other Charges his particular Vigilance prov'd a good Guard and that Dublin might be fortified the 22. of November 1641. the Lords Justices and Council by their Proclamation enjoyn'd the same Now the State finding the Storm to increase and that though they had some glimmerings of comfort by the success of their Forces in Wickloe under Sir Charles Coote the Rebellion grew general the Lords Justices and Council publish'd a Proclamation the 27th of November for a Weekly Fast every Friday to be devoutly and piously observed and solemnized in and through the whole City of Dublin and the Suburbs thereof that being humbled for their sins the affliction might be remov'd The 28th of November the State had an Account of Sir ONeal's and Sir Con. Mac-Gennis his approach to Lisnegarvey with about 4000 Men who being fearful of the Garrison's Field-Peeces drew out two considerable Divisions of Men to fall on the Town on both sides at once The strength of the Town exceeded not 400 Foot besides the Lord Convay's Troop and part of Capt. John's who made up about 380. generally mounted on small Nags yet so well maintain'd they the Place as having skirmish'd with the Rebels without the Town on one side the rest charg'd others in the Street and in a short time droye them to the Body of their Army fac'd by Sir Phil. O-Neal and Sir Con. who play'd upon them with their Field-Peeces but were so pelted with Muskets as they gave ground the main Body of the English still securing the Market-place We took 6 Colours killed many without any considerable loss on our side more than that Capt. Boid and Capt. St. John were killed Mr. Rawden and Capt. Burly hurt Sir Arth. Tirringham managing the whole with excellent Conduct By this time his Majesty then in Scotland having as is before mention'd recommended the Affairs of Ireland to his Parliament of England immediately on the first intelligence of that Rebellion sent over several Commissions to Sir Robert Stewart and other Persons of Honour and Trust in the North and assisted by the Duke of Richmond caus'd some proportions of Arms and Ammunition to be conveyed thither out of Scotland with what Money he could spare a care and providence worthy so sensible a Prince which though it were little will be found to have done much service testified in his Majesty's Answer to a Pamphlet entituled A Declaration of the Commons touching no further Addresses At the same time he mov'd all the Parliament in Scotland as being nearest to a speedy help but they excus'd their Aids because Ireland was dependent upon the Crown of England intending rather as it seem'd by the sequel to afford their service upon Hire than Compassion or Conscience Yet notwithstanding his Majesty the State and Parliament of England's appearing thus incens'd against the Rebellion all fair means of exceptions being remov'd and a desire of its suppression endeavour'd the Irish finding as yet no considerable relief sent to the English and being exceedingly flush'd with the defeat of those commanded to re-enforce the Garrison of Tredath they unanimously drew down their Northern Forces to infest that Town And that you may see with what union even the Lords of the Pale formerly faithful to the Crown conspired in this Rebellion though by their humble Apology fraught with many vain pretences they would evade the Conspiracy we must here render you an Account of the Truth given in upon Oath March 1641. before Sir Robert Meredith Kt. Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Examination of Edward Dowdall Esq a Person of great esteem amongst them He deposeth That some 3 or 4 days after the defeat of the English Souldiers at the Bridge of Gellingstone there issued a Warrant from the Lord of Gormanston to the Sheriff of the County for a general Meeting of all the County at Dulick but the place of Meeting was afterwards chang'd to the Hill of Crofty where all the Lords and Gentry of the County met viz. The Earl of Fingal the Lord Viscount Gormanston the Lord Slane the Lord Lowth the Lord Dunsany the Lord Trimblestone the Lord Nettervile And of the Gentry Sir Patrick Barnewall Sir Christopher Bellow Patrick Barnwall of Kiltrew Nicholas Darcy of Plattin James Bath of Acharn Garret Ailmer the Lawyer Cusack of Gormanston William Malone of Lesmullin Sedgrave of Kileglan Linch of the Knos Lynam of Adams-Town Lawrence Dowdall of Athlumney Nicholas Dowdall of Browns-Town this Examinate's Brother and him this Examinate with a multitude of others to the number of a thousand Persons at least whose Names he this Examinate cannot for the present call to mind And after about two or three hours spent upon the said Hill of Crofty by the Lords and Gentry aforesaid there came unto them Col. Mahone Philip O-Relie Hugh boy-Relie Roger Moore Hugh Birne and Capt. Fox attended on with a Guard of Musketeers And this Examinate saith That as soon as the Parties drew near unto the said Hill the Lords and Gentry of the Pale rode towards them and the Lord Gormanston being one of the first spake unto them and demanded of them why and for what reason they came arm'd into the Pale unto whom Roger Moore made present Answer That the ground of their coming thither and taking up Arms was for the freedom and liberty of their Consciences the maintenance of his Majesty's Prerogative in which they understood he was abridg'd and the making the Subjects of this Kingdom as free as those in England were Whereupon the said Lord Gormanston desired to understand from them truely and faithfully whether these were not pretences and not indeed the true grounds of their so doing and likewise whether they had not some other private end of their own Which being all denied upon profession of their sincerity to his Lordship the Lord of Gormanston then told them Seeing these be your true ends we will likewise joyn with you therein unto which course all agreed And thereupon it was publickly and generally declared That whosoever shall deny to joyn with them or refuse to assist them therein they would account him as an enemy and to the utmost of their power labour his destruction And this Examinate saith That after the Agreement made as aforesaid there issued another Warrant to the Sheriff of the County of Meath to be at the Hill of Taragh about a week after and accordingly there met at the same place the Earl of Fingal the Lord Gormanston and the rest of the Lords and Gentry aforenam'd together with Sir Thomas Nugent and Nicholas Plunket the Lawyer Birford the Lawyer and a multitude of others And the work of that day was first to make Answer to a Summons made by the State for the calling of the Lords of the Pale to Dublin which Answer was brought ready drawn by the Lord Gormanston and presented by his Lordship and being perused by the said Council at Law was signed by the Lords To which we will add passing by
Orders and Injunctions continued still their desire to observe the Peace The titular Bishop of Ossory publisht this extraordinary Writing WHereas we have in publick and private meetings at several times declared to the Supream Council and others whom it might concern That it was and is unlawful and against conscience the implying Perjury as it hath been defined by the special Act of the Convocation at Waterford to both Common-Wealths Spiritual and Temporal to do or concur to any Act tending to the approbation or countenancing the Publication of this unlawful and mischievous Peace so dangerous as it is now Articled to both Common-Wealths Spiritual and Temporal And whereas notwithstanding our Declaration yea the Declaration of the whole Clergy of the Kingdom to the contrary the Supream Council and the Commissioners have actually proceeded to the Publication yea and forcing it upon the City by terror and threats rather then by any free consent or desire of the People We having duly considered and taken it to heart as it becometh us how enormous this Fact is and appears in Catholicks even against God himself and what a Publick Contempt of the Holy Church it appeareth beside the evil it is like to draw upon this poor Kingdom after a mature Deliberation and Consent of our Clergy in Detestation of this hainous and scandalous Disobedience of the Supream Council and others who adhered to them in matter of conscience to the Holy Church and in hatred of so sinful and abominable an Act do by these Presents according to the Prescription of the Sacred Cannons pronounce and command henceforth a general Cessation of Divine Offices throughout all the City and Suburbs of Kilkenny in all Churches Monasteries and houses in them whatsoever Given at our Palace of Nova Curia the 18th of August 1646. Signed David Ossoriensis This extravagant Proceeding did not yet terrifie those of the Confederate Catholicks who understood as they pretended how necessary the observation of the Peace was for the preservation of the Nation But as they desired the Lord Lieutenant to forbear all acts of Hostility upon how unreasonable a Provocation soever So they sent two Persons of the Supream Council Sir Lucas Dillon and Dr. Fennel to the Congregation at Waterford to dispose them to a better temper and to find out some Expedient which might compose the minds of the People and prevent those Calamities that would unavoidably fall upon the Nation upon their declining and renouncing the Peace which you must understand in them to be very real But after they had attended several days and offered many Reasons and Considerations to them The Congregation put a Period to all the Hopes and Consultations of that nature by issuing out a Decree of Excommunication which they caused to be Printed in this Form and in these Words and with these Marginal Notes By John Baptist Rinuccini Archbishop and Prince of Firmo and by the Ecclesiastical Congregation of both Clergies of the Kingdom of Ireland A Decree of Excommunication against such as adhere to the late Peace and do bear Arms for the Hereticks of Ireland and do aid or assist them NOt without Cause saith the Oracles of Truth doth the Minister of God carry the Sword for he is to punish him that doth Evil and remunerate him that doth Good hence it is that we have by our former Decrees declared to the World our sence and just Indignation against the late Peace Concluded and Published at Dublin not onely in its nature bringing prejudice and destruction of Religion and Kingdom but also contrary to the Oath of Association and withall against the Contrivers of and Adherers to the said Peace In pursuance of which Decrees being forced to unsheath the Spiritual Sword We to whom God hath given power to bind and loose on Earth assembled together in the Holy Ghost tracing herein and imitating the Examples of many Venerable and holy Prelates who have gone before us and taking for our Authority the Sacred Canons of Holy Church grounded on Holy Writ Ut tollantur èmedio nostrum qui hoc opus faciunt Domini nostri Jesu deliver over such Persons to Satan that is to say We Excommunicate Execrate Anathematize all such as after the Publication of this our Decree and notice either Privately or Publickly given to them hereof shall defend adhere to or approve the Justice of the said Peace and chiefly those who bear Arms or make or joyn in War with for or in behalf of the Puritans or other Hereticks of Dublin cork Youghall of other places within this Kingdom or shall either by themselves or by their appointment bring send or give any Aid Succour or Relief Victuals Ammunition or other Provision to them or by advice or otherwise advance the said Peace or the War made against us Those and every of them by this present Decree We do declare and pronounce Excommunicated ipso facto ut non circumveniamini à Satana non enim ignoramus Cogitationes ejus Dated at Kilkenny in our Palace of Residence the 5th day of October 1646. Signed Johannes Baptista Archiepiscopus Firmanus Nuncius Apostolicus de Mandato Illustrissimi Domini Nuncij Congregationis Ecclesiasticae utriusque Cleri Regni Hiberniae Nicholas Firmence Congregationis Cancellarius The Nuncio having thus fortifi'd himself made great preparations to march with two Armies to Dublin which consisting of 16000 Foot and as many hundred Horse he believ'd or seem'd to believe would take the Town by Assault as soon as he should appear before it and in this confidence that we may not interrupt the series of this Discourse by any intervening action when the Armies were within a days march of the City the two Generals sent this Letter with the Propositions annexed to the Lord Lieutenant May it please your Excellency BY the Command of the Confederate Catholicks of this Kingdom who offer the inclosed Propositions we have under our Leading two Armies our thoughts are best to our Religion King and Countrey our ends to establish the first and make the two following secure and happy It is the great part of our care and desires to purchase your Excellency to the effecting of so blessed a work We do not desire the effusion of blood and to that purpose the inclosed Propositions are sent from us we pray to God your consideration of them may prove fruitful We are commanded to pray your Excellency to render an Answer to them by two of the Clock in the afternoon on Thursday next be it War or Peace We shall endeavour in our Ways to exercise Faith and Honour and upon this thought we rest From the Camp 2. March 1646. Your Excellencies most humble Servants J. Preston Owen O Neile 1. That the exercise of the Romish Religion be in Dublin Tredagh and in all the Kingdom of Ireland as free and as publick as it is now in Paris in France or Bruxels in the Low-Countreys 2. That the Council of State
thereof engaging the Kings Customs and the tenths of Prizes for payment and by this means which cost him much labour and time he found himself in a condition to draw several Forces together which he did about the beginning of May having made the Lord Inchequin Lieutenant-General of the Army the Earl of Castlehaven Lieutenant-General of the Horse and the Lord Taaff Master of the Ordnance at the General Randezvouz at Cashol whilst the Scots reduc'd Ulster and Connaght and it being thought fit to lose as little time as might be in marching towards Dublin as soon as any considerable number of men were once together he sent the Earl of Castlehaven with some Forces to take in several Garrisons which were possessed by Owen O Neal in the Queen's County which was the way he intended to march and so would have no Enemy in his Rear And the Earl of Castlehaven accordingly took the Fort of Maryborrough and other Places in that County and Athy and Reban in the County of Kildare whereby their passage was open for the further March Having thus began the Campania the Lord Lieutenant appointed a General Randezvouz for the whole Army at Cloghgrenan alias Glaughgrenan an house of his upon the River Barrow near the Castle of Caterlaugh where he made a Conjunction of all the Forces Protestant and Irish Who by the Wisdom and Temper of the Principal Officers mingled well enough and together about the end of May made a Body as it's generally reported of 3700 Horse and 14500 Foot with a Train of Artillery consisting of four Pieces of Cannon But when they were thus met all the Money which could be rais'd by the Commissioners or which had been rais'd by the Corporate Towns was so near spent in drawing the Forces out of their Quarters and in those short Expeditions into the Queen's County and County of Kildare that they could not have advanced in their March if the Lord Lieutenant had not upon his own Private Credit borrowed 800 l. of Sir James Preston by means whereof he gave the Common Souldiers four days Pay and so about the beginning of June marched from Cloghgrenan and the same Evening appear'd before Talbots Town a strong Garrison of the Enemies which together with Castle Talbot two miles distant from the other was within 3 days surrendred to the Marquess upon promise of Quarter which they had and then he march'd to Kildare which Town was likewise surrendred unto him as were Castle Sallogh and Castle Carby at Kildare He was compelled to stay 3 or 4 days both for want of Provision and for a Recruit of 2000 Foot which by the Lord Inchequin's Care and Diligence was then upon their March and being join'd he was in hope by a suddain and speedy Motion to have engaged Jones who at that time viz. 12. of June was march'd from Dublin as far as Johnstown with his Army consisting of 1000 Horse and 3000 Foot and so having encouraged his Souldiers with 3 days Pay which he was likewise compelled to borrow on his Credit out of the Pockets of Persons of Quality attending on him and of the Officers of the Army he passed the River of Lifly and Jones having upon intelligence of his Motion in great disorder rais'd his Camp and retir'd into Dublin after that Major Cadogan by his Command had done notable and severe Service about Tecroghan burning the Countrey not in 5 years before Visited and had beaten a part of the Marquess's Forces though he got not so much by his Victory though considerable as Jones afterwards lost by Treachery the Garrison of Allan being delivered up for 200 l. The Marquess encamped his whole Army at the Naas twelve miles from Dublin that he might maturely deliberate what was next to be undertaken being now the middle of June That which appeared worthy of debate was whether the Army should first make an Attempt upon Dublin in which it was believ'd there were very many both Officers and Souldiers and other Persons of Quality well affected to the Kings service and who had formerly served under the Marquess and esteem'd him accordingly who might make that work more easy Or whether the Army should be first imployed in the taking in of Trim Tredagh and other out-Garrisons from whence the City receiv'd much Provisions of all kinds and from whence Provisions to the Army would be cut off and much other prejudice might arise But upon full consideration the Council of War which consisted of the General Officers inclined to the former concluding that if they could take Dublin all other places would quickly fall into their hands and if they should delay it and waste their Provisions in those lesser Attempts there might probably arrive out of England such supplies of Men Money and other necessaries to Jones which were daily expected as might render that important work almost impossible Hereupon the Lord Lieutenant marched the very next morning toward Dublin and that afternoon re-passed the whole over the River of Liffy by the Bridge of Lucan and encamped near that place to rest his men a few hours He marched very early in the morning being the 19th of June and appear'd by nine of the Clock at a place called Castleknock in view of the City and hearing that Jones had drawn out all his Horse into the Green not far from the Walls he sent a Party of Horse and Musketiers to face them while he drew his whole Body within less then Cannon-shot of their Gates hoping thereby to give some countenance to those in the Town to raise some Commotion therein and having spent some part of the day in this posture and expectation after some slight skirmishes between the Horse writes one others say considerable where the Earl of Clanrickards Regiment of Horse was sorely beaten though they ralli'd twice He found it necessary to draw off and encamped that night at a place two miles from the Town called Finglas whither great multitudes of Roman Catholicks whereof most were aged Men Women and Children whom Jones had turned out of the City repair'd to him whom he sent with all due Order for their Reception into Quarters adjacent The Marquess was no sooner in his Quarters then he receiv'd sure intelligence that Jones had sent his Horse to Tredagh from whence they would have been able to have distressed his Army several ways and to have interrupted Provision which came out of the Countrey out of the Magazines which were at least 30 miles distant And several Officers were of opinion upon the view they had taken that day of the Enemy and the countenance they had observed of their own men that they were not presently provided for a formal Siege and as ill to attack the Town by a brisk attempt and therefore he resolv'd to remain encamp'd at that place for some time whereby he might take the advantage of any opportunity that within the Town would administer unto him and presently sent the Lord Inchequin
in for his Loyalty relyed on for his Wisdom trusted in for his Care to prevent ill Accidents and Dexterity to take advantages he was indeed looked upon as the Restaurator of his Countrey and as the onely Person by whose management of the Irish War the injur'd King was like to arise out of his Fathers ruines to the Glory and Greatness he was born to though upon this Defeat those whose Crimes were no otherwise to be veil'd than by this misfortune cast the miscarriage thereof solely upon him a Fate incident to great Men to be extremely magnifi'd on Success and upon any notable Disaster to be as much depress'd and peradventure neither justly Soon after this Defeat Jones was writ to by his Excellence to have a List of the Prisoners he had taken from him To whom it was repli'd My Lord since I routed your Army I cannot have the happiness to know where you are that I may wait upon you Michael Jones This Defeat at Rathmines alter'd the result of Counsels at Court till then very strong for his Majesties repair into Ireland the Scots having given ill proofs of their Integrity and Faith And certainly the Irish were at that time so disposed as probably they would have submitted to his Majesty what-ever afterwards might have been the result of their compliance And for the Parliament they had at that time so inconsiderable a footing in Ireland possessing not a Garrison in Munster or Connaght and in Ulster none but London-derry and the Fort of Culmore as in Leimster little but Dublin and Ballishannon as his Majesties Presence it was thought would have wrought on some reduced others and brought in All. When the Marquis as we have said before found the Consternation to be so great in his Soldiers as they could not be contain'd from dispersing and had sent Orders to those on Finglass-side to march to Tredagh and Trim for the strengthning of those Garrisons which he believ'd Jones might upon the pride of his late success be inclined to attack whilst himself went to Kilkenny as the fittest Rendezvous to which he might rally his broken and scattered Forces and from whence he might best give Orders and Directions for the making of new Levies And in his March thither the very next day after the Defeat at Rathmines he made an halt with those few Horse he had rallied together and summon'd the strong Fort of Ballishannon which he had before left blocked up by a Party of Horse and Foot and having found means to perswade the Governour to believe that Dublin had been surrendred and that his Army was returning he got that important Place into his hands without which Stratagem Jones would have pursued his Conquest even to Kilkenny it self which he had found in a very ill condition to defend it self For in a whole weeks time after the Marquis's coming to Kilkenny he could draw together but 300 Horse with which he found it necessary that day sevennight after the Defeat to march in Person to the relief of Tredath which was besieged by Jones and defended by the Lord Moor but upon the approach of the Marquis no nearer than Trim the Siege was rais'd and Jones return'd to Dublin and his Lordship entred Tredath whether he resolved to draw his Army as soon as might be and issued out his Orders accordingly hoping in short-time if no other misfortune intervened to get a Body of Men together able to restrain those of Dublin from making any great advantage of their late Victory But he had been there very few days when he received sure advertisement that Cromwel himself was landed with a great Army of Horse and Foot and with vast Supplies of all kinds at Dublin where he arriv'd within less than a fortnight viz. on or about the 15th of August after the unfortunate Defeat at Rathmines The Scene being now alter'd and the War the Lord Lieutenant was to make could be onely Defensive until the Parliamentarians should meet with a Check in some Enterprise and his own Men by Rest Discipline and Exercise of their Arms might again recover their Spirits and forget the fears they had contracted of the Enemy He in the first place therefore took care to repair the Works and Fortifications of Tredath as well as in so short a time could be done and got as much Provision into the Town as was possible and then with a full approbation of all the Commissioners he made choice of Sir Arthur Aston a Roman Catholick and a Soldier of very great Experience and Reputation one at Reading and Oxford formerly confided in by his Majesty a Gentleman of an Ancient and yet flourishing Family in Cheshire to be Governour thereof and put a Garrison into it of 2000 Foot and a good Regiment of Horse all choice Men and good Soldiers with very many Gentlemen and Officers of good Name and Account and supplied it with Ammunition and all other Provisions as well as the Governour himself desired and having done so he marched with his Horse and small remainder of Foot to Trim from whence he had sent to the Lord Inchiquin to bring up as many Men to Tecroghan the Rendezvous as he could out of Munster now the apprehension of Cromwel's Landing there was over and endeavour'd from all parts to recruit his Army hoping that before the Parliamentarians could be able to reduce any of his Garrisons he might be empowered to take the Field The 24th of August 1649. the Commons assembled in Parliament set forth a Declaration declaring all Persons who had served the Parliament of England in Ireland and had betrayed their Trust or adhered to or aided and assisted his late Majesty or his Son to be Traitors and Rebels and accordingly to be proceeded against by a Court-Marshal whereby some were Sentenc'd others sent into England some Imprison'd there and many disbanded though they had serv'd against the Rebels from the first Discovery Upon Friday the 30th of August Cromwel marched out of Dublin having setled the Affairs of that City Civil and Military instituting Sir Theophilus Jones Governour in his absence with an Army of 9 or 10000 Men chosen out of the General Muster where appear'd a compleat Body of 15000 Horse and Foot came before Tredath Monday the 2d of September of which the Marquess of Ormond was no sooner advertiz'd than he came to Trim to watch all opportunities to infest the Enemies Quarters and having full confidence in the Town and in the Experience of Sir Arthur Aston who had sent him several Advices to precipitate nothing for that he doubted not to find Cromwel play a while the goodness and number of the Garrison being such that Cromwel would not be able to get the Town by any Assault But here again he found his expectations disappointed for the Enemy resolv'd not to lose their time in a Siege and therefore as soon as they had sent their Summons the 9th of September and it was rejected
Person who openly shewed himself against the Anabaptists then raging and countenanced the University then in a low Ebb bestowing upon it Bishop Usher's Library composed of the choicest and best picked Books extant carrying himself so as some of the Rigour of his Father was thereby taken off and that disordered Nation brought into the Condition of a flourishing State Yet afterwards when he might have had many to have seconded him he tamely yielded in 1659. the Government to Steel the Parliaments Lord Chancellor and Miles Corbet their Chief Baron of the Exchequer his Brother Richard having surrendred the Protectorship in England very meanly with a submission as he termed it to Providence So that Family expired And the Affairs of England growing every day full of change Ireland understanding what Sir George Booth had nobly attempted in England grew thence early in its dutiful Address to his Majesty And Sir Theophilus Jones further'd by his Reverend Brother Colonel Warren Bridges Thompson Lisle Warder and Temple seized Dublin Castle Sir Charles Coot about the same time preferring an Impeachment of Treason against Ludlow Tomlinson Corbet and John Jones and weighing the Consequences of the present Distempers he together with the Council of the Officers of the Army present at Dublin the 16th of February 1659. made a Memorable Declaration concerning the Re-admission of the Secluded Members about the same time sending Captain Cuffe to attend Colonel Monk into England a General Convention being the 7th of February before Summon'd by the Vigilance and excellent Contrivance and Industry of Doctor Dudley Loftus in which Sir James Barry afterwards Lord Baron of Santry was Chairman Several Affairs of greatest Consequence came there to be considered First the Arrears of the Souldiers they were to be fastned to the Design by their Interest and by the discharge of what was due to them then what was most popular and look'd least to the mark they aim'd at came under consideration in as much as they continued till May 1660. having readily accepted of the Kings Declaration from Breda of the 14th of April 1660. laying hold by their Declaration of the 14th of May of his Condescentions as the fittest expedient to cement the divided Interests in his three Kingdoms which his Majesty in his Printed Declaration for the settlement of Ireland takes especial notice of in these words That our good Subjects the Protestants not Usurpers as the Irish in their Case entitle them in our Kingdom of Ireland have born a very good part in the Blessing of our Restitution and that they were early in their dutiful Addresses unto Us and made the same Professions of a Resolution to return to their Duty and Obedience to Us during the time of Our being beyond the Seas which they have since so eminently made good and put in practice And here I cannot pass over that when the Irish Brigade came to assist Lambert against Sir George Booth now Lord Delameere and were in the North with him at that time advancing to know what General Monk intended they under Redman and Bret first drew back though some of their Officers in their canting mood thought to have wheedled General Monk into a Compliance The Convention gave his Majesty 20000 l. the Duke of York 4000 l. and the Duke of Glocester 2000 l. and in May adjourned to the first of November a standing Committee remaining in the interim And the 18th of December 1660. his Majesty by his Letter approved of this Convention which met again the 22. of January and Sir William Dumvell was appointed Chairman it continued till May 1661. Before they determined they had by a Committee very sensible and gallantly defended at Court the English Interest against the Irish who by reason of the Peace which had been made with them in 1646. and 48. thought they had very much to plead for his Majesties favour when upon the whole it was proved that if any of them were afterwards Loyal the generality disobeyed whatever had been indulged them and the Contract was not to be understood to be made with a Party but the Community of which more in its due place His Majesty was no sooner setled in England but upon both Houses of Parliaments apprehension of the late Rebellion and the Irish flocking at his Return into England he within few days published his sence of that horrible Conspiracy in the ensuing Proclamation By the King A PROCLAMATION Against the Rebels in Ireland C. R. CHarles by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all Our loving Subjects of England and Ireland Greeting We taking notice by the Information of the Lords and Commons now Assembled in Parliament That after the vast expence of Blood and Treasure for the suppressing of the late horrid Rebellion in Ireland begun in October 1641. There are yet many of the Natives of that Our Kingdom deeply guilty of that Rebellion who have of late broke out into new Acts of Force and Violence some Murthering Robbing and Despoiling several of Our English Protestant Subjects there planted and others of them by force Entring upon and Disquieting the Possessions of several Adventurers and Souldiers there to the great and manifest disturbance and hinderance of Our English Plantation And being very sensible of the innocent bloud of so many thousands of Our English Protestant Subjects formerly slain by the hands of those barbarous Rebels and of new mischiefs of the same kind likely to fall out as the sad issue and consequents of so unhappy beginnings Do therefore by the advice of the said Lords and Commons now assembled as well to testifie Our utter abhorring of the said late Rebellion as to prevent the like for the future and for the present establishment of the Peace of that Our Kingdom hold it Our duty to God and the whole Protestant Interest to Command Publish and Declare and do by this Our Proclamation accordingly Command Publish and Declare That all Irish Rebels other than such as by Articles have liberty to reside in these Our Dominions and have not since forfeited the benefit thereof now remaining in or which hereafter shall resort to England or Ireland be forthwith apprehended and proceeded against as Rebels and Traitors according to Law And that the Adventurers and Souldiers and other Our Subjects in Ireland their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns who on the first day of January last past were in the Possession of any of the Mannors Castles Houses Lands Tenements or Hereditaments of any the said Irish Rebels shall not be disturbed in such their Possessions until We by the advice of the Lords and Commons now assembled as aforesaid or such Parliament as We shall call in England or Ireland shall take further Order or that they be Legally evicted by due course of Law And all Our Justices of Peace Mayors Sheriffs and other Officers both Civil and Military both in England and Ireland are hereby
up those Cindars the King said That needed not for to what purpose is it to prove the Sun shines this day when we all see it And from the Proceedings of the State exprest in their Letter to the Lord Lieutenant it is evident that all the hopes they had was of the old English of the Pale and some other Parts that they would continue constant to the King as they did in former times Then which what could be a clearer demonstration of their Confidence in them strengthening afterwards their Belief in affording them Arms and Trusting them with Commissions Civil and Martial And wheras these men will have it that they offer'd Propositions to the State charging them with the neglect thereof it is justified in the Lords Justices Letter to the Lord Lieutenant That not one of them to that hour offer'd to the State any Advice or real Assistance towards the Pacification of these Troubles Or when they were invited by all the engagements Honour or Loyalty could enforce would they ever comply with any Nay let the Insolency They used to the Orders of Parliament and the Invitation and Condescention of the State tearing the First and vilifying the Latter remain a perpetual Witness of their Arrogance and Ingratitude that the State would have secur'd their Allegiance and they would not When I first enter'd on this History I propos'd to my self a Series of the whole but prest with my own Affairs and Matter encreasing plentfully upon me I held it rational to sum up the whole after I had brought it to the Cessation which some had an apprehension was not a less Plot to deliver the Remainder of his Majesties true Subjects into the Rebels hands and to root out the Protestant Religion then what was commenc'd the 23. of October 1641. But the Articles of that Cessation speak otherwise necessity being the Ground thereof legible in his Majesties Motives to a Cessation the 19th of October 1643. which afterwards was highly controverted and in the end so enfeebled as the War according to the first intent was after the long Parliament grasp'd all pursued with Vigour and Success Which here induced to it by many Reasons we have at last according to our first thoughts brought to a Period under his Majesties Test in the Voice of his Parliament in Ireland 1662. though with omission of many Circumstances lest in such variety we might fall short of those considerable Actions which frequently interven'd fit indeed for none less Privy to the Rebels than the State However we have not omitted sufficient to clear the Rise as well as the Conclusion of this War not so much dreading Censures as caring to inform Right Yet I Question not but there will be some who will find if not sufficient enough to carp at No History was so round as to pass a General Acceptance Happily Reader Non facit ad Stomachum nostra Lagena tuum Thy Appetite relishes not truth too near the Quick another thinks the time ill chosen and some have other Prejudice Whether one or other raises an Exception the Story is Tragical And those who have trod the Theater find such Tracts as are Horrible to repeat never to be forgot Though the Errata's seem many they are more in Accents and Literal Defects then considerable mistakes Such as an Ingenious Reader may as soon rectifie as view The running Title from Fol. 24. to 32. instead of what is there must be this The Dismal Effects of the Irish Insurrection and some numbers in Battles are carefully to be Corrected as Fol. 73. 8000. Foot for 3000. and Fol. 112. 13000. Foot for 1300. The rest are generally easie Errata's in the History FOl. 9. Line 13. read An Fol. 10. Line 35. read Ghostly Confessor Fol. 13. Line 45. read Peisley Fol. 15. Line 24. read Momonia Fol. 16. Line 31. read formed Fol. 18. Line 2. read Courts Fol. 19. Line 28. read would Fol. 19. Line 33. that for our Sins that is omitted Fol. 21. Line 22. prevent it it is left out Fol. 22. Line 34. read Majesty Fol. 25. Line 45. read pursue Fol. 38. Line 52. read also Fol. 39. Line 26. read Kilbrew Fol. 43. Line 9. read Fishing-boats Fol. 44. Line 29. read dispatch Fol. 49. Line 29. read Westmeath Fol. 52. Line 13. read 1641. Fol. 64. Line 32. and killed leave out and Fol. 73. Line 43. read 3000. Fol. 76. Line 35. read Balinasto Fol. 82. Line 18. read a Gigantick Fol. 83. Line 11. read from Court Fol. 86. Line 5. read Haste Fol. 86. Line 43. leave out take or Fol. 91. Margin read Subscrib'd Fol. 102. Line 45. from whence is to be blotted out Fol. 103. Line 39. read themselves Fol. 94. Line 27. read intent Fol. 105. Line 9. read approach Fol. 106. Line 6. read Straights Fol. 106. Line 13. read for Fol. 112. Line 15. read 1300. Fol. 118. read 115. and F. 115. read 118. Fol. 120. Line 8. read Besiegers Fol. ibid. Line 15. read Carrickdrumroosh Fol. ibid. Line 25. read skirmish'd Fol. 129. Line 2. Apprehension left out Fol. 132. Margin read the 5th Fol. 134. Line 18. our obedience blot out our as also the Superscription it being to be as the former Letter was Superscribed Fol. 292. Line 36. But that but is left out 141. Line 46. immediately after Sreights prest on him is omitted Fol. ibid. in the Marg. read Teag O Bryan Fol. 181. Line 52. his is left out Fol. 185. Line 35. read restrain Fol. 187. Line 36. read Kilkitto Fol. 200. Line 4. read desist Fol. 218. Line 16. read Marquess of Ormonds Fol. 225. Line 4. Lieutenant is to be left out Fol. 226. Line 6. which was was blot out Fol. 252. Line 35. the Earl the blot out Fol. 282. Line 21. read 20. of August Fol. 287. Line 26. read unsound Fol. 316. Line 16. read 27. Fol. 326. Line 32. read blanch'd Errata's in the Appendix FOl. 10. Line 27. I is to be omitted Fol. ibid. Line 28. read Torilagh Fol. 12. Line 12. read Tool O Conly Fol. 12. Line 45. read Ever mac Mahon Fol. 15. Line 23. read Torilagh Fol. 19. Line 41. from is omitted before read Loghross Fol. 25. Line 4. read Costilough Fol. 66. Line 18. read resent Fol. 66. Line 44. do continue is twice printed Fol. 94 Line 9. read Sword Fol. 98. in the Margin read Car. 342. and lower 344. Car. An. Hib. 344. Fol. 101. Line 18. after Commission would have been violated is left out Fol. 101. Line 23. and after the Parenthesis And he is omitted Fol. 102. in the Marg. read put in Fol. 114. Line 26. read Lisgool Fol. 124. Line 32. read sence Errata's in the Epistle FOl. 6. Line 3. read form'd Fol. 7. Line 11. read reflections on Fol. 9. Line 28. read impt Fol. 9. Line 29. read Zenith Fol. 13. Line 27. Penitence for for is left out as also violating it as often Fol. 11. Line 11. read Reflected on Fol. 17. Line 12.
it by any publick Writing that the Design seem'd a Birth acceptable to the Catholick Community And the Pope by his Nuncio afterwards to whom the general part of the Clergy and Natives adhear'd in effect maintain'd what Mahony had deliver'd for wholesome Doctrine accounting the Popes Bulls and Interdictions and Absolutions how long soever since publish'd still in the same force and vigour as they were the first day of their publication And it is very few years since writes this Honourable Person that upon the meeting of the Secular and Regular Clergy of Ireland before-mention'd to frame an Address to the King in testimony of their obedience disclaiming any Temporal Authority in the Popes the Court of Rome was so alarm'd by it that Cardinal Barbarin writ to them to desist from any such Declaration putting them in mind that the Kingdom of England was still under Excommunication And Walsh acquaints us at large of Mac-Mahon the Irish Jesuits printed Book of the lawfulness of killing not onely all the Protestants but even all such of the Roman Catholick Irish who should stand for the Crown of England and the Rights of the King to Ireland A Tenent agreeable to Salamanca's approbation of Oneal's Rebellion 1602. instigated by Pope Clement the 8th whereby it 's declared That all Catholicks who followed the English Standard against Prince Oneal mortally sinned And Osulevan the Priest in King James's Reign said It was a Doctrine fetch'd from Hell that Catholicks in Ireland should joyn with the Queens Forces which were Protestants against the Rebels Catholicks in Ireland and that such English ought to be no less set upon than the Turks So that whatsoever delusive Tenents have been broach'd of late as to perswade us the Adder is without sting the contrary hath been written in letters of blood not in his Majesty's Kingdoms only but wheresome-ever the Papal Power was exalted That persons professing the Reformed Religion are but Tenants at Will for their Lives and Fortunes and through Centuries of Ages it appears that as their Fleeces grow they are shorn till a time of slaughter be appointed That hence we may see at what we should have arriv'd had the Irish been fortunate in their attempt for though the loyal Formulary or Remonstrance highly magnified by some may seem a Bond of Iron it may easily by the Pope become weaker than a Rope of Straw During the Summer Sessions of Parliament already spoke of wherein the Heads of the Rebellion were closely complotting some under a suspicion that the Earl of Strafford's Servants in revenge of their Lord's death intended a Mischief to the Parliament mov'd the House and accordingly had Orders that the Lords Justices would let his Majesty's Stores for Powder and Arms be search'd which by a Committee they so curiously perform'd as they turn'd over several improbable Chests to find it out and when they had seen that there was none according to what the Officers of the Ordnance had before assur'd them yet they seem'd unsatisfied and repair'd on a new Order to the Lords Justices to be admitted to see the Stores of Powder and Arms plac'd in other Parts in and about the Castle To whom the Lord Justice Borlase Master of the Ordnance principally interess'd in securing his Majesties Stores answer'd That those were the King 's precious Jewels not to be without special Gause shewed assuring them further that they needed not to be afraid for that upon his Honour there was no Powder underneath either of the Houses of Parliament as at the Trial of the Lord Mac Quire at the King's Bench in Westminster was openly in Court testified by the Lord Blaney a great sufferer a worthy and gallant Person the said Lord Justice Borlase having at that time such a motion in his blood upon the importunity of that enquiry as he would afterwards often mention that action of theirs as aiming how slightly soever then looked on by others at some further mark than was thâ—n discernable So that at that instant he denied them whereat they seem'd discontented as being left in uncertainty in what state his Majesty's Stores stood which they desired particularly to know the late new Army being disbanded then and their Arms brought in that if the Powder and Arms were not there they might find them elsewhere or if there then by the intended surprize to be sure of them and to know where on the sudden to find them In which search the Lord Mac Quire was a chief actor and very inquisitive Thus in order to their Design they made ready for the Business passing that Session of Parliament began the xi of May 1641. for the most part away in Protestations Declarations Votes upon the Queries the stay of Souldiers from going over Seas and private Petitions little to the good of the Common-wealth or advancement of his Majesty's Service whereof the Lords Justices and Councel having notice finding withal that the Popish Party in both Houses grew to so great a height as was scarce compatible to the present Government they imparted by a Message to both Houses the 14th of July following their intention to give a recess for some months the harvest coming on and both Houses growing thin Which intimation of a recess both Houses readily assented to so that the 7th of August the Lords Justices adjourn'd the Houses to the 9th of November following which afterwards the Members of Parliament aggravated as a great unkindness the Committee of Parliament being expected from England and arriv'd at Dublin near the end of August Whereas when the Parliament was adjourn'd and before there was no certainty of their Committee's return the Earl of Roscommon who few days before coming from England expressing in plain terms that the Bills desired were not likely in any short time to be dispatch'd as the Letters from the Irish Committee at London which this Lord brought over inform'd too and That they were daily about their dispatch but could not guess when they might have it Yet as I have took notice in August beyond expectation the Committee return'd upon whose arrival the Lords Justices and Councel desirous to give them all satisfaction imaginable sate daily composing of Acts to be passed the next Sessions of Parliament for the benefit of his Majesty and the good of his Subjects on which the Members of Parliament then at Dublin and their Committee newly arriv'd seem'd with great contentment to retire into the Countrey the Lords Justices forthwith sending Briefs to all the Ports in the Kingdom of the Graces concerning Customs commanding the Officers punctually to obey those his Majesty's Directions particularly what-ever concern'd Wool Tobacco as all other things of that nature wherein his Majesty had been pleas'd to gratifie the Committee They gave Order also for drawing a Bill for repeal of the Preamble of the Act of Subsidies They also desired Sir William Cole and Sir James Montgomery two of the Committee if they could ever take the Assizes in the County
from the Crown Multitudes of British were brought in and planted in great numbers even in the most barbarous Places of the Kingdom many corporate Towns have been erected some wall'd Towns have been also lately built Castles Stone-houses and Villages daily made in every part in great abundance Trade and Traffick so well setled as the obstructions therein being remov'd the native Commodities were so freely exported as they did to the great advantage of the Kingdom by far exceed the foreign Importation and all other necessary Provisions were made for the Publick which might be thought any ways to conduce to the Peace Plenty and flourishing Estate of a growing Kingdom And for the Irish themselves though they have ever been observ'd to be a whining Generation a People always given unjustly to complain of their Governours yet in these later times there hath been a most special care taken to preserve them free from all manner of Pressures They have had liberty beyond the examples of former Ages to redress their Grievances in their own Parliament being elected Knights Citizens and Burgesses according to the Affections of the Commons they had too of their Communion Lawyers bred up in England frequent at their Bar also upon their Bench Justices of the Peace in their Counties Sheriffs and Mayors and other Officers in their Corporations Favours not aspir'd to by the Catholicks of England or ever granted And in Cases where they thought fit to present their Complaints unto his Majesty they were graciously receiv'd and fitting Remedies applied They were admitted to enjoy the free and full exercise of the Roman Religion without controul to entertain Priests Friers Jesuits and all sorts of their Ecclesiastical Orders without number whilst the Protestants dissenting from the Regimen of the Church of England were frequently summon'd to the Bishop's Court. Justice was equally administred to the British and Irish without any manner of difference the Countrey Duties and other Taxes were levied upon all without distinction of Persons all private Animosities suppress'd all ancient Grudges remov'd and in all outward appearance they liv'd so affectionately intermixt together as they could not be esteem'd two Nations in one Kingdom but that they did Coalescere in unam Gentem And it is without all contradiction not to be denied That never any Conquer'd Nation enjoy'd more fully the Liberties and Priviledges of Free Subjects and through the great Indulgence of his Majesty liv'd with greater contentment Ease Peace Plenty and freedom from all manner of extraordinary Taxations other than such as they were pleas'd to impose upon themselves in Parliament than the Natives of Ireland have lately done Inasmuch as an Excellent Lawyer clearly evidences from 1601. to the year that he writ in That Ex illo tempore quantum creverunt Hibernorum Res desertissimae sollitudines in vicos oppida Conversae Itinera olim clausa Exercitibus nunc patent Viatoribus Portus Navibus Urbes Mercatoribus Agri Colonis fora Judiciis frequentantur nec siquid inter Cives controversiae inciderit ferro nunc ut olim sed lege Judicis Arbitrio deciditur Ipsae vero Gentes Anglicanae Hibernicae quae non solum studiis sed etiam Castris olim dissidebant nec ullo faedere tenebantur sed alteri alterum utcunque occidere jus erat sublatis nuper Hostilitatis legibus in unum populum coaluerunt nec Commercia nunc Convivia verum Conjugia inter ipsos celebrantur adeoque aequo Jure pari lege eadem Conditione absque omni Gentis discrimine sub justissimo Rege vivitur ut nec Angli se vicisse nec Hiberni victos se esse sentiant That hence ensued the calmest and most universal Peace that ever was seen in Ireland it being not to be produc'd that after the Irish were receiv'd into the Condition of Subjects without difference and distinction which was in the Parliament begun at Dublin under the Lord Chichester the 18th of May Anno Regni Jacob. 11. that ever the English in Ireland offer'd the least violence to any of the Natives eo Nomine Papists or Irish yet nothing could keep them from Rebelling the Corn being then full ear'd And so we are arriv'd at the Rebellion which as you have read hath had many steps to its Rise which we shall now pursue in its Progress and Success The Irish Rebellion 23. Octob. 1641. THE first dark Light of which Sir William Cole the 11th of October 1641. gave the Lords Justices and Council notice of As that there was a great Resort made to Sir Phelim O Neals in the County of Tyrone as also to the House of the Lord Mac-Guire in the County of Fermanagh and that by several suspected Persons fit Instruments for Mischief As also that the said Lord Mac-Guire had of late made several Journeys within the Pale and other Places and had spent his time much in writing Letters and sending Dispatches abroad Upon the receipt of which Intelligence the Lords Justices and Council writ to Sir William Cole requiring him to be very vigilant and industrious to find out what should be the occasion of those several Meetings and speedily to advertise them thereof or any other particular that he conceiv'd might tend to the publick service of the State And more than this rationally could not have been done for that what Sir William Cole inform'd the State of was but conjectural and had any notice been took publickly of it whereby Sir Phelim O Neal or the Lord Mac-Guire had been seiz'd on the same would certainly have been a pretended cause for the Irish ready Touch-wood to have risen in Arms being suspected before they manifested any dis-satisfaction Besides there was some so unwilling to receive the least mis-conceit of the Irish believing Time had worn out all Animosities and the State had secur'd each Interests as they us'd the utmost artifice imaginable to suppress those thoughts in others That thence more than a circumspect eye was not to be advis'd Some say one John Cormack reveal'd to Sir William Cole the 21. of October That the Irish resolv'd to seize upon his Majesties Castle and City of Dublin to murder his Lords Justices and Council there and to seize upon all the Castles and Forts of the Kingdom c. Which Sir William Cole the same day sent the Lords Justices notice of As others from an Ultogh would infer That they had inform'd the State thereof and that Sir Lucas Dillon thereupon had been summon'd before them and told that they had heard something of him and others in Connaght that made their fidelity suspected which with a sober countenance and solemn protestation Arts he had been long bred to he soon wiped off So saith my Author that for our sins our Counsellors were infatuated and our Watch-men slumber'd But Sir John Temple whose Integrity over-weighs all Assertions to the contrary testifies That those Letters and Informations never came to their knowledge and that indeed
they had never any certain notice of this general Conspiracy of the Irish until the 22d of October late in the evening that Owen O Conally a meer Irish-man Servant to Sir John Clotworthy train'd up in the Protestant Religion imparted the same to the Lord Justice Parsons as a sense of his Duty and Loyalty to his Majesty and an effect of that Religion he was trained up in At first the Lord Parsons gave little belief to the Relation in regard it came from an obscure Person and one as he conceiv'd somewhat distemper'd at that time with drink delivering his story besides in so broken a manner that it scarce seem'd credible whereupon his Lordship let him go strictly charging him to return back the same evening with what further discoveries he could make Yet in the interim the Lord Parsons being touch'd with the Relation repair'd about Ten of the Clock at night to the Lord Borlase at Chichester-house without the Town and disclos'd to him what Owen O Conally had imparted which made so sensible an impression on his Colleague as the Discoverer being let go He grew infinitely concern'd thereat having none to punish if the story should prove false or means to learn more were it true In the disturbance of which perplexity Owen O Conally comes or as others write was brought where the Lords Justices were then met sensible that his discovery was not thorowly believed professing that what-ever he had acquainted the Lord Parsons with touching the Conspiracy was true and could he but repose himself the effects of drink being still upon him he should discover more Whereupon he had the conveniency of a Bed In the interim the Lords Justices summon'd as many of the Council as they could give notice to to their assistance that night at Chichester-house Sir Thomas Rotheram and Sir Robert Meredith Chancellor of the Exchequer came immediately to them They then with all diligence secur'd the Gates of the City with such as they could most confide in and strengthen'd the Warders of the Castle which were a few in-considerable men with their Foot-Guard usually attending their Persons charging the Mayor and his Brethren to be watchful of all persons that should walk the streets that night However many of the Conspirators escaped over the River or at least lay conceal'd in Citizens houses a Receptacle too ready for most of them and some of those who were brought before the Lords Justices and Council as James Warren Sir Neal's Servant and Paul O Neal an active Priest though neither of them then were discover'd to be such found means to get away of which Sir Phelim bragg'd of afterwards Paul O Neal having been a prime Instrument in the contrivance of the Rebellion Whilst Hugh Oge Mac-Mahon Esq Grandson by his Mother to the Traitor Tir-Oen a Gentleman of good Fortune in the County of Monaghon who had serv'd as a Lieutenant Colonel in the King of Spain's Quarters was after some little resistance apprehended before day in his own Lodging over the Water near the Inns and brought to Chichester-house where upon Examination he did without much difficulty confess the Plot resolutely telling them That on that very day it was now about 5 in the morning the 23. of Octob. 1641. that all the Forts and strong Places in Ireland would be taken That he with the Lord Mac-Guire Hugh Birn Captain Brian O Neal and several other Irish Gentlemen were come up expresly to surprize the Castle of Dublin and that twenty men out of each County of the Kingdom were to be here to joyn with them That all the Lords and Gentlemen in the Kingdom that were Papists were engag'd in this Plot That what was that day to be done in other parts of the Countrey was so far advanc'd by that time as it was impossible for the wit of Man to prevent it And withal told them That it was true they had him in their power and might use him how they pleased but he was sure he should be reveng'd Before Mac-Mahon was apprehended Owen O Conally having on his repose recovered himself had his Examination taken in these words Who being duly sworn and examined saith That he being at Monimore in the County of London-derry on Tuesday last he received a Letter from Colonel Hugh Oge-Mac-Mahon desiring him to come to Connaght in the County of Monaghan and to be with him on Wednesday or Thursday last Whereupon he this Examinant came to Connaght on Wednesday night last and finding the said Hugh come to Dublin followed him thither he came hither about six of the Clock this evening and forthwith went to the Lodging of the said Hugh to the house near the Boat in Oxmantown and there he found the said Hugh and came with the said Hugh into the Town near the Pillory to the Lodging of the Lord Mac-Guire where they found not the Lord within and there they drank a cup of Beer and then went back again to the said Hugh's Lodging He saith That at the Lord Mac-Guire's Lodging the said Hugh told him That there were and would be this night great numbers of Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Irish Papists from all parts of the Kingdom in this Town who with himself had determin'd to take the Castle of Dublin and to possess themselves of all his Majesties Ammunition there to morrow morning being Saturday And that they intended first to batter the Chimneys of the said Town and if the Citizens would not yield then to batter down the Houses and so to cut off all the Protestants that would not joyn with them He further saith That he the said Hugh told him That the Irish had prepared men in all parts of the Kingdom to destroy all the English inhabiting there to morrow morning by Ten of the Clock and that in all the Sea-Ports and other Towns in the Kingdom all the Protestants should be killed that night and that all the Posts that could be could not prevent it And further saith That he moved the said Hugh to forbear executing of that business and to discover it to the State for saving of his own Estate who said He could not help it But said That they did owe their Allegiance to the King and would pay him all his Rights but that they did this for the Tyrannical Government that was over them and to imitate Scotland who had got a Priviledge by that course And he further saith That when he was with the said Hugh in his Lodging the said Hugh swore That he should not go out of his Lodging that night but told him he should go with him the next morning to the Castle and said if this matter were discovered some body should die for it Whereupon this Examinant feign'd some necessity for his Easment went down out of the Chamber and left his Sword in pawn and the said Hugh sent his Man down with him and when this Examinant came down into the Yard and finding an opportunity
he this Examinant leaped over a Wall and two Pales and so came to the Lord Justice Parsons Octob. 22. 1641. William Parsons Thomas Rotheram Robert Meredith Owen O Conally How it came to pass that the other Lord Justice attested not the Examination it being took in his house he present hath begot some doubts evidencing how since Counsels severed into Cabals In the interim whilst Owen O Conally was examining Mac-Mahon walking in Chichester-hall drew with Chalk several Postures some on Gibbets others groveling on the ground intimating how his fancy run on what was then acting So little did he dread the event The night being thus pass'd over the Lords Justices remov'd themselves for their better security into the Castle where the body of the Council attended them and having secur'd the Lord Mac-Guire taken after several removes in an obscure Cock-loft in Cook-street they joyn'd in this Proclamation By the Lords Justices and Council W. Parsons John Borlase THese are to make known and publish to all his Majesties good Subjects in this Kingdom of Ireland That there is a discovery made by us the Lords Justices and Council of a most disloyal and detestable Conspiracy intended by some evil-affected Irish Papists against the Lives of us the Lords Justices and Council and many other of his Majesty's faithful Subjects universally throughout this Kingdom and for the seizing not onely of his Majesty's Castle of Dublin his Majesties principal Fort here but also of all the other Fortifications in the Kingdom And seeing by the great goodness and abundant mercy of Almighty God to his Majesty and this State and Kingdom those wicked Conspiracies are brought to light and some of the Conspirators committed to the Castle of Dublin by us by his Majesties Authority so as those wicked and damnable Plots are now disappointed in the chief Parts thereof We therefore have thought fit hereby not onely to make it publickly known for the comfort of his Majesties good and loyal Subjects in all parts of the Kingdom but also hereby to require them That they do with all confidence and chearfulness betake themselves to their own defence and stand upon their Guard so to render the more safety to themselves and all the Kingdom besides and that they advertise us with all possible speed of all Occurrents which may concern the peace and safety of the Kingdom and now to shew fully that Loyalty and Faith which they had always shown for the publick Services of the Crown and Kingdom which we will value to his Majesty accordingly and a special memory thereof will be retain'd for their advantage in due time and we require that great care be taken that no Levies of Men be made for Foreign Service nor any Men suffer'd to March upon any pretence Given at his Majesty's Castle at Dublin 23. October 1641. R. Dillon Ro. Digby Ad. Loftus J. Temple Tho. Rotheram Franc. Willoughby Ja. Ware Ro. Meredith Which being immediately printed was dispersed to as many Places as they could convey it to Against which some of the Lords of the Pale though at first they had offer'd their service at the Council-board with great protestations and affections to his Majesty few days after appear'd with a Petition to their Lordships wherein they utter'd the deep sense they had of an expression in that Proclamation as if by the words Irish Papists there being no distinction they might doubt themselves involv'd Upon which the Lords Justices and Council being tender lest they in whose fidelity from the example of their Ancestors their Lordships then rested confident should take umbrage at any of their expressions condescended by their Printed Declaration dated the 29th of the same October to publish and proclaim That by the words Irish Papists they intended onely such of the old meer Irish in the Province of Ulster as had plotted contriv'd and been actors in that Treason and others that adhered to them and none of the old English of the Pale and other Parts enjoyning all his Majesty's Subjects whether Protestants or Papists to forbear upbraiding matter of Religion So that this Cavil being remov'd the Lords Justices and Councel with all imaginable amity and confidence animated the Lords of the Pale and their adherents to joyn with them as one Body for the suppression of the present Rebellion and the maintenance of his Majesty's just Right and Prerogative To which end they parted with 1700 Arms and proportionable Ammunition as well to the Roman Catholicks as Protestant Subjects for the defence of their Houses in several parts As to the Lord of Gormanston there were delivered Arms for 500 Men for the County of Meath there were also delivered Arms for 300. for the County of Kildare Arms for 300. for the County of Lowth Arms for 300. for the County of West-Meath Arms for 300. for the County of Dublin and about the same time there were sent down 400 Muskets to the Lords of the Ardes and Clandeboys for the Arming of the Scots in the County of Downe also the State furnish'd Wexford Waterford Trim and Dundalk with Arms and licence to import Arms and Powder a condescension never indulg'd without great confidence and favour that nothing should be wanting to testifie their confidence of all but such as were in actual Rebellion And now having heard Mac-Mahon's and Conally's Examinations and the proceedings thereupon it will be time to give you the Lord Mac-Guire's though at first when he was brought before the Councel Board nothing could be wrung from him till the 26th of March 1642. that his Examination was taken before Charles Lord Lambert and Sir Robert Meredith Kt. Chancellor of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer by direction of the Lords Justices and Councel in these words Who being examined saith That about the time when Mr. John Bellew came out of England with the Commission for the continuance of the present Parliament Roger Moore in the said Moore 's Chamber in the House of one Peter de Costres of this City acquainted him this Examinant That if the Irish would rise they might make their own Conditions for the regaining of their own Lands and freedom of their Religion At which time the said Moore also acquainted him this Examinant that he had spoken with sundry in Leimster who would be ready for that purpose and withal told him this Examinant that he was assured a good part of Connaght would do the like and thereupon mov'd this Examinant to joyn likewise with them with all he could make unto which motion he this Examinant yielded And the next day following there was a Meeting in his the said Moore 's Chamber aforesaid where were Col. Mac-Bryan Mac-Mahon Tirelagh O Neal Philip Mac-Hugh O Relie this Examinant and Roger Moore where Discourse was had about that Business yet nothing concluded on save that Roger Moore and the rest should go and prepare their Parties And this Examinant further saith That about May last he this Examinant Roger Moore Philip O
cruel and inhumane outrages and acts of Hostility within this Realm The said Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled being justly mov'd with a right sense of the said disloyal rebellious proceedings and actions of the Persons aforesaid do hereby protest and declare That the said Lords and Commons from their hearts do detest and abhor the said abominable actions and that they shall and will to their uttermost power maintain the Rights of his Majesties Crown and Government of this Realm and the peace and safety thereof as well against the persons aforesaid their Abettors Adherents as also against all Foreign Princes Potentates and other Persons and attempts whatsoever And in case the Persons aforesaid do not repent of their aforesaid Actions and lay down Arms and become humble Suitors to his Majesty for Grace and Mercy in such convenient time and in such manner and form as by his Majesty or the Chief Governour or Governours and the Council of this Realm shall be set down The said Lords and Commons do further protest and declare That they will take up Arms and will with their Lives and Fortunes suppress them and their attempts in such a way as by the Authority of the Parliament of this Kingdom with the approbation of his Excellent Majesty or of his Majesties Chief Governour or Governours of this Kingdom shall be thought most effectual Copia vera exam per Phil. Percivall Cleric Parliament And after that the Parliament had sate two days to whom the Lords Justices had imparted his Majesties gracious intentions not to depart from any his former favours promised to them for setling their Estates who should remain faithful and Loyal and that the Lords Justices had shorten'd the Prorogation to the 11th of January the Lord Viscount Costelough impower'd by the Lords went for England not long before having been sworn a Privy Counsellor in Ireland even since the Rebellion with whom the Lord Taaff also embarck'd having before presented to the Lords Justices and Council from many of the Gentry and Inhabitants of the County of Longford in Rebellion a rebellious and scandalous Letter in the nature of a Remonstrance full of pretended Grievances and unreasonable Demands as namely to have freedom of Religion a Repeal of all Laws made to the contrary and the like Upon the information of which especially that there should be a toleration of the Popish Religion in Ireland it was resolv'd on the 8th of December 1641. upon solemn Debate by the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England That they would never give consent to any Toleration of the Popish Religion in Ireland or in any other his Majesties Dominions Which Vote hath been since adjudged a main motive for making the War a cause of Religion consequently of calling in Foreign Princes to their aid and assistance which before ever this Vote past to ground the least pretence thereupon the Irish made Religion the principal end of their Insurrection and this Proposition was as you see one of the first to be demanded which gave the Parliament a cause for the Vote fore-mention'd In pursuance of which Sir Benjamin Rudyard whom the cause ever made eloquent thus delivered his sense Mr. Speaker PEradventure I could have wish'd that Toleration of Religion had not at this time come in question but now it is brought on the Stage I am brought to the Stake When Religion is so nearly concern'd I love not to take any Civil or Politick respects into consideration Reason of State hath almost eaten up all the Laws and Religion of Christendom I have often heard it discours'd whether we should make Religion an Argument of any of our undertakings abroad wherein the wiser sort have been very nice and tender believing that the over-number of Papists would overwhelm us yet I have been long of opinion that our Attempts and Assistances have so often miscarri'd because we have not boldly and publickly avowed our Religion It may be God thinks we are too many who can conquer as well with few as with many Shall the Irish now make their Religion the cause of their Rebellion and shall we be asham'd or afraid to maintain our Religion in reducing them to their Duty and Obedience God will not honour them who do not honour him Let us remember that expostulation in the Chronicles Why transgress ye the commandments of God so that ye cannot prosper This is a great transgression to shrink from God in his truth When we deny the Irish a Toleration we do not withdraw the eases and favours they have heretofore enjoy'd Greater I am sure than they would afford us if we were in their power Wherefore Mr. Speaker let us uphold our Religion and trust God with the success Upon which and other motions thereupon the Vote mention'd proceeded without dispute and that the cause thereof might appear we shall refer you to the Longford Letter it self What reception it had at the Council-board may easily be conceiv'd by these Lords speedy repair into England who afterwards centred in that which in time brought on a Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in its own place to be spoke of The Lord Dillon upon his coming into England was seiz'd on by the Parliament and his Papers rifled according to a Vote in Parliament the 3d. of November which by the Confederates was look'd upon as a heinous crime though the discovery of the Concerns in Ireland as well as the management of the War were entrusted to the English Parliament so no crime in them But he escaped from them at last and went to the King having in his private Instructions orders to move that no Forces might be sent over out of England but that the whole work might be left to the Remonstrants and that they would then undertake to suppress the Rebels themselves In the interim we must not omit that some of both Houses of Parliament in Ireland lately met but now Prorogu'd were appointed to treat with the Rebels So they receiv'd their Instructions from the Lords Justices who were to impower them under the great Seal thereunto But instead of any happy effects thereon the Rebels were so puffed up with their Victories over the poor surpriz'd unresisting innocent English as they barbarously tore the Order of Parliament together with the Letter sent unto them promising themselves success and Dominion in all their Attempts By this time the State had receiv'd an Answer from the Lord Lieutenant of the Account they had given him of the Rebellion wherein he certified the Lords Justices that he understood his Majesty had receiv'd some Advertisements out of the North of Ireland of the present Rebellion and that the Business of Ireland might not suffer by his stay in Scotland which was somewhat longer than he expected his Majesty had refer'd the whole Business of Ireland to the Parliament of England who after a most serious and solemn information of this horrid Plot by a select Committee
of the Lords seated in the House of Commons in an extraordinary manner undertook the charge and management thereof ordering at that time 500 l. in present for Owen O-Conally and 200 l. per annum till Lands of greater value could be order'd for him designing for the present Supplies of Ireland the sum of 50000 l. and had taken order for all Provisions necessary thereunto as by the Order of Parliament it appears An Order of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament in England concerning Ireland THE Lords and Commons in this present Parliament being advertis'd of the dangerous Conspiracy and Rebellion in Ireland by the treacherous and wicked Instigations of Romish Priests and Jesuits for the bloody massacre and destruction of all Protestants living there and other his Majesty's loyal Subjects of English blood though of the Romish Religion being ancient Inhabitants within several Counties and Parts of that Realm who have always in former Rebellions given testimony of their fidelity to this Crown And for the utter depriving of his Royal Majesty and the Crown of England from the Government of that Kingdom under pretence of setting up the Popish Religion have thereupon taken into their serious Considerations how those mischievous Attempts might be most speedily and effectually prevented wherein the Honour Safety and Interest of this Kingdom are most nearly and fully concern'd Wherefore they do hereby declare That they do intend to serve his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes for the suppressing of this wicked Rebellion in such way as shall be thought most effectual by the Wisdom and Authority of the Parliament And thereupon have order'd and provided for a present Supply of Money and raising the number of 6000 Foot and 2000 Horse to be sent from England being the full proportion desired by the Lords Justices and his Majesty's Council resident in that Kingdom with a resolution to add such further Succours as the necessity of those Affairs shall require They have also resolv'd for providing Arms and Ammunition not only for those Men but likewise for his Majesty's faithful Subjects of that Kingdom with store of Victuals and other Necessaries as there shall be occasion And that these Provisions may more conveniently be transported thither they have appointed three several Ports of this Kingdom that is to say Bristol West-Chester and another in Cumberland where the Magazines and Store-houses shall be kept for the supply of the several Parts of Ireland They have likewise resolv'd to be humble Mediators to his most Excellent Majesty for the encouragement of the English or Irish who shall upon their own charges raise any number of Horse or Foot for his Service against the Rebels that they shall be honourably rewarded with Lands of Inheritance in Ireland according to their merit And for the better inducing of the Rebels to repent of their wicked Attempts they do hereby commend it to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or in his absence to the Deputy or Lords Justices there according to the power of the Commission granted to them in that behalf to bestow his Majesty's gracious Pardon to all such as within a convenient time to be declar'd by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or in his absence by the Lord Deputy or Lords Justices there according to the power of the Commission shall return to their due obedience the greatest part whereof they conceive to have been seduced on false grounds by the cunning and subtil practices of some of the most malignant Rebels enemies to this State and to the Reformed Religion and likewise to bestow such rewards as shall be thought fit and publisht by the said Lord Lieutenant Lord Deputy or Lords Justices and Council there upon all those who shall arrest the Persons or bring in the heads of such Traitors as shall be personally nam'd in any Proclamation publisht by the State there And they do hereby exhort and require all his Majesty's loving Subjects both in this and in that Kingdom to remember their duty and conscience to God and his Religion and the great and eminent danger which will befal this whole Kingdom in general and themselves in particular if this abominable Treason be not timely supprest and therefore with all readiness bounty and chearfulness to confer their assistance in their Persons or Estates to this so important and necessary Service for the common Good of all Jo. Browne Cleric Parliament And that the Army might be led by an honourable and promising Person the Lord Lieutenant being not permitted to come over speedily himself made the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant-General of the Army approved of afterwards by the King as one who by his Relation Integrity and Quality was pitch'd on as the fittest Person for that imployment of whose affection to the Protestant Religion and his Majesty's Service his Majesty had great cause to be assured Soon after his settlement in that Place he had notice from Sir Hen. Tichborn that the Rebels with 1300 Foot had sate down before Mellifont the 24th of November intending to surprize it but the Lord Moor whose House it was having plac'd 24 Musketeers and 15 Horsemen therein defended it with much resolution as long as their Powder lasted and at last the Foot yielded on Quarter the same day never observ'd by the Rebels but the Horse charged vigorously through the Enemy and came safe to Tredath This Siege of Mellifont somewhat retarded the Rebels unanimous approach to Tredath upon which the Lords Justices forthwith design'd 600 Foot and a Troop of Horse for the further strengthning of that Garrison They march'd from Dublin the 27th of November but under such a Conduct being newly rais'd and unexperienc'd that most unfortunately the Lord Gormanston's Groom giving intelligence of their approach to the Rebels not without his Lord's privity they were defeated the 29th of November near Julians-Towns at Gellingston-Bridge not above an hundred of the Men besides the Major that led them and two Foot-Captains escaping to Tredath This unhappy Defeat put such a disheartning on the State as it begat sad Suspicions who being surrounded with Rebels Sir Charles Coote the same day was commanded into Wickloe with such Forces as the State could then raise to relieve the Castle of Wickloe then besieged by the Rebels who some days before had with miserable slaughter and cruelty surpriz'd his Majesty's Forts of Cairis Fort Arkloe Fort Chichester Fort and all the Houses of the English in that County the Lord Esmond's House and the adjacent Parts of Wexford threatning to assault Dublin approaching within two miles thereof in actual Hostility Upon which Service Sir Charles Coote vigorously advanced and fought with the Rebels under the Command of Luke Toole conceiv'd to be a thousand strong himself not being many hundreds yet defeated them so shamefully as the terrour thereof rais'd a fear in the Rebels ever after of Sir Charles Coote who thenceforwards so well attended his Commands as to the Government of the City and
many other testimonies of their Conjunctions that which is confirm'd by a very credible Person of Colonel Richard Plunket of Dunsaghly in the County of Dublin within the Pale one destin'd for the taking of the Castle of Dublin who affirm'd openly That he had a Contract under the hands of all the Lords of Ireland that were Catholicks to stand firm in this Insurrection most of their actions confirming his words And Relie's Wife told James Talbot a Person of eminent note amongst them That if those of the Pale would have let them alone and not set them on work they were so well at ease as they would never have begun that troublesome task Upon which it is evident though Some would insinuate the contrary that both the old Irish and old English what ends they would severally pretend to have centred in the destruction of the Protestants and that the old English Papists were a little backwarder than the Irish was in that they had something more to loose than the other and so would put them first upon the work wherein themselves were equally engag'd Which the Lords Justices and Councel perceiving writ the 3d. of Decemb to the Earl of Fingal the Lord Viscount Gormanston and the rest of the Lords of the Pale To come to Dublin and consult for the safety of the Kingdom Luke Nettervile and others having caus'd Proclamation to be made at Lusk twelve miles from Dublin that all the Gentry of the County should upon pain of death meet within three or four days at Swoards within six miles of Dublin which accordingly they did constituting Captains Richard Golding Thomas Russel Francis Russel Robert Travers Christopher Hollywood and other Commanders their Militia amounting on that short warning to 1200. which would have been impossible to have rais'd had they not before been Armed and instigated to that Cause Upon which these Lords of the Pale Conspirators with the first return'd to the Lords Justices the 7th of Decemb. this Answer receiv'd the 11th May it please your Lordships WE have received your Letters of the 3d. instant intimating that you had present occasions to confer with us concerning the present state of the Kingdom and the safety thereof in these times of danger and requiring us to be with you there on the 8th of this instant We give your Lordships to understand that we have heretofore presented our selves before your Lordships and freely offered our advice and furtherance towards the particulars aforesaid which was by you neglected which gave us cause to conceive that our Loyalty was suspected by you We give your Lordships further to understand that we have receiv'd certain advertisement that Sir Charles Coote Knight at the Council-board hath offered some speeches tending to a purpose and resolution to execute upon those of our Religion a general Massacre by which we are all deterr'd to wait on your Lordships not having any security for our safety from those threatned evils or the safety of our lives but do rather think it fit to stand upon our best guard until we hear from your Lordships how we shall be secur'd from those perils Nevertheless we all protest that we are and will continue faithful advisers and resolute furtherers of his Majesties Service concerning the present state of this Kingdom and the safety thereof to our best abilities And so with the said tender of our humble service we remain Your Lordships humble Servants Fingall Gormanston Slane Dunsany Nettervile Oliver Lowth Trimblestone And Luke Nettervile Esq George Blackney of Rickenhore Esq George King of Clantarfe Gent. and others met at Swoards being charged on their Allegiance the 9th of Decemb. immediately on sight of the Lords Justices Warrant to separate and not to unite any more in that manner without direction from the State They instead of obedience to the States command return'd this answer That they were constrain'd to meet there together for the safety of their lives That they were put into so great a terror by the rising out of some Horse-Troops and Foot-Companies at Dublin who kill'd four Catholicks for no other reason than that they bore the name of that Religion as they durst not as they pretended stay in their houses and therefore resolved to continue together till they were assured by their Lordships of the safety of their Lives before they ran the hazard thereof by manifesting their obedience due unto their Lordships Upon which the Lords Justices and Council publish'd a Proclamation the 13th of Decemb. to satisfie the world of the innocency of the State from the guilt of any mans blood and concerning the four they alledg'd were kill'd as Papists they were such as were found faulty in rebellious actions of which one was a Protestant Commanding them furthermore on the allegiance to his Majesty to separate upon the sight of their Warrant and that Luke Nettervile and his Accomplices should appear before the State on the eighteenth of the said month to the end they may be fully heard by the State To which end the Lords Justices and Council thereby gave them and every of them the word of the State that they might then securely and safely repair thither without danger of any trouble or stay whatsoever And that the Lords of the Pale might not be less satisfi'd in what they objected the same day also the Lords Justices and Council publish'd a Proclmation and sent it to those Noblemen positively affirming That the Lords Justices and Council did never hear Sir Charles Coote or any other utter at the Council-board or else-where any speeches tending to a purpose or resolution to execute on those of their Profession or any other a general Massacre nor was it ever in their thoughts to dishonour his Majesty or the State by so odious impious and detestable a thing giving them assurance of their safety if they would repair thither the 17th of that Month. Yet notwithstanding these Condescensions or whatsoever else the State could do whereby the doubts of those men might be remov'd and their security ascertain'd still the Torrent of the Pale ran to make up the intended Deluge despising whatsoever security or faith the State was pleased to promise them Whereupon the Lords Justices and Council were enforc'd to send this Warrant to the Earl of Ormond and Ossory to send out a Party of Soldiers Horse and Foot against those that dar'd so impudently to affront them By the Lords Justices and Council William Parsons John Borlase FOrasmuch as divers of the Inhabitants of Clantarfe Rhaheny and Kilbarrock have declared themselves Rebels and having robb'd and spoil'd some of his Majesties good Subjects are now assembled thereabouts in Arms in great numbers mustering and training of their rebellious Multitudes to the terrour and danger of his Majesties good Subjects as well at Land as at Sea which their boldness is acted in such manner as to put scorn and affronts upon this State and Government they acting such depredations even before
our faces and in our view as it were in despight of us It is therefore order'd That our very good Lord the Earl of Ormond and Ossory Lieutenant General of the Army do forthwith send out a Party of Soldiers of Horse and Foot to fall upon those Rebels at Clantarfe and thereabouts who in such disdainful manner stand to outface and dare us and to endeavour to cut them off as well for punishment as terrour to others and to burn and spoil the Rebels Houses and Goods And to prevent their farther annoying any Shipping going out and coming in and lying in harbour those Souldiers are to bring up or cause to be brought up to the new Crane at Dublin such of the Boats and Vessels now lying there as they can upon the sudden and to burn spoil sink and make unserviceable the rest Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin December the 14th 1641. Ormond Ossory Rob. Dillon Char. Lambert Ad. Loftus John Temple Char. Coote Francis Willoughby The Lords of the Pale however effectually endeavour'd to strengthen the Northern Rebels and thereupon declared the Lord Viscount Gormanston General of the Forces to be rais'd in the Pale Hugh Birn Lieutenant General the Earl of Fing all General of the Horse who in several Baronies rais'd Captains accordingly and Provisions suitable to every hundred men in a Company for their daily allowance one Beef and half a Barrel of Corn during the Siege of Tredath And that nothing might be wanting to straighten the State Nettervile and his Party being increas'd by their confederacy with Wickloe and Kildare the 15th of December sent two strong Parties to Santry and Finglass where they continu'd till the 22d of the said December when they were beaten by Colonel Crafford from Finglass two miles from Dublin after they had like to have put us to a shameful retreat Those at Santry hearing of Sir Charls Coot's approach saved themselves by a cowardly quitting of their Quarters leaving their best Equipage and Provisions behind them whilst near 300 men shew'd themselves at Clantarf a Village on the Sea-side about a mile and half from Dublin The Inhabitants strengthning the Rebels confidence with store of strong Fishing-boat having the day before spoil'd two English Barcks lying at Anchor near Clantarf in the Road of Dublin much to the disquiet of the Lords Justices and Council suspecting thereby that the Port to Dublin might have been blocked up Robberies also of that nature having been committed at Skirries twelve miles from Dublin and the Prey of those Barks carried to Barnewell of Brimore a prime Man as the Prisoners to the Lord Gormanston's who sent them to Balrothry sufficient to prove the Robberies Murthers and other Outrages committed on the British Protestants were by the allowance and privity of the principal Gentlemen of the Pale if not their command how speciously soever in their humble Protestation a piece of as much vanity as falshood against the States Proclamation the 8th of Febr. 1641. they would insinuate That none of the better sort had robb'd or pillaged any of them nor dispossess'd them of their Estates Whereas by the example of what is here produc'd the falsity of all they assert is clearly prov'd though further particulars without much sifting may easily be expos'd were not the story like to be tedious And the truth of these assertions may be fully read in the end of the Answer to the Eighth Article of the Rebels Remonstrance of Grievances at Trym 1642. Whereupon the Lords Justices found it absolutely necessary that some Forces should be sent against them at Clantarf which Forces were commanded by Sir Charles Coote the 15th of Decemb. who burnt the Village destroy'd their Boats and excellently well quitted the service injoyn'd him clearing that place of Piracy and Rebels Though in the interim Nettervile being frighted from Santry lay with near 2000 men at Swoards and possess'd himself of the Castle of Artain and some other places within two miles of Dublin On the West side of which at Tassagard Rath-Coole Castle-Lyons and other Villages there lay 2000 more of the Rebels out of the Counties of Katerlagh Kings County and Kildare under the command of Roger Moore and Sutton Eustace of Castle-Martin and others The Clandonells Birns and Tooles frâ—m Wickloe towards the Sea three or four miles on the South of Dublin came also down blocking up on all sides Passages thereunto their Forces in Lemster amounting to 20000 men So as the State being now put in eminent danger few hopes survived of her recovery The Naas and Kildare as Trim and Ashboy in the County of Meath being taken by the Rebels Which in a Letter to the Lord Lieutenant dated the 14th of December the Lords Justices and Council very emphatically express'd adding in the close That if notwithstanding all this so often and truly made known by us to your Lordship we shall perish for want of Supplies we shall carry this comfort with us to our graves or any other burial we shall have That your Lordship can witness for us to his Royal Majesty and all the world that we have discharg'd our duties to God to his Majesty and to that Nation and to this in humbly representing to his Majesty by your Lordship the chief Governour of the Kingdom the extremities and dangers wherein his Kingdom and People stand and the necessities of hasting Supplies hither by all possible means for preservation of Both so as whatever become of our Persons our Memory cannot be justly stain'd with so wretched a breach of Faith and Loyalty to the King our Master as to forbear representing thither the extremities wherein we are whether we have receiv'd credit to be believ'd or no and that we write truth and most needful truth will be found true when perhaps we shall perish and which is more considerable the Kingdom also for want of being believ'd and succour'd in time The Consideration of which long before presented to his Majesty wrought so sensibly on Him that being then newly return'd out of Scotland before the Letter mention'd arriv'd at the Parliament He took the first opportunity which was the 2d of December 1641. to tell the Lords and Commons in Parliament other things being rehearsed That He had one Particular more to recommend unto Them which was Ireland for which saith He I doubt not your Care yet methinks the preparations for it go on but slowly And being touch'd with the truth of what He had observ'd in this Business he came to the Parliament the 14th of December and thus exprest his resentment My Lords and Gentlemen THE last time I was in this Place and the last thing that I recommended unto you was the Business of Ireland whereby I was in good hope that I should not have needed again to have put you in mind of that Business But still seeing the slow proceedings therein and the daily dispatches that I have out of Ireland of the lamentable Estate of my
those who shall hereafter joyn with them or commit the like acts on any of our good Subjects in that Kingdom to be Rebels and Traitors against our Royal Person and Enemies to our Royal Crown of England and Ireland And we do hereby strictly Charge and Command all those Persons who have so presumed to rise in Arms against us and our Royal Authority which we cannot otherwise interpret than acts of high Rebellion and detestable Disloyalty when therein they spoil and destroy our good and loyal Subjects of the British Nation and Protestants that they immediately lay down their Arms and forbear any further acts of Hostility Wherein if they fail we do let them know that we have authorised our Justices of Ireland and other our Chief Governour or Governours and General or Lieutenant-General of our Army there and do hereby accordingly require and authorise them and every of them to prosecute the said Rebels and Traitors with Fire and Sword as Persons who by their high Disloyalty against us their lawful and undoubted King and Soveraign have made themselves unworthy of any Mercy or Favour Wherein our said Justices or other chief Governour or Governours and General or Lieutenant-General of our said Army shall be countenanc'd and supported by us and by our powerful Succours of our good Subjects of England and Scotland that so they may reduce to obedience those wicked disturbers of that Peace which by the blessing of God that Kingdom hath so long and so happily enjoy'd under the Government of our Royal Father and us And this our Royal pleasure we do hereby require our Justices or other chief Governour or Governours of that our Kingdom of Ireland to cause to be published and proclaim'd in and throughout our said Kingdom of Ireland Given under our Signet at our Palace at Westminster the 1st of January in the 17th year of our Reign 1641. Which coming forth so late and but 40 of them onely ordered to be Printed was by the Parliament in their Declaration of the 19th of May 1642. interpreted as a countenance to that Rebellion in answer whereunto his Majesty in his reply to that Declaration shews That the Proclamation not issuing out sooner was because the Lords Justices of that Kingdom desired them no sooner and when they did the number they desired was but twenty which they advised might be Signed by us which we for the expedition of that service commanded to be Printed a Circumstance not required by them thereupon we Sign'd more of them then our Justices desired And that it might further appear how deep a sense his Majesty had of the Rebellion which called upon Him and his People of England for a general Humiliation of all Estates before Almighty God in Prayer and Fasting for drawing down his Mercy and Blessing upon Ireland His Majesty was pleased by a Proclamation dated at Whitehall the 8th of January 1641. Straightly to Charge and Command That the last Wednesday of every Month during the troubles in Ireland a Solemn Fast should be observ'd through his Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales shewing in his own Person and the Court and example thereof which accordingly for some years was observ'd and considerable Collections were gathered at most Churches that day for the miserable People of Ireland Several but especially Sir Benjamin Rudyard excellently speaking on that Subject which being much in a little accept of in his own Words Mr. Speaker THis Day is appointed for a charitable Work a Work of Bowels and Compassion I pray God we may never have the like occasion to move to stir up our Charity These miserable People are made so because of their Religion He that will not suffer for his Religion is unworthy to be saved by it and he is unworthy to enjoy it that will not relieve those that suffer for it I did know but the last year here in England some and they no Papists who were resolv'd to make Ireland their Retreat as the safer Kingdom of the two We do now see a great a dismal Change God knows whose Turn shall be next it is wrapp'd up in his Providence that which happens to one Country may happen to any Time and Chance comes upon all though guided by a certain Hand The right way to make a Man truely sensible of another's Calamity is to think himself in the same case and condition and then to do as he would be done unto Wherefore Mr. Speaker let our Gift be a matter of Bounty not of Covetousness that it may abound to our Account in the Day of Reckoning He that sowes plentifully shall reap plentifully I am sure he that lends to the Lord hath the best Security and cannot be a loser The first President of the Fast before-mention'd which usher'd in the Charity that succeeded was before it came to be Monthly by the Lords House kept in the Abbey of Westminster where the Archbishop of York and the Lord Primate of Ireland preach'd to the Lords as in St. Margrets Westminster Mr. Calamy and Mr. Marshall to the House of Commons Though when his Majesty afterwards found by the ill use made thereof that the Lecturers in their Sermons and Prayers stir'd up and continued the War rais'd against Him in England the great Promoters too thereof deserting the Care of Ireland He the 6th of October 1643. forbad it to be kept and instead thereof expresly commanded a solemn Fast to be observ'd every second Friday of the Month through England and Wales But to return to the King's Proclamation against the Rebels which the bleeding Iphigenia and others of that lying Spirit would have to be grounded on the information of a malignant Part of the Council informing his Majesty that the Catholicks of Ireland without discrimination had enter'd into a Rebellion whereas there was never any such general Information Nay in all the Accounts they gave to his Majesty they still intimated that they hoped the Pale and other Parts would continue their Loyalty affording the Lords of the Pale as other Towns which afterwards shamefully revolted Arms Ammunition Commands informing his Majesty only of what they had discovered in the North with the suspicions that they had learnt on Examinations from others which would have been Treachery in them to have conceal'd and grand Disloyalty Nor doth his Majesty take notice in his Proclamation of any other than that divers lewd and wicked Persons had of late risen in Rebellion in his Kingdom of Ireland not so much therein as naming Papists or Catholicks that thence any of that profession should take Umbrage Nay so circumspect were the Lords Justices and Council at that time that they avoided all expressions which might any ways encourage the Irish to apprehend the English intended to make it a War of Religion However the Rebels were so far from paying obedience to his Majesty's Proclamation afore-mention'd saying it was counterfeit or done by Coertion as they acted now not as before apart but united in
on the Rebels Northward who encountred them sharply but were soon affronted by ours many of the Enemy were slain but of ours none onely by the breaking of a little brass Peece a Gunner was hurt which yet gave them so rugged a Salute that they took leave of us and we recovered some Provisions Sir Henry Tichborn that night with some Musketiers falling on their Court of Guard and killed some of their Sentinels As the 11th of February Lieutenant Greenham with a Party of Horse and Foot routed 60 of the Enemy taking a Lieutenant Ensign and several other Prisoners Sallying also forth the next day with the like success getting in some Grain and burning the Countrey By these Sallies though some were relieved the Souldiers in general fell into great extremity Horse-flesh Dogs and Cats being greedy food yet having but an intention to seek God February the 14th a booty of 80 Cows and 200 Sheep being offer'd they were though with much hazard soon recovered of the Enemy And from the worst of Winds a Northwest it instantly turn'd to the best a S. E. and so continued till in the Evening that Sabbath having all that day crav'd the blessing from God tidings came in that our Relief was come within the Bar viz. two Pinnaces 6 Gabbards 3 Frigots with one Shallop with a plentiful Relief for three months a large Fisher-Boat of the Rebels loaden with Herring going to the Confederates being also brought in notwithstanding what Cables Masts of Ships and other things they had chain'd over the River to prevent their arrival so faithful and fortunate was Captain Stutfield whose happy Conduct Trodath had now twice experienc'd in the height of misery a mercy not to be forgot no more then that that Sunday morning about four of the Clock Sir Phelim O-Neale marching silently with all the strength he could make made so bold an Attempt as to apply scaling Ladders to the Walls especially near St. Laurence Gate where sometimes a Sentinel had been omitted two of which they had presently fixed and on each one mounted the Sentinel missing fire the Assailants presumed higher till the Sentinel knocked them down with the Butt of his Musket and cried out to the Guard who instantly plyed the rest with their fill of shot so that they left thirteen of their Ladders and many of their dead behind them nor could all that the Rebels Officers could say encourage their Souldiers to return With the last Relief there came a Proclamation dated the 8th of February 1641. from the State prizing Sir Phelim O-Neals head at 1000 l. O-Relie's and others at 600 l. and the rest of the Principal at 400 l. if they were brought in before the 25th of March next which made the Souldiers ready to be abroad the Proclamation may be found at large in the Appendix After that the Lords Justices and Council had thus particularly named those then in Rebellion and sate a Price on their heads few if any were ever brought in so intire were the Confederates though in former Rebellions this Policy produced good effect whereupon the Commons in Parliament Ordered all rotten Members fit to be cut off and new to supply their Places publickly affixing in their Orders their Names whom they knew engaged in the Rebellion which Sir Audley Mervin brings in as just evidence of their Conviction from undeniable Presidents of Parliament how many Nocent Persons soever have since passed in Triumphant innocency whilst those stand by whose evidence if admitted would write the Letter of Condemnation on their foreheads However the Catholick Lords of the Pale could words make them innocent fram'd a Protestation against the Proclamation of the eight of February but so false scandalous and insinuating that no answer further then every intelligent mans abhorrency thereof is requisite or expedient Since the last Relief the Rebels as to their Menaces were somewhat milder and relief and hope having now animated the Souldiers the 26 of February the Governour issued out with 220 Foot and 120 Horse to Beaubeck securing thereby some Corn and Hay for the service of the Town and then advanc'd to Smithstown where they met a Party of the Rebels fought them and slew 300. Serjeant Major Fortescue took two Colours Captain Bryan a Drum and eightscore Cows near Gellingston where not long before they had defeated our men Colonel Preston was there hard put to it The Victory that it might tend to the raising of the Siege was pursued by 600 Foot and 120 Horse under the Conduct of my Lord Moore with Carriages and two Field Pieces who assaied Stanime which they found so unexpectedly Fortified as having onely slain some of their men abundance of rain falling the great Guns did small execution that thence the Party return'd that night and called in upon Colp a little Village where they loaded themselves with Corn and return'd without any opposition Those of Stanime hearing of our Supplies and resolution to come on quitted the Castle few days after which without further work fell into our hands scarce a day now passed without some attempt upon the Enemy The first of March Sir John Borlase Jun. Lieutenant Colonel had the Command of four Companies with which he fac'd the Enemy and beat them with much disadvantage securing at that time 200 l. worth of Corn burning withall such of their Lodgings as remain'd of the former days work at Colp and return'd with great satisfaction Whilst the same day the Lord Moore and the Governour marched further and the Rebels having lin'd Hedges and Ditches Captain Billingsley very resolutely scour'd those places with 80 Musketiers soon routing them a Lieutenant with 13 Souldiers were slain and a Captain of the O-Neals taken Prisoner The Castle of Colp after much hazard was taken and all therein viz. 26 were slain save the Captain who was taken Prisoner The third of March some Forces marched out under the Command of Colonel Waineman to Marlington three miles off Tredath with whom all Persons were permitted to pillage and return'd home with all sorts of Grain having burnt Draicot's house and some other places considerable at which time the Rebels forsook many of their Houses and we began to be at pretty ease The first of March the Lord Moore commanded out a Party of 400 Foot and 80 Horse on the Northside amongst his Traiterous Tenants to Talagh-hallon where Sir Phelim O-Neal with Colonel Mac-Bryan had that night confederated together eight Colours instantly appear'd being intrench'd much to their advantage but our men Lieutenant Colonel Byron commanding the Foot drew up boldly and gave such sure fire as they soon betook themselves to their last refuge their heels near 400. with 7 Captains were slain and one took Prisoner viz. Rory-mac-Art-mac-Cross-mac-Mahon and one Colour 100 Muskets were taken and Pikes covered the ground others securing themselves by a bog near at hand were so roughly admonished by a Drake from us that they soon removed their standing This hot
incredible charge of his own Purse hanging many though of his own kindred whom he found imbrued in Blood greatly resenting the Barbarism and Inhumanity of the Irish In as much as Hubert Boy Bourk and Sir Ulick Bourk his near Relations preying on the English he often frustrated by discovering their Designs and furnishing Sir Charles Coot from time to time with supplies of Arms and Ammunition to oppose them and impoverish their Country So that at last by the advice of Colonel Walsh and others they erected a standing Camp near the Kreggs to molest and pen up our Garrison of Castle-Coot which being almost compleated the Garrison issued out upon them who receiv'd us with a good volly of Shot which ours answer'd not according to command till we came close to them which being done with great resolution their hearts fail'd them and they betook themselves to the next Bog which being at some distance gave our Horse and Foot a fair opportunity to hew them down before they could reach it in which service Major Walsh behav'd himself well with Courage and Rhetorick endeavouring to make the Rebels stand but in vain he at length being forc'd to take the Bog for his own refuge leaving in the Camp Bread Arms Powder Corn Meal c. in great quantity which being more then we could carry away we were forced to burn In the Spring following Sir Charles Coot being inform'd of a good Prey of Cattle in the Barony of Athlone towards Balniaslo in the O Mores Country he with his Forces adventur'd thither got some Cattle great quantity of Cloth and other necessaries killing many of their Souldiers in their beds though in his return he was fought with by the Rebels sculking in in-accessible Places from whence he at last got free with no small hazard to his Person and loss to the Enemy Major Sumner in this as in the whole Siege of Castle-Coot and other places in Connaght doing excellent service as Councellor Engineer and Souldier worthily keeping his promise with one Kelly a Gentleman of good Quality and a kin to the Earl of Clanrikard whom begging his life he saved ransoming himself afterwards for 10. l. in money ten barrels of Wheat and as much Salt which at the following Siege of Castle-Coot proved of great value being sold then at 2s a Quart After which in Easter week 1642. Sir Charles Coot attempted to relieve Athlone and after some small dispute did it though the access to the Place was such as a few men might have been able to have stop'd 1000. he found his greatest difficulty was to fill up the trenches that the Enemy had made as his Horse might have free access which at last he compass'd relieving the Place with what Cattle and other Provisions he got in his Expedition not being a little startled that by such a Troop as the President there had and other Conveniencies no more should have been before attempted Nor had Roscommon Tulsk Elphin Knockvicar Abbeyboyle Belanfad Persons less active in their defence even from the first surprizals of the Rebels acting to amazement when nothing but their own courage secur'd their Forts though the last for want of Water was compell'd after a long siege to yield to the Rebels after that the Governour 's two Brothers the Kings from Boyle with Sir Charles Coot had resolv'd to have reliev'd him but at Carickdrumroosk Sir Charles Coot having intelligence that his own Castle was assaulted he was forced to retire back and very happily prevented that Design in the nick of execution though thereby the other Design was frustrated The 30th of April the Lords Justices and Council appointed a Fast to be observed monthly upon each Friday before the Sacrament to continue until Declaration were made to the contrary for the wonderful discovery of the late Plot against the State and true Religion as for the happy and prosperous success which God in his mercy had given his Majesties Forces against the Rebels and for the avoiding Gods just indignation for the future Upon the return of our Forces from the Battle of Kilrush within few days Philip Sidney Lord Viscount Lisle eldest Son to the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland landed at Dublin his Regiment having arriv'd before He was a Member of the House of Commons in England and by them recommended to his Father to be made Lieutenant-General of the Horse in Ireland though very young Assoon as he landed being desirous to put himself upon action he undertook the relieving of the Lady of Offalia Relict of Sir Robert Digby who upon the most insolent Menaces of the Rebels had return'd a noble answer seconding that though then very aged with an unparallel'd and gallant defence besieged in her Castle of Gheshell in the Kings-County by a numerous company of Rebels in a place of most difficult access by reason of the Bogs and Woods which encompassed it on every side The Rebels Letter to the Lady Offalia at Gheshel Honourable WE his Majesties loyal Subjects being at present imployed in his Highnesses Service for the taking of this your Castle you are therefore to deliver unto us free possession of your said Castle promising faithfully that your Ladyship together with the rest in the said Castle restant shall have a reasonable Composition otherwise upon the not yielding of the Castle we do assure you that we will burn the whole Town kill all the Protestants and spare neither Man Woman nor Child upon taking the Castle Consider Madam of this our offer and impute not the blame of your own folly unto us think not that here we brag Your Ladyship upon submissiion shall have a safe Convoy to secure you from the hands of your Enemies and to lead you where you please A speedy Reply is desired with all expedition and thus we surcease Henry Dempsy Charles Dempsy Andr. Fitz. Patrick Con. Dempsy Phelim Dempsy John Vicars James Mac Donnel Superscrib'd To the Honourable and thrice Vertuous Lady the Lady Digby These Give The Lady Offalia her Answer to the Rebels Superscrib'd For her Cousin Henry Dempsy and the Rest. I Receiv'd your Letter wherein you threaten to sack this my Castle by his Majesty's Authority I am and ever have been a loyal Subject and a good Neighbour amongst you and therefore cannot but wonder at such an Assault I thank you for your offer of a Convoy wherein I hold little safety and therefore my resolution is that being free from offending his Majesty or doing wrong to any of you I will live and die innocently and will do my best to defend my own leaving the issue to God and though I have been and still am desirous to avoid the shedding of Christian Blood yet being provoked your threats shall no whit dismay me Lettice Offalia Sir Charles Coot accompanied the Lord Lisle in this Action which with 120 Foot and 300 Horse was perform'd without much difficulty the Rebels not daring to attend their Approaches to
Athlone wherein he made a breach and commanded a Party to storm it The Rebels killed many of our Men that day by shot besides what perish'd by Stones and other Materials thrown from the top of the Castle the Night afterwards the Rebels stole to a Bog not far distant through the negligence of our Guards and left us the Castle The next Exploit of my Lord President was with the remnant of the two English Regiments and what could be spared out of our Garrisons thereabouts a March towards Balintober to which he was provoked by the Enemy and stimulated on by his own Party impatient of further delays O Conner Dun of Balintober ever since his Son was taken till now that is the middle of July 1642. had acted nothing though the tacit Votes of the Province did seem to own him as their King Prince Roy telel or what Name of Supremacy in that Province could be greatest who seeing that those Forces which were sent from England to the Lord President to subdue that Province which at first much frighted the Rebels had done nothing of moment through a supine negligence if not worse and were much less considerable than those Forces which we had before he began to awake out of his Ale and Aqua-vitae and to call in Subjects to help him out of all the Parts of Connaght but above all that came to joyn with him none were more forward or came in greater numbers than the County of Maio-Men and the rather because in all the Conflicts of Connaght with the English few of that great County came to fight with us They drew together 1800 or 2000 Foot and 160 Horse and more had joyn'd with them if we had defer'd to visit them It was therefore adjudged necessary by the Lord President Sir Charles Coot Sir Mich. Earnly Sir Abraham Shipman Sir Edw. Povey Sir Bernard Ashley and others of the Council of War That we should draw out all the Men sick or sound that were able to march and march to Balintober It was a wonder to see with what alacrity and courage our new-come English put themselves on this service even they that were ready to die as divers of them did on the way rejoycing that they might expire doping their Countrey the best service they could as Souldiers and not as Dogs on a Dunghil Our March that day was from Roscommon through Molinterim and over the Hill of Oran near Clalby which is little more than 2 miles from Balintober from thence we might see the Enemy coming with all speed to meet us The Lord President was of opinion that our Forces should retreat and commanded it but the rest were otherwise resolv'd and without his Orders drew on towards the Rebels whilst he washed his hands from what evil might accrew Our Commanders as they march'd agreed how to order their Men and on what piece of Ground but the Enemy came on so fast that they could not gain the Ground desired which made the Work on our part more difficult for all the way on that Hill till we come near Balintober is boggy with great long Heath in all places very unfit for Horse-service However when the Rebels came near us Captain Rob. King with his Troop well mounted and well arm'd with Back and Brest and as well disciplin'd as any in Ireland was commanded to pass by their Front to their left Flank as Sir Charles Coot and Sir Edw. Povey with the rest of their Troops being before nearer to the top of that ridge of Ground were almost past that they might make way for our forlorn Hope of Musketiers to play in the Front of their great Body of Pikes coming on Captain Rob. King an old Souldier in executing of this saw by the badness of the Ground he march'd on and by the Rebels haste to come up that he should not without disorder get by the left Point of this Battalia gave order to his Men to fire in flank all at once when they should be close up with the Point of the Battalia over one another's Horses Manes which was a thing seldom heard of or practised yet was no new thing either to him or his for he had taught them this amongst other Points of War he had long nurtur'd them in which they exactly perform'd when he was come within two Pikes lengths of the Enemy with their Carbines At which time our forlorn Hope of Foot being come up fired with excellent success on that part of the Front that lay to the right hand so that by this unexpected way of firing by the Horse timely assisted by the Foot the Enemy was soon put into disorder with the loss of many Men which breach Captain King soon apprehending and finding the Pikes of the fall'n Men to have intangled and galled others he rush'd in with his Horse and breaking the left corner of the Battalia so amazed the Rebels as they fell into disorder who quitting their Pikes all at once made a great noise and began to run but before their running that was almost as soon as Captain King was got into their Front Sir Charles Coot and Sir Edward Povey charg'd them in the Flank with their Troops with which they had kept the upper Ground on purpose to encounter with the 160 Horse of the Rebels and to them was Captain Robert King drawing to second them or to fall into the Flank of this Battalia which he had new broken but the Rebels Horse fled before they were able to come near and therefore they had leisure to fall into the Flank of the Foot This Battalia of Pikes was supposed to be 1200. They had 1000 Musketeers which either by bad way or staying longer than the other for to receive Ammunition were not come up to begin the Battel but were within Musket-shot who also ran for company Our men pursued and killed most of them but were commanded not to come too near Balintober where the Credulous were to believe some had seen beyond the Castle another great Body of Men so as not pursuing this Victory we lost the benefit of it In this Battel there was a young Gentleman on the Irish side who very gallantly behav'd himself after that his Party was fled getting to the corner of a Ditch where with his Pike he withstood the encounter of five Horse that had spent their shot till an Agantick Soldier of the English getting within him slew him And amongst the dead one pulling a Mountero from the head of one there fell down long Tresses of flaxen hair who being further search'd was found a Woman After this the President consider'd what was to be attempted and it was resolv'd to go into the County of Galloway But as in all other Designs many Objections were alledg'd and the Lord President with a few accompani'd with the Marquis of Clanrickard went to Galloway before which the Lord Forbes Lieutenant General under the Lord Brook was come the 9th of August 1642. to
Councils and to give such Expedition to the Work as the nature thereof and the pressures in point of time require and whereof you are daily put in mind by the insolencies and increase of the Rebels Upon which the Parliament willing to omit no time precious in so weighty a Concern past a Bill of Loan towards the Relief of Ireland beginning thus Whereas sit hence the beginning of the late Rebellion in Ireland divers cruel Murthers and Massacres of the Protestants there have been and are daily committed by Popish Rebels in that Kingdom by occasion whereof great multitudes of Godly and Religious People there inhabiting together with their Wives Children and Families for the preservation of their Lives have been enforced to forsake their Habitations Means and Livelihood in that Kingdom and to flee for succour into several parts of his Majesties Realm of England and Dominion of Wales having nothing left to depend upon but the charitable Benevolence of well-disposed Persons The Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament taking the same into their charitable considerations for the Honour of Almighty God and the preservation of the true Protestant Religion and Professors thereof have resolv'd presently themselves to contribute towards the necessities of the said poor distressed Christians who being many in number it is thought expedient that through all his Majesties Realm of England and Dominion of Wales a general Collection should be with all expedition made for that purpose c. Other Expedients considering the state of the Kingdom at that time not being convenient to be urg'd the effect of which was incredible so vast and free a Sum flowing in thereupon as nothing but a compassionate sense of the sufferings of their Brethren and a duty to their Religion could ever have rais'd so much Yet that being short of their Exigencies the State was then forc'd to another Act pass'd for Subscriptions on certain Propositions for Lands of the Rebels in Ireland To which those of the United Provinces of Holland were also encourag'd by a Declaration of both Houses the 2d of Feb. 1642. which is worthy often to be considered but being long though excellently and with much caution pen'd we shall refer you to the Act it self Anno 17. Carol. primi Immediately upon which Act divers Captains entertain'd for the Irish service adventur'd their first 6 Months Pay upon the Propositions Yet before these Propositions could be brought into an Act that no time in so great a Concern might be omitted both Houses of Parliament joyn'd in a Letter to the High Sheriffs of England that they might publish at the ensuing Lent-Assizes all the Propositions touching his Majesty's Promise to pass the two Millions and half of Acres of Land in Ireland for an encouragement to such as should in the interim subscribe After which the Act fore-mention'd immediately ensued upon the passing of which Act these subscrib'd in the House of Commons Mr. Walter Long 1200 l. Sir Robert Pie 1000 l. the 8th of March 1641. Mr. Samuel Vassall 1200 l. Sir Samuel Rolls of Devon 1000 l. William Lord Munson 2400 l. Sir John Harrison 1200 l. the 19th of March Sir William Brereton 1000 l. the 21. of March Sir Edward Aishcough 600 l. Mr. John and Mr. Edward Ash 1200 l. the 24th of March Sir Gilbert Pickering 600 l. the 25th of March 1642. Sir John Clotworthy in Money 500 l. Sir John Clotworthy for his Entertainment as Colonel in the Irish Wars 500 l. Mr. Henry Martin 1200 l. the 26th of March Mr. Arthur Goodwin 1800 l. Sir Arthur Haslerigge of Leicestershire 1200 l. Mr. Robert Reynolds 1200 l. Sir Robert Parkhurst 1000 l. Sir Thomas Dacres 600 l. Sir John Pots 600 l. Sir Arthur Ingram 1000 l. Dr. Thomas Eden 600 l. Mr. Oliver Cromwel 500 l. Mr. Nathaniel Fines 600 l. Mr. John Pym 600 l. Sir Walter Earle 600 l. Mr. Cornelius Holland 600 l. Sir John Northcot 450 l. Mr. Roger Matthew 300 l. Sir Nathaniel Bernardston 600 l. Sir William Masham 600 l. Sir Martin Lomley for Martin Lomley Esq his Son 1200 l. Mr. Thomas Hoyle of York 600 l. Mr. Anthony Bedingfield and Mr. William Cage 700 l. Sir William Allenson of York 600 l. Mr. William Havengham 600 l. Mr. Harbert Morley 600 l. Sir William Morley 1200 l. Sir John Culpeper 600 l. Sir Edward Partherick 600 l. Richard Shuttleworth Esq 600 l. Mr. John More and Mr. William Thomas 600 l. Mr. John Lisle 600 l. Mr. John Blackston 600 l. Sir Gilbert Gerrard 2000 l. Mr. Bulstrod Whitlock 600 l. Sir Edmond Momford and Mr. Richard Harman 600 l. Mr. John Trenchard 600 l. Mr. John Gurdon 1000 l. Mr. John Barker 1000 l. Mr. William Harrison 600 l. the 29th of March Mr. John Wilde Serjeant at Law and Mr. Thomas Lane 1000 l. Nathaniel Hallows of Derby for himself and others 1400 l. John Franklin 600 l. Mr. George Buller of the County of Cornwal 600 l. Sir Henry Mildmay 600 l. the 1. of April Mr. Oliver St. John 600 l. Sir John Wray 600 l. Sir Thomas Barrington 1200 l. Mr. Robert Goodwin and Mr. John Goodwin 600 l. the 2. of April Mr. Denzil Hollis 1000 l. Mr. John Crew 600 l. Sir John Peyton 600 l. the 4th of April Sir William Plactors 600 l. Sir William Strickland 600 l. Sir Thomas Savine 1000 l. Alexander and Squire Bence 600 l. Mr. John Rolls of Devon 450 l. Mr. John Hampden 1000 l. Mr. William Jesson 300 l. Sir Edward Baynton 600 l. Thomas Lord Wenman and Mr. Richard Winwood 1200 l. the 5th of April Sir William Drake 600 l. Mr. William Spurstow 600 l. Sir John Welyn of Godstow in the County of Surrey for himself and others 1500 l. the 7th of April Mr. Miles Corbet 200 l. the 9th of April And that this intended Design might proceed till the whole made up a considerable sum the Gentlemen of the County of Buckingham freely offer'd unto the House of Commons to lend 6000 l. upon the Act of Contribution for the Affairs of Ireland and to pay in the same before the first of May 1642. which the House took in very good part and accepted of and order'd the 9th of April 1642. that the said 6000 l. should be repaid out of the first Moneys that shall be rais'd in that County upon the Bill of 400000 l. and that Mr. Hampden Mr. Goodwin Mr. Winwood and Mr. Whitlock should return thanks to the County of Bucks from this House for their kind offer and acceptable service And it was further order'd and declared by the House of Commons That if any other County or Persons shall do the like it will be kindly accepted of by them and that the Moneys so lent shall be repaid them with Interest if they desire it out of the Moneys that shall be rais'd in those Counties where such Persons inhabit out of the Bill of 400000 l. To strengthen which precedent Act for Subscriptions c. there was an
Ireland or England 2. That the secular Clergy of Ireland viz. Primates Archbishops Bishops Ordinaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons Prebendaries and other Dignitaries Parsons Vicars and all other Pastors of the secular Clergy and their respective Successors shall have and enjoy all and all manner of Jurisdictions Priviledges Immunities in as full and ample manner as the Roman Catholicks secular Clergy had or enjoy'd the same within this Realm at any time during the Reign of the late H. 7. sometimes King of England and Lord of Ireland any Law Declaration of Law Statute Power and Authority whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding 3. That all Laws and Statutes made since the 20th year of King H. 8. whereby any Restraint Penalty Mulct Incapacity or Restriction whatsoever is or may be laid upon any of the Roman Catholicks either of the Clergy or of the Laity for such the said free Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion within this Kingdom and of their several Functions Jurisdictions and Priviledges may be repeal'd revoked and declared void by one or more Acts of Parliament to be pas'd therein 4. That all Primates Archbishops Bishops Ordinaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons Chancellors Treasures Chaunters Provosts Wardens of Collegiate Churches Prebendaries and other Dignitaries Parsons Vicars and other Pastors of the Roman Catholick secular Clergy and their respective Successors shall have hold and enjoy all the Churches and Church-Livings in as large and ample manner as the late Protestant Clergy respectively enjoy'd the same on the first day of October in the year of our Lord 1641. together with all the Profits Emoluments Perquisits Liberties and the Rights to their respective Sees and Churches belonging as well in all Places now in the possession of the Confederate Confederate Catholicks as also in all other places that shall be recovered by the said Confederate Catholicks from the adverse Party within this Kingdom saving to the Roman Catholick Laity their Rights according to the Laws of the Land And that the Supreme Council the legitimate issue of the General Assembly might look with the better face of Authority they fram'd to themselves a Seal bearing the mark of a long Cross on the right side whereof a Crown and a Harp on the left with a Dove above and a flaming Heart below the Cross and round about this Inscription Pro Deo pro Rege Patria Hibernia unanimis with which they seal'd their Credentials to Princes and under that Seal pass'd their principal Acts of Sovereignty Having now modell'd themselves into a separate State confronting his Majesties Royal Government setled in Dublin ordering in their Supreme Council at Kilkenny in the said Province of Leimster all their Affairs Civil and Military through the whole Kingdom As to War they had their Forces under the Conduct of four well experienc'd Generals before mentioned answering the several Provinces of Leimster Munster Connaght and Ulster Giving out Letters of Mart An Example of which together with the Authority they assum'd notwithstanding his Majesties Proclamation of the 1st of January 1641. we shall hear give you at large By the Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland TO all Men to whom this Present shall come We the Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholicks of this Realm send Greeting Know ye That we have taken into our serious consideration the great and necessary use we have of Ships of War for the defence of the Coasts of this Realm and advancement and furtherance of Commerce with Foreign Nations and for opposing his Majesties Enemies who daily hinder and annoy his Majesties good Subjects of this Kingdom by Sea and stop all free Trade in this Realm and abroad have therefore constituted and appointed and do hereby ordain constitute and appoint our well-beloved Friend Captain Francis Oliver Native of Flanders having received good testimony of his sufficiency and integrity to be Captain of the Ship called St. Michael the Archangel of burthen 120 Lasts or Tuns or thereabouts hereby giving and granting unto the said Captain full and absolute Power Commission and Authority to furnish the said Ship with all Necessaries fit for Sea and War and with the same to cross the Seas and take hinder and prejudice all such as he shall find or meet of His Majesties Enemies the Enemies of the General Catholick Cause now in hand in this Kingdom their Ships and Goods whatsoever either by Sea or Land by what means soever and the said Shipping or Goods to set to sale and dispose of as lawful Prizes and open Enemies Goods saving unto his Majesty and his lawful Officers and unto all other Person or Persons Bodies Politick and Corporate all Rights Requisites and Duties due or usual answered out of all Prizes And we hereby command all Officers of all our Ports Harbours and Havens within our Jurisdiction throughout this Realm to admit the said Captain Francis Oliver and his Companies Ships and Goods from time to time to pass and repass come and go without molestation or trouble And that all Commanders of Forts and all other Officers of his Majesties loving Subjects to be aiding and assisting unto him in execution and furtherance of the Premisses whatsoever and as often as occasion shall require And lastly we pray all Foreign Princes States and Potentates to defend protect assist and favour the said Captain his Ships and Goods when and as often as he shall come into their respective Coasts and Harbours This our Commission to continue during pleasure Given at Kilkenny the last of December 1642. Was signed Mountgarret Hugo Armachanus Gormanston Johan Episc. Clonfertensis Nic. Plunket Patr. Darcy James Cusack Jeffry Brown And as to Civils they had their Officers of State Justices of Oyer and Terminer and of the Peace with their Courts of Judicature in several kinds and Councils Supreme County Provincial and on occasion National this being as Parliamentary called their General Assembly They had their Negotiations also abroad and from abroad and by Envoys Agents and publick Ministers Extraordinary and Resident they receiv'd the sense of other Princes and return'd their own being also by those Princes treated at home in like manner as if they had been some State absolute or more considerable of which read the Appendix All the subsequent Acts being derived from the Orders establish'd at Kilkenny the 24th of October 1642. By what I have mention'd you may see how the Rebels endeavour'd to get credit abroad and repute at home managing their Concerns with so much subtilty as having them anvil'd in every Covent nothing was omitted to mature their designs or colour what they had now begun with the fairest pretence whilst the State in the interim through the distractions in England daily increasing which gave fresh fuel to the Rebels presumption were so straitned for want of Supplies that the Lords Justices having by all the ways imaginable represented as well to his Majesty as to the Parliament the miserable condition they
were in assuring them that without further Supplies of all kinds the Soldiers being so unruly as the Lieutenant General the 23d of May 1642. was forc'd to publish a sharp Proclamation against their exorbitancies it was not possible for them to carry on the War or to hinder the Incursions of the Rebels even into those parts which they had recovered out of their hands thought fit to take another course for the present And that the Forces they had in Ireland might be ready for action and in the mean time not wholely unserviceable they allotted after no little opposition to the contrary to several Captains and other Officers of the Army such convenient Houses and Villages as they had taken from the Rebels giving them leave to carry their several Troops and Companies under their Command to Quarter in them by which means they freed themselves from the present Charge of providing Victuals for them forcing them to live upon the spoils of their Enemies which they quickly found the way to do and made themselves Masters of all the Cattel and other Substance of those that lived within reasonable distance of them By which means all the considerable Places belonging to the Rebels within twenty miles of Dublin came to be in the hands of the Soldiers as having them granted by way of Custodium for the present unto them an Expedient acceptable to the Officers and extremely prejudicial to the Rebels The 10th of June the Lords Justices and Council finding themselves much prejudic'd by their Protections they had given to many who under pretext of labouring at the Plow had their Weapons hidden near them to cut off stragling Soldiers and Protestants as they passed by them single The State to prevent such inconveniencies withdrew their former Protections by a Proclamation of that Date A circumstance much insisted on by the Rebels but the Reasons of the State will best appear by their Proclamation no Protection being ever violated by the State with their privity or revoked but on time given And now that the State of Ireland might have the less charge upon them they thought it convenient to send the Lord Mac-Guire and Mac-Mahon into England whose Fates I shall here give you a particular account of though they suffered not till some years after Mac-Guire was one principally design'd for the surprizal of the Castle of Dublin and the securing or murthering of the Lords Justices and Council for which intent he came purposely the day before to Dublin but the Plot being that night detected he fled disguised from his usual Lodgings at one Nevils a Chirurgeon in Castle-street and secretly hid himself at one Kerns a Tailor in Cook-street where he was found in a Cock-loft by Mr. John Woodcock one of the Sheriffs of Dublin standing with his Cloak wrapped about him in an obscure place in which posture he was apprehended and brought before the Lords Justices and Council to whom he confessed sufficient to be committed to the Castle the 23d of October about the time he intended to have perpetrated his Villany in that Place from whence the 12th of June 1642. after several Examinations had of his Guiltiness he with Hugh Oge Mac-Mahon was sent into England where they both continued Prisoners some years in the Tower of London whence they made an escape the 18th of August 1644. and were retaken the 20th of October following Strange that in such a time they could not secure their Escape but vengeance would not suffer them to live Mac-Mahon in Michaelmass-Term the 18th of November that year was tried at the Kings-Bench-Bar in Westminster-Hall and shortly after executed at Tyburn Whilst the Lord Mac-Guire made such a defence for himself as his final Trial was not till the 10th and 11th of February 1644. in Hilary-Term at which time he was brought to the Kings-Bench where after his Indictment read for conspiring to disinherit the Kings Majesty to raise Sedition and breed a miserable slaughter amongst the Kings Subjects he first mov'd to have his Peers being Baron of Inskillin in Ireland and forceably brought to Westminster for that none ought to be condemn'd but by such in pursuance of which he pleaded the Statute the 10th of H. 7. whereby all the Statutes made in England should from thence-forth be in force in Ireland Upon which the King's Council Serjeant Roll and Whitfield beside Pryn and Nudigate demurr'd and the Defendant joyn'd in the Demurrer At length Judge Bacon declar'd that an Irish Baron was triable by a Jury in England so the Lord Grey was tried for Acts done in Ireland upon which an Order pass'd the 10th of February by the Lords and Commons for his Trial at which he desir'd respite for the summoning of his Witnesses which in consideration that his Lordship had had long time to expect his Trial and that no Witnesses could say any thing against what the Witnesses on the Kings side could prove was deni'd Afterwards he made a general Challenge against 23 that were Empannel'd for the first Jury which peremptory Challenge was accepted the Law allowing it And the Prisoner for that time was discharg'd with a Command to be brought again the next day which was done accordingly Then he mov'd that his Plea of Peerage might be referr'd to another Court or to the Lords but that was deni'd for that he had put himself on the Countrey besides the Lords and Commons had order'd his Trial. Then another Jury was nam'd which his Lordship accepted against for that he conceiv'd it not fit that those who had bought his Land should pass upon his Trial. To clear which after some heats in arguing betwixt the Kings Council and the Defendant the Judge consented that the Jury should be required upon Oath to answer whether any of them had any Adventure or share of the Rebels Lands in Ireland Which being answer'd in the Negative the Court proceeded and he being in several Circumstances besides his Confession found Guilty the Judge demanded why Sentence should not pass against him his Lordship amongst other things too tedious and of little concern to mention desir'd to know by what Seal the Judge proceeded against him Who answer'd By the Old and Order of Parliament To which the Lord Mac-Guire repli'd That under favour he conceiv'd that the Ordinance of Parliament for a new Great Seal made the old invalid To which the Judge repli'd That he acted by the old Seal being made a Judge at that time Besides there is nothing saith he done in this Court by the new Seal the Sheriffs are hereby a Charter that comes in from year to year and there is no other Seal in order of Execution After which the Judge proceeded to Sentence which he heard patiently having doubtless long the Sentence of death in himself and accordingly he was Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd at Tyburn the 20th of February 1644. But to return to the State who in the manner before mention'd continu'd the Army
Quarter'd in several Custodiums not being able by reason of the want of Money Provisions and other necessaries otherwise to furnish any part of it out in such manner as might put them in a posture to undertake any great Action abroad some in the interim improving the present necessities to the advantage of a Design then in the womb However we find that though the Parliament in England wonder'd as one in eminent Place then heard that the Army in Ireland did little Yet it was to be admired writes he they did so much considering the small means they had to effect so great things They did then abound onely in sickness and hurt men which made the Regiments and Companies very weak Monies came not in at all and for Cloathes and Shoes few or none notwithstanding they had hearts manifested by their works for no Enemy but as soon as they looked on them instead of using their Arms exercis'd their Heels no Fort or Castle which they offer'd to keep which they ever deserted or any that they attempted but yielded to them In as much as that Noble Person which observ'd this in some passion could not but take notice That if all this were nothing let it be so esteem'd The Enemy in the interim having supplies of Men and Arms. Indeed that Affairs proceeded with no currenter a pace this year many obstacles contributed thereunto The Government was in the hands of Two though in the main entirely faithful and knowing yet vastly differing in their tempers one being of a sedentary the other of an active life He allied to most of the leading Men of the Council the other onely prevalent as his Reason and Gallantry wrought on the generous Besides some had such interest else-where as all was not resented with such integrity as was meant That in the management of Affairs at the Helm Authority it self was often Eclipsed nor could any who was necessitated to hold the Reins with others possibly evade the inconveniences they were then frequently inforced upon how well soever they had been vers'd in the Art of Government some will have it that there was much artifice used to lengthen out the War For at that time whether by the Governours of the City of Dublin's omission or some other Fate upon the Army hard for me to determine the Rebels on one side came often to the Gates giving frequent Alarms and took away the Cattle from under the Walls And in Lowth the most considerable Garrison was almost destroyed through those Persons who having the Government of the County protected their Tenants nor would those that had Power to force a Supply improve their interest being better able to disperse an Enemy than disoblige a Neighbour The Scots General the Earl of Leven in the North who with the recent and veterate Soldiers made up 20000 did little desirous rather it seems to keep themselves safe in Knockfergus and the Frontiers than venture much abroad as appear'd by their repulse at Charlemont whence they retir'd with no Honour and admitted Dunganon to be re-taken by the Irish after it had been bravely recovered by the vertue of an English Gentleman Indeed the English-Scots who joyn'd with the English Regiments did excellent service and that the other fail'd may be imputed to the rawness of their Men the want of Victuals of which they stood in great need and some hardship they endur'd happily not incident to their tenderness Now for Connaght such was the carriage of some there that two compleat Regiments consisting of full 2000 Men were in six months reduc'd through want though the Countrey thereabouts was stored with all manner of Provisions not having been harrass'd by an Enemy to 600. Upon which several Articles were preferr'd by Persons of Honour against those who were charg'd with that misfortune and the business referr'd to the Council of War which wav'd their Censure and the main Parties concern'd therein voluntarily undergoing afterwards a private Duel producing no ill to either Party no more was urg'd thereupon Though as to the carriage of that business in reference to the Soldiers Clothes and Necessaries it could not easily be wip'd of nor the deserting of a Government without Orders where there was more store of Ammunition Arms and other Necessaries than Soldiers to use them However in August this year 1642. the Lord Moor Sir John Borlase jun. and Colonel Gibson with 500 Men apiece went into the Counties of Lowth and Meath with two Pieces of Battery and two Field-Pieces with which they assaulted the Castle of Sedan obstinately defended thirty hours by Captain Flemming thrice stormed who at last fought with them out of the Ruines At which time the Lords of the Pale were not so resolute the Lord Gormanston flying from the Fort of the Nabar and the Lord Slane from the Castle of Newtown thereby leaving Lowth and Meath clear'd of the Enemy who finding good heels lost 500 onely at Sedan whilst Captain Burrows Pigot and Grimes with some others defeated 800 of the Rebels near Athy and slew about 200. And now in respect that the State found great inconveniencies by the Protections the Commissioners they had formerly given authority to gave the State of the Countrey being now far different from the Condition wherein it stood 27 of October 1641. at the granting of the said Protections and that the Rebels of all Degrees and Conditions had since with hateful and bloody obstinacy declared their Purpose to extirpate the British throughout the whole Kingdom without hope of reconcilement other then by the strength of his Majesties Forces They did the 19th of August 1642. revoke repeal make void and annul all such Protections from and after ten days from the date thereof more at large to be seen in the Instrument it self in the Appendix carrying weighty reasons for that Act. The 25th of August the Lords in a Letter to Secretary Nicholas sent a Copy of the Rebels Petition together with the Rebels of the Pales Letter to the Earl of Ormond in the answer to which exceptions were taken that they had not sent the Original and with all took notice that as his Majesty would be ready to punish the Rebels so he would not shut up his mercy against those who did unfeignedly repent upon which the Original was sent and his Majesties Pardon beg'd Soon after the Lord Lisle with the men under his Command marched towards the Counties of Westmeath and Cavan where they arriv'd about the middle of September having destroyed all where they had pass'd without striking a stroak the Rebels being according to their usual Custom retired to Places of strength confiding more in their Walls then Valour wherefore passing into the County of Monaghan he sate down before Carrickmacross a house of the Earl of Essex's very well Fortified where the Rebels having endured the battery of two small Pieces of Cannon for one day fled away the next night the outward Guards of the Besiegers being
we at first desired we might well have had those Provisions arriv'd here by the 10th of March as we agreed However we now desire that that Money if it be not already paid may be yet paid to Mr. Anthony Tierens in London or Mr. Wibrants in Amsterdam that so those Provisions may arrive here speedily which considering that Summer is now near at hand will be very necessary that when our Supplies of Victuals Munition Cloaths Money and other Provisions shall arrive we may not in the publick Service here lose the benefit and advantage of that Season And so we remain From his Majesty's Castle of Dublin the 4th of April 1643. This Letter as you see was writ some weeks after the Battle of Ross however in brief it gives you a faithful Account Yet that a more particular one may also be committed to Posterity accept of the following from the Pen of a chief Officer in that Expedition March the 2d 1642. the English Army march'd forth from Dublin toward Kilkenny consisting of about 2500 Foot and 500 Horse together with two Pieces of Battery and four small brass Pieces the Marquess of Ormond being Lieutenant General of the Army and my Lord Lisle General of the Horse The 3d. the Army being come nigh Castlemartin the Rebels then possessing it gave it up to the Lieutenant General upon his promise of fair Quarter which they accordingly had to march away thence with the safety of their Lives they being in number above 400 Men and Women and the same day 3 Divisions of Foot were sent to Kildare and a Castle called Tully which the Rebels then quitted and left unto us The 4th the Army came to Tymolin where finding two Castles possest by some Rebels our Cannon compell'd them to submit to mercy very few of them escaping with their Lives there being about 100 of them slain and also of the English Army was slain Lieutenant Oliver and about 12 Souldiers The 11th my Lord Lisle march'd from the Army at Temple-soul before day towards Ross having with him Sir Richard Greenvile Sir Thomas Lucas and about 400 Horse and also Sir Foulk Huncks with about 600 Foot Being come within two miles of Ross our Horse took 4 Horsemen of the Rebels Prisoners who inform'd us that the Army of the Rebels lay then about 3 miles distant thence being near 4000 Men. Shortly after my Lord Lisle came before the Town of Ross and by a Trumpeter he sent to the Town to have some one of Quality therein to come to treat with him concerning the surrender of the same to the King's use which they refused to do Then Sir Thomas Lucas fearing the safety of the Army by reason he understood that the Rebel's Army lay the last night within 2 miles of the English Army importuned my Lord Lisle to march back with all his Horse to secure the Army leaving Sir Foulk Hunks with his Division of Foot to guard a Pass in that way And then after a few miles riding further the English Army appear'd at hand which march'd on towards Ross nigh before which that night a great part of our Horse and Foot lodged And the next morning our Cannon were drawn and planted against the Town and continued battering with two Pieces on a part of the Town-Walls about two days together which made a fair breach therein which Sir Foulk Huncks undertook to assault with his Men and attempted it but were beaten back with some loss which so much dis-heartned the Souldiers that they would not be drawn on again and finding that the besieged had both daily and nightly very many Men and much Ammunition and other Recruits conveyed by Boats into the Town and understanding that the Rebel's Army was grown very strong within few miles of ours and our Lieutenant General finding Bread to be grown scarce in our Army resolv'd to leave Ross as it was and gain Honour by a Battle with the Irish. The 18th our Army being march'd away about 2 miles distant from Ross the Irish Army appear'd fairly in view who hastned their Forces into Battalia on a Ground of some advantage nigh the way our Army was to pass Whereupon our Commanders endeavour'd with all diligence to draw their Forces into Battalia to confront the Rebels within the distance of Cannon-shot our Cannon being plac'd at the Front of our Infantry which was winged by our Horse-Troops and advanc'd forwards before our Army within Musket-shot of the Enemy's fore-Troops Sir Richard Greenvile having that day the Vauntguard of the Horse had his Division for the right Wing of the Army likewise my Lord Lisle's Division having the Battle had the left Wing of the Army Sir Luca's Division having the Rearguard of the Horse had the one half of his Division appointed to stand for Reserves for both the Wings of Horse Both Armies being order'd against one another Sir Richard Greenvile sent forth towards the Rebels a forelorn Hope of 60 Horse commanded by Lieutenant White which advancing towards 2 Troops of the Rebels they seem'd to shrink from Then our Cannon beginning to play Captain Atkins commanding a forelorn Hope of about 100 Musketiers march'd forwards directly before our Foot-Army towards the Rebels who had mann'd a Ditch in a High-way lying right before their Army with a great number of Musketiers during which time certain other Divisions of the English Foot followed orderly their forelorn Hope Captain Atkins with his shot excellently performing his part by exchanging shot with the Rebels that lay in ambush Sir Richard Greenvile with his Division on the right Wing advanced to begin the Battle in the interim whereof Sir Thomas Lucas being Major General of the Horse came and took upon him the chief Command thereof and so leading those Troops on towards the Enemy being come past a deep High-way that lay between both Armies presently at hand advanc'd towards those Horse a Division of Horse and Foot of the Rebels Sir Richard Greenvile being then in the head of his own Troop which had the right hand of that Division commanded his Men to keep together and charge home without wheeling which was no sooner spoken but immediately Sir Thomas Lucas call'd aloud to our Troop to wheel to the left hand which they presently performing were gotten into a Lane in some disorder and before they could get out of the same and come into any good order again a Troop of above 100 of the Rebel's Horse all Gentlemen of Quality and Commanders led by Cullen their Lieutenant General charg'd our Horse on the left Flank Whereupon Sir Richard Greenvile encouraged several of his Troops by his example to charge the Enemy where meeting with Colonel Cullen in the head of his Troops divers blows pass'd betwixt them mean while my Lord Lisle with his Troops gallantly charg'd Cullen's Troop on his Flank and Rear whereby they were so routed that the Troops were all intermixed one with another and the execution of both Parties continued violent
high and eminent trust of your Affairs here deposited with us by your Sacred Majesty we may not forbear in discharge of our Duty thus freely and plainly to declare our humble apprehensions to the end your Majesty thus truly understanding the terribleness of our Condition may find out some such means of support to preserve to your Majesty and your Royal Posterity this your ancient and rightful Crown and Kingdom and derive deliverance and safety to the Remnant of your good Subjects yet left here as in your excellent Judgment you shall find to be most to your Honour and Advantage And so praying to the King of Kings to guide and direct you for the best in this high and important Cause and in all other your Councels and Actions we humbly remain From your Majesties Castle at Dublin the 11th of May 1643. Your Majesties most Loyal and most Faithful Subjects and Servants The 12th of May the Lord Taaffe Roch and Fitzwilliams arrived out of England and that morning Major Warren and Sir Francis Butler came to the Council the Lords sitting and presented a Petition to the Lords Justices accusing the Lord Parsons of high Misdemeanors and other Treasonable Matters requesting that his Person and Goods might be secur'd though in conclusion nothing was ever filed against him an Evidence to most that there was more of a Design then Crime in the Accusation And having as before presented you with the Lords Justices Letter to his Majesty we should now give you the Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament the 16th of June 1643. concerning the present lamentable estate and miserable condition of Ireland In answer to what the Lords Justices and Council had faithfully acquainted them withall that it may appear how sensible they were of the information they had receiv'd of the straights and exigencies of the Protestant Forces in Ireland which certainly is very Emphatical resenting with a just aggravation the miserable condition of that Kingdom but being legible in Husbands Collections we shall refer you thither not busing our selves how far it prevail'd Certainly the Exigencies of the Souldiers and State of Ireland were then very considerable in as much as his Majesty not being able by any other expedient to remedy as he was perswaded their complaints then by a Cessation he to that end sends this Letter to the Lords Justices C. R. RIght trusty and well beloved Counsellors and right trusty and intirely well beloved Cousen and Counsellor we greet you well The present Distractions here have rendred us as unable as by experience we find the remaining part of the two Houses are unwilling to supply or relieve our Army in Ireland and if the Money we consented should be rais'd in this our Kingdom for the Relief of Ireland had not been diverted by them and Rebelliously imployed against us here in England we should not have been constrain'd to have hearkned to a Cessation of Arms now on that side But since we see no other hope during the unhappy distempers here to settle the Peace of that our Kingdom but by a Cessation of Arms between us and the Irish now in Arms there and doubt very much how our Forces now in that our Kingdom will be there maintain'd if we shall admit of a Cessation We have thought it expedient by these our Letters to recommend it to your care and industry to consider seriously how our Forces on that side may be enabled to subsist during the Cessation and if there may be means found for that we do then hereby Authorise and require you to agree to a Cessation of Arms there for a year and in our Names to assure the said Irish that we are graciously inclin'd to dissolve the present Parliament and call a new one between this and the 10th of November next and to take a course to put all those that shall be chosen Members of the said Parliament into such a condition as they shall not be prejudiced of their Liberty of Assisting Sitting and Voting in the said Parliament for better effecting whereof we do hereby further authorise and require you to give License to such Commissioners as the said Irish shall appoint to come over hither to us to treat of that Business and such other Particulars to be proposed by way of Petition as shall necessarily conduce not onely to the satisfying of the said Cessation but to a preparation of what shall be requisite for the setling of a just honourable and perfect Peace in that our Kingdom And we further require in case the said Irish now in Arms shall agree to such a Cessation and Treaty to advertise us of some such able and fitting Ministers or Servants of ours on that side as you conceive fit to be sent over hither to assist in the Treaty here when Commissioners shall come over from the said Irish. In which Business we require you to use all convenient expedition and to give us a speedy Account for which these our Letters shall be your Warrant Given under our Signet at our Court at Oxford the second day of July in the 19th year of Our Reign 1643. To our right trusty and well-beloved Counsellors Sir John Borlase and Sir Henry Tichborn Kts. Lords Justices of our Kingdom of Ireland and to our right trusty and intirely beloved Cosen and Counsellor James Marquiss of Ormond Lieutenant-General of our Army there But before this Letter came to the Lords Justices the means to a Cessation were thought of Yet the day before the Marquiss of Ormond proceeded to the Treaty which was the 22. of June the chief Protestants of the City of Dublin were called before the Council to know if they would give 10000 l. or have a Cessation the latter they were very unwilling to and the former they could not advance indeed it was well known though it serv'd as an Argument to evidence the necessity the State was put to And the Irish Commissioners the 23. of June presented themselves unto the Marquiss of Ormond in his Tent near Castle Martin in the County of Kildare in the presence of divers Colonels Captains and Officers in his Majesties Army his Lordship sitting in his Chair covered and the Irish Commissioners standing bare after several passages betwixt them all tendred in writing the Irish Commissioners gave his Lordship a Copy of the Authority they had receiv'd from the supream Council of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland at Kilkenny in these words WHereas his Majesty's most faithful Subjects the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland were inforced to take Arms for the preservation of their Religion for the defence of his Majesty's just Prerogatives and Rights and the maintenance of the Rights and Liberties of their Countrey labour'd to be destroyed by the Malignant Party And whereas his Majesty in his high Wisdom and Princely Care of his said Subjects Welfare and Safety and at their humble Suit That his Majesty might be graciously pleas'd to hear
their Grievances and vouchsafe Redress therein did direct there should be a Cessation of Arms and thereupon did Authorize the Right Honourable the Lord Marquess of Ormond to treat and conclude the said Cessation with the said Confederate Catholicks Know ye that the said Council by the express Order and Authority of the said Catholicks by them conceiv'd and granted in their General Assembly at Kilkenny on the 20th day of the last Month of May and in pursuance of the said Order and Authority reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Wisdom Circumspection and provident Care Honour and Sincerity of our very good Lords Nicholas Lord Viscount Gormanston Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery and our well-beloved Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Robert Talbot Baronet Tirlagh O Neal Esq Geoffry Brown Esq Ever Mac-Gennis Esq and John Walsh Esq have constituted appointed and ordain'd and by these presents do constitute appoint and ordain the said Nicholas Lord Viscount Gormanston c. our Commissioners and do by these presents give and grant unto our said Commissioners or any five or more of them full Power and Authority to treat with the said Lord Marquess of Ormond of a Cessation of Arms for one whole year or shorter and to conclude the same for the time aforesaid upon such Terms Conditions and Articles as to the said Commissioners in their Judgements Conscience and Discretion shall be thought fit and expedient by these presents ratifying and confirming whatsoever Act or Acts our said Commissioners as aforesaid shall do or execute concerning the said Cessation Given at Kilkenny the 20th of June 1643. Montgarret Castlehaven Audley Malachias Arp. Tuamen Fr. Thom. Fleming Arch. of Dublin Primate of Ireland Maurice de Rupe Fermoy Nettervile Nich. Plunket Edm. Fitz-Maurice Patrick Darcy Rob. Linch R. Bealing Upon which both sides proceeded the Marquess not admitting the Title or Name attributed by the Irish Commissioners unto them in behalf of those for whom they treated as likewise not admitting the Cause for which they took up Arms as in the Protestation is expressed Whereas the Irish Commissioners on the other side still propos'd all in the behalf of the Catholicks of Ireland with protestation that the said Catholicks took Arms in defence of their Religion his Majesty's Rights and Prerogatives and the Liberties of Ireland and no ways to oppose his Majesty's Authority so as say they neither the Title or Protestation being justly due to them were to be excepted against being the same they always used in their immediate applications to his Majesty Against which though there were exceptions the Treaty still proceeded they owning the premisses And at Sigginstown the Treaty went on not without Debates of great concern and much difficulty and then was deferr'd from the 1st of July to the Thursday next come seven-night at which time the Marquess of Ormond could not meet in respect That the necessity of his attendance otherwise upon the publick Service of his Majesty would not permit which the Irish Commissioners seem'd much to resent writing to his Lordship from Kilkenny the 19th of July 1643. That although we conceive this Treaty to be of the greatest consequence of any Service to be effected for his Majesty within this Kingdom yet we are not apt to give an ill construction to the laying of it by for the present until we do know of that Service that taketh place of it which being for the advantage of his Majesty's Interests we heartily wish may have good success Yet your Lordship will give us leave to take notice that we meet in these as in all other Proceedings whereby we may have any expectation to enjoy the benefit of his Majesty's Grace and Favour some interruption and slackness in conveying any part of his good Intentions to his faithful Subjects the Catholicks of Ireland which we add to our other Grievances and will endeavour in discharge of the many harms which may ensue by reason of this Protraction to have it rightly presented to his Majesty In Answer to which the Marquess of Ormond replyed the 21st of July That whereas they had no pretence of unaptness to give an ill construction to the laying by of the Treaty until they could know of what Service took place he acquainted them That he was not accountable to them with the knowledge of his Majesty's Services wherewith he had the Honour to be intrusted or to any but to his Majesty and to those to whom he had intrusted the government of the Kingdom And for what they said They would endeavour to have rightly presented to his Majesty he doubted not but to acquit himself as became him as in other Commands so in this Particular and that they should find when the other Occasions of his Majesty were over the deferring of the Treaty at present was not such a laying aside of the Matter as their Letters inferr'd Thus at present more than by Letters and the private Actings of some Men there was nothing further attempted in the Treaty till the 26th of August following In the interim we must take notice of the Insolence of these Men then expecting his Majesty's Favour By the Lords Justices and Council Jo. Borlase Henry Tichborn WE the Lords Justices and Council do declare That if Captain John Farrer be forthwith released by the Rebels and safely sent hither that forthwith upon his coming so released we will give Order for the releasing Synnot lately imployed as Captain amongst the Rebels out of Prison the Jaylor's just Dues being first paid and will then permit him freely to depart without interruption Given at his Majesty's Castle of Dublin July 8. 1643. La. Dublin Ormond Roscommon Bramston Ant. Midensis Tho. Rotheram Jo. Temple Fra. Willoughby Ja. Ware We do not know to whom this Certificate is directed and we will avow our selves in all our Actions to be his Majesty's loyal Subjects neither shall it be safe henceforth for any Messenger to bring any Paper to us containing other Language than such as suits with our Duty and the Affections we bear to his Majesty's Service wherein some may pretend but none shall have more real desires to further his Majesty's Interest than his Majesty's loyal and obedient Subjects Montgarret Muskery Fr. Tho. Dublin Malachias Tuamen Castlehaven Audley R. Bealing Torlo O Neile Patr. Darcy Who reads this may well think their Confidence built on other Grounds than appear'd What! Shall such as fought in opposition to his Majesty's Proclamation be thought loyal Subjects whilst the State owning his Majesty's Interest Honour and Service are said to pretend to what they really were Surely so impudent a Reply never before without chastizement escaped the Pen of suppliant Rebels nor indeed could some then have had the freedom of their just scorn and indignation should such expressions have been swallowed During the respite of the Treaty for the Cessation viz. the 29th of July 7 or 800 of the Rebels gave us at mid-night by whose neglect I know not
of by the two Houses of Parliament in England The publication of which with the Articles and his Majesties Motives thereunto you may read in his Majesties Works from fol. 353. to 365. In confirmation of which the Lords Justices and Council issued out a Warrant to the Lord Chancellor to draw Letters of Confirmation under the Great Seal of Ireland which accordingly bore date the 26th day of Septemb. in the 19th year of his Majesties Reign And to express the necessity thereof many Persons of Quality sign'd the said 15th of Septemb. 1643. a Writing therein concluding it necessary for his Majesties Honour and Service that the Lord Marquis of Ormond should assent to a Cessation of Arms though some of these afterwards joyning with the Parliaments Forces resolved to die a thousand deaths rather than to descend to any Peace with the perfidious Rebels but stuck not at length to that Protestation altering as the Scene chang'd Whilst the Cessation was in agitation at Sigginstown the Consequences of dissolving the Parliament were not the least in consideration at the Council-board nor was there any thing more desired by the Rebels who thereby hoped to be re-seated in a new Parliament which they question'd not to manage to their own ends and advantage Wherefore that the State might still steer by the same Compass they had hitherto done they committed the Case to the Judges who unanimously agreed upon the following Reasons for its continuance May it please your Lordships ACcording to your Lordships Order of the xi of September 1643. we have considered of such inconveniencies as we conceive may arise to his Majesty and his Service as Affairs now stand if this present Parliament should be determin'd and have reduc'd the same to writing which we humbly present to your Lordships further consideration The greatest part of the Free-holders of this Kingdom are now in actual Rebellion whereby his Majesty ought to be justly entituled to all their Estates both Real and Personal this cannot be done but by their Conviction and Attainder either by course of Common Law or by Act of Parliament By course of Common Law it will be very difficult to be effected for these Reasons following First Those who are indicted in most of the Counties of this Kingdom cannot be Attainted by Outlawry by reason that the Sheriffs of those Counties by occasion of the present Rebellion cannot keep their County-Courts to Proclaim and make due Return of the Exigence Nor can they be Attainted by Verdict for want of Jurors most of all the Free-holders in the Kingdom being now in Rebellion Secondly Those that are not Indicted or those that are already Indicted and in Prison or upon Bonds cannot be proceeded against Legally at the Common Law for want of Jurors because as aforesaid most of the Freeholders are in Rebellion Therefore of necessity those Persons must either not be Attainted at all or onely by Act of Parliament which is scarce possible to be effected if this present Parliament be Dissolved or Discontinued for that upon a new Parliament to be Summon'd the Knights and Burgesses must be Elected by the Free-holders and Inhabitants respectively most whereof are in Rebellion And yet the present Parliament will be discontinued unless a Commission under the Great Seal of England to the now Lords Justices or other the Chief Governour or Governours for the time being be here before the 13th of November next being the day of Prorogation for the beginning of the next Session of Parliament to enable them to continue this present Parliament the last Commission for the continuance thereof being onely to the Lords Justices one whereof is since remov'd Unless the Parties now in Rebellion being Legally Attainted which cannot be here as is aforesaid as the case now stands but by Act of Parliament his Majesty cannot have power to dispose of their Estates as in his wisdom he shall think fit either for the increasing of his Revenues or for the Peaceable establishment of this Common-wealth and indifferent Administration of Justice therein Rich. Bolton Cancell Geo. Shurly Gerrard Lowther Ja. Donnalon Sa. Mayard The Cessation as yet not being known to his Majesty the Lords Justices and Council received a Letter from him at the Camp at Matson near Gloucester of the 4th of Septemb. passionately resenting the sufferings and complaints of the Officers who upon all occasions had a tender affection in his breast And to the end they might not be frustrated of their Arrears he commands their Debentors should be respectively sign'd that they might take an effectual course to be paid the same by the Two Houses of Parliament that engaged them And left there should be any defect in acknowledging of their Merits who had so faithfully ventur'd their lives for his Majesties Service he is yet further pleased to provide for their Encouragement and Entertainment who upon the Cessation were now free to serve him though as yet he knew not of its conclusion but by the Contents of the following Letter seem'd to expect it giving particular Orders for the management of Affairs upon that occasion C. R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellors and right Trusty and intirely Beloved Cousin and Counsellor We greet you well Whereas not onely the great neglect of the Affairs of that Our Kingdom by the remaining part of our Houses of Parliament who pretended so great care of it but their impious preventing all Supplies destin'd to their Relief by Our Authority which did ever most readily concur to any Levy of Men Money or any other Work in order to the Assistance of Our Protestant Subjects there and employing the same in an unnatural War against Us their Liege Lord and Sovereign hath reduc'd our Army in that our Kingdom into so heavy straits that out of Our Care of the preservation of them who so faithfully ventur'd their Lives for Our Service We were brought to condescend to a Treaty for a Cessation of Arms Our Will and Pleasure is and We do hereby Charge and Command you that in case according unto the Authority given unto you by Us you have agreed upon a Cessation or as soon as you shall agree thereupon you or any two of you do immediately consider of and put in execution these Our following Commands 1. That you agree upon what number of Our Army will be necessary to be kept in Garrison there for the maintenance of the same during the time of the Cessation and what Soldiers they shall be and what Persons shall command the same and that you settle them accordingly in that Command as shall appear to your discretion to be most conducing to our Service 2. That you do consider and advise of the best means of Transporting the rest of Our Army in that Our Province of Leimster excepting such as are to be kept in Garrison in Our Kingdom of Ireland and to that end We do hereby give you or any one of you full Power and Authority to hire all
the Right Honourable the Lords Justices and Council And now many of those Officers who had served his Majesty most signally in Ireland were treated with to recruit his Forces in and about Chester to which end all the encouragement that his Majesty had given in his Letters of the 4th and 7th of September were faithfully imparted to them and what could possibly be rais'd for their Transportation was effectually done Whereupon several Regiments as Sir Mich. Earnely's Sir Rich. Fleetwoods Colonel Gibson Colonel Monk Colonel Warren and others hasted over but with such Reluctancy of the Common Souldiers as the sharpest Proclamations of which there were several hardly restrain'd them from flying their Colours both before and after their arrival in England To prevent which and that the Souldiers might be secur'd in their Loyalty to his Majesty the Lieutenant General compos'd this Oath I Resting fully assured of his Majesties most Princely Truth and Goodness do freely and from my heart promise vow and protest in the presence of Almighty God that I will to the utmost of my Power and with the hazard of my Life maintain and defend the true Protestant Religion establish'd in the Church of England his Majesties sacred Person his Heirs and lawful Successors and his Majesties just Powers and Prerogatives against the Forces now under the Conduct of the Earl of Essex and against all other Forces whatsoever that are or shall be rais'd contrary to his Majesties Commands and Authority And I will do my best endeavour to procure and re-establish the Peace and Quietness of the Kingdom of England And I will neither directly or indirectly divulge or communicate any thing to the said Earl of Essex his Officers or any other to hinder or prejudice the Designs of his Majesty in the Conduct or Imployment of his Army Which that it may be taken by every Souldier follows the Precept By the Lieutenant General of his Majesties Army WHereas his Majesty hath been pleas'd to command the present transportation of a part of his Army here into England I do think fit and hereby Order that every Officer and Souldier to be transported hence do take the Oath above-written before they depart this Harbour Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin 13. of Octob. 1643. Ormond And in respect that upon their going many Souldiers listed themselves under other Officers the Lord Lieutenant besides other Courses publisht the 13. of November an Edict that no Souldiers under penalty of death should depart from their former Commanders and Officers and that no Commanders and Officers on pain of displeasure should dare to entertain any Souldiers so offending And the 4th of Feb. 1643. the Lord General publisht a Proclamation That if any Souldier should stay behind that was commanded to go over or should after he was transported over into England run away from his Colours he being afterwards apprehended should presently suffer death without mercy Upon which as you see many came over into England and at Hawerden Castle Beeston Castle Bartomley Church Dedington House Acton Church and Durtwich improved their time but the main body the 25. of January 1643. was utterly defeated by Sir Thomas Fairfax raising the Siege of Namptwich 1500 common Souldiers besides Officers being there taken Prisoners besides those that were slain so that what advantage accrewed to the Regal Army by their coming over many believ'd was not very considerable unless those who came out of Munster were more successful The general if not all those who came to his Majesties assistance out of Ireland were his own Forces which he had sent against the Rebels from whom I cannot yet learn after all their professions of having no one hollow thought or subtile practice to serve two Masters or standing Neuters whilst their King was Party that any formed Regiment or considerable Party reach'd England no! it will hereafter appear how shamefully they deserted his Majesties Affairs even in Ireland it self when their Interest might have united them in Loyalty and Obedience Some months after the arrival of these and other Forces out of Ireland the Parliament of England made an Ordinance against the giving of any Quarter to any Irish man or to any Papist born in Ireland taken in Hostility against the Parliament by Sea or Land which his Majesty thought very severe they being called to the service of their Natural Prince The coming over of the English made several that were not so forward suspected in their Loyalty though in truth never any Prince had an Army more intirely affecting his Person then the generality of his Militia of Ireland who being sent thither or rais'd there were not yet wean'd from the Justice of that Cause hardly matchable in any example the War being said long since a great Instrument of State not an ambitious War of Foraigns but a recovery of Subjects and that after Lenity of Conditions often tried not onely to obedience but to Humanity and Policy from more then Indian Barbarism whereas the Affairs of England imbrued Relations in one anothers blood and the Concerns of Ireland were as much his Majesties as the other and the Cause undoubtedly Gods The Lords Justices and Council this while had a great task and not so much as straw to the Work the Confederates paying in the Money viz. 30800 l. they promised the 16th of September towards the maintenance of his Majesties Army this Cessation very uncertain as their Cows and Cattle of the worst taking within three days after the Cessation near 369 head of choice English Cattle from the suburbs of Dublin acting besides many other violencies on divers Castles Forts and Houses so as this agreement with the Rebels seemed rather a Protection then a Cessation of Acts of Hostility That in this extremity the Lords Justices Providence and Care how great soever could remedy little being their business now was to proceed in another course then formerly they had the Election of which grew hourly the heavier upon them by reason of the discontents which constantly arose from the Inhabitants and the Protestants now more then ever sensible of their Condition the Irish Agents making all the speed they could to repair with their Propositions to his Majesty then at Oxford according to an Article in the Cessation and his Majesties Proclamation thereupon by which they were allowed to send Agents to his Majesty of which the Protestants in and about Dublin being very apprehensive lest his Majesty should be pre-possessed of the Rebels sence they thought it most convenient to dispatch Agents presently to his Majesty and to that end about the 6th of October 1643. they meeting at the Earl of Kildare's house fram'd a Petition to the Lords Justices and Council humbly beseeching their Lordships for their License unto such as they should appoint to attend his Majesty in their behalf whereunto the Lords Justices and Council the 12. of the same month expressed their forwardness declaring how his
implorant demisse benedictionem obsecrantes Kilkenniae 7. Jan. 1645. Vestrae Sanctitatis ad Pedum Oscula But to proceed to the Peace in which all the Particulars which might concern the Interest and Security of either Party being maturely weighed and considered and then every Article being first read debated and approved in the general Assembly without one dissenting voice the whole was concluded and the Confederate Catholicks obliged to transport within a very short time an Army of 10000 Men into England for the Service and Relief of the King as by the succeeding Propositions with Colonel Fitz-Williams is fuller evident Fitz-Williams's Propositions about the Treaty with the Queen to bring Irish into England Col. Fitz-Williams humbly prays and propounds as followeth THat your Sacred Majesty will vouchsafe to prevail with his Majesty to condescend to the just Demands of his Irish Subjects the Confederate Catholicks in Ireland at least in private That upon the consideration thereof Colonel Fitz-Williams humbly propounds and undertakes with approbation of Mr. Hertogen now imployed Agent for the said Confederate Catholicks in Ireland to bring an Army of 10000 Men or more of the King's Subjects in his Kingdom of Ireland for the King's Service into England That Colonel Fitz-Williams undertakes for the sum of 10000 l. sterling to levy Ships and arm the 10000 Men and so proportionably for more or less and that the said Moneys may be paid into such hands as may be safe for your Majesty as well as ready for the said Colonel when it shall appear the said Army shall be in readiness to be transported into England That upon the Landing of the said Men there shall be advanced to the Colonel one months Pay for all the Army according to the Muster for the present support of the Army That Colonel Fitz-Williams may be Commander in Chief thereof and dispose of all the Officers and only be commanded by the King Prince and and qualified with such Benefits as have been formerly granted unto your Majesty's Generals that have commanded Bodies apart from the King 's own Army as the Earl of Kingston and others whereby the better to enable him in the Levies as well as in the general Conduct of the Business And in respect the Order gives no Power to the Irish therefore that the said Forces shall not by any Order whatsoever be divided at least that the Colonel may be supplied with a Body of 2000. to be ready at the Place of Landing That the Colonel may be provided with Arms and Ammunition or with Money requisite for himself to provide necessary Proportions for to bring with him That the Army shall be paid as other Armies of the King Having taken these Propositions into Consideration We have thought fit to testifie our Approbation and Agreement thereunto under our Sign Manual assuring what hath been desired of us therein shall be forthwith effectually endeavour'd and not doubting to the satisfaction of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland and of the said Colonel so that we may justly expect an agreeable compliance and performance accordingly from all Parties in their several Concernments Henriette Marie All things thus stated and setled the Commissioners who had treated in the Peace were sent by and in the Name of the Assembly to Dublin where the Lord Lieutenant resided to sign the said Articles and to receive his Lordship's Confirmation of them And accordingly the Articles were the 30th of July 1646. interchangeably signed and perfected with all formality requisite notwithstanding his Majesty's Letter from Newcastle the 11th of June 1646. to treat no farther with the Rebels and shortly after they were with great Solemnity and Ceremony published and proclaimed by the King at Arms at Dublin and at Kilkenny where the Supream Council and the Assemblies of all the Confederate Catholicks were held and then Printed by their Authority The Arch-Bishop of Firmo manifesting his approbation of all that had been done giving his blessing to the Commissioners when they were sent to Dublin to conclude the Treaty and other Ministers from Foraign Princes being present consenting to and witnessing the Conclusion By the Lord Lieutenant and Council Ormond WHereas Articles of Peace are made concluded accorded and agréed upon by and between Us James Lord Marquiss of Ormond Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of his Majesties Kingdom of Ireland his Majesties Commissioner to Treat and Conclude a Peace with his Majesties Roman Catholick Subjects of the said Kingdom by vertue of his Majesties Commission under the Great Seal of England bearing Date at Buckingham on the 24th day of June in the Twentieth year of his Reign for and on the behalf of his Most Excellent Majesty of the one part and Donogh Lord Viscount Muskery and others appointed and Authorized by his Majesties said Roman Catholick Subjects by vertue of an Authority of the said Roman Catholick Subjects bearing Date the sixth day of March 1645. and in the 21. year of his Majesties Reign of the other part a true Copy of which Articles of Peace is hereunto annexed We the Lord Lieutenant and Council do by this Proclamation in his Majesties Name Publish the same And do in his Majesties Name strictly charge and command all his Majesties Subjects and all others Inhabiting or Residing within his Majesties said Kingdom of Ireland to take notice thereof and to render due Obedience to the same in all the parts thereof And as his Majesty hath been induced to this Peace out of a deep sense of the Miseries and Calamities brought upon this his Kingdom and People and out of a hope conceived by his Majesty that it may prevent the further effusion of his Subjects blood redeem them out of all the miseries and calamities under which they now suffer restore them to all quietness and happiness under his Majesties most gracious Government deliver the Kingdom in general from those slaughters deprecations rapines and spoils which always accompany a War encourage the Subjects and others with comfort to betake themselves to Trade Traffick Commerce Manufacture and all other things which un-interrupted may increase the wealth and strength of the Kingdom beget in all his Majesties Subjects of this Kingdom a perfect Unity amongst themselves after the too long continued Division amongst them So his Majesty assures himself that all his Subjects of this his Kingdom duly considering the great and inestimable benefits which they may find in this Peace will with all duty render due obedience thereunto And We in his Majesties Name do hereby Declare That all Persons so rendring due Obedience to the said Peace shall be protected cherished countenanced and supported by his Majesty and his Royal Authority according to the true intent and meaning of the said Articles of Peace Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin the Thirtieth day of July 1646. Ri. Bolton Canc. Roscomon Dillon Cha. Lambart Gerrard Lowther Fr. Willoughby Robert Forth La. Dublin Geo. Cloyne Arthur Chichester Hen. Tichborn Tho. Lucas
and Commanding as well in Secular as Ecclesiastical Matters to the Popes Nuncio who began his Empire with committing to Prison the Commissioners who had been Instrumental in the Treaty and making of the Peace by order of the general Assembly and issued out an Excommunication against all those who had or should submit to the Peace which comprehended all the Nobility and almost all the Gentry and some of the Clergy which Excommunication wrought so universally upon the minds of the People that albeit all Persons of Honour and Quality received infinite scandal and well foresaw the irreparable damage Religion it self would undergo by that unwarrantable Proceeding and used their utmost Power to draw the People to obedience and submission to the said Agreement and to that purpose prevail'd so far with General Preston that he gave them reason to hope that he would joyn with them for the vindication of the publick Faith and the Honour of the Nation and compel those that oppos'd it to submit to the Peace Yet all these endeavours produced no effect but concluded in unprofitable Resentments and Lamentation In the mean time Owen O Neil when he found himself disappointed of his Design to have cut off the Lord-Lieutenant before he should reach Dublin enter'd into the Queens-County and committed all Acts of Cruelty and Outrage that could be imagined took many Castles and Forts which belong'd to the King and put all who resisted to the Sword and his Officers in cold blood caus'd others to be murther'd to whom they had promised Quarter as Major Pigot and others of his Family About the latter end of June this year Major General Monro received a severe defeat from Owen Roe O-Neil at Benburgh alias Benburge near Charlemont in the County of Ardmagh whereby the whole Province was exposed to the Rebels fury in as much as if they had had the Courage or Policy to have prosecuted it they might have destroyed all the Scotch Quarters and endanger'd their Towns but Owen Roe instead of prosecuting the Victory went presently with the Prisoners and Colours in Triumph to Kilkenny so gave our Forces a breathing whilst the Parliament suspecting his union with Preston immediately ordered 50000 l. out of the Excise for the raising of more men for Ireland and some Horse besides Foot were presently sent over with Ammunition and other necessaries these called at Dublin but the Design being not then fit for their Reception they were otherwise disposed of And shortly after the Nuncio prevail'd so much that he united General Preston to his Army at which time he took this Oath I A. B. Swear and Protest that I will adhere to the present union of the Confederate Roman Catholicks that reject the Peace lately agreed and proclaimed at Dublin and do nothing by Word Deed Writing Advice or otherwise to the Prejudice of that Union and will to the uttermost of my Power advance and further the Good and Preservation of it and of his Majesties Rights and the Priviledges of free-born Subjects to the Natives of this Kingdom And then the Nuncio as Generalissimo lead both Armies towards Dublin where the Lord Lieutenant was so surprized with their Perfidiousness that he found himself in no less straights and distresses from his Friends within then from his Enemies without who totally neglected those Forces which being under the obedience of the Parliament of England had always waged a sharp and bloody War with them and at present made inroads into their Quarters to their great damage and intirely ingaged themselves to suppress the Kings Authority to which they had so lately submitted Lest so prodigious an alteration as is now set forth may seem to be wrapt up in too short a discourse and it may appear almost incredible that an Agreement so deliberately and solemnly entred into by the whole Nobility and Gentry of the Nation in a Matter that so intirely concern'd their own Interest should in such an instant be blasted and anihilated by a Congregation of Clergy assembled onely by their own authority And therefore without the vice of curiosity all men may desire to be inform'd by what Degrees and Method that Congregation proceeded and what specious Pretences and Insinuations they us'd towards the People for the better perswading them to depart from that Peace they were even again restored to the Possession of It will not be impertinent therefore to set down some important particulars of their Proceedings and the very forms of some Instruments publish'd by them that the World may see the Logick and Rhetorick that was used to impose upon and delude that unhappy People and to intangle them more in that Labyrinth of Confusion wherein they were long involved They were not content not to suffer the Peace not to be proclaimed in Waterford and to disswade the People from submitting to it But by a Decree dated the 12 day of August 1646. which they commanded to be published in all places in the English and Irish Tongue they declared by the unanimous consent and votes of all even none contradicting as they say That all and singular the Confederate Catholicks who should adhere or consent to the Peace or to the Fautors thereof or otherwise embrace the same should be held absolute perjur'd especially for this cause that in those Articles there is no mention made of the Catholick Religion or the security thereof or any care taken for the Conservation of the Priviledges of the Country as had been promised in an Oath formerly taken by them but rather all things referred to the Pleasure of the most renowned King from whom in his present state they said nothing of certainty could be had And in the Interim the Armies and Arms and Fortunes even the Supream Council it self of the Confederate Catholicks were subjected to the Authority and Rule of the Council of State and Protestant Officers of his Majesty from whom that they might be secured they had taken that Oath And the next day being informed that the Lord Viscount Mountgarret and Lord Viscount Muskery were appointed by the Supream Council at Kilkenny to go to Dublin to confer with the Lord Lieutenant upon the best way to be pursued for the execution and observation of the Peace they made an Order in Writing in which were these words We admonish in our Lord and require the Persons who are departed to Dublin that they forbear and abstain from going thither for the said end or if they be gone that they return and this under pain of Excommunication commanding the Right Honourable the Bishop of Ossory and other Bishops as well assembled as not assembled here and their Vicars General as also Vicars Apostolical and all Priests even Irregulars that they intimate these Presents or cause to be intimated even by affixing them in publick places and that they proceed against the disobedient in denouncing of Excommunication as it should seem expedient in our Lord. When the Supream Council notwithstanding these new
called ordinarily the Council-Table be of Members true and faithful to his Majesty and such of which there may be no fear or suspition of going to the Parliament Party 3. That Dublin Tredagh Trim Newry Catherlagh Carlingford and all Garrisons within the Protestant Quarters be Garrison'd by Confederate Catholicks to maintain and keep the said Cities and Places for the use of our Sovereign Lord King Charles and his Lawful Successors for the defence of this Kingdom of Ireland 4. That the present Council of the Confederates shall swear truly and faithfully to keep and maintain for the use of his Majesty and his lawful Successors and for the defence of the said Kingdom of Ireland the above Cities of Dublin and Tredagh and all other Forts Places and Castles as above 5. That the said Council and all General Officers and Soldiers whatsoever do swear and Protest to fight by Sea and Land against the Parliamentarians and all the Kings Enemies And that they will never come to any Convention Agreement or Article with the said Parliamentarians or any the Kings Enemies to the prejudice of his Majesties Rights or of this Kingdom of Ireland 6. That according to our Oath of Association we will to the best of our power and cunning defend the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom the Kings Rights the Lives and Fortunes of the Subjects His Excellency is prayed to make Answer to the above Propositions at furthest by two of the Clock in the afternoon on Thursday next J. Preston Owen O Neile Let all dis-passionate men now consider what could the Marquis do his Quarters were so strait and narrow that they could yield no support to the few Forces he had left all his Garrisons besieg'd without an Enemy being destitute of all Provisions within all the Army he had for the Field and Garrisons amounted not to 5000 Foot and 1100 Horse without Cloathes Money or Fixed Arms and with so inconsiderable a Store of Ammunition that when the Nuncio was upon his march towards Dublin he had not in that most important City the Metropolis of the Kingdom more than 14 Barrels of Powder So that not onely the Inhabitants but the Soldiers themselves grew impatient of the distresses they were in and which inevitably they saw must fall upon them and they who had before presum'd in corners and whispers to tax the Marquis of not being zealous enough of the English Interest and too credulous of what was promised and undertaken by the Irish had now the boldness to murmur aloud at him as if he had combined with the Irish to put all into their hands They who from the beginning of the Troubles had been firm and unshaken in their Duty and Loyalty to the King and chearfully suffered great losses and undergone great hazards for being so and been of the most constant affection to and confidence in the Marquis and resolved to obey him in whatsoever he should order for the King's Service for the conducting whereof he was solely and entirely trusted by his Majesty could not yet endure to think of being put into or falling under the power of the Irish who by this new breach of Faith had made themselves utterly uncapable of any future Trust for what security could they publickly give for performance of the Contract which they had not lately given for the observation of that which so infamously they had receded from Whereupon he found it absolutely necessary to make a shew of inclining to the English and sent to the Ships then riding in the Bay of Dublin that they would transport some Commissioners from him to the Parliament to treat about the surrender of the City and the other Garrisons under his Command Which Proposition was embrac'd by them and the Persons deputed accordingly conveyed into England By this means the Marquis was forthwith supplied with 20 Barrels of Powder which the Captain of those Ships delivered to him the 10th of March by the permission of the Lord Lisle the Parliaments Lord Lieutenant without which he could have made no defence against the Nuncio whereby the Irish had a fair warning to bethink themselves in time of returning to their Duty since they might discern that if they would not suffer Dublin c. to continue in the Kings obedience it should be delivered to them who would deal less graciously with them and had power enough to punish those indignities which had been offered And the Marquis was still without other Engagement than to do what he should judge most conducing to his Majesties Service However the Rebels persisted in their intentions against Dublin where for a while we must leave them and see what course the Parliament took to infest their Quarters much they were concern'd that affairs went not on so successfully there as they expected where that they might have one Governour answerable to the exigencies of that Kingdom they Voted Philip Viscount Lisle Lord Lieutenant passing thereupon in April 1646. a Patent to him for one year allotting him 40000 l. with what else was requisite for his dispatch in raising which they were so slow many of the House being of an opposite Party as he could not get away from London till the 1st of Febr. 1646. arriving at Bristol the 6th where he found several of his own Troops and his Brother Colonel Sidney's in readiness to be transported for Ireland But Money being not come he was forc'd to Quarter them thereabouts till its arrival and himself with 30000 l. 7 Pieces of Battery 1000 Muskets 100 Barrels of Powder embarqu'd the 18th at Minhead and landed near Cork the 20th and came thither the day following where he was altogether unexpected especially by the Lord Inchequin he found things in great disorder the Army filled with Officers disaffected to him the Custodiums and Contributions no way manag'd to the publick advantage thereupon reform'd the defects and marching the 15th of March to visit Talloe Lismore Toughall Fermoy and other Places found the Countrey protected even to the Walls of the Protestant Garrisons so as no mischief could be done by them to the Rebels and about the 20th of March Knockmohun was delivered to him He order'd all things for the best advantage of the Interest he was put upon and finding his Commission was near expir'd the General Officers petition'd that in case his Lordship were not continued the Command of the Army might rest in them which the Lord President with others oppos'd The Lord Lieutenant's Commission determind ' the 15th of April 1647. And shortly after such animosities arose betwixt the Parliaments Commissioners and the Lord Inchequin as doubtless if some Privy Counsellors had not interpos'd great inconveniencies would certainly thence have risen The Lord Lisle accompani'd with the Lord Broghil and Colonel Sidney went presently for England and arriv'd at London about the beginning of May following taking the first occasion to give the House an account of his Journey which may
the same date hereunto annexed and signed by himself And we upon his Lordships undertaking engage our selves by the Bond of Honour and Conscience abovesaid to yield entire obedience to his Majesties Lieutenant General and General Governour of this Kingdom and to all deriving Authority from them by Commission to command us in our several Degrees And that according to such Orders as we shall receive from them faithfully to serve his Majesty against all his Enemies or Rebels as well within this Kingdom as in any other part of his Dominions and against all Persons that shall not joyn with us upon these terms in submission to the Peace of this Kingdom and to his Majesties Authority And we do further engage our selves under the said solemn Bonds that we will never either directly or indirectly make use of any advantage or power wherewith we shall be intrusted to the obliging of his Majesty or his Ministers by any kind of force to grant unto us any thing beyond the said Marquis of Clanrickard's undertaking but shall wholely rely upon his Majesties own free goodness for what further Graces and Favours he shall be graciously pleas'd to confer upon his faithful Catholick Subjects in this Kingdom according to their Obedience and Merit in his service And we do further protest that we shall never esteem our selves disoblig'd from this engagement by any Authority or Power whatsoever provided on both Parties that this engagement and undertaking be not understood or extend to debar or hinder his Majesties Catholick Subjects of this Kingdom from the benefit of any further Graces and Favours which his Majesty may be graciously pleas'd to concede to them upon the Queen's Majesties Mediation or any other Treaties abroad This was done about the end of November 1646. at Sir Nicholas White 's Castle of Leixleap the Nuncio with the other Army under Owen O Neal having been about the same time compelled to raise their Siege from Dublin and to retire for want of Provisions Hereupon the Marquess of Clanrickard was made by the Lord Lieutenant Lieutenant General of the Army and was accordingly receiv'd by General Preston's Army being drawn in Battalia And General Preston at the same time receiv'd a Commission from the Lord Lieutenant to command as Serjeant Major General and immediately under the Marquess of Clanrickard And shortly after General Preston desired the Lord Lieutenant to march with as strong a Body as he could draw out of his Garrisons towards Kilkenny where he promised to meet him with his Army that so being united they might compel the rest to submit to the Peace And here that you may have some Divertisement you shall see in what condition Hereticks are to be buried to which end we shall present you with a Copy of a Censure under the Hand of Nicholas Bishop of Ferns against Francis Talbot who died a Protestant The Body of Francis Talbot who died an obstinate Heretick and finally therein impenitent is to be buried in Poenam Haereseos finalis Impenitentiae nec non in terrorem aliorum with only one Candle at the Grave at Nine of the Clock by Night without a Bell in the Church or Street without Priest Cross Book or Prayer the Place of his Burial is to be in the Alley of St. Mary's Church-yard near to the Garden of the Parsonage All which concerning the said Burial we have order'd to be done with the advice of Men learned in Divinity and who shall exceed this Manner of the said Francis's Burial is to incur Church-Censures no Wax Taper or Candle or Torch is to be used Given at the Fryers Monastery the last of Decemb. 1646. Nicholaus Episcopus Fernensis When the Marquess was come within less than a day's March of the Place assign'd by General Preston for the meeting and joyning their Forces together the Marquess of Clanrickard who attended upon the Lord Lieutenant receiv'd a Letter from Preston to this effect Nuncio's Party and therefore he wished that the Lord Lieutenant would proceed no further but to expect the issue of a General Assembly that would be shortly conven'd at Kilkenny where he doubted not but that Things would be set right by the Consent of the whole Kingdom which he said would be much better for his Majesty's Service than to attempt forcing the Peace upon those who were averse to it Upon this new violation of Faith the Marquess of Ormond was compell'd after some weeks stay in his Quarters to return again to Dublin where the Commissioners who had been lately there from the two Houses of Parliament had sowed such seeds of Jealousie and Discontent as the Inhabitants refused to contribute further to the payment and support of the Army being in truth so far exhausted by what they had paid and impoverished by their total want and decay of Traffick and Commerce as they were not able much longer to contribute so that the Marquess was forced in the cold and wet Winter to draw out his half starved and half naked Troops only to lye in the Enemy's Quarters where yet he would suffer no Act of Hostility to be committed or any thing else to be taken but Victuals for the subsistence of his Men. And in this un-easie posture he resolv'd to expect the result of the next General Assembly which he suppos'd could not be so constituted but that it would abhor the violation of the former Contracts and Agreements and the in-excusable Presumption and Proceedings of the Congregation of the Clergy at Waterford and that it would vindicate the Honour and Faith of the Nation from the Reproaches it lay under and from the exorbitant and extravagant Jurisdiction which the Nuncio had assumed But he quickly found himself again disappointed and to the universal wonder of all the new Assembly publish'd a Declaration of a very new Nature For whereas the Nuncio and his Party had committed to Prison those Noblemen and Gentlemen who had been Commissioners in treating and concluding the Peace and had given out threats and menaces that they should lose their Heads for their Transgression the Assembly presently set them at liberty and declared That the Commissioners and Council had faithfully and sincerely carried and demean'd themselves in the said Negotiation pursuant and according to the Trust reposed in them And yet in the same Declaration declared That they might not accept of or submit unto the said Peace and did thereby protest against it and did declare the same invalid and of no force to all intents and purposes And did farther declare That the Nation would not accept of any Peace not containing a sufficient satisfactory Security for the Religion Lives Estates and Liberties of the said Confederate Catholicks And what they understood to be sufficient and satisfactory for Religion c. appears by the Propositions published before by the Congregation at Waterford which they had caused the People to swear that they would insist upon and which instead of providing a
declar'd by the Council together with Owen Roe O Neal's offer to drive Inchequin quite out of Munster at his own charge and at the charge he would force out of those parts by his Souldiers But at this time Inchequin was in a deeper Correspondence with the Scots Nation which way Ormond was also to biass his Designs The Nuncio thus disappointed called a new assembly of his Clergy compos'd of Hugh O Rely Primate of Ireland Thomas Fleming Archbishop of Dublin Thomas Welsh Archbishop of Cassel John de Bourk Archbishop of Tuam and ten Bishops who unanimously declared That this Cessation of Arms was much prejudicial to the Catholick Religion and could not be embraced in Conscience and so Excommunicated all that adher'd thereto Hitherto the Council had born it self with some respect toward the Catholick Church remembring the Clemency us'd by the Nuncio in delivering some of them from Prison but upon this last Excommunication they so threatned him that he was forced to go privately from Kilkenny to a Castle where Preston by order of the Council following he fled to Gallway and called there a National Council to pacifie the Troubles of the Kingdom which the aforesaid Council endeavour'd to hinder forbidding the appearance of the Clergy taking hold of divers Ecclesiastical Persons of his houshold imprisoning them So that the Nuncio despairing of re-establishing of the Affairs of the Catholicks and having information That Ormond had resolv'd with all his Forces to advance the Protestant Religion and to destroy all opposers and that the Supream Council of Catholicks had declar'd their departure from the League with their Confederates he departed arriving in France In the interim Owen Roe judging that he could not in conscience joyn his Armies any longer with a Party that called it self Catholick and yet chas'd away the Nuncio declar'd his separation from them until they recal the Nuncio and endeavour to obtain a Catholick Vice-Roy and execute in all other points the Oath they had taken This was taken very ill by the Marquess of Ormond and his Council who charg'd O Neal with a Design under colour thereof to oppose the Affairs of the King which occasion'd him to object to them not the aforesaid Oath but a particular Declaration which he had published where he with all his Officers profess That they intend onely to re-establish the Catholick Religion the Liberties of the Kingdom and the Prerogatives of the King in their former Glory and Splendor The Ormond Party Catholick being in such perplexity by reason of these differences and their sleighting the Nuncio appeal'd to his Holiness but from Rome it is certified That the Pope well understanding their deportment refused to give Audience before he had heard his Nuncio Who in the end rather receiv'd a Check as before is mention'd then an Approbation from his Holiness for what he had done in Ireland And now as to the difference betwixt their Generals and our Proceedings thereupon Colonel Jones finding the Distractions amongst the Rebels to grow very high and that the old English under the Marquess of Clanrickard had taken the Castle of Athlone and other Places from Owen Roe and that Athy was besieged by Colonel Preston and Owen Roe came up to Relieve it and burnt and spoil'd the Countrey thereabouts thought it high time to be stirring out amongst them and thereupon sent out some of his Forces which took in the Garrisons of the Nabber and Ballihoe formerly surprized by the Rebels But yet not having his Provisions come from England durst not himself stir forth till he had sufficiently secured Dublin which in the first place he began more strongly to Fortifie that it might receive no prejudice in his absence About which time Flemming an active Officer among the Rebels took in Cruces Fort and Killaloe two Garrisons in Pudsonbyes Quarters Next Jones secured Sir Maurice Eustace Colonel Gifford Capron Flower Willoughby and several others who continuing their affection to the Marquess he suspected and by Order of the Committee of Derby-House sent them to the Castle of Chester detaining Colonel Byron and Sir Thomas Lucas Prisoners at Tredagh suspecting these would deliver him and the City to the Marquess of Ormond then every day expected Lord Lieutenant out of France The Scots Army under Duke Hamilton about this time entered England to whose Proceedings Major General Monro sent over into Scotland his Son or Nephew George Monro with 2000 Foot and 600 Horse as Sir Robert Stewart his Son with a Troop and Sir Fred. Hamilton his with a Regiment and several others disaffected to the Parliament of England in hope to settle with advantage there By which means Belfast Carrigfergus and Colrain were left very weak and much un-guarded which Colonel Monk finding and understanding how contrary to all compact Monro had dealt with the Parliament of England in sending over the Forces maintain'd by them in Ireland to fight against them in England he began to think of some means to make himself master of those Towns he was at present at Lisnegarvy and prepared a Party to go out to make an inroad into the RebelsQuarters he march'd away in the morning but having sent some Persons of trust to remain near Carigfergus to attend his advance thither he return'd in the night over the mountains and came at break of day to the Gates of Carigfergus which he found open and so enter'd without resistance he seiz'd upon Major General Monro and sent him Prisoner into England where he was by the House of Comons committed to the Tower Colonel Monk having thus seized upon Carigfergus caus'd some Horse to march presently away to Belfast which was surrendred into his hands by the Governor and so was likewise Colrain so as he presently became Master of all those Towns disbanding and sending away most of those Forces into Scotland which oppos'd the Parliament and hindred those broken Troops of Monro's which fled out of England upon Duke Hamiltons defeat at Preston in Lancashire from returning into Ireland and did use all means to settle the Country in such a posture as that the Interest of the Parliament might be secur'd there He planted Garrisons upon the Frontiers of Ulster to hinder the incursions of the Rebels and he gave the Quarters the Scots had to such of the British as he found faithful to the service This was about September 1648. a Service very acceptable in England in manifestation whereof the Parliament sent him 500 l. and made him Governor of Carigfergus by an Order of the 4th of October and sent over Cloaths for some of those Scottish Regiments which came into him and 5000 l. in Money for the two Provinces of Ulster and Connaght to be equally divided Sir Charles Coot there being very active not long after took in the strong Fort of Culmore near Londonderry seizing on at the same time Sir Robert Stewart whom he sent Prisoner to the Parliament upon which the Scots Mutinied but
the Marquis Whereupon his Majesty signifi'd That in case other things were compos'd by the Treaty the Concerns of Ireland should be left wholely to the management of the Houses And in the interim writes to the Marquis of Ormond this Letter C. R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor We greet you well Whereas We have received several Informations from Our two Houses of Parliament concerning your proceedings with the Confederate Roman Catholicks in the Kingdom of Ireland the several Votes and Extracts whereof We do herewith transmit unto you and forasmuch as We are now engaged in a Treaty of Peace with Our two Houses wherein We have made such large Concessions as We hope will prove the foundation of a blessed Peace And We having consented by one Article if the said Treaty take effect to entrust the Prosecution and Management of the War in Ireland to the Guidance and Advice of Our two Houses We have therefore thought fit hereby to require you to desert from any further Proceedings upon the Matters contained in the said Papers And We expect such Obedience unto this Our Command that Our Houses desires may be fully satisfi'd Given at Newport in the Isle of Wight the 25th of November in the 24th Year of Our Reign To Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor James Marquis of Ormond As soon as the Parliament received this Letter some were of opinion that it should be immediately sent to the Marquis of Ormond yet others aiming at what afterwards was brought upon the Stage laid it as it 's said aside We find by the event it produced nothing for the Treaty proceeded a Peace ensuing though as yet Owen Roe was so far from being reconcil'd to the Supreme Council or any that adher'd thereunto as he fell most violently in the end of November upon the Earl of Clanrickard's Party gaining Jamestown by Composition and Drumrusk by the Sword Rory Mac-Guire the prime Instrument herein with several other Officers and Common Soldiers to the number of 4 or 500 being there slain Roe's Party afterwards putting all to the Sword save Major Bourk his Wife and Children cruelly harassing the whole County of Roscommon The 19th of October the Confederate Catholick's Commissioners came to Carrick an House of the Marquis's where he continued about twenty days which they spent principally in matters of Religion in treating whereof they were so bound and limited by their Instructions and could make so little progress of themselves being still to give an account to the Assembly of whatsoever was propos'd or offer'd by the Lord Lieutenant and to expect its Direction or Determination before they proceed that for the husbanding of time which was now very precious the prevailing Party in England every day more discovering their bloody purposes towards the King the Assembly thought it fit to desire the Marquis to repair to his own Castle at Kilkenny which they offered to deliver into his hands and that for his Honour and Security he should bring his own Guards who should have the reception due to them And upon this invitation about the middle of November he went to Kilkenny before the entry into which he was met by the whole Body of the Assembly and all the Nobility Clergy and Gentry and in the same Town was receiv'd with all those requisite Ceremonies by the Mayor and Aldermen as such a Corporation use to pay to the Supreme Authority of the Kingdom so that greater evidence could not be given of an entire union in the desire of the People of returning to the Kings obedience or of more affection and respect to the Person of the Lord Lieutenant who by his steady pursuing those professions he had always made by his neglect and contempt of the Parliamentarians and their prodigious Power whilst he was in England by his refusing all Overtures made by them unto him for his particular benefit if he would live in the Kingdom and by their declared manifest hatred and malice towards him was now superiour to all those Calumnies they had aspersed him with and confessed to be worthy of a joynt trust from the most different and divided Interests and Designs However there were so many Passions and Humours and Interests to be compli'd with and all Conclusions to pass the Approbations of so many Votes that it was the middle of January before all Opinions could be so reconciled as to produce a perfect and entire Contract and Agreement which about that time passed with that miraculous consent and unity that in the whole Assembly in which there were Catholick Bishops there was not one dissenting Voice So that on the 17th of January 1648. the whole Assembly repair'd to the Lord Lieutenant in his Castle at Kilkenny and there with all solemnity imaginable presented him by the hand of their Chair-man or Speaker the Articles of Peace as concluded assented and submitted unto by the whole Body of the Catholick Nation of Ireland which he receiv'd and solemnly confirm'd on his Majesties behalf and caus'd the same that day to be Proclaim'd in that Town to the great joy of all who were present and it was with all speed accordingly Proclaim'd and as joyfully receiv'd in all the Cities and Incorporate Towns which professed any Allegiance to the King throughout the Kingdom and for the better reception thereof amongst the People and to manifest the satisfaction and joy they took in it the Catholick Bishops sent out their Declarations and Letters that they were abundantly satisfi'd in whatsoever concern'd Religion and the secure practice thereof Certainly well they might for unless it had been at such a time that his Majesty had been reduc'd to the utmost extremity a Prince could be compell'd to such disingenious and hard terms could never have been stood upon with a free and generous Prince in as much as his present Majesty in his Declaration for the settlement of Ireland there takes notice That no body could wonder that he was desirous though upon difficult conditions to get such an united Power of his own Subjects as might have been able with Gods blessing to have prevented the infamous and horrid Parricide intended But how ineffectual this his Indulgence after prov'd will appear by these Wretches foolishly forfeiting all the Grace which they might have expected from him But to proceed When the Articles of Peace were presented in that solemn manner to him by the Assembly after a Speech made by the Chair-man The Lord Lieutenant express'd himself in these words My Lords and Gentlemen I Shall not speak to those expressions of Duty and Loyalty so eloquently digested into a Discourse by the Gentleman appointed by you to deliver your sence you will presently have in your hands greater and more solid Arguments of his Majesties Gracious acceptance than I can enumerate or perhaps you your selves discern For besides the provision made against the remotest fears fear of severity of certain Laws and besides
and to the Peace of this Kingdom to be put into the actual possession of his Estate he paying and contributing to the maintenance of the Army and necessary burdens of the Countrey proportionable to the rest of his Neigbours 2. That you cause the Articles of War to be put in execution amongst all the Forces under your Command whereof we send you down herewithall a Copy 3. Whereas it is well known to belong to us as General of the Army in this Kingdom under his Majesty to dispose of all Military Offices and Commands whether in Chief or Subordinate which Right we cannot in Honour suffer to be lost from the Sword and whereas some Commissions lately have been Procured giving Power to other Commanders to name and place all sorts of Military Officers under the respective Commands in which Commissions nevertheless and much more in the Instructions there is an express reference to us and to our Approbation from which they are to receive their validity We do therefore Order and Declare our Pleasure thereby That no Commander whatsoever within the Province of Ulster do assume to themselves the nomination of Military Officers as Colonels Lieutenant-Colonels Majors Captains Lieutenants Cornets or Ensigns upon pretence of any late Commission but leave them to our discretion as in this Kingdom hath ever been accustomed 4. If any Person shall speak or act to the prejudice of his Majesties Authority or Affairs let him upon proof be forthwith Imprisoned and his Estate secured and an Information sent up to us of the nature of his Crime that we may give further Order therein And if any Ecclesiastical Person in his Prayer or Sermon shall presume to exercise the People to Sedition or Disobedience or shall intermeddle in Pulpit or Consistory with the managery of Civil Affairs or shall derogate from the present Government or Governours of this Kingdom or shall teach that his Majesty is not to be admitted to the possession of his Crown until he hath given satisfaction to his Subjects or until he have taken such Oaths and Covenants as are impos'd upon him without his Consent without Law contrary to the Dictates of his own Conscience upon proof thereof without further Circumstance let his Estate be confiscated to the use of the Army and himself be either imprisoned or banished or tryed for his Life as the Enemy shall deserve 5. If there be any Person whose Loyalty is suspected let the Chief in Command upon the Place administer unto him the Oath of Allegiance and if he refuse it let them secure both his Person and Estate and send up an information to us that we may cause proofs to be made against him 6. Although we cannot now take notice of the Scotch Army in this Kingdom or of any distinct from that which is committed into our hands by his Majesty we expecting a joynt obedience of all Forces English Scotch and Irish indifferently as branches of the Army under our Command yet in respect your old Quarters are straightn'd by the Garrison of Belfast by our very good Lord the Lord Vicount Montgomery of the Ards we are well pleased in lieu thereof to assign unto you for the enlargement of your Quarters so much of the Countreys of Antrim as was possessed or enjoyed by Sir John Clotworthie's Regiment now disbanded of themselves and because we cannot but judge that this dissolution of them proceeds from the aversness to his Majesties Service and therefore we require that none of them be admitted into any Troops as Horsemen or Dragooners 7. For Answer to your other Proposition if any Postage shall be sent down from them or from the other Provinces of the Kingdom into Ulster for his Majesties Service upon any occasion it is our Pleasure they have their Quarter and Provision for the present in these Quarters through which they pass but the whole Province of Ulster is to contribute proportionably towards the Charge 8. Let the Siege of Derry be prosecuted by the common advice of the Lord Vicount Mountgomery of Ardes Robert Stewart Sir George Monro and Colonel Audley Meryin 9. We desire the said four Persons last mention'd likewise to consider and certifie what fit Augmentation of Quarter and further Provision may be assign'd to the Regiment and Troops of Esteline without prejudice or with the least prejudice to any other of his Majesties Forces ORMOND Upon the Lord Inchiquin's success at Dundalk the lesser Garrisons of Newry Narrow-water Green-Castle and Carlingford were easily subjected and the Lord Inchiquin in his return being appointed to visit the Town of Trim the onely Garrison left to the Parliamentarians in those parts except Dublin in two days after he had besieged it he made himself Master of it and so return'd with his Party not impair'd by the Service to the Lord Lieutenant in his Camp at Finglass Owen O Neil still continued his affection to the Parliamentarians and when he found that his design of drawing the Marquis of Ormond's Army from Dublin could not prevail he hastned into Ulster and upon the payment of 2000 l. in money some Ammunition and about 2000 Cows he rais'd the Siege of London-derry the 8th of August the onely considerable Place in that Province which held for the Parliament under Sir Charles Coot and which was even then reduc'd to the last extremity by the Lord Viscount Mountgomery of Ardes Sir George Monro Sir Robert Stewart Colonel Audley Mervin and others and must in few days have submitted to the Kings Authority if it had not in that manner been relieved by the Irish under O Neil with whom Colonel Richard Coal in the behalf of Sir Charles Coot Lord President of Connaght had made Articles of Cessation as Colonel Monk had done before on the grounds of necessity the 22. of May 1649. the benefit of which he acquainted the State with desiring that the Propositions presented by him might be accepted which was thought by them a demand so extravagant and of such dangerous consequence to the whole Kingdom as it was ill resented Owen Roe and his Party having been first engaged in those horrid Massacres and presently rejected And though Sir Charles Coot was not censur'd because it was presum'd he did it out of necessity yet several Votes passed against him as to that Cessation though he was continued in his Imployment and having received the pleasure of the Parliament concerning the Cessation made by him with Owen Roe presently acquainted him therewith who according to Articles betwixt them did soon retire and as we shall see afterwards came to an agreement with the Marquis of Ormond finding he could not by any means he could use draw himself or his Party to be accepted of by the Parliament an attempt he earnestly solicited engaging to maintain their Interest with the hazard of his Life and Fortune against all opposers whatsoever with whom joyn'd the Lords Gentry and Commons of the Confederate Catholicks of Ulster though many were of
Lieutenant that it might be possess'd and sufficiently fortifi'd in one night It is no wonder that in an Army thus constituted and composed the Marquis thought not fit by his Authority to restrain it from pursuing an Enterprise of so much Gallantry and which had so much possibility of success and indeed he still retain'd some hope of advantage by the affection of that City and that even in these last Supplies that were sent over there were many that laid hold of that opportunity to transport themselves for the advancement of the Kings service and with purpose quickly to change their Masters so that he was contented to recede from his former resolution and on the first of August at night sent a strong Party viz. 1500 Foot under Major General Purcel to possess themselves of Baggatrath with Engineers and such other Materials as were necessary to fortifie it and because he concluded that the Enemy would immediately discover what they were doing and would use their utmost endeavours to prevent the execution of a Design which would bring such irreparable damage to them he gave strict order for drawing the whole Army in Battalia and commanded that they should stand in Arms all that night himself continuing in the Field on Horsback till morning as soon as it was day he went to visit the Place that was to be fortifi'd which he found not in that condition he expected the Officer excusing himself by having been misguided in the night so that it was very late before he arrived there though it was not an English mile distant from the Camp wherewith the Marquis being unsatisfi'd displac'd the Officer who commanded the Party and put another of good Name and Reputation into the Charge and appointed him to make his men to work hard since it appear'd that in four or five hours it might be so well fortifi'd that they need fear no attempt from the Town and that they might be sure to enjoy so much time he commanded the Army to remain in the same posture they had been all night and about 9 of the Clock seeing no appearance of any Sally from the Town which he had so long expected he went to his Tent to refresh himself with a little rest which he had not obtain'd for the space of an hour when he was awaken'd by an Alarm from the Enemy and putting himself immediately upon his Horse quickly found that his Officers and Lieutenant General Preston had not been so punctual in their Duty as they ought to have been but had quitted their Posts out of an unhappy confidence that the Besieged would not adventure at that time of the day to make any Sally as soon as the Marquis went to repose himself so that a strong Party out of the Town about 10 of the clock in the morning the 2d of August 1649. march'd directly to Baggatrath and with less opposition than ought to have been made beat roated and dispers'd the Party that possess'd it who finding their Horse not so ready to assist them as they expected quitted the Place with all imaginable confusion which encourag'd Jones's Party who were seconded immediately by the whole Power in Dublin to advance further towards the Army which they discern'd to be in high disorder than at their coming out they intended The Lord Lieutenant used all means to put the Horse in order sending the Lord Taaff to command the Foot But Sir William Vaughan Commissary General of the Horse being in the first Charge killed they who followed him were immediately routed notwithstanding that the Forces from Dublin march'd onely in single Troops and Companies having not time to draw together in Battalia whereupon so great a consternation seiz'd upon the spirits of all the rest that the Marquis could prevail with none to stand with him but the Regiments of his Brother Colonel Butler and Colonel Grady some write Miles Reylye with which he charged the Enemy wherein Colonel Grady being slain and his Brother sore wounded and taken Prisoner that Body was entirely broken and from that time it was not in his power by all the means he could use to rally any Party of Horse and to make them so much as stand by him so that when he was environ'd by the Enemy attended with very few of his own Servants and two or three Gentlemen he was forced to make his way through them and to quit the Field when a small Body of Foot under Colonel Gifford which still kept the ground and valiantly defended themselves finding that they were deserted by their Horse were compelled to surrender their Arms to Jones the Lord Taaff making his own way so prosperously that he got to the North-side where he found that Body composed of the Lord Dillons Sir Thomas Armstrongs the Lord Moores and Lieutenant Colonel Purdons Regiments of Horse Colonel Warrens Colonel Walles and Colonel Mich. Byrns Regiments of Foot which had been left at Finglass in Arms and which had not seen the Enemy that day upon which the Lord Taaff us'd all possible endeavours to perswade them to attempt a Recovery of what was lost which in so great disorder of the Enemy which such success usually produceth was not reasonably to be despaired of But the apprehension jealousies fright and terrour was so universal that he could not incline them to it nor to do more than and that in great confusion to provide for their own security Whilst the Marquis directed his Letters to them ordering therein the one half of them to go to Tredath and the other half to Trym for the security of those Places whilst himself went to Kilkenny to rally what he could of the Army and to raise what new Forces he should be able This was the unhappy and indeed fatal Defeat at Rathmines by the Bishops at Jamestown 1650 thought so improvident and unfortunate as nothing happen'd in Christianity more shameful Yet in his Excellencies Letter from Kilcolgan the 2d of December 1650. to the Assembly at Loghreogh so Answer'd as hitherto no Reply hath been attempted The news of which and the consequences thereof was receiv'd and proclaim'd writes Walsh fol. 583. with much gladness and excess of ioy in Rome as that which made for the Nuncio's Party It was the first and onely loss that fell upon any Army or Party of which the Marquis had the Name and Title and here he had no more than the name of the Supreme Commander and these the whole Circumstances of it In this Battel were slain on the place and in the Chace about 4000. and 2517 taken Prisoners and two whole Cannon three Demi-cannon one long square Gun carrying a Ball of 12 Pound one Saker-drake one Mortar-piece all these Brass besides 200 Draught-Oxen for the Train and the richest Camp of Commodities an Enemy could well be Master of But not to speak further of the sad misfortune of this great Commander than whom no man was more justly magnified for his Courage confided
they made a Breach the next day with their Cannon and storm'd the Place and though they were for some time stoutly resisted and twice beaten off yet at the third Onset led by Cromwel they enter'd and pursu'd their Victory with so much cruelty that they put the whole Garrison in Arms to the Sword not sparing those upon second thoughts to whom in the heat of the Action some of Cromwel's under-Officers promised and gave Quarter a crime writes one then in the Action themselves were most guilty of they again resuming Arms when they had engaged to lay them down So that except some few who during the time of the Assault escaped at the other side of the Town and others who mingling with the Rebels as their own men disguised themselves that they were not discovered there was not an Officer Soldier or Religious Person belonging to that Garrison left alive besides those after Decimation sent to Barbadoes and all this within the space of nine days after the Enemy appear'd before the Walls and when very many Royalists as well as Irish were glad that they were engaged before the Place that was likely to be so well defended and to stop their further progress for that season of the year This indeed was a much greater Blow than that at Rathmines and totally destroy'd and massacred a Body of near 3000 Men with which in respect of Experience and Courage of the Officers and Goodness and Fidelity of the common Men the Marquis would have been glad to have found himself engaged in the Field with the Enemy though upon some disadvantages And he had not now left with him above 700 Horse and 1500 Foot whereof some were of suspected Faith and many new rais'd men And though the Lord Inchiquin was ready to march towards him with a good Party of Horse and Foot and the Lord Viscount of Ardes with the like of Scots yet he had neither Money to give them one days Pay or Provision to keep them together for 24 hours The Commissioners were either dispersed or their Orders for collecting Money not executed or regarded and when in those straits the Lord Lieutenant issued out Warrants for raising of Men and Money they complain'd of the breach of Articles of the Treaty and talk'd amongst themselves of Treating with the Enemy That which was most conciliable and which all men saw was fittest to be practised was to put all their Men into Garrisons and thereby secure the most considerable Places and therewithall Winter now approaching to have prosecuted their Levies and by good Discipline and Exercise of their Men recover their Spirits against the Spring But this was not at all in the Marquis's power to do he was restrained by the Articles of the Treaty from making any new Garrison and from changing any old Governours without the approbation of the Commissioners and he and the Commissioners together had not credit and power enough with the Chief Cities and Incorporate Towns which were most worth keeping and consequently most like to be attempted by the Rebels to force or perswade them to receive Garrisons So Wexford Waterford Limerick and Gallway the most considerable Ports of the Kingdom declared they would admit of no Soldiers nor indeed did they further obey any other Orders which were sent to them than they thought fit themselves If this fatal distemper and discomposure had not been discovered to be amongst them it is not to be believed that Cromwel what success soever he had met with would have engaged his Army which with being long at Sea change of Air and long Duty was much weaken'd and had contracted great sicknesses in the Sieges after the beginning of October yet being encourag'd and in truth drawn on by the knowledge of this humour and obstinacy of the Irish against all Remedies that could preserve them he withdrew his Forces from Tredagh having taken in first Trim Dundalk Carlingford Newry and other smaller Garrisons thereabouts and return'd to Dublin having sent Colonel Venables down with some Forces to oppose George Monro who had a good Strength with him and to relieve London-derry but was not able to keep the Field In his March he was set upon in his Quarters by Colonel Trevor who had 5 or 600 Horse with him and gave him a desperate Attack but the morning appearing he was beaten out by Captain Meredith and his Troop who was appointed by Colonel Venables to charge him this was upon his march towards Belfast which was surrendred unto him upon Conditions from the Scots And while he was here he sent out a Party under Lieutenant Colonel Conally who was encountred as he march'd to Antrim by George Monro and a good strength of Horse and routed Conally was there slain by Colonel John Hamilton Such are the Dispensations of the Almighty as he did not live to receive the fruit of so great service as he had done to that Kingdom in discovering the Plot. Moses saw the good Land but never entred At Dublin Cromwel refresh'd his Soldiers a few days and intending to fish in troubled Waters resolv'd presently to appear before Wexford which the Marquis of Ormond suspecting upon Cromwel's return from Tredagh to Dublin removed his Army from Castle Jordan down towards the Counties of Wexford and Kilkenny there not onely to lie secure till Neil's Army should come up to him according to agreement as you shall hereafter hear but also ready to be drawn into either Wexford or Kilkenny as there should be occasion Cromwel according to his resolution the 27th of September march'd from Dublin but before he march'd thence or presently after he Cashiers the seven old Regiments which Jones had continued at Dublin allowing the Colonels for a little time a small Pension which he soon took off though they were the first who to that instant had serv'd against the Rebels And then he march'd towards Wexford through the County of Wickloe taking the People into protection and not suffering the Soldiers in his Army to commit any spoil as he went but to pay for all Provisions in his march he took in several Castles and Garrisons as Killingkerick Arcklo Little Limerick Iniscorphen alias Eniscorvy Ferns Castle and the Fort of Wexford and the first of October with his Army he sate down before Wexford the Inhabitants whereof appear'd willing under Colonel David Synnot their Governour to make defence albeit they had too long neglected the means thereof and were at last when part of the Enemies Army was lodged within half-Musquet-shot of their Walls contented to receive an assistance of Men from the Lord Lieutenant which upon the first intimation his Excellency hastned to them of the choicest of those he had left all Catholicks for that was still insisted upon under the Command of his Cousin Sir Edmond Butler with near 1500 Men who with some difficulty pass'd the River into that part of the Town which the Parliaments Army could not infest but he had not
Defeat at Rathmines relieved Sir Charles Coot in London-derry and thereby kept the King from being entirely possessed of the Province of Ulster which but for that Action would have been able to have sent strong Supplies of Men and Provisions to the assistance of the Marquess And it is well known that while the Lord Lieutenant was in a hopeful condition to prevail against the Parliament the Commissioners of Trust and the principal Persons of Interest had no mind to agree with General O Neal out of animosity to his Person and Parts and in confidence that the Work would be done without him And others who were of his Party had as little mind that he should be drawn into a Conjunction with the Marquess because they knew if he was once engaged under him they should no more be able to seduce him to joyn with them in any Actions of Sedition And upon these Reasons the Persons who were deputed by the Commissioners to treat with him and were known to have an Interest in him on the one side perswaded Owen O Neal that the Lord Lieutenant had broken the Articles of Peace and that he could have no security that what should be promised should be performed to him and on the other side informed the Marquess that Owen O Neal insisted on such extravagant Propositions that the Commissioners of Trust would never yield to them But after the Arrival of Cromwel his success against Tredagh the Commissioners of Trust thought it high time to unite to him And Owen O Neal himself discerned how unsafe he should be by the prevailing of the English Party who notwithstanding the signal Service perform'd by him to them had publickly dis-avowed the Agreement which their Officers had made with him And thereupon by the Interposition of Colonel Daniel O Neal at that time Governour of Trim all Particulars were agreed betwixt the Lord Lieutenant and him the 12th of October 1649. with the Consent of the Commissioners of Trust the management of which was committed to Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight and Sir Richard Barnwel Baronet authoriz'd by the Lord Lieutenant to conclude with General Owen O Neal for whom there was the Bishop of Clogher and Tirlagh O Boyle who agreed in 18 Articles about the time Cromwel was before Wexford Insomuch that he promised to bring his Army within a few days and joyn with the Lord Lieutenant which though himself lived not to accomplish dying at Cloughoter-Castle in the County of Cavan about the beginning of December was shortly after performed So that about the time that Wexford was taken the Lord Lieutenant was not without hope by the advantage of a Pass and by cutting off his Provisions to have made Cromwel return to Dublin very hard without losing a good part of his Army when on a sudden and all together all the considerable Places in the Province of Munster as Cork Toughal Kinsale Bandonbridge Moyallo and other Garrisons revolted to the Parliament and thereby gave them a safe Retreat and free Passage and necessary Provisions of all that they wanted and Harbours for Ships to bring all to them that they could desire The Lord Inchiquin being so totally betrayed by those Officers whom he trusted most and had most obliged and that after he had in vain tryed to reduce them by force he could not without much difficulty obtain the liberty and re-delivery of his Wife and Children to him which when he had procur'd he fled for safety into Thomond to his Kindred This Defection in so fatal a Juncture of time when the straits Cromwel was in by the Winter and want of Provisions had rais'd the Spirits of all Men and when they looked upon themselves as like to have at least some hopeful Encounter with him was not a loss or a blow but a dissolution of the whole Frame of their Hopes and Designs and introduced a Spirit of Jealousie and Animosity in the Army which no Dexterity or Interest of the Lord Lieutenant could extinguish or allay From the first hour of the Peace the English and Irish had not been without that prejudice towards each other as gave the Marquess much trouble and they were rather incorporated by their obedience and submission to the Authority and Pleasure of their chief Commander than united by the same Inclinations and Affections to any publick End Insomuch as before the Defeat at Rathmines there were many of the Irish who much fear'd the swift success of the Army and apprehended the Lord Lieutenant's speedy reducing of Dublin would give him such Power and make him more absolute than they desired to see him and therefore were not sorry for that Mischief On the other side the English were much troubled to see the Authority and Jurisdiction of the Marquess so restrain'd and limited by the Articles and that the Army was neither recruited disciplined nor provided as it ought to be solely by his want of Power and they had a very low opinion of the Spirit and Courage of the Irish. But now upon this Defection in Munster there was a Determination of all Confidence and Trust in each other the Irish declaring That they suspected all the English Nation and made the Treachery of those who so infamously had betrayed their Trust an unreasonable Argument for jealousie of those who remain'd in the Army who being a handful of gallant Men and of most un-shaken Fidelity to the King were indeed in respect of their Courage and Experience in the War the Party to be principally depended upon in any Action or Encounter and of which the Enemy had only an apprehension Though the Season of the year for it was now towards the end of November and the Sickness that was in Cromwel's Army made it high time to betake themselves to their Winter-Quarters and such was their resolution yet hearing of the gaining of Carrick and of the present Distemper amongst those who had the whole Strength the Lord Lieutenant was to trust to and knowing all the Clergy had the full Dominion in all incorporate Towns and Places of Importance and would keep the People from submitting to those Expedients which could only preserve them he resolv'd to make an Attempt with his Army consisting of about 2000 Horse and 5000 Foot upon Waterford hoping to reduce that important Place before the Army should draw into Winter-Quarters knowing well enough that the Marquess could not keep the small Body he had together many days which was true For he having not Money to give them half a Weeks Pay or Provision to serve half so long was compelled to suffer part of them viz. the Scots to go to their Quarters who upon the Plains of Lisnegarvy being joyn'd with Sir George Monro to relieve Carickfergus were upon the 6th of December met with by Sir Charles Coot who gave them such a blow as they were afterwards never able to make head in Ulster However the Marquess was resolv'd not to leave Waterford to the
Cluanensis Nicholaus Fernensis Edmundus Limericensis Procurarator Episcopi Ossoriensis Franciscus Aladensis Andraeus Finiborensis Joan. Laonensis Fr. Oliverus Dromorensis Fr. Antonius Clonmacnosensis Fr. Hugo Duacensis Fr. Arthur Dunensis Connerensis Fr. Terentius Imolacensis Fr. Patr. Ardagh Oliverius Deis Procurator Episco Medensis Dr. Joa Hussey Procurator Episco Ardfertensis Fr. Joannes Cantwel Abbas S. Crucis Dr. Thadeus Clery Episcop Rapo Procurator Fr. Gregorius o Ferraile Provin Ordinis Praedicatorum Provin Hiber Fr. Thomas Mackeyernane Provin Fratrum Minorum Provin Hiber Walterus Clonfortensis Congregationis Secretar By the Ecclesiastical Congregation of the Kingdom of Ireland WE the Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries and Prelates of the Kingdom of Ireland having met at Clonmacnose propria Motu the fourth day of December in the year of our Lord God 1649. to consider of the best means to unite our Flocks for averting Gods wrath fallen on this Nation now bleeding under the evils that Famine Plague and War bring after them for effecting a present Union Decreed the ensuing Acts. 1. We Order and Decree as an Act of this Congregation That all Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries within their respective Diocesses shall enjoyn Publick Prayers Fasting General-Confession and Receiving and other works of Piety toties quoties to withdraw from this Nation Gods Anger and to render them capable of his Mercies 2. We Order and Decree as an Act of this Congregation That a Declaration issue from us letting the People know how vain it is for them to expect from the Common Enemy commanded by Cromwel by Authority from the Rebels of England any assurance of their Religion Lives or Fortunes 3. We Order and Decree as an Act of this Congregation That all Pastors and Preachers be enjoyned to Preach amity And for inducing the People thereunto to declare unto them the absolute necessity that is for the same and as the chief means to preserve the Nation against the extirpation and destruction of their Religion and Fortunes resolved on by the Enemy And we hereby do manifest our detestation against all such Divisions between either Provinces or Families or between old English and old Irish or any the English or Scots adhering to his Majesty And we Decree and Order that all Ecclesiastical Persons fomenting such Dissentions or un-natural Divisions be punished by their respective Prelates and Superiors Juxta gravitatem excessus si opus fuerit suspendantur beneficiali Pastores à beneficio officio ad certum tempus Religiosi autem à Divinis juxto circumstantias delicti Leaving the Laity offending in this kind to be corrected by the Civil Magistrate by Imprisonment Fine Banishment or otherwise as to them shall seem best for plucking by the root so odious a Crime The Execution whereof we most earnestly recommend to all those having Power and that are concerned therein as they will answer to God for the evils that thereout may ensue 4. We Decree and Declare Excommunicated those High-way Robbers commonly called the Idle-Boys that take away the Goods of honest men or force me to pay them Contribution and we likewise declare Excommunicated all such as succour or harbour them or bestow or sell them any Victualing or buy Cattle or any other thing else from them wittingly Likewise all Ecclesiastical Persons Ministring Sacraments to such Robbers or Idle-Boys or burying them in Holy Grave to be suspended ab officio beneficio si quod habent by their respective Superiors juxta gravitatem delicti This our Decree is to oblige within fifteen days after the Publication thereof in the respective Diocesses Signed by Hugo Ardmachanus Fr. Thomas Dublin Thomas Casshel Joan. Archiep. Tuam Fr. Boetius Elphyn Fr. Edmundus Laghlinensis Procurator Waterfordiensis Emerus Clogher Robertus Corcagiensis Cluanensis Nicholaus Fernensis Edmundus Limericensis Procurator Episcopi Ossoriensis Franciscus Aladensis Andreas Finiborensis Joan. Laonensis Fr. Oliverus Dromorensis Fr. Antonius Clonmacnosensis Fr. Hugo Duacensis Fr. Arthurus Dunensis Connerensis Fr. Terentius Imolacensis Fr. Patric Ardagh Oliverius Deis Procurator Episco Medensis Dr. Joannes Hussey Procurator Episcop Ardfertensis Fr. Joannes Cantwel Abbas S. Crucis Dr. Thadeus Clery Episcop Rapo Procurator Walterus Clonfortensis Congregationis Secretar By the Ecclesiastical Congregation of the Kingdom of Ireland WE the Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries and Prelates of this Kingdom of Ireland having met at Clonmacnose propria Motu on the fourth day of December in the year of our Lord God 1649. taking into our consideration among other the Affairs then agitated and determinated for the preservation of the Kingdom that many of our Flock are mislead by a vain opinion of Hopes that the Commander in Chief of the Rebels Forces commonly called the Parliamentaries would afford them good Conditions and that relying thereon they suffer utter destruction of Religion Lives and Fortunes if not prevented To undeceive them in that their ungrounded expectation We do hereby Declare as a most certain Truth that the Enemies Resolution is to extirpate the Catholick Religion out of all his Majesties Dominions as by their several Covenants doth appear and the Practice where-ever their Power doth extend as is manifested by Cromwel's Letter of the 19th of Octob. 1649. to the then Governor of Ross. His words are For that which you mention concerning Liberty of Religion I meddle not with any man's Conscience but if by Liberty of Conscience you mean a Liberty to exercise the Mass I judge it best to use plain dealing and to let you know where the Parliament of England have Power that will not be allowed of This Tyrannical Resolution they have put in execution in Wexford Drogheda Ross and elsewhere And it is notoriously known that by Acts of Parliament called The Acts of Subscription the Estates of the Inhabitants of this Kingdom are sold so as there remaineth now â—o more but to put the Purchasers in possession by the power of Forces drawn out of England And for the common sort of People towards whom if they shew any more moderate usage at the present it is to no other end but for their private advantage and for the better support of their Army intending at the close of their Conquest if they can effect the same as God forbid to root out the Commons also and plant this Land with Colonies to be brought hither out of England as witness the number they have already sent hence for the Tobacco Island and put Enemies in their places And in effect this banishment or other destructions of the common People must follow the Resolution of extirpating the Catholick Religion which is not to be effected without the Massacring or Banishment of the Catholick Inhabitants We cannot therefore in our Duty to God and in discharge of the Care we are obliged to have for the preservation of our Flocks but admonish them not to delude and lose themselves with the vain expectation of Conditions to be had from that merciless Enemy And consequently we
Rapotensis Nico. Fernensis Procurator Arch. Dublin Eug. Kilmore Walt. Clonfert Procurator Leghlin c. Jamestown 10. Aug. 1650. When viz. the 12. of the same the two Persons had delivered their Credential Letter to the Lord Lieutenant he wished them in regard of the importance of the Matter they were instructed with to set down what they had in Command in Writing whereupon they presented him the 13th with this following Letter May it please your Excellency WE being intrusted by the Clergy met at Jamestown to deliver a Message unto your Excellency importing their advice what the onely means is as they conceive that may serve to free the Nation from the sad Condition whereunto it is reduced at present do in obedience to your Excellencies Commands signified for giving in the Substance of the said Message in Writing humbly present the same as followeth That whereas they doubt not your Excellency hath labour'd by other hands to bring the best Aids that possibly could be had from abroad for the Relief of this gasping Nation yet finding now in their Consciencies no other expedient Remedy for the preservation thereof and of his Majesties Interests therein more prevalent then your Excellencies speedy repair to his Majesty for preventing the Ruine and Dissolution of all and leaving the Kings Authority in the hands of some Person or Persons faithful to his Majesty and trusty to the Nation and such as the affection and confidence of the People will follow by which the Rage and Fury of the Enemy may receive Interruption They humbly offer this important Matter of the Safety or Destruction of this Nation and the Kings Interest to your Wisdom and Consideration hoping the Kingdom by your Excellencies Presence with his Majesty and intrusting safely the Kings Authority as above may with Gods blessing hold out until reliev'd with Supplies from his Majesty The Prelates will in the mean time do what lies in their Power to assist the Person or Persons so intrusted The great Trust his Majesty doth repose in your Excellency the vast Interest in Fortune Alliance and Kindred you have in this Nation and your experience in the management of Affairs of greatest Consequence will we doubt not added to other the Reasons proposed by us induce you to embrace this Advice as proceeding from our pious Intentions that look onely on the preservation of the Catholick Religion the support of his Majesties Authority and the Estates Liberties and Fortunes of his Subjects of this Kingdom which we humbly offer as Your Excellencies most humble Servants Fr. Oliver Dromore Charles Kelly Aug. 13th 1650. Though the Marquess did not expect that the Meeting of the Bishops and Clergy in that manner at Jamestown would have produced any better effect than their former Meetings in other Places had done yet he could not imagine that their Presumption would have been so great as it appear'd by this Message to be And when he communicated it to the Commissioners of Trust they were no less seemingly scandalized at it and believ'd that upon serious Conference with the Bishops they should be able to reform their Understandings and their Wills and therefore desired the Marquess that instead of sending a particular Answer to the Matter of the Message he would write to them To give him a Meeting at Loghreogh on the 26th of the same month to the end that upon a free Conference they might be induced to understand how pernicious a thing they had advised in order to their own security And the Bishop of Dromore and Dr. Kelly return'd with this Proposition and the Marquess making no doubt of their Compliance so far as to meet at the Place appointed went thither at the day assigned but they instead of meeting him themselves sent their Bishops of Cork and Clonfert no otherwise intrusted then to receive his Answer to the Proposition they had made for his leaving the Kingdom To which when he saw he could not draw them to a Conference he the 31. of August return'd That they might well remember that upon the Disobediences he had formerly met with he had obtain'd leave from his Majesty to have departed the Kingdom and that if themselves the Bishops Nobility and Gentry met together had not in April last in Writing and Discourse given him assurance that they not only desired his stay but would endeavour to procure such obedience to him as might enable him with hope of success to have gone on in the War he would have made use of the liberty given unto him by his Majesty to have freed himself from the vexation which he had since endured and the dishonour which he fore-saw he should be subject to for want of Power without which as he then told them he should be able to do nothing considerable for the King or the Nation That he had transmitted those Assurances to his Majesty with his own resolution to attend the Effects That he plainly observed that the Division was great in the Nation under his Government yet it would be greater upon his removal of which in a free Conference he would have given them such pregnant Evidence as he held it not fit to declare to them by writing For these and other Reasons he told them That unless he was forced by in-evitable necessity he was not willing to remove out of the Kingdom and desired them to use all means within their Power to dispose the People to that Dutifulness and Obedience that became them This wrought nothing on the Temper of those Men who were resolved not to be satisfied with any thing the Marquess could say unto them Insomuch that within few days after they had receiv'd his Answer from Loghreogh at the time when the Parliamentarians were strong in the Field and had then passed the Shannon if they had not been restrained by the few Troops the Marquess still kept on foot they published an Excommunication against all those of what Quality soever who should feed help or adhere unto the Lord Lieutenant in which this Circumstance is observable That though they did not publish this Excommunication until the 15th of September it was enacted in their Assembly at Jamestown the 12th of August which was within two days after they had sent the Bishop of Dromore and Dr. Kelly to perswade the Marquess to leave the Kingdom and the day before they delivered their Message So that they thought any thing that the Lord Lieutenant should return to them would be impertinent to the Matter in hand or if they were not so delighted with their own Proceedings that they have themselves carefully published to the World in Print would it be believ'd that Persons who in the least degree pretended the care of the Peoples welfare and security could at such a time when a potent Enemy was in the Field set all Men loose from all Government Civil and Martial and not direct them whom they should follow and obey For if it be said That
Hereupon the Assembly unanimously professed all obedience to his Majesty's Authority as it was vested in him and petition'd him to assume it without which they said the Nation would be expos'd to utter ruine And the Bishop of Ferns hitherto averse to the Royal Authority more particularly importuned him in the Name of the Clergy not to decline a Charge which could only preserve the King's Power in that Kingdom and the Nation from destruction promising so entire a submission and co-operation from the whole Clergy that his Authority should not be disputed In further assurance of which the General Assembly issue forth this Declaration By the General Assembly of the Kingdom of Ireland ALthough this Assembly hath endeavour'd by their Declaration of the 7th of this month to give full testimony of their Obedience to his Majesty's Authority yet for further satisfaction and for removal of all Jealousies we do further declare That the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Gentry or People Clergy or Laity of this Kingdom shall not attempt labour endeavour or do any Act or Acts to set free or discharge the People from yielding due and perfect Obedience to his Majesty's Authority invested in the Lord Marquess of Clanrickard or any other Governour or Governours of this Kingdom And in case of any such Labour Act or Endeavour by which any mischief might ensue by seducing the People we declare That no person or persons shall or ought to be led thereby but by their disobedience on any such grounds are liable and subject to the heavy censures and penalties of the Laws of the Land in force and practis'd in the Reign of Henry the 7th and other Catholick Times Nevertheless it is further declared That it is not meant or intended by any thing herein contained that this Nation will not insist upon the performances of the Articles of Peace and by all just ways and means provide against the breach and violation of the same And inasmuch as his Majesty is at present as we are informed in the hands of a Presbyterian Party of the Scots who declared themselves Enemies to this Nation and vowed the extirpation of our Religion we declare That it is not hereby intended to oblige our selves to deceive obey or observe any Governours that shall come and duely nominated or procured from his Majesty by reason of or during his being in an un-free condition that may raise a disturbance in the present Government established by his Majesty's Authority or the violation of the Articles of Peace Loghreogh 23d of Decemb. 1650. Copia vera Joh. Comyn Dep. Cler. There was then in the possession of the Roman Catholicks the entire Province of Connaght in which they had the strong Castle of Athlone the strong and important Town and Harbour of Gallway Sligo and many other lesser Forts and Places of strength They had also a good part of the Province of Munster and in it the City of Limerick which by the strong situation of it and the advantages it might have from Sea could alone with the help of Gallway have maintain'd War against all the Parliaments Forces in Ireland They had many Parties of Horse and Foot in Leimster Munster and Ulster under Clanrickard Castlehaven Dillon Muskery the Earl of Westmeath Hugh O Neal Dungan Moor Preston and others which being drawn together would have constituted a greater Army than the Enemies were Masters of And the Marquess of Clanrickard had argument enough of hope if he could have been confident of the union of the Nation and that he might reasonably have promised himself if he could have been confident of the Affection and Integrity of the Clergy which at length they promised with that solemnity that if he had not confided therein the fault would have been imputed to him for they could do no more on their part to create a belief in him He was therefore content to take the Charge upon him and obliged them presently to consider of the way to keep all the Forces together when he should have drawn them together and to secure the two Towns of Gallway and Limerick with strong Garrisons which was the first Work concluded on all hands necessary to be performed Very few days had passed after the Lord Deputy had upon such their Importtunity and Professions taken the Government upon him when it was proposed in the Assembly before their Condition was impaired by any other progress or new success of the Enemy That they might send to the Enemy to treat with them upon surrendring of all that was left into their hands an Inclination the Nuncio was long before inclin'd to perswading the supream Council when there was but so much as a speech of Truce to joyn rather with the Parliamentary Scots than the Royalists and pray'd for the success thereof in hopes that thence much good might accrue to the Catholick Religion And when the same was opposed with indignation by the major part of the Assembly the Bishop of Ferns himself who had so lately importuned the Marquess of Clanrickard to assume the Charge of Lord Deputy and made such ample promises in the Name of the Clergy seem'd to concur with those who were against treating with the Enemy but instead of it very earnestly pressed That they might in order to their better defence return to their ancient Confederacy and so proceed in their Preservation without any respect to the King's Authority And this Motion found such concurrence in the Assembly from the Bishops Clergy and many others that many of the Officers of the Army and some of the principalest of the Nobility and Gentry found it necessary to express more than ordinary passion in their contradiction They told them They now manifested that it was not their Prejudice to the Marquess of Ormond nor their Zeal to Religion that had transported them but their dislike of the King's Authority and their resolution to withdraw themselves from it That they themselves would constantly submit to it and defend it with their utmost hazard as long as they should be able and when they should be reduced to Extremity that treating with the Enemy could no longer be deferred they would in that Treaty make no provision for them but be contented that they should be excluded from any benefit thereof who were so forward to exclude the King's Authority Upon these bold though necessary Menaces to which they had not been accustomed the Clergy and their Party seem'd to acquiesce and promised all concurrence inasmuch as from this very time all the Factions and Jealousies which had been before amongst them seem'd outwardly quieted though the Irish in all Quarters of which the Enemy were possessed not only submitted and compounded but very many of them enter'd into their Service and marched with them in their Armies and the Lord Deputy grew as much into their dis-favour as the Lord Lieutenant had been and his being a Friend to the Marquess of Ormond destroyed all that Confidence which his being
assuming to themselves the name of The Kingdom and People of Ireland as if there had been no other Party or People in the Kingdom or not considerable but themselves alone and as if then in Ireland there had been no Power or Government but theirs onely his Majesties Authority in the hands of his Deputy not regarded or consulted They also the Confederates in that giving up the Kingdom into the Power of a Stranger colouring their Treason with a flattering Clause and an empty and insignificant Title to their Natural Prince in Reversion and by Resignation when the new Protector commanding all should please to do it he being first satisfi'd of all Disbursments Charges and Claims whatsoever he himself being Auditor A Concern of that importance as we seldom find where others have been called in upon Assistance especially on such Encouragements that they have quitted their hold without effusion of much blood or an absolute dis-inherizon of the right Owner And therefore the Lord Deputies foresight of such an Evil doth commend him faithful to his Prince and just to his Nation Nor can it be doubted that the Attestation of this Peer one that hath run the hazard of his Countreys safety should be further credited than what the Bishop of Ferns or any obscure loose Frier how prodigal soever in their Calumnies should or can publish in the bitterness of their spirit a crime incident to their Faculty being ill affected to his Majesty worse to his Governours One of the principal Motives which induced the Marquis of Clanrickard to submit to that Charge and to undertake a Province which he knew would be very burthensome and grievous in several respects was the joynt promise That the City of Limerick and the Town of Galway would pay all imaginable duty to him The Clergy obliged themselves in that particular with all confidence and the Deputies of the Places promised all that could be desir'd But when the Lord Deputy found it necessary to settle that business they would neither receive a Garrison or Governour from him and when he offered himself to stay in Limerick when Ireton was drawing before it and to run his Fortune with them they refused it as peremptorily as they had done to the Lord Lieutenant It is true both Limerick and Galway were contented to receive Soldiers but they must be such onely as were of their own choosing not such either in number or quality as the Lord Deputy would have sent to them or as were necessary for their security They chose likewise their own Governour or rather kept the Government themselves and gave the Title to one whom they thought least like to contradict them and in a word behaved themselves like two Common-wealths and obey'd the Deputy no farther than they were inclined by their own convenience they who compounded with the Enemy in the Countrey corresponded with them in the Town and thereby gave the Enemy intelligence of all that passed Wonderful diligence was used to make it be thought that the Independents were not uncharitable unto Papists and that they wished not any compulsion should be used in matter of Religion and when the acts of cruelty and blood of putting their Priests and Prelates to an ignominious death of which there were new instances every day were mentioned It was answer'd Those proceedings were carried on by the power of the Presbyterians very much against the Nature and Principles of the other Party This license of Communication and the evil consequences that must attend it was enough understood by the Lord Deputy but could no more be prevented reformed or punished than he could infuse a new heart or spirit into the People one instance will serve the turn There was in the Town a Frier Anthony Geoghean who had always adhered to the Nuncio and opposed the King's Authority to the utmost of his power several Letters written by him into the Enemies Quarters were intercepted and brought to the Lord Deputy in which though there were many things in Cypher there appeared much of the present state and condition of the Town and in one of them dated the 4th of Febr. 1651. he thus writes If the service of God had been as deep in the hearts of our Nation as that Idol of Dagon a foolish Loyalty a better course for its honour and preservation had been taken in time The Lord Deputy believed the crime to be so apparent and of such a nature that what Complices soever he might have none would have the courage to appear in his behalf And that he might give the Clergy an opportunity to shew their zeal in a business that concern'd so much their common safety he referr'd the examination of the Frier unto the Bishops whereof there were three or four in Town and to some other of the principal of the Clergy and appointed them to require him to produce the Cypher which he had used and to examine him to whom the Letters were intended they being directed to counterfeit and suppositious names The Cypher was accordingly produced and thereby many expressions in the Letter appear'd to be full of neglect and reproach to the King and others of insolence and contumely toward the Lord Deputy they mention'd little hope was left of relief from the Duke of Lorrain and that they resolved to send one to treat with the Rebels and had found private means of conveying one to that purpose The Frier promised to use all his diligence to dispose the Catholicks to have a good opinion of the Independents and made some request concerning himself All that he alledged for his defence was That the Letters written by him were to one who was employ'd by the Court of Rome that he had no ill meaning against the King or Deputy and that he had himself a Trust from Rome and Instructions from the Secretary of the Congregation De propaganda Fide and the Bishops certifi'd that they had seen the Instructions and that they did not relate at all to the Temporal State And this was all the satisfaction and justice the Lord Deputy could procure though he writ several Letters of Expostulation to the Bishops thereupon Whether this be a part of the Priviledges and Immunities of the Catholick Roman Church and enjoy'd in any Catholick Countrey and whether it can be indulged to them in any other Countrey where the Authority of the Bishop of Rome is not submitted unto we must leave to the World to judge and determine In the interim If Protestant Kings and Princes are provident and severe for the prevention of such practices and for the establishing their own security this must not be imputed to an unreasonable jealousie of or a prejudice to the Roman Catholick Religion but to the confident presumption of those men under the vizard of universal obedience who have pretended Religion for their warrant or excuse for the most unlawful and unjustifiable actions This was the obedience and submission they paid to the Kings
of them that would accept of it together with the Excommunication of the Marquess now Duke of Ormond and the order of Publication thereof whereupon Sir Nicholas Plunket who subscribed the said Instructions and principally insisted on the forementioned Particulars was sent for by the Committee of Lords who had the Examination of that Affair and acknowledging his hand-writing Report thereof was made to his Majesty and Council by whom it was ordered about the 14th of March 1661. That no more Petitions or Addresses should be received by the Irish to the obstruction of the Settlement of that Kingdom and that Sir Nicholas Plunket should thence-forward no more presume to come into his Majesties Presence nor to Court Likewise there was produced an Oath previously taken by several of the Popish Nobility Clergy and others of the Gentry of Ireland before the Articles of Peace made in 1648. which they so much insist upon wherein they swear and engage That if those Articles of Peace were not in every particular for their advantage performed they would not be concluded by any thing therein Which appear'd to be so damnable a Piece of Treachery as it was highly resented in Council and the rather for that his Grace stood up and justified that to his knowledge it was a Truth And lest the memory of so great a Deliverance should slip out of our thoughts I shall in the next place present you with the Anniversary Act for its observance that this may be to us not less then the Passover to the Israelites for a Memorial and a Feast to the Lord throughout our Generations by an Ordinance for ever AN ACT FOR Keeping and Celebrating the three and twentieth day of October as an Anniversary Thanksgiving in this Kingdom WHereas many Malignant and Rebellious Papists and Jesuits Friers Seminary Priests and other Superstitious Orders of the Popish pretended Clergy most disloyally treacherously and wickedly conspired to surprize His Majesties Castle of Dublin His Majesties principal Fort of this Kingdom of Ireland the City of Dublin and all other Cities and Fortifications of this Realm and that all the Protestants and English throughout the whole Kingdom that would not joyn with them should be cut off and finally by a general Rebellion to deprive our late Sovereign Lord of ever blessed memory King Charles the First of this his ancient and rightful Crown and Sovereignty of this Kingdom and to possess themselves thereof all which was by the said Conspirators plotted and intended to be acted on the three and twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord God One thousand six hundred forty and one a Conspiracy so generally inhumane barbarous and cruel as the like was never before heard of in any Age or Kingdom and if it had taken effect in that fulness which was intended by the Conspirators it had occasioned the utter ruine of this whole Kingdom and the Government thereof And however it pleased Almighty God in his unsearchable Wisdom and Justice as a just punishment and deserved correction to his People for their sins and the sins of this Kingdom to permit then and afterwards the effecting of a great part of that Destruction complotted by those wicked Conspirators whereby many thousand British and Protestants have been massacred many thousands of others of them have been afflicted and tormented with the most exquisite torments that malice could suggest and all Mens Estates as well those whom they barbarously murthered as all other good Subjects were wasted ruined and destroyed yet as his Divine Majesty hath in all Ages shown his Power and Mercy in the miraculous and gracious deliverance of his Church and in the protection of Religious Kings and States so even in the midst of his Justice he was graciously pleased to extend Mercy to his Majesty and to this his Kingdom and good Subjects therein not only in mercifully discovering to the then Lords Justices by one Owen O Connelly a meer Irish Man but trained up in the Protestant Religion who out of a sense of his Duty and Loyalty to his Majesty and for the preservation of his good People and as an effect of that Religion he was trained up in revealed that hideous and bloody Treason not many hours before the appointed time for the Execution thereof but also in preserving the said Castle and City of Dublin and some other Cities Towns and Castles in the Kingdom from the bloody hands of the barbarous Conspirators as also in thereby rendring deliverance of the Lives of the said Lords Justices and Council and of all the British and Protestants in Dublin and in the said other Cities Towns and Castles preserved and of sundry other British and Protestants faln into the hands of those rebellious Conspirators and likewise in sending us Succours out of England hither by the Piety Care and Wisdom of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles the First whereby with Gods blessing the good Subjects of this Kingdom have hitherto continued safe under his mighty Protection notwithstanding the unexampled rage and implacable malice of those merciless Rebels Wherefore as we do most humbly and justly acknowledge Gods Justice in our deserved punishments in those Calamities which from the Councils and Actions of those Conspirators and their Adherents have faln upon us in this Kingdom in general so we do in like manner acknowledge that even in exercising of that his Justice he remembred Mercy also and magnified his Mercies to us in those great Blessings which we humbly confess to have proceeded meerly from his infinite Goodness and Mercy and therefore to his most holy Name we do ascribe all Honour Glory and Praise And to the end this unfeigned Thankfulness may never be forgotten but may be had in a perpetual Remembrance that all Ages to come may yield Praises to his Divine Majesty for the same and have in memory that joyful Day of Deliverance Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty with the Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by Authority of the same that the three and twentieth day of October shall be kept and celebrated as an Anniversary holy day in this Kingdom for ever and that all Persons do at that day forbear all bodily Labour and the exercise of their Trades and that all and singular Ministers in every Cathedral and Parish Church or other usual place for Common-Prayer within this Realm of Ireland shall always upon the three and twentieth day of October say Morning Prayer and give thanks to Almighty God for that most happy and miraculous Deliverance and Preservation far above the expectations of those wretched Conspirators And that all and every Person and Persons inhabiting within this Realm of Ireland shall yearly upon the three and twentieth day of October diligently and faithfully resort to the Parish Church or Chappel accustomed or to some usual Church or Chappel where the said Morning Prayer Preaching or other Service of God
raised by my Lord Strafford against Scotland First that every one should endeavour to draw his own friends into that Act. and at least those that did live in one County with them and when they had so done they send to the Irish in the Low-Countryes and Spain to let them know of the day and resolution so that they be over with them by that day or soon after with supply of Arms and Ammunition as they could that there should be a set day appointed and every own in his own quarters should rise out that day and seize on all Arms he could get in his County and this day to be near Winter so that England could not be able to send forces into Ireland before May and by that time there was no doubt to be made but that they themselves should be supplied by the Irish beyond Seas who he said could not miss of help from either Spain or the Pope but that his resolutions were not in all things allowed For first it was resolved nothing should be done until first they had sent to the Irish over-Seas to know their advice and what hope of success they could give for in them as they said all their hope of relief was and they would have both their advice and resolution before any further proceedings more than to speak to and try Gentlemen of the Kingdom every one as they could conveniently to see in case they would at any time grow to a resolution what to be and strength they must trust to then Mr. Moore told them that it was to no purpose to spend much time in speaking to the Gentry For there was no doubt to be made of the Irish that they would be ready at any time And that all the doubt was in the Gentry of the Pale but he said that for his own part he was really assured when they had risen out the Pale Gentry would not stay long after at least that they would not oppose them in any thing but be Neuters and if in case they did that they had men enough in the Kingdom without them Moreover he said he had spoke to a great man who then should be nameless that would not fail at the appointed day of rising out to appear and to be seen in the Act. But that until then he was sworn not to reveal him and that was all that was done at that meeting only that Mr. Moore should the next Lent following make a journey down into the North to know what was done there and that he also might inform them what he had done and so on parting Mr. Phillip Reyly and I did importune Mr. Moore for the knowledge of that great man that he spake of and on long entreaty after binding us to new secrecy not to discover him till the day should be appointed he told that it was the Lord of Mayo who was very powerful in Command of men in those parts of Connaght wherein he lived and that there was no doubt to be made of him no more than was of himself and so we parted The next Lent following Mr. Moore according to his promise came into Ulster by reason it was the time of Assizes in several Counties there he met only with Mr. Reyly and nothing was then done but all matters put off till the May following where we or most of us should meet at Dublin it being both Parliament and Term-time In the mean time there landed one Neale O Neale sent by the Earl of Tyrone out of Spain to speak with the Gentry of his Name and Kindred to let them know that he had treated with Cardinal Richelieu for obtaining succour to come for Ireland and that he prevailed with the Cardinal so that he was to have Arms Ammution and Money from him on demand to come for Ireland and that he only expected a Convenient time to come away and to desire them to be in a readiness and to procure all others whom they could to be so likewise which message did set on the proceedings very much so that Mr. Moore Mr. Reyly my brother and I meeting the next May at Dublin and the same Messenger there too It was resolved that he should return to the Earl into Spain with their Resolution which was that they would rise out twelve or fourteen dayes before or after Allhallontide as they should see cause and that he should not fail to be with them by that time There was a report at that time and before that the Earl of Tyrone was killed which was not believed by reason of many such reports formerly which we found to be false and so the Messenger departed with directions that if the Earls death were true he should repair into the Low-Countrys to Colonel Owen O Neale and acquaint him with his Commission from the Earl whereof it was thought he was not ignorant and to return an Answer sent by him and to see what he would advise or would do himself therein But presently after his departure the certainty of the Earls death was known and on further Resolution it was agreed that an express Messenger should be sent to the Colonel to make all the Resolutions known to him and to return speedily with his Answer And so one Toole O Comely a Priest as I think Parish Priest to Mr. Moore was sent away to Colonel O Neale In the interim there came several Letters and News out of England to Dublin of Proclamations against the Catholicks in England and also that the Army raised in Ireland should be disbanded and conveyed into Scotland And presently after several Colonels and Captains Landed with directions to carry away those men amongst whom Colonel Plunkett Colonel Burne and Captain Bryan O Neale came but did not all come together for Plunkett landed before my coming out of Town and the other two after wherein a great fear of Suppressing of Religion was conceived and especially by the Gentry of the Pale and it was very common amongst them that it would be very inconvenient to suffer so many men to be conveyed out of the Kingdom it being as was said very confidently reported that the Scottish Army did threaten never to lay down Arms until an uniformity of Religion were in the three Kingdoms and the Catholick Religion suppressed And thereupon both Houses of Parliament began to oppose their going and the Houses were divided in their Opinions some would have them go others not but what the definitive conclusion of the Houses was touching the point I cannot tell for by leave from the House of Lords I departed into the Country before the Prorogation But before my departure I was informed by John Barnewall a Fryer that those Gentlemen of the Pale and some other Members of the House of Commons had several meetings and consultations how they might make stay of the Souldiers in the Kingdom and likewise to arm them in defence of the King being much injured both of England and Scotland then as they were
every stranger and strangers so received or entertained And We do hereby in his Majesties name and under the pains and punishments here after mentioned command all Aldermen of Wards to transmit all Returns and Certificates made by the Citizens Inhabitants and Residents afore-mentioned to the Major or Recorder of the City of Dublin within twelve hours after receipt thereof or sooner if they conceive any sinister suspition of the persons returned together with the names of such of the said Citizens Inhabitants and Residents as shall not within the time afore limited make such Returns unto them And We do further in his Majesties name and under the pains and punishments hereafter mentioned command the said Major and Recorder of the said City of Dublin and also the Seneschalls or other chief Officers afore-mentioned to cause all Returns and Certificates that shall come to their hands to be delivered to the said James Earl of Ormond and Ossory within twelve hours after receipt thereof or sooner upon suspition as aforesaid together with the names of such Aldermen of Wards Inhabitants and Residents as shall not make such Returns and deliveries of Certificates as aforesaid respectively And if the said Major or Recorder or any Seneschall chief Officer Alderman of any Ward or any Citizen Inhabitant or Resident of or within this City the Suburbs thereof or two miles about the same or any other person or persons whatsoever shall offend contrary to the tenour of this Proclamation in not repairing to their dwellings in keeping any unnecessary retinues in not making any Return or Certificate in making any false or partial Return or Certificate in not returning the names of those who shall not in not making delivery of the said Returns and Certificates to the persons aforesaid in manner and within the times afore limited respectively they and every of them shall respectively incur and suffer such pains of death or such other severe pains and punishments as the said Earl and the Councel of War for the time being shall think fit to inflict and impose and as the danger of the persons and times shall require Given at His Majesties Castle of Dublin the 11. day of Novemb. 1641. Ormond Ossory R. Dillon Cha. Lambert J. Temple Cha. Coote P. Crosbie God save the King APPENDIX V. Fol. 35. A Copy of a Letter directed to the Lord Viceco Cossilough from the Rebels of the County of Longford in Ireland which he presented to the State in their behalf Novemb. 10. 1641. Our very Good Lord OUR Alliance unto your Lordships Ancestors and your self and the Tryal of your and their performance of Trust unto their Friends in their greatest Adversity encourageth us and engageth your Honour to our fruition of your future favours The fixion of our Confidence in you before any other of the Peers and privy Councellors of the Kingdom doubleth this Obligation Your Lordship may therefore be pleased to acquaint the Lords Justices and Councel to be impanted unto his Sacred Majesty with our Grievances and the causes thereof the reading of which we most humbly pray and the manner of it First The Papists in the neighbouring Counties are severely punished and their miseries might serve as Beacons unto us to look unto our own when our Neighbours Houses are on fire And we and other Papists are and ever will be as loyal Subjects as any in the King's Dominions For manifestation whereof we send herein inclosed an Oath solemnly taken by us which as it received indeleble Impression in our hearts shall be sign'd with our hand and seal'd with our Blood Secondly There is an incapacity in the Papists of Honour and the Immunities of true Subjects the royal Marks of distributive Justice and a dis-favour in the Commutative which rais'd Strangers and Foreigners whose valour and vertue was invincble when the old Families of the English and the major part of us the meer Irish did swim in blood to serve the Crown of England and when Offices should call Men of worth Men without worth and merit obtain them Thirdly The Statute of the 2. Eliz of force in this Kingdom against us and they of our Religion doth not a little disanimate us and the rest Fourthly The avoidance of Grants of our Lands and Liberties by Quirks and Quiddities of the Law without reflecting upon the King 's Royal and real Intention for confirming our Estates his Broad Seal being the pawn betwixt his Majesty and his people Fifthly The restraint of purchase in the meer Irish of Lands in the Escheated Counties and the taint and blemish of them and their posterities doth more discontent them than that plantation Rule for they are brought to that Exigent of povertie in these late times that they must be sellers and not buyers of Land And we conceive and humbly offer to your Lordships consideration Principiis obsta that in the beginning of this Commotion Your Lordship as it is hereditary for you will be a Physitian to cure this Disease in us and by our Examples it will doubtless beget the like auspicious success in all other parts of the Kingdom For we are of opinion it is one sickness and one pharmach will suffice Sublatâ causâ tollitur Effectus And it will be recorded that you will do service unto God King and Countrey And for salving every the aforesaid Soars Your Lordship is to be an humble Suitor in our behalf and of the rest of the Papists that out of the abundance of his Majesties Clemency there may be an Act of Oblivion and general pardon without restitution or Account of Goods taken in the time of this Commotion a liberty of our Religion a repeal of all Statutes formerly made to the contrary and not by Proclamation but Parliamentary way A Charter free Denizen in ample manner for meer Irish All which in succeeding Ages will prove an Union in all his Majesties Dominions instead of Division a Comfort in Desolation and a Happiness in perpetuity for an imminent Calamitie And this being granted there will be all things Quae sunt Caesaris Caesari and Quae sunt Dei Deo And it was by the Poet written though he be prophane in other matters yet in this prophetically Divisum Imperium cum Jove Caesar habet All which for this present we leave to your Honourable Care And we will as we ever did and do remain Your very humble and assured ever to be Commanded Hugh mac Gillernow Farrall James Farrall Bryan Farrall Readagh Farrall Edmond mac Cael Farrall John Farrall in Carbuy Garret Farral Lisagh mac Conel Farrall Bryan mac William Farrall John mac Edmund Farrall John Farrall Roger mac Bryne Farrall Barnaby Farrall James mac Trig Farrall his Mark. Morgan mac Carbry Farrall Donnagh mac Carbry Farrall Richard mac Conel Farral William mac James Farrall James Farrall Taghna mac Rory Farrall Cormack mac Rory Farrall Conock mac Bryne Farrall Readagh mac Lisagh Farrall Connor Oge mac Connor Farrall Ed mond mac Connor Farrall
the Mote in the County of Lonford William Farrall of Ballingtobber in the said County James mac Conell Farrall of Tenelecke in the said County Oliver Boy Fitz-Gerrald in the said County Pierse Fitz-Gerald of Ballysonan in the said County of Kildare Maurice Eustace of Castle-Martin in the said County Nicholas Sutton of Tipper in the said County Roger alias Rory O More of Ballynah in the said County William Fitz-Gerrald of Blackhall in the said County Robert Preston Brother to the Lord Viscount Gormastown James Flemen late of Slane in the County of Meath Brother to the Lord Baron of Slane Patrick Cusack of Gerrards-Town in the said County Edward Betagh of Monalty in the said County Gerrald Leins of the Knock in the said County Luke Netervill of Corballies in the County of Dublin Son to the Lord Viscount Netervill George King of Clontarfe in the said County Richard Barnewall of Lespopel in the said County Colonel Richard Plunkett late of Dunsoghlie in the said County Matthew Talbot late of Kilgobban in the said County John Stanley of Mallets-Town alias Marletts-Town in the said County of Lowth John Bellew of Willets-Town in the said County Christopher Barnewall of Rathaskett alias Rathasker in the said County and Oliver Cashell of Dundalk in the said County Instead of that Duty and Loyalty which His Majesties good and gracious Government might justly have wrought in them have returned nothing but those fruits of Treason and Rebellion to the disturbance of the publick Peace and happiness of this Kingdom and to the destruction as much as in them lay of this State and Government and of the Persons and Estates of many thousands of His Majesties good and faithful Subjects therein whereby they have shewed themselves to be most ungrateful detestable vile and unnatural Traytors and Rebells We therefore according to the custome of this Council-Board in cases of this nature though no former Rebellion can parrallel this for acts of Cruelty and horrid Crimes do by this present Proclamation in His Majesties Name and by his Majesties Authority Declare Publish and Proclaim them the said Sir Con Magenis Patric mac Cartan Art oge mac Glasny Magenis Ever mac Phelim Magenis Rory mac Brien oge Magènis Phillip mac Hugh mac Shane O Rely Phillip mac Mulmorry O Rely Mulmorry mac Edmond O Rely Hugh Boy mac Shane O Rely Owen mac Shane mac Phillip O Rely Rory Magwire Donogh Bane Magwire Brian mac Cowcannaght Magwire Sir Phelim O Neale Tirlagh Roe O Neale Tirlagh Groom O Quin Cormock mac Owin O Hagan Patrick Modder O Donnelly Art mac Tirlagh mac Henry O Neale Tirlagh mac Henry mac Tirlagh O Neale Hugh oge O Neale Donnogh oge O Murchie Collo mac Brien mac Mahowne Neale mac Kena Coolo mac Ever mac Mahowne Art Roe mac Patrick Art Moile mac Mahowne Captain Hugh mac Phelim Birne Shane mac Brien mac Phelim Birne Luke alias Feogh O Toole Luke alias Feogh mac Redmond Birne Redmond mac Feogh Birne Phelim mac Redmond Birne Dermot mac Dowlin Cavenagh Lewis alias Lisagh mac Owny Dempsie Art O Molloy Hubert Fox Owen O Molloy Florence mac Shane Fitz-Patrick Barnabie Dempsie Daniel Doine Barnabie Fitz-Patrick James mac Fergus mac Donell Francis mac Faghny O Farrall Will. Farrall James Conell Farrall Oliver Boy Fitz-Gerrald Pierse Fitz-Gerald Maurice Eustace Nich Sutton Roger alias Rory O More Will. Fiz-Gerald Robert Preston James Fleming Patrick Cusake Edw. Betagh Gerald Leins Luke Netervill George King Richard Barnewall Colonel Richard Plunkett Matthew Talbot John Stanley John Bellew Christopher Barnewall and Oliver Cashel and every of them and all their and every of their partakers aiders maintainers comforters confederates complices and associates apparent notorious ungrateful wicked vile and unnatural Traitors and Rebels against our most gracious Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. His Royal Crown and Dignity of of this Realm and malitious oppugners of His Majesties Royal Soveraignty Preheminences and Prerogatives willing therefore requiring warranting and authorizing all His Majesties good and loving Subjects to pursue and plague with Fire and Sword apprehend destroy and kill by all the ways and means they may all the said persons their partakers aiders maintainers comforters confederates complices and associates as apparent notorious ungrateful wicked vile detestable and unatural Traitors and Rebels And we do hereby make known to all men as well good Subjects as all others that whatsoever he or they be that shall betwixt this and the five and twentieth day of March next kill and bring or cause to be killed and brought unto Us the Lords Justices or other chief Governour or Governours of this Kingdom for the time being the head of the said Sir Phelim O Neal or of the said Sir Con Magenis or of the said Rory Magwire or of the said Phillip mac Hugh mac Shane O Rely or of the said Collo mac Brien mac Mahon who who were of the Principal Conspirators and have been the first and principal Actors in this present Rebellion he or they shall have by way of reward for every of the said last named persons so by him to be killed and his or their head or heads brought to Us the Lords Justices or other chief Governor or Governours of this Kingdom as aforesaid as followeth viz. for the head of the said Sir Phelim O Neal one thousand pounds for the head of the said Sir Con Magennis six hundred pounds for the head of the said Rory Magwire six hundred pounds for the head of the said Phillip mac Hugh mac Shane O Rely six hundred pounds for the head of the said Collo mac Brian mac Mahon six hundred pounds and Pardon for all his or their offences that shall kill and so bring in or cause to be killed and so brought in the said head or heads And whosoever shall within the mean time by any means slay or kill as aforesaid the said Sir Phelim O Neale Sir Con Magenis Rory Magwire Phillip mac Hugh mac Shane O Rely and Collo mac Brian mac Mahone or any of them though such person or persons so slaying or killing the said Traitors or any of them bring not or cause not to be brought to Us the Lords Justices or other chief Governor or Governours of this Kingdom the head or heads of the said Traitor or Traitors yet being justly proved shall forthwith upon proof so made receive the reward for the said Sir Phelim O Neal eight hundred pounds for the said Sir Con Magenis four hundred pounds for the said Rory Magwire four hundred pounds and for the said Phillip mac Hugh mac Shane O Rely four hundred pounds for the said Collo mac Brien mac Mahowne four hundred pounds and pardon for all his or their offences that shall kill the said last mentioned persons or any of them And forasmuch as the other Rebells above named have
most traiterously combined in the wicked and abominable Councils of the said five other persons last above named and have been partakers with them in their most bloody design for the extirpating of the British and Protestants and depriving his Majesty of the Soveraignty of this His Kingdom of Ireland many of which Rebells stand Indicted of High Treason We do therefore make known and declare to all men as well His Majesties loving Subjects as all others That whosoever under the degree of a Knight other than the said Phillip mac Hugh mac Shane O Rely and Collo mac Brian Mahowne and other than the said Luke Toole and other than the Children and Grand-children of the late traiterously descended Traitor Feagh mac Hugh Birne and other than the said Rory alias Roger More We not holding it fit that the most maglignant Conspirators should obtain pardon for so high and heynous offences and the causeless destruction of so many thousands of Innocents upon the only service of cutting off persons of no greater consideration shall betwixt this and the five and twentieth day of March next kill and bring or cause to be killed and brought in to Us the Lords Justices or other chief Governour or Governours of this Kingdom as aforesaid the head or heads of the said Patrick mac Cartan Art oge mac Glasny Magenis Ever mac Phelim Magenis Rory mac Brien oge Magenis Phillip mac Hugh mac Shane O Rely Phillip mac Mulmorry O Rely Mulmorry mac Edmond O Rely Hugh Boy mac Shane O Rely Owen mac Shane mac Phillip O Rely Rory Magwire Donogh Bane Magwire Brian mac Cowcannaght Magwire Tirlagh Roe O Neale Tirlagh Groom O Quin Cormock mac Owen O Hagan Patrick Modder O Donnelly Art mac Tirlagh mac Henry O Neale Tirlagh mac Henry mac Tirlagh O Neale Hugh oge O Neale Donnogh oge O Murchie Collo mac Brien mac Mahowne Neale mac Kena Coolo mac Ever mac Mahowne Art Roe mac Patrick mac Art Moile mac Mahowne Captain Hugh mac Phelim Birne Shane mac Brien mac Phelim Birne Luke alias Feogh O Toole Luke alias Feogh mac Redmond Birne Redmond mac Feogh Birne Phelim mac Redmond Birne Dermot mac Dowlin Cavenagh Lewis alias Lisagh mac Owny Dempsie Art O Molloy Hubert Fox Owen O Molloy Florence mac Shane Fitz-Patrick Barnabie Dempsie Daniel Doine Barnabie Fitz-Patrick James mac Fergus mac Donell Francis mac Faghny O Farrall Will. Farrall James mac Conell Farrall Oliver Boy Fitz-Gerrald Pierse Fitz-Gerald Maurice Eustace Nich. Sutton Roger alias Rory O More Will. Fiz-Gerald Robert Preston James Fleming Patrick Cusake Edw. Betagh Gerald Leins Luke Netervill George King Richard Barnewall Colonel Richard Plunkett Matthew Talbot John Stanley John Bellew Christopher Barnewall and Oliver Cashel or any of them he shall have by way of reward for every of the said last mentioned persons so by him to be killed and his or their head or heads brought to Us the Lords Justices or other chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom as aforesaid four hundred pounds and pardon for all his or their offences that shall bring in or cause to be brought in the said head or heads and whosoever under the degree of a Knight as aforesaid other than the said Phillip mac Shane O Rely Collo mac Brien mac Mahowne Luke Toole and the Children and Grand-children of Feagh mac Hugh aforesaid and the aforesaid Rory alias Roger O More shall by any means within the said time slay or kill the said Traitors viz. Patrick mac Cartan Art oge mac Glasny Magenis Ever mac Phelim Magenis Rory mac Brien oge Magenis Phillip mac Mulmorry O Rely Mulmorry mac Edmond O Rely Hugh Boy mac Shane O Rely Owen mac Shane mac Phillip O Rely Donogh Bane Magwire Brian mac Cowcannaght Magwire Tirlagh Roe O Neal Tirlagh Groome O Quin Cormock mac Owen oge O Hagan Patrick Modder O Donnelly Art mac Tirlagh mac Henry O Neale Tirlagh mac Henry mac Tirlagh O Neal Hugh oge O Neale Donnogh oge O Murchie Neal mac Kena Collo mac Ever mac Mahowne Art Roe mac Patrick mac Art Moyle mac Mahowne Captain Hugh mac Phelim Birne Shane mac Brien mac Phelim Birne Luke alias Feagh O Toole Luke alias Feagh mac Redmond Birne Redmond mac Feagh Birne Phelim mac Redmond Birne Dermot mac Dowlin Cavenagh Lewis alias Lisagh mac Owny Dempsie Art O Molloy Hubert Fox Owen O Molloy Florence mac Shane Fitz-Patrick Barnabie Dempsie Daniel Doine Barnabie Fitz-Patrick James mac Fergus mac Donell Francis mac Faghny O Farrall William Farrall James mac Conell Farrall Oliver Boy Fitz-Gerrald Pierse Fitz-Gerald Maurice Eustace Nicholas Sutton Roger alias Rory O More William Fitz-Gerrald Robert Preston James Flemen Patrick Cusacke Edward Betagh Gerrald Leins Luke Netervill Geroge Kinge Richard Barnewall Colonel Richard Plunkett Matthew Talbot John Stanley John Bellew Christopher Barnewall and Oliver Cashell or any of them though such person or persons so slaying or killing the said Traitors or any of them bring not or cause not to be brought to Us the Lords Justices or other chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom as aforesaid the head or heads of the said Traitor or Traitors yet being justly proved shall forthwith upon proof so made receive the reward of Three hundred pounds for every of the said last named persons so killed and proved and shall have pardon for all his or their offences that shall slay or kill the said Traitors or any of them Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin the 8. day of Febr. 1641. Ormond Ossory R. Dillon Cha. Lambert Ad. Loftus Cha. Coote Tho. Rotheram Fra. Willoughby Rob. Meredith J. Temple God save the King Sir William St. Leiger's Letter to the Lord Lieutenant the Earl of Leicester touching the Affaires in Munster mentioned fol. 89. Right Honorable my very good Lord SIthence my last by my Lord of Dungarvan my own indisposition and imbecillity hath been such as in mine one person I have not been able to attempt any thing but have by my Sickness been confined to my Chamber but the forward earnestness and zeale to the service in my Lord of Inchequin Colonel Vavasor Captain Jephson and the rest of the Officers of the small Army here hath accomplished some Exploits whereof you may please to receive the ensuing Relation I being besieged on the North side of the City by my Lord Muskry Mr. Carty Leath and all the rest of the Western Forces and having notice that my Lord Roche my Lord of Ikarne Donboin the Barron of Loghmay Mr. Richard Butler and all the tipperary Forces were drawing up to beleager me on the South I dispatched away the two Troops then newly landed under the Command of my Lord Inchequin and Captain Jephson into the Lord Roches Country in expectance to divert him from his intended course hitherwards which to so good purpose as that I since understand the tipperary Forces have forsaken him and
other Church Goods pertaing unto their respective Titles with obligations to pay proportionable Rent unto the Souldiers as aforesaid or his payment of their own competent maintenance and lett the Houses Tenements and other Church goods be taken from the Catholicks who heretofore had them as Tenements or otherwise 26. It is committed to the will and disposition of the Ordinary whether and when to enter into the Churches and celebrate Masses therein we command all and every the general Colonels Captains and other Officers of our Catholick Army to whom it appertaineth that they severally punish all transgressors of our aforesaid Command touching Murtherers Maimers Strikers Thieves Robbers and if they fail therein we Command the Parish Priests Curats or Chaplains respectively to declare them interdicted and that they shall be Excommunicated if they cause not due satisfaction to be made unto the Common-wealth and the party offended And this the Parish Priests or Chaplains shall observe under pain of Excommunication of sentence given ipso facto 27. To the end that these Acts Propositions and Ordinances may have more happy success We thought it fitting to have recourse unto God Almighty by Prayers Fastings and Alms We therefore will pray and as far as it is needful do command that every Priest as well Secular as Regular do celebrate one Mass a week and that all Lay-men do fast upon Wednesday Friday and Saturday in one week and thence forward one day a week and upon that Wednesday or Saturday as long as the Ordinary shall please and that they pray heartily unto God for the prosperous success of this our Catholick War for which they shall gain so many days indulgences as every Prelate shall publish in their several Diocesses respectively after the Fast of the aforesaid three days in one Week having first confessed and received the blessed Sacrament and bestowed some Alms to this effect 28. In every Regiment of Souldiers let there be appointed at least two Confessors and one Preacher to be named by the Ordinaries and by the Superiors of the Regulars whose competent maintenance we commend and command to every Colonel in their respective Regiments And to the end that all those Ordinances and Statutes may effectually be put in Execution We will and decree that all Arch-bishops Bishops Apostolical Vicars and Regular Superiours as well here present as absent may be very serious and careful of the Execution of the aforesaid as they tender not to incur displeasure wrath and revenge and herewith we charge their Consciences 29. Moreover VVe pray and require all Noblemen Magistrates and all other Marshal Commanders that with their helps and Secular forces they assist and set forward in Execution the aforesaid Statutes in their several Precincts respectively as often as it shall be needful If in any of the aforesaid Statutes any doubt or difficulty may by chance arise the explication thereof we reserve to the Metropolitans in every Province respectively and to the Bishops in every their Diocesses such of them as are no way contrary to this Cause no other person may presume to expound the aforesaid difficulties Haec dicta acta ordinata statuta subscripta erant nominibus sequentium Praelatorum All those Judgments Sayings Acts and Covenants VVe submit to the Judgment of the See Apostolick Hugo Archiepiscopus Armachanus Thomas Archiepiscopus Casselensis Malachius Archiepiscopus Guamenum David Episcopus Osoren Frater Boetius Episcopus Elphinensis Frater Patricius Episcopus Waterforden Lysmoren Frater Rochus Episcopus Kildaren Johannis Electus Claunfarten Emerus Electus Dunen Conoren Frater Josephus Everard Procurator Archiepiscopi Dublinens Doctor Johannes Creagh Procurator Episcopus Lymeriten David Bourck Willielmus O Connell Procurator Episcopi Imolacen Donatus O Tearnan Procurator Episcopi Laonen Doctor Dionysius Harty Decanus Laonensis Doctor Michael Hacket Vicar gener Waterforden Gulielmus Devocer Vic. gener Fernesen Thomas Roch Vicar Generalis Ossoren Frater Lucas Archer Abbas Sanctae Crucis Frater Anthonius de Rosario Ord. praed Vicar Provincial Robertus Nugent Societat Jesu in Heb. Frater Thadeus Connoldus Ang. pro Provinc Johannes Wareinge Decanus Lymericen Frater Patricius Darcye Guardian Dublin Frater Thomas Strange Guardian Waterford Frater Joseph Lancton Prior Kilkenny Frater Tho. Tearnon Guard de Dundalk Frater Johannes Reyly Guard Kilkenny Frater Boetius Egnanus Guard Buttevant Jordanus Boork Archidiaconus Lymericensis APPENDIX VIII Fol. 98. Orders made and established by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the rest of the general Assembly for the Kingdom of Ireland met at the City of Kilkenny the 24th day of October Anno Dom. 1642. and in the Eighteenth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord the King Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland c. 1. IMprimis That the Roman Catholick Church in Ireland shall and may have and enjoy the Priviledges and Immunities according to the great Charter made and declared within the Realm of England in the ninth year of King H. 3. sometime King of England and the Lord of Ireland and afterwards enacted and confirmed in this Realm of Ireland and that the Common Law of England and all the Statutes of force in this Kingdom which are not against the Catholick Roman Religion on the Liberties of the Natives and other Liberties of this Kingdom shall be observed throughout the whole Kingdom and that all Proceedings in Civil and Criminal Cases shall be according to the said Laws 2. Item That all and every person and persons within this Realm shall bear Faith and true Allegiance unto our Soveraign Lord King Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland His Heirs and Successors and shall uphold and maintain his and their Rights and lawful Prerogatives with the utmost skill and power of such person or persons against all manner of persons whatsoever 3. Item That the Common Laws of England and Ireland and the said Statutes called the great Charter and every Clause Branch and Article thereof and all other Statutes confirming expounding or declaring the same shall be punctually observed within this Kingdom so far forth as the Condition of the present times during these times can by possibilities give way thereunto and after the War is ended the same to be observed without any Limitation or Restriction whatsoever 4. Inasmuch as the City of Dublin is the usual and principal Seat of Justice in this Kingdom where the Parliament and ordinary Courts were held and some other places where principal Councils were sometimes kept and as yet possessed and commanded by the malignant party who are Enemies to God and their King and his Majesties well-affected Subjects The Assembly is necessitated during this VVar in some formalities and circumstances to deviate from the proceedings prescrib'd by the said Laws and Statutes nevertheless retaineth the substance and Essence thereof so far-forth as the endless malice and cruelty of their Enemies the said malignant party doth permit
contrary to the Liberty and Freedom of the Subject to be by any such Oath or Covenant pre-engaged And for that the setting on foot at this time in this Kingdom the said League or Covenant without His Majesties Allowance may not only beget much distraction and unquietness amongst His Majesties good Subjects but also may prove very penal to all those who shall presume to tender or take the same We therefore for prevention of such mischiefs do in His Majesties Name strictly charge and command all His Majesties good Subjects of what degree or quality soever within this Kingdom upon their Allegiance to His Majesties that they presume not to enter into or take the said League Covenant or Oath And we do likewise inhibit and forbid all His Majesties Subjects in this Kingdom to impose administer or tender the said League Oath or Covenant And if notwithstanding this our Proclamation any person shall presume to impose tender or take the said League Oath or Covenant We shall proceed against him or them with all severity according to the known Laws of the Land Given at His Majesties Castle of Dublin the 18. day of Decemb. 1643. Ri. Bolton Canc. La. Dublin Ormonde Roscomon Edw. Brabazon Ant. Midensis Cha. Lambart Geo. Shurley Gerrard Lowther Tho. Rotherham Fra. Willoughby Tho. Lucas Ja. Ware G. Wentworth GOD SAVE THE KING APPENDIX XI Fol. 141. The Copy of a Letter written by direction of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled to several Commanders and Officers of his Majesties Army and others in the Kingdom of Ireland AFter our very hearty Commendations The Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament in this His Majesties Kingdom of Ireland have commanded us to signifie unto you that they have lately seen a Printed Paper intituled a solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happiness of the King and the Peace and safety of the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland which seems to have been Printed at London on the ninth day of October 1643. That they have also seen a Printed Proclamation dated the eighteenth day of December last and set out by the Right Honourable the late Lords Justices and Council expressing diverse great and Weighty Reasons against the said League and Covenant and therefore Commanding all his Majesties good Subjects of what Degree or Quality soever within this Kingdom upon their Allegiance to his Majesty That they presume not to enter into or take the said League Covenant or Oath and inhibiting and forbidding all His Majesties Subjects in this Kingdom to impose administer or tender the said League Oath or Covenant That upon serious debate and consideration taken by the Lords and Commons of the said League and Covenant and Proclamation They find the said Proclamation to have been set out with great Wisdom and Reason and do highly Commend the Judgement of the said Lords Justices and Council therein and as both Houses do fully concurr therein in all the parts thereof So they have expresly Commanded us to signifie the same unto you and in their names to let you know That it is their express Pleasure that you and all the Commanders Officers and Souldiers of His Majesties Army and all others His Majesties Subjects in this Kingdom whom it may concern do render all due Obedience and Observation to the said Proclamation in all the parts thereof And this being to no ther end We remain Your very Loving Friends Ri. Bolton Canc. Maur. Eustace Speaker of the House of Commons Dublin Castle xviii die April Anno Dom. 1644. Fol. 142. There is mention made of the Protestants Arrival at Oxford where they deliver'd to his Majesty this Petition To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The humble Petition of divers of your Majesties Protestant Subjects in your Kingdom of Ireland as well Commanders of Your Majesties Army here as others whose Names are subscrib'd in the behalf of themselves and other Your Protestant Subjects in this Your Kingdom Sheweth THAT this Your Highness Kingdom reduced with the vast Expence of Treasure and much effusion of British blood to the obedience of the Imperial Crown of England hath been by the Princely care of your Royal Progenitors especially of Queen Elizabeth and of Your Royal Father of ever blessed Memory and your Sacred Majesty in many parts happily planted great sums of Moneys disbursed in Buildings and Improvements Churches edified and endowed and frequented with multitudes of good Protestants and your yearly Customs and Revenues rais'd to great yearly sums by the industry of your Protestant Subjects especially and great sums of Money by way of Subsidies and Contributions chearfully paid unto your Majesty by your said Subjects In which happiness this your Kingdom hath flourished in a long-continued Peace and under your Highness most glorious and happy Government until that by the present general Conspiracy and Rebellion rais'd out of Detestation of Your blessed Government and for rooting out of the Protestant Religion and so for the dispossessing of Your Majesty of this Your said Kingdom without the least occasion offered by Your Majesty or Your Protestant Subjects And notwithstanding that Your Majesty immediately before had enlarg'd beyond president Your Royal favour and bounty to them in granting all that their and our joint Agents did desire of Your Majesty And we continuing amongst them in all Love and Amity without distrust Your Petitioners and others who labour'd to oppose those damnable Designs and Practices have been driven from their Dwellings Estates and Fortunes their Houses and Churches burnt and demolished All Monuments of Civility utterly defaced Your Majesties Forts and places of strength thrown down and the Common and Statute-Laws of this Your Kingdom utterly confounded by taking upon themselves the exercise of all manner of Authorities and Jurisdictions Ecclesiastical and Civil both by Sea and Land proper and peculiar to Your Sacred Majesty being Your just Prerogatives and the Royal Flowers of Your Imperial Diadem to the Disherison of Your Crown and Your Royal Revenues brought to nothing and the Protestant Clergy with their Revenues and support for the present destroyed This Your Kingdom in all parts formerly inhabited with Brittish Protestants now depopulated of them and many thousands of Your Protestant Subjects most barbarously used stripped naked tortur'd famish'd hang'd buried alive drown'd and otherwise by all barbarous cruel sorts of Death murther'd such as yet remain of them are reduced to that extremity that very few of them have wherewithal to maintain a Being and all of them so terrified and afflicted with those barbarous and inhuman cruelties the true report whereof being now spread abroad into the Christian World Your Suppliants conceive fears that Your Majesties Brittish Subjects will be discouraged from coming again to inhabit this Kingdom and the remnant of what is left will be forced to depart All this being done by the Conspiracy of the Papists who did publickly declare the utter extirpation of the
Oratory is seldom unsuccessful but what the people got by following this thrifty Counsel some have taken the pains to compute and it is found that the Impositions laid and levied upon the people to support Usurpation and Tyrannie in a few bad years came to more than the most chargeable Princes had raised in some Ages to conquer Enemies and Infidels abroad whilest this was employed to make Enemies of Friends and little better than Infidels of Christians at home I confess this Animadversion is not so seasonable now or proper to he applyed to you who in your Liberalities have outgone all Example and prevented even the Kings wishes nor are those Liberalities the less but the more valued by Him that he intends to apply them intirely to the security and improvement of a true Protestant and a right English Interest in this Kingdom There is nothing that declares indeed that constitutes perfect Union and a happy Harmony so much as mutual trusts and confidence and the interchange of gifts and benefits it is so in private Friendship and it is much more so in that good Intelligence which must make a King and His people happy The King has trusted you as far as ever King trusted Subjects and He has given you more than ever any King or Lord of Ireland had to give You have trusted the King with all you had and all you had to pretend to and you have given Him more than he thought of to desire Let it not therefore be apprehended that this Commerce must cease by the Prodigality on both sides as if there were no more to be given or received No my Lords and Gentlemen protection from Forreign Invasion and Rebellion at home the due and uncorrupt administration of Government and of the Laws and under them the advancement and encouragement of Piety and Learning Trade and all sorts of Industry and Improvements are benefits that may to the end of time descend from the Throne to you and yours And a due subjection to that Government and obedience to those Laws and application to that Piety and Learning to that Trade and Industry and to those Improvements may be as lasting Retributions from the People to the Throne I should here end this unusual Exercise but that I am commanded by the King to let you know that as He is abundantly satisfied with those demonstrations of Duty Loyalty and Affection you have given him during the whole time of your sitting so he looks with great Pleasure and Delight upon those Acts of Grace and Bounty that have past from him to you and he commands me to be sure not to forget to assure you upon all Proper Occasions that all his Promises shall be inviolably observed and that he will consent to whatever else may make this Kingdom flourishing and happy whether it shall be the Enacting of new and profitable or the repeal of old unuseful or burthensom Laws To say anything of or from my self in this place may be Presumption but to say nothing to you my Lords and Gentlemen to whom I owe so much must be Ingratitude You have before and since My Arrival been pleased to make many and obliging Expressions of your Approbation of the Kings choice of Me for this Government I have great reason to fear both the King and you consulted your Indulgence to Me more than your judgement of Me. Yet without much Presumption or Vanity I think I may say thus far the King and you may be excusable that He chose and You approved a Person whose Fortune and Family must prosper or decay must Ruine or Subsist by and with this Kingdom This has not perhaps always been the case and it is possible mean Abilities thus stimulated may be more profitable and industrious than greater actuated by less or by contrary Incentives There are upon me all imaginable Obligations to apply all that is in me to the safety and prosperity of this Kingdom Those of duty fidelity and thankfulness to the best and most bountiful Master in the World those of Retribution and Gratitude to you for extraordinary and liberal manifestations of kindness and affection and those self-preservation and Happiness Hence it may be concluded reasonably and naturally that my endeavours will be hearty and faithful and my failings which shall be as few as I can unvoluntarily and therefore the more pardonable You will presently when I am retired be at liberty to adjourn your selves to the time you desired Referrable to fol. 326. A form of Divine Service to be used October 23d appointed by Act of Parliament Anno Regni Car. 2di 14. die 27. Sep. 1662. to be kept and Celebrated as an Anniversary Thanksgiving in this Kingdom of Ireland THe begining of the Service to be according to the Form of the Common-Prayer then proper Psalms as 3. 9. 12. 46. 144. Proper Lessons for the First 2 Chron. 13. or Jer. 30. For the Second Lesson Mat. 9. or Acts 5. or Acts 23. And after the Collect for the Sunday this following Collect. ALmighty God and heavenly Father who out of thy most wise and watchful Providence and tender mercies towards us thine unworthy Servants hast been pleased as at all other times so on this day to prevent the extreme malice michievous imagination and bloody intention of our Enemies by revealing so wonderfully and opportunely their Rebellion and cruel Enterprises plotted against our dread Soveraign Lord the King and the whole State of this Realm for the subversion of this Government and the utter extirpation of the truth of thy Gospel and pure Religion professed amongst us We most humbly praise and magnifie thy glorious name for thine infinite goodness in this our marvellous deliverance We confess it was thy mercy thy mercy alone most merciful Father that we were not consumed And therefore not unto us not unto us O Lord but unto thy name be ascribed all honour and glory in all Churches of the Saints throughout all Generations For thou Lord didest discover unto thy Servants the snares of death thou didst break them and we were delivered Be thou still our mighty Protector and scatter our Enemies that delight in blood infatuate their Councils enfeeble their strength put fear in their hearts and accomplish this thy mercy in our safety and future deliverance And to that end strengthen the hands of our gracious King the Lord Lieutenant the Nobility and Magistrates of the Land with Jugdment Justice and Power to restrain such workers of Iniquity who pretend Religion and practise Rebellion and devout thine Inheritance This Lord we crave at thy merciful hands together with the continuance of thy powerful Protection over our dread Soveraign the whole Church and these Kealms and the speedy Conversion of all our Enemies and that for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Advocate Amen After the Litany this Prayer for the Second Collect. O Eternal God in whom we live move and have our being and by whom alone
we are protected in all our dangers and distresses we thy people and sheep of thy Pasture do acknowedge our selves above all others infinitely bounded unto thy heavenly Majesty for thy many unspeakable benefits daily conferred and heaped upon us especially for the enlightning us with thy heavenly truth and planting thy Gospel amongst us for placing over us a most gracious King a faithful Professour and Defender of the same a wise and vigilant Lieutenant And as at this time especially we praise thee for the discovery and prevention of the bloody and treacherous designs of the Enemies of thy Truth and People We laud and magnifie thy Glorious name for these thy Mercies and will ever shew forth thy praise from generation to generation for it was thy goodness alone that we were not delivered over for a prey unto their Teeth Thy prudence not our foresight thy love not our merit that we appear this day before thee That the Enemy did not triumph in our utter destriction nor root up the Uine which thy right hand had planted O Lord God of hosts look down from Heaven and behold and visit this thy Uine water it with thy blessing and make it to fill the Land to the astonishment of our Enemies but unto the joy of all that wish well unto our Sion So will we not go back from thee but will serve thee in fear and holiness all the days of our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Third Collect after the Litany O Most Gracious Lord God we of this Nation whom thou didst snatch as a brand out of the fire of the late horrid Massacre we this day assembled before thee do with shame and sorrow acknowledge and confess That our Sins had most justly provoked thee to Wrath when thou didst suffer those men of blood to make their Sword fat with the Slaughter of so many thousand Innocents-And we may as justly fear that our not being made better by thy former Judgements thou mayest be compelled to make thy Sword sharper and return upon us in greater fury because our sins are greater more bold more provoking in particular our neglect and contempt of thy sacred Ordinances our vain and false swearing for which the Land mourns our unchristian uncharitableness and shameful intemp rance our sacriledge and covetousness hypocrisie slandering and deep security in the midst of all our sins and dangers These together with a glorying in our impieties might in justice have brought upon us a sudden and horrible destruction But contrary to the method of thy proceedings against others thou hast spared us thereby woing us to return unto thee by unfeigned Repentance Thou hast magnified thy mercy towards us that we may magnifie thee as we do this day this memorable day O Lord for thy patience and long suffering notwithstanding all our provocations we repent O pardon we return O vouchsafe to receive us and enable us to walk worthy of thy great past deliverance by a more strict and holy future obedience for the merits of Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen At the second Service this Fourth Collect to be said after the Collect for the King MOst merciful and bountiful Lord God seeing thou hast been graciously pleased to preserve thy most unworthy people from total desolation and dayly to follow us with the blessing of peace and good Government make us therefore O Lord in all thankfulness to be obedient to thy will in all things to be faithful and constant in our duty to the King and to all that are in Authority under him to be sincere in thy worship zealous of good works of one faith and one mind studying to be quiet forbearing one another and forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven us so that when every one in his several place shall labour to advance the good both of Church and State and by a through Reformation of our lives shall become a people whom thou mayest take delight to bless then thy Judgements which we have deserved and therefore fear may be averted and our sinful Souls saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Then with one heart and voice we may all praise thee in thy Church and always sing joyfully that thy loving kindness is ever more and more towards us and the truth of the Lord endures for ever These mercies we most unworthy to ask humbly beseech thee to grant for the benefit of this Church and Nation and glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen For the Epistle Nehem. 4. from ver 7. to ver 16. or 2 Cor. 1. from ver 3. to ver 11. For the Gospel Mat. 14. from ver 23. to ver 34. or Mat. 15. from ver 1. to ver 13. or Mat. 5. from ver 1. to ver 14. And then proceed as in the Book of Common Prayer Other Particulars We might add but how can We conclude better then with the voice of the Church for so wonderful a deliverance from so unnatural and inhuman a Conspiracy which hath produced besides other horrid effects this Abbreviate of so sad a Tragidy and the expence of so vast a Treasure Omissions containing several Additions to the History FOl. 9. line 23. Crime which for the Honour of those Gentlemen rather then that it 's undeniably true I would willingly believe it being easy to be made out that many of these instigated if not headed the Commonalty afterwards Fol 10. l. 25. of Lands though the Law heretofore was held otherwise and much of his Majesties Revenue stands upon that Title Fol. 13. l. 39. Epistle which expression of his is the more to be took notice of in that being a prime Instrument of State He hath more Grounds then others to build these Conjectures upon Fol. 28. l. 12. Rebellion the Commission Granted to the Lord Gormanston was as follows By the Lords Justices and Council W. Parsons Jo. Borlase RIght Trusty and well beloved We greet you well Whereas divers and most disloyal and malignant Persons within this Kingdom have traiterously conspired against his Majesty his Peace Crown and Dignity and many of them in Execution of their Conspiracy are traiterously assembled together in a Warlike manner and have most inhumanly made destruction and devastation of the Persons and Estates of his Majesties good and loyal Subjects of this Kingdom and taken slain and imprisoned great Numbers of them We out of our care and zeal for the common good being desirous by all means to suppress the said Treasons and Traitors and to conserve the Persons and Fortunes of his Majesties loving Subjects here in safety and to prevent the further spoil and devastation of his Majesties good People here do therefore hereby require and authorize you to Levie Raise and Assemble all every or any the Forces as well Footmen as Horsemen within the County of Meath giving you hereby the Command in chief of all the said Forces and hereby further
better understood by the Records of the Age then to be descanted on now An Alphabet of the Counties wherein such Murthers as are here mentioned were committed Counties fol. ANtrim 109 Armagh ibid. Catherlagh 111 Cavan 112 Clare ibid. Cork ibid. Donnegall ibid. Down 113 Dublin 114 Fermanagh ibid. Gallway 115 Kerry ibid. Kildare 116 Kilkenny ibid. Kings County 117 Leytrim 118 Limerick ibid. Londonderry ibid. Longford ibid. Lowth ibid. Mayo 119 Meath ibid. Monaghan 120 Queens County ibid. Roscommon 121 Sligo 122 Tipperary 123 Tyrone ibid. Westmeath 124 Wickloe ibid. Dr. Robert Maxwell since Bishop of Kilmore his Examination worthy deliberate and serious Reflexions but not here to be flied to as quoted in the Abstract That only to be sought for in the Archives of Dublin DOctor Robert Maxwell Rector of Tynon in the County of Armagh sworn and examined and first touching the nature of the Rebellion deposeth and saith that to begin higher than the 22th of Octob. 1641. at the coming in of the Scots to Newcastle he observ'd Sir Phelim O Neil Tirlagh oge O Neil his Brother Robert Hovenden Esq. deceased and generally all his Popish Neighbours overjoyed and at their peaceable disbanding as much cast down and dejected calling the English base degenerate Cowards and the Scots dishonourable Bragadochies who came into England not to fight but to scrape up wealth merchandizing their honours for sums of money But he this Deponent did not much heed those distempered speeches as every where rise in those days and as proceeding from bankrupt and discontented Gentlemen and the rather because many in Ireland at that time measuring the Scots Laws by their own accompted the Scots subjection not much better than Rebellion although since by the Event their Judgments are now rectified yet he asked what they meant to be thus sad at good News but joyful at evil They said if the two Kingdoms had gone by the ears they hoped the Earl of Strafford whose Government had been most avaritious and tyrannical would in regard of his forwardness have perished in the Combustion But this he the Deponent thought not worth the informing because what they said most men thought from the disbanding of the Scots until the breaking out of the present Rebellion He observed also frequent and extraordinary meetings of Priests and Fryars almost every where under colour of Visitations and at the first summons of Fryars to the number of two or three thousand in a Company they would usually meet together for a twelvemonth before the Rebellion who with others of the same stamp borrowed what sums of money they possibly could from the Brittish ane often without any apparent necessity neither did it afterwards appear what they did with the money so borrowed for they would not pay any man a penny And the Deponent further saith That in April 1641. there went a report amonst the Irish the Deponents next Neighbours that the Earl of Tyrone was seen with Sir Phelim O Neil in the Wood of Ballynametash but upon Examination they denied it yet since the Rebellion they told the Deponent That a great man out of Spain was at that time with him but they would not name him and about three years before that one Priest mac Case came from Rome with the Pope's Bull for the Parish of Tynon and being kept out by Sir Phelim talked freely of a Rebellion plotted and intended by him and others Upon which the Priest went to Dublin to inform the Lord Deputy thereof by whom being examined he either said nothing to the purpose or was not believed or was taken off by Sir Phelim And further saith That Sir Phelim O Neil a little before the Rebellion brought two Hogsheads of Gunpowder from Dublin under colour of Wine by Patrick O Dogherty Vintner of Kynard he bought a great part thereof by ten or twelve pounds in the name of most of the Gentry in the Country This he bragged of to the Deponent afterwards and that he likewise told this Deponent when the Lord Magwyre and other Rebels were taken in Dublin his man James Warren and Friar Paul O Neil were apprehended amongst them having sent them thither a little before to assist and attend the Issue of the business but said that upon Examination at Council-table they were both dismissed contrary to his expectation He said also that some Lord or other spoke for them This Deponent further saith That he heard Sir Phelim O Neil upon his first return from Strabane say that this Plot was in his head five or six years before he could bring it to any maturity but said that after it was concluded by the Parliament meaning the Popish party he was one of the last men to whom it was communicated He said likewise That to bring about his own ends he had formerly demeaned himself as a fool in all great mens Company but that he hoped by that time the greatest of them saw that Sir Phelim O Neil was no such fool as they took him for And further saith That he this Deponent heard Sir Phelim's Brother Tirlagh oge O Neil say that this business meaning the Rebellion was communicated by the Irish Committee meaning the Popish Irish unto the Papists in England who promised their assistance and that by their advice some things formerly resolved upon were altered saying it was a good Omen and undoubted sign of Divine Approbation that the Parliament here should send over a Committee the major part whereof were Papists He also affirmed that when the Protestants of the lower House in Ireland withdrew themselves apart unto Chichester-Hall The Papists at the same time never dreaming the Deponent should live to tell it again debated concluded and signed a combinatory Writing of this Rebellion under their hands in the Tollbooth or Tolsell which he said that Session drew on and hastned sooner than it was intended and when the Deponent answered That the Papists in all former Parliaments which either of them had seen usually and without exception consulted apart as often as they pleased He replied in great choler But so did never the Protestants before And this Deponent further saith That in Decemb. 19. 1641. he the Deponent heard Sir Phelim in his own House and in the hearing of Mr. Joseph Traverse and others say That if the Lords and Gentlemen meaning Popish of the other Provinces then not in Arms would not rise but leave him in the lurch for all he would produce his Warrant signed with their hands and written in their own blood that should bring them to the Gallows and that they sate every day at Council-board and whispered the Lords Justices in the ear who were as deep in that business as himself And saith also That on the third day after this Rebellion began Neil's wife a most bloody woman and natural Daughter to the late Earl of Antrim told this Deponent that all Ireland was in the same case with Ulster for said
the last who were devoured were Apostates through fear and Revolters to Popery who though but a very handful yet such was their insatiable thirst of blood they could not spare them And further saith That it was credibly told him that the Rebels least they should hereafter be charged with more murthers then they had committed commanded their Priests to bring in a true account of them and that the persons so slaughtered whether in Ulster or the whole Kingdom the Deponent durst not enquire in March last amounted unto one hundred fifty four thousand Sir Phelim O Neil asked the Deponent very scornfully once in Armagh and in the hearing of many why the Scots in so many weeks came not to relieve or revenge the Death of their Countreymen The Deponent durst not reply in this so dangerous a question but one that stood by said That they did wisely to stay until his Lordship made them more elbow room This Riddle was soon after interpreted upon the March of the Scottish Army from the Newry back to Carrickfergus by the bloody Massacre of above five thousand of the Brittish in three days About two hundred persons within seven weeks after that were relieved by the Lord Conways Army sent for the same purpose so that the Deponent doth confidently say that now of all the Royal Plantation in Ulster there doth not remain alive two hundred more amongst the Rebels And further saith That a Nephew of Art O Neil's Brother to Henry O Neil Lord of the Fewes told him this Deponent that his Uncle the said Art had but one Scotchman upon his Land and that about two days foregoing gave directions to have him murther'd thereby to give to Sir Phelim a proof of his zeal in the common Cause from which there was a suspicion he meant to Revolt And further saith that there went a common report amongst the Irish in Armagh that the Bishop of Derry had undertaken to betray the Town of Derry unto Sir Phelim O Neil which he remembring or being put in mind thereof at Strabane as he told the Deponent upon his return he resolved from thence to have written unto him a Letter promising to be with him such a night and desiring admittance at the Gate appointed This Letter said he I intended to send by a Prisoner with whom upon search finding this Letter the Scots without more examination would have cut the Bishop into Collops but he said somewhat put this project out of his head He may in time do as much for others as then he intended to do for the Bishop wherefore the Deponent thought this passage not worthy the inserting And the Deponent further saith That Tirlagh oge O Neil then Governour of Armagh caused an English Ditcher to be killed upon a proof made that he should say he was a better preacher then James Usher Primate of Armagh this he did as he said to suppress Brownisme in his Government And further saith That amongst the Rebels he hath seen some laugh and wonder at the English for keeping their words or protestations given to the Irish and some said in mockery that this was a secret Confession of the Protestants that the Papists were not Hereticks and for some instance of extream cruelty used by the Irish in Ulster the Deponent saith that by special command from Sir Phelim O Neil they dragged the Deponents brother Lieutenant James Maxwell out of his bed in the rage and height of a burning Fever and least any of his Acquaintance or Friends should bury him they carried him two miles from any Church and there cruelly butchered him when he knew neither what he did or said and thus Sir Phelim paid him two hundred and sixty pounds which he owed him And that his Wife Grizell Maxwell being in Child-birth the Child half born and half unborn they stript stark naked and drove her about an arrow flight to the Blackwater and drowned her The like they did to another Englishwoman in the same Parish in the beginning of the Rebellion which was little inferiour if not more unnatural and barbarous then the roasting of Mr. Watson alive after they had cut a Collop out of either Buttock That a Scotchwoman was found in the Glyn-wood lying dead her belly ripped up and a living Child crawling in her Womb cut out of the Cawl That Mr. Starky Schoolmaster at Armagh a Gentleman of good parentage and parts being upwards of one hundred years of age they stripped naked caused two of his Daughters Virgins being likewise naked to support him under each arm not being able to go of himself and in that posture carried them all three a quarter of a mile to a Turf-pit and drowned them feeding the lust of their eyes and the cruelty of their hearts with the self same objects at the same time At the Siege of Augher they would not kill any English beast and then eat it but they cut Collops out of them being alive letting them there waste till they had no more flesh upon their backs so that sometimes a beast would live two or three days together in that Torment The like they did at Armagh when they murther'd Hugh Echline Esq. they hang'd all his Irish Servants which had any ways proved faithful or useful unto him during this Rebellion And as touching exemplary constancy in Religion the Deponent saith that Henry Cowell Esq. a gallant and well-bred Gentleman was murthered because he would not consent to marry a beastly Trull Mary ny Neil a near Kinswoman of Sir Phelim's He was proffered his life without the Blowse if he would have gone to Mass but he chose rather to dye then do either There was made the like proffer of life for going to Mass unto Robert Echline Son to the above-named Hugh Echline a Child of eleven or twelve years of age but he also refused it saying He saw nothing in their Religion for which he would change his own And the Deponent further saith That his and the rest of the Brittish chief and best Friends amongst the Rebels were Mrs. Katherine Hovenden Widow Mother to Sir Phelim O Neil she preserved four and twenty English and Scots in her own house and fed them for seven and thirty weeks out of her own store and when her Children took her away upon the approach of an Army she left both them and this Deponent to their liberty and gave them free leave to escape many more she would have saved but that while she lay sick ten weeks of an Ague none of them were suffered to come near her she swooned twice as was said when she heard that six and fifty were taken out of the Deponent's House and murther'd in one day She used often to say she had never offended the English except in being Mother to Sir Phelim and Captain Alexander Hovenden Son to Mrs. Hovenden and half Brother to Sir Phelim he conducted five and thirty English out
inclination the Irish endeavour to delude him * Arthur Annesly Esq. Sir Robert King Sir Robert Meredith Colonel John Moore Colonel Michael Jones who carried over a Regiment of Horse and 1000 Foot and was made Commander in chief of all the Forces within the Province of Leimster and Governor of Dublin who upon his entrance upon the Place found 11 old Regiments of Foot which he reduced to 7. viz. The Earl of Kildare's the Lord Moor's Sir Henry Tichburn Sir John Borlase Jun. Colonel Francis Willoughby Colonel Baily and Flowers in all about 4000. no Recruit being sent to any of them 1647 * Edw. Parry Laonensis Jac. Margetson nunc temporis Armachanus Ben. Culme Anibr Anngier Ja. Sybald Godf. Rhodes Hen. Hall exin Episc Acadensis Jos. War Jo. Brookbank Gilbert Dean Dud. Boswell Rob. Parry Joan. Creighton Can. Edw. Syng exin Ardfertensis Rob. Dickson Rand. Ince Hen. Byrch Rich. Powell The Marquis of Ormond having free access to the King acquaints him of the Impression he had made in many for his Service Some of the Scots being convinc'd of what they had done amiss in his Majesties Service better resolve and encourage the Marquis of Ormond to return into Ireland The subtilty of the Independent Army The Marquis now suspected by the Army Gen. Preston routs Colonel Jones Preston's advance on a design to Dublin * The Lord Digby Dungan-hill Battel the 8. of Aug. 1647. by some term'd Linch-Knock Battel Jones's and Monk's good Service The Battle of Knocknones or Knockness Inchiquin meditates the Alteration of his Party The Marquess of Ormond provides to return into Ireland pre-possessing the Marquess of Clanrickard and the Lord Taaff with the Design The Lord Inchiquin of the same Party 1648. The Nuncio pursued close and then quits the Kingdom Viz. 23. of Feb. 1648 9. An Express of the Nuncio's Behaviour Jones finding Clanrickard active stirs forth and takes in someCastles Several suspected to be for the Marquess of Ormond sent into England Colonel Monk seizes on Carickfergus Some suspicions that the Lord Inchequin would have submitted to the Parliament The Lord Inchequin taken off his inclinations by hopes of greater Honour The Marquis of Ormond's return into Ireland The Marquis of Antrim and the Lord Muskery sent to the Queen and the Prince in France to consider the Confederates Condition The Queen and Prince's Answer His Majesties Answer to the Parliaments Message touching the Lord Lieutenant The Confederates Commissioners come to the Lord Lieutenant at Carrick The Peace of 1648. concluded * Sir Richard Blake Knight The Lord Lieutenant's Speech upon the presenting of the Articles of Peace The LordLieutenant by the Commissioners of Trust infinitely abridged in his Office The Commissioners of Trust. * Thomas Lord Viscount Dillon of Costeloe Lord President of Connaght Donnogh Lord Viscount Muskery Francis Lord Baron of Athunry Alexander MacDonnel Esq Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Sir Nicholas Plunket Knight Sir Richard Barnwal Baronet Geoffry Brown Donnogh Ocallagham Tirlagh O Neal Miles Reily Gerald Fennel Esquires Owen O Neal and Antrim refuse to submit to the Peace The Scots not yet willing to joyn in the Peace The Lord Lieutenant treats with Jones to come in 1649. Inchequin does the like but in-effectually The difficulty the Lord Lieutenant encountred in forming his Army The Lord Lieutenant finds Arms and Money no ways answerable to his expectation The Lord Lieutenant constitutes the Officers of the Army to march against Dublin The Lord Lieutenant begins the Campaign in May but was forced to use his own Credit to begin the service some write but with 8000 Foot and 2000 Horse Dublin resolv'd to be first attempted The Lord Lieutenant appears before Dublin The Lord Inchequin defeats a Party of Jones's Horse sent to Tredagh The Lord Inchequin takes in Tredagh Owen O Neal and the Parliaments Party agree Inchequin routs Farral Takes in Dundalk Colonel Monk dismissed the Parliaments Service Inchequin takes in Trim. Owen O Neal in behalf of the Parliament raises the Siege of Londonderry Sir Charles Coot censured for his compliance with Owen O Neil The Lord Lieutenant upon the view of his Army found it considerable rather to Block up the City than make a Regular Siege Colonel Reynolds Hunks and Venables arrive at Dublin Cromwel accepts of the Lieutenantship The Lord Inchequin suspecting Cromwel might land in Munster went thither A Party sent to fortifie Baggatrath under Purcel * Major General Parcel The Lord Lieutenant's Forces routed at Rathmines The Defeat at Rathmines alter'd Consultations The Lord Lieutenant from Rathmines retires to Kilkenny Colonel Jones besieging Tredath was raised by the Lord Lieutenants coming to Trim. Cromwel lands at Dublin Cromwel gains Tredath by Storm c. * Near Eniscorfy there was a Monastery of Franciscans which upon the approach of the Army quitted the Place and their Provisions very considerable Cromwel takes in Wexford The Lord Lieutenant sought all opportunities to fight Cromwel Carrick taken in The Means the Lord Lieutenant took to reduce O Neal. The Commissioners of Trust dissent from the Lord Lieutenant O Neal dies The Garrisons in Munster revolt to the Parliament The Revolt of the Munster Garrisons begot a Jealousie in the Irish Army Cromwel makes his Attempt upon Waterford but draws off to his Winter-Quarters Cromwel draws off from Waterford goes to Dungarvan Colonel Jones dies about the 18th of Decem. The Lord Lieutenant's Endeavour to impede Cromwel The Lord Lieutenant's gallant Attempt to relieve the Party that went to take in Passage The Lord Lieutenant disappointed in retaking of Carrick and good Service done by Colonel Milo Power The Treachery of Waterford against the Lord Lieutenant His Account of the State of Ireland to the King The Clergy the Fomentors of all mis-conceits against the Lord Lieutenant His desire to clear their suspicions being by their Orders onely met at Kilkenny The Clergies Assembly at Cloanmacnoise whence they intitle their Merits The Deputies of the Counties adjourn to Juni 1650. The Siege of Clonmel Limerick so far from complying as it performed not outward Civility The Assembly appointed at Loghreogh The Citizens of Limericks animosity against the Lord Inchiquin The Citizens of Limerick insinuate to the Lord Inchiquin as much against the Lord Lieutenant as before they did against him The second Assembly at Loghreogh The Lord Lieutenant had license from the King on the disobedience of the Irish to withdraw The Assembly at Loghreogh address to the Lord Lieutenant upon his resolves to leave the Kingdom Wolf's Insurrection Limerick still refractory and contemptious The Bishop of Clogher defeated His Character The Confederate Clergies Resolution to meet at Jamestown The Lord Lieutenants Reply to the Clergies insolent Letter The Clergies Answer The Bishop of Dromore and Doctor Kelly's Negotiation with the Lord Lieutenant The Message from the Bishops being justly resented by the Lord Lieutenant he writes to them to meet him at Loghreoh but they augment their Contempts The Bishops of Jamestown instead of what
remisly attended leaving their Provisions of all sorts behind them The Lord Lisle after this success better much then he could expect with so small Forces having put a Garrison in the Place returned to Dublin About one month after my Lord Lisle's return to Dublin the State was inform'd by the Lord Moore that Carrickmacross was besieged by near 2000 Rebels and that if it were not suddainly relieved not onely the Place would be taken but our men lost whereupon it was resolv'd to send away presently 1000 Foot with some Troops of Horse under the Command of Sir Henry Tichborn and my Lord Moore to raise the Siege And it fell into debate what should be done with the Place and upon a due consideration of all Circumstances and an impossibility on our part to Man and Victual the Place from hence an Act of Council was made for the demolishing of the house and bringing of our men back before this was put in execution Letters came from Captain Vaughan from Dundalk to acquaint the State that with 100 Foot and 50 Horse he had been to see in what state Carrick was that he found the men well Victualled for 14 days and that the Siege was raised that there came upon him in his return 2000 of the Rebels who charged him and as Captain Martin said shot near 5000 shot at his men who thereupon began to be somewhat in disorder so as he saw they could not well retire Whereupon he charged them with his Horse routed them killing 30 or 40 of them and got some Arms Yet the resolution taken to demolish Carick was not alter'd The Summer being thus spent the Winter apace drew on and the Provisions of the County failing where the Souldiers lay in Garrison in the Custodiums the greatest part of them return'd to Dublin where they took up their Quarters to the great grievance of the Inhabitants And now the differences between the King and his Parliament in England were grown so high and their preparations to encounter one another in a set Battle so considerable as upon that fatal day the 23. of October 1642. They came to an Engagement at Edge-Hill where the encounter was so fiercely maintain'd on both sides with so much courage and resolution headed by the Earl of Lindsey for the King and the Earl of Essex for the Parliament manfully discharging the parts both of Generals and Souldiers as the loss being in a manner equal both reported themselves Conquerors but neither were thenceforth in a condition to administer sufficient relief to the distressed Estate of the poor Protestants in Ireland whereby the Army though but lately sent over out of England was wholly neglected which made many of the Commanders take up thoughts of quitting that service and repairing to the King at Oxford having as it was said secret invitations thereunto which being understood by the Parliament and finding that from the Battle of Kilrush which was fought in April 1642. till October following the Army in Leimster had not been so active as reasonably might have been expected The Parliament to quicken the War to inform themselves of the wants and defects of the Army and of all other things that might enable them the better to send thither and dispose of there such Forces Moneys Ammunition and necessaries for that service according to the Statute which enabled the Lords and Commons in Parliament from time to time to direct thought it very expedient though by Secretary Nicholas from his Majesty expresly commanded to the contrary to send into Ireland a Committy for that purpose in the depth of Winter Members of the House of Commons Mr. Robert Goodwin and Mr. Robert Reynolds authorized from both Houses called by his Majesty their Ambassadors to which the Citizens of London joyn'd one Captain Tucker who carried with them 20000 l. in ready money besides 300 Barrels of Powder ten Tun of Match and other Ammunition They arriv'd at Dublin the 29th of October by long Sea and upon the 2d of November presented them to the State producing the Ordinance of Parliament together with their instructions to be read The Lords Justices and Council ordered their Reception with respect which they improv'd to the voluntary putting on of their Hats sitting behind the Council on a Form nor could this their carriage be reproved though resented Affairs at that time having brought on those Exigencies which their coming could onely relieve during whose abode there having Votes onely in Military Affairs they saw that Parties were continually sent forth to encounter the Rebels and when there was a failing either in Money or Provisions they engaged their own particular Credits to make up the defect Yet in respect of their being admitted as they were consequently were thought to be spies on his Majesties Ministers there His Majesty much disliked their Address and in a Letter deliver'd to the Lords Justices and Council the 10th of February Order'd their removal which was done with much content by the Board but some regreets to the Commissioners who resolv'd presently to quit Ireland and to speak truth it soon appear'd by the Index of some mens spirits what hazard they might have run should they have been obstinate therein though many suspected as it fell out their return would certainly slacken the relief of the Protestant Army against the Irish. There were three main things principally intended by this Committee during their stay in Ireland 1. They used their utmost endeavours to satisfie the Officers of the Army of the great care the Parliament took to provide their Pay and to send over money and in the mean time to furnish the Army with all manner of Provisions and Ammunitions that should be thought necessary for the carrying on the War against the Rebels 2. They made a Book wherein they desired that all the Officers of the Civil List as well as the Army should subscribe and declare their free consent that some part of their Pay and Arrear due to them for their service there should be satisfied out of the Rebels Lands when they were declared to be subdued Upon which many great sums were under-written but upon information of his Majesties dislike thereof the Commissioners being sharply threatned returned the Book so that most struck out their Names frustrating thereby a Design which would infinitely have obliged others to have subscribed In reference to which the Kings Commissioners at Uxbridge ascertain'd That his Majesty never sent any such Letter to divert the course of the Officers subscribing but the Souldiers were meerly discouraged from the same by discerning that for want of Supplies they should not be able to go on with that War 3. They finding that most of the Officers of the Army had lodg'd their Troops and Companies in their Custodiums which were most of them Places of strength enough at least to keep them from being surprized suddainly by the Rebels and that there were 7 or 8000 of the Army quartered