trecheries that ever I heard or read of compared to this me thinks they look but like so many Piaefraudes and the torments of all past ages may be thought to have proceeded more from the favourable mercies of men then from their cruelty I am confident that God that has so preserved you has done it partly for this end that your owne eyes might behold the Vyals of his wrath and vengeance which he has filled and laid up in store plentifully poured out uon them and I am perswaded if we can but with patience expect his owne time the time will come and your eyes shall see it when those tongues that cryed so loud in the day of Jerusalem Race it raee it even to the foundation shall cry as loud but all in vaine to those same mountaines whereon you were scattered and hunted like Partridges to fall and cover them and those hands that have laine so heavy on the backs of so many thousands of you shall strike as hard their owne brests and cleave as fast to their owne loynes and those feet that have been so swift to shed blood shall not carry them away so fast but that the fierce anger of the Lord shall overtake them Though I cannot be so eloquent as my friend CIVILIS Marcus yet my Amen may very well stand at the end of his speech So let thine enemies perish O Lord and those that hate thee flee before thee I perceive MARCUS that the sad Relation which you have newly heard has not wrought so kindly with you Civilis as it has done with me since you can so soon abuse your friend but I will beare it for once if you promise me to be content with our company all this evening and you DECIUS will be pleased I hope to beare part of his burden Both being well satisfied CIVILIS turning to DECIUS spake to this purpose Since you have been pleased to trouble your selfe thus farre give me leave to disturb you a little more and to know how long you have been in this Kingdome and what occasions brought you out of Ireland I doubt not but you will excuse me knowing how particular an interest my affection gives me in every thing that concernes you and I know MARCUS will take it for the best part of his entertainment in this house to sit and heare you MARCUS agreeing to what was said for him he sate downe by CIVILIS and DECIUS spake as followes You cannot desire that of me which I shall not be ready to grant you you must know then that at my first coming to Dublin Decius I found the City in great perplexity the English not knowing which they should feare first either the Irish without or those within amongst themselves they were all as it were at their wits ends and no body almost knew which way to turne himselfe The Rebels were infinite for numbers and within the City onely a poore company of raw ignorant Townsmen that for their number could not be thought able to conquer so often as their enemies might be overcome Notwithstanding all these discouragements though I saw palenesse in every mans face each one accounting himselfe already as it were amongst the dead I observed so much courage and resolution in those that then sate at the Helme that I for my part could not at all feare a shipwrack and therefore at that time could not think of quitting the Kidgdome though I saw many take that course as the safest hazarding themselves in a storm at Sea in open Botes to scape that they feared on Land if they should stay behind Those that onely attended the service and were carefull to discharge their duties though with the apparent danger of their lives by sitting constantly at Counsell-Board whither multitudes of such as were then secret and afterwards professed Rebels daily resorted and might if God had not stayed their hands have put their plot in execution for many weeks after their three and twentieth of October as well as they could have done at that day Those I say that in al that foul weather when the Heavens were all blackk about them and not so much as one beame of comfort to be seen stood still to their tackling and plyed their work without ever giving over were onely the two Lords Justices by name Sir William Parions and Sir John Bortase and Sir Adam Lofius vice-Vice-treasurer Sir John Temple Master of the Rolls Sir Charles Coot from the time that he arrived at Dublin and when he was not abroad in the Field and Sir Robert Meredith Chancellour of the Exchequer Those other blazing-starres and unlucky meteors that have since hung over our heads and have had such ill influence on all the affaires of that Kingdome and put all into combustion being some of them at that time not exhaled from the earth as little known by name of Privy-Counsellours as they deserved it and others some for feare and some for dis-affection to the service keeping themselves at home and seldome or never comming to Counsell or having fled into England It was the great mercy of God Civilis that a that time of extream hazard and necessity sent you such men as were not afraid to stand for you and to open their mouths in your defence when yours and their enemies fists were ready to enclose them with a blow and truly they ought to be had in everlasting remembrance and those that absenced themselves in that time of pressing necessity by my consent should have had the Counsell-chamber-doores for ever shut in their faces I can as little excuse those that kept themselves away through feare as those others that did it through dis-affection it being a breach of trust in both and he that feares even his life when his Religion and Country cals for and requires his help will to save his life or perhaps a poorer commodity betray both We have found what you say very true and could have wished that they that kept themselves then away ahd done so still and not to have come to doe the English the greatest mischiefe instead of service But if you please I shall proceed You will doe us a speciall favour in it Civilis Decius Sir Charles Coot by a speciall providence being sent to Dublin when the English stood in so much need of a man of his spirits was immediately made Governour of that City how he carried himselfe in that charge and what resolution and gallantry he shewed in the field against the Rebels with that small handfull of men which the State put under his command If I were able to expresse to you I might very well be thought to speak a piece of a Romanse It shall suffice that I tell you that by his couragious execution and the as faithfull contrivement of those that sate at Counsell-board the blessing of God accompanying their endeavours whereas at first for the English with all their strength to march out of the City
Decius his seeing his good nature in his relation of the misery of the Protestants in Ireland forbore to name the authors of it which if he had done I suppose you Civilis had not run into that error now to prevent the like hereafter my desire is that Decius if while he speaks of the Earle of Ormond the occasion shall draw him upon others that he would not be sparing of their names that we may know and mark such as have walkt disorderedly and not according to a streight and just rule This I suppose is but equall which if Decius assent unto he will oblige us both if he observe it in his following relation Civilis casting the cause upon Marcus his side notwithstanding all that Decius could bring to exempt himselfe from so envious a work he having tyed himselfe to submit to what Civilis should detormine proceeded on as followes You may judge by my readinesse to obey you what power your commands have over me Decius seeing they unavoidably put me upon the remembrance of what I cannot think of without the greatest anger and indignation that is possible with this encouragement however that therein I doubt not but before I have done you will both bear your shares with me and that I may observe some kind of order in what I shall say I will begin with the confidence the Rebels from the beginning reposed in the Earle of Ormond which were argument sufficient to prove him false and then I shall shew you how faithfully if I may misuse that good word he answered that trust of theirs in every particular To prove both which I shall not need to squeeze conclusions out of conjectures or probabilities but shall give you the naked fact which sufficiently discovers it selfe and his own speeches and the results of his owne made Counsell from the mouths of those of his owne party who were not ashamed to publish what they had done in the chamber upon the house top Civilis and Marcus approving of the Division be had made and the way he promised to take in handling of the parts he went on in this manner The first thing that I propounded to cleer to you is the great trust and confidence the Rebels from the beginning reposed in him To make good which though there be many more then probabilities to induce a reasonable man to beleeve he was acquainted with the first designe and plot of the Rebellion and there be some that when time serves can tell what advice and conncell he gave for the execution of it having resolved with my selfe to bring nothing before you but what carries the light of the Sun along with it I shall give you as pregnant a proofe as can be desired In the beginning of November next after the Rebellion brake out the Parliament according to the prorogation met againe at Dublin whither many who were chief plotters and contrivers of that bloody Treason though at that time the Castle of Dublis by Gods great mercy being secured they had not declared thēselves boldly resorted the Lords of the Pale and some others who were all it is well known the first in that transgression in whose heads the businesse was carried long before it came into the others hands had the faces to come and sit in the upper House to advise forsooth for the safety of the English whom before they had voted to destruction Amongst many other good motions it was thought fit by the aforesaid House of Lords the Earle of Ormond concurring that the Lord Costelogh Dillon should be sent to his Majesty into England with such propositions as they thought expedient for the setling of peace againe in that Kingdome and accordingly he was dispatched away with private Instructions how he should carry himselfe and what chiefly he was to insist on and though the honest party at Counsell-board being at that time in power had in their Letters to Court given a large character of the man and his errand and expressed their dislike of both in order to his Majesties honour and the good of the Protestants being taken prisoner here after his escape you may perhaps have heard how he was entertained at Oxford but it being out of our way I passe it by The maine of his Instructions was to work with the King that the quieting of the Rebellion might be left wholly to the Parliament there and that no forces might be sent over out of England to make the breach wider instead of closing of it and to compleat all he was to procure the Earle of Ormond to be made Lord Licutenant of Ireland Behold Sirs the same men that would have no assistance from hence without which the English in all humain probability would have perished as the next thing they thought could worke to the Rebels advantage sue that the Earle of Ormond might be made Governour And least the name of a Parliament held at Dublin may stumble you and make you beleeve these Lords were honest at that time and at the drawing of those Instructions had not engaged themselves to the Rebels party You must know after their going into Rebellion they still owned the Lord Dillon as their Agent and it was ordered at a full Counsell of the Rebels at Kilkenny that the profits of the said Lord Dillons Lands should be secured to him forasmuch as he was employed to his Majesty by them for the good of the Catholick Cause Truly Decius Civilis I think you have put your best strength in the Van for I cannot see what could prove your first poynt more cleerly and in the last place you have fully answered an objection I was then going to propound to you that order of the Counsell of Kilkenny cuts on both sides and like Janus his face looks two severall wayes But I wrong my friend Marcus I pray you therefore say on In January 1642. Decius when the Rebels were now a formed body and licked into a State upon a Petition of the chiefe Lords and Gentlemen of the Rebels sent to the Earle of Ormond and by him kindly transmitted to his Majesty his Majesty did by his Letters sent by Master Thomas Bourke an arch-papist and a chiefe Rebell require the Lords Justices to give power to the said Earle to give a meeting to the chiefest of the Rebels and to send to his Majesty such grievances and desires as they should think fit to present to him by his Lordships hands Amongst many other grievances and other goodly demands which no doubt you have seen in print though they were kept dose from the Justices and Counsell by the Earle of Ormond for many moneths after they were published by the Rebels in forraigne Kingdomes and when the Book was commonly sold amongst us it was not suffered to be answered but all motions made to that purpose in Parliament slighted by Sir Morice Eustace Speaker of the House of Commons there an Irish man to say no worse of him and one of
onely contrary to many Remonstrances of the honest party at Counsell-Board declaring the evill consequences thereof but also to the overtures and motions of severall Commanders in the Army who undertook to maintaine the Army abroad and make them subsist upon the Rebels if the Earle of Ormond would suffer it d Sir Arthur Loftus his Examination Sir Arthur Loftus Governour of the Naas undertook to maintaine there a thousand men without charge to the State if the Earle of Ormond would also send him two or three Troops of horse which lay idle about Dublin e Sir Charles Coot his Examination Sir Charles Coote long solicited the Earle of Ormond for a thousand Foot and two or three Troops to carry into Conogh where he undertook to maintaine them upon the Rebels during the Warre And many the like propositions were made by others but the Earle of Ormond knew too well how much it would have prejudiced his Country-men and his designe to save them by a peace or cessation to consent to any of them but they were all slighted by him and notwithstanding he had still the face to complaine of the necessity of the Army to the great disturbance of all debates at Counsel-board for the good of the English and the promoting of the Service to presse and cry continually for Letters to be writ to his Majesty declaring their lamentable condition and how they were not possibly able to subsist no not for a few dayes whereby the Officers and Soulders were encouraged to all manner of mutinous disorders being most of them already wrought to a wearinesse of the service and to a desire to come into England to gaine the spoile of the same whereof his Lordship and his instruments had given them assurance The Lord Lisle being sensible of the Earl of Ormonds proceedings and how he laboured all that he could on pretence of necessity to gaine for the Rebels what they desired to the ruine of the English to wipe away that colour of necessity and that it might cleerly appeare where the fault lay that the Protestants were not in a better condition undertook about January 1642. a designe for the carrying out a great part of our Army to live abroad in the Country and doe good service against the Rebels the proposition as it deserved was much magnified by all being so much for the good of the English that indeed it was the onely meanes for their preservation The Earle of Ormond upon the Lords Justices and honest Privy-Counsellours motion gave consent unto it whereupon all things were prepared Iron Mils and other necessaries not without great charge were provided and all things being now in a readinesse for the Lord Lisle to march The Earle of Ormond fore-seeing how much this would ruine his plot and fearing that he intended for the County of Kilkenny a place which he alwayes kept untouched being the chiefe seat of the Rebellion where their supreame Counsell resided declared he would goe out himselfe in person and contrary to the will of the Justices and the advice of the honest party at Counsell-Board saying he had power of himselfe without them to carry out the Army when and whither he pleased he overthrew the Lord Lisles motion having no other designe then to thwart his which looked too severely he thought upon the Rebels his beloved Country-men Sometimes he declared he would goe into the County of Wesimeath other times into the County of Longford but at length having taken new Counsels and caused the State to furnish him with a treble proportion of mony to what the Lord Lisle desired for his expedition which the Parliament Commissioners then at Dublin were forced to take up in that necessity upon their own word otherwise he and some of his Minions of the Counsell of warre protesting they were the cause of the disappointment of that so important a service and having upon his owne motion a generall Warrant granted him from the Lords Justices to command all the shiping upon the coast of the whole Kingdome a thing which before was never given out of the hands of the chiefe Governour for the time and having a Warrant likewise for the putting of the whole Country where-ever he came to contribution and full power given him to protect them otherwise saying he could not be able to keepe the Army abroad as he pretended he would doe for three moneths he marched out of Dublin with about 4000. foot and four or five hundred horse In their martch through the County of Kildare they took in three or four Castles namely Timelin Tullow and Castle-Martin and therein such quantities of corne as would have been sufficient to have fed the Army three moneths but the Earl of Ormond suffered it to be consumed and wasted and no use made of it to their benefit That which was taken in Timelin was left most of it in the same condition it was found and after the Earle of Ormond was martched away the Rebels came and possessed themselves againe of it which will be made good by Colonel Monk and by the parties that surveyed the corne in those Castles By which it may appeare he never had any intention to maintaine the Army abroad or that he took those places to any other end then to waste the ammunition and provision which he carried out with him and which he knew was all the store Castle Martin and some other places taken by him being not long after sold and delivered up to the Rebels and that at very low rates Castle Martin was sold to the Rebels by Colonel Hunkes whose company had the possession of it and no notice taken of it by the Earle of Ormond in publick but what thanks he gave in private for it we may guesse presuming it was done by his owne order I cannot but admire Decius at what you have told me Civilis seeing how much hitherto the Earl of Ormonds carriage disagrees from those expressions I have heard some give of him upon whom hereafter I shall looke as enemies to the Common-wealth and as such as deserve to partake in the severest of his punishments and truly by what I have already heard from you and some other Relations which I have received of the carriage of the Earle of Thomond and some others in Munster I begin plainly to understand the vanity of imploying any of the Irish in considerable command in that service if we ever intend to have the work carried on throughly and faithfully and not partially and by halves I have ever in my owne thoughts embraced that opinion as the most certaine and safest vvay for the English Decius and indeed supposing there were such of that Nation as could so farre overcome their owne natures as willingly to undertake so contrary a work I supposed it a poynt of cruelty in man if there were no more in it to put humain nature to so hard a taske as to embrue his hands in the blood of