Phelims Brother Terilaugh O Neale should be sent to them and the Nurie which should be undertaken by Sir Margeriasse and his Brothers for whom Sir Phelim in regard they were his brothers in law his deceased Lady being their Sister did undertake Moreover it was agreed that Sir Phelim Master O Rely Master Coll. Macmahone and my brother should with all speed they could after that day raise all the forces they could and follow us to Dublin both to arme the men and succour us and defend and garrison the Towne and Castle and likewise Master More should appoint Leinster-Gentlemen to send like supply of men All which I was by their appointment to informe Master O Rely I being next him together with what he was to doe for his own part Then there was feare of the Scots conceived that they would presently oppose themselves and that would make the matter more difficult to avoide which danger it was resolved not to meddle with them or any thing belonging to them and to demeane our selves towards them as if they were of us which we thought would pacify them from making any opposition and if the Scots would not accept of that offer of Amity but would oppose us we were in good hope to cause a stirre in Scotland that might divert them from us And I beleeve the ground for that hope was that two yeares before in or about the beginning of the Scots troubles my Lord of Tyrone sent one Terilagh O Neale a Preist out of Spayne and this I take it was the time that he was in Treaty with Cardinall Richelieu to my Lord of Argyle to treat with him for help from my Lord for him to come into Ireland and as was saide for a marriage betweene the saide Earle and my Lord of Argyles daughter or Sister I know not which and this messenger tooke Ireland in his way thither with whom Master Terilagh O Neale Sir Phelims Brother had conference from whom this relation was had That said messenger went into Scotland as I did heare from the said Master Neale or from Emer Macmahone afore named I know not from which of them but what he did there I could never heare by reason that my Lord of Tyrone was presently after killed they were the more confirmed therein hearing that my Lord of Argyle did say neare on the same time as I guesse and when the Army was raised in Ireland as I thinke to a great Lady in Scotland I know not her name but did heare that she was much imbarked in the troubles of that Kingdome then she questioning how they could subsist against the two Kingdomes of England and Ireland that if the King did endeavour to stirre Ireland against them he would kindle such a fire in Ireland as would hardly or never be quenched And moreover we knew my Lord to be powerfull with the Ilanders or Red-shankes in Scotland whom we judged would be prone and ready to such Actions they for the most part being descended out of Ireland and holding the Irish language and manners still and so we parted the next day being Wednesday from Lough Rosse every man about his owne taske and so when I came home I acquainted my brother with all that was done and what they had appointed him to doe and did likewise according as they appointed me send to Master O Rely to let him know as much And the eighteenth of the same moneth I began my journey to Dublin and when I came to Dublin being the day before the appointed day of putting that resolution in execution there I met with Captaine Con O Neale sent out of the Low-Countryes by Colonell O Neale who came after the messenger sent by us formerly to the saide Colonell and was by him dispatched with his Answer to encourage us in our resolution and to speedy performance with assurance of succours which he said would not fail on the Collonells behalfe And for the more certainty of helpe from him and to assure us that the Colonell had good hopes to procure aide from others he said that it was he himself that was imploied from him to Card. Richelieu twice that Summer who gave them very faire promises to answer the Colonells expectation with which he said that the said Colonell and himselfe were really assured of the Cardinalls aide and that he was likewise commanded by the Collonell upon our Resolution of the day to give notice thereof to him and that he would be within foureteene dayes over with us with aide but he the said Con O Neale landing 9. or 10. dayes before and meeting with Captaine Brian O Neale who made him acquainted with what was resolved he did write all the matter to Colonell O Neale so as he was sure of his speedy comming And that Evening he and I came to meete the other Gentlemen and there we met Master Moore Collonell Birne Collonell Plunket Captaine Fox and another Leinster-Gentleman a Captaine I thinke of the Birnes but I am not sure wheiher a Birne or a Toole and Captaine Birgan O Neale and taking an accompt of those that should have beene there it was founde that Sir Phelim O Neale and Master Collo Macmahone did faile of sending their men and Colonell Birne did misse Sir Mergan Cavanagh that had promised him to be there but he said he was sure he would not fail to be that night or the next morning in Town and of the two hundred men that were appointed there were onely eighty present yet notwithstanding they were resolved to goe on in their Resolution and all the difference was at what time of the day they should set on the Castle and after some debate it was resolved in the afternoone and the rather hoping to meete the Councell there then for they saide if they should take the Castle and be inforced by any extreamity for not receiving timely succour out of the Countrey having them they could not want and so parted that night but to meete in the morning to see further what was to be done and immediately thereon I came to my Chamber and about nine of the clock Master Moore and Captaine Fox came to me and told me that all was discovered and that the City was in Armes and the Gates shut up and so departed from me and what became of them or of the rest I know not but think that they escaped yet how or at what time I doe not know because I my selfe was taken that morning After a deliberate reading and rumination of this account given by Macquir I shall desire the Reader to be distinct in these particular considerations First I would have him observe here the principall Agents in this desperate Assassination Secondly I would have notice taken what the end and pretences were which moved and enraged these Agents Thirdly what the opportunities and contingencies were which made that very season pitcht upon for action Fourthly what the stratagems and policies were which attended their enterprize Fiftly To
whilst we are placed in the light to the Court will sufficiently verifie that the prime Engeniers and Masters of this infernall plot had not religious but politick ends therein and those not peculiar to Ireland but common to all the three Kingdomes and such as I have already intimated But I must not frame a meere narrative or play the Historian I have to doe with a shameles and lying generation with whom Authorities themselves are scarce authenticall wherefore for my cheife fundamentall I will insist upon that confession which was made and penned by the Lord Macqueir himself This confession was voluntarily written by the said Lord about June 1642. whilst he was a prisoner in the Tower and it was afterwards avowed by him at the day of his death in the presence of the Leiutenant of the Tower of the two Sheriffes of London and many others And because it seemes something concise in some passages and a little too darke in others and hitherto hath not beene printed in so exact a Coppy as it might I shall now publish it more perfect and more punctually agreeing with the originall which still remaines in Master Becks hands of Lincolnes Inne and for the better understanding of such as are not so inquisitive or inspective I shall adde some Observations and give a few unquestionable Illustrations of mine owne The Confession followes in haec verba JUNE 1642. BEing in Dublin Candlemas Terme last was twelve moneth the Parliament then sitting Master Roger More did write to me desiring me that if I could in that spare time I would come to his house for then the Parliament did nothing but sit and adjourn expecting a commission for the continuance thereof their former commission being expired and that some things he had to say to me that did neerely concerne me and on receipt of his Letter the new Commission for continuing the Parliament landed and I did returne him an answer that I could not fulfill his request for that present and thereupon he himselfe came to towne presently after and sending to me I went to see him to his lodging and after some little time spent in salutations he began to discourse of the many afflictions and sufferings of the Natives of that Kingdom and particularly in those latter times of my Lord of Straffords Government which gave distast to the whole Kingdom and then he began to particularize the suffering of them that were the more ancient Natives as were the Irish how that on the severall Plantations they were all put out of their Ancestours estates which sufferings as he said did beget a generall discontentment over all the whole Kingdome in both the Natives to wit the old and new Irish and that if the Gentlemen of the Kingdom were disposed to free themselves furtherly from the like inconveniency and get good conditions for themselves for regaining their Ancestours or at least a good part thereof estates they could never desire a more convenienter time then that time the distempers of Scotland being then a foot and did aske me what I thought of it I made him answer that I could not tell what to think of it such matters being altogether out of my element then he would needs have an oath of secrecie from me which I gave him and thereupon he told me that he spoke to the best Gentlemen of quality in Lemster and a great part of Conaught touching that matter and he found all of them willing thereunto if so be they could draw to them the Gentlemen of Vlster for which cause said he I came to speake to you then he began to lay down to me the case that I was in then overwhelmed in debt the smalnesse of my estate and the greatnesse of the estate my Ancestors had and how I should be sure to get it againe or at least a good part thereof and moreover how the welfare and mainteining of the Catholique Religion which he said undoubtedly the Parliament now in England will suppresse doth depend on it for said he it is to be feared and so much I heare from every understanding man the Parliament intends the utter subversion of our Religion by which perswasions he obtained my consent and so demanded whether any more of Vlster Gentlemen were in Town I told him that Master Philip Rely Master Torrilagh O Neile brother to Sir Phillim O Neile and Master Colloe Macmahone were in town and so for that time wee parted The next day he invited Master O Rely and me to dine with him and after dinner he sent for those other Gentlemen Mr. Neale and Mr. Macmahon and when they were come he began the discourse formerly used to me to them and with the same perswasions formerly used to me he obtained their consent And then he began to discourse of the feazebility and easines of the attempt considering matters as they then stood in England the troubles of Scotland the great number of able men in the Kingdome meaning Ireland what succours they were more then to hope for from abroade and the Army then raised all Irish men and well armed meaning the Army raised by my Lord Strafford against Scotland then of the manner how it ought to be done First that every one should indeavour to draw his owne freinds into that act and at least those that did live in one Countrey with them and when they had so done that there should be a set day appointed and every one in his own quarters should rise out that day and seize on all the Armes he could get in his countrey and send to the Irish in the low Countreis and Spaine to let them know of the day and resolution so that they be over with them by that Day or soone after with supplyes of Armes and Ammunition as they could and this Day to be neere winter so that England could not be able to send forces into Ireland before May and by that time there was no doubt to be made but that they themselves would be supplyed by the Irish beyond Seas who he said could not misse of help from either Spaine or the Pope But that his resolution was not in all things allowed For first it was resolved nothing should be done untill first they had sent to the Irish over Seas to know their advice and what hope of succour they could give for in them as they said all their hope of releife was and they would have both their advice and resolution before any further proceedings more then to speake to and try the Gentlemen of the Kingdome every one as he could convenietly to see in case they would at any time grow to a Resolution what back and strength they might trust to Then Master Moore told them that it was to no purpose to spend much time in speaking to the Gentlemen for there was no doubt to be made of the ancient Irish that they would be ready at any time And that all the doubt was in the Gentlemen of the
assistance and help of Vlster Gentlemen It was thought that one should be sent to them to acquaint them therewith and they made choyse of me to come by reason as they said that my wife was allyed to them and their Countrey woman and would beleeve and trust me sooner then another of those parts they or most of them being of the Pale and so without as much as to returne home to furnish my selfe for such a journey volens nolens they prevailed or rather forced me to come to Dublin to conferre with those Collonells and that was the last August was twelve-month coming to Towne I met Sir James Dillon accidentally before I came to my lodging who was one of these Collonells and after salutation he demanded of me where my lodging was which when I told him we parted The next day being abroad about some other occasions of mine owne in Towne I met him as he said comming to waite on me in my Chamber but being a good way from it he desired me to goe to his owne Chamber being neere at hand and then began to discourse of the present sufferings and afflictions of that Kingdome and particularly in Religion and how they were to expect no redresse the Parliament in England intending and the Scots resolving never to lay downe Armes untill the Catholick Religion was suppressed then he likewise began to lay downe what danger it would be to suffer so many able men as were to goe with them to depart the Kingdome in such a time neither saith he doth these other Gentlemen that are Collonells and my selfe affect our owne private profit so as to preferre it before the generall good of the Kingdome and knowing that you are well affected thereunto and I hope said he ready to put your helping hand to it on occasion I will let you know the resolution of those other Gentlemen and mine which is we are ready to raise our men and after to seize on the Castle where there is great store of Armes and arme our selves there this was the first motion that I ever heard of taking the Castle for it never came into our thoughts formerly nor am I perswaded never would if it had not proceeded from those Collonells who were the first mentioners and contrivers thereof for ought knowne to me and then be ready to prevent and resist any danger if the Gentry of the Kingdome like thereof and helpe us for we of our selves neither are able nor will doe any thing therein without their assistance I began according to the directions that were sent with me to approve of the Resolution also to let him know how sure he might be of the assistance of those of Vlster then he told me that for my more satisfaction I should conferre with the rest of those Collonells themselves as many as were privy to that action and accordingly a place of meeting was appointed that afternoone and at the time and place appointed I met Sir James himselfe Collonell Barne and Collonell Plunket and that former discourse being renewed they began to lay downe the obstacles to that enterprize and how they should be redressed First if there should war ensue how there should be money had to pay the souldiers Secondly how and where they should procure succour for forraigne parts Thirdly how to draw in the Pale Gentry Lastly who should undertake to surprize the Castle and how it should be done To the first it was answered that the Rents in the Kingdome every where not having respect whose they should be due to the Lords and Gentry thereof should be collected to pay the souldiers and moreover they might be sure my that there was no doubt to be made thereof to procure money from the Pope who gave severall promises formerly to my Lord of Tyrone in case he could make way to come into Ireland to maintaine six thousand men yeerely at his owne charge and that notwithstanding that my Lord of Tyrone was dead yet that he would continue the same forwardnes now To the second it was answered by Collonell Birne that helpe from abroad could not faile them for said he Collonell O Neale told me that he had or would procure in a readines I doe not remember which of those the Colonells spoke or whether he spoke positive that Collonell O Neale had the Armes or would procure them Armes for ten thousand men And moreover said he I make no great question that if we send into Spayne we shall not misse of aid for I being in London the last yeare in the Scots troubles I was in conference with one of the Spanish Ambassadours there then and talking of those troubles then a foote he said that if the Irish did then rise so and send into Spayne their Messengers would be received under Canopies of gold these last words he told me and some one man that was present privately whose name I cannot call to mind neither well I remember whether he spake to them all or no then it was thought that when they were once in Arms for the defence of the Catholique cause they would be succoured by the Catholique Princes in Christendome To the third it was answered by Collonell Plunket that he was as morrally certaine for those were his words as he could be of any thing that the Pale Gentry would joyne with and assist them for said he I have spoke to severall of them since my landing in the Kingdome and I finde them very ready and willing withall I have at London spoke to some of the Committees and particularly to my Lord of Gormonstone to let them know this Resolution and they approved of it very well and with all they knew of the former consultations by those Gentry told me by Barnewall All this was not done at the first meeting but at three or foure meetings and so at the last meeting it was resolved to the last doubt touching seizing the Castle That Collonell Plunket and Collonell Birne should undertake that taske and they were named that first should succour them that should take the Castle with men presently namely Sir James Dillon who did undertake to be with them within three or at the most foure dayes with one thousand men and so many more should come to them out of the North for those two Collonells did not intend to use above one hundred men in the surprizall whereof they were to have twenty good able Gentlemen for they made account that having the Castle they with the Artillery would Master the Towne untill they were releived from the Countrey and then there was a set day appointed for the execution thereof that was the first of the ensuing October this being the latter end of August or the begining of September Anno 1641. I doe not know whither and every one should make provision to rise that day and also seize on all the forts garrisons and other places where they think any Armes should be and in particular London-Derry which