the Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale did not rise and joyn with them in the very beginning of this Rebellion adding these words or to this effect that if they would have let us alone and not set us on we were so well at ease as we would never have begun this troublesom work It cannot certainly be imagined that those of the English Pale unlesse they had been the first projectors or deep adventurers would have yeelded that the meer Irish should have seized upon the City and Castle of Dublin places of refuge for them in all former troubles and which would now have given them protection and safety against the incursions of the Irish But I hold it not necessary to produce further evidence in this particular I purpose now to declare how those great Instruments of mischief that were the supream conductors of this wicked design moved forwards so succesfully in the beginning toward the accomplishment of their long intended extirpation of all the British and Protestants out of the Kingdom The Romish Clergy and the Popish Lawyers great instruments in the first Plotting and carrying on the Rebellion I find two sorts of persons who did most eminently appear in laying those main fundamentals wherupon their bloody superstructions were afterwards easily reared up And these were such of the popish Lawyers as were natives of the Kingdome and those of the Romish Clergy of severall degrees and orders For the first they had in regard of their knowledge in the Laws of the Land very great reputation and trust they now began to stand up like great Patriots for the vindication of the liberties of the Subject and redresse of their pretended grievances and having by their bold appearing therein made a great party in the house of Commons The Irish Lawyers draw a great party in the House of Commons to adhere to them here then sitting some of them did there magisterially obtrude as undoubted maximes of Law the pernicious speculations of their own brain which though plainly discerned to be full of virulency and tending to sedition yet so strangely were many of the Protestants and well meaning men in the house blinded with an apprehension of ease and redresse and so stupified with their bold accusations of the government as most thought not fit others durst not stand up to contradict their fond assertions so as what they spake was received with great acclamation and much applause by most of the Protestant Members of the house many of which under specious pretences of publike zeale to this Country they had inveigled into their party And then it was that having impeached Sir Richard Bolton Lord Chancelour of Ireland of high treason together with other prime Officers and Ministers of State that were of English birth some of those great Masters took upon them with much confidence to declare the Law to make new expositions of their own upon the Text to frame their Queres challenges fitter to be taken to a long wilfully over-grown misgovernment then to be made against an authority that had for many yeers struggled against the beloved irregularities of a stubborn people and which had prevailed far beyond former times towards the allaying of the long continued distempers of the Kingdom They disdained the moderate qualifications of the Judges who gave them modest answers such as the Law and duty to their Soveraign would admit But those would not serve their turn they resolved upon an alteration in the government and drawing of it wholly into the hands of the Natives which they knew they could not compas in a Parliamentary way and therefore only made preparatives there and delivered such desperate maximes which being diffused abroad would fit and dispose the people to a change As they declared it to be Law that being killed in Rebellion though found by matter of record would give the King no forfeiture of estate that though many thousands stood up in arms in a Kingdom working all manner of destruction yet if they professed not to rise against the King that it was no Rebellion That if a man were out-lawed for Treason and his land thereby vested in the Crown or given away by the King his heir might come afterwards and be admitted to reverse the Outlawry and recover his Ancestors estate And many other positions of a perilous consequence tending to sedition and disturbance did they continue to publish during that Session and by the power and strength of their party so far did they prevail at last as they presumed to attempt a suspension of Poynings Act and indeed intended the utter abrogation of that Statute which remains as one of the greatest tyes and best monuments the English have of their entire dominion over the Irish Nation and the annexion of that Kingdom to the imperiall Crown of England They further assumed power of Judicature to the Parliament in criminall and capitall ofences A right which no former age hath left any president for neither would this admit the example And thus carrying all things before them they continued the Session of Parliament begun in May till about two moneths before the first breaking out of this Rebellion it being very ill taken that even then they were adjourned And this they have since aggravated as a high crime against the Lords Justices and as one of the chief moving causes to the taking up of Arms generally throughout the Kingdome But to let those things passe how finely soever these proceedings were carried on and being covered over with pretences of zeale and publike affection passed then currant without any manner of suspition yet now the eyes of all men are opened and they are fully resolved that all these passages together with the other high contestations in Parliament not to have the newly raised Irish Army disbanded the importunate solicitation of their Agents in England to have the old Army in Ireland cashiered and the Kingdom left to be defended by Trained Bands of their owne Nation As likewise the Commissions procured by severall of the most eminent Commanders now in Rebellion for the raising men to carry into Spain were all partes of this Plot Prologues to this ensuing Tragedy Preparatives such as had bin long laid to bring on the sodain execution of this most bloody Designe all at one and the same time throughout the Kingdome The meanes used by the Priests Jesuits to stir up the people to rebell Now for the Jesuits Priests Fryers and all the rest of the viperous fraternity belonging to their holy Orders who as I said had a main part to Act and have not failed with great assiduity and diligence to discharge the same They lost no time but most dexteriously applyed themselves in all parts of the Country to lay such other dangerous impressions in the minds as well of the meaner sort as of the chiefe Gentlemen as might make them ready to take fire upon the first occasion And when this Plot was so surely as they
thought laid as it could not well faile and the day once prefixed for execution they did in their publicke Devotions long before recommend by their Prayers the good successe of a great Designe much tending to the prosperity of the Kingdome and the advancement of the Catholick cause And for the facilitating of the Worke and stirring up of the people with greater animosity and cruelty to put it on at the time prefixed they loudly in all places declamed against the Protestants telling the people that they were Hereticks and not to be suffered any longer to live among them that it was no more sinne to kill an English-man then to kill a dogge and that it was a most mortall and unpardonable sinne to relieve or protect any of them Then also they represented with much acrimony the severe courses taken by the Parliament in England for the suppressing of the Romish Religion in all parts of the Kingdome and utter extirpation of all professors of it They told the people that in England they had caused the Queens Priest to be hanged before her own face and that they held her Majesty in her owne person under a most severe discipline That the same cruell Laws against Popery were here ordered to be put sodainly in execution and a designe secretly laid for bringing and seizing upon all the principal Noblemen and Gentlemen in Ireland upon the 23. of November next ensuing and so to make a generall Massacre of all that would not desert their Religion and presently become Protestants The Irish revive their ancient animosities against the English And now also did they take occasion to revive their inveterate hatred and ancient animosities against the English Nation whom they represented to themselves as hard Masters under whose government how pleasant comfortable and advantagious so ever it was they would have the world beleeve they had endured a most miserable captivity and envassalage They looked with much envie upon their prosperity considering all the Land they possessed though a great part bought at high rates of the Natives as their owne proper inheritance They grudged at the great multitudes of their faire English Cattell at their goodly Houses though built by their own industry at their own charges at the large improvements they made of their Estates by their own travails and carefull endevours They spake with much scorne and contempt of such as brought little with them into Ireland and having there planted themselves in a little time contracted great fortunes they were much troubled especially in the Irish Countries to see the English live handsomely and to have every thing with much decency about them while they lay nastily buried as it were in mire and filthinesse the ordinary sort of people commonly bringing their Cattle into their owne stinking Creates and there naturally delighting to lye among them These malignant considerations made them with an envious eye impatiently to looke upon all the British lately come over into the Kingdome Nothing lesse then a generall extirpation will now serve their turne they must have restitution of all the Lands to the proper Natives whom they take to be the ancient proprietors and onely true owners most unjustly despoiled by the English whom they hold to have made undue acquisitions of all the Land they possesse by gift from the Crown upon the attainder of any of their Ancestors And so impetuous were the desires of the Natives to draw the whole Government of the Kingdome into their owne hands The ends proposed by the first plotters of the rebellion to enjoy the publicke profession of their Religion as well as to disburthen the Country of all the British inhabitants seated therein as they made the whole body of the State to be universally disliked represented the severall members as persons altogether corrupt and ill affected pretended the ill humours and distempers in the Kingdome to be growen to that height as required Cauteries deepe incisions and indeed nothing able to worke so great a cure but an universall Rebellion This was certainly the disease as appeares by all the symptomes and the joynt concurrence in opinion of all the great Physitians that held themselves wise enough to propose remedies and prescribe fit applications to so desperate a Malady In those Instructions privately sent over into England by the Lord Dillon of Costeloz presently after the breaking out of the Rebellion the alteration of the supream power in the government and setling of it in the hands of the Earl of Ormond giving leave to the Grand Councell of the Kingdome to remove such Officers of State as they thought fit and to recommend Natives to their places were there positively laid down to be a more likely meanes to appease these tumults then a considerable Army In the Remonstrance of the County of Longford presented about the same time to the Lords Justices by the same Lord Dillon as also in the frame of the Common-wealth found at Sir John Dungars House not farre from Dublin and sent up thither out of Conaught to be communicated to those of Lemster peeces which publikely appeared soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion the main points insisted upon in them and severall others The true causes of the Rebellion were restauration of the Publick profession of the Romish Religion restitution of all the Plantation Lands unto the Natives and settlement of the present Government in their hands All the Remonstrances from severall parts and that came out of the severall Provinces of the Kingdome doe concurre in these Propositions with very little or no difference And therefore that the desires with the first intentions of those who are now out in Rebellion may more cleerly appear I have thought fit here to insert them as I found them Methodically digested into certain Propositions termed The meanes to reduce this Kingdome unto Peace and quietnesse 1 THat a generall and free pardon without any exception be granted to all his Majesties Subjects of this Kingdome and that in pursuance thereof and for strengthning the same an Act of Abolition may passe in the Parliament here 2 That all marks of Nationall distinctions between English and Irish may he abolished and taken away by Act of Parliament 3 That by severall Acts of Parliament to be respectively passed here and in England it be declared that the Parliament of Ireland hath no subordination with the Parliament of England but that the same hath in it self supream Jurisdiction in this Kingdom as absolute as the Parliament of England there hath 4 That the Act of 12. Henry the seventh commonly called Poynings Act and all other Acts expounding or explaining the same may be repealed 5 That as in England there past an Act for a Trienniall Parliament there may passe in Ireland another for a Sexenniall Parliament 6 That it may be enacted by Parliament that the Act of the 2d of Queen Elizabeth in Ireland and all other Acts made against Catholicks or the Catholick Religion
over the poore surprized unresisting English in those Parts and had so deeply drenched their hands in the blood of those innocents as they thought to carry the whole Kingdome before them and therefore would yeeld to no Treaties but in a most barbarous manner tore the Order of Parliament together with the Letter sent unto them and returned a most scornfull Answer fully expressing thereby how farre they were from any thought of laying down Armes or entertaining any overtures towards an Accommodation Within few dayes after the adjournment of the Parliament the Lord Dillon of Costelo accompanied with the Lord Taffe imbarqued for England but by a most impetuous storme were driven into Scotland where they landed and went up to London At the Town of Ware their papers were seized upon by directions from the Parliament of England and their persons committed unto safe custody Mr Thomas Burk went over much about the same time and certainly upon the same errand When the unhappy breach began first betwixt the King and the Parliament of England and that his Majesty thought fit to retire to York those two Lords found meanes to make an escape and all three constantly followed the Court where in those high distempers that afterwards hapned in England they easily found meanes to ingratiate themselves at Court and had the opportunity to doe those good offices for their Country-men which brought on the Cessation of Armes with them in due time The Lords Iustices and Councell by their Letters bearing date about the 20 of November Letters written to the Lord Lievtenant gave unto the Lord Lievtenant a more certaine and full account of the state of the Kingdome then they could any wayes doe at the first breaking out of the Rebellion and thereby making known the very ill condition of their present affaires they moved that the supplies of men money Commanders and Armes mentioned in their former Letters might be with all speed sent over unto them and that his Lordship would presently repaire hither in his own person to undertake the management of the warre About the tenth of the Month of November their Lordships received an Answer from the Lord Lievtenant to their former Letters of the 25 of October whereby he gave them to understand that he had communicated their Letters to the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell and that by Order from their Lordships he had acquainted both Houses of Parliament with them that he had also sent to his Majesty still continuing at Edenborough in Scotland to represent the condition of their affaires and that he understood his Majesty had received some advertisements out of the North of Ireland of the present Rebellion there His Lordship also farther let them know that his Majesty had referred the whole businesse of Ireland to the Parliament of England that they had undertaken the charge and management of the warre that they had declared they should be speedily and vigorously assisted and had designed for their present supplies the summe of 50000 l. and had taken order for making of all further Provisions necessary for the Service as may appeare by the Order of Parliament made there at that time and trans-mitted over by the Lord Lievtenant together with his said Letters unto the Lords Iustices by whose command it was reprinted at Dublin November 12. 1641. as here followeth being intituled An Order of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament in England concerning Ireland THe Lords and Commons in this present Parliament being advertised of the dangerous Conspiracie and Rebellion in Ireland by the Treacherous and wicked Instigation of Romish Priests and Jesuites for the Bloody Massacre and Destruction of all Protestants living there and other his Majesties Loyall Subjects of English blood though of the Romish Religion being ancient Inhabitants within severall Counties and Parts of that Realme who have alwayes in former Rebellions given Testimony of their fidelity to this Crown And for the utter depriving of his Royall Majestie and the Crown of England from the Government of that Kingdome under pretence of setting up the Popish Religion Have thereupon taken into their serious Consideration how those mischievous Attemps might be most speedily and effectually prevented wherein the Honour Safety and Interest of this Kingdom are most nearely and fully concerned Wherefore they doe hereby declare that they doe intend to serve his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes for the suppressing of this wicked Rebellion in such a way as shall be thought most effectuall by the Wisdome and Authority of Parliament And thereupon have Ordered and Provided for a present Supply of Money and raysing the number of six thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse to be sent from England being the full proportion desired by the Lords Iustices and his Majesties Councell resident in that Kingdome with a Resolution to adde such further Succours as the necessity of those Affaires shall require They have also resolved of providing Armes and Munition not only for those Men but likewise for his Majesties faithfull Subjects in that Kingdome with Store of Victuals and other Necessaries as there shall be occasion and that these Provisions may more conveniently be transported thither they have appointed three severall Ports of this Kingdome that is to say Bristoll Westchester and one other in Cumberland where the Magazines and Store-houses shall be kept for the Supply of the severall parts of Ireland They have likewise resolved to be humble Mediators to His most Excellent Majesty for the encouragement of those English or Irish who shall upon their own charges raise any number of Horse or Foot for his Service against the Rebells that they shall be honourably rewarded with Lands of Inheritance in Ireland according to their Merits And for the better inducing the Rebels to repent of their wicked Attempts they doe hereby commend it to the Lord Lievtenant of Ireland or in his absence to the Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices there according to the power of the Commission granted them in that behalfe to bestow his Majesties gracious Pardon to all such as within a convenient time to be declared by the Lord Lievtenant Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices and Councell of that Kingdome shall return to their due obedience the greatest part whereof they conceive have been seduced upon false Grounds by the cunning and subtle practises of some of the most malignant Rebels Enemies to this State and to the Reformed Religion and likewise to bestow such Rewards as shall be thought fit and publisht by the said Lord Lievtenant Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices and Councell upon all those who shall arrest the Persons or bring in the Heads of such Traytors as shall be personally named in any Proclamation published by the State there And they doe hereby exhort and require all his Majesties loving Subjects both in this and in that Kingdome to remember their duty and conscience to God and his Religion and the great and eminent danger which will
brought down out of every part for the victualling of those that lay encamped about the Town There was allotted to every Company consisting of a hundred men for their daily allowance one biefe and halfe a barrell of corne And that they might with the more facility bring in the Country people to furnish their Army with these proportions they made not only prohibitions that no corne should be carried to Dublin but so blocked up the wayes as the poore churles that lived somewhat distant from the City could not carry their corne thither without apparent danger whereby the Market began to be very ill provided and great want and scarcity was much feared by reason of the large accession of people come from severall parts of the Kingdom up unto the City for safety Whereupon the Lords Justices and Councell made Proclamations to be published That all such as had corne remaining within some few miles distance should as their usuall manner was bring it to the Market at Dublin and they should receive ready money for the same in case they did not that they would presently send out Parties and burn their corn as it stood in the haggards and so prevent the use the Rebels intended to make of it for the victualing of their Army By this meanes the City was indifferently well supplyed all that winter with corn the Country people though otherwayes very malicious against the English and Protestants being content though with much hazard to adventure the bringing their corn where they sold it at a good rate for ready money rather then to suffer it to be threshed out by Warrants from the Lord of Gormanston for the use of the Irish Army then lying before Tredagh But while they continue their fruitlesse and unprofitable attemps there having neither skill courage experience The sad condition of the publike affaires of the State nor any meanes to bring about their impetuous desires and fond endeavours for the taking in of that Town I shall briefly represent a view of the sad estate of our affaires in Dublin It was now almost full two Months since the breaking out of this Rebellion The Lords Justices and Councell out of their deep apprehensions of a generall revolt of all the Irish through the Kingdome did in the very beginning with much earnestnesse sollicite the present sending over of Succours out of England And as soone as they began to make a little further discovery into the strength of this Conspiracy and found their own wants and utter disabilities to make any long or considerable opposition against the universall power of the whole body of the Irish as it then began to appeare unto them firmly united with almost all the Old English that were of the Romish Profession incorporated into their party throughout Ireland they did with much more earnestnesse by their frequent Letters and severall Agents represent unto his Majesty and the Parliament of England the very ill even desperate condition they were in and therefore desired that supplyes both of men money and all kinde of warlick provisions might be sent away with all speed unto them declaring that unlesse they received them presently and that in great proportions they were not able longer to subsist as they stood now environed on all sides with multitudes of the Rebels but had just reason to apprehend their own present ruine and the inevitable losse of the whole Kingdome And because they conceived the Levies in England could not be so suddenly made nor the men so easily transported from thence into the North of Ireland where the Rebels appeared in greatest numbers and had by their most unparalled cruelty towards the English done most mischeife as out of Scotland They made a proposition to the Lord Lievtenant to move both his Majesty and the Parliament The sending of 10000 Scots into Ireland pressed by the Lords Iustices and Councell that 10000 Scots might be presently raised and sent over into those Parts This they pressed with much earnestnesse representing the very great terrour the meere Irish had of that Nation that their bodies would better sort with that Climate endure more hardship and with lesse distemper undergoe the toile and miseries of an Irish war that the transportation would be made with much more facility and lesse charge it being not above three or foure houres saile from some parts of Scotland into the North of Ireland That the Kingdome of Scotland had been lately in Armes and so had all provisions necessary for the furnishing of their men for this expedition in readinesse And lastly they having so good a foundation in the multitude of their own Countrymen so advantagiously settled there already would no doubt undertake the work with all alacrity and vigorously prosecute the warre with such sharpnesse as might testifie their deep resentment of the horrid cruelties exercised upon so many thousands of their own Nation by that barbarous people Commissioners sent out of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the reliefe of Ireland These Letters arrived very opportunely about the time of the Kings return from Edenburgh to the Parliament of England then sitting at Westminster And there being even then two Scotish Lords come out of the Kingdome of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the sending Forces from thence for the reliefe of Ireland His Majesty sent to the Lords and Commons to give them notice of their arrivall and withall desired that certaine Commissioners appointed by himselfe and both Houses of Parliament might bee presently named to Treat with them and from time to time give an account of their proceedings to his Majesty and both Houses This motion was with very great readinesse yeelded unto and it was ordered that the Earle of Bedford the Earle of Leycester Lord Lievtenant of Ireland the Lord Howard of Estric nominated by the House of Peeres And Nathaniel Fiennes Esquire Sir William Ermin Baronite Sir Philip Stapleton Knight John Hampden Esquire nominated by the House of Commons should Treat with the Scotish Commissioners concerning the affaires of Ireland and that there should be a Commission granted unto them to this effect under the great Seale of England together with particular Instructions to regulate the manner of their proceedings In the propositions given in by the Scotish Commissioners they did in the first place make offer of 10000 men in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland Propositions presented to the Parliament of England for the reliefe of Ireland And that they might be enabled to send them speedily away they desired an advance of 30000 l. of the brotherly assistance afforded unto them by the Kingdome of England and that what Armes and Munition they sent into Ireland might in the same proportions be returned unto them with all expedition Next they desired that some ships of Warre might be appointed to guard the Seas betwixt Scotland and Ireland to waft over their Souldiers which they designed to transport
in small vessels And then that upon landing of their men in Ireland there should be a 100 horse ready to joyn with every 1000 foot that they should send thither And that they should receive Instructions and Orders and in every thing obey the Scotish Generall 〈…〉 These propositions being taken into consideration in the House of Commons after they had duly considered of them and weighed the high necessities of this Kingdome that the Scots had 2500 men ready raised and that they could not so suddenly make provision any other way for the saving Ireland as by sending these Forces out of Scotland they readily condiscended unto them and having voted them severally they sent them up to the House of Peeres with their desires for a speedy concurrence in them These beginnings gave great hopes of the sudden reliefe of Ireland and it was now generally beleived that considerable Forces would be transported within a very short time out of Scotland for the defence of the Northern parts of this Kingdome especially considering with how much earnestnesse his Majesty in his Speech made to the Lords and Commons in Parliament on the 14 of December in this present yeare had pressed them to take to heart the businesse of Ireland and offered unto them whatsover his power paines or industry could contribute to the good and necessary work of reducing the Irish Nation to their true and wonted obedience But alas these great expectations were soone dashed The Forces designed for Ireland retarded and the Forces designed for Ireland as well out of England as Scotland strangely retarded by severall obstructions which daily arose in the transaction of the Irish affaires For first his Majesty in the same Speech wherein he conjured them by all that was deare to him or them to goe on chearefully and speedily for the reducing of Ireland did take notice of a Bill for pressing Souldiers for Ireland depending in the House of Peeres and declaring his dislike of putting it in that way told them he would passe it so were there a salvo jure put into it both for the King and people but withall told them that he thought him selfe little beholding unto him whosoever it was that began this dispute so farre trenching upon the bounds of his ancient and undoubted prerogative These passages in his Majesties Speech were deeply resented not only by the Lords who were more particularly concerned in them but by the House of Commons And therefore his Majesty had no sooner ended his Speech and left their House but that the Lords fell into consideration of the same and resolved that the King by taking notice of the debate in their House of the Bill concerning pressing of Souldiers had broken the fundamentall priviledges of Parliament And presently a Message was brought unto them likewise by Mr Hollis from the House of Commons to desire a conference with their Lordships by Committees of both Houses touching the Priviledges of Parliament At the conference they fully expressed the deep sence they had of the high injury offered unto them by his Majesty in invading their Priviledges and proceeded so farre as to come not only to Petition his Majesty and to desire that hee would be pleased to make known that person who had given him information so unduly of what had passed in their House but also to make a Protestation concerning their Priviledges This took up some time and the great misunderstanding even which then began to appear betwixt his Majesty and the Parliament had so strong an influence into the businesse of Ireland as notwithstanding the high necessities of this Kingdome and the great affections expressed by the Kingdome of England for our sudden reliefe here the resolutions were slow and the preparations went so heavily on as it was long before the House of Commons could finde meanes to enable the Lord Lieutenant to send so much as one Regiment away out of England for the defence of the Castle and City of Dublin then much distressed by the neare approach of the Rebels And now for the Forces to be sent out of Scotland into the Northern Parts of this Kingdome they meet with severall obstructions likewise The debate of the propositions presented by the Scotish Commissioners in the House of Peeres For first the Commissioners of Scotland had not power given them from the State there to Treat for the sending over a lesser number then 10000 men which the Lords here were very unwilling to condiscend unto But this obstacle was soone removed by the zealous affections of the House of Commons who as soone as the Propositions brought in by the Scotish Commissioners for the reliefe of Ireland were presented unto them voted their assent to Treat for the sending of the number of 10000 men out of Scotland according to the instructions given to the Commissioners by that Kingdome and sent up a Message to the House of Peeres by Sir Philip Stapleton Knight to lay before their Lordships the miserable estate of the Kingdome of Ireland and to let them know that the House of Commons conceived the best way for the preservation of it out of the hands of the Rebels was speedily to dispatch the Scots into the Province of Vlster and therefore desired that they would joyn with them in the Propositions received from the Scotish Commissioners Upon the receit of this Message the House of Peeres fell upon the said Proposition and after a long debate it was at length agreed that 10000 Scots should be sent into Ireland if the House of Commons would condiscend that at the same time there might 10000 English men bee as speedily sent likewise thither and thereupon desired a conference with the House of Commons that they might fully understand their resolution therein which being yeelded unto by the House of Commons The Lords at the conference pressed with much earnestnesse that they might be assured of the sending over of 10000 English at the same time that the Scots were to be sent away whereunto the House of Commons replyed that they were not to be capitulated withall that their actions were free as well without conditions as capitulations that they thought they had given sufficient certainty already of their resolution to send that number of English into Ireland and therefore desired that their Lordships would Vote the sending away of 10000 Scots by it selfe without any relation to the English spoken of by them This took up a large debate in the House of Peeres and was one maine cause of the slow proceeding on of the Treaty with the Scotish Commissioners I shall not undertake to determine at so great a distance from whence these obstructions grew but I am very sure wee could here easily finde that there were some such secret workings underhand against the good affections expressed by the House of Commons and by the Lords who were well affected to the service of Ireland as that this Treaty was very much retarded thereby and was not
Irish and out of their zealous affectioÌ„s for the conversion of a barbarous people applied theÌ„selves with great care and industry to the instructing of them in the true grounds and principles of Christian religion And with so great successe and such unwearied endeavours did S. Patrick travail in this work as if we will give credit to some writers we must believe that the Church of Armagh was by him erected into an Archiepiscopal See three hundred and fifty Bishops consecrated great numbers of Clergy-men instituted who notwithstanding the notorious impiety and continued prophanesse of the common sort of people being most of them Monks by vow and profession of great learning very austere and strict in their discipline were so much taken notice of in those rude ignorant times by other Nations as in respect of them some gave unto the Island the denomination of Insula Sanctorum But so quickly did the power of holinesse decay in the land as the name was soon lost and even the very prints and characters thereof among the very Clergie themselves obliterated the life of the people so beastly their manners so depraved and barbarous as that King Henry when he entertained the first thoughts of transferring his Arms over into Ireland made suit unto the Pope that he would give him leave to go and conquer Ireland and reduce those beastly men unto the way of truth Rex Anglorum Hen. nuncios solennes Romam mittens regaâ—it Papam Adrianum ut sibi liceret Hibernia Insulam intrare et terram subiugare atquehomines illos bestiales ad fidem et viam reducere veritatis Mat Paris an 1156. Answerable whereunto was the tenor of Pope Adrians Bull as appears at large in Parisiensis whereby he gave him liberty to go over and subdue the Irish nation A sufficient demonstration of the condition of that people and what opinion was held of them as well by their holy father the Pope as other Princes And the King at his arrivall found them no other than a beastly people indeed For the Inhabitants were generally devoid of all manner of civility governed by no setled lawes living like beasts biting and devouring one another without all rules customes or reasonable constitutions either for regulation of Property or against open force and violence most notorious murthers rapes robberies and all other acts of inhumanity and barbarisme raging without controll or due course of punishment Whereupon He without any manner of scruple or farther inquisition into particular titles resolving as it seems to make good by the sword the Popes donation made a generall seizure of all the lands of the whole kingdom and so without other ceremony took them all into his own hands And that he might the more speedily introduce Religion and civility Rex antequam ab Hibernia redibat consilium congregavit apud Lismore ubi leges Angliae ab omnibus gratantur sunt accepta et iuratoria cautione prestita confirmata Mat. Paris an 1172. and so draw on towards the accomplishment of that great work which he had so gloriously begun he first in a great Counsell held at Lissemore caused the Laws of England to be received and setled in Ireland then he afterwards united it to the Imperiall Crown of England making large distributions to his followers by particular grants allotting out in great proportions the whole Land of Ireland among the English Commanders who made estates and gave severall shares to their friends and commilitants that came over private adventurers with them But before I passe further I shall take the liberty here to insert one observation out of Giraldus Cambrensis concerning the causes and reasons of the prosperity of the English undertakings in Ireland He saith that a Synod Ireland divided by K. Hen. 2. among his followers and other adventurers or Counsell of the Clergy being there assembled at Armagh and that point fully debated it was unanimously agreed by them all that the sins of the people were the occasion of that heavy judgement then fallen upon their Nation and that especially their buying of English men from Merchants and Pirates and detaining them under a most miserable hard bondage Decretum est itaque praedicto concilio et cum universitatis conscensu publice Statutum ut Angli ubique per insulam servitutis vinculo mancipati in pristinam revocentur libertatem Gir. Camb. expug Hib. c. 18 had caused the Lord by way of just retalliation to leave them to be reduced by the English to the same slavery Whereupon they made a publique act in that counsell that all the English held in captivity throughout the whole Land should be presently restored to their former liberty If so heavy a Judgement fell then upon the Irish for their hard usage of some few English what are they now to expect or what expiation can they now pretend to make for the late effusion of so much innocent English blood after so horrid despitefull and execrable a manner There being since the Rebellion first brake out unto the time of the Cessation made Sept. 15. 1643. which was not full two years after above 300000 Brittish and Protestants cruelly murthered in cold blood The numbers of British and protestants destroyed since the Rebellion destroyed some otherway or expelled out of their habitations according to the strictest conjecture and computation of those who seemed best to understand the numbers of English planted in Ireland besides those few which perished in the heat of Fight during the war King John came into Ireland during his minority though to little purpose The fruitlesse expeditions of K. Iohn and K. Richard 2. into Ireland but after about the twelfth year of his Raign upon the generall defection of the Irish he made a second expedition and during his stay there built severall Forts and strong Castles many of which remain unto this day he erected all the Courts of Judicature and contributed very much towards the settlement of the English Colonies as also of the civill Government King Richard the second made likewise in the time of his Raign upon the same occasion two other expeditions into Ireland in his owne person But both those Princes out of a desire to spare the effusion of English blood as also the expence of treasure being likewise hastened back by the distempers of their own Subjects in England were both content to suffer themselves to be again abused by the fained submissions of the Irish who finding their own weaknesse and utter disability to resist the power of those two mighty Monarchs came with all humility even from the farthest parts of the kingdom to submit to their mercy And yet it is well observed by some that say they returned back not leaving one true subject more behind them than they found at their first arrivall Howsoever by the very presence of these Princes and by the carefull endeavours of the Governours sent over by other of the Kings of England those
declination as they could not long continue Seignories and Possessions were setled in a due course of inheritance those most destructive customes of * The Lands belonging to the Irish were divided into severall territories and the Inhabitants in every Irish country were divided into severall Septs or Lineages In every Irish country there was a Lord or Chieftain and a Tanist which was his successor apparent None could be chosen Tanist but one issued out of one of the chief Septs The Seignory and Lands belonging to the chief Lord did not descend from father to sonne or upon default of issue to him that was next of kinne But he that was most active of greatest power and had most followers alwayes caused himself to be chosen Tanist and if he could not compasse his desires by gentle means then he used open force and violence and so being declared as it were heire apparent came into possession upon the death of the chief Lord. Now for the inferior Septs they held their lands at the will of the chief Lord after a sort For after the death of every one of his Tenants which held any land under him he assembled the whole Septs and having put all their possessions together in hotch-potch made a new partition among them not assigning to the son of him that died the land held by his father but altering every mans possession at his own pleasure and according to his own discretion he upon the death of every inferior Tenant made a generall remove and so allotted to every one of the Sept such part as he thought fit And this was the Irish Gavelkind Sir John Davies Rep. fol. 49. Tanestry and Gavelkind began to be depressed The two Presidentiall Courts of Munster and Conaght were then instituted and speciall order taken that Free-schooles might be erected in the severall Diocesses throughout the Kingdom for the better training up of Youth But these acts and other courses tending to the advancement of true Religion and Civility were highly displeasing and most incompatible with the loose humours of the Natives who apprehended even the most gentle means of reformation as sharp corroding medicines And thereupon pretending the burthen of the English government most insupportable began desperately to struggle for their liberty Severall plots were laid Nonnulli ex claris in Lagenia familijs et plerique Anglicae originis partim ex romana religionis studio partim ex odio recentium Anglorum conspirare coâ—perant ad pro regem cum familia opprimendum castrum Dublinense intercipiâ—ndum et Aâ—glos in Hibâ—â—â—â— ad unum â—â—â—edio tolâ—â—ndos Cambden Eliz. an 22. some even by those who were themselves of the old English by extraction divers Rebellions and petty Revolts raised during Her Majesties most happy reigne That of Shane O Neale the Earl of Desmond Viscount Baltinglas O Rurke and severall others at other times were all set on foot for this very end and all timely suppressed partly by the power of the Queens forces partly by her gracious favour in receiving the Chieftains to mercy And she as most unwearied with their never ceasing provocations still went on with all gentle applications and lenitives for the withdrawing of the people from their barbarous customes As severall of the great Lords who had been out in rebellion were restored to their lands and possessions others she suffered to enjoy their Commands in the country upon others she bestowed new titles of Honour And being very unwilling to put the Kingdome of England to such an excessive charge as the full conquest of Ireland would most necessarily require no faire meanes were left untryed that could minister any hopes of civilizing the people or setling the present distractions of the Kingdome But all was in vain The Irish not to be reclaimed by gentle meanes the matter then wrought upon was not susceptible of any such noble forms those wayes were heterogeneall and had no manner of influence upon the perverse dispositions of the Irish the malignant impressions of irreligion and barbarisme transmitted down whether by infusion from their ancestors or naturall generation had irrefragably stiffned their necks and hardned their hearts against all the most powerfull endeavours of Reformation They continued one and the same in all their wicked customes and inclinations without change in their affections or manners having their eyes inflamed their hearts enraged with malice and hatred against all of the English nation breathing forth nothing but their ruine destruction and utter extirpation And that they might at once dis-impester themselves of their unpleasing company Tyrones rebellion and disburthen the whole Kingdome of them and their posterity they still entertained new thoughts and had now brought unto perfection a designe long meditated in their breasts whereby they resolved at once clearly to rescue deliver themselves from their subjection to the Crown of England And this was that desperate Rebellion raised almost through the whole Kingdome by Hugh Earl of Tyrone who after titles of Honour received a Command given by the Queen unto him both of Horse and Foot in her Pay great proportions of Land and other Princely favours conferred upon him Resolving at once to cancell all those Royall obligations of gratitude and fidelity broke out and drew along with him most of all the Irish Septs and famlies together with many degenerate English throughout the Kingdome into rebellion against his most gracious undoubted Soveraign And these all as being universally actuated with the venemous infusions of his malevolent spirit uniting their whole interests and forces into a firm conjuncture with him raised all their dependants and moved in severall places according to the severall orders and directions they received from him And to fill up the full measure of his iniquity he drew in a foraigne Nation at the same time with considerable Forces to invade the Land The ill effects of the submissions of the Irish So as the Queen now found by wofull experience that Ireland was no longer to be dallied with one Rebellion still begot another and this last was more dangerous then any of the former it being more deeply rooted more generally spread within the Kingdome more powerfully fomented from without She well discerned how much her great clemency had been abused in suffering former rebellions to be smothered over and loosely peeced up with protections and pardons that the receiving of the Irish upon their submissions to avoid the charge of a war did inevitably redouble the charge and perpetuate the miseries of war therefore she now resolved no longer to trifle with them but vigorously to set to the work and making choice of some of her most renowned English Commanders committed to their charge the conduct of an Army royal compleatly armed and well paid wherewith they began the prosecution of that Arch-traitour Tyrone and with great successe in a short time though not without the expence of much English blood and above a million of mony brought
him upon his knees And howsoever before this glorious work was fully accomplished it pleased God to put a period to her dayes yet lived she long enough to see just vengeance brought down upon the head of that unnaturall disturber of the peace of the kingdome himself in a manner wholly deserted his country most miserably wasted and a generall desolation and famine brought in mightily consuming what was left undevoured by the sword It is very easie to conjecture in what a most miserable condition Ireland then was The miserable condition of Ireland when K. Iames came to the Crown of England the English colonies being for the most part barbarously rooted out the remainders degenerated into Irish manners and names the very Irish themlelves most mightily wasted and destroyed by the late wars and thereby much of the kingdome depopulated in every place large monuments of calamity and undiscontinued troubles King James of blessed memory found it at his first accession to the Crown of England in this deplorable estate whereupon he presently took into his care the peaceable settlement of Ireland and civilizing of the people And conceiving that the powerfull conjunction of England and Scotland would now overawe the Irish and contain them in their due obedience His lenity towards the Irish rebels and his endeavours for a civill reformation He resolved not to take any advantage of those forfeitures and great confiscations which he was most justly intitled unto by Tyrone's rebellion but out of his Royall bounty and Princely magnificence restored all the Natives to the entire possession of their own lands A work most munificent in it self and such as he had reason to believe would for the time to come perpetually oblige their obedience to the Crown of England And in this state the Kingdom continued under some indifferent terms of peace and tranquility untill the sixth year of his raigne Then did the Earl of Tyrone take up new thoughts of rising in arms and into his rebellious designe he easily drew the whole province of Vlster then entirely at his devotion But his plot failed and he finding himself not able to get together any considerable forces he with the principall of his adherents quitting the kingdom fled into Spain leaving some busie incendiaries to foment those beginnings he had laid for a new rebellion in Ireland and promising speedily to return well attended with forraigne succours to their aid But by the great blessing of Almighty God upon the wise Councels of that King and the carefull endeavours of his vigilant Ministers the distempers occasioned by the noise of that commotion were soon allayed and Tyrone never returning the peace of the kingdome much confirmed and setled King James hereupon being now so justly provoked by the high ingratitude of those rebellious traitours caused their persons to be attainted their lands to be seized and those six Counties within the Province of Vlster which belonged unto them to be surveyed and all except some small parts of them reserved to gratifie the well-affected natives to be distributed in certain proportions among British undertakers who came over and setled themselves and many other British families in those parts By this meanes the foundations of some good Towns soon after encompassed with stone wals were presently laid severall castles and houses of strength built in severall parts of the country great numbers of British inhabitants there setled to the great comfort and security of the whole kingdome And the same course was taken likewise for the better assurance of the peace of the country in the plantation of severall parts of Lemster where the Irish had made incursions and violently expelled the old English out of their possessions But howsoever the King was by due course of law justly intitled to all their whole estates there yet he was graciously pleased to take but one fourth part of their lands which was delivered over likewise into the hands of British undertakers who with great cost and much industry planted themselves so firmly as they became of great security to the country and were a most especiall means to introduce civility in those parts so as now the whole kingdome began exceedingly to flourish in costly buildings K. Charles great readinesse to redresse the grievances presented unto him by the Irish Commissioners 1640 The Lords L. Vicount Gormanstone L. Vicount Kilmaloc L. Vicount Costeloe L Vicount Baltinglas Commons Lemster Nic. Plunket Digbie Richard Fitz-garret Nic Barnewall Esq Munster Sir Hardresse Waller Io. Welsh Sir Donnogh Mac Cartie Conaght Robert Linch Geffrie Browne Thomas Burke Vlster Sir William Cole Sir Iames Mongomerie and all manner of improvements the people to multiply and increase and the very Irish seemed to be much satisfied with the benefits of that peaceable government and generell tranquility which they so happily enjoyed ANd now of late such was the great indulgence of K. Charles our Soveraign that now reigneth to his Subjects of Ireland as that in the year 1640. upon their complaints and a generall Remonstrance sent over unto him from both Houses of Parliament then sitting at Dublin by a Committee of foure temporall Lords of the upper house and twelve Members of the house of Commons with instructions to represent the heavy pressures they had for some time suffered under the government of the Earl of Strafford He took their grievances into his royall consideration descended so far to their satisfaction as that he heard them himself and made present provisions for their redresse And upon the decease of Mr. Wandsford Master of the Rols in Ireland and then Lord Deputy here under the said Earl of Strafford who still continued Lord Lieutenant of this kingdome though then accused of high treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London by the Parliament of England His Majesty sent a Commission of Government to the Lord Dillon of Kilkenny west and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet Master of the Wards in Ireland Yet soon after finding the choice of the Lord Dillon to be much disgusted by the Committee he did at their motion cause the said commission to be cancelled and with their consent and approbation placed the government upon Sir William Parsons and Sir Iohn Borlace Knight Sir Will. Parsons and Sir Iohn Borlace made L. Iustices Master of the Ordnance both esteemed persons of great integrity and the Master of the Wards by reason of his very long continued imployment in the State his particular knowledge of the kingdome much valued and well beloved among the people They took the sword upon the 9. of Febr. 1640. And in the first place they applied themselves with all manner of gentle lenitives to mollifie the sharp humours raised by the rigid passages in the former government They apply themselves to give contentment to the people They declared themselves against all such proceedings lately used as they found any wayes varying from the Common Law They gave all due encouragement to the
23 day of this moneth We conceiving that as soon as it should be known that the plot for seizing Dublin Castle was disappointed all the Conspirators in the remote parts might be somewhat disheartned as on the other side the good Subjects would be comforted and would then with the more confidence stand on their guard did prepare to send abroad to all parts of the Kingdome this Proclamation which we send you here inclosed and so having provided that the City and Castle should be so guarded as upon the sudden Wee could promise Wee concluded that long continued consultation On Saturday at 12 of the clock at night the Lord Blany came to town and brought Vs the ill news of the Rebels seising with two hundred men his house at Castle Blany in the County of Monaghan and his Wife Children and Servants as also a house of the Earle of Essex called Carrickmacrosse with two hundred men a house of Sir Henry Spotswood in the same County with two hundred men where there being a little Plantation of Brittish they plundred the Town and burnt divers houses and it since appears that they burnt divers other Villages and robbed and spoiler many English and none but Protestants leaving the English Papists untouched as well as the Irish On Sunday morning at three of the clock We had intelligence from Sir Arthur Terringham that the Irish in the town had that day also broken up the Kings store of arms and munition at the Newry and where the store of arms hath lyen ever since the peace and where they found fourscore and ten barrels of powder and armed themselves and put them under the command of Sir Con. Magennis Knight and one Creely a Monk and plundered the English there and disarmed the Garrison And this though too much is all that We yet hear is done by them However We shall stand on our guard the best We may to defend the Castle and City principally those being the pieces of most importance But if the Conspiracy be so universall as Mac Mahon saith in his Examination it is namely That all the Counties in the Kingdome have conspired in it which We admire should so fall out in this time of universall peace and carried with that secrecy that none of the English could have any friend amongst them to disclose it then indeed We shall be in high extremity and the Kingdome in the greatest danger that ever it underwent considering our want of men money and armes to enable Vs to encounter so great multitudes as they can make if all should joyn against Vs the rather because We have pregnant cause to doubt that the combination hath taken force by the incitement of Jesuits Priests and Fryars All the hope We have here is the old English of the Pale and some other parts will continue constant to the King in their fidelity as they did in former rebellions And now in these straits We must under God depend on ayd forth of England for our present supply with all speed especially money We having none and arms which we shall exceedingly want without which We are very doubtfull what account We shall give to the King of his Kingdome But if the Conspiracy be only of Mac Guire and some other Irish of the kindred and friends of the Rebell Tirone and other Irish in the Counties of Downe Monaghan Cavan Fermanagh and Armagh and no generall revolt following thereupon we hope then to make head against them in a reasonable measure if We be enabled with money from thence without which We can raise no forces so great is our want of money as we have formerly written and our debt so great to the Army nor is money to be borrowed here and if it were we would engage all our estates for it neither have we any hope to get in his Majesties rents and subsidies in these disturbances which adde extreamly to our necessities On Sunday morning 24. We met again in Councell and sent to all parts of the Kingdome the enclosed Proclamation and issued Potents to draw hither seven Horse troopes as a further strength to this place and to be with us in case the Rebels shall make head and march hitherward so as we may be necessitated to give them battell We also then sent away our Letters to the President of both the Provinces of Munster and Conaght And we likewise then sent Letters to the Sheriffes of the five Counties of the Pale to consult of the best way and means of their own preservation That day the Lord Vice Com. Gormanston the Lord Vice Co. Nettervile the Lord Vice Co. Fitz Williams and the Lord of Houth and since the Earles of Kildare and Fingall and the Lords of Dunsany and Slane all Noblemen of the English Pale came unto us declaring that they then and not before heard of the matter and professed loyalty to his Majesty and concurrence with the State but said they wanted armes whereof they desired to be supplyed by Vs which we told them we would willingly do as relying much on their faithfulnesse to the Crown but we were not yet certain whether or no we had enough to arme our strength for the guard of the City and Castle yet we supplyed such of them as lay in most danger with a small proportion of Arms and Munition for their houses lest they should conceive we apprehended any jealousie of them And we commanded them to be very diligent in sending out watches and making all the discoveries they could and thereof to advertise us which they readily promised to do And if it fall out that the Irish generally rise which we have cause to suspect then we must of necessity put Arms into the hands of the English Pale in present and to others as fast as we can to fight for defence of the State and themselves Your Lordship now sees the condition wherein we stand and how necessary it is first that we enjoy your presence speedily for the better guiding of those and other the publick affairs of the King Kingdom And secondly that the Parliament there be moved immediately to advance to Vs a good sum of money which being now speedily sent hither may prevent the expence of very much treasure blood in a long continued war And if your Lordship shall happen to stay on that side any longer time we must then desire your Lordship to appoint a Lieutenant Generall to discharge the great and weighty burthen of commanding the forces here Amidst these confusions and discords fallen upon Vs We bethought Vs of the Parliament which was formerly adjourned to November next the term now also at hand which will draw such a concourse of people hither give opportunity under that pretence assembling and taking new Councels seeing the former seems to be in some part disappointed and of contriving further danger to this State and People We have therefore found it of unavoidable necessity to prorogue it accordingly and to
considered what means were fittest to be used at present for the prevention of the further spreading of that hideous Rebellion in Ireland as well as stopping of the ill influence it might make upon their affairs in England where great troubles even then began to appeare within view And after much time spent in this debate they came to these severall Conclusions which being put to the question were assented unto by the Committee and so resolved as followeth 1. That 50000. l. be forthwith provided 2. That a Conference be desired with the Lords to move them that a select Committee of the Members of both Houses may be appointed to go to the city of London and to make a Declaration unto them of the state of the businesse in Ireland and to acquaint them that the leading of monies at this time will be an acceptable service to the Commonwealth And that they propose unto them the Loan of 50000. l. and to assure them that they shall be secured both of the Principall and Interest by Act of Parliament 3. That a select Committee may be named of both Houses to consider of the affaires of Ireland 4. That Owen O Conally who discovered this great treason shall have 500. l. presently paid him and 200. l. per annum pension untill provision of land of inheritance of a greater value be made for him 5. That the persons of Papists of quality within this Kingdome may be secured within the severall Counties where they reside 6. That no person whatsoever except those who are Merchants shall be admitted to go over into Ireland without Certificate from the Committee of both Houses appointed to consider the affaires of Ireland These with severall other particulars concerning Ireland and tending in order to the safety of the kingdome of England were resolved upon the question and Master Whitlock appointed to report them to the House as heads of a conference desired with the Lords concerning the affaires of Ireland which was accordingly had with their Lordships the same day At which conference the L. Keeper did expresse the very great sense the Lords had of the exceeding great care taken by the house of Commons for the prevention of the further spreading of the Rebellion in Ireland And his Lordship by command of the Lords did further let them know that their Lordships did think fit to agree with them in all those particulars presented unto them by the house of Commons without any materiall alteration only adding such further things as they conceived might serve to further and expedite their desires in the more speedy putting them in execution The house of Commons having proceeded thus far in the affairs of Ireland upon the two first dayes after the discovery made unto them of the Rebellion there raised did notwithstanding their own present distractions set apart some portion almost of every day that they sate during the whole moneth of November for the considering of the affairs of Ireland and so upon the third and fourth of the same resolved upon the question and accordingly ordered these particulars following 1. That the House holds fit that 20000 li. be forthwith supplied for the present occasions of Ireland 2. That a convenient number of ships shall be provided for the guarding of the Sea-coasts of Ireland 3. That this house holds fit that 6000 foot and 2000 horse shall be raised with all convenient speed for the present expedition into Ireland 4. That the Lord Lieutenant shall present to both Houses of Parliament such Officers as he shall think fit to send into Ireland to command any forces to be transported thither 5. That Magazines of victuals shall be forthwith provided at Westchester to be sent over to Dublin as the occasions of that Kingdome shall require 6. That the Magazines of armes ammunition powder now in Carlile shall be forthwith sent over to Knockfergus in Ireland 7. That it be referred to the Kings Councell to consider of some fit way and to present it to the House for a publication to be made of rewards to be given to such as shall do service in this Expedition into Ireland and for a pardon of such of the Rebels in Ireland as as shall come in by a time limited and of a sum of money to be appointed for a reward to such as shall bring in the Heads of such principall Rebels as shall be nominated 8. That Letters shall be forthwith sent to the Justices in Ireland to acquaint them how sensible this House is of the affairs of Ireland 9. That the Committee of Irish affairs shall consider how and in what manner this Kingdome shall make use of the friendship and assistance of Scotland in the businesse of Ireland 10. That directions shall be given for the drawing of a Bill for the pressing of men for this particular service for Ireland These particulars together with severall others being resolved upon the question they passed an Ordinance of Parliament enabling the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to raise 3500 foot and 600 horse for the present service there And they further expressed their resolution not to make use of the assistance offered unto them by their Brethren of Scotland further for the present then for the furnishing them with 1000 foot which they desired might be transported out of Scotland into the North of Ireland And on the same day they ordered that the Master of his Majesties Ordnance should deliver to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland the number of 1000 arms for horse and 8000 arms for foot and ten Last of powder to be presently sent into Ireland And that the Lord Admirall should suddenly provide shipping for the transporting of men arms and ammunition and other provisions according to the former resolutions of the House Now while both Houses of Parliament were taking Order for raising men money and sending provisions and other necessaries for Ireland there arrived those other Letters of the 5 of November formerly mentioned which being addressed to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell were communicated to both Houses of Parliament and after a conference upon them took further resolutions for the speedy sending away supplyes into Ireland And such were the forward affections and zeal of the House of Commons to promove what concerned the service of Ireland as they thereupon voted 200000 li. to be raised for the suppressing the Irish rebellion and for securing of the Kingdome of England and payment of the publick debts And that they might facilitate this great work of raising such a summe of money upon the credit of an Act of Parliament before the money could be collected throughout the Kingdome they thought fit for the better encouragement of the City of London and for the giving them full satisfaction in point of security for the monies formerly lent them to make this Order following THe Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled having a due regard to the good affections of the City of London expressed
Rebels used to those English to whom they gave their lives for a prey But what their sufferings were before they could get out of the hands of those bloody Villaines what strange horrid inventions they used towards them torturing and massacring those they there murthered is reserved to be more fully related in its proper place They are left upon record to posterity under the oathes of many that escaped mentioned here to no other purpose then to shew the strange horror and amazement the beholding of them bred in all the English and Protestant inhabitants of the City They seeing the Rebels prevaile so mightily expected if they continued here to be undoubtedly exposed to the same cruelties And they now understood by those who were come up from among them that their designe was As soon as they had taken in Tredagh to come and seaze upon the City and Castle of Dublin and so to make a generall extirpation of all the English root and branch not to leave them name or posterity throughout the whole Kingdome It is easie to conjecture what a sad confused countenance the City then had what fears terror and astonishment the miserable spectacles within and the approaches of the Rebels without raised in the mindes of an affrighted distracted people The English inhabitants looked upon all the horrid cruelties exercised abroad all the calamities and desolations fallen upon their countreymen in other parts of the Kingdome as arrived at these gates and now ready to enter the Avenues all open The fears and distractions within the City of Dublin neither hope nor means neither Rampires nor Trenches to keep them out Notwithstanding the carefull travels and endeavours used by the Lords Justices and Councell to make provision for the common safety no money could be raised few men gotten together the Papists well furnished with arms closely concealed and desperately animated by their Priests to 〈◊〉 manner of mischief no fortifications about the Suburbs nor any manner of defence for the City but an old ruinous Wall part whereof feâ—â— down in the very height of these distractions And so carelesse were the Citizens and so slowly went they about the making up that breach and under pretence of want of money they let it lye open till the Lords sent unto them 40 li. toward the reparation All things tended to a sudden confusion the very face of the City was now changed and had such ghastly aspect as seemed to portend her near approaching ruine the means of safety appearing very slender and inconsiderable the applications by reason of the strange aversions of the Popish party of a very slow and weak operation Every man began to consider himself and his own private preservation Those that lived in the Suburbs removed with their families into the City The Privie Councellours and persons of quality into the Castle which became a common repository of all things of value The Rolles were by speciall order removed thither the Records of severall other Offices were likewise brought in But upon the Rebels advance somewhat nearer and their frequent alarms many of those who had there taken sanctuary began to suspect the strength of those old crazy walls and therefore to make sure resolved to quit the Kingdome imbarquing themselves and their goods with all possible speed Some who were detained with contrary winds in the Harbour chose rather to endure all extremities on shipboard then to hazard themselves ashoar again The Scotish Fishermen who lay with their Boats in great numbers within the Bay fishing for Herrings having with much forwardnesse made an offer to the State to bring 500 of their men ashoar to be put in arms and do present service a proposition at that season most acceptable were so strangely affrighted one evening with a false alarm as that in the night on a sudden they put to sea and quite disappeared on these Coasts till the year following The Papists on the other side being most confident that the City would be taken and sack'd by the Rebels and fearing lest happily they might be mistaken in the tumult and fierce execution removed themselves and their goods with the same speed into the countrey And that which heightned the calamity of the poor English was their flight in the Winter in such a dismall stormy tempestuous season as in the memory of man had never been observed formerly to continue so long together Yet the terror of the Rebels incomparably prevailing beyond the rage of the sea most of those who could provide themselves of shipping though at never so excessive rates deserted the City and such was the violence of the windes such continuing impetuous storms as severall Barques were cast away some in three moneths after their going from hence could recover no Port in England and almost all that then put to sea were in great danger of perishing The iniquities of the English Nation which were very great in this Kingdome were now full Heaven and Earth seemed to conspire together for the punishment of them God certainly declared his high indignation against them for their great sins wherewith they had long continued to provoke him in this land and suffered these barbarous Rebels to be the instruments of mischief and cruell executioners of his fierce wrath upon them But because they have taken vengeance with a despightfull heart to destroy them Ezek. 25.15.17 for the old hatred He will certainly in His own time execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes as he threatned the Philistims in the like case The Particulars of the first PLOT of the IRISH Rebellion Together with a briefe Narration of the most notorious Cruelties and bloody Massacres which ensued in severall parts of this KINGDOM THUS we see what a great hight this Rebellion was grown up unto within the space of lesse then one moneth after the very first appearance of it What horrid murthers cruell outrages and fearfull desolations it had already wrought in one Province Concerning the first plot of the Rebellion and what a powerful operation the cruelties there acted had upon other parts But before I passe further or come to declare the universal dilatation of it throughout the whole Kingdom and how it pleased God even miraculously to blesse the painfull endeavours of the State in the preservation of the City and Castle of Dublin till the arrivall of their long expected succours out of England I hold it not amisse to look back and as far as the late discoveries and dark glimmerings we have into the first plot will admit to trace it up to the first beginnings we find of it within this Kingdom of Ireland Concerning the first Originall of this great Conspiracy as likewise the first plotters and contrivers of it I must ingenuously confesse that I am my self much unsatisfied in the first conceptions of this monstrous birth Who were the plotters of it not yet cleerly discovered and therefore shall not not now be able cleerly to
the affairs of great Brittain when Scotland lately in Arms had by their own power and wise managements drawn his Majesty to condiscend to their entire satisfaction as wel in their Church discipline as the liberties of that Kingdom And in England the distractions being grown up to some height through the great misunderstanding betwixt the King and his Parliament Ireland was at this time left naked and unregarded the Government in the hands of Justices the old Army dispersed in places of so great distance as it could be of little advantage the common Souldiers most of them Irish and all the old Commanders and Captains except some few worn out and gone This as the first plotters thought was the time to work out their own ends and masking their perfidious designs under the publike pretences of Religion and the defence of his Majesties Prerogative they let loose the reins of their own vindicative humour and irreconcilable hatred to their British Neighbours I will not presume to say they knew what would fall out in England or what miserable embroilments that Kingdom was ready to break out into for undoubtedly the first plot was laid and most exactly formed many moneths before the war brake out betwixt the King and his people But thus much I shall be bold to affirm that upon the very first breaking out of this Rebellion they did strangely conjecture and beyond all appearance of reason even somewhat positively divine of the dismal breach and fearfull distempers which afterwards followed to the disabling of the Kingdome of England from applying remedies towards the reducement of Ireland For the attestation of this truth I could produce the generall concurrence of severall circumstances many private discourses and advertisements as also a particular Letter which I had long by me written as it seems from a very intelligent Papist a great Zealot in the cause unto a Nephew of Sir Toby Matthew's then in Dublin who though lately converted retained yet a great friendship among them He tels him in the beginning of the Letter that he was desired from some well wishing friends to advise him as he tendered his safety and security upon the sight of those instantly to forsake and abandon that troublesom and most unfortunate Kingdom for God and man had speedily resolved to afflict and punish the overgrown impieties of these prophane times all hearts and hands happily conspiring to it and that he should be as speedy in his passage as was possible and rather as the case stood hazard all dangers by sea then the least at land to be sure not to stop in England especially at London that sink of sin as he cals it and center of disorders for by that time he arrived there he should be sure to find nothing but troubles factions and desperate distempers that he should dispatch therefore for Paris or rather Brussels where there should be order taken for the removall of all mistakes betwixt him and his Uncle This Letter was written about the beginning of Novem. 1641. which was some few dayes after the breaking out of this Rebellion and full six moneths before the taking up of Arms in England Now for the very time when this great Plot received its first forme The Plot for a Rebellion in Ireland first discovered to the Lord Mac Guire and others about the time of Master John Bellewes return out of England with commission to continue the Parliament in Ireland which was in Jan. 1640. though I conceive it of somewhat a more ancient date yet by all the examinations I have hitherto seen I can carry it up no higher then the moneth of January 1640. and that it was about that time communicated to some of the chief Gentlemen of Vlster the Lord Mac Guire doth sufficiently testifie as well in the relation written with his own hand in the Tower and delivered by him to Sir John Coniers then Lieutenant to be presented to the Lords in Parliament as also in his Examination taken before the Lord Lambart and Sir Robert Meredith Kinght in Ireland March 26. 1642. In both these he acknowledgeth that he being in Dublin in Candlemas Tearm about the time when Master John Bellew came out of England with the Commission for the continuance of the Parliament in Ireland Roger Moore acquainted him that if the Irish would rise they might make their own conditions for the regaining of their Lands and Freedome of their Religion and further saith that he had spoken with sundry of Lemster to that purpose who would be ready to joyn with them as likewise a good part of Conaught and that he found all of them willing thereto if so be they could draw to them the Gentlemen of Vlster Now for the manner of putting this Plot in execution the said Lord Mac Guire doth further testifie in his relation aforesaid that the said Roger Moore having the next day acquainted Philip O Rely Turlagh O Neale Brother to Sir Phelim O Neale Master Cosloe and Mac Mahone herewith did propose that first every one should endeavour to draw his own friends into that act at least those that did live in one Country with them and that when they had so done they should send to the Irish in the Low-Countries and in Spain to let them know of the day and resolution so that they might be over with them by that day or soon after with supply of Arms and Munition that there should be a set day appointed and every one in his own Quarters should rise out that day and seize upon all the Arms he could get in his own County and this day to be neer 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 supplied by the Irish from beyond the Seas Then he told them further that there was no doubt to be made of the Irish joyning with them and that all the doubt was in the Gentlemen of the Pale but he said for his own part he was really assured that when they had risen out the Pale Gentlemen would not stay long after at lest they would not oppose any thing and that in case they did that they had men enough in the Kingdom without them Moreover that he had spoken to a great man who then should be namelesse who would not fail at the day appointed to appear and to be seen in the act but that till then he was sworn not to reveal him but yet that upon their importunity he afterwards told them it was the Lord of Mayo who was very powerfull in the command of men in those parts of Conaught where he lived He further saith that in Lent following Master Moore according to his promise came into Vlster but that nothing was done there but all matters put off till May following where they met at Dublin it being both Parliament and Tearm time and that from thence they dispatched
since the twentieth yeer of King Henry the eight may be repealed 7 That the Bishopricks Deanaries and all other spirituall promotions of this Kingdome and all Frieries and Nunneries may be restored to the Catholick owners and likewise all impropriations of Tythes and that the Scits Ambits and Precincts of the Religious houses of the Monks may be restored to them but as to the rest of their temporall possessions it is not designed to be taken from the present proprietors but to be left to them untill God shall otherwise incline their own hearts 8 That such as are now entitled Catholick Archbishops Bishops Abbots or other dignitaries in this Kingdome by donation of the Pope may during their lives enjoy their spirituall promotions with protestation neverthelesse and other fit clauses to be laid downe for preservation of his Majesties rights of Patronages first Fruits and twentieth parts in manner and quantity as now his Highnesse receives benefit thereby 9 That all inquisitions taken since the yeer 1634. to entitle his Majesty to Conaught Thomond Ormond Eliogartie Kilnemanagh Duheara Wickloe and Idvagh may be vacated and their estates secured according to his Majesties late graces 10 That an Act of Parliament may passe here for the securing the Subjects title to their severall estates against the Crown upon any title accrewed unto it before sixty yeers or under colour or pretext of the present commotions 11 That all Plantations made since the yeer 1610. may be avoyded by Parliament if the Parliament shall hold it just and their possessions restored to them or their Heirs from whom the same were taken they neverthelesse answering to the Crowne the Rents and services proportionable reserved upon the undertakers 12 That the transportation of all native Commodities to all places of the world in peace with his Majesty may be free and lawfull his customes first paid and that the Statutes of 10 11 13. of Queen Elizabeth for restraining the exportation of native Commodities be repealed 13 That all preferments Ecclesiasticall Civill and Martiall in this Kingdome that lye in his Majesties gift may be conferred on Natives of this Kingdome onely such as his Majesty shall think meet without any distinction for Religion Provided alwayes that upon the Princes of his blood of England he may bestow what places he shall think meet 14 That a Marshall and Admirall of this Kingdome may be elected in it to have perpetuall succession therein with the same preheminence authority and jurisdiction as they respectively have in England and that the said places be ever conferred upon Noble-men Natives of this Kingdom 15 That there may be Trained Bands in all Cities Towns Corporate and Counties of this Kingdome armed and provided at the charge of the severall Counties Cities and Townes and commanded by the Natives of the same who shall be named by the Counties Cities and Towns respectively 16 That his Majesty may release all Tenures in Capite and by Knight-service in consideration whereof he shall receive a setled revenue of 12000. li. per annum being double the summe which he casually receives by them Reliefes Seismes Licenses for Alienations Escuage and Aydes neverthelesse to remain 17 That all Monopolies may be for ever taken away by Act of Parliament 18 That such new Corporations as have not the face of Corporate Townes and were erected to give voyces in the Parliament may be dissolved and their Votes taken away and hereafter no such to be admitted to voices in Parliament 11 That there may be Agents chosen in Parliament or otherwise as thought meet to attend continually his Majesty to represent the grievances of this Nation that they may be removable by such as did elect them and in case of death or removance others may be for ever successively substituted in that place and that such Agents may enjoy the freedome of their conscience in Court and every where else These are the means proposed by these Catholick Remonstrants for reducing of the Kingdom to peace these the great obstructions they would have removed the cōstant Counsel they would have followed in setling the tranquility present government of this Land so as we need seek no further evidence nor make any more curious enquiries into the secret causes of their first rising we have here enough out of their owne mouths to resolve the most scrupulous unbeleever of their first motives to this Rebellion The re-establishment of the Romish Religion onely a pretence for the rebellion And now for the matter of Religion howsoever I am very confident they ever really intended the re-establishment of that of the Church of Rome with all the Rites and Ceremonies thereof together with the utter extirpation of all of the reformed profession Yet considering the large indulgence and free liberty they universally enjoyed at that time in the full exercise of that their Religion throughout all the parts of the Kingdome it may be most justly suspected how zealously soever they now obtrude it that this was onely the bare outward couverture made use of by the principall undertakers to draw on a poore ignorant superstitious people to sacrifice their lives in this quarrell Neither can it by any reasonable man be ever presumed that such persons as made no conscience of committing treason so many cruell murders and all other kind of abominable villanies not to be paralleld in any other Country could be drawne meerly out of conscience towards God to act these for the regaining of the free and publike profession of their Religion This certainly was no more the true and main cause of their taking up Armes then the redresse of their pretended grievances All the grievances of the Kingdom redressed before the Rebellion brake out whereunto his Majesty had condiscended and out of his inclinations for their present reliefe had given much more satisfaction to their Agents lately in England then ever they could in any other time expect to receive or hope to enjoy Yet we see how little effect those great graces brought over not above two moneths before this Rebellion brake out took among them for presently after the return of their Agents with them this most detestable conspiracy which had been long in hatching began to work and to be put in execution And if we shall consider their maine designe and chiefe ends therein as they appear in their first principles or will give credit to the severall speeches and passages that we meet with among the Rebels in the very beginning of their breaking out as also to severall other testimonies that have since privately fallen from some particular persons among them we must beleeve that their designe cleerly was to destroy and root out all the British and Protestants planted within this Kingdom to cut off the Soveraignty of the Crowne of England and so to deliver themselves from their long continued subjection to the English Nation But to come to one maine particular taken into debate by the prime Movers
and chiefe incendiaries in this horrid Rebellion A Consultation held whether it will be best to murder or onely to banish all the British out of Ireland they had a most serious consultation what course to take with most safety to themselves for the disburthening of the Kingdome of those multitudes of English which were in very great numbers dispersedly planted among them Some were of opinion that they should spare their lives not render themselves guilty of the spilling of so much innocent blood but that they should seize on their goods expell them their habitations and after banishing them out of the Kingdome proceed as the Spaniards did with many hundred thousands of the Moors whom as it were in a moment they cleered out of their Dominions Others there were who much opposed this kind of lenity and moderation remonstrating the high inconveniences which would inevitably redound to themselves thereby First that the British were in so great numbers as they could not either by disarming imprisoning or any other meanes possible ever hope to secure them from mischiefe Then that if they onely expelled them out of the Kingdome they would remain still as so many fit instruments to be entertained in England and from thence returned backe full of revengefull thoughts to recover their losses that by their long experience and knowledge in the Country they would be better guides more deeply engaged to prosecute the Warre and having their bodies inured to this Climate would prove much more able Souldiers then any new men that could be raised or any otherwayes brought over How they determined this particular I shall not undertake to declare my intelligence failes me and I am able to deliver no more of the result of this great Councell then appeares in the bloody effects and horrid executions acted in the first beginnings of their Rebellion It is most probable they came to no positive conclusion but left the chiefe Actors in this particular at large to doe as should seem good to themselves We finde their first proceedings and outrages committed upon the English very various and much differing in severall places some onely stripping and expelling of them others murdering Man Woman and Childe without mercy But this is certain and of most unquestionable truth that by one means or other they resolved universally to root all the British and Protestants out of Ireland The Irish resolve to root the English out of Ireland And that these were the first thoughts and bitter fruits of the long premeditated malicious intentions sufficiently appeares by their Actions as well as by their virulent expressions uttered upon their first rising when they thought the Kingdome their own They then said openly that they meant to destroy the English and that they had made a Covenant no Englishman should set footing among them Some of the Irish would not endure the very sound of that language The Irish in many places killed English Cowes and Sheep meerly because they were English in some places they cut off their legges or tooke out a peece out of their buttocks and so let them remain still alive The Lord Montgarrat Master Edward Butlar the Baron of Logmouth went with their Forces into Munster about the beginning of the rising of the Irish there and while they remained about Callen and Mallow they consumed no lesse then 50000. others say 100000. English Sheep besides a great abundance of English Cattell and such as they could not eat yet they killed and left in great multitudes stinking to the great annoyance of the Country This testified by Henry Champart in his Examination taken before Sir Robert Meredith Knight c. but would have penalties inflicted upon them that spake English and all the English names of places changed into the old Irish denominations others professed that they would not leave an English man or woman alive in the Kingdome but that all should be gone no not so much as an English Beast or any of the breed of them James Hallegan the Priest did read an Excommunication in the Church which as he alleaged came from their great Irish Metropolitane James Shaw a Minister Deposeth that after the Cessation divers of the Rebels confessed the Priests had given them the Sacrament upon condition they should not spare Man Woman nor Childe that were Protestants and that he heard divers of them say in a bragging manner that it did them a great deal of good to wash their hands in the blood of the Protestants whom they had slain jurat Jan. 7. 1643. and terrifying his Parishoners therewith he told them that from that day forth whosoever did harbour or relieve any Scot English or Welchman or give them Almes at their doors should be excommunicated whereby as Master Sacheurell testifies in his Examination many were starved and dyed for want in those parts Thomas JohnsonVicar of Tullah of the County of Maio deposeth that he heard Stephen Linoh Prior of Strade being asked if it were not lawfull to kill this Deponent because he would not goe to Masse answered that it was as lawfull for them to kill him as to kill a Sheepe or a Dogge and divers of the rebellious Souldiers told him to his face that they would no more care to kill him then they would doe a Pigge We have it from Master Creighton a reverend Minister one long detained prisoner within the County of Cavan that the Fryars exhorted the peopl with tears to spare none of the English John Addis of the County of Westmeath Deposeth that Robert Magohagan Priest said to this Deponant that it was no more pitty nor conscience to take English-mens lives or goods from them then to take a bone out of a Dogs mouth jurat July 21. 1642. that the Irish were resolved to destroy them out of the Kingdome that they would devour as their very word was the seed of the English out of Ireland and when they had rid them there they would goe over into ENGLAND and not leave the Memoriall of the ENGLISH Name under Heaven And so fond and vein were their imaginations and to such a height of madnesse were they grown as they could not terminate their thoughts in the reduction of Ireland under the power of their own Nation But as soon as they had begun their Rebellion there they spake confidently in all places of transporting their Armes into England that they would send 30000 men over into that Kingdom and that they would draw in foraign Auxiliaries thither to joyn with them and so by a high hand establish the free exercise of the Romish Religion within that Kingdom A Designe certainly which the Priests and Jesuits had taken up in their own thoughts and by their correspondencies abroad intended powerfully to bring about as soon as they had setled their affaires in Ireland And if it had not pleased God in an extraordinay way to bring the first Plot to light and so to blesse the weake endevours of the
of English breed and declare openly that their reason is because they are English so great is their hatred not onely to the persons of the English but also to every species of that Nation and they destroy all improvements made by the English and lay waste their habitations Wee formerly signified to your Lordship that to take away all jealousie from the Papists of the English Pale we would furnish them with some Armes and the rather because wee well know that in the last great Rebellion in Ireland the English Pale stood firme to the Crowne of England and that the Rebell Tyrone in the heigth of his power and greatnesse was never able to get into the Pale with his Forces whilst hee was in Rebellion and upon this occasion the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Pale making deep professions of their loyalty to his Majesty in imitation of their Ancestors and with expressions seeming to abhorre the Contrivers of this Rebellion here against whom they offered their power and strength so as they might have Armes and we being well assured that if wee could gaine their concurrence with us it would much facilitate our work wee did at their earnest suit issue for them Armes for one thousand seven hundred men wherewith divers Companies were armed by them and some of them selves were appointed Governours of the Forces of the Counties and Captaines of their Compaines but so many of those Companies revolted to the Rebels and carryed away their Armes with them as we have recovered back but nine hundred and fifty Armes so as those whose loyalty We had reason to expect would help us are now through their disloyalty turned against us and are strengthned with our own Armes and without all question if those of the English Pale had done their parts as became good subjects with their Armes they had from us and those they might gather amongst themselves they might with our help not only have defended the Pale against the Rebels but might also have prevented the ruine and destruction wrought by their Tenants and Neighbours on the poore English and Protestants amongst them for the Noblemen and Gentry sate still and looked on whilst the English and Protestants were ruined before their faces the Papist in the meane time remaining secure without the losse of goods or any thing else When wee saw the power and strength of the Rebels still growing upon us more and more and approaching by degrees more neare to us and the English and Protestants robbed and spoyled even within two miles of this City in disdaine and affront of this State which are scornes of so high a nature as we could not endure if we had strength sufficient to represse their insolencies and when we observed the retarding of our Succours of men and armes from England or Scotland neither of both Succours being yet come nor as we heard so much as in view there or in Scotland and when we found apparantly that for want of those supplies we became in a manner so contemptible as we were in danger to be set upon for taking from us this City and Castle before our aides should come wee be-thought us of all the meanes we could of gaining time being confident that wee cannot be so deserted by the State of England but that some supplies may yet come unto us And therefore on the third of December we directed our Letters to divers of the Nobility of the Kingdome who were nearest to us and most of them being of the English Pale to be with us here on the eight day of this Month that we might conferre with them concerning the present state of the Kingdome and we hoped by their help to handle the matter so as we might gaine a few dayes time before our supprisall here by which time in all likelihood our Succours might arrive although it be boldly given out by the Rebels that we shall have no Succours from thence which they divulge to enbolden their party and to strike terror and discouragement into the well-affected amongst whom there are many so weak as to apprehend from thence too much feare whereby many are fled the Kingdome On the eigth day of this Moneth the Earle of Kildare the Lord Viscount Fitz-Williams and the Lord Barron of Houth came unto us but the rest of the Noblemen not comming deferred our conference and on the eleventh day of this Month we received Letters from seven of them namely the Earle of Fingale the Lord Viscount Gormonston the Lord Viscount Nettervile and the Lords of Slaine Trimblestone Dunsany and Lowth dated the seventh day of this Month and signed by them pretending a feare of a Massacre on those of their Religion and that therefore they are deterred to wait on us but doe rather think it fit to stand upon their guard and how that resolution of theirs may stand with the loyalty they professe wee humbly submit to his Majestie 's excellent judgment for whose royall view wee send you here inclosed a Copy of their said Letters When we received those Letters we did admire whence their feares of comming to us should arise but afterwards we heard that they had been in consultation with the Rebels which also as to most of them is confirmed by the enclosed Examination of Christopher Hampton and indeed we know no cause of feare they have of us unlesse their own guilts begot in them the feare they pretend and they spare not though unjustly to charge us with a neglect of their advises whereas not one of them to this House offered to us any advice or reall assistance towards Pacification of these troubles It became then publike nor could wee keep secret that which they had published to others that those Noblemen so farre sided with the Rebels as they now stood on their guard wee therefore adjudged it fit for vindicating the State from the aspersion which we found so publikely endeavoured to be laid upon us to publish the enclosed Proclamation as well to satisfie to the world as those Noblemen who certainly are abundantly satisfied in their own secret thoughts that wee never intended to Massacre them or any other that being a thing which we and all good Protestants doe much abhorre what ever the practice of their Religion is and hath been found to be by wofull experience in other parts whereof we confesse we are now in great danger if our long expected Succours come not the sooner to us and it may be gathered from that unexampled tyranny which the Rebels have already exercised towards those of our Nation and Religion who fell into their hands what we for our parts may expect from them but the dishonour and shame which may reflect upon the English Nation by exposing this State and Kingdome to so apparent ruine and with it the extirpation of Gods true Religion afflicts us more then the losse of our own lives and fortunes when all might be saved by sending seasonably those Succors Wee lately received Letters
Spaine or France And although out of the fore-sight we had of this extremity since these troubles began we have endeavoured to get in some provisions of victuall and corne yet we have not been able to provide our selves sufficiently to stand out any long siege nor can we now get in any more our Markets being almost taken away and the strength of the Rebels surrounding us so as wee can fetch in no more provisions wherefore we beseech your Lordship that the Magazins of Victuals designed to be setled on that side may be setled wirh all speed if it be not done already whereby we and the Succours we expect may not be in distresse of Victuals for our selves or them or oates for our horses Our want of Victuals is the more in respect of the daily accesse of the English spoyled in the Countrey The necessity of the defence of the Province of Munster required the immediate raising of a Regiment of Foot consisting of one thousand men and two Troops of Horse of threescore each Troop which threescore we appointed the Lord President to raise and for the payment and arming of of them wee humbly advise seeing we cannot doe it that money and armes be sent from thence to Youghall with a further supply of Armes and Munition for the stores in that Province now much wanting there And as the Rebels which have be set us and this City on all sides by Land doe threaten to cut off our Market at Dublin which we begin to feele already so they boldy declare that they will within a day or two cut off the watercourse which brings water to this City and Castle and that done that their multitudes will immediately burn our Suburbs and besiege our Walls which we confesse we yet want strength to defend and must want till our Supplies come forth of England or Scotland or both for here we have but about three thousand men the rest of the old Companies being dispersed in severall needfull Garrisons in the Countrey excepting seven Companies of them surprised and cut off by the Rebels at their first rising in Vlster and other Parts and about two hundred horse by pole of the old Army whereof many are Irish so as considering the spaciousnesse of this City and Suburbs to be defended the smalnesse of our number to defend them and the great numbers of Papists Inhabitants in this City and Suburbs and lastly the very great numbers of the Rebels who are so strong as to approach this City with many thousands and yet leave many thousands also at the siege of Drogheda wee cannot expect to bee able to defend this City for any long time against them without the arrivall of our expected Succours The Earle of Castle-haven on the tenth of this Month presented at this board the inclosed Oath tendered unto him by the Rebels to be sworn by him which he saith he refused to sweare and we heare they send it to all Parts to be tendered to the people pressing them to take the Sacrament thereupon We did lately in hope to gaine some time untill our supplies might come listen to an offer made by some Popish Priests to goe to the Rebels and Treat with them as you may perceive by the inclosed But since we finde there is little hope of it for some of the Priests are returned nothing being wrought thereby However it is fit your Lordship should know what wee doe we must now crave leave to declare to your Lordship that things being risen here to this heigth threatning not onely the shaking of the Government but the losse of the Kingdom as the Supplies of men Armes and more Treasure are of great necessity to be hastned away hither so is it also needfull that we enjoy your Lordships presence here for the conduct in your own person of the great and important affaires of this State as well in the Martiall as in the Civill Government which doe necessarily require it in this time of great imminent danger wherein so farre as we may be able to contribute any assistance with you we shall be ready to discharge our duties therein with that loyalty and uprightenesse of heart which we owe to his Majesty and the particular respect due from us to your Lordship but we hope you will bring that strength with you which may befit the greatnesse of the King our Master to send with his Leivtenant against so numerous enemies as these Rebels are become as well for the honour of his Majesty as for the terrour of those Rebels By what we have heretofore and now humbly represented to your Lordship you may in part see the greatnesse of the publike danger wherein this Kingdom now stands and particularly this City and Castle the principall piece thereof that if those be lost which we now againe assure your Lordship were never in so great perill to be lost since the first Conquest of this Kingdom by the Crown of England the whole Kingdom must quickly follow that the danger which must thereupon arise to the Kingdom of England is very great in many respects There is no possibility to prevent those evils with honour and safety to England but by Succours from thence or Scotland or both and that if those Succours come not speedily it cannot be avoyded but the Kingdom must be lost And if notwithstanding all this so often and truly made known by us to your Lordship we shall perish for want of Supplies we shall carry this comfort with us to our graves or any other buriall we shall have that your Lordship can witnesse for us to the Royall Majesty and to all the world that we have discharged our duties to God to his Majesty to that Nation and to this in humbly representing to his Majesty by your Lordship the chiefe Governour of the Kingdome the extremities and dangers wherein his Kingdome and people stand and the necessity of hastning Supplies hither by all possible meanes for preservation of both so as what ever become of our persons our memory cannot be justly stained with so wretched a breach of faith and loyalty to the King our Master as to forbeare representing thither the extremities wherein we are whether we have the credit to be believed or no and that we write truth and most needfull truth will be found true when perhaps we shall perish and which is more considerable the Kingdome also for want of being believed and succoured in time And so we remaine Your Lordships to be commanded William Persons Io Burlace Ormand Ossory R Dillon Char Lambart Ad Loftus Iohn Temple Charles Coot Francis Willoughby R Meredith From his Majesties Castle of Dublin 14 December 1641. Postscript BY our Letters to your Lordship of the 22 of November We did desire to be enformed from thence whether the Parliament here being once Prorogued may not againe be prorogued by Proclamation before they sit or whether it be of necessity that they must sit againe and the Parliament to
be Prorogued the House sitting And now that this Rebellion hath over-spread the whole Kingdome and that many members of both Houses are involved therein so as the Parliament cannot sit We humbly desire to know his Majesties pleasure therein and if his Majesty shall think fit to Prorogue it which in present we hold expedient that then we may receive his commandment for Prorogation and that the doubt concerning that be cleared for to assemble at that time cannot be with safety Our Letters of the third of December have been hitherto with-held on this side by contrary winds In this most miserable condition the Lords Justices and Councell continued shut up within the City of Dublin strugling with all their power for a short preservation from those dismall calamities which had generally over-spred the whole Kingdome Their care travell and endeavours had hitherto in some measure extended to the most remote parts how they might asswage the swelling distempers or yeeld some reliefe to the lamentable complaints and bitter out-cryes daily brought up unto them But now the evils abroad were grown past their cure and their own dangers so multiplyed as they were enforced to spend their time almost in a perpetuall consultation never at rest sometimes raised in the night by sudden advertisements alwayes in constant perplexity and trouble desperately threatned on every side so as what through treachery within or from without they had just reason to apprehend the losse of the City and Castle wherein they had enclosed themselves and so consequently the ruine and destruction of all the British and Protestants throughout all other parts of the Kingdome And thus they continued untill the most happy and welcome arrivall of that truly valiant Gentleman and gallant Commander Sir Simon Harcourt The arrivall of Sir Simon Harcourt with Forces out of England who being designed Governour of the City of Dublin was dispatched away by speciall Order of Parliament with his Regiment for the preservation of that place and landed here on the last of December 1641 to the great joy and comfort of all his Majesties Protestants and well affected Subject and to the terrour of those Rebels now in Armes who had made themselves believe that no Succours would be sent out of England towards the suppressing of their notorious Rebellion And now my intentions were to have proceeded further on in setting down what hath fallen out within the next foure Months and then to have added a briefe account of all such particular passages as have been acted during the space of those six Months within all the severall Counties of this Kingdom and so having recollected and presented as it were at one view the publike calamities and miserable desolations of all the foure Provinces there to have sate down and made the first period of this Story But I must here take up being unexpectly called away I resolve therefore patiently to attend the restoring of this Kingdome and the resettlement of our affaires and then if I find not this work undertaken and perfected by some more skilfull hand I shall hope to get the rest of my tailing together and make such further provision of all other materialls as may enable mee to goe through with the same In the meane time it will not be amisse to take notice that the Rebels within very few Moneths after their first breaking out had so ordered their affaires as that by their sudden surprises their sharpe and bloody executions their barbarous stripping and despoyling of all sorts that fell into their hands they had cleared the Inland Counteys of all the British Inhabitants And except some few Castles and other places of strength which they held severally besieged and had most of them suddenly after surrendred for want of reliefe they had in a manner made themselves absolute Masters in all those Parts of the Kingdome And for the Maritime places there were only some of the chiefe Cities which were held out against them besides some few other Forts and places of no great importance As in the Province of Lemster the Cities of Dublin and in the Province of Munster the Cities of Cork Youghall and Kinsale in Vlster London-Derry Colraine and Caregfergus And all these they held either besieged much distressed or they were otherwayes so over-pestred with the multitudes of poore stripped people fled to them for safety as they were confident they could not long hold out but that either open force treachery famine or sicknesse would within a short time inevitably put them into their hands Thus it pleased God to humble his own people in this Land and for their sinnes to give them up into the power of their cruell Enemies who began now to sacrifice to their own neâ—s to celebrate the memory of their Victories And upon the prosperity of their undertakings and late successe they were become so confident of prevailing even to the totall extirpation of all the British and Protestants out of this Kingdome as they proceeded to set down a certaine form of Government nominated the persons whom they intended to entrust with the management of their affaires what Lawes they would have revoked what Statutes newly enectad And in the meane time they erected a Councell which they stiled the Supreme Councell which they invested with absolute Power and Authority to order and governe the whole Kingdome This consisted of certaine Noblemen Gentlemen three or foure Lawyers and one Physitian who being elected unto this charge had the place of their residence appointed unto them at Kilkenny a City in the Province of Lemster where they sate ordinarily for the dispatch of all the great and weighty affaires of their State They there erected severall Courts of Judicature they made a new broad Seale appointed severall great officers of State coyned money settled an excise upon all kinde of commodities and performed many other acts of regall power Now how they proceeded on in the ordering these their great affaires what Councels they took what meanes they used to enable themselves to make opposition against the Forces sent over by the Parliament of England into all the foure Provinces of Ireland I shall here forbeare to speak of These particulars must be reserved for the ensuing part of this Story where they will most properly fall in to be related And where likewise we shall finde so strange a turn such a remarkable declination of their power their hearts failing them for feare their Councells infatuated their designs blasted their Forces routed their sieges raised such a generall defailliance and inprosperity in all their undertakings as we must needs give glory to our Maker and acknowledge that God hath most wonderfully wrought for the deliverance of the poore small remnant of his people which were here shut up and designed to the slaughter For after a considerable number of Horse as well as Foot sent over by the Parliament of England arrived at Dublin and had in some petty encounters thereabouts tried the mettaile of the Rebels and found their spirit of a poore and base allay they began extreamely to disvalue them and would be no longer abused with the fabulous reports of their great strength or numbers which with much advantage they had long made use of Therefore now they began to seek them out in all places and wheresoever they came to meet with them they alwayes prevailed even with small numbers very often against great multitudes of them sparing not many times to pursue them into the midst of their greatest fâ—â—tnesses and made the very bogges and woods unsafe receptacles for their broken Troopes And with so great successe was the warre prosecuted by the English from the first landing of their Forces out of England untill the Treaty of that most unhappy Cessation concluded in Sept. 1643. as that in all the incounters they had with the Rebels during that time they never received any scorn or defeats but went on Victoriously beating them down in all Parts of the Kingdome And so they carried on their work before them without any assistance either from the meere Irish or the English Irish For I can not my selfe remember any Gentleman of quality throughout the whole Kingdome that was there born and breed up a Papist that put himselfe into that service or desired to be listed as a member of the English Army It is true some of the common Souldiers there were of the English Irish that came in and though they were not considerable for their number yet they did good service and still with much fury and sharpnesse followed on upon the execution FINIS
that were Adventurers in the first Conquest and such other of the English nation as came over afterwards took possession by vertue of the former grants of the whole kingdome drove the Irish in a manner out of all the habitable parts of it and setled themselves in all the plaines and fertile places of the country especially in the chief Towns Ports and upon the Sea coasts And to such a heighth of power and greatnesse had some of those first Adventuring Commanders raised themselves here by reason of the addition of new titles of honour the unlimited jurisdictions and priviledges enjoyed by them the great rents they received the numerous dependance they had As that they began to look upon their own possessions as circumscribed within too narrow limits to entertain private animosities against each other to draw in the Irish whom they had driven up into the mountains and ever esteemed as their most deadly enemies to take part in their quarrels being not ashamed to use their assistance for the enlargement of their own private territories as also to curb the too exorbitant power as they thought of their opposites though their own compatriots and joint-tenants in the possession of that good land The ancient malice of the Irish to the English The Irish were very glad to entertain this occasion did ever foment by their utmost power and artifice these unnaturall broiles and dissentions among the English whom they most mortally hated For they living in a manner out of the reach as well as out of the protection of all the English laws and government were alwayes accounted not only as aliens but meer enemies And besides those Septs of Irish which were termed the Quinque familiae Quinque familia O Neale de Vltonia O Malahglin de Medin O Conor de Conacia o Brien de Thomondia Mac Morough de Lagenia who notwithstanding the great priviledges they enjoyed by the protection of the English lawes ever shewed much aversenesse both to the English and their lawes No other persons of any Irish families from the very first conquest of Ireland in the time of Hen. 2. untill the raign of K. Hen. 8. were admitted into the condition of Subjects or received any benefit by the English lawes but such as purchased Charters of Denization It was no capital offence to kill any of them the Law did neither protect their life nor revenge their death And so they living upon the mountains in the boggs and woods though at first after some sort divided from the English did take all occasions to declare their malice and hatred against the English colonies planted neer unto them But howsoever the English were in all ages infested with their Irish enemies yet were they certainly in point of interest and universall possession owners and proprietors of the whole Kingdome of Ireland They kept themselves in entire bodies almost for the first hundred years after their arrivall not suffering the Irish to live promiscuously among them by which means they failed not to make good their footing and by a high hand to keep them under in due obedience and subjection to the Crown of England And when afterwards they began to be more carelesse of their habitation and to suffer the Irish to intermingle with them By the Statutes made at Kilkenny by Lionel Duke of Clarence L. Lieutenant of Ireland in the time of Edw. 3. Alliance by marriage nurture of Infants and gossipred with the Irish are high treason And if any English man should use the Irish language Irish name or Irish apparell his lands should be seised on and if he had no lands he was to suffer imprisonment Archiu in castro Dublin Statutes of Kilkenny and their English followers to familiarize themselves into their beastly manners and customes for prevention of which mischief many severe Laws were enacted in after ages yet for some time they made good the rights and possessions they had gotten by conquest and went on endeavouring to civilize the people introducing the English Laws language habit and customes long used among them Now although these and all other courses were taken by them which might reclaim such as seemed any wayes inclinable to civility or would take out Charters of Denization yet such ever was and still is the rough rebellious disposition of the people their hatred so implacable their malice so unappeaseable to all the English nation as no Lawes or gentle Constitutions would work no publike benefits attemper or any tract of time reconcile and draw them to any tolerable patience of cohabitation But they have in all times continued to take all advantages as well since they were admitted into the condition of Subjects as while they were esteemed and treated as enemies most perfidiously to rise up and imbrue their hands in the blood of their English neighbours So as Ireland hath long remained a true Aceldama a field of blood an unsatiated sepulchre of the English nation In that space of time which was between the 10. year of Edw. 2. and the 30. year of Edw. 3. all the old English colonies in Munster Conaght Vlster and more then a third part of Lemster became degenerate and fell away from the Crown of England so as the English Pale remained only under the obedience of the Law For what by reason of their own intestine broiles after they had as soon they did when they began to admit the intermixture of the Irish most barbarously degenerate into all their manners and customes and what by reason of the cruell hatred and mischievous attempts of the Irish upon them We shall not find that the English from their first accesse into Ireland unto the beginning of the raigne of Queen Elizabeth a tract of time containing above 380 yeares had any setled peace or comfortable subsistence but were in most perpetuall combustions and troubles so extremely harassed and overworne with misery as they were not long likely to survive the universall calamity that had overspread the face of the whole Kingdome Whereupon that blessed Queen out of her pious intentions and good affections to her people applyed her selfe with great care to redresse the disorders of her Subjects in Ireland And in the very beginning of her Raign sending over prudent and religious Governours the work of Reformation was much advanced by many wholesome Laws enacted against the barbarous customes of the Irish The royall endeavours of queen Eliz. for the reducing of Ireland and the execution of Justice which a long time continued within the limits of the Pale began now to be extended into Conaght Vlster and other remote parts of the Land at some intervals of quiet times The Irish countries were reduced into Shires and Sheriffs with some other Ministers of Justice placed in them The pretended Captainships and those high powers usurped by the Irish together with all the extortions and other fearfull exorbitancies incident to them were now put into such a way of