PROPOSALS For Raising a Million of Money OUT OF THE Forfeited Estates in IRELAND TOGETHER With the ANSWER of the Irish to the same and a REPLY thereto LONDON Printed for T. Goodwin at the Maiden-head against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet street 1694. TO ALL True Englishmen THE unparallel'd Charity of this Kingdom to the Distressed Protestants of Ireland who in such numbers during their late heavy Persecution fled hither as to their Asylum has made so sensible impressions upon all grateful Men amongst them that even the providing for their own future safety seems not more their present aim and desire than making all possible returns to those who when they were hungry fed them naked cloathed and banished their own Country received them with open Arms. But when both these Considerations that of Gratitude as well as a lasting Settlement are so interwoven as that what provides for the one will be some Manifestation of the other 't were unpardonable if the People of Ireland should let slip such an opportunity The Expence of reducing that Kingdom has not been so inconsiderable but that every Man in England has felt his share of the weight but the Fatal Consequences of that Rebellion few People consider for in truth the whole Charge of the Two last years War besides what more it may cost England is purely due hereto Had that Kingdom submitted to Their Majesties Government when publick notice was given them of their Right to the Crown of England and consequently to that of Ireland the French King had long since been obliged to have sued for Peace on such Terms as Their Majesties and their Allies would have granted him but such was the necessity of Reducing that Kingdom as soon as it was possible least as 't is plain it was designed it should entirely fall into the French King's Hands that Their Majesties were obliged to employ those Forces there who in one Campaign or two at most would then have effected what already has proved the work of five The Consumption of the Treasure of England hereby has been prodigious but not to be named in Comparison with the Lives of so many Brave English Men whose Widows and Orphans as well as their Country owe this Irrepairable Loss to Ireland And now that Kingdom is reduced the greatest Care must always be taken by the English to secure themselves at home by preventing its falling into Forreign Hands and of all Nations in the World France the most dangerous they in less than an Age have so encreased their Power at Sea that they now vye their Fleet with our Royal Navy and in Trade have so grown upon us that 't is certain had they the Irish Harbours our Trade must be absolutely in their Power and such and only so much would fall to our share as they should think fit to allow us This was the greatest Consideration that mov'd the Parliament of England so freely and largely to Tax this Nation for Reducing the Rebels of Ireland though at the same time the great Benefit that would accrue to England by the Forfeitures in Ireland was sufficiently inculcated Experience in all former Ages has taught us that upon the least Troubles or even appearance thereof in England the Irish have laid hold of every opportunity of encreasing them and shaking off the English Yoak Is then this Nation so entirely secure at this time And so wholly free from all apprehensions of any Distractions or Troubles that may hereafter befall us that it is not worth their utmost care so to settle the English Inteterest of Ireland as that it may not be in the power of the Irish to let in an Enemy at our Back-door instances there are beyond number of their willingness at all times to Ruin England and can this Age answer it to Posterity if they let slip the present opportunity put into their Hands whereby they may for ever put it out of the power of the Irish again to Rebel In order to which after that Kingdom was Reduced the House of Commons taking the same into their Consideration as well as the great Expence England had been put to for Reducing Ireland and thinking it most equitable that what had cost them so much should as far as 't would go be applyed to the use of the War did most humbly address His Majesty herein who was graciously pleased on Monday the Fifth of January Ninety to tell them That no Grants of the Forfeited Estates in England or Ireland should be made till there should be another opportunity of setling that matter in Parliament in such manner as should be thought most expedient The Kingdom of Ireland having now been Reduced above two years 't was thought a very near estimate of the Value of the Irish Forfeitures might be made and in order to lessen the Charge of England as much as might be 't was mov'd by a Worthy Member of the Honourable House of Commons That the Value of the Irish Forfeitures might be examined pursuant to which Motion the Proposer gave an account thereof at the Bar of the House and afterwards he and several Gentlemen of Ireland delivered the following Proposals to a Committee of the House of Commons appointed to receive Proposals concerning the Forfeitures in Ireland and likewise for securing the Protestant Interest there The Commitee having reported these Proposals the House upon Debate of the Matter came to this following Resolution on Friday the Twelfth of January 1693. That a Bill be brought in to Vest the Forfeited Estates in Ireland in Their Majesties to be applied to the use of the War Pursuant to which Resolution a Bill was brought into the House has been Read a Second time and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the whole House The Irish being Alarm'd hereat have privately handed about a Pamphlet by way of Answer to the Proposals whether it be so or not is referred to every unprejudiced Reader and that he may have the whole Matter fairly before him the Proposals the Answer and Reply are here presented to him If it appear that the Calculation is reasonable and that the Answer either avoids the most material Parts or Refutes no part of the Proposal he cannot sure but think that a Million of Money sav'd at this time to this Nation is a piece of Service that deserves Acceptance which is all that the Proposer or those concerned with him aim at or desire but if to this is added undeniable proof that this method alone can in humane probability prevent future Rebellions in Ireland and thereby save both the Treasure and Blood of England sure no Man can take Exception to it but either such as are to lose their Estates or those who may and do entertain hopes of having great ones given them Now whether doing what in Gratitude is due to the People of England as well as a Justice to them and the future Security of the English Interest of Ireland can by any Honest or
have always fish'd in troubled Waters and know not what 't is to get but by Rapin and Oppression 26. It is to be presumed that these Catholicks for being of that Persuasion are not to lose their Birth-rights Wherefore it may reasonably be asked why a Protestant living in Ireland under King James or actually serving him either in a Military or Civil Employment should be free under the Protection of the Laws and safe in his Property when at the same time his Roman Catholick Neighbour in equal Circumstances with him shall forforfeit all and be proscribed This single Instance shews the Proceedings of these Men of Ireland to be plainly Partial and Unjust All this considered and seriously reflected on it may with Reason be hoped and expected That their Majesties and all those concerned in the Legislature will no longer suffer that Men shall thus be divested of their Properties against the Laws of God and Man That some certain Rules or Measures of Justice be put to them like other Subjects and that all their Outlawries a Yoak much more intolerable than Chains and Fetters be reversed they having done nothing to Forfeit the Protection of the Government since their Submission to it 27. In Consideration of which and to be delivered out of the Power of their bitter and insatiable Persecutors the supposed Forfeiting Persons most Humbly and Willingly offer to Subscribe to any Tax that shall be thought fit or reasonable to be given out of their Estates towards the Charge of the War which in all probability will prove more effectual to the Government than the Methods proposed for Selling the said Estates so much against Reason Law and good Conscience an Undertaking no considerate Man both for his own and the sake of his Posterity will have a hand in The REPLY 1. THis Notional Calculation of Imaginary Acres is matter of Record and may therefore be allow'd a very good Foundation for the Proposer to ground his Proposals upon whether there be not sufficient and just regard had to the nature of a Forfeiture and the Laws established will depend upon the Truth and Reasonableness of the Proposal and not upon what you say of it by which it will appear whether you or your Party or the Proposer and his have the greater concern for the Publick and where they are that design particular Gain as well as who have been guilty of the Destruction of Innocents Widows and Orphans 2. 'T is true the Proposer brings the People of England under two Heads the English and Irish for never was any other distinction made in that Kingdom the Nick-names of Parties so fatal in England to the almost Ruin of the whole never took place among the Protestants there a Happiness in great measure due to the sence the English had of the implacable malice and irreconcileable hatred of their common Enemy the Irish who they very well knew would make their advantages of any such Division among them The suggestion is as malicious as 't is groundless for in the whole Proposal there is not one word that so much as insinuates any Irish Mans Forfeiting but such only as were guilty of Treason nay there is particular provision for those that were not as well as for the Article-men but why being descended from English Ancestors should entitle you to Indempnity who are become inveterate Enemies of that interest which your Ancestors fought for and ascerted is not easily reconcileable to Justice or Policy In the Rebellion of Forty One a numberless number of Innocent English were Barbarously and Inhumanely Murdered in cold Blood without regard to Age or Sex and these very Gentlemen who now would fain be thought English as active and cruel as any Mac or O in that Kingdom A Renegado Christian always proves the strictest Mahometan and with very good reason if the English who plant in America fall into all the Barbarous Customs of the Natives will they not deservedly obtain the Name of Indians at least be used as such 3. This is a fair Proposal say and hold The Parliament of England is a Just and Wise Senate be they therefore the Judges between us 4. 't is here yielded that some part of the Irish are Entitled to no favour from this Government here is one part of the Fund allow'd we shall anon see what favour they deserve who think they merit most 5. No doubt whether there were sufficient reason for granting Indempnity and Pardon to the Irish by the Articles or not since 't is done the Articles ought to be observed as far as they are consonant to Law which is all that His Majesty thought fit to grant for the Confirmation under the Broad Seal is with a quantum in nobis est But it must not pass without a Remark That when the French Governour quitted Limerick he demanded and had a certificate from the General Officers that the place was no longer tenable in order to his Justification to his own Master who would have Hanged him had he delivired the Town in consideration of the Irish being to be pardoned so that the equivalent so much now talked of for those Articles is meer banter and has nothing of Truth in it Your next Assertion is indeed a bold stroak whatever an Irish Man may think all English agree that Ireland is an immediate dependant upon the Crown of England and whoever is King of England is in right thereof as much King of Ireland as he is of Wales and if so how comes King James to be your only known Master you had publick notice throughout the whole Kingdom of their present Majesties being King and Queen of England even before the late King James Landed in Ireland which you will not easily get over upon the truth of this Matter of Fact we will quit the Merits of our whole Cause Have a care for fear this Wise and Just Senate to whom you just now appeal'd think you plainly hereby question Their Majesties undoubted Title to the Crown and by your words have now submitted seem to insinuate very plainly that you acknowledge no Title Their Majesties have to Ireland but that of Conquest upon my word I 'll venture at the expence of my Conscience to say they have much a better Right I confess I do not see that the consequence of not performing the Duty of a Subject to an Abdicated King must necessarily be that Faith may be broke with their present Majesties in case of a Forreign Invasion but I make no manner of doubt but the Irish would as a Man practise it But how does it appear that the Proposer or his Party have by their implacable Malice prevented the admission of those comprised in the Capitulation to the Enjoyment of their Estates I have often heard them complain that they had not Interest enough to prevent the most obnoxious Men in that Kingdom who were entitled to no Articles from being restored to theirs but never did any of them and I defie
expect had the Protestants of Ireland been massacred This tho' so great a Consideration with much difficulty prevail'd on the Irish Papists nor had it done so but that it was back'd by the repeated Promises of the late King James That the Irish should have very great Estates granted them in England which would be forfeited to him So that it seems reasonable to conclude that nothing less than the putting it entirely out of the power of the Irish Papists can prevent future Rebellions and obviate the Danger of the loss of that Kingdom to England In order to which 't is humbly propos'd That the Selling all the forfeited Estates of that Kingdom not remitted by the Articles of Galloway or Limerick to Protestants will so strengthen the Protestant and weaken the Popish Interest of that Kingdom that future Rebellions will with much more ease be thereby prevented than otherwise they can By the intermission of Parliaments in that Kingdom for Twenty seven Years the Protestants were in imminent danger of losing both their Religion and Liberties and the Irish Papists by whose Interest during the Two last Reigns the Calling of Parliaments was always prevented tho' earnestly prest for by the English received such Advantages as has greatly strengthned their Interest in that Kingdom and they are become much more formidable than formerly they were or otherwise could have been taken for preventing the Growth of Popery and the growing Power of the Papists The Parliament call'd the last Year in Ireland sat so little time as not to be able to consider of those many Laws that were necessary to be Enacted for the Good of the Kingdom after so long an Interval of of Parliaments but agreed That several Bills Enacted in England since the Tenth of Henry the Seventh were fit to be past into Laws in Ireland which will at large appear by the annexed Votes of the House of Commons besides which Acts several others were designed some of which follow By Experience 't was found in Cromwel's time that Pecuniary Muicts on Papists for not going to Church had brought the greatest part of that Nation to be Protestants and tho' upon the Restauration of King Charles the Second most of them turned to Mass again had that Method been prosecuted their Children having been bred Protestants would probably have continued so at this day and thereby the late Rebellion have been prevented to obtain which Happiness to future Ages 't was resolv'd to have address'd the Lord Lieutenant That a Bill might be drawn for putting the Laws in force against Papists in due Execution with such further Clauses as might be necessary for accomplishing so good a work The many Popish Schools in Ireland and sending their Children to the Universities in France was and is at this day one great reason of the inveterate Malice of the Irish to the British Protestants Prejudice of Education having greatly added to the Innate Hatred of their English which in process of time might have been very much lessened by prudent Methods in encouraging Protestant Schools forbidding all Popish ones by preventing their being sent into France and giving some Encouragement to such as should breed their Children Protestants for effecting which a Bill was designed with a Clause against such as should marry Papists incapacitating them for all Offices of Publick Trust The English when Ireland was first planting although then of the same Religion with the Irish thought it necessary for their Safety to make a Pale within which no Irish-man might inhabit under great Penalties The English being now much more numerous than at that time and of a different Religion from the Irish and having suffer'd so severely by the two late Rebellions it was thought worth the most serious Consideration in what places British Pales might be made especially on the Sea-Coast whereby the Danger of any Invasion from abroad might be prevented as well as of future Rebellions at home by the English being Embodied and thereby much better secur'd than they are now by the Garrisons These and many other things being duly consider'd by a Parliament 't was hoped such effectual Course might be taken as should secure that Kingdom from future Rebellions and likewise settle the distracted Condition in which now it lies Wherefore 't is humbly propos'd That a Parliament call'd in Ireland for passing such Laws as shall be judg'd necessary for the Security thereof for redressing past and present Grievances and preventing the like for the future will probably prove the most effectual way for securing that Kingdom For the accomplishing which no Methods can be so proper as what shall be advised by the Collective Body of the whole Nation All which Matters aforesaid are with the greatest Deference humbly submitted Proposals for Irish Forfeitures consider'd with Regard to Law and good Conscience The PROPOSALS 1. THE Forfeitures of Ireland being now propos'd as a Security to raise a Million of Money on towards the Charge of the War 't will be necessary to enquire more near into the Value of the said Forfeitures rather than depend altogether upon a Notional Calculation made by the Proposer who contents himself in framing his Project with Numbers of Imaginary Acres without any regard to the nature of a Forfeiture or the Laws establish'd for that a disappointment in a matter of this kind may prove of Ill Consequence to the Publick which he and his Party don't so much seem to consider as their own particular Gain and the Destruction of Innocents Widows and Orphans who have suffer'd but too much already 2. The Proposer brings the People of Ireland under Two Heads that is to say English and Irish the Possessions of the latter he would have entirely Forfeited and brings every Estated Roman Catholick of that Kingdom under that denomination and thence wou'd he insinuate them to be different from the English in Temper and Interest nay that they have an innate prejudice and hatred to them Thus by false and malicious Suggestions wou'd he carry on a design to strip and ruin a Body of English People because of a different perswasion from himself for that the Estated Men of Ireland to a very few are descended of Ancient English Families who at the expence of their Blood first Conquer'd that Kingdom brought it under the Subjection of the Crown of England and continued it so ever since The English who plant in America may with as much reason be call'd Indians and for that alone have their Fortunes and Estates taken from them 3. It is therefore hop'd that the Wise and Just Senate the Parliament of England will consider their Countreymen tho' in a distinct Kingdom under their present unfortunate Circumstances without any prepossessions of prejudice and take their Case justly as ' t is 4. King James having gone for Ireland on the Late Revolution some of the Catholicks there were concern'd in his Army and some not of those concern'd in the Army some submitted to the present Government on
Articles others chose to follow him these are intituled to no favour from that Power to which they refus'd to submit and of consequence their Estates justly to be Forfeited 5. But as to the Article-Men publick Faith ought to stand good besides he was their only known Master and to whom as their King they had promised Faith and Sworn Allegiance Then let any impartial Man make the case his own and seriously examine if at the expence of his Conscience he wou'd refuse performing the Duty of a Subject to his Soveraign when requir'd to it Must it not then necessarily follow that they acted but the part of Subjects or at least the Proposer must maintain that the tyes of Faith and Allegiance are of no force and may be broke with their present Majesties in case of a Forreign Invasion which is a Doctrine no good Subject will allow of These People have now submitted on a solemn Capitulation and are become Subjects is it not therefore reasonable they should have the benefit of the same and be receiv'd into the protection of the Laws when as by the implacable malice of the Proposers Party one third of those compriz'd in the said Capitulation are not admitted to enjoy their Estates and Fortunes as 't was stipulated 6. As to them who were not concern'd in King James's Army some for order decency and security in the Common-weal had and took Civil Employments to prevent the mischief a multitude or populace is capable of these he wou'd have Forfeiting Persons too 7. Others were no way concern'd more than in Tilling their Ground and following their lawful Occupations yet can they not escape this Proposer's heavy stroke but that they must likewise Forfeit 8. In fine so 't was order'd That all the Roman Catholicks of the Kingdom that had any Estate of Freehold or Lease to the number of Four Thousand stand now Outlaw'd of High Treason save some few who thro' their Majesties Grace and Favour have procur'd Orders to Reverse the same 9. 'T is out of these Persons Estates without regard to Law either Humane or Divine that this Projector wou'd extract his Fund for the Million of Money 10. And to that end computes a Million of Acres to be Forfeited making his clip'd allowance for the Article-Men which with the help of Forfeited or so suppos'd Tythes Fairs Markets Woods c. if valued at 2 s. the Acre per Annum makes up 100000 l. and that at Ten Years Purchase brings in a Million 11. This Calculation granted tho' false in this as in other instances viz. for that Litterees by the Act of Settlement as such were restor'd to no Acres yet there is no allowance made for such of these Lands as are fallen in so great a tract of time to Protestant Heirs sold or Leas'd to Protestants for Chieferees or some small Rents besides the heavy Incumbrances due to the Protestant Creditors or which there are but very few Catholicks Estates free will never be ballanced by Forfeited Incumbrances as he suggests Then he destroys all Remainders and Settlements by supposing the Parties interested all guilty of Rebellion and probably many of them Protestants and Infants 12. The Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland have brought these Forfeitures to a greater certainty than an airy Calculation can be suppos'd to do those of them in this Kingdom at present can give an estimate of what they amount to and out of this two thirds of the Article-Men not yet restor'd are to be satisfied so that 't is plain this expedient tho' 't were practicable by Law answers not with any certainty the end propos'd 13. However the Proposer and his Adherents makes sure of what they aim at first to secure all these Lands in Fee-farm to themselves at an easie Rent then to exterminate a People who they have but too much injur'd and leave the Million as a Consequence to happen or not happen 14. If these Gentlemen did but offer to their Majesties a Million of Money for the present Exigency of Affairs out of the 4560037 Acres they now possess and which they got at small or no Rates with the large Purchases made by them these Thirty odd Years past and that may justly be computed at much above a Million more 't wou'd be some proof that this Project of theirs was meant for the Publick Good but to be thus Generous at other Mens Expence and that with so great a regard to themselves shews but too plain the Design to be set on foot for their own particular Interests 15. It is evident that a Covetous Man is not to be satisfied for these very Persons whose Fathers and many of themselves were Born to little or no Estates are now possess'd of six parts in seven of a Fertile Rich Kingdom and yet are not contented but wou'd play the old Game over again for that upon the Restoration of King Charles the Second they prevail'd to get an Irish Act of Parliament of their own forming with such Qualifications of Roman Catholicks that 't was easier to pass the tryal of Ordial than to be judg'd Innocent by the said Conditions by the several Clauses and Limitations of the said Act they intitul'd themselves to the Estates of the very Persons that Fought for the Crown and never against it and of such Infants and Orphans whose Fathers dyed for the King by seemingly involving them in a Conspiracy carried on by Sir Phalim Oneile and his Accomplices they now wou'd finish at a blow what they left uncompleated which may plainly appear by what he says was design'd by their late Irish Parliament as if they had an undoubted Right to Enslave People 16. Their Outlawries reach not only all the Living but call the Buried out of their Graves many being Outlawed after Death a proceeding against Law and Common Sense for that by the same Rule any or all the Families of England may be Outlawed since the Conquest some were actually Prisoners in the Sheriffs Custody and Outlawed by the Return made by the same Sheriff and such as appear'd to stop the Process offer'd to be Try'd yet were refus'd or otherwise terrified in short 't was the Estate committed the Treason and not the Man 17. And because after long Solicitation and Importunity they find his Majesty will not recede from his Royal Promise as to the Articles they seemingly consent the same may be confirm'd but in Negative Terms to the end they may have room to cavil at limit and construe the same at will and pleasure in the execution thereof the few that have already been admitted to the benefit of the said Articles were not allow'd the Arrears due to them on their own Tenants but oblig'd by Recognisance to Release the same as also the November Rent growing due after the perfection of the said Articles nor were they admitted to any Chattels real tho' the Fortunes of many consisted in no other Estate and the Capitulation says positively they shall be