and industrious in laying open this mischievous and pernicious Conspiracy had their Cattle stole from 'em and were threatned to have their Houses burnt with such like terrifying devices of the Irish which they are not only wont to give out but also to practise against such of the English as endeavour to confront them in their evil Designs This together with the connivence of the Government put a stop to any farther discovery so that the whole was hushed up and passed over in silence Thus we see that to what proficiency soever the Popish Interest had attained by the violent and irregular proceedings of the Court of Claims and other artifices of its first rise and production that it was at that time but in its infant state when compared with that maturity it had now insensibly aspired to under the Government of the L. B. The Duke of Ormond when in the Government did in the whole conduct of Affairs so vigorously support the Protestant Interest that he remained an inseparable obstacle to their Design unless some method were taken to put him out of that Station in order to which as you have heard the Lord Roâ—erts was to be practised upon whose prejudice they doubted not would carry him to very severe Reflections upon the Duke of Ormond's Government and indeed the experiment answered the design of the undertakers for the first thing that the Lord Roberts did which I should have mentioned when I spoke of his succeeding the Duke of Ormond but however may not improperly be inserted in this place was to prie into the Duke of Ormond's Government and in a manner to encourage and invite persons to make their Complaints but 't was found a difficult task to find Faults after a Person of so great Honour and Integrity as he was But however to put his Design in Execution he first gave opportunity to the Officers of the Army to make their Complaints which not succeeding then he countenances the private Souldiers to offer their Grievances and in order to this appoints Commissioners to go round the Kingdom but all to no purpose afterwards he attempts the same in the City of Dublin to see if they would complain for Quartering of Souldiers but that Device came likewise to nothing But alas all this would not fix him long in the Government He was sent over but to serve a turn and after being a necessary Instrument for a while must now give place to a fitter Agent the L. B. who was now appointed to guide the Chariot Quem si non tenuit magnis tamen excidit ausis Though he could not hold the Rein so steady as fully to compleat the course yet was the undertaking noble in it self and how ever it succeeded could argue no less than a Gallant Resolution for the Catholick Cause and which indeed he had at last brought to that high pitch as to draw in the Populace by amusing them with specious Pretences against the Magistracy to an espousal of his interest But however 't was happy for the Protestants that the Rabble at last became sensible that they had look'd at the wrong end of the Perspective and that things had been represented to them in a false light and in colours quite different from what they now appeared Popery had now almost arrived to its Zenith and wanted but little of that Perfection which that horrible Bloody contrivance befoâ—e mentioned was designed to compass a practice of a parallel nature with the former Irish Rebellion and Parisian Massacre and the like infallible demonstrations of the Church of Rome's undoubted Catholicism But 't is high time to hasten to the aforesaid Affair of the Corporation The seasonable discovery of the afore-mentioned Sheriff gave the Aâ—dermen the opportunity of sending over Sir William Davis to London who representing a true Description of this Design to the Earl of Shaftsbury made that great Politician swear That the L. L. was a mad Man which Negotiation with the said Earl produced so successfull an effect that about a Month after the Earl of Essex was nominated Lord Lieutenant which year 1672 for the present interrupted the Progress of the Popish Design in Ireland though the Natives of that Kingdom were so elevated in their Expectations of its succeeding that they forbore not boasting to their Confidents of its improvement at Court. This Romish Design which had fully appear'd in its proper shape in Ireland began soon after this to unmask it self in England and a remarkable Passage occurred which not a little contributed to the untwisting of this Intricacy of State which had been carefully spun with so fine a Thread The King the Duke of York and Clifford the Lord Treasurer were one day at a certain House in a private Room where one Sir W. B. a Commissioner of the Excise of England and of the Revenue of Ireland came and being a Person that frequently accommodated the King with Money was wont to gain access at all hours and in presumption of this liberty was at the Door ready to enter the Room but his hearing the King speak with more than ordinary earnestness begat in him a curiosity to hearken with some Attention but could hear only some broken and imperfect Expressions The Duke also spoke so low that he could not understand him but Clifford was loud as in publick answering the King in a very audible and articulate manner in these words Sir if you are drove off upon fears you will never be safe the work will do if you declare your self with Resolution there is enow to stand by you The King replied This name Popery will never le swallowed by the People upon which the King started off his Seat and said Some Body is at the Door Whereupon Clifford hastily opened it and without speaking fell furiously upon B dragging him to a pair of Stairs from whence he kick'd him down Soon after this B. dyed which was not improbably imputed to that Misfortune Here we may reasonably reflect upon those Politick and for some time imperceptible steps by which Popery gradually gained ground upon us both in Ireland and England In Ireland the whole Scheme had been managed with so much address as to engage the Populace to their Party as has been already shewn in England the Design was lain with that depth and so profoundly disguis'd with the most artificial Delusions That few except some of the most Judicious and these no otherwise than by Conjecture were able to fatham it But God who brings to light the hidden things of darkness and whose powerful Prerogative is such as oftentimes to disappoint the wise in their own Craftiness did wonderfully infatuate the wicked Devices of these Men and that by an opportune discovery when they were possess'd with the greatest hopes of its attaining its designed effect But to proceed upon the former Discourse interrupted by this Digression In this Year a little year 1672 Instrument of the Pope appeared who by degrees became no
obtains leave to go for England year 1675 leaving the Lord Primate and the Lord Granard Justices Upon his arrival at Court he perceived the Game ran high for Popery and the best way to prevent it was not by downright opposition he therefore concludes upon a more prevailing method which was to make court to the Duke of York which he managed with so much art and so skilful an Address as indeed he was very capable of doing beyond their Conclave at Rome that notwithstanding it was resolved that he should depart yet was he kept so long in England till orders came from the Holy Fathers for his return to Ireland He had so far wound himself into the Duke's good-opinion of him that he thought him secure for their Party and as the first testimony of his Integrity he had Instructions from him to promote Sheridon and the Farmers which the Earl managed with such great wisdom as at once to please the Duke and yet to be serviceable to the Protestants of Ireland who had now been in a lost irrecoverable condition if his admirable Conduct had not prevented it And now this great Man returns for Ireland to year 1676 steer again in that Government threatened by approaching Tempests the Farmers also going over enter upon their business Sir W. P. became very notorious in declaring not only to employ Papists but that he would have the Priests collect the Hearth-money Some were apt to believe that this was done on purpose to get off but those who were most intimate with him speak quite otherwise and that the hopes of being created a Lord and a Privy Counsellor so transported him beyond all the bounds of moderation as induced him to take this violent course the more to ingratiate himself with the Duke but like the Ass in the Fable beat his Master down in imitation of the Spaniels fawning and though he was a man of great Learning and of a Mathematical Head and bred abroad yet so vehemently desirous of Riches as hurried him often into great Extravagancies The Earl of Essex being Landed in Ireland had a difficult Game to play he had 't is believed made fair Promises of being kind to the Irish and to stand by the Farmers to the first he gave good words and received them well at Court but the Farmers they began to model their Officers and if some speedy and effectual stop was not put to these Proceedings the whole Ports of the Kingdom would soon be in Papists hands which was like to prove a matter of most dangerous consequence To defeat this Intriegue required a more than ordinary presence of mind and a deep foresight which as this wise Earl was endowed with in a very high measure so did he signally shew it upon this occasion There was but one way to effect it and that was by raising scruples as to the value of the Farmers and their Securities but this he must not appear in but instructs some of his Confidents of the Council to act that part sor him and there was one who till this late Catastrophe was thought to be of great Integrity and Honour the Lord Granard he was bold and daring and a Mortal Enemy to Sir J. S. wherefore he moves at the Council-Board that inspection should be made into the Securities of these Farmers The Proposal was well accepted by the rest of the Council For indeed they were Men as Sir W. P. said truly of them viz. Farmers pick'd up in the Streets with this disadvantage that take the-first seven men you meet and they shall exceed these for every thing but cheating The Earl of Essex seemed to oppose the Council in this Vote put it off and acquainted the Farmers and also gave an account of it to the Duke whom he had now so far gain'd upon as to become a Confident But every day usher'd in new Complaints against the Farmers running away with the Money of the Kingdom c. which for some time the Earl seemed to decline but at last in appearance against the Grain agrees with the Council and sends over to the King the Objections against the Farmers which in short were so great that they were not to be trusted Whereupon Commissioners of inspection were set over them one was the Earl of Essex's Confident and these men attended to the motion of the Farmers with so vigilant an eye that nothing could be effected In this manner was this great and dangerous Plot carried on for several years by the Duke and his Minions most miraculously defeated by the unparallell'd Conduct of that Prudent Earl who so far out-vy'd the Romish Politicks as to cajole that party into an approbation of those Proceedings which proved fatally destructive of their design which so disheartened those two accomplices R and Sheridon that they flung up their Parts and returned to Court the last to attend his Master Coleman who happened to come in a fit time to succeed him in his Employment for not long after this the Popish Plot was brought upon the Stage in which Coleman was Prime Minister who being afterwards Executed and Sheridon speaking something in favour of his cause was apprehended and after some time was brought on his knees at the Bar of the House of Commons where he had impudence beyond humane shape to set forth in a flourishing Speech the greatness of his Family viz. that he was in the right Line of the Kings of Vlster anciently called O Sheridon that to his Father belonged a vast Estate which by the misfortune of War meaning the former Rebellion he was wrongfully put out of with abundance of the like impudent falshoods and most notorious untruths Whereas indeed his Father too honest a man for so base and so degenerate a Son was before the late Rebellion in the County of Caven taken in a poor Boy into a Bishop's House for a Turn-spit and the Bishop observing the Boy to be of a Docible Temper and capable of instruction and finding him educated a Papist charitably put him to School where he was taught his Grammar and was found to be so industrious a Proficient in School-learning as encouraged the good Bishop to Ordain him a Deacon in which capacity he continued under the Bishop till he died And when the Rebellion broke out so violently that few English were left in the Countrey yet this poor man remained with such as stayed and read Prayers among them till all were either Murthered or had deserted the place But he being a poor Old Man and having nothing to remove continued where he was the Irish suffering him to reside amongst them but by all their Importunities notwithstanding their great eagerness to make Converts compassing both Sea and Land to proselyte any to their Church could never prevail upon him to go to Mass This Man had three Sons which as well as those turbulent times would admit he educated Protestants and upon Oliver's reduction of Ireland he was so taken with the Character
of this poor man which was faithfully represented to him by the English of the North that he not only ordered a maintenance for himself but also for his three Sons whom he ordered to be maintained in the Colledge near Dublin where they all improved themselves to an eminent degree of Learning and parts This is an Impartial Account of Thomus Sheridon's Pedigree whose Sisters and other Relations were in Broges and Kerchiefs the Irish Garb for Women The Author saw them not many years ago in this condition and knowing this Story of Sheridon was heightened in his Curiosity of being the more inquisitive after it in the County where his Father was born and found that he was of the Scologues a Name which the Irish call Cotchers And none of his Kindred as the Irish affirm were ever better I should not have given the Reader the trouble of this Digression but that I deemed it not altogether unpleasant to him to represent the unparallell'd Impudence of this Man who could attempt to speak of his high Extraction before the House of Commons when the meanness of his Original and Descent was so universally known in most parts of the North of Ireland But to what degrees of extravagancy will not the Confidence of an Irish-man transport him And whither will not that audacious Arrogance with which the Natives of that Kingdom are most plentifully stock'd carry and invite them The ridiculous Genealogies which the Irish have framed of themselves as to their Heroical Ancestry Antiquity of their Nation their eminency for Literature and extraordinary Piety in former Ages are Fopperies not to be wondered at when in these days the Author by his own Experience can give an account of several of the Irish Gentry who have laid aside both their former Names and Relations and have created new ones to themselves which they pretend to be derived from a numerous train of Noble Progenitors though this be publickly known to be a Chimerical and Fictitious Invention But to return again to the Earl of Essex from whence this account of Sheridon has caus'd me to digress though his politick Carriage in the business of the aforesaid Farmers discovered a dextrous and prudent Government yet did it contract upon him the hatred of the Duke of York who from this time set up private designs against him which the Earl had constant intelligence of but at last was not able to withstand them the prejudice rising so high till the Duke obtained a resolve for his removal from the Government year 1677 The way to accomplish this was to find out a man that would lend the King Money and the Earl of Bridlington was pitched upon Talbot had by the Relation of a Brother of his Married into that Family some interest but was not looked upon as a fit person to break it to the Earl so another was found by the Earl of Orrery's means who had been disobliged by the Earl of Essex and by that way it was pursued But though the Earl of Bridlington might have had a mind to the Government yet would he part with no Mony and the King's necessities were the great inducement whereby to prevail upon him to remove Essex and Bridlington being unwilling to supply 'em no other pretence could be found out to work on the King. 'T was admired by all for what reasons the Earl of Bridlington should be thought on in regard that none but the Duke's Party were in the Intriegue But the Romish Faction well understood that although the Earl of Bridlington was not fit to carry on their main Design yet they knew him governable and were in hopes to put things upon him that might bring matters into a leading way for another they had in their Eye not fit here to be named But these things missing of their designed effect they were now at a full stop though no occasions were omitted of making dayly Objections against the Earl of Essex The Popish Conspiracy as has been already hinted in discoursing upon Sheridon advanced apace by Coleman and the Parliament began now to be apprehensive of the present proceedings and of the Alliance with France which they utterly disapproved of The L B was sent in quality of the King's Embassador to France and Sir Ellis Leaton his Secretary in Ireland accompany'd him but neither of 'em were judged fit to be trusted with the secret Designs For at that time there was a Design for the French to set up their Demands for the Irish to have the Articles made by King Charles the Second with the French King in their favour to be performed and the King of England was to admit the French to land Men under pretence of being got by private compact of the Irish The Earl of Tyrone Lord Brittas and others being to raise Men in Ireland in order to make a Diversion to the putting the Popish Plot in force in England But the whole of this was kept private from the King only so much of it as referred to the French King 's demanding the Promises made by him when in Exile in favour of the Irish The Duke undertook to qualifie the King if any discovery should be made of the Irish intended Insurrection but this was divulged by some of the Irish and the King hardly prevailed with not to believe it The L B was recall'd from France and sent to Nimeguen and Complaints were made by some Merchants against Sir Ellis Leaton who being questioned before the King and Council spoke very intemperately and among other words said He wonder'd how these Merchants durst presume to speak any thing against the greatest King in Europe as the French King was for which indecent Expression he was committed it being justly accounted great impudence for him to affirm in the presence of the King That there was any other King greater than himself The King and Council finding some cause to believe that there were Designs of introducing Popery in Ireland pitch'd upon the Duke of Ormond as the only Pilot for that Kingdom in a Storm and accordingly he was sent over The Duke of York did not then think it seasonable year 1677 to oppose it though he was conscious 't was fatal to his Design But however he wrought so powerfully with the King That orders were given to raise Men in Ireland under the Notion of Foreign Service They were all composed of the Natives of the Kingdom excepting some Protestant Officers fit to make Catholicks of The Duke year 1678 of Ormond would give them no Arms so they were Exercised with Sticks and in a little time the Plot in England was discovered and they all disbanded Upon which a discovery was made by the Irish of the Popish Conspiracy in Ireland and it was very remarkable that in the whole discovery not one Protestant appeared as an evidence against the Papists A pregnant instance of the great impartiality and equal demeanour of the English towards the Natives who altho' they were now presented
with various opportunities of destroying those whom they knew to be their implacable Adversaries yet declin'd all Informations against them a practice as peculiar to those of the Protestant Communion as different from the Indirect Principles and barbarous proceedings of that of the Church of Rome as has been but too manifest in those horrid Perjuries and notoriously false Accusations which the Irish have been palpably convinced of in their daily Impeachments of the English in the Reign of the late King James as will appear in the Sequel of this Discourse But notwithstanding that 't is so universal a practice of the Irish to swear such of the English as they bear prejudice to out of their Lives and Estates if possible or at least so vigorously endeavour it as to stick at no Affidavit how inconsistent soever with truth or but a rational probability yet were the English more just than to transcribe so base an Example or to propose that impious Maxim of the Romish Church Of doing Evil that Good may come of it as a Rule of their Imitation which the Apostle St. Paul has so plainly pronounced Damnation unto And indeed if we descend to an impartial enquiry after the opposite Principles of the Two Churches in this case we shall no longer wonder at the great integrity of the English nor at that barbarous Violation in the other Party of a Rite of the greatest Solemnity and most Sacred Institution which all Christians ought to account an Oath to be and which the whole Christian Church expect that lame and corrupt part of it which we call the Romish does upon its being administred under legal and requisite circumstances justly reckon as indissolluble But what if the other Christian Churches which are but a vile Rabble of Hereticks and Schismaticks though if dividing Christendom into five parts they make up more than three can pretend to no dispensing power in this case yet what cannot tâ—e Vicar of Christ do in Cathedrâ who has the Keys of Heaven at his Girdle and can lock and unlock as he pleases according to our Saviour's Commission which he will needs have limited to his Person as his Vicarial Prerogative but unlimited in its Authority whatsoever sins ye remit they are remitted and whatsoever sins ye retain they are retained But to leave this despotiek power of Absolution in the Chair of Infallibility which God be thanked we are neither ambitious of nor do pretend to it will not be unreasonable to consider that whatever complaints were made by the Irish as to their severe usage in the Popish Conspiracy of which they make many tedious harangues 't was plain that if there was any such 't was acted by those of their own Party and such as professed their own Religion who were indeed the fittest Agents for so black an Intriegue there being none of the English any way interessed in it Neither can I omit mentioning the great Integrity and Justice of the Duke of Ormond then Lord Lieutenant in his unbyassed and equal management of this Affair For though prejudice and partiality might have prepossess'd some Men and have served to awaken their resentments against the Irish at such a Juncture as this yet did he carry himself with so single an eye and observed so steady and even a course that 't was difficult to perceive the least deflection in him upon either hand 't is true indeed the Law had its due course but this was owing to the Evidence which those of their own Party and Religion made against their Associates in the Conspiracy and therefore if any irregularity was committed it cannot justly be charged upon the Duke or his Subordinate Ministers by whom the whole was managed with an equal Moderation and indifferency But I pass from these Reflections upon the Carriage of the Duke of Ormond and the Protestants to a Discourse of Affairs relating to the Plot in Ireland upon the discovery whereof Orders came from England to disarm the Papists year 1678 but they received such timely notice of the Design by their Creatures at Court that there was not found two hundred Arms in all Ireland the Irish having a contrivance of concealing their Arms by thrusting them into Boggs filling the Barrels of their Guns with Butter which suffers them not to take any harm and as for the Locks they can easily hide them The Lord Brittas and others made their Escape for France but the Earl of Tyrone was taken and committed to the Gate-house Sheridon was seized in London but nothing could be proved against him Talbot now Tyrconnel was confined a Prisoner in the Castle of Dublin together with his Brother the Titular Archbishop where he dyed The Duke of York went for Flanders which made the Irish even to despair and made one of their Lords to declare with a great Oath That He believed Iesus Christ was a Protestant for that nothing they could do did prosper The Duke of Ormond was extreamly sollicitous to settle the Militia in Ireland and ordered their watching equal with the Army And now notwiâ—hstanding the publick fears of the Popish Conspiracy in England and Ireland yet was the English Interest in Ireland of greater value than ever grounded upon a general Opinion of the English that the Plots of the Irish were now so fully unravell'd that the King would extend no favour to them for the future The Duke of York goes for Scotland and with him the Second Coleman Thomas Sheridon who still profess'd himself a Protestant though his Actions at this time gave a sufficient Demonstration to the contrary For from Scotland he writ over private Encouragements to the Popish Party in Ireland and put them in some hopes But the English were not apprehensive of any danger improving their Estates and the Trade of the Kingdom more than ever and never esteeming themselves more happy than at this juncture as being quietly seated under the Care and Influence of the Duke of Ormond's Government who now endeavours to have a Parliament called in Ireland and succeeded so far as to obtain a Grant in pursuance whereof a Bill drawn by the Lord Lieutenant and Council is sent over to the King but the Duke of York's interest interceding obstructed any farther Progress who came with all expedition from Scotland to put a stop to that design which the Irish were so confident of before it was done that they stuck not to affirm that they were well assured there would be no Parliament whilst King Charles lived and would frequently discourse with that liberty and boldness as if the Duke of York had been actually Seated in the Throne upon a Presumption that he would arrive speedily to it Ireland had now continued for two or three years in great Tranquillity and Quiet when upon a suddain a Stratagem was set on foot lain as deep as Hell and yet seemingly for the advantage of the English which take as follows In the Settlement of Ireland there were overplus and concealed
Lands said to be in the possession of divers of the English but in truth much more in that of the Irish Now to insure the Titles of the English from any future Discoveries as was pretended a Court of Grace was to be erected year 1683 where all that would had the opportunity of putting in their Claims and upon proving their possession and compounding with the Commissioners for payment of such a sum as they thought fit to impose on them they were to pass new Patents It was also given out that it was safe for all new Interests to pass that Court and that it would strengthen their Titles This Policy had its intended effect for many persons came in and considerable Sums of Money were paid But under what plausible pretext soever this Court was set up 't was soon perceived as a snare to the English For its design was to make a narrow inspection into all Mens Titles and thereby to discover what advantage might be derived from it For by the Act of Settlement all the forfeited Lands in Ireland were only invested in the King as a Royal Trustee for the use of the Soldiers and Adventurers and could be no way disposed of but according to the intent of that Act. Now whereas there were several Irish out of their Lands decreed them by the Act for want of Reprisals the King's Patent could not give any Land away but in pursuance to the intent of the Act. By which it appears that this Court was erected to prepare Pretences for the Irish when opportunity should invite and though all this was negotiated through the Duke's Interest yet none of that party appeared in it but the whole of it was transacted by the Dutchess of Portsmouth who had the Money got by Fines out of it Because there will be occasion in the farther discovery of this Treachery to name a principal Actor in the Catastrophe of Ireland I shall now nominate him that was the Abettor and Contriver of this mischief 't was one W. who sometime year W before bought a Judge's place in the Exchequer for Eight Hundred Pounds This Judge was found a fit Tool to make use of and being a Cunning ambo-dexter formed this Intriegue which had proved fatal to the Protestant Interest of Ireland if affairs had succeeded in the same Current they had now put them But I must not forget to add that to make this poison go down the more easie the Pill was gilded over Most of the Judges were made Commissioners and had part of the Fines the Lawyers and Attorneys got Money by the Court so that consequently all that were capable of understanding the Cheat were interessed as Parties in the Intriegue and by this means some of the Lawyers and Attorneys purchased Estates to the ruine of the former Possessors And 't is to be observed that in the several Designs of the Papists Protestants were the Tools whereby they acted by which they appeared to have nothing of Catholick in them And now to force men into this Tonnel another Oppression was impos'd upon the Subject and that was that no man should pass Patent for Fairs Markets Mannors c. without passing his Estate through this Court whereas by the Act of Settlement all persons had liberty for the improvement of the Countrey to pass Patent for them so that they were not within three Miles of one another Here you may perceive a most black design speciously represented as a fit occasion to lay hold on whereby to corroborate the English Interest though in truth nothing could more effectually weaken the Protestants Titles to their Estates and strengthen or improve those of the Irish and this not only managed but at first set up by a Protestant And indeed this gave a more plausible colour to it and made it the more easily gain belief with the English that the true Reasons of its erection were the same with those that were pretended because first advanced by one of their own Party A sad thing indeed that Englishmen and Protestants should by base and unworthy Compliances become such Servile Instruments to the advancement of the Popish Cause A Calamity which as it had made some steps before so did it improve to an infinite Progress when the late King James was in possession of the Throne In which time too many men who were reputed Protestants through a mean and pusillanimous Disposition were not seldom Co-adjutors with the Papists in such violent Proceedings as carried a direct opposition to the Laws and their Religion But to proceed where I left off The Duke of Ormond perceiving by the tendency of these Affairs that the Romish design was agitated with greater earnestness than ever with great difficulty obtains leave to go for England and pursuant to that comes over leaving his Son the Earl of Arran Lord Deputy Upon his Arrival at year 1683 Court he a second time attempts a Parliament but ineffectually upon which disappointment he returns again for Ireland with an heavy heart as he himself declared to a Great Man of that Kingdom He had Instructions to Regiment the Army and some other things that were Preparatives to what followed soon after But now the Fatal Stroke was come the Death of the King a Mystery not to be inquired into though one can hardly omit remarking that the Irish year 1684 Papists could for some time before fix upon the utmost Period of that Reign and the Duke was sent for in haste from Scotland three years before without any apparent reason for it besides that the King's permission was obtained with some difficulty From this time we may Commence the Date of the Irish greatness Fate now smil'd upon 'em and that which they had long expected with so much impatience and importunity which had cost them so much pains and had involved them in such great Perplexities That which had exposed them to so many dangers and been so frequently blasted with cross Accidents and various Disappointments was now fallen into their Lap. Now their long-look'd for day was come and their Game which had been play'd with so much difficulty and loss did now assure them of better success These Apprehensions so transported them with such pleasant Raptures as were eminently visible in all their actions especially in Publick Days of Rejoycing as the day of the King 's Proclaiming that of his Coronation the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales and the like in all which they demonstrated the most extravagant Symptoms of a Superlative Joy which they express'd in making of Bonfires Beating of Drums playing upon the Bag-pipes and other Musical Instruments in Drinking and Serenading in the night time forcing the English out of their Beds and breaking open their Doors and drinking Confusion to the Kings Enemies upon their Knees by which 't was plain that they understood the Protestants And all these unlawful Revellings oftentimes continued for two or three Nights and Days without intermission wherein such of the English
Government and that it would be no excuse to say they were their own Arms and not belonging to the Militia This frighted many and operated so powerfully that abundance delivered in their Arms bought with their own money The Protestants being thus disarmed Tyrconnel proceeds to destroying the Army and first begins with the Officers in the same method which was designed immediately before the Death of the King which was to displace all Officers that had been in the Parliament or Oliver's Army as also the Sons of any such This the Duke of Ormond had directions to proceed in when he came last from England but he made no Progress in it under pretence of gaining time to find them out for he foresaw it was to make room for Papists Tyrconnel for so we must call him for the future proceeds in his design and after turning out a great part of the Officers returns for England and carries along with him one Neagle a Cunning Irish Lawyer since Knighted by him Neagle's Business at London was to be engaged in their secret Consults for he was a man of great parts educated among the Jesuits and consequently very inveterate Upon their Arrival at London 't was some time e'er Neagle could gain admittance to kiss the King's hand but was constantly with Father Petre and the rest of that Furious Cabal The Queen was altogether for their Counsels but the King was not so forwardly inclined being every day set upon by all his Popish Lords not to proceed too fast in the revolution of Ireland for that would spoil the general interest of the Catholicks and upon the Lord Bellasis Powis and some others of that Factions understanding that Neagle was come over they were so transported with Rage that they would have him immediately sent out of London But whatever mischiefs he effected in private his Publick Transactions were of no great prejudice to the Protestants However to compleat in Retirement what he durst not attempt at Court and upon the Publick Stage 't was agreed in Council that he should set forth by way of a Letter to a Friend the great Oppression and Injustice of the Act of Settlement which he did under the pretence of a two hours waking in a Night at Coventry but was indeed two Weeks labour in London In this Letter he ran so high in his Invectives against King Charles the Second which nothing but a meer Tyger or Savage as himself would have done that he durst not own it to be his but in Ireland gave out that he would Arrest any Man in an Action of Ten Thousand Pound who should father it upon him But now a Consult was held the design of Tyrconnel's coming over and the Debate variously canvass'd as to a fit Person to send over for Ireland in quality of Lord Lieutenant Tyrconnel was mentioned with some tenderness as being a person very Obnoxious to the English and therefore 't was not thought seasonable till matters were come to a greater Maturity to bring him upon the Stage The Lord Bellasis was proposed but that was too bare-fac'd besides he was infirm at least to carry on their design with success and not altogether to disgust the English 't was resolved that Tyrconnel should return Lieutenant General of the Army and the Earl of Clarendon Lord Lieutenant In the mean time the Irish Papists in all parts of the Kingdom proceeded in their former Stratagems of Impeaching the Protestants for Plots c. but these were generally so ridiculously contrived and made up of such Palpable Contradictions and Incongruities that they served only to demonstrate the Protestants innocency and the Horrid Perjuries and Implacable Inveteracy of the Informers But seeing that these Impeachments were so unskilfully managed which yet were repeated upon every pretended occasion of disgust they had to an English-man as to miss of their Wicked and Diabolical intent then they applyed themselves to other Courses many went out Toryes and robb'd upon the High-way broke up Houses stole Cattle killed them in the Field and cut out the Tongues of Sheep alive with other innumerable Barbarities all acted upon the English which were so frightened and discouraged with these Tragedies that thousands deserted the Kingdom and came for England under as great Fears and Jealousies as if there had been an open Rebellion and Five Hundred together departed the Kingdom to Transport themselves to Virginia Carolina Pensilvania West-Indies and New England This was extream grateful to the Irish who set all their Engines at work so to disheâ—â—â—en and discourage the Protestants as to force them to leave the Kingdom Tyrconnel now drives with greater fury than before not only displacing the Officers of the Army but also turning out the Private Soldiers and to both prefers which of the Irish he thought fit his Will was his Law and his Actions purely Arbitrary none daring to question him for he brought over Blank Commissions Signed by the King for such as he was willing to put in This Part he acted in a most Insulting Barbarous manner causing poor Men that had no Cloaths on their Backs but Red Coats to be stript to their Shirts and so turned off and of all this he himself was an Inhumane Spectator He seiz'd the Horses of some Officers and Troopers giving Notes that amounted not to a fourth proportion of their just Values to others he gave nothing but ill words and vile reproaches In the midst of this Tragical Scene the Earl of Clarendon comes upon the Stage in the Capacity of Lord Lieutenant his Relation to the King added to the violent Proceedings then in Ireland so vigorously drove on by the Popish Party afforded but little hopes of any redress of these Evils to the Drooping Spirits of the Protestants who were by this time entered into a very Desponding and Dejected Condition But these Discouragements of the English were alleviated in a very high measure if not changed into Ecstasies and perfect Raptures of Joy when perceiving the Lord Lieutenant acting as a person of inviolable Integrity to the Protestants and the English Interest they looked upon him as a fit Man to stem the Torrent of the Popish Faction which had been so violent and impetuous and indeed his very first action gave no small proof of it which was to cherish and revive the broken hearts of the Protestants with those great Assurances his Master had given him of protecting the Protestant Interest and Religion which he good man could not disbelieve In pursuance of this he issued out Proclamations for bringing in of Torys and propos'd Rewards to such as should apprehend them He rid a Progress round the chiefest parts of the Kingdom to give life to the English but at the same time the Grandees of the Irish proceeded in their design animating their Vassals with hopes that he should soon be removed the Irish composing Barbarous Songs in praise of Tyrconnel and that his Heroick hand should destroy the English Church with Bloody and