for that purpose was commanded from that employment and trust to serve His Majesty in this most unnaturall War against His loyall and best-affected people That the Parliament having made great provision of clothes for the poor Souldiers in Ireland for their present succour and sending six hundred suits part thereof towards Chester the last week the man that undertook the carriage of them one William Whitaker by name was assaulted by His Majesties Cavaliers then lying about Coventry who took away these six hundred suits of clothes and the Waggon and horses of the poor man although they were told that the six hundred suits of clothes were for the Souldiers in Ireland and notwithstanding the poor Carryer was five times with the Earl of Northampton to beg a release of his Waggon That three hundred suits of clothes with a Chirurgions Chest of Medicaments being likewise sent for Ireland by one Richard Owefield who was employed by the Parliament to carry them to Chester a Troop of His Majesties Cavaliers under command of one Captain Middleton met with them upon the Road and took away the clothes and Chirurgeons Chest together with the poor Carryers horses and Waggon for His Majesties pretended service here That a great number of Draught-horses prepared by the Parliament for the Artillery and Baggage of the Irish Army were sent to Chester for that purpose and being there attending a Passage are now required by His Majesty for His said present service in England That His Majesties Forces are so Quartered in and about the common Roads to Ireland that neither Money Clothes Victualls or other Provision can passe thither by Land with any safety That Captain Kettleby the Admirall and Sir Henry Stradling the Vice-Admirall of the Ships which were directed to lie upon the Coast of Ireland to annoy the Rebells and to prevent the bringing to them Ammunition and relief from forraign Parts are both called away from that employment by His Majesties Command and by reason of their departure from the Coast of Munster to which they were designed the Rebells there have received Powder Ammunition and other relief from forraign parts by which and many other particulars too long to relate it may seem as if those barbarous Irish Rebells are kept on foot and countenanced there of designe to assist the Northern Cavaliers and according to the Earl of Strafords unheard of advice to have an Army in Ireland with which His Majesty may reduce this Kingdom especially considering those confident Rebells have presumed very lately to send a Petition to His Majesty intituling themselves His Majesties Catholike Subjects of Ireland and complaining of the Puritane Parliament of England and desiring That since His Majesty comes not thither according to their expectation that they may come into England to His Majesty Which Petition we may justly fear is but a Prologue to that Tragedie they have designed to act here in case their coming over be not prevented by the care and vigilancy of the Parliament and good people of England But lest the House of Commons might seem to excuse the making of this Order by a way of Recrimination They for satisfaction to the world do protest before Almighty God the searcher of all hearts That they have as great compassion and sorrow for the present sufferings of their distressed brethren in Ireland as if themselves were in their case into which they are confident those horrid Traitours those monsters of men about His Majestie do labour to bring this Kingdom That they have and shall ever really endeavour by all means possible with a due regard to the present estate of this Kingdom to supply and support them in this their great affliction notwithstanding the malice and obstructions of all opposers That the House of Commons lively apprehending the imminent danger of this Kingdom and finding that whilest they were active here to subdue the Rebels of Ireland there were Papists Traytors and Delinquents more active in the North to conquer and destroy the Parliament and good people of England Thought it necessary to provide for the safety of both by preparing a competent Army for the defence of King and Kingdom And although multitudes of well-affected persons had cheerfully brought in great store of Plate for that purpose yet in regard the Plate could not be coyned with such expedition as the Importance of the Service did require and well knowing that One hundred thousand pounds might for a short time be borrowed out of the Adventurers Money for Ireland without any prejudice to the Affairs of that Kingdom whose subsistence depends upon the well-fare of this and resolving to make a reall and speedy re-payment of what Money should be so borrowed did make this Order which that it may appear to all the world to be neither mischievous illegall nor unjust as His Majestie by the instigation of those Malignant whisperers is pleased to tearm it the House of Commons thought fit to recite it in haec verba and in stead of retracting the Order to re-pay the Money with all possible speed The 30 of July 1642. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament That the Treasurers appointed to receive the Monies come in upon the Subscriptions for Ireland do forthwith furnish by way of Loan unto the Committee of the Lords and Commons for the defence of the Kingdom the sum of One hundred thousand pounds for the supply of the publike necessitie for the defence of the King Parliament and Kingdom upon the publike Faith to be re-paid duely and carefully within so short a time that it shall not be diverted from the purpose for which it was intended or any way frustrate the Acts already made in the behalf of that Adventure BY which Order and that which hath been here truely set down it will easily appear to all the indifferent people of His Majesties three Kingdoms whether the King and His Cavaliers or the King and His Parliament do most affect and endeavour the setling of true Religion and a firm and constant Peace within that bleeding and distressed Kingdom The examination of Collonell Audley Mervin given in the fifth day of Iuly 1643. unto a select Committee of the House of Commons and attested under his hand THis Examinate saith that about the 27 of October 1641. Rory Maguire brother to the Lord Maguire came unto Castle Trelick in the County of Tyrone being this Examinates then house who amongst other discourse told this Examinate that it was resolved amongst themselves to imploy him into England to represent unto his Majestie upon what grounds they had taken up Armes and what desires being granted they would lay them downe the reasons Rory Maguire acquainted this examinate withall for the present were that the Parliament in England was fully bent to the extirpation of the Catholique Religion as was apparent in the execution of some of their priests and that they invaded the Kings prerogative in which their greatest security reposed To the
first I answered him the power of the Parliament in England extended only to that Kingdome their statutes obliged not us untill confirmed it being found agreable to the constitution of this Kingdome by our owne Parliament As to the second we were no competent Iudges of the Parliaments proceedings and it were seasonable enough to vindicate the Kings prerogative when his Majestie had declared it wounded and had commanded his assistance and desired further to know in what high poynt those poore protestant soules already murthered had offended his Majesties prerogative Hee replied that when he came next with the heads of their Remonstrance unto mee hee would satisfie mee in every scruple Upon his departure this examinate called him aside advising him in respect the said Rory Maguire had married his sister and by her got 900 pounds per annum inheritance that hee would desist from further prosecuting so barbarous and treasonable a designe and that it were feizable to procure his pardon if he would bestow his endeavours in appeasing this Rebellion but howsoever hee assuming at the present the power to send Proclamations into the Countrey except he would represse the fury of the fire and sword and such other acts of hostility by publique notice given to the Countrey that I durst not addresse my self unto his Majestie since the subject I feared would receive but a cold welcome at the best but especially when it should be dyed in so much innocent bloud which he accordingly did and this examinate gave notice to the Protestants about him to dispose of themselves towards Derrey and that hee would adventure himself the last man and so by the blessing of God many were saved and this examinate his wife two sisters and his children escaped in the night saving nothing but their lives such as remayned being deluded by the Rebells promises and wedded to their owne habitations were massacred This examinate further saith that amongst other dehortatorie reasons used to Rory Maguire hee alleadged that admit the Papists could for the present roote the Protestants out yet they nor their posterity could never enjoy a peaceable setlement whilst England or Scotland survived To this hee replyed that the Catholique Princes would assist them viz. France Spaine I answered if it were so they would be well paid for their paynes and that it were better to rest with their peaceable government in their hand then to dreame after a fained and uncertaine priviledge in the bush and that I could assure him those Princes were in a condition of borrowing supplies not lending any This examinate remembers well his Reply viz. Come come brother deceive not your self in being too wise all Ireland is at this instant in our hands I will shew you all the places of strength to what persons their suprisall was assigned this great undertaking was never the Act of one or two giddy fellowes wee have our party in England wee have our party in Scotland that shall keepe them busie for sending you any ayd I assure you t is well if they can save themselves and before you can get thither you will finde them if they be not already as deepe in bloud as our selves He further added if you will resolve to goe I will come within three or foure dayes and then you shall know all if you will not I will convoy you and yours safe to the next port and see you imbarqued Provided you sweare never to come over to fight against us But I fearing this was to sound me and that so many lives depended upon my demeasner I replyed bring your heads the sooner the better but unwilling to trust to any further curtesies escaped before his returne He told me this plot had beene of ancient date and many times discontinued but it had beene lively revived and prosecuted from Candlemas last past before the Rebellion both in England and Scotland All which I have heard from many more of very considerable quality Audley Mervin William Stewart Esquire examined Iuly 8. 1643. by a select Committee of the House of Commons saith THat he being a Prisoner six Moneths among the Rebels in Vlster from the middest of November 1641. he heard Tyrlagh ô Neale and Roger ô More and the principall men in Vlster say that Religion the lands escheated and the Kings Prerogative were the prime causes of their rising in Armes that they knew well the best of England would side with them that they had good warrant in black and white for what they did that when he objected the power of England and Scotland would bee brought against them they replyed that there was little feare of that For the troubles of England were but then in beginning and would not end in hast That he should see the King ere long in Ireland VVilliam Stewart Henry Stewart Gentleman Examined 8 Iuly 1643. before a select Committee of the House of Commons saith THat at Michaelmas 1642. at the surrender up of the Castle of Dungannon to the Rebells Sir Philemon ô Neale was desirous to know of this Examinate what forces General Lesley had with him and what authority hee had whether from King or Parliament or both he told Sir Philemon from both which he would not beleeve but said That ere long the troubles of England would call Lesley away to assist them and that he did not beleeve he had the Kings Commission but hee hoped ere long to kisse the Kings hand before those that were his greatest enemies Henry Stewart 10 November 1641. A Copie of a Letter directed to the Lord Viceco Costiloe from the Rebells of the Countie of Longford in Ireland which he presented to the State in their behalfe Our very good Lord OUr alliance unto your Lordships Ancestors and your selfe and the tryall of your and their performance of trust unto their friends in their greatest adversitie encourageth us and engageth your honour to our fruition of your future favours the fixion of our confidence in you before any other of the Peeres and Privie Counsellers of the Kingdome doubleth this obligation Your Lordship may be therefore pleased to acquaint the Lords Justices and Councell to bee imparted unto his Sacred Majestie with our grievances and the causes thereof the redresse which we most humbly pray and the manner of it First the Papists in neighbouring Countries are severely punished and their miserie might serve for Beacons unto us to looke unto our owne when our neighbours houses are afire and wee and other Papists are and ever will be as loyall subjects as any in the King his Dominions for manifestation whereof we send herein enclosed an oath solemnly taken by us which as it received indeleble impression in our hearts shall be signed with our hands and sealed with our blood Secondly there is an incapacitie in the Papists of honour Offices and the immunities of true subjects the royall markes of distributive Justice and a disfavour in the commutative which raised strangers and forrainers whose valour and
A DECLARATION Of the Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT Concerning the Rise and Progresse of The Grand Rebellion IN IRELAND TOGETHER VVith a multitude of Examinations of Persons of quality whereby it may easily appear to all the World who were and still are the Promoters of that cruell and unheard of REBELLION With some Letters and Papers of great consequence of the Earl of Antrims which were intercepted Also some Letters of MART which were granted by the Lord Mohun Sir Ralph Hopton c. And likewise another from the Rebells in Ireland who term themselves The SUPREME COUNCEL for the Catholique-Cause ORdered by the Commons in Parl. That this Declaration Examinations and Letters be forthwith printed and published H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. London Printed for Edw. Husbands and are to be sold in the Middle-Temple Iuly 1643. Die Martis 25 Julii 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons That the Ministers of every Parish within the Kingdom shall read this Declaration in their severall Churches and Chappels on the next Fast day the same shall come to their hands after the ending of the first Sermon and before the beginning of the next H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. A Declaration of the Commons assembled in Parliament c. THe COMMONS in Parliament do observe that the grand Designe of altering Religion throughout His Majesties Dominions had a more speciall influence in Ireland as being more remote from view and more propence to receive such impression and therefore they think fit to call to minde as introductive to that which follows some particular footsteps by which Popery hath been advanced and true Religion discountenanced in that Kingdom since the accesse of His Majestie to the Crown of England In the second yeer of His Majesties Raign certain Propositions were set on foot in Ireland the scope whereof was to fautour and indulge Popery in that Kingdom as namely to suspend all proceedings against the Papists for being marryed or for procuring their children to be christned by popish Priests to allow the suing out of Liveries Outre Les-mains by the Papists without taking the Oath of Supremacie with many like Priviledges to the Papists The Designe being to bring in a more publique Tolleration of the popish Religion in that Kingdom for a sum of Money to be paid to His Majestie for the same These Propositions and Designe were so grosse and scandalous that even the then Bishops of Ireland by a writing under their hands bearing date the 26 of November 1626. did make a Protestation setting forth how grievous a sin it was to consent to such Tolleration of Popery and that to grant it in respect of any Money to be given were to set Religion to sale and withall the souls of the people whom Christ hath redeemed with his precious blood And that as it was a great sin so they did conceive it of most dangerous consequence as by the said Protestation herewith printed may appear And although the House of Commons in their Remonstrance made in the third Yeer of His Majesties Raigne did truely informe See Folio 24. that even then the Popish Religion was openly profest in every part of that Kingdome that Monasteries and Nunneries were then newly erected and replenished with men and women of severall Orders that this might prove of evill consequence if not seasonably repressed therefore most humbly besought His Majesty to lay the serious consideration thereof to His Royall and pious heart and that some speedy course might be taken for redresse therein Yet how this faithfull and timely advice of the Bishops of Ireland and the Commons of England was followed and what speedy course was taken for redresse therein will appeare by this which insues For IN the beginning of the Fourth yeer of His Majesties Raigne upon the agreement of certain Agents sent from Ireland to His Majestie all or most part of them being professed Papists these Propositions and Graces with many like Additions were granted and confirmed by His Majestie in consideration of One hundred and twenty thousand pounds to be levyed in three yeers upon the Kingdom in generall as well upon the Protestants as upon the Papists How great an encouragement to the Papists this was and what an insufferable pressure to the Protestants that besides the illegall imposing it upon them without their consent in Parliament they must be compelled to purchase with their money Tollerations and Immunities for the Papists let even those men judge who will be stiled the moderate and honest Protestants whiles with all their faculties of body and minde they strive to advance Popery and to root up the Protestant Religion and the Liberty of the Subject Many potent and notorious Papists have been created Peers by His Majestie whereby the Votes of the Popish party in the Lords House too many before are much encreased and those Papists become more powerfull and more exemplary in their respective countries to the great encouragement and growth of Popery and discouragement to the good people of that Kingdom That when by direction of the Lord Chancellor Loftus and the Earl of Cork then Lords Justices proceedings were begun against the Papists upon the Statute of 2 Eliz. for not coming to Church and the Iudges in their circuits gave that Statute in charge and Indictments were framed thereupon directions were sent from England to suspend and stay all proceedings upon that Statute when by taking the penalty imposed by that Statute being Nine pence for absenting from Church Sundayes and Holy-dayes the poor Protestants there might have been eased of many heavie payments and Taxes which were after imposed upon them and the Papists either brought to conformity or else kept so under that this Rebellion if not wholly prevented yet could not have proved so Universall and so bloody as now it is That the late Earl of Strafford being the Kings Lieutenant there did by his great Favorite Sir George Ratcliff one of His Majesties Privie-Couneell of that Kingdom hold correspondencie with the Popish Clergie and particularly with Paul Harris a known Priest who had both publique and private accesse to Sir George Ratcliff at all times as well by night as by day That in March 1639. the Earl of Strafford carryed with him into Ireland Sir Toby Matthews a notorious pernicious English Iesuited Priest banished at the beginning of this Parliament upon the importunity of both Houses lodged this Priest over against the Castle of Dublin the house where the Earl did himself reside and from whence this Priest daily rode to the publique Masse-houses in Dublin and negotiated the engaging of the Papists of Ireland in the war against Scotland When the late Lo Chanc Loftus and the E. of Cork were Lords Iustices they endeavoured to suppresse the Masse-houses in Dublin and to convert them to pious uses one which was in the street called the Back-lane they disposed of to the University of Dublin who placed a Rector and Schollars in it
and maintained a weekly Lecture there to which Lecture the Lords Iustices and State of Ireland did usually resort to the great countenancing of the Protestant Religion there But after the Earl of Strafford came to the Government the Lecture was put down the Schollars displaced and the house became a Masse-house as formerly it had been That divers Monasteries and Nunneries were newly erected immediately before the Rebellion brake forth in divers parts of that Kingdom That at the Naas where the Earl of Strafford had his chief seat and resort Convents of Friars namely Augustines Franciscans Dominicans were not onely permitted but also an house built there by the said Earl for an other purpose as he pretended soon after the building was converted to a Friery by the connivence of the said Earl That the Popish Irish Army was kept on foot there for a long time after the beginning of this Parliament contrary to the advice and frequent desires of both Houses of Parliament and to the great furtherance of this Rebellion by teaching those barbarous villains the knowledge of Arms under the notion of fighting against Scotland but now made use of to extirpate both English and Scots from the Kingdom of Ireland And that Lead might not be wanting to the compleating of this intended Rebellion as it had bin in the last great Rebellion there to the great disadvantage of the then Rebells the Silver Mines of that Kingdom which do afford great store of Lead and therefore fit onely to be in the hands of Protestants of known integrity were farmed out by His Majestie to most pernicious Papists namely Sir George Hamilton Sir Basil Brook the like and upon the discovery of the Plot for the surprising of the City and Castle of Dublin divers barrels of Musquet-bullet were found upon search in the house of the said Sir George Hamilton in Dublin Before this Rebellion brake forth the Earl of Strafford well knowing the ready way to endear his Prince was to promote his profit had by a violent endeavour entitled His Majestie by Office to the whole counties of Roscommon Mayo Slego Galloway and Clare and to a great part of the counties of Limerick and Tipperary by which means a door was opened not onely to increase His Majesties revenue in a very great proportion but therewith to settle a Plantation of English Protestants to the advancement of Religion and safety of that Kingdom And however the proceedings of the Earl herein were not to be justified in all points yet when the Committee was sent from Ireland at the beginning of this Parliament to complain of divers grievances they had no particular directions to mention this for one neither did that Committee ever attend His Majestie to complain thereof or desire a red resse therein conceiving the mentioning thereof wouldexceedingly distaste His Majestie untill His Majestie freely offered to depart with His Title to the former proprietors But on the contrary the Lords Iustices and Councell of Ireland apprehending the great advantage of this service did by their Letters exceedingly importune His Majestie that he would not part with His Title to those counties and lands and that the Plantation of English Protestants might proceed as was formerly intended But when those mischievous Councells now onely prevalent with His Majestie found that the Parliament had both discovered and interrupted them in some measure and that their Designe could be no longer carryed on by fraud and subtilties as before and had therefore projected this hideous Rebellion then the Lord Gormanstown Sir Donnaugh Mac Carthy Knight now Lord Viscount Muskerry Nicholas Plunket Uncle to the Earl of Fingal Sir Roe-buck Lynch and Jeffery Brown a Lawyer all principall and active Rebels now in Ireland and Thomas Bourke who was named a Commssioner in the late Commission to Treat with the Rebels and whose father brothers and kindred are all now in Rebellion being the chief of the Popish part of that Irish Committee were consulted and caressed at Whitehall and they or some of them without the privity of the rest of that Committee had divers private conferrences with the King in the Queens presence and what Clandestine agreement was made with those Rebels may easily be imagined when upon their private mediation His Majesty was induced to give away these five whole Counties with a great part of the Counties of Limerick and Tipperary after so great an endeavour had bin used for divers yeers together to entitle His Majesty to the same and all this for a rent of 2000. l. or thereabouts when as in finding the Offices searching Records and admeasuring these Counties and Lands the King had expended out of His Own Coffers ten thousand pounds and upwards And this service of entitling the King was before that time esteemed such a Master-piece of the said Earle that some persons who came over to complaine against the Earle for the same were imprisoned here and after sent into Ireland to be further dealt with as the said Earle should think fit Neither is it improper to observe upon this occasion the extream difference between this Superlative Indulgence to the Irish Papists by this unusuall bounty and that exquisite piece of injustice offered to the City of London in the case of London Derry and Collerane which shews the Land of Ireland is worth the owning where no greater compensation is proposed for the parting therewith And His Majesty was drawn to tell the Committee for Ireland that now since he was content to part with so much of His Right He expected they would recompence Him some other way Immediately after namely in August before the Rebellion they returned into Ireland where how they bestir'd themselves by seconding their Letters and Messages with their personall sollicitations did appear by the Sequele for that the 23. of October following this Rebellion brake forth in Vlster To these violent presumptions may be added that which is expresly proved by Archdeacon Maxwell a Learned Divine who testifies in his Examinations taken in Ireland that he heard Tirlagh Oge O Neile brother to Sir Phelim O Neale the arch Rebell of Vlster confesse That this businesse meaning the Rebellion was communicated by the Popish Irish Committee to the Papists in England who promised their assistance and that by their advice something formerly resolved on were altered saying it was a good omen and undoubted signe of divine approbation that the Parliament of Ireland should send over a Committee into England the major part whereof were Papists And Mac Mahoun who was to joyn with the Lord MacGuire for the surprizing the Castle of Dublin being taken and examined at the Racke confessed that the originall of that Rebellion was brought to them out of England by the Irish Committee imployed to His Majesty for redresse of Grievances as by the Examination See Fol. 2 of James Piesly Gentleman herewith Printed may appeare And as these Irish Papists did negotiate in both Kingdomes so the Earl of Castlehaven a
Peer of this Realm that sate here in Parliament at the beginning thereof but now a notorious Rebell in Ireland Mr. Porter son to Endimion Porter who declared himselfe a Papist in Ireland Sir Bazill Brooke the Popish Treasurer for the moneys raised by the Queens sollicitation for the War against the Scots Mr. Andrew Brown a Lawyer of Lincolns-Inne heretofore expelled thence for being a knowne Papist with divers other dangerous English Papists went out of England into Ireland the Summer before the Rebellion brake forth and were very active there If these Circumstances preceding the Rebellion and divers other of the like nature be not enough of themselves to open the eyes of the world It hath pleased God to discover such subsequent evidence of this kind that may serve to convince the greatest unbeliever Therefore not repeating any of the proofs set forth in that Answer to His Majesties Message of the 13th of August 1642. but referring to the same herewith printed to which no Reply hath yet been made they think fit to adde to that evidence this which followes namely the generall profession of the Rebells in all parts of that Kingdome that the cause of their rising was to preserve His Majesty and the Queen from being opprest by the Puritan-Parliament and that it was by their consent That they knew well the best in England would Colonell Mervin's Examination See Folio 33. William Stuart Esq's Examination See Folio 36. Hen Steuart's Examination See Fol. 37. side with them that they had good Warrant in black and white for what they did Their calling the English Army Parliament-Rogues and Traitors to the Queen and telling them at the beginning of the Rebellion before any appearance of War here that ere long they should see England as much in blood as Ireland then was That they had their party in England and Scotland which should keep both Kingdomes so busie at home that they should not send any ayd against them with a multitude of such like expressions from the Irish of the best quality and degree as may appear by the Examinations of Colonell Audley Mervin William Steuart Esquire William-Steuart Cent ' herewith printed and by divers other proofs And although these expressions proceed from Rebels yet concurring with a multitude of other proofs and found true in a great part by sad experience are not inconsiderable In the same Moneth of October wherein the Rebellion of Ireland brake forth the Lord Dillon of Costelough an Irish Peer now in armes against the Parliament and Kingdom of England went out of Scotland from His Majesty into Ireland bringing His Majesties Letters which he obtained by mediation of the Queeen to be presently sworne a Privie-Councellor of Ireland who when he had taken the Oath of a Privie Councellor endeavours to be usefull to the Rebells presents to the Lords Justices and Councell from many of the Centry and Inhabitants of the County of Longford all in Rebellion a rebellious and scandalous Letter in the nature of a Remonstrance full of pretended grievances and unreasonable demands As namely to have freedom of Religion a repeall of all Laws made to the contrary and the like as by the said Letter herewith printed may appeare In December after the Rebellion the same Lord Dillon together with his brother in Law the now Lord Taaffe a notorious Papist repaired into England bringing with them severall Papers and Instructions in writing from the Lord Gormanston and other Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale all now in Rebellion to negotiate for them to His Majesty and as they sollicite with His Majesty here on the behalf of the Rebels so doe they sollicite the Rebels from hence in the Name of His Majesty to persist in their wicked Rebellion as appears by the Testimony of Mr. Jephson a Member of the House of Commons lately delivered at a Conference before both Houses in these words viz. AT my late being at Oxford finding the Lord Dillon and the Lord Taaffe in favour at Court I acquainted the Lord Faulkland His Majesties Secretary that there were two Lords about the King who to His Majesties great dishonour and the great discouragement of His good Subjects did make use of His Majesties Name to incourage the Rebells to make this appeare I informed that I had seen two Letters sent by the Lord Dillon and the Lord Taaffe to the Lord of Muskerie the chief man in Rebellion in Munster and one of the Irish Committee sent into England intimating that though it did not stand with the conveniency of His Maiesties Affaires to give him publique countenance yet that his Majesty was well pleased with what he did and would in time give him thankes for it or neer to that purpose That these Letters were seen by the Lord Inchiquine the chief Commander of the English Forces in Mounster and by his Secretary who had kept Copies of them and that I was ready to justifie as much Whereupon the Lo Faulkland was pleased to say that they deserved to be hanged But though I stayed there at Oxford about a week after this discovery made I never was called to any farther accompt nor any prejudice done to these two Lords but they had the same freedome in Court as before for ought I could observe or hear to the contrary Thus far in Mr. Jephsons owne language a man of knowne honour and integrity That since this discovery made to the Lord Faulkland by Mr. Jephson the same Lord Taaffe one Roche and William Brent a Lawyer active Papists with Letters from His Majesty went from Oxford to Dublin And upon Thursday before Whitsuntide 1643. in the Evening taking with them one Colonell Barry a protest Papist and pretending for Connaught slipt away to Kilkenny where the Tuesday following was a generall assembly of all the chief Rebels When they had done their Errand Barry was left Lieger at KILKENNY among the Rebels the Lord Taaffe returned to DUBLIN and upon Friday the 9. of June 1643. the Lord Taaffe with divers of the Privie-Councell of Ireland that favour the Rebels met at the Marquesse of Ormond's house where the Propositions which the Lord Taaffe brought from the Rebels were debated The Lord Taaffe is since gone into Cannaught Brent is come back to Oxford to give an accompt of this imployment By this which hath bin thus truely related every man may construe what was meant by His Majesties not consenting that the Parliament should send a Cōmittee into Ireland the last yeer to endeavour the carrying on the War against the Rebels upon pretence that the Earl of Liecester was presently to go over thither who is yet remaining at Oxford That when that Committee had prevailed with the Lords-Iustices and Councell and with many of the prime Commanders and other Officers of the Army in Leinster to subscribe by way of Adventure for Land in Ireland to be setled by a new Bill very considerable sums which were to be deducted out of their respective entertainments
and were in a fair and hopefull way to induce most of the Officers of that Kingdome to do the like which would have been a principall meanes under God to have quickned the mannaging of that Warr when the Officers that must do the worke should have bin engaged in interest as well as honour to prosecute the same with vigour and effect and would have lessened the insupportable charge of that War and in all probability would have encouraged the Adventurers in London and elsewhere to have proceeded cheerfully to a second Subscription Then to render this endeavour fruitlesse one Captain Yarner did confidently affirm that those which had or should subscribe were enemies to the King a thing so incredible that few could believe it till the same man went to Oxford and upon his returne to Dublin assured the Lord Marquesse of Ormond and the Officers that he had discoursed with His Majesty about this way of Subscription and that His Majesty did not approve of the same Whereupon those who had subscribed did withdraw their hands and the rest were wholly discouraged finding His Majesty to dislike of that way which he had formerly approved of by His Assent to the Propositions presented to Him at Dover and by His Royall Assent to foure Acts of Parliament all made in pursuance of these Propositions That about this time a Commission was sent over to meet with the Rebells and to hear what they could say or propound for themselves which Commission was directed to the Lord Marquesse Ormond the Commander in chief of the English Armies there whose duty was to fight and not to treat with the Rebells and to some other Commissioners among whom the said Thomas Bourk that had an hand in contriving this Rebellion was one and who brought the said Commission into Ireland and confidently delivered the same at the Councell Table to the amazement of all the Councell then present that were not acquainted with the Plot. And whereas by an Act of Parliament it is provided That all the Monies paid in upon that Act shall be imployed for the speedy and effectuall subduing of the said Rebels by sending over into the said Realm of Ireland and disposing there such forces of foot horse Monies Ammunition Victuall and all other things necessary for a war in such manner as the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall from time to time direct And whereas the Lords and Commons finding that from the Battell of Kilrush which was fought in April 1642. till October following the Army in Leinster had not been so active as was expected and therefore to quicken the War to inform themselves of the wants and defects of the Army and of all other things that might enable them the better To send thither and dispose of there according to that Statute such Forces Monies Ammunition and Necessaries as were requisite for that service thought it very expedient to send into Ireland a Committee for that purpose Members of the House of Commons but authorised from both Houses who carrying with them above Twenty thousand pounds in ready Money besides great store of Powder Match and other Ammunition and hazarding their lives in the Winter season meerly for the good of that Kingdom might justly have expected a cordiall welcome there But when those that now appear too evidently to favour the Rebels saw that during the abode of the Committee there Parties were continually sent forth to destroy the Enemy That the Committee engaged their own particular credits to take up Monies for the relief and setting forth of the Army That the Commission sent over to treat with the Rebels was not like to have so good successe as was wished by them so long as the Committee were present at the Councell-Table where all the proceedings against the Rebells were promoted and concluded A Letter was sent from His Majesty to the Lords Iustices and Councell to this effect that His Majestie took notice that without His consent or privity they had admitted of one Master Robert Goodwyn and one Master Reynolds to be present at their debates who thereupon were become so bold as to Vote with them a thing of such presumption as none of their predecessors would have done or suffered And therefore His Majesty did require the Lords Iustices and Councell not to admit them any more That He knew of no businesse those men had in His Kingdom of Ireland but if they had any they should make their addresses like other of His Subjects and did upon their Allegiance charge the Lords Iustices and Councell to take care that those persons did not sow Sedition among His good Subjects And 't is observable that this Letter like that which accompanyed the Commission to treat with the Rebells was only signed with His Majesties hand without any Secretaries hand to avow the same That it was brought over by the Marquesse of Ormond his own Secretary who was sent very secretly to Oxford a little before That although both Houses before the sending over of their Committee had acquainted His Majesty therewith by Letter and sent him a Copy of the Instructions which they had given to their Committees to which Letter and Instructions an Answer was returned by Sir Edward Nicholas as from His Majesty acknowledging thereby that the Instructions were the same in effect which His Majesty had given to the Earle of Liecester Yet after all this His Majesty was pleased to say in that Letter that He knew of no businesse those men had in His Kingdom of Ireland And t is further observable that a Committee sent by the authority of both Houses of Parliament who had both the charge and mannaging of the War referred unto them to negotiate and consult with a State in distresse for their own good where every Privy-Councellor sate covered in Counsell there such a Committee so qualified should make their addresses like other of His Majesties Subjects That is to say should stand bare-headed at the back of the Councell day by day from morning to night and humbly beseech them to save the Kingdom of Ireland and consequently their own estates at the proper cost and charges of the Parliament and Kingdom of England who sent them thither Lastly the Commons cannot conceive what is meant that the Iustices and Councell are straightly charg'd in that Letter upon their Allegiance not to suffer the Committee to sow Sedition among His Majesties good Subjects unlesse to stir up and incite the English Souldiers in the pay of the Parliament to proceed vigorously against those bloody Irish Rebels be construed as a sowing of Sedition among His Majesties good Subjects for that the Irish Rebels should be now esteemed his Majesties good subjects is more then probable by that which followes Sir William Brereton Knight of the Shire for the County of Chester a man of honour and Religion by his Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons dated from Liverpoole in Lancashire the 7. of June 1643.
Agents employed in this horrid Plot And that it may cleerly appear to the whole world from whence all our miseries and calamities do proceed the same Lord of Aboyn by his Letter directed to the Earl of Antrim then with the Queen See the Letter of the 8 of May 1643. Fol. 54. bearing Date at Caerlisle the 8 of May 1643. and taken in the Earl of Antrim his pockets among the rest of the Letters and Papers writes in these words My Lord being certainly informed by Niddisdale's servant That there is a new Order since we parted for stopping of the Ammunition I have taken occasion to intreat your Lordship by this Bearer that I may know the particulars of it I must confesse it surprizeth me that any distance should alter so seasonable a conclusion and certainly I shall never deserve to be made the Instrument of frustrating the hopes of their parts which should have been enabled by this Supply I am perswaded there is scarce another mean to make our fidelity uselesse for Her Majesties Service And lastly desires the Earl of Antrim in that Letter to acquaint the Queen with these effects of his ingenuity as by the said Letter herewith likewise Printed may appear And that it might appear to the Rebels of Ireland that the Earl of Antrim was accounted His Majesties good Subject and had His Majesties approbation for what he was to act there he was furnished with a Passe from the Earl of Newcastle in these words WILLIAM Earl of Newcastle Governour of the Town and County of Newcastle and Generall of all His Majesties Forces raised in the Northern parts of this Kingdom for defence of the same To all Coloncls Lievtenant-Coloncls Serjeant Majors Captains and all other His Majesties loving Subjects of England and Ireland For as much as the Right Honourable the Earl of Antrim is to travell to Dublin in Ireland and other parts of that Kingdom These are therefore to desire and require you and every of you to whom this shall come to be seen to permit him and his servants quietly and peaceably to passe and repasse into those parts and back again without any molestation or interruption And further I do hereby require all Post-masters Constables and other Officers to furnish the said Earl and his servants with so many Post-horses as they shall have need of from place to place and stage to stage for all the said Journey See this Passe Fol. 55. he and they paying the usuall Rates for the sam And hereof you or any of you may not fail at your perill Given under mine Hand and Seal the 4 day of May 1643. Signed William Newcastle Neither can it be imagined that the Earl of Newcastle a Privy Councellor and a great Commander under His Majesty durst have adventured to have given such a Passe to so notorious a Rebell without expresse Warrant so to do which Passe together with the said Letters were found in the Earl of Antrim pockets and were sent by Major Generall Monroe into Scotland from whence authentique Copies are sent hither which are likewise herewith Printed together See the Declaration from Scotland of the 9 of Iune 1643. Fol. 56. with a Declaration of the Lords of His Majesties Privie Councell in Scotland and Commissioners for conserving the Articles of the Treaty dated at Edingburgh the 9 of June 1643 concerning the apprehending and employment of the Earl of Antrim with their sense upon the same As also a Letter sent from Major Generall Monroe who took the said Earl of Antrim to the Committee appointed by the House of Commons for the affairs of Ireland bearing date at Carrick fergus the 23 See Generall Major Monroe his Letter Fol. 60. of May 1643 To which may be added the Earl of Antrim's own confession who was examined before Major Generall Monroe and a Counsell of War the 12. of June 1643. and in his examination confesses that he came into Ireland with the Lord of Newcastles Passe and with private Instructions for making of Peace and Master Steuart another servant of the said Earl of Antrim and taken with him being likewise examined the said 12. of June 1643. before the said Generall Monroc and Councell of War and threatned with torture except he would declare by whose Warrant and direction the said Earl of Antrim had undertaken that imployment saith That as the Ammunition and Arms was to be furnished by the Queens Order and Command So that he doubts not but the Earl of Antrims imployment and others was directed by her Majestie But yet to come neerer home The House of Commons among a numerous company of Proofs of this kinde too many to be all related shall conclude with the testimony of John Dod late Minister of Gods Word at Annegilliffe in the County of Cavan in the Province of Vlster in Ireland who was examined at the Bar of the House of Commons and after before a select Committee of the said House and testifieth that after he had suffered many miseries in this Rebellion of Ireland he repaired into this Kingdom and some occasions carrying him to Oxford he stayed there seven weeks and came out of Oxford the 13 of June 1643. That during his stay there he saw a great number of Irish Rebells whom he very well knew to have had an hand in the most barbarous actions of that Rebellion as the dashing of small Infants in pieces the ripping up of women with childe and the like among whom was one Thomas Bradye who at Turbet in Ireland within 7 miles where the said Dod lived as 36 old men women and children not able to flee were passing over a Bridge caused them all to be thrown into the water where they were all drowned that this Brady is now at Oxford in great favour and Serjeant Major to Colonell Piercie his Regiment that he saw there 3 Franciscan Friers namely Bryan ô Gormuly Anthony mac Geochagan and Thomus Nugent and 3 Jesuites namely Lawrence Sutton Philip Roch and Edmund ô Rely who were all very earnest for the Cause and daily encouraging the Souldiers to sight against the Round-heads and for that purpose have listed themselves in the Lord Dillons Troop as was affirmed by divers they go very brave and are called Cornetts That there are daily and publique meetings at Masse in almost every street there and verily beleeves in his conscience that for one Sermon Preached there are 4 Masses said now at Oxford That he saw Sir John Dungan there a man accused of high Treason in Ireland for being in the Rebellion and fled into England who hath a Commission for a Troop of Horse The Lord Barnewall of Trimlestowne and his son who hath a Commission for a Troop of Horse and is now gone into Wales to raise them A son of the Lord Newterfield who hath gotten a Command likewise that as neer as he can possibly compute there was then at Oxford above 3000 Rebels and that most of the Kings Life-guard
are Irish by all which it may appear that the Irish Rebels are not onely esteemed His See the examination of Mr Dod. fol. 62. Majesties good Subjects but even the best of His Subjects when they are thus admitted so neer His Majesties own person Upon the whole matter no man can think that this Rebellion in Ireland so barbarous and bloody that one hundred and fifty four thousand Protestants men women and children English and Scotch were Massacred in that Kingdom between the 23 of October when the Rebellion brake forth and the first of March following by the computation of the Priests themselves that were present and principall Actors in all those Tragedies and were directed by some chief Rebells of Ireland to take this computation lest they should be reported to be more bloody then in truth there was cause all which appears by the examination of the said Arch-deacon Maxwell who lived as a Prisoner a long time with St Phelmi O Neils mother and was there when this Computation was brought in No man can beleeve that this horrid and unparareld Rebellion should be the undertaking of the Rebels alone being set on foot when a Parliament was sitting in England that could not dissolve without its own consent when all Nations professing the Romish Religion were at peace with England and so engaged at home that the Rebells in reason could not expect any considerable assistance from them nor could think themselves able to incounter England or Scotland either much lesse both together being so concerned and engaged by Religion and the common interest of both Kingdoms to suppresse by all means possible so insufferable an insurrection So that to imagine the Nobility Gentry and in a manner the whole Kingdom of Ireland who at that time enjoyed more freedom of Religion then they had done for many yeers before should thus desperately engage their lives and estates in so wicked so rash an enterprise without being encouraged incited nay commanded from England with an assurance both of connivence and assistance too were to deny them to be reasonable Creatures And therefore the House of Commons abundantly satisfied in their own consciences and judgements of the trueth hereof though with deep sorrow and amazement cannot but declare to the world That by all these concurring circumstances and convincing Proofs to which nothing can be added save a witnesse to confesse that he was present at the making of the bargain which no man will expect in a conspiracie of this horrid and high importance that this unheard of and monstrous Rebellion of Ireland was projected incited and assisted by those Councells now onely prevalent with His Majestie That the Queen with her Romish Priests the Papists of all His Majesties three Kingdoms have been principall Actours and Sticklers herein That now those bloody Rebels have in a manner rooted out the Protestant Religion in Ireland there is a Designe to pardon them and to bring them into England to do the like That no earthly power is likely in humane reason to withstand this damnable Plot but the power of the Parliament of England which is now declared by a late Proclamation to be no free Parliament to be null and of none effect and all possible endeavour used by strength and stratagem to destroy the same So that unlesse the Royall blood of King James and the innocent blood of the Protestants of Ireland do lie as a crying and stupendious guilt upon this Nation which God hath determined at this time to revenge and retalliate the House of Commons do conceive it impossible that so many of those which would be thought the honest and moderate English Protestants should any longer be blinded and led on to joyn with German French Wallon English Scotch and Irish Papists and thereby to surrender up at once The Protestant Religion The Parliament Liberties and Lawes of England into the hands of Papists and Strangers that so this Renowned Kingdom may be no more a Nation The Protestation of the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of Ireland against the toleration of Popery agreed upon and subscribed by them at Dublin November 26. 1626. THe Religion of the Papists is Superstitious and Idolatrous their Faith and Doctrine erroneous and Hereticall Their Church in respect of both Apostaticall To give them therefore a Toleration or to consent that they may freely exercise their Religion and confesse their Faith and Doctrine is a grievous sin and that in two respects First It is to make our selves accessary not onely to their Superstitions Idolatries Heresies and in a word to all the abominations of Popery but also which is a consequence of the former to the Perdition of the seduced people which perish in the deluge of their Catholique Apostasie Secondly To grant them a Toleration in respect of any Money to be given or contribution to be made by them is to set Religion to sale and withall the souls of the people whom Christ our Saviour hath redeemed with his most precious blood And as it is a great Sin so it is a matter of most dangerous consequence the consideration whereof we leave to the wise and judicious beseeching the jealous God of Trueth to make all those who are in Authority zealous of Gods glory and the advancement of true Religion and resolute and couragious against all Popery Superstition and Idolatry The Examination of James Peisley late of Dublin in the Kingdom of Ireland Saith THat about the moneth of March 1641. it was his fortune to be present when Mackmaghon one of the grand Rebels of Ireland was Wracked and his Examination taken by Sir Charles Coot senior in the presence of Sir Francis Willowby Sir Arthur Losters the Constable of the Castle and some others the said Mackmohon confessed that the Originall of that Rebellion was brought over to them by their Committee who were imployed by the Irish Parliament to His Majestie for redresse of their Grievances in that Kingdom and that they having often solicited His Majestie for that purpose was answered That he was willing to grant them their desire and that he did confesse they were His good Subjects but that He was so opprest by his Parliament in England that he knew not how to relieve them wishing he knew how to be revenged on them or words to that purpose which occasioned Sir Charles Coot to take him up calling him Rogue and Raskall for offering to lay such a charge upon the King whom he said would assist them in things honest and just but not give them Commission to cut our Throats This Narration was not incerted in the Examination read to Mackmaghon after Sr Charles Coot had finished it The Reason as this Examinate then conceived was That it being a matter of great consequence they would take some other time to examine that point more privately which whether they did or no this Examinae knows not A Declaration of the Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT In Answer to His Majesties Message of the 13 of
vertue was invisible when the old families of the English and the major part of us the meere Irish did swim in blood to serve the Crowne of England and when Offices should call for men of worth men without worth or merit obtained them Thirdly the Statute of 2 Eliz. of force in this Kingdome against us and others of our Religion doth not a little disanimate us and the rest Fourthly the avoydance of grants of our Lands and liberties by quirkes and quiddities of law without reflecting upon the King his Royall and reall intention for confirming our estates his broad Seale being the pawne betweene his Majestie and his people Fifthly the restraint of purchase in the meere Irish of lands in the escheated Counties and the taint and blemish of them and their posterities doth more discontent them then that Plantation rule for they are brought to that exigent of povertie in these late times that they must be sellers and not buyers of lands And we conceive and humbly offer to your Lordships consideration Principiis obsta that in the beginning of this Commotion your Lordship as it is hereditarie for you will be a Physitian to cure this disease in us and by our examples it will doubtlesse beget the like auspicious successe in all other parts of the Kingdome for we are of opinion it is one sicknesse and one Pharmack will suffice sublata causa tollitur effectus And it will be recorded that you will doe service unto God King and Countrie and for salving every the forementioned soares your Lordship to bee an humble suiter in our behalfe and of the rest of the Papists that out of the abundance of his Majesties Clemencie there may be an Act of oblivion and generall pardon without restitution or accompt of goods taken in the time of this Commotion a libertie of our Religion a repeale of all Statutes formerly made to the contrary and not by Proclamation but Parliamentary way A Charter of free Denizen in ample manner for the meere Irish which in all succeeding ages will prove an union in all his Majesties Dominions in stead of division a comfort for desolations and a happinesse in perpetuitie for an imminent calamitie and this being granted there will be all things quae sunt Caesaris Caesari and quae sunt Dei Deo And as it was by the Poet written though he be prophane in other matters yet in this Propheticall Divisum Imperium cum love Caesar habet All which for this present we leave to your Honourable care And we will as ever we did and doe remaine Decimo Novembr 1641. Your very humble and assured ever to be commanded Hugh mas Gillernow Farrall Iames Farrall Bryan Farrall Readagh Farrall Edmund mac Cahell Farrall John Farrall in Carbuy Garret Farrall Lisagh mac Conell Farrall Brian mac William Farrall Iohn mac Edmond Farral Iohn Farral Roger mac Bryne Farrall Barnaby Farrall Iames mac Teig Farr his marke Morgan mac Carbry Farral Donagh mac Carbry Farrall Richard mac Conel Farrall VVilliam mac Iames Farrall Iames Farrall Taghna mac Rory Farrall Cormack mac Rory Farrall Conock mac Bryne Farrall Readagh mac Lisagh Farrall Connor Oge mac Conor Farrall Edmond mac Connor Farrall Cahell mac Bryne Farrall To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons present these VVorthy Sir THese Lines are sent to give you this further accompt of our proceedings since my last from Stafford upon Thursday May 30. that God who delivered the Town of Namptwich from three attempts of our Enemies of Whitchurch did notwithstanding upon the first attempt made against Whitchurch deliverd the same into our hands and foure peeces of Ordnance some Powder Armes Horses and much Treasure which was taken but concealed by some of the common Souldiers and others All their Carriages cloaths provisions and some horses taken Two of their Captaines and other persons of worth slaine and one Captaine and some other persons of qualitie taken Prisoners The Lord was pleased much to appeare in this dayes successe and to assist our men with invincible and indefatigable courage so farre as to enable them to make their entrance upon the mouth of their Cannon There were twentie of theirs slaine out right and not above two or three of ours Colonell VVinne Colonell Crow Serjeant Major Generall VVoodhouse and the most of their prime Commanders escaped Their Cannonier was killled by a shot made by our Cannoniere we were not possessed of one Peece of Cannon at our entrance into this Countie yet now God hath pleased plentifully to furnish us with six peeces at Namptwich and two at Stafford so as wee now want Cannoniors to order and manage the same ☞ VVithin a few dayes after this victory there landed in two Barkes many Irish Rebels in Worrall in Cheshire some whereof acknowledged in the Presence of divers sufficient men who affirmed the same unto me that they had washed their hands in the blood of divers English and Scots in Ireland and now hoped to wash their hands in the blood of English men in England Which Rebels being brought into Chester were accused by severall of those perons who came to Chester for refuge to be the persons who cut their husbands throats others that they ripped up their childrens bowels The Countrey wherein they first arrived did apprehend so much distaste that they did all rise with their best weapons and apprehended divers of the Irish Rebles but being unarmed not having above seven or 8 Musqueteers they could not make good their Prisoners who were rescued out of their hands by a troope of horse which came from the Commissioners of Array who also seized about 28 of our honest Countrey-men prisoners These Irish acknowledge they came from Strongforth and that there are 1200. some speake of 10000 more to follow after Sir Your most humble servant Will. Brereton Liverpoole Iune 1643. Read in the House of Commons Ianuary 14. We have placed a Garrison in this Towne which I hope may be of great Advantage being the onely Haven Town in these parts of the Kingdome Post SInce I writ the lines above two of our Long Boats which were manned and sent out are returned and have brought in the Boats which carried the Rebels and have taken three or foure of the Rebells who confesse they came from Strangford and that they were sent by one Master Savage they have also seized some Barques laden with Wine part whereof belonges to those who are well affected to you and have suffered in your cause But the greatest part to those who are engaged against you which is reserved here to be disposed of as you shall please to order and direct A letter of Mart Warwicke Lord Mohun Baron of Okehampton Sir Ralph Hopton knight of the Bath Sir Iohn Barkeley knight and William Ashbourneham Esquire or any two of them Commissioners authorized under the great seal of England in the absence of William Marques of Hertford to command all his
can your friends in the Isles and Hilands be usefull for you So doe your best to have it quickly sent away and be confident you shall have assistance though it must take a longer time of the which I shall give your Lordship notice So let no alteration be thought upon though a little it must be deferred And be confident of the respects of Your Lordships faithfull servant Nithisdail Carlile the 8. of May. 1643. I entreat these may present my bounden service to my Lady Dutchesse your Lady Till I get advertisement from your Lordship I shall have a Boat ready at your service For my Noble Lord the Earle of Antrim at Yorke My Lord THis Gentleman can so well informe you of the particulars you expected from Scotland as I must onely assure your Lordship I dare not conclude with him therefore if it please you to expect a second advertisement it shall certainly bee sent to you by the first occasion For I should be sorry that what may so concerne your service should be subject to any scruple And I assure your Lordship their future shall ratifie this opinion of Your Lordships most humble servant Aboyne Burroughbridge in haste the 3. of May. 1643. For the Right Honourable the Earle of Antrim these My Lord BEing certainly informed by Nithisdails servant That there is ☞ a new Order since we parted for stopping of the Ammunition I have taken occasion to intreat your Lordship by this bearer that I may know the particulars of it I must confesse it surpriseth me that any distance should alter so reasonable a conclusion And certainly I shall never deserve to be made the instrument of frustrating the hopes of these parts which should have bin enabled by this supply I am confident there is scarce another mean to make our fidelitie uselesse for her Majesties service And if it please your Lordship to acquaint the Queene with these effects of my ingenuitie you will thereby multiply your favours you have already conferred upon My Lord Your Lordships most affectionate and obliged servant Aboyne Carlile the 8. of May. 1643. To the Right Honourable the Earle of Antrim these WIlliam Earle of Neweastle Governour of the Towne and County of Newcastle and Generall of all His Majesties Forces raised in the Northerne parts of this Kingdome for defence of the same To all Colonels Lieutenant-Colonels Serjeant-Majors Captains and all other his Majesties loving Subjects of England and Ireland For as much as the Right Honourable the Earle of Antrim is to travell to Dublyn in Ireland and other parts of that Kingdom these are therefore to desire and require you and every of you to whom this shall come to be seen to permit and suffer him and his servants quietly and peaceably to passe and repasse into these parts and backe againe without any molestation or interruption And further I doe hereby require all Post-masters Constables and other Officers to furnish the said Earle and his servants with so many Post-horses as they shall have neede of from place to place and Stage to Stage for all the said journey he and they paying the usuall rates for the same And hereof you or any of you may not faile at your perill Given under my hand and seal the fourth day of May. 1643. signed Will. Neweastle June 9. 1643. A Declaration of the Lords of His MAIESTIES Privie-Councell in SCOTLAND THe Lords of his Majesties most honourable Privy-Councel and the Commissioners for conserving of the Peace according to the great trust reposed on them by his Majestie and the Estates of Parliament whereof they are to make account to God and his Majestie the next ensuing Parliament taking to their deepest and most serious consideration the the best wayes of preserving the peace of this Kingdom That all his Majesties good and dutifull Subjects may enjoy their Religion Liberties and Laws which God in a singular and wonderfull providence in the time of his Majesties raign hath vouchsafed them and of the peace betwixt the two Kingdomes so unanimously and happily established in the late Treaty of peace and in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms Have faithfully endeavoured by all good means to reduce Ireland to his Majesties obedience which through the unnaturall barbarous and Antichristian cruelty of Papists is from a peaceable Kingdome turned into a stage of unexampled and unexpressible miseries to be looked upon as an horrid and dangerous example by this Kingdom and by their nearest supplications to his Majestie and their Declarations to the Parliament of England but especially by their earnest desires for establishing Unity of Religion and Uniformity of Kirk-government and for disbanding all Papists in Arms within their Dominions and by the humble offer of their meditation to remove the unhappy differences and quench the fire of a wasting Warre begun betwixt his Majestie and his Subjects of England wherein his Majesties sacred Person is exposed to so great danger and so many thousands of his Subjects have already perished But finding to their great griefe the successe no way answerable to their endeavours and expectation and the trouble of the neighbouring Kingdoms and the dangers of this Kingdome daily arising to a greater height then they by their care counsell and diligence were able to remeid or obviate they did resolve for this and other causes which exercise and heavily presse the Kingdome at this time to call a covention of the Estates as the onely meane his Majestie not thinking fit to hearken unto their motion of calling a Parliament which might by common Counsell consent and resolution take the best course for representing yet more sensibly these manifold evils and dangers and for overcomming by greater wisdom the difficulties which were above their power In the meane while which they cannot but attribute to the mercifull and marvellous providence of God and which is a confirmation to them of their resolution in calling a convention and layeth the greater necessity upon the Estates to meet the more willingly and frequently A treacherous and damnable Plot of the Irish English and Scottish Papists is begun to be discovered by the unexpected apprehending of the Earl of Antrim comming from Yorke where he had kept his meetings and correspondence by Letters with certaine Popish Lords his Confederates and amongst others with the Earle of Nithisdail and Viscount of Aloyne their devillish designes and devices are come to light and brought to our knowledge partly by Letters from Ireland shewing the deposition and confession of a servant of the Earle of Antrims and partly by Letters which were found in the Earle his own pockets all sent to them from Ireland His servant who was hanged at Carrick-Fergus the day of May deponed as the Letters bear before and at the time of his death That the designe was to reconcile the English and Irish in Ireland that they by their joynt power having expelled the Scots the Irish Forces there might be sent against the Parliament of England to deal
with some fit instrument there by all their strength to surprize the Isles and the High-Lands and to depopulate and waste so much of this Kingdom as their power could extend unto being assured of the like dealing in the North by the Papists and their assistance there And to have a Magazine at Carlile for twenty thousand men to fall in with an hostility upon the south parts of this Kingdom The Letters sent from Nithisdail and Aboyne all written and subscribed by their hands to the Earle of Antrim and found with him although in some things covertly written do carry thus much expresly that for furtherance of the designe and point resolv'd on there was assistance assured from the Isles and from the North and South of Scotland that Ammunition and Armes without which they think their service uselesse were appointed to be sent to the North and other parts of this Kingdom and that Popish Officers were commanded and had undertaken to goe into Scotland of which we are informed some are already gone to the North for stopping and disappointing so far as may be for the present till the same divine providence make a more full discovery the attempts and devices of this unnaturall and bloody confederacy and conjuration As the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councell have given order that Nithisdail and Aboyne be cited and criminally pursued of high Treason and have made the same as a matter of publike and most high importance known to his Majestie and to the Parliament of England so they and the Commissioners of Peace also for acquitting themselves in their trust and for the safety of the Kingdome doe make the same publikely known to all his Majesties good Subjects that being forewarned of their danger they may be upon their guards and prepared against forraign invasion and intestine plots and insurrection And especially that the Noble men Commissioners of Shires and Borroughs perceiving greater and more apparent necessity of the approaching convention then they could have wished or expected may at the day formerly appointed meet in such celerity and with such publike affection and disposition of heart as the present condition of affairs doth require and call for at their hands and as beseemeth the lovers of their Religion King and Countrey which are in so great danger from Papists Atheists and other degenerated Countrey-men who are no lesse inraged against this Kingdom even since the late Reformation of this Kirk then were their Predecessours at the first reformation of Religion when their negotiating was so restlesse and their attempts so many and malicious against the work of God in this Land nor is it to be past without observation that while His Majesty is making a publike Declaration of His intentions to defend and maintaine the Religion Rights and Liberties of this Kingdome according to the Lawes Civill and Ecclesiastick the Papists are conspiring plotting and practising against the Religion Rights and Liberties established and against the lives of his Majesties good Subjects whereby they doe really manifest to the world what the Kings Majestie against his Declarations and his Subjects against their confidence grounded thereupon may look for from their malice and power if they shall continue in Armes and which God forbid if they shall prevaile in the end And whereas the Lords of Councell are informed That the late Act of Councell for publishing his Majesties Declaration is mistaken by sundry as a Declaration of their owne judgement concerning the proceedings of another Kingdom For preventing of this mistake they think fit to remember and declare according to the act of Councell in January last shewing that their Lordships giving Warrant to print any Paper comming from his Majestie or Parliament of England did not import their approbation of the contents thereof That they did on the first of June both remember the samine and expresse their intention in this publication to be far from taking on them to judge of the proceedings of the Parliament of another Kingdom but onely to thank his Majestie for his gracious expressions towards the preservation of the Rights and Liberties of this Kingdom And ordain this to be printed and published at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh and all other Burghs within this Kingdom for the information of his Majesties Subjects within the same At Edinburgh the ninth day of June 1643. THe Lords of his Majesties Privy-Councell and Commissioners for conserving the Articles of the Treaty ordain this following Declaration to be printed and published at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh and other Burghs of this Kingdom for the information of all his Majesties good Subjects within the same Arch. Primrose Cler. S. Cons Commis To the Right Honourable my very Noble friends these On the Irish Committee of the Parliament of England present these with due respect Right Honourable EXpect nothing from your honours reall and faithfull servant in this adverse time but what brings comfort In my last expedition against the Rebels occasioned by sudden intelligence I went forth with two thousand foot and three hundred horse being provided for ten daies at no greater allowance then seven ounces of meale a day for a souldier our scarcity being so great that for want of victuals and shooes we were unable to doe the service we wish or your honours expect from us Neverthelesse our fortune was such that with this small party without Cannon for want of carriage horses we beat Owen M c art Oneale Sir Philome Oneale and Owen M c art the Generall his sonne being all joyned together with their Forces and forced them to returne upon Charlemount after quitting the Generals house to be spoyled and burus by us with the whole houses in Lochgall being the best Plantation in Vlster and straitest for defence of the Rebels At the same time Colonell Hoome with a party of five hundred men was busied in beleaguering the Castle of Newcastle the receipt of all the Intelligence comes from England to the Rebels in Vlster where it was my good fortune in time of treaty there to trist a Barke come from the Isle of Man with that treacherous Papist the Earle of Antrim whose brother Alexander was sent before by the Queenes Majesty from Yorke to make way for the Earle in negotiating betwixt her Majesties Army in the North of England and the Papists on the borders of Scotland in the Isles of Scotland and the North parts thereof and with the Rebels in Ireland Their plot being set downe by the Queenes Majesties consent for the ruine of Religion and overthrew of His Majesties loyall Subjects in all the three Dominions as evidently doth appeare by the Letters Characters Passes and Papers found with the Earle directed by me to the Councell of Scotland and the Generall It becommeth me as the servant of the publique intrusted with your Commission under the great Seale of England to enforme truly your honours of the great prejudice the cause in hand suffers by your honours neglect of this Army being