must run under the notion of unlawful and consequently besides other inconveniencies render our persons subject to the penalties of the Law I doubt not but that when ye undertake to convoke your Brethren to meet ye are very sure of my Lord Dukes connivence But what if Phanaticks Souldiers or some malignant person or persons taking no notice thereof should even to displease my Lord Lieutenant himself molest honest People Might not this happen very well when nothing appeareth openly to warrant our meeting That it may is very clear witness what has been done to the poor Franciscans in Dublin on or about Christmas anno 1663. notwithstanding their pretended connivence which to this day that I could ever learn availed not one F. Tully apprehended in that occasion And when people had not this president before their eyes such as having been Prisoners some time are now Bailed upon Bonds to appear at a certain day after they are summoned will be very shie to concur to a meeting wherein they may expose not only themselves to forfeiture of their Bonds but also such as are engaged for them to danger of great losses Further I am satisfied That if the distractions of this War newly declared betwixt us and France had occurr'd at the time of your meeting in November ye would not without my Lord Lieutenants special permission in scriptis offer to expose the chief of our poor Clergy to the mercy of many that have but little or no affection for our wayes For though our intentions were never so good the ill affected might as often they have done it with less ground misconstrue them and plead that our meeting was to brew mischief and to contrive a way to draw in the French to assert and support Popery in this Land And why should not they suspect some sinister dealings when they see People assemble without Authority and in this conjuncture of a Settlement wherein most of our Natives have but little of satisfaction whether right or wrong I offer these Reasons to your Lordships and my other worthy Friends considerations praying That ye be pleased to hammer upon them very seriously before ye persuade people to that which is conceived danger Things done without mask and above board are more acceptable and less subject to Calumny Let us have my Lord Lieutenants safe conduct and I am sure all will concur with hearts and hands to pleasure His Majesty and his Grace too or any other that may doubt of our Loyalty His Grace cannot deny this if he wisheth our meeting and less notice will be taken of his granting thereof now for a good end than may be of his interposing his Authority for us after in case of any trouble or disturbance such as we may not but fear My Lord I plead not for my own self herein I onely speak what I judge to be according to reason and discretion It is well known I may not hazard my self in that meeting as that am scarce able to peep out of my Chamber much less to undergo so long a Journey as hence to Dublin Moreover when more active and stronger my propension to Loyalty was so well known that I hope my Lord Duke will not suspect my integrity in my old Age. I ever loved to live in peace and so still contributed my best endeavours to forward it Now there is nothing under Heaven that in my judgment may stand with a safe Conscience but I shall be very apt to embrace to give my King and His Lieutenant all becoming satisfaction I will expect your answer to the premises and timely notice whether the above mentioned pass or safe conduct will be granted In the mean time wishing the Holy Ghost in your counsels and consultations I beg a share in your holy Prayers and Sacrifices for My Lord Your Lordships most humble Servant Jo Archiepiscopus Tuamon 1 March 1665. POSTSCRIPT Inasmuch as of all likelihood besides a Remonstrance of our Loyalty other matters will be debated in the above meeting of ours if it taketh effect I shall desire that your Lordship be pleased to let me have the Heads of all whereby people that have not means to stay long in Dublin may have time to digest leasurely their resolution against that occasion and so hasten I conceive this necessary and to be sent to each of those that are expected in that meeting This Letter should have been in your hand ere now but it chanced to have had a lett by the way that occasioned its return to my self again Now I send it by the Post 13 March 1665. As soon as this Answer came to Ardagh's hands his Lordship was pleased both to shew and leave it with me having taken with himself along and enclosed in his own Reply to the Archbishop a fair Copy of a Petition which to satisfie such pretended Scruples I drew to be Signed by the Archbishop himself and the four other Prelates who had subscribed the Indiction The tenour of that Petition was as followeth To his Grace the Duke of ORMOND Lord Lieutenant General and general Governour of IRELAND The humble Petition of John Burk Archbishop of Tuam Patrick Plunket Bishop of Ardagh Patrick Daly Vicar General of Ardmagh James Dempsie Vicar Apostolick of Dublin and Capitulary of Kildare and of Oliver Dese Vicar General of Meath in their own behalf and that also of all other Bishops Vicars General and Provincial Superiours of regular Orders of the Roman Communion in Ireland HVmbly sheweth That your Petitioners finding the Professors of their Religion in this Kingdom and especially the Clergy to lie always under many jealousies and suspitions of disloyal intentions towards His Majesty or State Government and Peace of this Kingdom by reason partly of their supposed or known actings either of all or some of them in the late unhappy War and partly of some Tenets of Religion relating to the Government or power of Government which they are supposed likewise by some to hold and by reason also of their so long demurring these three or four last years upon a Concurrence by subscription to a Remonstrance of Loyaltie subscribed and presented at London to the King and your Grace by the Catholick Bishop of Dromore and some other Divines and by the Nobility and Gentry of their Nation and Religion then at London as after by some others also of the said Irish Roman Catholick Clergy Nobility and Gentry at Dublin and finally by reason of divers though in your Petitioners judgment very groundless reports of several Plots contrived or designed by them since His Majestie 's happy Restauration but very particularly at present by occasion of the Forraign War declared by the French King against our Gracious Soveraign and his Dominions as withal by occasion of this last report though extreamly vain of a Plot amongst the said Irish Catholicks against the English as pretended to have been thought to be put in execution the last St. Patricks day in this very month And
Holden's Letter from Paris in their defence 524. Fourth and last observation on the Letters of the foresaid de Vecchiis 527. The fate of the Loyal Formulary to be so strangely persecuted with some occasional and brief but sharp reflections on Father Peter Talbot the Titular Archbishop of Dublin 528. Internuncio de Vecchiis Letter to Father Caron 531. The Procurator's first Letter to the said de Vecchiis 533. His second long Letter to him 538. and from thence to 556. The Diffinitory of the Franciscan Order in Ireland meet at Killiby about the Remonstrance of the year 1661. 556. Another Letter from them one from their Provincial and a third from Valentine Brown thence to the Procurator at London 557 558 559. Besides a fourth from the said Diffinitory to the Commissary General in Flanders 559. The said Diffinitories new Remonstrance sent to the Procurator 561. The Procurator thinks not fit to send their Letters forward to Flanders And why Pag. 563. The Lord Lieutenant's Reasons for not admitting the Remonstrance of the Franciscan Diffinitory 564 565 566. The Paradox of the Irish Jesuitical Anti-remonstrants and several notable Canons of Popes to justifie the breach or not performance of any Oath of Fidelity sworn to a Temporal Prince especially one reputed an Heretick by the Court of Rome 567. In the Second Part of the First Treatise THe Reason which moved the Procurator to consent at last to the calling of a National Assembly Pag. 570. Indiction of that National Assembly 573. Scheme of the Roman-Catholick Irish Clergy then 575 c. Why so many of the said Irish Clergy appear'd in the year 1648 against the Nuncio's Censures and so few since the year 1661 declared for the Loyal Formulary Where you have instances enough of the persecutions under which the Loyal Ecclesiasticks lay in all Countries both at home and abroad from 1646 to 1660 for having opposed the Nuncio 579 and from thence to 601. Vse made of the old infirm Archbishop of Tuam And his first Letter against the intended meeting of the National Synod or Congregation 601 602. Petition to the Lord Lieutenant for Licensing the Assembly to convene 602. by mistake of the Printer printed 164. Second Letter of the foresaid Archbishop to the same purpose 606. Bishop of Kilmore's Letter in answer to the Indiction 607. An account of Edmund Reilly Archbishop of Armagh 608 c. His Letter of singular and extraordinary submission from France to His Grace the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant General c. of Ireland 611. His Letter inclosed from Paris to the Procurator for the National Synod 612. An Account of the Bishop of Ferns 613 c. His several Letters from St. Jago in Gallicia one to Doctor Cusack another to the Procurator and a third which was his Letter of submission but not full enough in that to the Lord Lieutenant 616 618 620. by mistake of the Printer printed 628. The Procurator's Letter to him the said Bishop of Ferns 622. The same Bishop of Fern's Letter from St. Sebastian to the Procurator 624. Another also of his from Paris to the Procurator 625. Reflections made on some passages in those Letters of the Bishop of Ferns 626. Some brief Remarks on the carriage of the Bishop of Kilfinuragh in relation as well to the former * The Author corrects himself after viz. pag. 748. numb 8. concerning somewhat said in the present pag. 627. of Kilfinuragh's carriage in the affair of the Declaration and Excommunication issued by the Roman Catholick Irish Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates at Jamestown and Galway in the year 1650 against the Lord Lieutenant the then Marquess now Duke of Ormond publick affairs of Ireland as to the latter of the Remonstrance and National Congregation or convening thereof 627. Somewhat of William Burgat then Vicar-General of Imly now Archbishop of Cashil and his Letter from Rome to Primate Reilly at Paris concerning the resolution taken at Rome to hinder the convening of the National Synod at Dublin and to prevent the Signing however of the Remonstrance 628. One Father Christopher O Ferral an Irish Dominician sent of purpose from Brussels and Ireland with new Letters from Cardinal Francis Barberin and James Rospigliosi then Internuncius of Burgundy and Low-Countries but soon after Cardinal Rospigliosi to hinder the meeting of the foresaid National Synod c. And the said Messenger Ferral apprehended examined and imprisoned 629 630. The Bishop of Ardagh Patrick Plunket being sent for delivers though fear Duplicat of the said original Letters to the Lord Lieutenant 631. Cardinal Barberin's Letter by command of His Holiness the Pope dated at Rome 24th of April 1666 and superscribed Praestantissimis Viris Clero Catholicis Regni Hiberniae Pag. 632. Rospigliosi's Letter dated at Brussels 13 May 1666 and superscribed Reverendissimis Venerabilibus Dominis Episcopis Vicariis Sedium vacantium reliquo Clero Hiberniae 634. Rospigliosi's Letter of the same date to the Bishop of Ardagh ib. Eleven Animadversions on the said Letters of Barberin and Rospigliosi 636 c. A new and very disingenuous contrivance of the Bishop of Ardagh on the 9th of June to hinder the sitting of the National Congregation which was according to the Indiction to meet within two dayes after And what frustrated that contrivance 640. The Reasons why the Procurator took particularly to heart the sudden change he found in Ardagh and Kilfinuragh 639. These two Bishops Ardagh and Kilfinuragh are before the Congregation met introduced at Night privately to the Lord Lieutenant in the Castle and what the Heads of my Lord Lieutenants admonition to them were together with somewhat of Ardagh's confused answer to one point onely c. 640. All opposition both Domestick and Forreign against the convening of the Fathers in a National Synod or Congregation at Dublin being overcome they are at last convened on the 11th of June 1666 the day appointed by the Indiction choose not only a Speaker Chairman or President but a Secretary and then adjourn to the next day 637. On the second day of their Congregation being the 14th of June there was an incidental Controversie about the priviledges of Regulars By the factious management of which as by a new and strong Argument the Procurator who declared for the Secular Clergy plainly saw how resolved both sides were to oppose the main ends pretended to be those of that Synod 642. The House being this second day adjourned again to the next which was the 13th of the Month and the Procurator retired home to his Chamber Primat Reilly comes in to him unexpectedly having just then Landed at Rings-end after passing from France to Flanders thence to and through England incognito and he delivers presently into the Procurators hands three original Letters from Rospigliosi one to himself viz. the said Primat another to Martin Bishop of Ipres third from the said Martin to himself also and besides these Originals a fourth being only a
neither that nor his offer to put himself into the City when Ireton was encamped before it could prevail with them 30. The Proceedings of the Bishops about this time i. e. their clandestine Assembly at Jamestown of their own meer motion and power without any licence approbation permission or knowledge of his Excellency ib. The Letter dated 24th of July 1650 and Signed by Thomas Flemming Archbishop of Dublin and John Burk Archbishop of Tuam to his Excellency which shews what kind of Assembly that of Jamestown was like to be ib. His Excellencies Answer from Roscommon to that Letter 2d of August that year 91. He leaves it to the judgment of the General Assembly of Loghreogh to which he writes Whether the most absolute Monarch of Christendom could after a more Kingly manner have required the advice of his Subjects or with a more negligent State have promised gracious Answers than these two Archbishops did from and to him in their said Letter 92. His Answer to the said two Archbishops produced the expressions you will find in a Letter of the whole Congregation it self to his Excellency from Jamestown dated 10th of August 1650 and subscribed by them which was also a Letter of Credence viz. to be given by his Excellency to the Bishop of Dromore and Dr. Charles Kelly 92. Particulars of the Message sent from the said Congregation by the Bishop of Dromore and Dr. Charles Kelly to his Excellency and by these Messengers or Commissioners delivered on the 13th of August 1650. 93. Neither by this Message nor the Letter of Credence of the 10th of August could any imagine that the satisfaction the Prelates do seemingly promise in both to give should be their Declaration against his Person and Authority and their Excommunication too against any that would feed help or adhere unto him both dated 11th and 12th of August the very next dayes after they had sent the above-recited both Letter and Message 93 94 96. His Excellencies Answer from Loghreogh on the 31 of August same year to the Prelates met at Jamestown i. e. to their said Letter of Credence 94. His Answer also to the particulars of the Message 95. The unhandsomness first injustice next and lastly the rashness of their said both Declaration and Excommunication 96. What not only an invasion these proceedings of the Bishops is upon the Regal Power but usurpation also on the freedom of the Nobility and Commons is fit for the General Assembly of all the Three Estates viz. then sitting at Loghreogh to consider ib. Letters from the Bishop of Clonfert and Doctor Charles Kelly to the Officers of the Army under the command of the Lord Marquess of Clanrickard and from the Bishops of Raphoe Killala and Fearns to the Earl of Westmeath and other Officers 96 97. Reflections on these Letters ib. The grounds of the Congregations or the Jamestown Assemblies proceeding to an Excommunicating of all that should feed help or adhere to his Excellency the Kings Lieutenant of that Kingdom are set down in their Declaration of the 12th of August intituled A Declaration of the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates and Dignitaries of the Regular and Secular Clergy of the Kingdom of Ireland against the continuance of His Majesties Authority in the Marquess of ORMOND Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the misgovernment of the Subject and the ill conduct of His Majesties Army and the violation of the Articles of Peace at Jamestown in the Convent of the Fryarâ— Minors the 12th of August 1650. 98. Reflections on this Title Pag. 98. Now supposing they were the Monarchs they would be and let the grounds of their Excommunication set forth by them be duly examined it will be found that their sentence is most unjust So that as their Tribunal is usurped their Judgment is erroneous ib. The Preamble of their Declaration and His Excellencies Answer to that Preamble 99 100. First Article of their Declaration and his Answer 101. Second Article and its Answer 102. Third Article and its Answer 102 103 104. Fourth Article and its Answer 105 106. Fifth Sixth Seventh and Eighth Article with his Answers 107 108 109. Ninth Article which is concerning the conduct of the Army ib. Answer at large to this Ninth Article 109 110 111 112 113 114. Tenth and Eleventh Article and Answers to them 115. Twelfth Article and the Answer thereunto 116. Thirteenth Fourteenth and Fifteenth Article with Answers to them 117 118. Conclusion of the Declaration 119. The Names of those who Subscribed this Declaration both at Jamestown and Galway 119 120 121 122 123. His Excellency having on the 13th of October the same year 1650 received in Print His Majesties Declaration made in Scotland against the Peace concluded in 1648 with the Irish he assembles the Commissioners of Trust on the 23d of October shews them the said Declaration made by His Majesty and by their advice and consent issues his Letters of the 24th of October for the meeting of the Assembly * This was the Assembly unto which His Excellency writ this long and excellent Letter whereof I give here the Heads understand you a General or National of all the Three Estates of the Roman-Catholicks of Ireland at Loghreogh on the 15th of November that same year 1650. He writes also on the foresaid 23d of October his Letter dated at Inis to the said Commissioners of Trust assuring them he would stand by the Irish Nation for maintaining to them the said Peace of 1648 until they could have free access to His Majesty provided they of their part did four things Whereof the first is That in the mean time all the Acts Declarations and Excommunications against him and the People obeying him issued by the Bishops met at Jamestown the former August be revoked by the same Bishops c. See that Letter at length 124. This offer with all the four necessary conditions annexed to it was satisfactory to the said Commissioners of Trust as appears by their Letter of the 24th of Octob. dated at Inis to His Excellency which you may read 125 126. In compliance with their desire expressed in their said Letter His Excellency gave way to their Treating with the Prelates at Galway ib. Proposals accordingly made the 29th of October 1650 by the same Commissioners to the Committee of Bishops at Galway And His Excellencies brief Animadversions upon those Proposals if not rather in general upon the Answers made by the said Committee of Bishops 127. Those Answers themselves in terminis of the Committee to the said Commissioners of Trust in Four Articles together with His Excellencies Replies to each of them 127 128 129. After the said Four Articles of their Answers the Bishops resolve thus in express terms viz. Upon consideration of the whole matter we may not consent with safety of Conscience to the Provisoes of Revoking our Declaration and Excommunication demanded by His Excellency or granting any assurance to Him or the Commissioners of Trust for not attempting
and all the rest in general of the inferior Clergie of Ireland England Scotland Wales wherever at home or abroad in other Countries he sent copies immediately to the chief of the Irish Clergie with other particular written letters from himself also some and some from the said Bishop of Dromore to invite them to a concurrence and shew them the necessity of it in that conjuncture Particularly to Iohn Burke Arch-bishop of Tuam Robert Barry Bishop of Cork Patrick Pluncket Bishop of Ardagh Andrew Linch Bishop of Kilfinuran at that time all in France and to Nicholas French Bishop of Ferns living then in Spain Onely the Arch-bishop of Ardmagh Primate Reilly then at Rome he thought not fit to write unto at that time because more then any of the rest lying under too too great and special prejudices in Ireland and with His Majestie and Lord Lieutenant and therefore since the Kings Restauration withdrawn and even from Rome commanded to with-draw and that wholly depending of that Court for a poor subsistence the Procuratour thought not fit to bring new jealousies on him there also which he feared his correspondence in such a matter would For although he was very certain His present Holyness would not or that Court under so wise and moderate a Governour declare any thing publickly against the said Remonstrance or subscribers forasmuch as he knew most evidently there was nothing in it which was not the sense of the Catholick world abroad yet he was perswaded withal it could nevertheless but be somewhat unwelcome and displeasing to the flatterers of his Holyness and that there would not be wanting many both English and Irish Clergiemen to incense that Court against the subscribers as will be seen hereafter it happened IV. However they contained themselves at first against the expediency alone of such a Remonstrance yet when The more ample Account was published seeing those kind of exceptions would do no good some of the Irish from Lovain and others from other places began to mutter and write letters also which were privately carried from hand to hand that the said Remonstrance or Declaration and Protestation of Allegiance to His Majestie therein contained though in temporal things only was against Catholick Religion because a diminution of the authority of the great Pontiff Whereupon Father Redmond Caron of St. Francis's Order who at the time of the signing of the said Remonstrance at London had been in Wales with my Lord Powis and was now come to London and signed it after the rest tooke the pains to write and print an other smal Treatise in English too against that scandalous errour dedicating it to His Majestie and giving it the title of Loyalty asserted Wherein to convince that errour he amassed together a huge number of Catholick Authors Scriptures Canons Fathers Popes c. quoting only the places briefly not the words but adding withal a great many Theological reasons though briefly and in the end of it answering Cardinal Peron's Oration and all the arguments of that indeed elegant but not well grounded speech to the third estate of France Which the said Father thought fit to do at that time because much use was made also of that piece of eloquence amongst those that were not versed in the matter nor had ever seen those learned satisfactory answers thereunto returned some fifty years since as well by Catholicks as Protestants V. By this time the Antagonist's of that Remonstrance were working their intrigues being much netled and bafled And yet I saw no great encouragement they had then from the Bishops of their Country living abroad For Andrew Linch Bishop of Kilfinuran who had at home in the troubles of Ireland although promoted by the Nuncio to his little Bishoprick adhered nevertheless to the supream Councel for the peace of 48. against the Nuntio and was not at Iames-town nor countenanced or engaged in the troubles of the other Bishops there against the said peace as soon as he received at St. Malos the book and letters sent from London called together those Irish Priests there at that time and got their subscriptions to the same Remonstrance Although within a while after the brute coming of endeavours at Rome against it by some there and of discountenance in that Court for it was no more yet and those very Priests at St. Malos who had sometime before subscribed fearing though unreasonably they might therefore and upon account of their subscription suffer in their livelyhood where they were or in their present or future pretensions where they were not in the Roman Court came to the said Bishop and importun'd from him the paper of their subscriptions And the Bishop of Ardagh Patrick Plunket residing then in an other part of France who likewise and though promoted also by the Nuntius adhered constantly to the same peace and to the former cessation notwithstanding the Nuntio's censures against it and absented himself from the Council at Iames-town as being assembled in his Diocess without his consent as much as demanded of him and never approved of the Acts of that meeting was supposed by all that knew him to approve of the Remonstrance and protestation of loyalty therein Whereof in the year 1662. 2. of October by this following letter sent to his Brother Sir Nicholas Plunket he gave ample testimony however his carriage proved after in our Dublin Congregation in 1666. For his Honoured Brother Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight these at Dublin WOrthy dear Brother the Oath taken by the Nobility and your self I seriously considered and consulted with others Both they and I find the same most just lawful and conformable to St. Pauls doctrine For there are two sorts of obedience the one necessary the other voluntary By the necessary thou oughtest humbly to obey thy Ecclesiastical Superiours and such as are authorized by them Also it is necessary to obey thy Civil Superiours as your King and the Magistrates which he hath established over thy Country Finally thou must obey thy domestical Superiours as thy Father and Mother Master and Mistris This obedience is called necessary because no man can exempt himself from the duty of obeying these Superiours God having placed them in authority to command and govern each one according to the charge which they have over us and to obey their command is of necessity Voluntary obedience is that whereunto we oblige our selves by our own election and which is not imposed upon us by an other and of which we make no solemn vow As a conclusion I boldly and with an assured confidence say our Gracious King is better incomparably then such Kings as were in St. Pauls times being infidels yet would have them obeyed Not els but Yours as his own Ardagh At Seez the 2d of December 1662. V As for the Bishop of Corke Robert Barry then living also at St. Malos although his earnestness all along for the Nuncio's quarrel without any regard of his own extraction family or interest
thereof in Ireland was too well known and how he had been one of the Delegats made by or in pursuance of that subreptitious Bull procured from Alexander the VII for absolving from the Nuntio's censures as if Innocent the X. had determined the controversy and appeal against the Appellants adherers to the Cessation made with the Baron of Inchiquin which yet never appeared to have been so determined by Innocent and therefore consequently and for many other notorious false informations it is very certain that according to the Canons this Bull of Alexander the VII must be void in it self yet even this very Bishop sent to the said Sir Nicholas Plunket that he for his part approved of the Protestation And for Cluanfert albeit the most earnest of all when at home in Ireland for the Nuncio he was as farr off as Hungary if then alive and nothing could be heard from him No more did any thing in a pretty while after from Nicholas French the Bishop of Ferns officiating at St. Diego in Gallicia for the Arch-bishop of that See but what he writ to the Procuratour himself with whom ever since the Kings Restauration he kept frequent correspondence and gave him evident arguments of his falling off from the Nuncio's party ever since he had a sight some two years before His Majesty was restored of that wicked feditious book delivered in hand-writing by Richard Ferral the Cappucin to the Congregation of Cardinals De Propaganda Fide at Rome The contents of which booke and particularly because the Authors of it fell fouly and generally therein upon all the Catholicks of Brittish extraction in Ireland and would have none such ever preferred by the Pope to any ecclesiastical dignity in Ireland and yet very particularly taxed the said Bishop of Ferns himself notwithstanding all his former zeal and Sir Nicholas Plunket also with him though joynt Embassadours to Rome of having betrayed the cause of the Nuncio and holy See to their Adversaries these contents I say and the Proceedings consequent thereunto of that Congregation de propaganda did so estrange Ferns that he sent to London several papers and books of his own study written against that Book though not yet come to publick view from the print As Father Iohn Lynch a priest of Galway at St. Malâ—s hath already published in print his Alithinologia dedicated to the same Congregation de propaganda against it From Ferns therefore they had nothing at all to countenance them at that time if his many and frequent letters under his own hand to the Procurator can be testimonies of his judgment as I am sure they are for he is candid man In which letters he signified at first his own approbation of it so far that he maintained in Spain privately against such Irish as he heard speak against it to himself the lawfulness of it though withal confessing he was not provided of such books as could enable him sufficiently having not before then studied that question but gone along heretofore in practice and theory with that common opinion which was taught in the Schools where he had been conversant formerly Only that after this Remonstrance came forth he lighted by chance on a little book called Strena Catholica written by an English Catholick Divine some fifty years since for the catholickness and lawfulnes of the English Oath of Allegiance in the Statute of King Iames enacted by occasion of the Powder-plot Treason And that out of this little book he reason'd for the Remonstrance against those Irish that opposed it in Spain Where yet he added it was not fit for him to declare himself more at that time and this was when the Queen was come from Portugal when for many reasons it was feared there would not be twixt that Country where he was exiled and England such fair correspondence kept And on the other side he was not sure of protection at home in Ireland Yet withal he advised the Procurator to write an Apology for himself and the cause in hand to his Holiness being he had so many opposers of his country-men at Rome And this was all that Ferns declared of his own judgment or inclinations in that matter until the Congregation of 66. was passed For the Archbishop of Ardmagh Primate Reilly he was indeed recalled to Rome and was there soon after the said Remonstrance was published and for three whole years after but wary enough not to appear in any thing against it but by such Letters to the Procurator as told him that his Holiness however displeased yet would not meddle in any censures against it that his little book entituled The more ample Account published in English on that Remonstrance being translated at Rome into Italian and Latine in order to be censured if they could pick out of it any colourable pretence lay dormant at last in the Colledge de propaganda without any censure at all and was like to continue so for ever notwithstanding all the endeavours used to get it burned or censured at least The good old sickly Archbishop of Tuam remains of all those Irish Bishops were abroad then Nor did he as yet then contribute to any more opposition although wholy in the hands and power of some Fathers of the Society but what you have to this letter which he gave in answer to the Bishop of Dromores to him from London To the most Reverend my Lord Bishop of Dromore c. London My Lord YOur Letter of the 9th of January and received on Monday last could have no speedier answer by reason of my distance from the Post This only to let your Lordship know it is come to hand and that I am making ready copies of the paragraph thereof that concerns your inclosed paper and of the paper it self to send to the respective places where any of our brethren reside in France that being in my opinion a better course to comply with your Lordships desire of the speedy return thereof then to send one about which would require more time I do not think but the subscription of the said paper may have some difficulty not through any dis-affection to our Soveraigns service but through the mis-constructions its stile resembling somewhat the Oath of Allegiance is subject unto and the occasion some unsettled spirits will take to gloss upon it and wrest out of our good intentions venome to spue in our faces as your Lordship knows they do with less grounds The proof that was made of loyalty to our Soveraign by what we have suffered at home and even yet suffer abroad rather then we should flinch from our duty to his Majesty when we had some power might be very sufficient satisfaction to any indifferent man that we forget not nor can forget our obligations to our natural Prince We rather daily pray for his Majesties prosperity and cause those that depend upon us so to do then think of any other forrein power or Prince for to deprive our own
of purpose only that they might with the more colour of some religious and conscientious pretext both refuse it themselves and diswade others from it and being the men whose example had most influence of any others on all especially on the Nuntiatists throughout Ireland of what calling soever the Procuratour went so farre to meet them as themselves desired and met them with the more willingness so farre off from Dublin to the end they might not alleadge the place to be such as allowed them less freedom to speak plainly their mind grounds or reasons against that Form which they decryed so much For he hoped they would enter into some dispute with him of it in point of religion faith of conscience as to the lawfulness or unlawfulness of it in such respects being many of them and their party pretended amongst the illiterate or ignorant they were averse to it only on these accounts But he found them otherwise resolved then to examine it by the rules of Religion or conscience For although he stayed with them three dayes and nights and gave them provocations enough in publick to speak against it if any thing they had to say alleadging to them for it reasons both divine and humane both weighty and manifold nay and telling them at last That for his own part he was really perswaded in his conscience the contrary doctrine was not only erroneous but in it self heretical albeit he would not therefore decline communion with any yet all could not worke as much as one argument from them either from Scripture Tradition Fathers Canons or natural reason nothing at all but meer silence in answer to all and besides that nothing els but the objection of some two or three words as not being reverential enough as to the matter only of wording and the expectation of a Censure against it from Rome The Procuratour answered them to the first that the Catholicks of England who drew that Form as may be seen in Father Cressy's Exomâ—logesis were cautious without exception to word their sense so as they could not be quarreld against by any on that account That there was more danger in their excess of reverence and observance of the Pope and of his power then in their detect even by expression of words That it was not the words but the sense would be quarreld against at Rome That likewise it was not this or that individual or specifical word but the true and full sense in whatever words was expected from them by the King or State if they liked not those words which the best masters of the English tongue the Catholicks of England and after them those of their own Irish Clergie and the Nobility and Gentry also of their Nation at London had already made use of And therefore since they professed they bogled not at the sense they would do well to draw it fully in their own words but such as expressed that cleerly and without equivocation or other kind of reservation Which if they did he would undertake my Lord Lieutenant would receive it graciously and represent it to His Majesty as the same in effect with that others had given before them in other words Having nothing to reply to these answers the Provincial took pen in hand presently and desired the Procuratour himself to assist and help him with other words instead of the words Pope disclaim renounce c. Which the Procuratour doing Father Thomas Makiernan whose learning was that of the Papal Canons as having been bred in Spain a Canonist interceded and confess'd at last that for his own part he could not resolve yet to come home to the sense And the rest desired some respit until next Easter promiseing that if by that time no Censure came from Rome against the Form of 61. they would subscribe it This Father Peter Gennor said positively to the Procuratour and none opposed it but Father Makiernan somewhat doubtfully However they all entreated the Procuratour that he would in the best manner he could in the mean time excuse them to His Grace the Lord Lieutenant Now the reason why they desired this respit was that themselves as the chief contrivers had employed last Summer both from themselves and from the Bishop of Meath Antony Mageoghegan and some Vicars General Father Iohn Brady a Franciscan over Seas of purpose to sollicit a Censure both from the Vniversity of Lâ—vain and from Rome too by the intervention of those of their party there especially by the credit and authority of the Internuntio of Bruxels and they expected both infallibly before Faster Nor were they frustrated in their expectations in part I mean as to a Censure from Lovain though none to this day from His Holiness if they will not unjustly call the private letters of the two Bruxel's Internuntius's de Vechiis and Rospigliosi or those others of Cardinal Francis Barberin a Censure from Rome Which every man sees they cannot but very unjustly tearm a Roman Censure or a Censure of His Holiness or by his authority so done or notified that any one at all is bound to take notice thereof For they wanted all both the formalities and essentials of a Censure from His Holyness as from His Holiness in the quality of Pope determining any matter as they wanted likewise the essentials of a sufficient publication if nothing els were wanting Besides it is a maxime with Canonists that in praejudicium Tertii credit is not to be given to the letters of even Cardinals for what relates to the mind will or judgment of His Holiness if they produce not authentically their commission And lastly it is manifest out of those very words which Cardinal Francis Barberin relates in his Second letter which you shall have in the second Part of this Treatise as the command of His Holiness to Him that His Holiness never censured nor mean'd to censure any point or passadge of that Remonstrance of 61. but intended only the Cardinal should warn the Clergie of Ireland not to confound the civil obedience due to the King with that spiritual observance is due to the See Apostolick And who sees not that to distinguish both or the one from the other is the main drift of well observed in that Remonstrance XL. But for asmuch as these Franciscan Fathers used these delayes of purpose to have the more colour to excuse themselves from signing when they had the return they expected from their said Agent by Easter I thought fit to give here a copy of that Instrument which they or the chief of them and others with them gave him under their hands when they sent him away to worke all the intrigues he could against both that Remonstrance and subscribers of it but above all against the Procuratour It was as followeth translated out of the Latin The Instrument sent by Father John Brady and signed by Antony Ma Geoghegan Bishop of Meath and by some other few men of the Franciscans chieflly as Francis Ferral
I was my self present in the Congregation when this Letter was therein publickly read Sed canebatur surdis They had before obstinately resolved against all reason The Miracles and Revolutions they expected from the year 1666 their Forraign Intelligence and expectations and their lying Prophecies at home together with so many other vain perswasions of their own fixed them unalterable Whence it was That they neither did nor would give other answer to this Letter Subscribed by so many than what they had before given to my self alone viz. That none should speak any more against the former Remonstrance or those who subscribed and held to it still But how well they and their partizans have performed this verbal promise the Second Tome of this Work shall discover The truth is their Cabal never once intended to perform Whereof because I then also had been throughly perswaded by unanswerable and clear arguments in reply to their Answer I thought fit to say as I did accordingly before them all and both immediatly and publickly there in the place That both I my self and all the rest not only of those who subscribed the above Letter but all others of the former Remonstrants where ever dispersed throughout the Kingdom in whose behalf as well as their own such as were present in town had so subscribed that Expostulatory Letter would be at last necessitated to declare and would accordingly declare against them to the people even also at the Altars and from the Pulpits by laying the Sin of Schism besides the true causes too of all other evils threatning and impending over the Nation and Religion at their door if they on their side did not exactly perform their promise and perform it effectually by silencing all the malicious and ignorant traducers of the former Remonstrance and Subscribers of it Yet I must confess that although I did then really so intend as I spake and was not at all by any one of the Fathers either publickly in that Congregation expostulated with or privately there or elsewhere that I could hear even so much as murmured of for that my freedom in declaring what I had so resolved for all such future contingencies nevertheless upon after thoughts of taking more prudential ways i. e. ways of less noise and no scandal and yet I knew St. Bernard's Maxime Melius est ut scandalum oriatur quam veritas relinquatur I did while I remain'd in Ireland i. e. till May 1669 however provoked manifoldly in too too many instances both refrain my self and hinder all other Subscribers of the former Remonstrance from declaring so or speaking in Church or Chappel at the Altar or in the Pulpit any word or matter against them or any of them yea notwithstanding I had been many times and on several occasions mightily importuned to the contrary and that also by very good and vertuous men XX. BUT to return to the Bishop of Ardagh and Vicar General Apostolick of Cashel these two last Commissioners employed by the Congregation to His Grace the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant General c of Ireland I must now tell my Reader That on Monday morning the 25 of June and 15th and last of our National Congregation the Fathers being Assembled to hear what their said Commissioners could report of their success on the former Saturday night upon delivering their last signed Paper and pleading their excuse for other matters to His Grace the Procurator gives them His Grace's positive commands to Dissolve that morning and retire to their respective homes telling them withal That His Grace found no satisfaction in any of their Addresses The Bishop of Ardagh on the other side endeavours to make them believe That His Grace did seem fully satisfied with their Remonstrance or Act of Recognition and other Paper of the Three first Sorbon Propositions delivered at the same time nay and that His Grace even in express terms had promised to represent unto His Maiesty these two Instruments as satisfactory i. e. as containing fully all those Declarations of Allegiance or Fidelity and Obedience which could be expected from any Roman-Catholicks whatsoever subject to His Majesty But the Procurator considering this to be the last time the Congregation was to meet and seeing no remedy but that he must either suffer the Fathers to dissolve and depart with so false and noxious too a Perswasion or must oppose this Prelat even to his face chooseth what any honest man especially of his place and trust would in such case And therefore tells the Fathers how himself having been present all the while at both times when the Lord Lieutenant spoke either to the said Bishop of Ardagh and Father John Burk Vicar General of Cashel on the 23 of June at night or before to the same Ardagh and Kilfinuragh on the 16 of the same moneth could and must assure the Congregation That His Grace did neither at the one or other time give any kind of ground for this relation viz of His seeming to have been satisfied with their said Addresses or instruments and of promising to represent them as satisfactory c. That on the contrary he gave ground enough by his short and sharp answers and by his severe countenance shewed to the last Commissioners viz. the foresaid Bishop of Ardagh and Vicar General of Cashel on Saturday night the 23 that he was extreamly unsatisfied That all the ground the Bishop could pretend for his relation made clear against him being that when he desired His Grace would be pleased to represent their said Instruments to His Majesty the answer made him by His Grace had been in these words only I will represent them as they deserve And that men of reason or judgment who knew in what manner His Grace had spoken these words what he said to Burk immediately after and how without further Ceremony nay with all other manifest signs of displeasure He dismissed them might easily see the Bishop had either strangly forgotten what he saw and heard or more strangely mistaken contraries one for an other This matter of the Procurators opposing to that relation made by Ardagh being over the Primat stands up and after some few words to the Chairman turning himself to the Procurator tells him what the Congregation had resolved upon in his behalf Viz. That in regard of his pains already taken for and many obligations put upon the the Roman-Catholick People of the Nation and of his great expences too for so many years past since he was made Procurator in the year 1660 as likewise considering that neither his future pains nor future expences in serving and obliging much more yet the same people by continuing and worthily discharging his office of Procurator for them with the King and His Majesties great Ministers of State could be less than thitherto both had been The Lords and rest of the Fathers of the Congregation partly to provide for their own concerns and partly to shew the most effectual signs they could
before the said Oath in 1641 or in 1642 there had never been any full and free submission or consent of the old Irish Natives yet C. M. was in this very point perversly and wickedly out in his foresaid Book because first published and printed by him in the year 1645 that is even after he had manifestly and manifoldly known of that very Oath of Association which was the only essential tye of the Roman-Catholick Irish Confederates as such as I think out of that his own very Book pag. 101. may appear he had where he tells us of the first though he there call it the last General or National Assembly of the Confederates begun at Kilkenny Oct. 24. ann 1642. and continued there above two Months i. e. to the Ninth of January next following whereon it was dissolv'd nay tells and gives some of the very Laws Enacted there in their Module of Government if I be not mistaken though Laws in truth contradicting his unjust erroneous bloody cruel both principles and designs yea consequentially overthrowing both his Disputation and Exhortation in all their parts 14. And lastly That being all these things were notoriously known it became the Fathers of this National Congregation by a publick Act of their own to condemn immediately to the fire so damnable a Book As to and of the other Book or that of Richard Ferral the Irish Cappucin for to him only the common vogue attributes it because what I spoke to the Fathers was the same in substance which upon another occasion I have before related pag. 504 I remit the Reader back again to that place And being I have said much already there of the subject and design of this Book of Ferrals as in effect concurring to the same end with the former of Mahony I will only add here 1. That this of Ferrals though presented to the Cardinals not before but much about the year 1658. I am sure not heard of till then by others most concern'd particularly drives at restoring the former late Confederacy of the then surviving Roman-Catholicks of Ireland but principally if not only of those of the more ancient or as they are call'd meer Irish Septs the Author having represented at large all those other Irish or as they are by him and his party nick-nam'd by way of contempt English-Irish Gauls Forreigners Saxons c. and rendred them as unworthy to be trusted in so holy a League because descended from the old English Conquerors 2. That in this so particular and indeed principal design of his it would seem he had an Eye to the Declaration and Excommunication of the Roman-Catholick Irish Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates at Jamestown in Connaught 12 of August 1650. not only against the then King's Lord Lieutenant General and General Governour of Ireland the then Marquess now Duke of ORMOND by devesting Him of all power but for the former Confederacy by restoring it as much as in them lay and commanding others that it should be effectually restored And would seem likewise he knew well enough and related to what the Committee of the said Congregation I mean the Committee of Bishops sitting at Galway even after that Congregation was dissolv'd thought fit to answer the Proposals made by the Commissioners of Trust on the 29 of October the same year 1650 wherein the said Committee insisted chiefly upon the Nations returning to the Confederacy See in the end of this Tome in the Appendix of Instrum pag. 65 c. the said Declaration and pag. 70. the annexed Excommunication Item in the second Appendix or in that other of the Marquess of ORMOND's long and excellent Letter pag. 128 and 129 the said Answer of that Committee of Bishops 3. That both the Address and Title of this Book of Ferrals is this and no other Ad Sacram Congregationem de Propaganda Fide Hic Authores modus eversionis Catholicae Religionis in Hibernia recensentur aliquot remedia pro conservandis reliquiis Catholicae Religionis Gentis proponuntur After which immediately he begins his Book of indeed very false information and as wicked advice in too too many particulars to the said Congregation of Cardinals thus Hibernia quae olim Scotia Insula Sanctorum dicebatur c. 4. That although as I have also in this present Work elsewhere noted the Reverend Father John Lynch i. e. the Author of Cambrensis Eversus had learnedly and fully under the name of Eudoxius Alithinologus answerâ—d that perverse writing first in his Alithinologia printed anno 1664 and under this Title viz. Alithinologia sive Veridica Responsio ad Invectivam mendaciis fallaciis calumniis imposturis faetam in plurimos Antistites Proceres omnis ordinis Hibernos a R. P. R. F. C. Congregationi de propaganda fide Anno Domini 1659. exhibitam and then again in his Supplementum Alithinologiae yet nevertheless or rather the more I thought it became me to move their Paternities to the same condemnation from them this Piece also which I had already desired of the former of Mahony's Having to such purpose as hitherto discoursed to the Fathers on both these Books and so concluded not only what I had to say on the third and last Head but whatever I intended to say of all the three Heads or Articles They decreed unanimously i. e. nemine contradicente the burning of both Books And I remember that one of the Cappuccins related if not there I am sure elsewhere even to my self for I do not exactly or certainly now remember the day or place That the very General Chapter of the Cappuccins themselves beyond Seas had condemn'd both Ferral's said Book and himself too But whether any one either in that Congregation then or at any other time declared That the Clergy at or of Galway i. e. any General or National nay or Provincial Diocesan or Local Assembly of Irish Clergymen had formerly at Galway or even elsewhere condemn'd Mahony's Book I do not remember at all General or National I am sure held at Galway I am sure none did because I know there was no kind of National Assembly held there in my dayes for the National Synod which the Nuncio had summon'd thither when he was in opposition to the Supreme Council was hinder'd by the same Council Whereof I thought fit to advertise the Reader because I am now to give the Congregation's Secretary's Father Nicholas Redmond the Vicar General of Fern's account by Letter to my self of the Acts of the said Congregation For when the Congregation was dissolved or at least upon dissolving I desir'd him to give me or at least send me soon a perfect Copy of their Acts. And I confess I desired this chiefly to see whether what I desired in point of each of the last three Heads whereof I gave now for substance the same account I gave the Fathers on that last day if not hour of their sitting had been inserted in their publick Acts according
strong motives and moral certainties produced before in our Answer to the second Querie and which we may have to persuade us that the Supreme Council who are chiefly aimed at in this business had no such evil intentions Which together with all hitherto said being duly pondered by them who now seem so adverse to us in opinion but by them discharged a little of passion retyring into their Souls and looking with an eye of indifferency upon this difference we doubt not but they will acknowledge before God the truth of our Assertions and with how little reason but great hazard of eternal salvation they disobey the Commands of the Supreme Council on pretence of the present proceedings of the Lord Nuncio and we hope as we most heartily desire with all our Souls that they or at least such of them as have an affection to Loyalty and a true zeal of Gods cause will by their unfeigned and repentant submission to the Supreme Authority established by the Kingdom make happy these Answers labour'd as the shortness of time did permit for their conversion and satisfaction of all good Patriots by DAVID Bishop of OSSORY F John Roe Provincial of the Excal Carmelites Nicholas Taylor Doctor of Divinity William Shergoli Professor of Divinity Prebend of Houth and Vic. For. of Fingal Fr John Barnwall Lector of Divinity Fa Simon Wafer Lector of Divinity F Peter Walsh Lector of Divinity Luke Cowley Archdeacon of Ossory and Protonotary Apostolick Laurence Archbold Vic. For. in the Deaneries of Brea Tawney and Glandalagh F Christopher Plunket Guardian of St. Francis Convent in Dublin Fa John Dormer Guardian of St. Francis 's Order at Castle-dermot Fr Bonaventure Fitz-Gerald Guardian of Kildare F Laurence Matthews Preses of Carmel Kilken F Laur. a sancto Bernardo Paul Nash Prebend John Shee Prebend of Main James Sedgrave FINIS THE FIRST APPENDIX CONTAINING Some of those PUBLICK Instruments related unto PARTLY IN THE QUERIES AND PARTLY In several places of the precedent WORK or in the Four Treatises of this FIRST TO ME. VIZ. I. The Oath of Association or that which was the essential tye of the Roman-Catholick Confederates of Ireland as such according to that Form wherein it was taken or renewed in the year 1644. II. The Lord Nuncio's Excommunication and Interdict by him and his Fellow Delegates or Sub-Delegates fulminated on the 27th of May 1648. against the Adherers to the Cessation made with Inchiquin III. The Supreme Councils Appeal interposed on the 31 of May the same year to His Holiness Pope Innocent X. from the said Censures Nuncio and His Fellow Delegates c. IV. The Articles of the Second Peace or of that on the 27th of the following January same year 1648. according to the old English computation but the 7th of February 1649. according to the new Roman stile concluded betwixt His Majesty CHARLES I. and the Roman-Catholick Confederates of Ireland by James Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Special Commissioner for His Majesty in treating and concluding that Peace V. The Declaration of the Archbishops Bishops and other Irish Prelates at Jamestown 12 Aug. 1650. against the said Marquess Lord Lieutenant General and General Governour of Ireland wherein they assume to themselves the Regal Power restore again the Confederacy declare the said Marquess devested of all power c. VI. The Excommunication of the same date fulminated by the same Irish Archbishops Bishops and others against all persons whatsoever obeying any more or at any time thenceforth the said Marquess however the King 's Lieutenant Printed in the Year M.DC.LXXIII The Preamble to the Oath of Association WHEREAS the Roman-Catholicks of this Kingdom of Ireland have been enforced to take Arms for the necessary defence and preservation as well of their Religion plotted and by many foul practices endeavoured to be quite suppressed by the Puritan Faction as likewise of their Lives Liberties and Estates and also for the defence and safeguard of His Majesties Regal Power just Prerogatives Honour State and Rights invaded upon and for that it is requisite That there should be an unanimous Consent and real Union between all the Catholicks of this Realm to maintain the Premisses and strengthen them against their Adversaries It is thought fit by them That they and whosoever shall adhere unto their Party as a Confederate should for the better assurance of their adhering fidelity and constancy to the Publick Cause take the ensuing Oath The Oath of Association I A. B. do profess swear and protest before God and his Saints and Holy Angels That I will during life bear true Faith and Allegiance to my Sovereign Lord CHARLES by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland and to His Heirs and lawful Successors and that I will to my power during my life defend uphold and maintain all His and their just Prerogatives Estates and Rights the power and priviledge of the Parliament of this Realm the fundamental Laws of Ireland the free exercise of the Roman-Catholick Faith and Religion throughout all this Land and the Lives just Liberties Possessions Estates and Rights of all those that have taken or shall take this Oath and perform the Contents thereof And that I will obey and ratifie all the Orders and Decrees made and to be made by the Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholicks of this Kingdom concerning the said Publick Cause And that I will not seek directly or indirectly any Pardon or Protection for any Act done or to be done touching the General Cause without the consent of the major part of the said Council And that I will not directly or indirectly do any Act or Acts that shall prejudice the said Cause but will to the hazard of my Life and Estate assist prosecute and maintain the same So help me God and his Holy Gospel By the General Assembly of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland Kilkenny July 26. 1644. Upon full debate this day in open Court Assembly it is unanimously declared by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Knights and Burgesses of this House That the Oath of Association as it is already penned of Record in this House and taken by the Confederate Catholicks is full and binding without addition of any other words thereunto And it is ordered That any person or persons whatsoever who have taken or hereafter shall take the said Oath of Association and hath or shall declare by word or actions or by persuasions of others That the said Oath or any Branch thereof doth or may admit any equivocation or mental reservation if any such person or persons be shall be deemed a breaker of his and their Oath respectively and adverse to the General Cause and as a Delinquent or Delinquents for such offence shall be punished And it is further ordered That the several Ordinaries shall take special care that the Parish-Priests within their respective Diocesses shall publish and declare That any person or persons who hath or shall take
Protestants Warde there our Army afterwards appearing before the place the Souldiers were commanded to fight against the Walls and armed men without great Guns Ladders Petards Shovels Spades Pickaxes or other necessaries there being kill'd upon the place above 500 Souldiers valiantly fighting Yet near Thomas-town our Souldiers being of tryed Foot two to one and well resolved were forbidden to fight in the open Field having advantage of ground against the Enemy to the utter disheartning of the Souldiers and People After this the Enemy came like a deluge upon Calan Featbard Cashel Killmalock and other Corporations within the Provinces of Leinster and Munster and the Countrey about rendred Tributary Then followed the taking of Laghlin and Kilkenny then that of Clonmel where the Enemy met with gallantry loss and resistance Lastly Ticrohan and Catharlough two great pillars of Leinster shaken down that of Ticrohan to speak nothing for the present of all other places was given up by orders Waterford block't in is in a sad condition Dunkannon the key of the Kingdom unrelieved since the first of December is like to be given up and lost X. That the Prelates after the numerous Congregation at Cloanmacnoise where they made Declarations for the Kings great advantage after printed and after many other laborious meetings and consultations with the expressions of their sincerity and earnestness were not allowed by his Excellency to have employed their power and best diligence towards advancing the Kings interest but rather suspected and blamed as may appear by his own Letter to the Prelates then at Jamestown written August 2d And words were heard to fall from him dangerous as to the persons of some Prelates XI That his Excellency represented to His Majesty some parts of this Kingdom disobedient which absolutely deny any such disobedience by them committed and thereby procured from His MAJESTY a Letter to withdraw his own person and the Royal Authority if such disobediences were multiplied and to leave the people without the benefit of the Peace This was the reward his Excellency out of his envy to a Catholick Loyal Nation prepared for our Loyalty and Obedience sealed by the shedding of our blood and the loss of our substance XII That his Excellency and the Lord of Inchiquin when enemies to the Catholicks being very active in unnatural executions against us and shedding the blood of poor Priests and Churchmen have shewed little of action since this Peace but for many months kept themselves in Connaught and Thumond where no danger or the Enemy appeared spending their time as most men observed in play pleasure and great merriment while the other parts of the Kingdom were bleeding under the Sword of the Enemy This was no great argument of sense or grief in them to see a Kingdom lost to His MAJESTY XIII That his Excellency when prospering put no trust of places taken in into the hands of Catholicks as that of Droghedagh Dundalk Trim c. and by this his diffidence in Catholicks and by other his actions and expressions the Catholick Army had no heart to fight or to be under his command and feared greatly if he had mastered the Enemy and with them the Commissioners of Trust or the greater part of them and many Thousands of the Kingdom also feared he would have brought the Catholick Subjects and their Religion to the old slavery XIV We will not speak of many Corruptions and Abuses as passing of a Custodium upon the Abby of Killbegaine worth in past years to the Confederates well nigh 400 l. per annum to Secretary Lane for 40 l. or thereabouts per annum nor of many other such like to Daniel O Neil and others at an under-value to the great prejudice of the Publick XV. We do also notifie to the Catholicks of the Kingdom most of the above Grievances and breaches of the Peace being delivered to the Commissioners of Trust in February last that the Clergy and Laity receiving redress or justice the discontent of the Subject might be removed no amendment appeared after eight months effluxed but the evil still continued that occasioned the ruine of the Nation And we also protest to the whole World having done our best we have no power to remove the jealousies and fears of the People Besides the above Injuries and violation of the Articles of the Peace against Religion the Kings interest and the Nation nothing appearing before the eyes of the People but desolation waste burning and the destruction of the Kingdom three parts of four thereof being come under contribution to the Enemy Cities Towns and strong holds taken from them Altars pulled down Churches lost Priests killed and banished Sacraments and Sacrifices and all things holy profaned and almost utterly extinguished Armies and great numbers of Souldiers by them maintained and the Enemy not fought withall those that would fight for them born down and those that would betray them cherished and advanced finally no visible Army or defence appearing they are come to despair of recovering what is lost or defending what they hold and some inclining for safety of their lives and estates do compound with the Parliament persuading themselves no safety can be to any living under the Government of the LORD LIEUTENANT attended by fate and disaster For prevention of these evils and that the Kingdom may not be utterly lost to His MAJESTY and His Catholick Subjects this Congregation of Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates and Dignitaries of both Clergies of this Kingdom found our selves bound in Conscience after great deliberation to declare against the continuance of His Majesties Authority in the person of the said Lord Marquess of Ormond premitting this Protestation to the world That we had never come to such Declaration but that we and the People of this Kingdom generally despair of the Kingdoms recovery under his Government as hereby we do declare as well in our own names and behalf as in the names and behalf of the rest of the Catholicks of this Kingdom against him the said Marquess of Ormond having by his misgovernment ill Conduct of His Majesties Army and the breach of Publick Faith with the People in several particulars of the Articles of the Peace rendered himself uncapable of continuing that great Trust any longer being questionable before His Majesty for the said injuries and ill Government to which effect we will join with other members of this Kingdom in drawing a Charge against him and we hereby manifest to the People they are no longer obliged to obey the Orders and Commands of the said Lord Marquess of Ormond but are until a General Assembly of the Nation can be conveniently called together unanimously to serve against the common Enemy for the defence of the Catholick Religion His Majesties interest their Liberties Lives and Fortunes in pursuance of the Oath of Association and to observe and obey in the mean time the form of Government the said Congregation shall prescribe until it be otherwise ordered by an
all that should feed help or adhere to Us are set down in their Declaration * See before page 65. in the former Appendix of Instruments where you have this Declaration at length both Preamble and Fifteen Articles thereof entirely and consequently without interposition of any other matter After which also you have there pag. 70. the Excommunication before mentioned of the 12th of August intituled A Declaration of the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates and Dignitaries of the Regular and Secular Clergy of the Kingdom of Ireland against the continuance of His Majesties authority in the Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the misgovernment of the Subject and the ill conduct of His Majesties Army and the violation of the Articles of Peace at Jamestown in the Convent of the Friers Minors the 12th of August 1650. That in this Title they assume unto themselves a power to declare against the continuance of His Majesties authority where he hath placed it needs no further proof than the reading of it But whence they derive their pretence to this power We find not any where expressed nor by whom they are constituted Judges of the misgovernment of the People the ill conduct of His Majesties Army or of the violation of the Articles of Peace For the misgovernment of the People and ill conduct of His Majesties Army We acknowledge no earthly competent Judge of Us but His Majesty and the established Laws And for the violation of the Articles of Peace by the consent even of all those Bishops unless there be gotten amongst them some that opposed the Peace and joined with those that assisted the English Rebels as long as they could give them hire the trust of looking to the observance of the Articles of Peace was reposed by the General Assembly with whom the Peace was concluded in Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costelloe Lord President of Connaught Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Alexander mac Donnel Esq Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnewall Baronet Geoffery Browne Donnogh O Callaghane Tirlagh O Neil Miles Reilly and Dr. Gerald Fennel Esquires as appears by the said Articles Whereby we suppose it is clear That as the Bishops have arrogated to themselves an unwarranted power to declare against the continuance of His Majesties authority where he hath placed it and to be Our Judges in the government of the People and conduct of the Army wherein VVe doubt whether their skill be answerable to their desire to try it so have they as unwarrantably taken upon them to judge what is or is not a violation of the Articles of Peace and in all they have endeavoured to invade and usurp both upon King and People bereaving the one of Royalty and the other of Freedom Now supposing they were the Monarchs they would be let the grounds of their Excommunication set forth in all that VVe have seen be duly examined and it will be found that their sentence is most unjust So that as their Tribunal is usurped their Judgment is erroneous VVe begin with the Preamble of the Declaration in these words Preamble of the Declaration THE Catholick People of Ireland in the year 1641. forced to take up Arms for the defence of Holy Religion their Lives and Liberties the Parliament of England having taken a resolution to extinguish the Catholick Faith and pluck up the Nation root and branch a powerful Army being prepared and designed to execute their black rage and cruel intention made a Peace and published the same 17th Jan. 1648 with James Lord Marquess of Ormond Commissioner to that effect from His Majesty or from His Royal Queen and Son Prince of Wales now Charles the Second thereby manifesting their Loyal thoughts to Royal Authority This Peace or Pacification being consented to by the Confederate Catholicks when His Majesty was in restraint and neither He or His Queen or the Prince of Wales in condition to send any supplies or relief to them when also the said Confederate Catholicks could have agreed with the Parliament of England upon as good or better conditions for Religion and the Lives Liberties and Estates of the People than were by the above Pacification obtained and thereby free themselves from the danger of any Invasion or War to be made upon them by the power of England where notwithstanding the Pacification with His Majesty they were to dispute and fight with their and His Enemies in the Three Kingdoms Let the world â—udge if this be not an undeniable argument of Loyalty The Peace being so concluded the Catholick Confederates came sincerely and chearfully under His Majesties authority in the person of the said Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland plentifully providing vast Sums of monies well nigh half a Million of English pounds besides several Magazines of Corn with a fair Train of Artillery great quantity of Powder Match Ammunition with other materials for War After His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant frustrating the expectation the Nation had of his Fidelity Gallantry and Ability became the Author of almost losing the whole Kingdom to God King and Nation Which he began by violating the Peace in many parts thereof as may be clearly evidenced and made good to the world ANSWER Concerning their motives of taking up Arms in the year 1641 We shall say nothing But since they begin so high with their Narrative as the year 1641 it will not be amiss to mind them That betwixt that and the year 1648 there was by Authority from His Majesty and Our Ministration several Cessations and at length a Peace concluded with the Confederate Roman-Catholicks in the year 1646 which Peace was shamefully and perfidiously violated by the instigation and contrivement of most part of these Archbishops Bishops Prelates and others of the Secular and Regular Clergy and that not in slight and strained particulars such as We are now charged with by them but by coming with Two powerful Armies before the City of Dublin upon no provocation from Us unless they esteemed the continuance of a Cessation for about Three years with them and the bringing them a Peace to their own doors such a provocation as deserved their bending their united power against Us leaving other parts that neither had nor would have Peace or Cessation with them unmolested and at liberty to waste their quarters whil'st they devoured Ours and sought Our ruine This as a particular blotting their name and memory with the everlasting infamy of Perfidy Ingratitude and undeniable Disloyalty they have reason to leap over in their Preamble least they should awaken the Curses of those multitudes of People who being seduced into so horrid a violation of Publick Faith by their impious allurements and hellish Excommunications are thereby become desolate Widows helpless Orphans and miserable Exiles from the place of their birth and sustenance True it is That His late Majesty and His now Majesty then Prince of Wales overcoming
for other good reasons the Procurator returning to the Congregation is received with extraordinary great demonstrations of contentment But finding they had Sign'd onely the three first of the Six Sorbon Propositions he reasons and expostulates with them at large on that point On their new promise to Sign the other three if the Lord Lieutenant were not otherwise satisfied with them and at their special desire also he subscribes last of all to the Parchment Roll of their own new Remonstrance and subscribes I mean as their Procurator viz. thus Father Peter Walsh Reader of Divinity of St. Francis 's Order Procurator of the Catholick Clergy but having first openly declared unto them that as this Remonstrance of theirs did in it self signifie a meer nothing so it would prove accordingly to them in point of benefit from the State 682. Why special notice taken here by the Author of the Procurator's subscribing so his name at their desires to that Instrument viz. as Procurator of the Catholick Clergy ib. He waits on the Bishops of Kilfinuragh and Ardagh that Night to the Lord Lieutenant as the Deputies from the Congregation to present to His Grace their new Remonstrance their Three Propositions applied c. and their Petition ib. Tenour of their Petition And their Remonstrance also with all their hands to it 683 684. Their Three Propositions Sign'd onely this first time viz. in behalf of the rest by the Primat Kilfinuragh the Chairman and Redmond their Secretary 685. Lord Lieutenant by His third Message on the 18th of June and 8th of the Congregation answers to the foresaid Petition and Address of the 16th of June He takes notice that there are yet three material Propositions of those of Sorbon or Paris omitted by them and that the same number of Hands are not to their Second Instrument which is to the First 686. The Procurator shews at large by manifold and evident Arguments that the other three of the six Sorbon Declarations which they had omitted or delayed to Sign were both as material to the purpose and not only might but ought as well be appropriated or applied to His Majesty and Kingdom of Ireland as the former three were ib. The Chairman and Father Nicholas Nettervil of the Society even the very man that but two dayes before was the first who offered to the Procurator as from the Congregation that they would Sign all the Six of Sorbon oppose him vehemently declaring themselves above-board endeavour to shew a disparity especially on the Subject of the Fourth Sorbon Declaration and extol the French King with tacit Reflectâ—â—n which every one understood The Procurator replies and both strongly and orderly refutes all they had answer'd He 〈◊〉 seconded by Angel Golding Dâ—â—â—â—â— of Divinity and by John Talbot of the Society Pag. 687. As 〈◊〉 at the Procurator withdrew for everyday when the Debates were over or than he had find all he thought fit to speak his custom was to withdraw of purpose to have them as the greater liberty in their Resolves the factious multitude set on by the said Chairman and Father Nettervil to whom you may add the Bishop of Ardagh without hearkning to any reason bear down immediately the other side and vote no Subscription of the three remaining Sorbon Declarations applied c. 688. They order a Committee to draw another Petition to the Lord Lieutenant together with a Paper of Reasons why they would not Sign any of the Fourth Fifth or Sixth of those Declarations of Sorbon John Burk Vicar-Apostolick of Cashil and Cornelius Fogorty D. V. J. being deputed by as offering themselves to the Congregation to present this Petition and Paper without any hand to either do accordingly present them to His Grace on the 20th of June being the 10th day of the Congregation ib. The said Petition and Paper of Reasons in terminis 688 689. On the 21 of June and 11th day of the Congregation the said Burk and Fogorty render an account of their success i. e. of their reception by and answer from the Lord Lieutenant Which was such that at least the major part of that Assembly was not a little troubled but more especially the Primat who thereupon first sharply rebuking John Burk and then immediately converting himself to the Procurator entreat him in the name of all the Fathers that he would go to His Grace and obtain for them three dayes more to continue their Assembly in order to satisfie His Grace The Procurator goes and brings them presently what they desired They gave 〈◊〉 689 691. The Procurator moves for a Select Committee Ardagh cryes out No Commitâ—â—â— This being put to the vote by stroaking the Procurator staying within carries it Doctor Daly's publick exception against the Procurator's stay within the House on the time of voting viz. that he took away their liberty of speaking answer'd by the Procurator who nevertheless of his own free accord withdraw In his absence the contrary Faction render the former Vote insignificant by naming such a Committee and Chairman thereof as they were sure of The Procurator hearing this and thinking to remedy it by his own presence in the this Committee was denied entrance by the Bishop of Ardagh the Chairman of it 6â—0 Next day being the 22d of the Month and 12th of the Congregation that excellent Committee having brought in their report and the Speaker of the House Andrew Lynch Bishop of Kilfinuragh applauding them and taking then occasion to magnifie again the French King c. at last the major part of the House is by such means unfortunately persuaded to Vote the second time against any Subscription of the three 〈◊〉 of the Sorbon Propositions ib. The Procurator presently after this entring the House sharply reproves the Speaker calling him he was unworthy to sit in the Chair c. and whâ— followed on that This Coâ—â—â—st being over a clear Instrument of the three First of the Six Sorbon Propositions being produced they all Sign'd it onely Nine excepted amongst which Nine Father Nicholas Nettervil * Hereby correct what you find amiss or mistaken in the Third Treatise pag. 29. concerning Father Nettervil's Signing these three First Sorbon Declarations is our and his Provincial another ib. This Instrument verbatim with all the Subscribers 69â— â—95 On the Twenty third of June and Thirteenth of the Congregation Kilfinuragh and Ardagh present the Lord Lieutenant this Instrument as it was subscribed by all at the Procurator thought but not by all it was found after They excuse their not Signing of the other Three Sorbon Declarations c. 695 696. An expostuâ—â—ry Letter Sign'd by 18 of the Subscribers of the former Remonstrance delivered to the Chairman and read in the House and to what purpose 679 and from thence to 703. What the Procurator declared to all the Congregation after he had seen the said Letter read and heard their Answer to it Pag. 703 704. On Monday morning the 25th of June and 15th and last
the first example by subscription of their loyal principles And that they should not think of any other form but of that already subscribed or at least of none which came not home as fully as that in all respects as to the sense if they would needs alter the words The Bishop of Meath by Letters of the 6. of October 62. and the Vicar Apostolick of Dublin by his also of 27. of September 62. and some other Vicars General from several parts answered the Procurator with complements only and put offs to a General or National meeting of the Clergy which they pretended to desire as they further pretended a necessity that the Procurator should prevail with His Grace the Lord Lieutenant for his permission and this too under his Graces hand for such a meeting not giving any assurance or promise at all as much as of their own endeavours of a general or as much as of their own particular concurrence to that was demanded of them if such a licence could be obtained The Franciscan Chapter seemed to be to little concern'd in that business that they did not as much as treat once or debate in publick of it Only their Provincial Father Docharty after private communication with some of them writ back to the Procurator that he and others of the most leading men would meet him after Christmass in a place near Miâ—â—â—ferâ—an in Westâ—â—â—li some fourty miles from Dublin to conferre of that matter and other things XVII But the Dominicans though to no great purpose debated it publickly in their said Chapter Father Iohn Reynolds the bearer of Father Walshes Letter to them having first declared to his Provincial there That himself and some others of his Order had already subscribed The opposition was fierce and violent of most especially of some on pretence that the doctrine of the Remonstrance was point-blanck contrary to the position of St. Thomas of Aquin the Angelical Doctor and Director of al their Schools and whose doctrine their Masters had sworn to maintain And the said Father Reynolds found none to second himself but Father Clemens Birne Prior of Villanova or Newtowne an old Monastery in Ulster and County of Downe who there declared himself positively and one more besides the Prior of Slige Father Felix Conox who likewise but timorously declared that he saw no evil in that Remonstrance The result was to frame one of their own Albeit the Franciscans complained soon after of them grievously therefore or as attributing that form they pitched on there to their Dominicans Order or making use thereof as such which was none of theirs but framed by the Franciscans as intended for and in the behalf of themselves But however this be or be not I am sure the contest was ridiculous For this new form signified a meer nothing whoever was Author thereof And yet this Chapter of the Dominicans although told so publickly there by some of their own members would needs flatter themselves and hope to abuse my Lord Lieutenant with it as if His Grace did not understand English words or knew not how to distinguish twixt general unsignificant expressions and those special ones were proper to come to the purpose Wherein least they should be mistaken as they were told they were at last they came to this final issue That in case my Lord Lieutenant would not accept of this their new form and that His Grace would peremptorily expect their subscription to the Remonstrance sign'd at London their Provincial Prior Iohn O Hart should by common consent of all the Chapter be impowered to call together after their dissolution and when the Dukes answer were known four Priors of the next adjacent Convents Father Felix Connor Prior of Sligo Father Richard Madan Prior of Porâ—umna Father William Burke Magister Theologiae Prior of Rathbranum Father Iohn Birn Prior of Roscommon and together with these four to determine of their subscriptions to the first Remonstrance and finally to resolve pro or con whether they should subscribe that or no And that all the rest of the Religious of that Order in Ireland should effectually conform to such their determination whatever it should be Hereupon they framed signed and sent their Letter and Remonstrance inclosed therein by the said Father Reynolds to His Grace and their Provincial another from himself in all their behalf to the Procurator But out of too much wariness and because they foresaw their said letter or Remonstrance would not be acceptable as not comming at all to the purpose and dwelling only in generals and unsignificant expressions and having no real purpose as their carriage ever since proved sufficiently they had not to come at any time thereafter unless by compulsion and fear to any other truly material they would not annex to their several names their several titles of Priourships or of the places or Convents whence they had their denomination and where they resided fearing that if they had they might be looked after and found out the more easily their own conscience or knowledge of their own resolution making them so to apprehend fear where there was no fear at all as the Psalmist sayes The tenour to a word of both or of their said letter subscribed only by 〈◊〉 hands in the behalf of the rest and Remonstrance therein enclosed but subscribed by them all who were 24 besides the said Father Iohn Reynold who singled himself in that of such application or subscription from them because he had already for himself and those others of his way done much better I give here as I will hereafter all other the several though alike unsignificant Remonstrances offered by others that the Reader may throughly see the intrigue and satisfie himself by knowing so many particulars of it For his Grace the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant general c. Gracious Sir LEast our silence in this desired and most happy time wherein his Sacred Majesties Subjects strive to manifest their loyaltie unto their natural King and Soveraign Charles the Second should draw upon us any suspicion prejudicial unto our Loyaltie to him or give waye to his sometimes and still our adversaries to brand us with the vile spott of any disloyaltie we the whole body of St. Dominicks Order in Ireland do present unto your Grace the inclosed Remonstrance ready to seal and sign the same with our dearest blood most humbly desiring it may be as favourably accepted by your Grace as cordially presented by those who will never cease to pray for your Grace his good preservation and prosperitie Gracious Sr. Your Graces humble Servants F. Iohn Hart Provincial F. Lawrence Kelly Diffinitor F. I. Burgate Diffinitor F. Eugenius Coigly Diffinitor F. Richardus Maddin Diffinitor October the 15. 1662. The humble Remonstrance of the Dominican Friers in Ireland WHereas the Divine natural and human law dictates that all Subjects should heartily congratulate the prosperity and felicity of their natural King it is most just that all the Irish
Caesar we are tyed to clear if from imputation and professing it also a Rule that we will follow in our affections it seems altogether inexcusable if we startle at any engagement within the verge of Regality wherein our Allegiance is payable And therefore in the Circumstances you seemed to stand in to free the Holy Catholique Faith on one side from obloquies and redeem your selves from calumnies and on the other to relieve the Layety under your charge from heavy pressures and further to open a dore to your liberty of Religion we must needs judge you have performed the Office of good Pastours both in framing and subscribing your Allegiance to the Prince to hold forth to the whole whole world your Religion pure and spotless your Allegiance built on a basis immoveable and your selves well resolved Subjects For our parts we would be glad to runn into those occasions even with the hazard of our lives or the loss of our last drop of blood to worke out our freedom from the severity of our penal laws much more would we think it happy to gain it with the renounce of an Opinion which justly brings a jealousie upon us from our Prince and fellow Subjects and in the judgement of the chief Assertours of it of no greater note then to bring along with it the pains of Damnation to those of their party that speak preach or print it as appears by a written paper have published by themselves Wherefore that you may see how we stand affected were this Declaration of yours tendred us by Authority in lieù of what otherwise we lye under we should willingly embrace it considering it as well singles out the loyal Subject from those of the bad Principle as reduces the erroneous into the number of penitents My Lord The Apostolical advice to give none the least offence in our Ministry but to preserve our selves blameless to all sorts of people and the Church of God is the sole pardon I can plead for this entrench upon your patience well knowing your imployments speak you a follower of the Apostles by being a Servant to all persons in all things not seeking your own but the Countryes profit that they may be saved in which common concerne I shall be ever ready to runn your Lordships ways being subject to the laws of the same holy Church and Dread Soveraign whom God long preserve whose most loyal Subject I will ever remain and My Lord Your Lordships most humble servant in Christ Iesu Humphry Ellice Dean of the Chapter London October 18th 1662. XXII Much about this time also William Burgat Vicar General of Imly and Custos as they call him of the Diocess of Limerick came from the Province of Munster to Dublin of purpose to speak to the Procuratour about his own and the common affairs of all the Clergie both of that and the Province of Connaght For this Gentleman hearing in August before that the Procuratour was arrived from London writt him presently a very civil letter expressing much loyalty to the King and affection to the Lord Lieutenant And his letter was seconded with a good character given of him then to the Procuratour by persons of Interest and knowledg in that Province of Munster the Earl of Clancarty and Iohn Walsh Esq By that letter the said Father Burgat let the Procuratour know himself had been deputed some three or four years past in the Protectors tyranny and by the Clergie of that Province as entire Agent for themselves to Rome about their Ecclesiastical affairs and by those of the Province of Connaght also joyned in commission with an other one Doctor Cegan for themselves That money to bear his charges could not be had until about that time of His Majesties most fortunat Restauration That seeing the great and happy change he demurr'd on the matter until the Earl of Clancarty's first comming to Ireland That having communicated unto his Lordship what he intended he was advised by the said Earl not to stirr till he had seen and been advised by Father Walsh the Procuratour And that therefore he vehemently now desired to meet him about Kilkenny or where else he would appoint But the Procuratour having answer'd with desires of his comming to Dublin and meeting there Father Burgat came at last along to Dublin Where notwithstanding the Procuratour spent much time informing him for 6. dayes consequently of the causes and ends of the Remonstrance and that the said Father Burgat averred constantly that he neither found any thing in it could not be justly owned nor heard any in his own Province hitherto speaking otherwise or one word against it yet whether perverted by such obstinate persons of the Dublin Clergie as he conversed with daily then or whether byass'd by his own former intrigues and principles received at first and retayned still after from his Bishop when alive Terlagh O Brien a Prelate of too much violent zeal for the Nuncius's quarrel and further yet by his pretensions at Rome and his entended journey thither he would not sign at all then or there at Dublin pretending for excuse that being he came from the whole Province of Munster to be informed he would have the greater power to perswade them all generally if he returned back without preingagement and the less if otherwise Desiring nevertheless the Procuratour to write by him to the chief Vicar General or Apostolical as they call him Iohn Burk of Cashil to be communicated to the rest concerning that matter of the Remonstrance and their subscription Which the Procuratour did but never had answer from either For it seems Mr. Burgat who by all means declined nay expresly refused to be presented to my Lord Lieutenant though invited often to it by the Procuratour because my Lord so lately had seen his letter and heard that good character of him given by my Lord Clancarty and Mr. Iohn Walsh and was commission'd as above by two Provinces judg'd it better for his own private ends to have nothing to do in that business at least not to appear for it Which was the reason also he did not acquiesce to so many pregnant reasons given him by the Procuratour against his undertaking such a journey to Rome at least as an Agent or publick person representing both or either of those Provinces Albeit he was so farre convinced by such reasons as to promise the Procuratour he would only go as farre as Paris to leave there some youths at School and thence return immediately with purpose to alleadg new and probable difficulties met with and so excuse himself to the Clergie that had employed and given him money which otherwise he must have restored back and yet not so neither or by only restoring their money without going over Seas excused himself with any colour being they so long depended of him But in this promise also he failed For he went along to Rome and there sollicited ever since and lost both his money and time without
compassing as yet any of his designs XXIII Likewise about the same time the R. R. Father in God Iohn Burk the Catholick Archbishop of Tuam very aged infirm and sickly and looked upon as not able to live one year longer came unexpectedly from St. Maloes and in my Lord Lieutenants absence arrived at Dublin privatly accompanied with father Thomas Quin the Jesuit and another of that Society in whose power and under whose directions this aged venerable Prelate wholy was The Procurator having done his first respects of visit to his Lordship desired to know his cause of venturing so confidently without acqainting first and having by some way addressed himself to my Lord Lieutenant and understood of some connivence for his return Minded him of the carriage and proceedings all along of the Clergy and especially of the Bishops of Waterford and Iames-stown That although his Lordship carried himself fairly and loyally in opposing the Nuncio even to his face at Galway and forced open the Church there which the Nuncio would have to observe his Interdict other Censures that he had sided all along with the Cessation supream Council at Kilkenny in that business and further too in concluding the second Peace yet he could not forget how he sullied all his former glory by his after unfortunate sitting and concurring at Iames-stown with other Bishops to those disloyal Declarations made there That he had not since by any publick or private application to His Majesty or Lord Lieutenant or by submission and repentance declared to either washed of the stain of that scandalous horrid transgression nor given any assurance of his more loyal carriage hereafter That yet both were of absolute necessity from a Prelate of highest rank such too as for example and for the satisfaction of God and men should be publick That he should therefore petition for himself and by his example induce the rest of the Irish Clergy to do the like and most humbly beg pardon for the time past and for the future sign that Remonstrance whereof to that end he had in France from London a sufficient account All which and much more to this purpose the Procurator humbly and earnestly minded him of even sometime in the presence of the above Father William Burgat Vicar General of Imly The good Archbishop heard him all out both attentively and patiently enough without sign of displeasure but return'd no other answer then That he was now so broken with age and many diseases of body that his mind also or understanding was no more of any kind of strength or capable to discern what he was to do in that or other things That he was for the matter dead already That he ventured this journey from France by Sea all along for otherwise he could not of purpose only to die and lye down at rest in his grave native soil That he would not have been to bold as to land at Dublin but that he supposed my Lord Lieutenant away thence in the Countrey at that time as it happened and that he might be carried away privatly to his own Province of Connaght without any further noise of his arrival or knowledge thereof given to my Lord Lieutenant And that being his Grace the Lord Lieutenant was now returned to Town he desired the Procurator should most humbly present his most submissive respects and make that true Apology for him of the design of his coming and desire of being connived at for so short a time as he had to drag a miserable life and end it by a death more welcome which he daily expected But the Procurator saw well enough that how infirm soever this good Archbishop was in body yet he had still sufficient apprehension and this excuse proceeded from the Fathers by whom he was led of late in all things perswading themselves his behaving himself so would give both countenance and authority enough amongst Catholicks not to themselves alone but to all others of the Clergy in denying or opposing a subscription which he had so declined That his name or extraction and his known affection sometimes formerly to the King and English Interest we 〈…〉 himself sufficiently of entertaining other scruples in that matter then those of religion and reverence to the See Apostolick And his quality of Archbishop and the only then of that Nation and Religion at home and the only moreover known to have formerly declared against the Nuncio would be a strong confirmation thereof at least might be a very probable excuse for all others of inferior degree until he had declared himself on the point All which and the use thereof notwithstanding the Procurator did well enough perceive and foresee yet he could not help having done his own duty But however advised this good Archbishop to retire as he did immediatly in a litter to Connaght where he remains ever since guided still by the same Fathers as wholly in their power The sequel whereof shall be seen hereafter in its proper place or second Part of this Narrative XXIV The Procurator therefore and by several other arguments seeing now certainly where the first obstruction to a further progress lay which should be removed and seeing that albeit the Fathers of the Society were but a very few in Ireland and most of them in or near Dublin yet their correspondency both at home and abroad especially at Rome was look't upon by most of the Pretendents in or Dependents of that Court and their own confidence withall in themselves was great partly because they had so dexterously behaved themselves in the Nuncio's quarrel that as they were perswaded much could not be objected to them on that account and partly for other causes and for that in particular of their extraction generally as for that also of some powerful Relations of some of them and albeit he saw well enough at the same time what influence the example of the Dublin Clergy in general both Parish-priests and Religious Orders of which Orders there he had only yet won the Franciscans and two of the Dominicans but none at all of the Augustinians Carmelits Cappuccins or Jesuits no more then he had none of the Parish-priests who were four or five and together with the said Regulars made fifty Priests or there abouts in that City albeit I say the Procurator saw well enough what influence the example of the Dublin Clergy in general would have upon the rest abroad in other parts of the Kingdom and that it would be to no great purpose but altogether vain to expect a concurrence from these if those had refused even there where the Lord Lieutenant and Council and Parliament sate and where notwithstanding the Dissenters had as much favour or freedom tolleration or connivence or whatever else you call it as the Subscribers and that on the other side the Dissenters had the advantage of the Subscribers at Rome and with the Generals of Orders beyond Seas of whose special favour
Green and Preston and last of all the most laborious and learned Latin Work In fol. of Father â—edmond Caron entituled Remonstrantia â—â—bernorum which is to be had in Dublin at Mr. Dancer the Booksellers in Castlestreet and which alone may serve for all the rest And then a Gods name such of them as pretend scruple in point of conscience if any of them do yet for I am perswaded certainly it is no more but a bare pretence and I know there are scarce any that alledge even such pretence or any thing at all of conscientiousness in the matter but meer temporal considerations let them determine as conscience not as worldly and mistaken interests shall direct them XXXVI Now to return whence I have so long digressed Soon after â—â—e said papers received and the former answered in writing as you have seen and the latter by word of mouth as you find here upon several occasions the Procurator being somewhat earnest with Father Shelton the then Superiour of the Society for his final resolution because some others of that very Society desired him to be so earnest alledging their own delayes was that only of knowing his resolution pro or con and promising they would themselves even in case of his denyal subscribe nevertheless immediatly Father Shelton having first convoked to Dublin from several parts such as he thought fit to consult with came at last to the Procurators Chamber and without further debate about the merits of the cause told him briefly and positively they would not subscribe that Form nor any other determining the main Question that is any disowning a power in the Pope to depose the King or absolve his Subjects from their allegiance in temporal affairs because said he this was a matter of right controverted 'twixt two great Princes Yet they would frame one of their own and such as became them to subscribe Upon which he departed But the Gentleman that accompanied him one of his own Society Father Iohn Talbot who had often before treated of the same matter and promised his own concurrence with several others of his Order whatever the Superiour did told the Procurator in his ear as they were parting that Father Shelton had not rightly delivered the result of the rest But nevertheless being soon after demanded the performance of his own former and free promise excused himself also until he had seen or known it was expected by my Lord Lieutenant himself that they should subscribe of that their subscription was required or desired by his Grace and not by the Procurator only Wherein desiring further to be satisfied the said Superiour Father Shelton and with him two more of the Society Father Thomas Quin and Father Iohn Talbot being called upon waited on his Grace having first sent to the Procurator their own Form or that which they would subscribe even this you have here The Jesuits first Remonstrance Declaration or Protestation of Allegiance AS we do acknowledge King Charles the Second to be our true and lawful King and rightful Soveraign of Ireland and all His Majesties Dominions So we confess our selves to be in conscience obliged to obey His Majesty in all civil and temporal affairs and notwithstanding diversity of Religion in Him and us We protest we are and during life shall be as loyal to his Majesty as any of his Subjects whatsoever and as either in Spain or France the Catholick Subjects are to their respective Kings and will be ready to detect and discover to His Majesty and to his Ministers whatsoever Treasons or Conspiracies shall come to our knowledge yea and expose if need be our lives in defence of his Majesties Person and Royal Authority and that by no Power on Earth whether Spiritual or Temporal we shall be moved to recede from any point of this our Allegiance and we further from our hearts detest for impious Doctrine and against the Rules of all Christianity to averr That any Subject can murther his Anointed King or Prince though of a different Faith and Religion and much more we abhorr as damnable the practice of that wicked assertion But being told by the Procurator it signified a meer nothing not even as much as a bare absolute or positive acknowledgment of the King to be King much less any thing of the cases controverted as that of the Popes pretended power to depose the King or even of his actual procedure to a deposition excommunication dispensation with or absolution of Subjects from their Allegiance whether he have such power or not they changed that their first Form and prepared this other which themselves delivered my Lord on the 4th of December 62. The Procurator being present and Father Quin speaking first as one formerly known to his Grace and one to that sign'd with seven other Catholick Divines of Dublin the lawfulness and tye upon Catholicks to resist the Irish Forces headed by the Nuncio when the Confederats rejected the peace of 46. and were drawn to besiege Dublin The tenor of their second form was this The Jesuits second Remonstrance Declaration or Protestation of Allegiance WE acknowledge His Majesty King Charles the Second to be our true and lawful King supream Lord and rightful Soveraign of this Realm of Ireland and all other His Majesties Dominions We acknowledge our selves bound in Conscience to obey his Majesty in all civil and temporal affairs and notwithstanding the diversity of Religion in Him and us we engage that during life we shall be as loyal to his Majesty as any of his Subjects whatsoever and as either in Spain or France the Catholick Subjects are or ought to be to their respective Kings and shall be ready to expose if occasion shall require our lives in defence of His Majesties Person and Royal Authority and no power on earth shall move us to recede from any point of this our Allegiance We shall be ready to detect and discover to his Majesty and his Ministers whatsoever Treasons or Conspiracies against his said Majesty shall come to our knowledge We detest from our very hearts that impious doctrine which averreth that any Subject can murther his anointed King or Prince though of different judgment in religion and we abhorr the damnable practice of that wicked assertion Their answer was then from his Grace that he would consider of it next morning That if it came short of the printed one as to the substance or sense they could expect no benefit thereby That it was in vain to use any distinctions or reservations That when he thought fit to act in this matter as the Kings Lieutenant he should not repute any person worthy of his Majesties protection that would not acknowledge the Royal Power independant from any but God alone That notwithstanding Father Quin insisted so much on the loyalty of his own Order in the late controversies and wars of Ireland yet he could not forget how the chief person of them Father Robert Nugent was a great Mathematician at Killkea when
to concurr unto and obey Hereupon presently without further debate for none at all scrâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the catholickness or lawfulness such scruples having been sufficiently 〈◊〉 before clear'd amongst all persons of reason and conscience as many as were at that meeting and had not subscribed at London put their hands to a clean copy of that which was before signed by the Nobility and Gentry at London and others that could not be present then subscribed in their Chambers Both these and those in all were eight Lords and twenty three Esquires Collonels and Gentlemen The Earl of Clanrickard The Earl of Castle haven The Lord of Gormanstown The Lord of Slane The Lord of Athenry The Lord of Brittas The Lord of Galmâ—y Henry Barnawel now Lord of Kingsland Sir Andrew Aylmer Sir Thomas Esmond Sir Richard Barnawel Philip fitz Gerrald Nicholas Darcy Francis Barnawal Sir Henry O Neale Nicholas White George Barnawal Richard Beling W. Talbot Iohn Walsh Michael Dormer Iohn Bellew of Wellistown Patrick Netervil Robert Netervil Charles White Coll. Walter Butler Coll. Thomas Bagnel Gerrald fitz Symons Robert Devoreux Coll. Iames Walsh Edmond Walsh Gerrald Fennel And being joyned to the London Subscribers of the Irish Nobility and Gentry they make in aâ— one hundred and twenty one whereof one and twenty Earls Viscounts and Barons XLIV But these Noblemen not thinking they had by their own only subscriptions done enough in this matter unles they had invited the rest of the Peers and Gentry of their communion where-ever in the Countrey abroad throughout Ireland to the like loyal concurrence framed the ensuing Letter and signed two and thirty copies of it one for every County in the Kingdom to get all the hands of the rest of the Catholick Noblemen and Gentlemen where-ever to the said Remonstrance Sirs THe desires we have to serve our King Countrey and Religion in all just ways gives you the trouble of this Letter Which is to let you know That after serious deliberation finding our selves and together with us all others of the Roman Catholick Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom as well as the Clergy of it obliged by all the rules of Reason and tyes of Conscience in the present conjuncture especially to concurr even by subscription to the late Remonstrance and Protestation presented Last Summer to his Majesty by such of our Irish Roman Catholick Noblemen and Gentlemen as were then at London and subscribed it there and received so graciously by Him We have therefore this last week given a beginning here at Dublin to that concurrence by our own manual Subscriptions also to the same Remonstrance prefixing to it a Petition to His Grace the Duke of Ormonde Lord Lieutenant for â—iâ—veighâ—ng our said Concurrence and representing it to His Majesty That reflecting on the unsignificancy of a few hands or subscriptions for attaining those great and good ends â—e drive at by this loyal and Religious Declaration we thought it concerned as further to invite by special Letters all the rest of the Nobility and Gentry of our Communion in the several Provinces and Counties of this Kingdom to the like Subscriptions to be transmitted to us hither without delay Whereunto we have found our selves the rather bound that we certainly know it is expected from us all by his Majesty and by the Lord Lieutenant and that his Grace doth wonder why the example of the first Subscribers at London hath not been here at home more readily and frequently followed hitherto by the rest who are no less concerned And that we know moreover that by the neglect or delay this twelve months past of a more general Concurrence to a duty so expedient and necessary we have let pass already fair opportunities to reap very many advantages by it That we hope the same prudential Christian Catholick and obvious reasons which perswaded us and such others as before us did give the first example from London will prevail with you no less Being they import as much as the clearing of our holy Religion from the scandal of the most unholy tenets or positions that can be taught written or practised the assuring his Majesty evermore of our loyal thoughts hearts and hands for Him in all contingencies whatsoever and the opening a door to our own liberty and ease hereafter from the rigorous laws and penalties under which our selves and our Predecessors before us in this Kingdom of Ireland as other our fellow Subjects of the Roman Communion in England and Scotland have sadly groaned these last hundred years That as we believe you will not think we would for even these very same ends how great and good soever nor for any other imaginable swerve in the least title from the true pure unfeigned profession of the Roman Catholick Faith nor from the reverence or obedience due unto his Holiness the Bishop of Rome or the Catholick Church in general so we believe also you will rest satisfied with the plain evidence of the very words genuine sense total contexture and final scope of this Protestation and of every entire clause thereof that nothing therein no part nor the whole of it denies 〈◊〉 indeed at all reflects on the spiritual jurisdiction authority or power of either Pope or Church or any power whatsoever which we you or any other Catholicks in the world are bound by any law divine or humane or by the maximes of our known and common Faith or by the condition of our Communion to assert own or acknowledge the whole tenour of it asserting only the supream temporal power in the Prince to be independent from any but God alone and the subjection and allegiance or the fidelity and obedience either active or passive due to Him in temporal affairs to be indispensable by any power on earth either temporal or spiritual That finally we do upon consideration of all the premisses and what else your own reasons may deduce thence and give further as additional arguments very earnestly desire and pray your unanimous cheerfull and speedy subscriptions to the said Remonstrance and Protestation which we have sent along with this Letter and by the hands of whom we have likewise prayed to call such of you together as he may conveniently or go about to your several dwellings for that end And if any chance to refuse the signing of it which we hope none will to bring us a true list and exact account of such together with the signatures of the rest that the multitude may not lye under prejudices for the failing of some Which being all we have to trouble you with at present commending you to God we bid you heartily farewell Dublin this 4th of March 1662. Your very loving friends and humble Servants Castlehaven Audley Clancartie Carlingford Mountgaret Bryttas Clanrickarde Fingall Tirconnell Galmoye Slane XLV And questionless if these copies had been sent then as was design'd there had been all the hands of the Nobility and Gentry in the Kingdome to the Remonstrance before
Catholick Faith and holy Scripture and the said Authors also to be therefore not onely hereticks but Arch-hereticks and which was consequent condemning likewise not onely the book it self of Marsilius and Iandunus out of which those articles were extracted but all other writings whatsoever containing the same articles adding moreover yet and commanding for a perclose of all that whoever and of what dignity order condition or state soever should thenceforth presume to defend or approve the said doctrine he should by all others be accounted of as a heretick I say that these onely five assertions which you have now read in the latin text and in their own proper tearms being those articles against which and no other assertions at all this thundering sentence of Iohn the XXII was pronounced at Auenion an 1327. as Spondanus tels of the year though he gives us no part of the Bull X. Calend. Nou. and on the VII of the same Calends and year sent in an other Bull bearing this last date to the Bishop of Woster to be published in England therefore we may conclude it will be an easy matter to ruine the above third remaining objection For passing by at present all the general advantages I might take of the doctrine and firm grounds of the doctrine which teacheth the fallibility of all sorts of Papal definitions as such or as meer Papal definitions without the joynt approbation of a general Council or of the Church it self in general be the Pope that defines whoever you please so he be not or was not any of the immediat Apostolical or Evangelical Colledg of Christ our Lord and passing by too all the specifical and particular advantages I might otherwise justly take against all the definitions of this very individual Pope Iohn the XXII as such more then against any definitions of most other Popes as being he that was himself so notoriously tainted with the heresy which holds none of the Blessed see God nor shall see him before the day of general judgment that he had immediatly before his death prepared a Bull to declare so much and define it as an Article of Faith and in his death bed retracted his opinion in this particular no further then onely to submit it to the Church and as being he that so contrary to both former and later definitions of former and later Popes especially of Nicholaus Quartus in cap. exiit de verb. signif in 6. and Clemens V. in Clementina Exiti de Paradiso set out his three Extravagants 1. Ad conditorem canonum 2. Cum inter and 3. Quia Quorumdam whereof the first and last cannot be reconciled at all not even in Bellarmine's judgment l. 4. de Rom. Pont. c. 14. to the said former definition of Nicholas the Fourth or sayd later of Clement the Fift however the said Iohn himself and in his said first and last Extravagant and Ioannes de Turrecremata l. 2. Sum. c. 112. labour mightily to reconcile them but all in vain and as being he moreover against whom Gulielmus Occâ—mus that great Franciscan Doctor and Prince of the Noâ—â—inals writ his special book or Tract entituled Contra triginta duos errores Ioannis Papae XXII and finally as being he or the Pope against whom and from whom that famous general Representative of the whole Franciscan Order throughout the world or their General Chapter at Perusium in Italy held under their Minister General Michael de Cesenas appealed in their own name and in the name of their said whole Order to a future General Council of the universal Church charging him with strang errors and other miscarriages if not crimes of the highest nature against all the State of Christendom passing by also the special exceptions which may be offered against this very Bull in particular whereof we treat now above other Bulls or more then against any other Bull Decree Declaration or Extravagant of this very Pope viz that being as Spondanus writes Marsilius de Padua alias Marsilius Menandrinus born in the City of Padua and Ioannes Iandunus of Perusia condemned in this Bull were the first learned Councils in point of law or divinity or both whereof the Emperour Ludovicus de Bavaria made use and the first learned Doctors who appeared for him in writing to justifie his quarrel and his imperial rights against so many thundering sentences of excommunication deposition c. pronounced by the same Pope Iohn XXII and prosecuted by him even all his life after inexorably against this Emperour and not onely by him but by his two next Successors Benedict the XII and Clement the VI. even for 33. years continually the whole extent of time wherein the said Lewis maugre all the opposition of the said three Popes one after an other vigorously defended the legality of his own election to and possession ever after of the Empire until his death and being it was in defence of such election and possession and consequently of both the Electoral and Imperial powers independence from the Pope as also in reproof of the usurpation of Popes upon the Empire and particularly of the said Iohn the XXII that Marsilius writ and publish'd his own book an 1324. directed to the said Lewis of Bavier the subject of which book was the Imperial and Papal jurisdiction as the title was Defensor Pacis and that Iandunus also writ and publish'd an other of his own de Potestate Ecclesiastica therefore the above given Bull of Iohn XXII and it in particular above any other Bull of his at least next to that other one or those moe whereby he both excommunicated and deposed the said Emperour Lewis and yet further declared his own plenitude of even supream temporal power to dispose of the Empire as he thought fit is at least for some parts of it most rationally subject to a well grounded censure of its being though indirectly a new devise and an other product of that vehement and obstinat passion of his against the same Lewis's person and even against all the Imperial power it self whatever person challeng'd or had it and of its being the most truly effectual and most speciously Papal means he could fix upon to take away all support from Lewis and to justifie his own procedure against Lewis passing by moreover that which concerns the legal or canonical both publication and reception of this Bull generally in Christendom or in any considerable parts of Christendom or whether indeed either was as he desired both should be as much as throughout France it self where he resided albeit the King of France then was sometimes an enemy to Lewis as at some other times he professed to be his friend or as much as in England notwithstanding his direction of it to the Bishop of Worster being we know that Edward the 3d then of England was mostly in league with Lewis of Bavier against the French King and was moreover by the same Lewis created Vicar of the Empire in the tract of Low countries
stile onely of the address changed for the Province of Ardmagh was to the foresaid Dr. Patrick Daly himself as exercising the exiled Archbishop and Primate Edmund Reilly's Jurisdiction over the whole Province of Ardmagh containing in all ten Diocesses to wit Ardmagh Clogher Dune Conâ—er Derry Raphoe Kilmore Ardagh Meath and Cluaâ—macnoise Fourth Letter to the foresaid James Dempsy as likewise during the vacancy exercising Metropolitical Jurisdiction in the whole Province of Leinster i.e. the five several Diocesses of Dublin Kildare Leighlin Ferns and Ossory all those Sees being then vacant except onely Ferns the Bishop whereof Nicholas French having retired in the War-time about the year 1650. and as yet in 1665. living in S. Jago of Galicia in Spain thought not fit to return home to his charge in Ireland without first having obtained His Majesties or the Lord Lieutenants Licence to that purpose Fifth Letter was to another John Burk then Vicar-Apostolick of the Archiepiscopal See of Cashil in Munster to be in the same manner as the other Letters were to be to those of other Provinces respectively communicated to the several Vicars-General of all the vacant Sees under the Jurisdiction of Cashil which are Imly Waterford and Lismore Cork Rosse Cluan Limmerick Acadensis in Kerry Killaloe and Finiborensis or Kilfinuran in Tomond For albeit the Bishop of this last See was then as he is still alive yet being in France and so in effect vacant his Vicar-General was to have particular intimation As for all and every of the other Sees of the Province they were absolutely vacant their Bishops being all dead before that time whereof the last was Robert Barry of Cork who also however in former times an earnest zealous Nuntiotist upon receipt of Letters and Books from London in the year 1662. giving an account of the Remonstrance approved it as you have seen before Sect. V. page 13. of the First Part of this Treatise Sixth Letter was to Antony Docharty Minister Provincial of the Franciscans the most numerous Order in Ireland as being even at that time so soon after the Tyranny of the late Usurping powers at least 400 at home besides those not only in their own Irish Collegiate Convents at Rome Prague and Louain but dispersed in other Convents amongst the Native Italians French Spaniards Germans c. in the several Kingdoms States and Nations of Europe Seventh Letter to John O Hairt Prior Provincial of the Dominicans the Order for number in that Kingdom next to the Franciscans even at that time being near 200. Eighth Letter to Stephen Lynch Prior Provincial of the Augustinians or those called Hermits of St. Augustine in all about an Hundred Ninth Letter to _____ Sall Superiour Provincial of the Jesuits some 25 or thereabouts in number Tenth Letter to Thomas Dillon Prior Provincial of the Discalceat Carmelites much about the number of the Jesuits or rather not so many Eleventh Letter to Gregory Mulchonry Commissary or Superiour of the Mission of Cappuccins making in all about some Twenty or near Twelfth Letter to _____ Abbot of _____ Superintendent of the Monks of St. Bernard's Order in all a few Titular Abbots Nine or Ten perhaps or thereabouts who served in some Parishes as Curates or Parish-Priests But who that Superiour of theirs was I do not remember now yet remember notwithstanding that one Father Bartholomew Fitz-Gerrald titular Abbot of Baltinglass appeared in the Congregation and none other of them As for the Calceat Carmelites there was but one onely of them in the Kingdom as of the Chanons Regular of St. Austin but peradventure three or four Titular Priors and then officiating as Parish-Priests tyed to the Cure of Souls in one Parish onely for those others then at home in Ireland called Titular Priors of some of the anciently great and rich Monasteries of the Order of Chanons Regular we know to have been onely such by Commendam as not otherwise professed Chanons but onely Priests of the Secular Clergy who had got Bulls from the Pope to be Priors of such or such of those rich Cloysters hoping one day or other to enjoy the Revenues of them Of this sort I knew one and but one yet withal such an one as truly was unworthy the name not only of Prior but even of either Chanon-Priest or Clerk Others said they knew two or three more such in other remote parts of the Kingdom I mean such as to the Title of Commendatory Priors though not as to the indignity of their persons or qualities however otherwise for parts obscure enough And in the last place for what concerns the Benedictin Monks who if I had ranked the Orders according to their Antiquity should be together with those Chanons-Regular Treated of before any of the Mendicant Orders they were not known to be above two or three in the whole Kingdom if so many Which paucity and withal obscurity there and then of these three Orders lastly Treated of viz. Calceat Carmelites Chanons Regular of St. Augustin and Monks of St. Benedict's Institute was the reason there was no particular Letter of intimation to them or any of them But for the Bishop of Ardagh himself who sign'd the Letters being he was to reside constantly in Dublin where the Congregation was to meet and that he pretended no Jurisdiction over any other Diocess but his own of Ardagh he would have none to himself but excused that needless trouble of having a Copy written and sign'd for himself promising nevertheless to acquaint his own Vicar-General and Clergy with the tenour and purpose of such Letter And for the other Bishops then surviving and remaining in forreign Parts viz. Edmund Reilly Archbishop of Ardmagh and Primat of all Ireland Nicholas French Bishop of Ferns and Andrew Lynch Bishop of Kilfinuran they were only by the Procurator's own Letters or perhaps moreover by some Duplicats of that to Tuam to be acquainted with the whole design and transaction of it and to be so invited home to that National meeting if themselves should think fit to venture coming and the Procurator promise them protection or a safe connivence from the Lord Lieutenant Those Twelve Letters and some Duplicats also of that to Tuam being at last sign'd by all four and by their own proper hands and consequently even by James Dempsy himself the most reluctant of all and so reluctant verily that after expressing his consent as being over-rul'd yet he declined signing all he could and therefore chang'd his Lodging and writ a Letter excusing himself as necessitated to depart suddenly out of Town but withal pretending that he would Cemmission some other to sign in his name although being found out and the originals sign'd by the other three brought to him he could not for shame but sign also with his own hand as he did then presently those original Letters and Duplicats I say being so sign'd and endorsed and by the said Bishop of Ardagh sealed with a flying Seal being also ordered by
doth not swerve from the square of Sacred Canons from the consent of great Divines and Canonists from the practice of most Catholick Nations and amongst the rest of England before the Schism without controulment of the Clergy nay we are undoubtedly possessed the Law of Nature which is above all Canons doth approve and command it so strictly as we cannot otherwise answer the Trust reposed in us when by our negligence herein the Lives and Fortunes of the Confederate Catholicks would be exposed to most inevitable and evident danger Given at Kilkenny Castle the Third day of June 1648. and in the Four and twentieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord CHARLES by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Mountgarret Athunry Donboyne Lucas Dillon Rob Linch Rich Barnewall Rich Everard Rich Bellings Patr Gough John Walsh Gerrald Fennell Patrick Brian Robert Deuereax George Commin GOD SAVE THE KING 6. That next Winter following the General Assembly of all the Three Estates of the Confederates being conven'd from all parts of the Kingdom at Kilkenny in order to conclude the Second Peace or it called the Peace of 1648. with His Majesties Lord Lieutenant and great Commissioner the then Marquess now Duke of Ormond as they did indeed before that year ended conclude it they took into their special care to second the foresaid publick Declaration of the Supreme Council and that by another as publick of their own fix'd up publickly to the great Gate as the manner was of their Assembly-house and to several other places in Town under the hand of their Speaker Sir Richard Blake In which Assembly Declaration and Act the Estates amongst other things took notice first of the designs of the rebellious Clergymen especially Regulars who even contrary to the Oath of Association took part with the Nuncio Owen O Neill and others proscrib'd by publick and lawful Authority to hold meetings and celebrate even Provincial Chapters in the woody mountainous boggy or other unaccessible places possess'd by Owen O Neill and that too partly nay principally of purpose to proceed against those other good and loyal Churchmen who for His Majesties service obeyed the Supreme Authority of the Confederates yea to displace and deprive them of their respective local Superiourships Guardianships or other offices and to name Malignants in their stead And therefore in the next place they strictly commanded all such rebellious Out-lawed Ecclesiasticks of what dignity or title or office soever at their utmost peril not to hold any kind of Meeting or Chapter upon any account whatsoever And Thirdly also they no less strictly enjoin'd all and every the loyal Ecclesiasticks and on their Allegiance to the King and likewise at their utmost peril commanded them not to assemble with nor receive or obey any Summons Orders Precepts Sentences Institutions Destitutions Statutes c. of or from all or any of the adverse party but to continue their respective offices and other matters as formerly until His Holiness or other general Superiours beyond Seas should upon or after full information send persons duly qualified and empower'd to rectifie all abuses and punish in their way according to their demerits those fire-brands of rebellion and civil War 7. That accordingly all Ecclesiasticks adhering to and obeying the said Supreme Authority behaved themselves but more especially those of the Franciscan Order being they were above others concern'd forasmuch as Father Thomas Makiernan their Minister Provincial and his Diffinitory all and every of them declared Enemies to and by the said Supreme Authority had within Owen O Neill's Quarters presumed to hold a Chapter or Congregation intermedia as they call it and therein authoritatively as much as in them lay displaced all the loyal Guardians throughout the whole Province and order'd Malignants to succeed them 8. That by such means used and care taken that year 1648. the loyal Ecclesiasticks of Ireland then came to be and continue still so numerous until they got the upper hand in all parts even amongst the common people and quite run down their Adversaries and so for what belongâ—d to them enabled the very same foresaid Supreme Council and General Assembly to reduce that Irish Nation once more unto their due obedience to His Majesty by treating and concluding as they did within a few Months after the second Peace or that of 1648. with His Majesties foresaid great Commissioner 9. That after this Peace concluded and the Government thereby placed in and executed by the said Commissioner the Duke of Ormond as under the King Lord Lieutenant those same loyal Ecclesiasticks having in all respects the same countenance and protection from his Excellency which was before given them by the Confederate Council and Assembly witness in particular among an hundred other examples which I could alledge Father Redmund Caron come and sent from Flanders as upon the Letters and Complaints of the foresaid Council and Assembly delegated by the Highest power general then of the Franciscan Order the most Reverend Peter Marchant of purpose to reform the abuses of his Order in Ireland and either to reduce or depose the rebellious Provincial and Diffinitory they I mean the above loyal Ecclesiasticks encreased daily more and more both in number strength and credit until the two Sieges of Londonderry and Dublin had been raised and the fate of Rathmines happen'd and Cromwel with a great Army landed and the strong Sea-towns of Munster betrayed and Droghedagh and Wexford stormed and Rosse taken and the repulse at Carrig and the treachery at Waterford and Owen O Neill with his Forces being rejected by the Parliament of England condition'd but too late with and submitted to the Lord Lieutenant and Owen O Neil dying at the very time the Bishop of Clogher Ewer mâ—â— Mahoâ— made General of the same Northern Army Then it was that the Nuntio party of the Ecclesiasticks being on the late submission mix'd with the Royalists reassum'd new courage and gain'd ground by sowing new divisions and playing over again their former Game Then that after the Appeal to Innocent the Tenth sent to and prosecuted at Rome by Father John Roe Provincial of the Irish Carmelites the same Nuntio partty first began to speak big and Triumph also in that Court the said Father Roe without any satisfaction or positive answer being forced to leave off his prosecution and depart if not steal away privily viz. when the news of Rathmineâ— and the consequences thereof had been with so much gladness and excess of joy come to and proclaimed in Rome Then it was that all means and devices had been ordered there to make use of the present occasion of the Royals Powers declining in Ireland for either the reduction or destruction of the Anti-Nuntiotist Irish Ecclesiasticks as being the time expected when these could have but little or no support from a tottering Government a Government undermin'd hourly by its own seeming friends and therefore even professed Subjects and at the same
finding themselves obliged by their duty of Subjects and Allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Second of Great Britain and Ireland and by that likewise of good Patriots to their Countrey as by that also of Spiritual Pastors to their respective Flocks and of conscientious Christian Catholicks to their Religion and Communion in general To endeavour as much as in them lies to remove those jealousies and suspitions by assuring His Majesty and your Grace and the State in general and even all people too whatsoever or of whatsoever Opinion or judgment in matters of Religion and by assuring them also in the best manner they can of their at least present disposition and firm resolution for ever hereafter to continue indispensably faithful to His Majestie and to your Grace and to the State and present Government in this Kingdom according to the Laws in all temporal things and to live peaceably and neighbourly with their fellow Subjects of the Protestant Religion of what Nation or Countrey soever they be originally And finding nevertheless that by reason of some of the said Laws still in force in this Kingdom against men of their calling and Religion and by reason too of several Proclamations issued since His Majesties Restauration against any meetings to be held by them or any of them as also by reason of the aforesaid jealousies suspitions and reports they cannot safely without your Graces known permission and licence meet together in any place or in such a number as would be requisite for the above end of assuring His Majesty and your Grace of their fidelitie and that by a publick Instrument under all their own proper hands to be after signed also by all the rest of the Roman Catholick Clergy under their charge and that if they should otherwise attempt to meet to what intent soever they might not only be subject to misconstruction but also run a very great hazard of bringing on themselves and not on themselves alone but on all others too of their Communion in this Kingdom even on the Lay-people instructed by them unavoidable inconveniences and all the dangers of the Laws and instead of lessening heighten the jealousies conceived against them Your Petitioners therefore most humbly beg That your Grace may be pleased to License all your said Petitioners the Roman Catholick Arch-Bishops Bishops Vicars Apostolick and General and all the Superiours Provincial of Regular Orders with two Divines more of each or every such Regular Order and such other Divines too as the said Archbishops Bishops or Vicars General shall think fit to bring along with them and all such Proctors also as the said respective Prelats as well of the Regular as Secular Clergy shall in case of sickness or other Legal disability send in their own places provided the whole number of the Congregation or of all such Prelats Proctours and Divines exceed not seventy And that your Grace may be pleased to License them so to come freely without Lett or Molestation to Dublin and meet there on the Eleventh of June this present year 1666. and continue there together where and when they shall or as often as they shall think fit for Twenty days that is until the first of July following and to assure them Ten days more of Liberty and safety to return whence they came or whethersoever they please without any Lett or Molestation by any Offices Civil or Martial or any other whatsoever to the end your Petitoners may give your Grace and by your Grace to His Majesty that assurance as above which they heartily desire And your Petitioners shall Pray c. Dat Daly utriusque juris Doctor Albas ac Vicarius generalis Ardmachanus nec non totius Provinciae Judex delegatus Another fair Copy of this Petition I sent at the same time to the Vicar General of Ardmagh Patrick Daly as to one of the four that sign'd the Indiction to be likewise by him subscribed and sent back out of the North by the same time we expected the Archbishops return And Daly fail'd not but by next Post sent it immediatly back subscribed with his own hand thus as you have already seen Patricius Daly utriusque Juris Doctor Abbas ac Vicarius Generalis Ardmachanus nec non totius Provinciae Judex Delegatus But the foresaid Archbishop of Tuam guided as before by his Nephew Jesuit who also was both his Secretary and Clerk thought better instead of Subscription to return this following rejoynder Dated April 16. 1666. and superscribed thus For the most Reverend c. My Lord YOur Lordships Letters of the 3d. and 6th of this moneth were in the way to the 12th But this likely proceeded through my distance from the Post The first brought inclosed a Petition intended for my Lord Duke in behalf of our Irish Roman Clergy to obtain his Graces permission and safe Conduct for them to meet the 11th of next June The Second contained nothing but your Lordships Civility to me for which special favour I may not but rest beholding to your Lordship As for the Petition to tell your Lordship the plain truth of my opinion thereupon I think it not proper we should prefer it My reason First if my Lord Duke of whose and His Majesties good intentions towards us no body indifferently knowing can doubt were as desirous we should meet as your Lordship seemeth to be perswaded sure nothing would hinder his Grace of Commanding us to assemble independent of any Petition of ours and his Letters of safe Conduct dispatched to that effect without our Addresses would prove less subject to any inconveniences Secondly If I might apprehend our preferring of a Petition expedient sure I would also conceive necessary to have somethings altered in and added to that which your Lordship was pleased to send me to be signed Further if your Lordship and I did sign to and prefer the same ut jacet no doubt it might be thought by others as much concerned therein as we P. W ly done of us to meddle with Petitioning in their behalfs without their own privity or allowance What have we to do with Cashel or its Province What with Provincials of Regular Orders or their Divines if acting for them without Commission though a thing usual in this age we will not have our selves deemed over busie quod omnes tangit ad omnibus debet approbari especially matters of such weight as this is When my Lord Lieutenant pleaseth to command us to meet with his pass for our safety I dare say at least I hope so there is none amongst us but will very readily obey his Orders But if in the mean time his Grace countenanceth a motion or discourse of our Petitioning to that end some are of strong belief it is rather to eschew the importunity of some of our own then out of any desire he entertaineth to see us together whilst we demean our selves as I wish we should and hope we do without offence to the Government This My Lord
speaking sincerely my Conscience is my sense of the Proposals of your Lordships Letters to me and of the aforementioned Petition and even as in all occasions I shall be found constantly willing to comply with and to pleasure my Lord Duke so will I ever continue My Lord Your Lordships humble Servant Jo. Archiepiscopus Tuamon April 16. 1666. POSCRIPT I pray when henceforth your Lordship is disposed to honour me with your Letters be pleased also to let me know how I may address my answer without troubling others This Second Letter from the Archbishop being received by Ardach and presently sent me by his Lordship made me quit all thoughts not only of desiring either him or the other two I mean Dese and Dempsy to subscribe the said Petition but even of giving the Lord Lieutenant any trouble at all by such or other Petition to the foresaid end yet nevertheless I took another effectual way and of less noise to clear all such scruples and pretences as the Archbishop pleaded So much concerning Tuams opposition How the other infirm nay besides Ardach the only other either infirm or not infirm Bishop then at home in Ireland Doctor Swiny Bishop of Kilmore behaved himself upon the receipt of the Indiction how he approved thereof and even committed to the foresaid Daly the summoning of the rest of that Province who were concerned to appear in the National Congregation as also how nevertheless he excepted both against the Indiction or Subscribers thereof and against Daly in particular for assuming even all other matters too of the Metropolitical jurisdiction you may see in this following Letter of his Dated Feb. 22. 1666 S. N. to the same Doctor Daly The Bishop of Kilmore's Letter to Doctor Patrick Daly Vicar General of Ardmagh concerning the Indiction Reverende admodum Domine HAS annexas per multos presertim Dominationem Vestram de quo miror subscriptas Authoritate praecipue Ardachadensis Episcopi cujus monitis aut praeceptis aut aliorum ibi subscribentium nescio unde ego obedire debeam recepi Verumtamen quoniam charitative scribunt ego certe eorum monitis libenter obedirem Sed quia nimia infirmitate impeditus unde nec eques nec pedes ad milliare unum incedere valeam tibi qui Metropolitani officium quoad omnia assumis utrum bene an male vide Concilium Tridentinum committimus ut juxta harum literarum tenorem omnes Vicarios Apostolicos Episcopales reliquos qui adesse deberent admoneas ut eidem Conventui adsint vel se legitime excusent Et sic Dominationi Vestrae prospera cuncta optans cesso Vestrae Reverendae Dominationis amicus servus Eugenius Killmorensis Dat. February 22. 1665. s v. And yet I must here advertise the Reader that notwithstanding this Bishops fair compliance in so much yet as he came not nor indeed could come himself in person to that National Assembly when they met so neither did he send proxy to supply his place or Letter to excuse either his absence or neglect in not Commissioning any other to supply it IV. AS for the Three other Bishops viz. Ardmagh Ferns and Kilfinuran likewise the only Irish Bishops remaining at that time in Foraign parts their banisht Brethren of Cashel Limmerick Cork Cluanfert Killala Leighlin c. being all dead before in several Countries during their Banishment how I say those three banish'd survivours stood affected or disaffected to the Indiction when they received it will best appear out of their following carriage in order to the ultimat end for which that Indiction was For I can not say nor know that any of them made other opposition nor used any special endeavours to frustrate the immediate end of this Indiction Which immediate end was the meeting of the Fathers together at the time and place appointed them to meet what ever they should chance to resolve upon when so Assembled Yet because the first of those three I mean Edmund Reilly Archbishop of Ardmagh and Primate of all Ireland must have been by his place the most eminent of all that were to meet I will begin my account of him a little higher I saw him first at Louain about the year 1637. when he was but lately arrived from Dublin a Secular Priest Native of that Diocess and somewhat elderly having quitted the charge of Parish Priest in Ireland to spend some little time in the University studying Moral Divinity or Cases of Conscience undet the Jesuits and some smattering in the Canon Law amongst the Jurists During his abode there and his Residence in the Irish Colledge of Secular Students whereof if I remember well he was made Prefect he constantly resorted to and courted much and insinuated himself wholly into the favour of one of my Masters in Philosophy and Divinity Father Thomas Flemming an Irish Franciscan Professor in St. Anthonie's Colledge he that was born eldest Son of the Baron of Slane and exchang'd his Barony for a Cloyster From this Father Flemming at Louain he obtain'd recommendations to an other Thomas Flemming at Dublin Uncle to the former and of the same Franciscan Order and Archbishop too of Dublin Which prevailed so with the Uncle that Edmund though but meanly learned having but very little of the Divine nothing of a Preacher nor much of the Canonist either yet cunning subtle and a great temporizer being returned into Ireland was a little before or about the beginning of the fatal War i. e. about 1641. made by him Vicar General of his whole Diocess both in Spirituals and Temporals The War advancing and Confederacy being formed and the said Archbishop as one of the Supream Council remaining still at Kilkenny and Edmund Administring the whole Temporals of such part of that large Diocess as was not under the Power of the Protestant Garrisons or within their quarters and much the greater part was not and giving but what pittance he pleased to his Arch-bishop and so finding the sweet of the Church-livings and benefit of the Rebellion and consequently as out of Natural inclination so for his interest joyned still with those that were against either Peace or Cessation it was at last whispered during the first Cessation of Arms about the year 1644. or 45. twixt the Marquess of Ormond as the Kings Lieutenant of one side and the Irish Confederates of the other that he the same Edmund Reylly Vicar General of Dublin had been the chief Author of the late horrid both breach of publick Faith and cruel Murders too committed by some Irish within the English Quarters in seizing the King's Castle at Wicklo and burning it and all persons that lived then in it both Protestants and Catholicks However until 1648. and the Cessation agreed upon that year with the Baron of Inchiquin and the Nuncio's censures thereupon fulminated and the Civil Wars amongst the Confederates themselves commenced and Owen O Neil's Army advanced against Kilkenny and a League twixt him and Michael Jones the
confidently as if they had with them the most fully and clearly and satisfactorily Loyal Instruments could be framed even Instruments in every respect home to the point expected from them after a short Harrangus such as it was delivered by the Bishp of Kilfinuragh as the Congregations Chair-man presented to his Grace both the Original Parchment Roll opened and the other annexed Original Paper whereof before as they were signed by the proper hands of the Fathers But his Grace having received these Instruments and layed them by on his Table answered only in a very few words That after he had read and considered of their Petition and Instruments they should hear further from him And so his Grace dismissed those first Deputies of the Congregation It remains therefore now to end this Section that for the Readers fuller satisfaction I give here an exact Copy of both the foresaid Congregational Instruments with such Titles prefixed as the Originals have but first a Copy also of their Petition The Congregation's Petition delivered by the two aforesaid Bishops on June 16. 1666. To His Grace JAMES Duke of ORMOND LORD LIEVTENANT General and General Governour of Ireland The humble Petition of the Romish Catholick Clergy now met in the City of Dublin THE Petitioners do most humbly and thankfully acknowledge the favour your Grace hath done them in the allowance and permission of a Meeting in this City of Dublin at this time by which they have had the opportunity of a Free Conference together and the happiness to have concurred in a Remonstrance and Protestation of their Loyaltie to His Majesty wherein they resolve Inviolablie to continue which they beseech your Grace to accept from them and represent to His Majesty the rather that it was so unanimously agreed to as there was not one dissenting Voice in all their Number This is their prayer to your Grace for whom and whose Posterity they will as obliged always pray The Act of Recognition as I call it commonly to distinguish it from the former of others in 1661 or the Remonstrance and Protestation of Loyalty as they term it in their above Petition Signed by the National Congregation of the Irish Roman-Catholick Clergy in 1666 and delivered likewise June 16 by the same Bishops to His Grace as from and by direction of that Assembly To the King 's most Excellent Majesty CHARLES the Second King of Great Britain France and Ireland c. VVE Your Majesties Subjects the Roman-Catholick Clergy of the Kingdom of Ireland together assembled do hereby declare and solemnly protest before God and His Holy Angels That we own and acknowledge Your Majesty to be our true and lawful King Supreme Lord and undoubted Sovereign as well of this Realm of Ireland as of all other Your Majesties Dominions consequently we confess our selves bound in Conscience to be obedient to Your Majesty in all Civil and Temporal affairs as any Subject ought to be to his Prince and as the Laws of God and Nature require at our hands Therefore we promise That we will inviolably bear true Allegiance to Your Majesty Your lawful Heirs and Successors and that no power on earth shall be able to withdraw us from our duty herein And that we will even to the loss of our blood if occasion requires assert Your Majesties Rights against any that shall invade the same or attempt to deprive Your Self or Your lawful Heirs and Successors of any part thereof And to the end this our sincere Protestation may more clearly appear We further declare That it is not our Doctrine that Subjects may be discharged absolved or freed from the Obligation of performing their duty of true Obedience and Allegiance to their Prince much less may we allow of or pass as tolerable any Doctrine that perniciously and against the Word of God maintains That any private Subject may lawfully kill or murther the Anointed of God his Prince Wherefore pursuant to the deep apprehension we have of the abomination and sad consequences of its practice we do engage our selves to discover unto Your Majesty or some of Your Ministers any attempt of that kind Rebellion or Conspiracy against Your Majesties Person Crown or Royal Authority that comes to our knowledge whereby such horrid evils may be prevented Finally As we hold the Premises to be agreeable to good Conscience so we Religiously Swear the due observance thereof to our utmost and will Preach and Teach the same to our respective Flocks In witness whereof we do hereunto Subscribe the 15th day of June 1666. Edmund Archbishop of Ardmagh Primat of all Ireland Patrick Bishop of Ardagh Andrew Bishop of Kilfinuragh Procurator to the Lord Archbishop of Tuam and to the Reverend Fathers Richard Scis Vicar General of Killalla and Maurice Corghcar Vicar General of Aconry James Dempsy Vicar General Apostolick of Dubliâ— He might have added too and Vicar Capitulary of the Diocess of Kildare John Burk Vicar General Apostolick of Cashel Denis Harty Vicarius Apostolicus Laonensis Patricius Daly Vicarius Generalis Ardmachanus ac Procurator Rapotensis Oliver Desse Vic. Gen. Midensis Terence Fitz-Patrick Vicar General of Ossorie Robert Power Vicar General of Waterford and Lismore c. Dominick Roch Vicar General of Corck Connor Fogorty Proctor of Ardfert and Achdeo Nicolas Redmond Vicar General of Fernes Teig O Brien Dean of Lismore and Parson of Dungarvan John Deoran Proctor for Father Charles Nolan Vicar General of Laghlin Thomas Higgin Vicar General of Elphin Ronan Magin Vicar-General of Dromote James Phelan Doctor of Divinity Parson of Callan Dean of Ossory Protonotary Apostolical Thomas Lacy Substitute of Limmerick Father Francis Fitz Gerrald Proctor of the Vicar General of Cluon George Plunket Divine Daniel Kelly Vicar General of Cluonfert James Killine Vicar General Duacensis Edmund Teig Vicar General of Cloanmacnoise Owen O Coigly Procurator Derensis Patrick O Mulderig Vicarius Generalis Dun. Connor Thomas Fitz Symons Divine for the Province of Vlster Thady Brohy Divine for the Province of Leinster Doctor Angel Goulding Divine for the Province of Leinster John Nolan Master of Arts Divine for Leinster Dorby Doyle Batchelor of Divinity of the Province of Leinster Edmund O Deoran Magister Ordinis Melitensis Charles Horan Divine of the Diocess of Elphin in the Province of Connaught Constantine Duffy Vicar General of Clogher John Hannin Substitute and Official of Imly Fr Peter Walsh Reader of Divinity of St. Francis 's Order Procurator of the Catholick Clergy Andrew Bishop of Kilfinuragh Chairman Fr John Hart Provincial of the Order of Preachers and a Divine for the Province of Connaught Fr Stephen Lynch Provincial of the Order of St. Augustin and a Divine for Connaught Fr Antony Docharty Provincial of the Franciscans Andrew Sall Superiour of the Society of Jesus in Ireland Fr Thomas Dillon Vicar Provincial of the Discalceat Carmelits Fr Bernard Barry Lector Jubilate of the Order of S. Francis Fr John Brady Lector of Divinity Fr Dominick Martin of the Order of
to proffer so much in writing by a publcik Act of their Congregation i. e. by signing the paper to that purpose offered them to be signed unless besides other prejudices and evils which their proceedings hitherto must if not remedied by new Resolves bring of necessity on all the Roman-Catholick both Clergy and People represented or lead by them they intend also to sowe the seeds of a perpetual scandalous and fatal Schism amongst that very Clergy and People These being the heads of what we think necessary to be so debated and our desires and Petition of a Committee and Conference to such end being no other than we likewise think every indifferent Person will hold to be very reasonable in the present circumstances we have moreover thought fit to assure the Fathers That in case they convince us by reason or argument which may take with any judicious indifferent Person we shall most freely and resignedly submit to them in all and every of the controverted Points So little are we byassed against that Light which God hath imprinted on every rational Soul nay on the contrary so resolved are we to hold perpetually to the best of our knowledge to the Rule of Christian Belief which we conceive to be now or as to us and all other faithful men living the Holy Scriptures of God as they are interpreted by the constant unanimous universal Tradition of the Church and Doctrine of all the Holy Fathers even for Ten whole entire Ages of Christianity until the days and Vsurpation of Gregory the VII But if notwithstanding all and particularly so fair an offer the Congregation shall which God forbid suffer themselves to be either misguided or over-awed and over-ruled still by those persons amongst them who seek not the good of either Nation or Religion but their own peculiar worldly interest every one of them and this even knowingly to the prejudice of Evangelical truth and Propagation or Confirmation of both Schismatical and Heretical Errours or if to pleasure such persons the Congregation will not condescend to a desire so earnest and reasonable a Petition so equitable and humble for such a necessary Committee and Conference this Letter will at least bear us witness that of our part and to our power we have done what became us for preventing those evils which we mightily fear and are almost certainly perswaded the bad counsels and further designs of some leading persons amongst them will at last bring upon the Nation in general Whether in the mean time the Congregation it self can avoid the Censure of all understanding men whether even of those who otherwise might be the most fiery pretending Zealots for the Church and Pope may be worth the considering We mean when it shall be made publickly known That such a National Assembly of Ecclesiasticks would neither frame a Remonstrance of their own satisfactory to the King in point of professing their Allegiance to him for the future in meer Temporal things nor at all joyn or concur in that of others which was indeed in all respects satisfactory and as such already accepted by His Majesty and was also by not a small number of both Ecclesiasticks and Layicks of their own Countrey and Religion and amongst these and those many persons too not only considerable for other qualifications but for their Learning and judgment who even Principally to do them all the good lay in their power had freely and conscientiously signed the former Remonstrance nor yet no not even on the contradictory question would shew their Lawful exceptions or indeed any at all against the former nor even do so much as suffer it to be debated 'twixt a Committee of their own and another of the Subscribers of it no nor so much as to be debated in their own House or elsewhere by their own Divines alone whether it contain'd any Errour or any other cause of Lawful exception nor finally no not to prevent all those otherwise impending evils especially the very worst of them viz. a manifest scandalous and fatal Schism amongst the Catholick Clergy and consequently People too of this Nation the setting up or continuing of Altar against Altar would so much as testifie under their hands or by a publick Act of their House what they themselves professed there in word That they had in truth no exception against either that former Remonstrance or the Subscribers of it We say it may be worth the considering whether when all those matters and whatever else pertains unto them shall be made publick to the World this National Congregation of Roman-Catholick Irish Ecclesiasticks can avoid the heavy Censure of any understanding man Nay whether all understanding men who shall and when they shall read a perfect and full relation of all and particularly of this our present both hearty and humble Petition and withal of the Congregation's declining still nevertheless to come to such an issue will not judge That the same Fathers and together with them all other our Antagonists both at home and abroad Natives and Forreigners yield up the Cause justifie us and condemn themselves that refuse a Tryal so equitable in it self and so heartily and humbly desired of them by us This is all we have to say or pray at present save only That your Lordship may be pleased either by your self or some other Member of the House to read publickly in the House to all the rest of the Prelats and Fathers there Assembled this Letter of our Expostulation with and Petition to them all in general being it is only to this purpose directed to your Lordship as their Chairman Wherefore concluding we heartily wish your Lordship and them our Right Reverend good Lords and Venerable Fathers and wish them in their final Resolves before they dissolve the efficacious influence of the All-powerful Spirit of God which strongly and sweetly works all the good Resolves of men And so with much affection and all due respect we kiss your sacred hands Right Reverend and our very good Lord your Lordship 's most humble Servants Secular Priests Laurence Archbold Bartholomew Read Dominicans Fr. Clement Birn Fr. John Reynolds All Franciscans Fr. Valentine Brown Fr. Peter Walsh Fr. Anthony Gearnon Fr. Francis Coppinger Fr. Thomas Harold Fr. Christopher Plunket Fr. James Tuit Fr. Patrick Carr. Fr. Laurence Tankard Fr Thomas Talbot Fr. Mathew Duff F. James Fitz Gerrald Fr. Anthony Saul Fr. Valentine Cruiz What the qualifications or Titles were of these Subscribers you may see Treat 1. partly pag. 9. and partly pag. 47. In both which places they amongst others subscribe their names with their respective qualifications or Titles to the former Remonstrance some amongst the first Subscribers in England and others after amongst those who signed in Ireland Yet I confess there is one amongst them whose subscription was not valued nor desired by any of the rest but rather declined yea and had been absolutely refused by them if they had known how to refuse it prudently
Infidels and heretical Princes disturbing the publick peace tending to the ruine of Kingdoms and Republicks diverting Subjects from the obedience due to their Soveraigns and precipitating them into faction rebellion sedition and even to commit Parricides on the sacred persons of their Princes The Rectors Deans Proctors Batchelors and whole Vniversity have made this Decree That the sacred Faculty of Theology ought highly to be commended for having given a judgment so pious so religious so wholsome against so wicked and dangerous a Doctrine for having so opportunely held forth to the whole Church but especially to all France the clear light of ancient and orthodox Doctrine for having so gloriously followed the illustrious generosity of their Predecessors and performed a task not only becoming their particular profession to defend the truth but deserving the imitation even of the whole Vniversity it self And to obstruct altogether the very entrance of this new and pernicious doctrine and cause all those who now are or hereafter shall be members of this Vniversity or merit promotion to any degree therein to remember for ever to form and regulate their opinions according to the judgments pronounced by that sacred Faculty and keep at utmost distance from the doctrine so justly proscribed and that every one in particular may fly detest and abhor it and as well in publick as privat combat confute and convince its falsity They do decree that in the next solemn procession as also annually in the Assembly for the procession general immediatly after opening the Schools in the month of October this censure shall publickly be read by the Proctor of the University the first business nothing to intervene and recorded in the Registers of each Faculty and Nation and that two Copies hereof written and signed by the hand of the Clerk of the sacred F-culty of Theologie shall be kept in the common Records of the University and the like number be sent as soon as may be to all Superiours of Colledges and Houses to the end all possible care and diligence be used to secure all those who frequent or reside in the said Colledges from the corruption and poyson of this pernicious doctrine and that they never give way that any person whatsoever presume to say or do any thing contrary to what has so wisely been determined and ordained by that sacred Faculty If any Doctor Professor Master of Arts or Scholler resist and disobey or go about in any sort by word or writing on any cause or pretence whatsoever to offer at the least attempt or make the least opposition against this so laudable and legal a censure let him for a note of infamy and ignominy be expelled and deprived of his degree faculty and rank by a sentence that may for ever cut off all hope of admittance Quintaine Scribe of the University The like Decrees and censures have been made and past on the same occasion and against the same doctrine that the Pope can punish Kings with temporal punishments depose or deprive them of their Kingdoms or Estates c. and have been publickly enacted by these other several Universities following as appears too out of the foresaid Collection of Divers Acts c. By the Vniversity of Caen assembled in the Convent of St. Francis 7. May 1626. By the Vniversity of Rheims the four Faculties being assembled in the Chappel of St. Patrice 18th May 1626. By the Vniversity of Tholouze the Rector and professors of all the Faculties being assembled in St. Thomas's School at the Dominicans 23. May 1626. By the Vniversity of Poitiers assembled at the Dominicans 26. June 1626. By the Vniversity of Valence assembled in the great Hall 14. July 1626. By the Vniversity of Burdeaux assembled at the Carms 16. July 1626. By the Vniversity of Bourges all the Deans and Doctâ—rs-Regent of all the Faculties assembled by the Rector 25. November 1626. By all which the said doctrine was condemned as false erroneous contrary to the word of God pernicious seditious and detestable And so I conclude this my third Treatise or my considerations of the foresaid three Sorbon-propositions as applied by the Congregation to our own gracious King and themselves or Catholick Clergy and people of Ireland Or which is the same thing my considerations of what the said three single Propositions do signifie as from them and as to any further or clearer assurance of their fidelity hereafter to the King or Government in the cases controverted than that was they had before signified by the former paper of their Remonstrance alone without any such additional propositions Now to their third or last paper I mean that of their reasons given to my Lord Lieutenant why they would not subscribe the other three or the three last of those six of Sorbon applyed mutatis mutandis to our King and them selves THE FOURTH TREATISE CONTAINING Answers To the reasons presented in writing to His Grace the Twentieth of June 1666. by Father John Bourk Vicar General of Cashil and Father Cornelius Fogarty D. V. I. in behalf of and by Commission from the Congregation The title of the said writing or reasons being The reasons why we the Roman Catholick Clergie signed not the other three propositions But no hand or Subscription either of Secretary Speaker or any other not even of those very Commissioners that delivered it unto the Paper BEcause that writing is somewhat long and I have already given it intirely and consequently word by word in my first Treatise or Narrative where the Reader may turn to it I will onely take it here by pieces as I have in my second Treatise their Remonstrance And having little to say to the title nor else but what I hope will appear in the procedure and conclusion of these answers which is that I might as justly prefix to this Treatise of mine as a Gentleman in England since the Kings Restoration did to a piece of his own this other title The Jesuits reasons unreasonable and that Father N. N. of the Society can tell his Clients the misterie of such prefixion or application as who hath been as well the chief contriver of those reasons as he was next the Chairman the grand obstructer of the Subscriptions unto I mean the three last propositions I observed their said writing consists of five Paragraphs Whereof the first though short enough truly yet comprehends in general their reasons The following other four are only to prove by induction and by special instance of their rejected propositions and consideration of them what is said so in general is that first Paragraph Which Paragraph therefore they begin and conclude in those words Because we conceive them not any way appertaining to the points controverted And though we did we thought we had already Sufficiently cleared all scruples either by our former Remonstrance seperatly or jointly with the first three propositions we had already subscribed But to make us believe or conceive these reasons as reasonable they give first
their Votes in Parliament until such time as they shall afterwards acquire such Estates respectively and that none be admitted into the House of Commons but such as shall be estated and resident within this Kingdom XII Item It is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said Parties and His Majesty is further graciously pleased That as for and concerning the independency of the Parliament of Ireland of the Parliament of England His Majesty will leave both Houses of Parliament in this Kingdom to make such Declaration therein as shall be agreeable to the Law of the Kingdom of Ireland XIII Item It is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said Parties and His Majesty is further graciously pleased That the Council Table shall contain it self within its proper bounds in handled matters of State and weight fit for that place amongst which the Patents of Plantation and the Offices whereupon those Grants are founded are to be handled as matters of State and to be heard and determined by His Majesties Lord Lieutenant or other chief Governour or Governours for the time being and the Council publickly at the Council-Boord and not otherwise Titles between Party and Party grown after these Patents granted are to be left to the ordinary course of Law And that the Council Table do not hereafter intermeddle with common business that is within the cognizance of the ordinary Courts nor with the altering of possessions of Lands nor make nor use private Orders Hearings or References concerning any such matter nor grant any Injunctions or order for stay of any Suits in any Civil cause and that Parties grieved for or by reason of any proceedings formerly had there may commence their Suits and prosecute the same in any of His Majesties Courts of Justice or Equity for remedy of their pretended Rights without any restraint or interruption from His Majesty or otherwise by the chief Governour or Governours and Council of this Kingdom And that the proceedings in the respective Presidents Courts shall be pursuant and according to His Majesties printed Book of Instructions and that they shall contain themselves within the limits prescribed by that Book when the Kingdom shall be restored to such a degree of quietness as they be not necessarily inforced to exceed the same XIV Item It is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said Parties and His Majesty is further pleased That as for and concerning one Statute made in this Kingdom in the Eleventh year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth intituled An Act for staying of Wool Flocks Tallow and other necessaries within this Realm And one other Statute made in the said Kingdom in the Twelfth year of the Reign of the said Queen intituled An Act _____ And one other Statute made in the said Kingdom in the Thirteenth year of the Reign of the said late Queen intituled An Explanation of the Act made in a Session of this Parliament for the staying of Wool Flocks Tallow and other Wares and Commodities mentioned in the said Act and certain Articles added to the same Act all concerning Staple or Native Commodities of this Kingdom shall be repealed if it shall be so thought fit in the Parliament excepting for Wool and Wool-fells and that such indifferent persons as shall be agreed on by the said Lord Lieutenant and the said Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costelloe Lord President of Connaught Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Alexander mac Donnel Esq Sir Lucas Dillen Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnewall Baronet Geoffery Browne Donnogh O Callaghane Tirlagh O Neil Miles Reilly and Gerald Fennel Esquires or any seven or more of them shall be authorized by Commission under the great Seal to moderate and ascertain the rates of Merchandize to be exported or imported out of or into this Kingdom as they shall think fit XV. Item It is concluded accorded and agreed by and between the said Parties and His Majesty is graciously pleased That all and every person and persons within this Kingdom pretending to have suffered by offices found of several Countries Territories Lands and Hereditaments in the Province of Vlster and other Provinces of this Kingdom in or since the first year of King James's Reign or by attainders and forfeitures or by pretence or colour thereof since the said first year of King James or by other Acts depending on the said offices attainders and forfeitures may petition His Majesty in Parliament for relief and redress and if after examination it shall appear to His Majesty the said persons or any of them have been injured then His Majesty will prescribe a course to repair the person or persons so suffering according to justice and honour XVI Item It is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said Parties and His Majesty is further graciously pleased That as to the particular cases of Maurice Lord Viscount de Rupe Fermoy Arthur Lord Viscount Jueagh Sir Edmond Fitz-Gerald of Cloungliffe Baronet Charles Mac Charthy Reagh Roger Moore Anthony Moore William Fitz-Gerard Anthony Lynch John Lacy Collo Mac Bryen Mac Mahon Donnel Costingen Edmond Fitz-Gerald of Ballimartyr Lucas Keatinge Theobald Roch Fitz-Myles Thomas Fitz-Gerald of the Vally John Bourke of Loghmaske Edmond Fitz-Gerald of Ballimullo James Fitz-William Gerald of Glysnan and Edward Sutton they may Petition His Majesty in the next Parliament whereupon His Majesty will take such consideration of them as shall be just and fit XVII Item It is likewise concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said Parties and His Majesty is graciously pleased That the Citizens Freemen Burgesses and former Inhabitants of the City of Cork and Towns of Youghal and Dongarvan shall be forthwith upon perfection of these Articles restored to their respective Possessions and Estates in the said City and Towns respectively where the same extends not to the indangering of the Garrisons in the said City and Towns in which case so many of the said Citizens and Inhabitants as shall not be admitted to the present possession of their houses within the said City and Towns shall be afforded a valuable annual Rent for the same until settlement in Parliament at which time they shall be restored to those their possessions And it is further agreed and His Majesty is graciously pleased That the said Citizens Freemen Burgesses and Inhabitants of the said City of Cork and Towns of Youghal and Dongarvan respectively shall be enabled in convenient time before the next Parliament to be held in this Kingdom to choose and return Burgesses into the same Parliament XVIII Item It is further concluded accorded and agreed upon by and between the said Parties and His Majesty is further graciously pleased That an Act of Oblivion be passed in the next Parliament to extend to all His Majesties Subjects of this Kingdom and their Adherents of all Treasons and offences Capital Criminal and Personal and other
Roman-Catholicks the 17th day of January 1648 and in the 24th year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord CHARLES by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland c. ORMONDE The DECLARATION intituled thus A Declaration Of the Archbishops and other Prelates and Dignitaries of the Secular and Regular Clergy of the Kingdom of Ireland AGAINST The continuance of His MAJESTIES Authority in the person of the Marquess of ORMOND Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the misgovernment of the Subject the ill Conduct of His MAJESTIES Army and the violation of the Articles of Peace Dated at Jamestown in the Convent of the Fryers Minors August 12. 1650. THE Catholick People of Ireland in the year 1641. forced to take up Arms for the defence of Holy Religion their Lives and Liberties the Parliament of England having taken a resolution to extinguish the Catholick Faith and pluck up the Nation root and branch a powerful Army being prepared and designed to execute their black rage and cruel intention made a Peace and published the same the 17th of January 1648 with James Lord Marquess of Ormond Commissioner to that effect from His Majesty or from His Royal Queen and Son Prince of Wales now CHARLES II. hereby manifesting their Loyal thoughts to Royal Authority This Peace or Pacification being consented to by the Confederate Catholicks when His Majesty was in restraint and neither He nor His Queen or Prince of Wales in condition to send any supply or relief to them when also the said Confederate Catholicks could have agreed with the Parliament of England upon as good or better conditions for Religion and the Lives Liberties and Estates of the People than were obtained by the above Pacification and thereby freed themselves from the danger of any Invasion or War to be made upon them by the Power of England where notwithstanding the Pacification with His Majesty they were to dispute and fight with their and his Enemies in the Three Kingdoms Let the World judge if this be not an undeniable Argument of Loyalty This Peace being so concluded the Catholick Confederates ran sincerely and chearfully under His MAJESTIES Authority in the person of the said Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland plentifully providing vast sums of Monies well nigh half a Million of English pounds besides several Magazines of Corn with a fair Train of Artillery great quantity of Powder Match Ammunition with other Materials for War After his Excellency the said Lord Lieutenant frustrating the expectation the Nation had of his Fidelity Gallantry and Ability became the Author of almost losing the whole Kingdom to God King and Natives which he began by violating the Peace in many parts thereof as may be clearly evidenced and made good to the World I. FIrst The foresaid Catholicks having furnished his Excellency with the aforesaid Sum of Money which was sufficient to make up the Army of Fifteen thousand Foot and Two thousand five hundred Horse agreed upon by the Peace for the preservation of the Catholick Religion our Sovereigns interest and the Nation his Excellency gave Patents of Colonels and other Commanders over and above the party under the Lord Baron of Inchiquin to Protestants and upon them consumed the substance of the Kingdom who most of them afterwards betrayed or deserted us II. That the Holds and Ports of Munster as Cork Youghal Kingsale c. were put in the hands of faithless men of the Lord of Inchiquin's Party that betrayed these places to the Enemy to the utter endangering of the KING's interest in the whole Kingdom This good service they did His MAJESTY after soaking up the sweet and substance of His Catholick Subjects of Munster where it is remarkable That upon making the Peace his Excellency would no way allow His Loyal Catholick Subjects of Cork Youghal Kingsale and other Garrisons to return to their own Homes or Houses III. Catholick Commanders instanced by the Commissioners of Trust according to the Pacification and hereupon by his Excellencies Commission receiving their Commands in the Army as Colonel Patrick Purcel Major General of the Army and Colonel Peirce Fitz-Gerald alias Mr. Thomas Commissary of the Horse were removed without the consent of the said Commissioners and by no demerit of the Gentlemen and the said places that of Major General given to Daniel O Neil Esq a Protestant and that of Commissary of the Horse to Sir William Vaughan Knight and after the said Sir William â—s death to Sir Thomas Armstrong Knight both Protestants IV. A Judicature and legal way of administring Justice promised by the Articles of Peace was not performed but all process and proceedings done by Paper Petitions and thereby private Clerks and other corrupt Ministers inrich't the Subject ruined and no Justice done V. The Navigation the great support of Ireland quite beaten down his Excellency disheartning the Adventurers Undertakers and Owners as Captain Antonio and others favouring Hollanders and other Aliens by reversing of Judgments legally given and definitively concluded before his Commissioners Authority By which depressing of Maritime affairs and not providing for an orderly and good Tribunal of Admiralty we have hardly a Bottom left to transmit a Letter to His Majesty or any other Prince VI. The Church of Cloine in our possession at the time of making the Peace violently taken from us by the Lord of Inchiquin contrary to the Articles of Peace no Justice nor redress was made upon Application or Complaint VII That Oblations Book monies Interments and other Obventions in the Counties of Cork Waterford and Kerry were taken from the Catholick Priests and Pastors by the Ministers without any redress or restitution VIII That the Catholick Subjects of Munster lived in slavery under the Presidency of the Lord of Inchiquin these being their Judges that before were their Enemies and none of the Catholick Nobility or Gentry admitted to be of the Tribunal IX The Conduct of the Army was improvident and unfortunate Nothing hapned in Christianity more shameful than the disaster at Rathmines near Dublin where his Excellency as it seemed to ancient Travellers and men of experience who viewed all kept rather a Mart of Wares a Tribunal of Pleadings or a great Inne of Play Drinking and Pleasure than a well ordered Camp of Souldiers Droghedagh unrelieved was lost by storm with much bloodshed and the loss of the flower of Leinster Wexford lost much by the unskilfulness of a Governour a young man vain and unadvised Ross given up and that by his Excellencies order without any dispute by Colonel Luke Taffe having within near upon 2500 Souldiers desirous to fight After that the Enemy make a Bridge over the River of Ross a wonder to all men and understood by no man without any let or interruption our Forces being within Seven or eight Miles to the place where 200 Musqueteers at Rossberkine being timely ordered had interrupted this stupendious Bridge and made the Enemy weary of the Town Carrig being betrayed by the
is humbly desired That Your Excellency will be pleased to apply Your immediate care to the forwarding of the service and setling of affairs in the other parts of the Kingdom answerable to the present danger and condition wherein it is that there may be some visible opposition to the growing power of the Enemy Thus humbly taking leave we remain Loghreogh May 2. 1650. Your EXCELLENCIES Most humble Servants Tho Gashell Jo Archiep. Tuamen Dillon Mountgarret Netervill Muskery Fr Hugo Duacensis Fr Anto. Clonmaâ—â—osensis Episcopus Athunry Ro Corcagensis Cluanen Upper Ossory Lucas Dillon Nich Plunâ—â—â— R Everard Ter O Neill Geffry Browne Gerald Fennel R Bellings For his Excellency the Lord Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant General of Ireland These The substance of all which on their part as also the results of the consultations of that Assembly you see were deep professions of Loyalty to His Majesty Respect to Us and a resolution to endeavour Our satisfaction in what We desired To which effect the Archbishop of Tuam and Sir Lucas Dillon were employed to Lymerick with pressing Letters to persuade that Corporation to receive a Garrison and obey Our Orders By these reiterated professions We were induced to alter Our purpose of quitting the Kingdom and to dismiss a Frigat which to Our great charge We had bought and fitted for Our Transportation The Archbishop and Sir Lucas Dillon soon after returned from Lymerick with an imperfect kind of return to their Negotiation yet such as gave Us hopes that Lymerick would be brought to more reason upon further endeavours and our nearer residence Wherein We laboured with all Our industry but in vain till about the 12th of June last when We thought by a Letter and Message We received from the Mayor that we should be permitted to put a Garrison into that City as by the Copy of his Letter and Our Answer appears May it please your Excellency THE City-Council have given me in Command to signifie and humbly to offer unto Your Excellency That it was expected by them that You would being so near this City yesterday bestow a visit upon it the which is no way doubted had been done by Your Excellency if Your greater Affairs did not hinder You from the same and yet do expect when those are over Your Excellency will be pleased to step hither to settle the Garrison here the which without Your presence cannot be as is humbly conâ—eived so well done or with that expedition as our necessity requires the particulars whereof we refer to Alderman Peirs Creagh and Alderman John Bourke their relation to whom we desire Credence may be given by Your Excellency and humbly to believe that I will never fail to be Your EXCELLENCIES Most humble Servant Jo Creagh Mayor Lymerick Lymerick 12 Junii 1650. For His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant General and General Governour of Ireland AFter Our hearty Commendations We have received your Letters of this dayes date by the conveyance of Alderman Peirs Creagh and heard what Alderman John Bourke and he had to say as from that Corporation In Answer whereunto We imparted some particulars unto them wherein We expect satisfaction Which if you send Us to the Rendezvous to morrow where We intend to be We shall visit that City and employ Our uttermost endeavours in setling the Garrison necessarily desired thither both for the defence and satisfaction of that City And so We bid you heartily farewell from Clare the 12th of June 1650. Your very loving Friend ORMOND To Our very loving Friend the Mayor of the City of Limerick These THE PARTICULARS I. To be received in like manner and with such respect as LORD LIEUTENANTS heretofore alwayes have been II. To have the Command of the Guards the giving of the Word and Orders in the City III. That there be Quarter provided within the City for such Guards of Horse and Foot as I carry in who are to be part of the Garrison whereof a List shall be given at the Rendezvous When upon this invitation We came near to the Gates the Aldermen employed to invite Us thither were sent out to Us to let Us know of a Tumult raised in the City by a Fryer one Father Woolfe and some others against Our coming in and a dissuasion of Our coming till that Tumult should be quieted Hereupon in hope to have brought the Corporation to a sense and performance of their duty We writ the following Letter to the Mayor viz. AFter Our hearty Commendations According to Our promise in Our Letter of the 12th of this Month from Clare We came yesterday to the Rendezvous with intent to have gone into that City for the purpose desired by you in your Letter of the same dayes date But upon Our coming to the place We received a message from you by Alderman Peirs Creagh and Alderman John Bourke importing That you consented to all We had formerly proposed to you except the admittance of Our Guards Thereupon We returned the said Messengers with answer That We intended not the drawing in of Our Guards out of any mistrust We had of the Loyalty of the Magistrates of that City to His Majesty or of their Affection to Us but for the Dignity of the place We hold and to prevent any popular Tumult that might be raised by desperate uninterested persons against Us or the Civil Government of that City whereunto We had cause to fear some loose People might by false and frivolous suggestions be too easily instigated And to take away all possibility of suspition from the most jealous that We could have any other end to the prejudice of that City the Guards We proposed were but One hundred Foot and Fifty Horse and those to consist entirely of those of your own Religion and such as by having been constantly of your Confederacy are interested in all the benefits of the Articles of Peace To this We received no positive Reply but in an uncertain manner were told by the said Aldermen of some uproar raised by a Fryer in opposition to the desires and intentions of the Mayor and principal Citizens touching Our coming thither Whereupon We thought not fit to subject His Majesties authority placed in Us to a possibility of being affronted by a wild rabble of mean People but rather to expect the issue of more setled Councils Wherein We hope will be taken into consideration not only by what power you were first made a Corporation and by whose protection you have since flourished but also what solid foundation of safety other than by receiving the defence We offer is or can be discovered to you by the present disturbers of your quiet To conclude We expect your present answer That in case We be encouraged to proceed in the wayes VVe have laid down of serving the King and preserving that City from the Tyranny of the Rebels VVe may immediately apply Our Self thereunto or failing in Our desires therein We may apply Our Self and the Forces We have
how I conceived their signing those Declarations of Sorbon might be of good use And since they were absolutely upon a new unsignificant Formulary of their own without taking notice of his Graces two former messages how the said Sorbon Declarations signed by them freely and unanimously might in great part supply the defects of their Formulary How what remained after to be supplyed might be done in a distinct Schedule which I had prepared by me to be signed by them after they all had once concurred in signing those Declarations of Sorbon if indeed they would sign all six that distinct Schedule being such as interpreted the meaning of their new Formulary of Recognition to be That they intended therein to bind themselves to continue according to the Laws of the Land faithful and obedient to the King even in all contingencies whatsoever especially of Excommunication fulminated by the Pope against the King or themselves for being obediently faithful to His Majesty as likewise to protest not only against all and every equivocation and both Mental and Vocal reservation but all Doctrines also whatsoever contrary to the true honest plain and obvious meaning or sense of the words of their said Formulary or Act of Recognition Finally how I believed there would be less difficulty in getting them to sign these matters in a distinct Schedule than to insert them in their beloved Formulary and truly no difficulty at all if once they had sign'd the six Sorbon Declarations as they offered already to me by their Committee After all which at large reported and declared I told his Grace That I knew they intended to sign their said Formulary or Act of Recognition that very day and present it at night to his Grace That notwithstanding I absented my self from them of purpose to try whether by such my absence they might be any thing the more brought to reason or to do that which was for their own advantage yet being they had so earnestly and by so many messages and that offer also of signing those six Sorbon Declarations desired my return and being moreover they were now on the point of concluding what they intended wherein it was hard or somewhat unseemly for me to single my self from them to no purpose I prayed his Graces either commands or advice as to that of my return once more to and concurring with them wherein I saw they concluded any thing Lawful how unsatisfactory or unsufficient soever otherwise it might peradventure be as to the main point in controversie or that principally expected from them And that His Grace would be pleased to give the most favourable reception he could to such persons as were to come that night from the Fathers with their Act of Recognition c. and promise them his Answer thereupon after he had taken a day or two for considering the Contents of such Instruments as they presented to him And such indeed was the only end of my going that morning to the Lord Lieutenant being continually sollicitous even during my recess from and distance or difference with the Congregation how nevertheless to do them all the good offices I could with his Grace and in one way or other to prevail with them also to do themselves and poor Clergy and People too represented by them that right in some measure at least which became the Priests of God to do now at last for a Nation rendred hitherto the most miserable of any in Europe and rendred such by their endevours and misdemeanours only And I dare say His Grace also had as real desires of their doing themselves and rest of their Nation and Religion that very same right as I had or could have whereof I am sure they themselves had very many clear Arguments but I a hundred more In pursuance of which on this very occasion of my address or discourse this morning or of my prayer not only of his advice to my self as to the point of my returning or not returning to the Fathers but of a favourable reception of the Deputies at night His Grace both commanded me to return to the Congregation and promised that reception of the Deputies which I desired yea notwithstanding that he knew as fully and throughly as I did how they had so temerariously and unworthily yea almost incredibly slighted both his former messages to them Wherefore as well in obedience to his Graces commands as in compliance with the Fathers and not to single or estrange my self wholly from them in any thing at all wherein I might comply but give them all the satisfaction I could about evening I returned and entred unexpectedly to their House even just then when they were signing a great Parchment Roll containing their new unsignificant Formulary or Act of Recognition As soon as they saw me entred their chief Leaders both welcom'd me and exprest extraordinary much contentment at my return even their Chairman himself leaving his Chair and coming some steps forward to embrace me twixt his arms as he did then telling me what they were upon and shewing the publick Instrument of Recognition they were signing and withal how together with it they had for my satisfaction prepared an other distinct Paper containing the three first of those six Sorbon Declarations which three or Paper containing them as the only of those six which seem'd to them to concern their Allegiance to the King they would then likewise presently subscribe to be together with their said Parchment Roll of Recognition presented to the Lord Lieutenant finally praying that I would concur with them in each and now after all I had all along till the present so obligingly done for them not to desert them in any respect or thing but prepare a good favourable and gracious reception for those who intended as deputed by and from the Congregation to wait on the Lord Lieutenant's Grace that night with the foresaid publick Instruments viz. the Bishop of Ardagh and himself the Chairman and that I would not only prepare their such reception but accompany also and introduce them to His Grace at such hour as I thought fit or should be appointed by His Grace When I had heard out all I answered in short That I never intended really either to seperate from or be wanting to them in whatsoever I might be useful That my late and short recess was only for their good viz. thereby to occasion their further and better enquiry into the defects of the Formulary they intended to present and their supplying those defects That although I returned not at the desire or upon the proposals of any of their several Committees sent unto me yet I begun to hope well of them when the second Committee they sent offered to me their intended Subscription of those six Sorbon Declarations That thereupon I waited on my Lord Lieutenant and informing His Grace of all the differences and whatever else passed betwixt either the Congregation it self or their said Committees and me made special use
of that offer of theirs by the Reverend Fathers Nicholas Nettervil John Talbot and Angel Golding and their promise consequently to subscribe the whole six Propositions or Declarations of Sorbon and thereby had already prepared for their Deputies that reception they expected That nevertheless I saw now they intended no more but the three first of those Declarations That besides the note of inconstancy and uncertainty in their offers and promises they would lye under by declining the other three it would appear manifestly on debate That no kind of Instrument or Profession of theirs although backed with their signing those three first could signifie any thing at all because that on the contradictory question they declined signing the other three as they had already declined not only their signing the Remonstrance but even a simple Paper which only attested their not condemning that honest Formulary yea both declined and opposed so much as a debate or examination of it even by the Divines only That therefore I thought it concernâ—d mightily even their own credit and reputation to perform what they had so unexpectedly without any desire or thought on my side offered of their own free accord i e. to subscribe all the six That whatever they did herein or in any thing else I would nevertheless having first discharged my own duty to God and man by telling them what seem'd to me fitting and necessary according to all Religion Veracity and Justice do of my side what I returned for i. e. joyn with them by subscribing their Recognition c. being they so heartily desired I should and that I saw no evil therein but of bare omission which I was not to answer for That however at the same time I must declare to them They neither must nor ought in any reason flatter themselves with hopes of advantage or acceptableness of their said Act of Recognition or other Paper because I had returned to concur with them in signing whereas I only returned so and meaned to sign also as many papers as they pleased wherein I found no hurt though otherwise very little or no real good at all to the purpose not that I believed such Instruments by whomsoever sign'd would advantage them a jot but that I thought it unbecoming me to deny them utterly at last either my presence or concurrence even by hand and heart both where I might without sin or shame give both albeit I otherwise expected no advantage to them by either since I had plainly and sincerely told them so much and moreover done what else I thought or hoped might rectifie their judgments or alter their so fatal resolutions Lastly That if they of their sides had been but half way so indifferently if not so rationally and equitably disposed to concur with me and others by signing that only one Paper of the Remonstrance expected from them wherein they saw not only no evil no kind of culpable either Commission or Omission but even all that was honest loyal expedient necessary for the good of themselves their Church and People I might then by my return to a conjunction with them confidently assure them of the happiest issue any Irish Congregation had these hundred years whereas now as they have taken their own measures and finally resolved I could hope for no such matter but rather on the contrary fear their Resolve should prove unluckily ominous To this purpose when I had fully declared my mind the Speaker Primat and some others answered That nevertheless they hoped His Grace the Lord Lieutenant would be satisfied with the three first of the Sorbon Propositions That to this purpose they had those three fairly drawn in a different Paper but subscribed only at present by the two foresaid Prelats viz. the Primat of all Ireland and the Bishop of Kilfinuragh Chairman and by the Secretary Nicholas Redmond to the end this paper also together with their Act of Recognition might be presented to His Grace And that if His Grace must needs have the other three and could not be satisfied with their reasons to the contrary they would also subscribe these Whereupon without further dispute or reply but believing what herein they said I subscribed their Parchment Roll of Recognition where they desired me to subscribe it in the last place under the third Column of the other Subscribers and subscribed it there as they would likewise have me in this manner viz. Father Peter Walsh Reader of Divinity of St. Francis's Order Procurator of the Catholick Clergy the Chairman only at a lower distance subscribing after me much under the same Column and at a lower distance yet as under the third Column their Secretary Nicholas Redmond Which particular of my Title of their Procurator in my subscription I take notice of here to obstruct the calumnies even of some of the late titular Archbishops especially Peter Talbot of Dublin and William Burgat of Cashil who in some occasions even since they have been consecrated Bishops within these four last years have had the confidence either to deny that I have been or am or at least to call in question whether I be or have been at any time Procurator of the Clergy Regular and Secular of Ireland as I have subscribed my self in some of my Books Now I am sure if there were no other argument to convince them either of ignorance or malice herein that very Original Parchment Roll of this National Assembly's Act of Recognition doth which their Chairman Andrew Lynch Bishop of Kilfinuran and with him Patrick Plunket the Bishop of Ardagh took into their own custody as soon as the Subscriptions had been all put to it and for any thing I remember now mine was put to it after all the rest had done and finished all the three Columns of their names and so subscribed with my name and title of their Procurator under my hand both presented and delivered it with their own hands to the Lord Lieutenant that very night And so I am at last insensibly come where I would be in this Section viz. at my waiting on these two Bishops deputed by the Congregation to present his Grace with those two publick Instruments For as soon as the Subscription was over the House adjourned and night come I waited on them into the Castle having first acquainted my Lord Lieutenant with the whole Contents of both their Parchment Roll and other Paper as likewise how they fell back the one moyetie from their so late offer of signing all the six Declarations of Sorbon and how nevertheless they promised to sign the rest if His Grace would needs have it so though I could not for my part be sure of any promise of theirs but what I saw first in black and white under all their hands Notwithstanding all which His Grace both admitted these Deputies into his Closet and received them very courteously taking no notice at all of what he knew of any matters past in their House And they as