimes would be so civil especially if a Sum of money were given his men to assist in the search as to send 8 or 10 miles
but be sure the Cattle must be far enough from the place searched and sometime when 30 or 40 good fat Bullocks came to be made a Prey that about a 3d or 4th part must be laid aside for the Pot the rest for a Bribe of 5 or 6 l. would be got by some of the Soldiers who would swear lustily they were forced to promise so much to their Spy Yet no sooner on the delivery of the greater part of the Cattle and the money receiv'd but be sure in a night or two the Cattle were again stolen Thus the merry Drovers as they called themselves valued not to joyn about 60 or 80 or 100 in one Party and force away what Cattle they had a mind to so that sometimes 100 Sheep would scarce feed the Drivers with their Families and Friends and a purchace of about 100 was only fit to be divided among them and their Crew into Lots and Parts but they called them Steages And now these new rais'd Forces were most of them half armed out of the Stores the rest were pretty well fitted for Pikes made in the Country and the Priests and Fryars commanded on obedience to the Holy See that no person whatsoever should appear at Mass without his long Skeane and Half-pike which accordingly was performed and one person who had not one foot of Land but what he Farmed from an English Gentleman had 12 dozen of each made for himself and Tenants an account whereof was sent the Government but no notice taken And now was it judged fit that those new rais'd forces should betake themselves to Garrisons which was suddainly done And not only were the Kings Garrisons Forts and Castles well stored with them but many Gentlemens houses that were strengthy or whose ownes were judged disaffected to them were likewise filled with their Numbers and the Proprietors or Possessors turned out and the provision seized and it was an extraordinary favour to get off any Goods that were of any value on pretence that it was for the Kings use and that he would make satisfaction as he thought fit and that it was done by his Command Now was it plain that this Army was not designed to fight with Butterflies and that the Lives of all the Protestants that stayed were in apparent danger On which an humble request was made to one or two persons of greatest Quality and Station to stand up for the Protestant Religion But either through too much Loyalty or judging the scattered and dispersed Protestants too weak to withstand their shock much less to disarm the Party designed was therefore declined and judged unfit to attempt as they proposed seizing the Sword Lord Deputy and Dublin Matters being thus transacted it was judged by the Protestant Gentry of the West of Ireland that in regard Sligoe which is a Sea-port Town and the chief in the County one of the best Posts and strongest being also well situated to pass from the North to Connaght the Irish Company a little before being drawn out of it to a General Rendezvouz and many of their new raised Forces possessing them selves daily of the most considerable strengths in the County as Belahy Moygara which belongs to the L. Kingston and his Tenants Ousted and Ballymoate therefore lest they should likewise possess themselves of Sligo as they intended it was resolved by the Protestants there to enter it and possess themselves of it for their defence and safety and so they did unanimously issue their Declaration on the 4th day of Janâ—ar last that they associated themselves in the necessary defence of their Lives and the Protestant Religion as by Law established which to their utmost powers they would maintain and would not prejudice even Roman Catholicks whilst they demeaned themselves according to the Laws The Protestants then chose the Right Honorable Robert L. Baron of Kingstone and the Honor. Chidley Coote Esq their Commanders in chief to whom they promised intire obedience And accordingly all were formed into Troops and Companies and all furnished themselves with the Men under their respective Commands with Horses Arms Ammunition Provisions c. imploying all the Smiths in fixing Arms making Pikes Stars and other Inventions against Horse and to defend Forts buying all the Scythes and fixing them on Poles building up the old and decayed Forts making Draw bridges ordering frontier Garrisons keeping strong Watch and Ward on all Quarters at Grange near Mid-way to Balishannon to hold their Correspondence with Derry at New-town Dromahere and Mannerhamelton to have intelligence with Enniskilling at Dr. Leslies at Coolooni and Marcray to prevent an infal from the Boyle or Ballymoate at Ardinglass Lackan and Cottlestown to awe the new rais'd Army in the County of Mayo part of which had seized the Bishop of Killalla's House And when one Mr. Tremble a Servant of Sir Arthur Gore 's ask'd one Captain Walter Bourke why he would seize the Bishop's House and make it a Garrison the Gate was shut upon him and he set upon and barbarously murthered Likewise an Account of the Protestants who were at Foxford and many other places who were drawing to Sligo on the Orders that issued for disarming all Protestants of the Kingdom as also to take all their Service-Horses which was obeyed with that Secrecy Diligence and Care that not so much as a Plow-Horse was left so that many a Family for want of a Horse to carry their Luggage was forced to stay and submit to their merciless Cruelty but this Garrison relieved and conveyed many a distressed and robbed Protestant to Sligo who soon was recruited and put into Troop or Company at the Officers cost During this time there was a secret Intreague with Secretary Ellis and Mr. Temple As also a sham Letter from the Lord Tyrconel into England about delivering the Sword and had there one been sent to demand the Sword with about a Thousand Soldiers 't is not doubted but it would be delivered though at the same time the Lord Montjoy least he should stand up for the Protestants is Complemented with an Embassy into France And now the Irish getting all this time to strengthen themselves and the Arms and Horses taken from the Protestants they began to encrease to an Army of 90000. strong And all this while there was neither Commission Arms Ammunition or Money sent to the Protestants at Sligo notwithstanding that as they were Informed it was earnestly sollicited by a Person of Quality in England who knew the goodness and strength of that Post they were in and that they daily expected some Succours so that the Protestants there began to be in very great want of Ammunition and notwithstanding all their endeavours wanted many Arms tho' all the fowling Pieces were cut into Carbines and Smiths continually at work And the Sword to which the Supreme Acknowledgment is paid was still undemanded in the Lord Tyrconnel's hand and sure without Command he would not lay it down yet the Protestants at Sligo continued in
the Hazards and Losses they sustained And now consulting what was to be done in these Disorders or rather treacherous Practices it was concluded that my Lord Kingston with the Officers of his appointment that were there with him should come off in three or four Vessels that lay at Killabeggs and hasten over and give an account how matters were and get Commissions and return with all speed to their Friends Relations and Tenants whom they mounted and armed and sent straight to joyn Eniskillin Men which was no small trouble to them that after about four months cost sufferings and acquaintance they must now part having neither Arms Ammunition nor Supplies sent them but it was now plain that the Colonel who knew very well that King James was near his Army which gave clear occasions of distrust and that the private under-hand intelligence he held would be to the ruin of the Protestants and the day after the Lord Kingston the wind being fair set sail But to relate the miseries and hardships they endured at sea lying a Ship-board like packt Herrings in their Boots and wet Cloaths for six or seven days and twice like to be cast away on the Scotch Shoar and thence getting to Glasgow in small Boats some again riding post to London with my Lord others going to Edinburgh and then by Sea some afoot to Leverpool above 200 miles others again venturing thither by Sea who ever since have been waiting petitioning and expecting to return with Commissions for themselves as well as for some of their Friends who have given the World satisfaction of their Courage and Zeal for the Protestant Religion and whose Names ought to be honoured with a perpetual Remembrance of their Actions And if the Archbishop of Tuam or Bishop of Killalla who very well knows my Lord with the Gentlemen that came over with him and what they did and suffered whilst they were at Sligo be enquired of the truth of this matter that certainly persons who are provided for and who never shewed that Zeal would not be preferred and these not only neglected by which means they suffer many hardships but even discountenanced by being called Deserters of their Country and whether this usage be not a Trial of their Zeal I leave to any one to judge also on due enquiry or after what is said if they for coming over or the Person who drew them from their Post who by their Majesties Commission was Governour of Derry and who hazarded their Lives and Fortunes to join with him without Commissions to oppose the Enemy to be so served or he be most to blame Or whether they who know the Mountains Creeks and Passes as well as the notorious bloody Rebels and Cow-stealers who have most of their nearest Relations either hazarding their Lives against them or under their Power at least in restraint with cruel usage and hardships enough if they have yet escaped with their Lives whether also that these Gentlemen who have left their Goods and come over some with a very little Money Plate or other Moveables of value which is now all spent and some who have a great Charge of eight or ten in Family who in probability might have starved many of them had not that charitable Course been taken for their support that is who cannot raise Money here for want of City-security neither their own tho they have good Estates in Ireland nor the Gentlemen thence to be taken bound for them whether I say these be able to return for want of Horses Arms or Necessaries to carry them over having spent all and to carry a Musket and leave their Families in want and wholly unsettled and wanting Bread would not only be bad encouragement for them but that Pay would neither maintain them nor scarce any one of their Familie and whether a due consideration and regard be not to be had of those so quallified for Employments and Persons of known Courage and Zeal for the Protestant Religion of whom there are many unprovided for of any Employment which would be a great ease to England in the several Sums paid for the Relief of those Protestants who are now here in no capacity nor ability for providing for themselves tho they are sufficiently zealous for their Majesties Service And whether a farther delay may not be prejudicial as Matters stand considering that for want of a speedy relieving of Ireland and not sending over but about 100. Officers and one to Command in Chief with Arm Ammunition Commissions and Money in January February March or April last that Kingdom had not been wholly in the Protestants hands notwithstanding all the French Army since Landed as well as that raised by Tyrconnel and if it had not prevented the ruin Destruction Desolation and Cruelties which the Protestants there have since suffered And now 't is hoped it may not be amiss to inspect and enquire who the Retarders are and to do it so effectually that they at length be frustrated of carrying on any farther Designs to the Apparent ruin of the Protestants and to bring them to Condign Punishments for the Blood and Miseries many Thousands have suffered by the Irish and French Cruelties who were the Instruments who occasion'd it And whether they did not endeavour by such Practices to Establish Popery as well as Confusion May they therefore be found out and made Examples for their Perfidy May their Sacred Majesties ever be happy and defend the Protestant Religion from Popery and Superstition and have the Hearts of all their Subjects intirely united to them whilst all Ackitophels justly suffer May England with all their Majesties Kingdoms and Dominions flourish under Peace and Safety whilst we Bless God for his great Deliverances he wrought for us in Placing their Majesties on the Royal Throne May the Poor Protestants of Ireland Bless the Almighty who they hope hath raised a Deliverer for them that they may return in Peace to enjoy their Possessions that they may make the right and Sanctified use of their Afflictions so that they and their Children may never forget the great Deliverances wrought for them Whilst the Irish and French be turned out of that Land and receive their just demerits and that Religion and true Piety may ever flourish and be establish'd among us for all Generations And may Duke Schomberg have this also added to his former Renowned Acts to prove the Deliverer first of the Irish Protestants and then of the French in France FINIS Books lately Printed for Ric. Chiswell THe Answer of a Protestant Gentleman in Ireland to a late Letter from N. N. upon a Discourse betwixt them concerning the present Posture of that Countrey and the Part fit for those concerned there to Act in it An Aplogy for the Protestants in Ireland in a Brief Narrative of the late Revolutions in that Kingdom and an Account of the Present State thereof The Interest of England in the Preservation of Ireland Humbly presented to the Parliament of England by G. P. Esq There is in the Press and will be shortly Published A Full and Impartial Account of all the Secret Consults Negotiations Stratagems and Intrigues of the Romish Party â—n Ireland from 1660 to this present year 1689. for the Settlement of Popery in tha Kingdom