him upon his knees And howsoever before this glorious work was fully accomplished it pleased God to put a period to her dayes yet lived she long enough to see just vengeance brought down upon the head of that unnaturall disturber of the peace of the kingdome himself in a manner wholly deserted his country most miserably wasted and a generall desolation and famine brought in mightily consuming what was left undevoured by the sword It is very easie to conjecture in what a most miserable condition Ireland then was The miserable condition of Ireland when K. Iames came to the Crown of England the English colonies being for the most part barbarously rooted out the remainders degenerated into Irish manners and names the very Irish themlelves most mightily wasted and destroyed by the late wars and thereby much of the kingdome depopulated in every place large monuments of calamity and undiscontinued troubles King James of blessed memory found it at his first accession to the Crown of England in this deplorable estate whereupon he presently took into his care the peaceable settlement of Ireland and civilizing of the people And conceiving that the powerfull conjunction of England and Scotland would now overawe the Irish and contain them in their due obedience His lenity towards the Irish rebels and his endeavours for a civill reformation He resolved not to take any advantage of those forfeitures and great confiscations which he was most justly intitled unto by Tyrone's rebellion but out of his Royall bounty and Princely magnificence restored all the Natives to the entire possession of their own lands A work most munificent in it self and such as he had reason to believe would for the time to come perpetually oblige their obedience to the Crown of England And in this state the Kingdom continued under some indifferent terms of peace and tranquility untill the sixth year of his raigne Then did the Earl of Tyrone take up new thoughts of rising in arms and into his rebellious designe he easily drew the whole province of Vlster then entirely at his devotion But his plot failed and he finding himself not able to get together any considerable forces he with the principall of his adherents quitting the kingdom fled into Spain leaving some busie incendiaries to foment those beginnings he had laid for a new rebellion in Ireland and promising speedily to return well attended with forraigne succours to their aid But by the great blessing of Almighty God upon the wise Councels of that King and the carefull endeavours of his vigilant Ministers the distempers occasioned by the noise of that commotion were soon allayed and Tyrone never returning the peace of the kingdome much confirmed and setled King James hereupon being now so justly provoked by the high ingratitude of those rebellious traitours caused their persons to be attainted their lands to be seized and those six Counties within the Province of Vlster which belonged unto them to be surveyed and all except some small parts of them reserved to gratifie the well-affected natives to be distributed in certain proportions among British undertakers who came over and setled themselves and many other British families in those parts By this meanes the foundations of some good Towns soon after encompassed with stone wals were presently laid severall castles and houses of strength built in severall parts of the country great numbers of British inhabitants there setled to the great comfort and security of the whole kingdome And the same course was taken likewise for the better assurance of the peace of the country in the plantation of severall parts of Lemster where the Irish had made incursions and violently expelled the old English out of their possessions But howsoever the King was by due course of law justly intitled to all their whole estates there yet he was graciously pleased to take but one fourth part of their lands which was delivered over likewise into the hands of British undertakers who with great cost and much industry planted themselves so firmly as they became of great security to the country and were a most especiall means to introduce civility in those parts so as now the whole kingdome began exceedingly to flourish in costly buildings K. Charles great readinesse to redresse the grievances presented unto him by the Irish Commissioners 1640 The Lords L. Vicount Gormanstone L. Vicount Kilmaloc L. Vicount Costeloe L Vicount Baltinglas Commons Lemster Nic. Plunket Digbie Richard Fitz-garret Nic Barnewall Esq Munster Sir Hardresse Waller Io. Welsh Sir Donnogh Mac Cartie Conaght Robert Linch Geffrie Browne Thomas Burke Vlster Sir William Cole Sir Iames Mongomerie and all manner of improvements the people to multiply and increase and the very Irish seemed to be much satisfied with the benefits of that peaceable government and generell tranquility which they so happily enjoyed ANd now of late such was the great indulgence of K. Charles our Soveraign that now reigneth to his Subjects of Ireland as that in the year 1640. upon their complaints and a generall Remonstrance sent over unto him from both Houses of Parliament then sitting at Dublin by a Committee of foure temporall Lords of the upper house and twelve Members of the house of Commons with instructions to represent the heavy pressures they had for some time suffered under the government of the Earl of Strafford He took their grievances into his royall consideration descended so far to their satisfaction as that he heard them himself and made present provisions for their redresse And upon the decease of Mr. Wandsford Master of the Rols in Ireland and then Lord Deputy here under the said Earl of Strafford who still continued Lord Lieutenant of this kingdome though then accused of high treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London by the Parliament of England His Majesty sent a Commission of Government to the Lord Dillon of Kilkenny west and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet Master of the Wards in Ireland Yet soon after finding the choice of the Lord Dillon to be much disgusted by the Committee he did at their motion cause the said commission to be cancelled and with their consent and approbation placed the government upon Sir William Parsons and Sir Iohn Borlace Knight Sir Will. Parsons and Sir Iohn Borlace made L. Iustices Master of the Ordnance both esteemed persons of great integrity and the Master of the Wards by reason of his very long continued imployment in the State his particular knowledge of the kingdome much valued and well beloved among the people They took the sword upon the 9. of Febr. 1640. And in the first place they applied themselves with all manner of gentle lenitives to mollifie the sharp humours raised by the rigid passages in the former government They apply themselves to give contentment to the people They declared themselves against all such proceedings lately used as they found any wayes varying from the Common Law They gave all due encouragement to the
without any further delay to march on and presently surprise the same These false rumours being unluckily spread and by some fomented out of evill ends exceedingly increased the present distractions of the people and raised such a panick fear among them as about seven of the clock at night the Lords Iustices and some of the Councel being then in the councel-chamber within the castle there came in to them a Gentleman of good quality who having not without much difficulty as he pretended recovered the gate of the castle caused the Warders then attending to draw up the bridge assuring them that the Rebels gathered together in great numbers had already possessed themselves of a good part of the Town and came now with great fury marching down the street that leads directly towards the castle gate But this feare was quickly removed by Sir Francis Willoughby who being that day made governour of the castle caused the draw-bridge to be let down and so found this to be a false alarum occasioned by some mistake fallen among the people who continued waving up and down the streets prepossessed with strange feares and some of them upon some slender accident drawing their swords others that knew not the cause thought fit to follow the example and so came to appeare to this Gentleman who was none of their company as so many Rebels comming up to enter the castle These were the first beginnings of our sorrows ill symptomes The Lords Iustices and Councell consult what course to take for the suppressing this rebellion and sad preparatives to the ensuing evils Therefore the Lords finding by several intelligences though some purposely framed that the power of the Rebels was suddenly swollen up to so great a bulk and likely so fast to multiply and increase upon them thought it high time to consider of the remedies and in what condition they were to oppose since they could not prevent so imminent a danger The rebellion now appeared without all manner of question to be generally raised in all parts of the North and like a torrent to come down most impetuously upon them besides it was no wayes improbable that all other parts of the kingdome would take fire and follow their example they had the testimony of Mac-Mahon positive therein The first thing therefore which they took into consideration was how they were provided of Mony Arms and Munition Then what Companies of Foot and Troops of Horse of the old Army they were able to draw presently together No money in the Exchequer as also what numbers of new men they could suddenly raise For the first they had this short accompt from the Vice-treasurer That there was no mony in the Exchequer And certainly it was a main policie in the first contrivers of this Rebellion to plot the breaking of it out at such a time when the Exchequer should be empty and all the Kings revenues both certain and casuall due for that half year as well as the rents of all the British throughout the kingdome should be found ready either in the tenants or collectors hands in the country and so necessarily fall under their power as they did to their great advantage For Arms and Munition the Stores were indifferently well furnished at this time Besides severall Peeces of Artillery of divers sorts most of them fitted for present service there were Arms for near 10000. men 1500 barrels of Powder with Match and Lead proportionable laid in by the Earle of Strafford late L. Lieutenant not long before and designed another way but so opportunely reserved for this service as the good providence of God did exceedingly appeare therein but principally in the miraculous preservation of them out of the hands of the Rebels who made the surprisall of these provisions then all within the castle of Dublin the common store-house of them a main part of their designe The old standing Army as appeares by this List consisted only of 41 Companies of Foot and 14 Troops of Horse A List of His Majesties Army in Ireland 1641. Before the Rebellion began Foot-Companies consisting of six Officers viz. Captain Lieutenant Ensign Chirurgion Serjeant and Drum and fourty four Souldiers each Company LORD Lieutenants Guard 45 Sir Robert Farrar 44 Sir Thomas Wharton 44 Sir George Saint-George 44 Cap. Francis Butler 44 Sir Wil. Saint Leguer 44 Lord Docwra 44 Lord Blaney 44 Sir Robert Steward 44 Lord Viscount Rannelagh 44 Lord Viscount Baltinglas 44 Sir John Vaughan 44 Cap. George Blount 44 Sir Hen. Tichbourne 44 Sir Frederick Hamilton 44 Lord Castle-Stewart 44 Sir Lorenzo Cary 44 Cap Chichester Fortescue 44 Sir John Gifford 44 Cap. John Barry 44 Sir John Neutervile 44 Cap. Thomas Rockley 44 Sir Arthur Tyringham 44 Cap. Philip Wenman 44 Cap. Charles Price 44 Sir Charles Coote 44 Cap. Thomas Games 44 Sir Francis Willoughby 44 Sir John Borlase 44 Cap. Robert Bailey 44 Sir Arthur Loftus 44 Cap. Wil. Billingsley 44 The Lord Esmond 44 The Lord Lambert 44 Sir George Hamilton 44 Lord Folliot 44 Sir Wil. Stewart 44 Cap. Robert Biron 44 Sir John Sherlock 44 The Earl of Clanricard 44 Cap. John Ogle 44 These Companies contain Officers 246 In all 2297 Souldiers 2051 In all 2297 Horse-Troopes THE Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant generall his Troop consisting of Captain Lieutenant Cornet and Horsemen 108 The Earl of Ormonds Troop like Officers and Horsemen 107 The Earl of Straffords Troop like Officers and Horsemen 58 Lord Dillons Troop like Officers and Horsemen 58 Lord Wilmots Troop like Officers and Horsemen 58 Sir Wil. Saint-Leguer Lord President of Munster the like 58 Lord Viscount Moore the like 58 Lo. Viscount Grandison the like 58 Lo. Visc Cromwell of Lecale the like 58 Cap. Arthur Chichester the like 58 Sir George Wentworth the like 58 Sir John Borlase the like 58 Lo. Viscount Conway the like 58 Sir Adam Loftus the like 58 These Troopes contain Officers 42 In all 943 Horsemen 901 In all 943 These were so strangely dispersed most of them into the remote parts of the kingdome for the guard of severall Forts and other places as it fell out to be in a maner most impossible to draw a considerable number of them together in any time either for the defence of the City or the making head against the Rebels in the North and besides it was much to be suspected the companies lying severally so remote and ill furnished with munition could with little safety march to Dublin Yet the Lords sent Potents presently away to require severall companies of Foot and some troops of Horse presently to rise and march up from their severall garrisons towards the city of Dublin And now it was held high time to give an accompt unto His Majesty then at Edenburgh in his kingdome of Scotland and to the Lord Lieutenant continuing still at London the Parliament still sitting there of the breaking out of this Rebellion Letters from the Lords Iustices and Councell to the Lord Lieutenant
direct the Term to be adjourned to the first of Hillary Term excepting only the Court of Exchequer for hastning in the Kings money if it be possible We desire upon this occasion your Lordship will be pleased to view our Letters concerning the plantation of Conaght dated the 24 of April last directed to Mr. Secretary Vane in that part thereof which concerns the County of Monaghan where now these fires do first break out In the last place we must make known to your Lordship that the Army we have consisting but of 2000 Foot and 1000 Horse are so dispersed in Garrisons in severall parts as continually they have been since they were so reduced as if they be all sent for to be drawn together not only the places whence they are to be drawn and for whose safety they lye there must be by absence distressed but also the Companies themselves comming in so small numbers may be in danger to be cut off in their march nor indeed have we any money to pay the Souldiers to enable them to march And so we take leave and remain from his Majesties Castle of Dublin 25 of October 1641. Your Lordships to be commanded William Parsons John Borlase Richard Bolton Can. R. Dillon Anthony Midensis John Raphoe R. Digbie Ad. Loftus Ger. Lowther John Temple Tho. Rotheram Fran. Willoughbie Ja. Ware G. Wentworth Robert Meredith POSTSCRIPT THe said Owen Conally who revealed the Conspiracy is worthy of very great consideration to recompence that faith and loyalty which he hath so extreamly to his own danger expressed in this businesse whereby under God there is yet hope left us of deliverance of this State and Kingdome from the wicked purposes of those Conspirators And therefore we beseech your Lordship that it be taken into consideration there so as he may have a mark of his Majesties most royall bounty which may largely extend to him and his posterity we not being now able here to do it for him W. PARSONS To the Right Honourable our very good Lord ROBERT Earle of Leicester Lo. Lieutenant Gen. and Generall Governour of the Kingdome of Ireland THe dispatch sent to his Majesty was addressed to Sir Henry Vane Principall Secretary and carried by Sir Henry Spotswood who went by sea directly into Scotland And the Letters to the L. Lieutenant were sent to London by Owen O Conally the first discoverer of the Plot. The Lords now with all care and diligence applyed their further endeavours towards the preventing as much as was possible the destruction intended against all the Brittish inhabitants of the Kingdome The Lords Iustices cause the Proclamations to be dispersed Letters to be written and other means to be used for the prevention of the rising of the Irish in the North but all to no purpose as well as the security of the City and the places round about it A work of large extent and wherein they met with many difficulties by reason of their own wants both of men and money They having formerly sent away and dispersed the Proclamations into severall parts of the Countrey now sent Letters by expresse Messengers unto the Presidents of Munster and Conaght and to severall principall Gentlemen in those two Provinces as also to others within the Province of Lemster giving them notice of the discovery of the Plot and advising them to stand upon their guard and to make the best provision they could for the defence of the Countrey about them They sent another expresse to the Earl of Ormond then at his house at Caricke with Letters to the same effect and withall desired his Lordship presently to repair unto them at Dublin with his Troop of horse They sent likewise Commissions to the Lords Viscounts of Clandeboys and of the Ardes for raising of the Scots in the Northern parts and putting them into arms as they did also soon after to Sir William Stewart and Sir Robert Stewart and severall other Gentlemen of quality in the North. And as they gave them order for prosecution of the Rebels with fire and sword so they gave them power to receive such of them in as should submit to his Majesties grace and mercy But these dispatches they were enforced to send all by sea the Rebels having stopped up the passages and hindred all manner of entercourse with that Province by land The Lords of the English Pale repair to the Councell Board there declare their loyall affections to his Majestie The English Pale is a large circuit of land possessed at the time of the first conquest of Ireland by the English and ever since inhabited by them it contains severall Counties viz. the Counties of Dublin Meth Lowth Kildare c. The Lords of the Pale having been at the Councell Board and there declared to the Lords Justices with great protestations their loyall affections unto his Majestie together with their readinesse and forward concurrence with their Lordships in this service came unto them again within two or three dayes after with a Petition wherein they offered unto their Lordships the deep sense they had of an expression in the late Proclamation set out upon the discovery of this great Conspiracy intended as is there set down by some evill affected Irish papists which words they feared might be by some mis-interpreted and such a construction put upon them as might reflect upon their persons as comprehended under them Whereupon the Lords Justices and Councell thought fit to descend so far to their satisfaction as not only to remonstrate the clearnesse of their intentions towards them but that it might appear unto the world they entertained not the least jealous thoughts of them they caused a new Proclamation to be set out by way of explanation of the former which I have thought fit here to insert that it may appear how far they were from giving any of those Lords and Gentlemen occasion to break out into those rebellious courses they soon afterwards took to their own destruction By the Lords Iustices and Councell W. Parsons John Borlase WHereas a Petition hath been preferred unto Us by divers Lords and Gentlemen of the English Pale in behalf of themselvs and the rest of the Pale and other the old English of this Kingdome A Proclamation issued for the satisfaction of the Lords and Gentlemen of the English Pale shewing that whereas a late Conspiracy of Treason is discovered of ill-affected persons of the old Irish that thereupon a Proclamation was published by Us wherein among other things it is declared that the said Conspiracy was perpetrated by Irish papists without distinction of any and they doubting that by those generall words of Irish Papists they might seem to be involved though they declare themselves confident that We did not intend to conclude them therein in regard they are none of the old Irish nor of their faction or confederacy but are altogether averse and opposite to all their designes and all others of like condition We doe
brought down out of every part for the victualling of those that lay encamped about the Town There was allotted to every Company consisting of a hundred men for their daily allowance one biefe and halfe a barrell of corne And that they might with the more facility bring in the Country people to furnish their Army with these proportions they made not only prohibitions that no corne should be carried to Dublin but so blocked up the wayes as the poore churles that lived somewhat distant from the City could not carry their corne thither without apparent danger whereby the Market began to be very ill provided and great want and scarcity was much feared by reason of the large accession of people come from severall parts of the Kingdom up unto the City for safety Whereupon the Lords Justices and Councell made Proclamations to be published That all such as had corne remaining within some few miles distance should as their usuall manner was bring it to the Market at Dublin and they should receive ready money for the same in case they did not that they would presently send out Parties and burn their corn as it stood in the haggards and so prevent the use the Rebels intended to make of it for the victualing of their Army By this meanes the City was indifferently well supplyed all that winter with corn the Country people though otherwayes very malicious against the English and Protestants being content though with much hazard to adventure the bringing their corn where they sold it at a good rate for ready money rather then to suffer it to be threshed out by Warrants from the Lord of Gormanston for the use of the Irish Army then lying before Tredagh But while they continue their fruitlesse and unprofitable attemps there having neither skill courage experience The sad condition of the publike affaires of the State nor any meanes to bring about their impetuous desires and fond endeavours for the taking in of that Town I shall briefly represent a view of the sad estate of our affaires in Dublin It was now almost full two Months since the breaking out of this Rebellion The Lords Justices and Councell out of their deep apprehensions of a generall revolt of all the Irish through the Kingdome did in the very beginning with much earnestnesse sollicite the present sending over of Succours out of England And as soone as they began to make a little further discovery into the strength of this Conspiracy and found their own wants and utter disabilities to make any long or considerable opposition against the universall power of the whole body of the Irish as it then began to appeare unto them firmly united with almost all the Old English that were of the Romish Profession incorporated into their party throughout Ireland they did with much more earnestnesse by their frequent Letters and severall Agents represent unto his Majesty and the Parliament of England the very ill even desperate condition they were in and therefore desired that supplyes both of men money and all kinde of warlick provisions might be sent away with all speed unto them declaring that unlesse they received them presently and that in great proportions they were not able longer to subsist as they stood now environed on all sides with multitudes of the Rebels but had just reason to apprehend their own present ruine and the inevitable losse of the whole Kingdome And because they conceived the Levies in England could not be so suddenly made nor the men so easily transported from thence into the North of Ireland where the Rebels appeared in greatest numbers and had by their most unparalled cruelty towards the English done most mischeife as out of Scotland They made a proposition to the Lord Lievtenant to move both his Majesty and the Parliament The sending of 10000 Scots into Ireland pressed by the Lords Iustices and Councell that 10000 Scots might be presently raised and sent over into those Parts This they pressed with much earnestnesse representing the very great terrour the meere Irish had of that Nation that their bodies would better sort with that Climate endure more hardship and with lesse distemper undergoe the toile and miseries of an Irish war that the transportation would be made with much more facility and lesse charge it being not above three or foure houres saile from some parts of Scotland into the North of Ireland That the Kingdome of Scotland had been lately in Armes and so had all provisions necessary for the furnishing of their men for this expedition in readinesse And lastly they having so good a foundation in the multitude of their own Countrymen so advantagiously settled there already would no doubt undertake the work with all alacrity and vigorously prosecute the warre with such sharpnesse as might testifie their deep resentment of the horrid cruelties exercised upon so many thousands of their own Nation by that barbarous people Commissioners sent out of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the reliefe of Ireland These Letters arrived very opportunely about the time of the Kings return from Edenburgh to the Parliament of England then sitting at Westminster And there being even then two Scotish Lords come out of the Kingdome of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the sending Forces from thence for the reliefe of Ireland His Majesty sent to the Lords and Commons to give them notice of their arrivall and withall desired that certaine Commissioners appointed by himselfe and both Houses of Parliament might bee presently named to Treat with them and from time to time give an account of their proceedings to his Majesty and both Houses This motion was with very great readinesse yeelded unto and it was ordered that the Earle of Bedford the Earle of Leycester Lord Lievtenant of Ireland the Lord Howard of Estric nominated by the House of Peeres And Nathaniel Fiennes Esquire Sir William Ermin Baronite Sir Philip Stapleton Knight John Hampden Esquire nominated by the House of Commons should Treat with the Scotish Commissioners concerning the affaires of Ireland and that there should be a Commission granted unto them to this effect under the great Seale of England together with particular Instructions to regulate the manner of their proceedings In the propositions given in by the Scotish Commissioners they did in the first place make offer of 10000 men in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland Propositions presented to the Parliament of England for the reliefe of Ireland And that they might be enabled to send them speedily away they desired an advance of 30000 l. of the brotherly assistance afforded unto them by the Kingdome of England and that what Armes and Munition they sent into Ireland might in the same proportions be returned unto them with all expedition Next they desired that some ships of Warre might be appointed to guard the Seas betwixt Scotland and Ireland to waft over their Souldiers which they designed to transport
of the chief conspirators assured him they were come up expresly to the Town for the same purpose and that next morning they would undoubtedly attempt and surely effect it if their designe were not speedily prevented and that he had understood all this from Hugh Mac Mahon one of the chief conspirators who was then in the town and came up but the very same afternoon for the execution of the plot and with whom indeed he had been drinking somewhat liberally and as the truth is did then make such a broken relation of a matter that seemed so incredible in it self as that his Lordship gave very little belief to it at first in regard it came from an obscure person and one as he conceived somewhat distempered at that time But howsoever the Lord Parsons gave him order to go again to Mac Mahon and to get out of him as much certainty of the plot with as many particular circumstances as he could straightly charging him to return back unto him the same evening And in the mean time having by strict commands given to the constable of the castle taken order to have the gates thereof well guarded as also with the Mayor and Sheriffes of the city to have strong watches set upon all the parts of the same and to make stay of all strangers hee went privately about ten of the clock that night to the Lord Borlacies house without the town and there acquainting him with what he understood from Conally they sent for such of the councell as they knew then to be in the town But there came only unto them that night Sir Thomas Rotheram and Sir Robert Meredith chancellour of the Exchequer with these they fell into consultation what was fit to be done attending the return of Conally And finding that he staid somewhat longer than the time prefixed they sent out in search after him and found him seized on by the watch and so he had been carryed away to prison and the discovery that night disappointed had not one of the Lord Parsons servants expresly sent amongst others to walk the streets and attend the motion of the said Conally come in and rescued him and brought him to the Lord Borlacies house Conally having somewhat recovered himself from his distemper occasioned partly as he said himself by the horror of the plot revealed to him partly by his too liberall drinking with Mac Mahon that he might the more easily get away from him he beginning much to suspect and fear his discovering of the plot confirmed what he had formerly related and added these farther particulars set down in his Examination as followeth The Examination of Owen O Conally Gentleman taken before us whose names ensue Oct. 22. 1641. VVHo 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 Conaght in the County of Monaghan and to be with him on Wednesday or Thursday last whereupon he this Examinate came to Conaght on Wednesday night last and finding the said Hugh come to Dublin followed him hither 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 Oxman town 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 his lodging He saith that at the Lord Mac Guire his 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 the parts of the Kingdom in this town who with himself had determined to take the Castle of Dublin and possesse themselves of all his Majesties Ammunition there to morrow morning being Saturday and that they intended first to batter the Chimnies of the said town and if the City 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 the said Hugh then 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 this 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 businesse and to discover it to the State for the 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 tyrannicall Government was over them and to imitate Scotland who got a priviledge by that course And he further saith that when he was with the said Hugh in his lodging the second time the said Hugh swore that he should not go out of his lodging that night but told him that 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 Examinate feigned some necessity for his easement 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 Examinate came down into the Yard and finding an opportunity he this Examinate leaped over a Wall and two Pales and so came to the Lord Justice Parsons William Parsons Tho. Rotheram Rob. Meredith Owen O Conally Octob. 22. 1641. HEreupon the Lords took present order to have a Watch privately set upon the lodging of Mac Mahon as also upon the L. Mac Guire and so they sate up all that night in consultation having far stronger presumptions upon this latter examination taken then any wayes at first they could entertain Mac Mahon taken The Lords Justices upon a further consideration there being come unto them early next morning severall other of the Privy councel sent before day and seized upon Mac-Mahon then with his servant in his own lodging they at first made some little resistance with their drawn swords but finding thewselves over-mastered presently yielded and so they were brought before the Lords Justices and Councel still sitting at the Lord Borlacy's house where upon examination he did without much difficulty confesse the Plot resolutely telling them His confession That on that very day all the Forts and strong places in Ireland would be taken That he with the L. Mac-Guire Hugh Birn Capt. Brian O Neale and severall other Irish Gentlemen were come up expresly to surprise the Castle of Dublin That twenty men out of each County in the Kingdom were to be here to joyn with them That
one Tooly Conley parish Priest to Master Moore to Colonel O Neale in the Low-Countries who within few moneths after arrived with this answer from the said Colonel desiring them not to delay any time in rising out but to let him know of the day when they intended it and that he would not faile to be with them within fourteen dayes of that day with good ayd also desiring them by any means to seize on the Castle of Dublin if they could And further he saith that during the time of these their private meetings there landed at Dublin Colonel Birne Colonel Plunket Captain Brien O Neale and others who came with directions to carry men away and that these were acquainted with the Plot and did offer their service to bring it on and that they would raise their men under colour to carry them into Spain and then seize on the Castle of Dublin and with the arms found there arme their Souldiers and have them ready for any action that should be commanded them He further also saith that they had divers private consultations about the carrying on of this conspiracy not onely at Dublin but in severall other places in the Province of Vlster and that they had set down severall days for the putting of it in execution but meeting with some obstacles did not come to conclude of the certain time till about the beginning of September and that then they peremptorily resolved on the 23. of October for the day to execute this long designed plot in and that they had respect unto the day of the week which did fall on Saturday being the Market-day on which there would be the lesse notice taken of people up and down the streets that they then setled what numbers of men should be brought up out of the severall Provinces for the surprize of the Castle and what Commanders should lead them on that seeing the Castle had two Gates that the Lemster men should undertake to seize upon the little Gate which lay neerest to the place where the arms and munition was placed and that the great gate should be undertaken by those of Vlster and that Sir Phelim O Neale should be there in person but that he excused himself because he resolved at the same time to seize upon London Derry and that thereupon by the impottunity of the undertakers it was imposed upon him the said Lord Mac Guire to be there in person at the taking of the Castle of Dublin That it was further resolved what number of Forces should be brought up out of the other Provinces to make good those places if possessed by them and that Sir James Dillon did undertake to be there with 1000. men within four dayes after the taking of the Castle as also that it was resolved that every one privy to that matter in every part of the Kingdome should rise out that day and seize on all the Forts and Arms in the severall Counties as likewise on all the Gentry and make them prisoners the more to assure themselves against any adverse fortune and not to kill any but where of necessity they should be forced thereunto by opposition These particulars together with many other circumstances very considerable are set down in the relation given in by the Lord Mac Guire while he remained prisoner in the Tower of London but I have thought fit to forbear to relate them at large because I find that relation published by authority and so presented to the common view We shall find also that Mac Mahone in his examination taken when he was first apprehended by the Lords Justices and Counsel here doth testifie that all the chief of the Nobility and Gentry in this Kingdom were acquainted with the first plot and particularly that all the popish party in the Committee sent into England as likewise in both houses of Parliament knew of it In the Examnation of William Fitz Gerald it is there affirmed that Sir Phelim O Neale sending for him five days after his rising in Arms told him what he did was by directions and consent of the prime Nobility and Gentry of the whole Kingdom and that what he had done in the Northern parts the same was executed at Dublin and in all other Forts and Towns throughout Ireland As being a course resolved upon among the Lords and Gentry for the preservation of his Majesties Prerogative their own Religion and Liberties against the Puritan faction in England Scotland and Ireland and that the Lord of Gormanstone knew of this plot while he was in England is testified by Lieutenant Colonel Read in his Examination as also by the Lord Mac Guire in his relation who saith that Colonel Plunket told him that he being at London had acquainted some of the Irish Committee and particularly the Lord of Gormanstone with this plot and that they approved it well Colonel Plunket in his Letter to Father Patrick Barnwal Lord Abbot of Mellifont as he stiles him doth seem much to glory in the means he had used to incite the Lords and Gentry of the Pale to appear in that blessed cause as he tearms it and assures him that the Lord of Gormanstone whom he there cals Lord General will goe bravely on And now it will be no difficult matter to resolve what were the secondary steps and motions of this great plot as well as by what persons it was wrought out in Ireland and carried on to the very point of execution And first it is to be observed that howsoever Sir Phelim O Neale the Lord Mac Guire Philip O Rely Colonel Mac Brian The first contrivers of the Rebellion did not first openly appear in it Hugh Mac Mahone and their adherents chief of the Irish Septs in Vlster and other counties neer adjacent did first appeare upon the stage and by their bloody execution notoriously declare themselves chief actors in this horrid tragedy Yet this Rebellion was either altogether nor originally plotted by them most of them had but subordinate notions of it and they as other of the chief Nobility and Gentry throughout the Kingdom had severall parts assigned them to act at severall times in severall places and did but move according to the first resolutions taken and such directions as they had received from the first Conspirators I take it to be most probable after the generall plot came to be reduced into form that as the Lord of Gormanstone was one of the first and chief movers in it so he and the chief of the Pale joyned together to draw in as they had done in all former Rebellions the principall septs of the old Irish to engage themselves and to appear first in the businesse That the Lord of Gormanston and some others of the Engl. Pale were engaged in the first Plot is very probable And after they had joyned together and so finely ordered the matter as they had made it a generall rising as Sir Phelim O Neale tearms it of all the Catholicks throughout the
of Rebels and his Souldiers came to Kilkenny and then and there without resistance of any broke open the Goale there and forcibly took and carried away with them into Ossory aforesaid the said William and Thomas Hill where they kept them in miserable durance for some time and then hanged them both and a poore young Girle being sent from the Towne of Ballinekill to see what was become of them the said Florence Fitz Patrick meeting her caused her to be halfe hanged then letten downe and after to be buried quicke And by report of one Jone Grace that said she was an eye-witnesse the Rebels threw the dead body of the said William and Thomas Hill into a Saw-pit leaving them so farre unburied that their heads and legs lay bare untill she came and covered them with earth about a week after And further saith that they have credibly heard and beleeve that the said Florence Fitz Patrick having enticed a rich Merchant of Montrath to his the said Fitz Patricks house to bring thither his goods which he promised should be safely protected and safely re-delivered he the said Florence Fiz Patrick possessing those goods afterwards caused the said Merchant and his wife to be hanged and they have credibly heard that the said Florence Fitz Patrick also hanged Lieutenant Keies and his sonne one Hughes a School-Master and divers other Protestants And these Deponents further say that Master Edmond Butler eldest sonne to the Lord Mount Garrot Edward Butler his second sonne Captaine Garret Balnckefield and divers other rebellious Commanders and souldiers to the number of 6 or 700 horse and foot a little before Michaelmas 1642. marched from Balliragget neer to the Iron Forge of Ballinekill and there met with Lieutenant Gilbert aforenamed Ensigne William Alfrey the younger Master Thomas Bingham the Minister Robert Graves Richard Bently and about sixty more of the English Souldiers both the same parties joyned in battle but the English Souldiers though fighting valiantly and killing many Rebels and one Walter Butler a Captaine among the rest were at the last so overcome with multitudes of the Rebels that then and there they the said LIEUTENANT Gilbert William Alfrey Thomas Bingham Robert Graves Richard Bently and two other English Souldiers were absolutely slaine and the heads of all those seven carried to Kilkenny by those Rebels their pipes for joy playing before them on horsback and on a market day which happened to be on the next day following those heads as triumphs of their Victories there brought out and set upon the Market-Crosse where the Rebels but especially the women there and amongst the rest Elice Butler a reputed mother of severall bastards yet the daughter of the said Mount Garrot stab'd cut and slasht those heads the said Elice Butler drawing her skeine slasht at the face of the said William Alfrey and hit him on the nose and those that could but get a blow or stab at those heads seemed to account themselves happy And the Rebels then and there put a gag in the mouth of the said Thomas Bingham the Minister and laying the leafe of a Bible before him bad him preach saying his mouth was open and wide enough and one of those leud viragoes that had no weapons strook one of the heads so with her hand that the same night her hand grew black and blew rankled and she was extreamly lame with it a quarter of a yeer after and that lamenesse and the swelling thereof growing to an issue is like to continue till she dye and another of those women that with great rejoycing went and saw those heads did quickly after the sight therof fell into such an astonishment and distraction that for three or four dayes after she could not sleep nor rest but cried out that still she saw those heads before her eyes which heads being said by the Rebels to be the heads of Hereticks were not afforded Christian buriall but buried without the City in a crosse high-way altogether in a hole the buriers chopping and cutting the heads with their Spades as they threw mold upon them and to make the manner of their buriall and the heads themselves yet more contemptible the Rebels over the hole where the heads were laid set up a long stick whereto they fixed papers that all may take notice of the place And after and from that time the rebellious roguish Boyes took up and frequently used an Oath By the Crosse of the seven devils heads buried on Saint James Green And further say that upon the testimony of a roguish Boy that an English man that was a Maulster to one Richard Shaw of Kilkenny had said He would beleeve the Devill as soon as the Pope the cruell Rebell the Provost Mashall Cantwell aforenamed suddenly took and hanged him up in an Apple-tree till he dyed And further saith that one Vnsill Grace and divers other Rebels in Kilkenny broke open the doors of the Cathedrall Church there and robbed the same Church of the Challices Surplices Ornaments Books Records and Writings there being and made Gunpowder in Saint Patricks Church and digged the Tombes and graves in the Churches in Kilkenny under colour of getting up molds whereon to make Gunpowder And these Deponents have credibly heard and verily beleeve that the Rebels at Goran took 25. Protestants men women and children and pretending and promising to them a Convoy to Duncannon hanged them dead in the way in a Wood neer Newrosse and that the Rebels halfe hanged five more Protestants at Balliragget by the command of the said Captaine Edward Butler and the said Thomas Cantwell the Marshall and letting them downe againe before they were dead suffered them somewhat to recover and then buried them quick And these Deponents Thomas Lewes Patrick Maxwell further say that as they have been credibly told by Walter Archer of Kilkenny a Rebell that a poore English mans wife that went out to gather sticks at a place about two miles from Kilkenny was taken and hanged up by the Rebels And the Deponents Elizabeth Gilbert Patrick Maxwell further say that a poore woman and two children she being the wife of one Harvey of Ballinekill comming to Kilkenny about Candlemas was twelve moneth were then and there assaulted and set upon by the rebellious Inhabitants of that City and hunted baited and drawne with dogs cruelly stab'd with skeines and so miserably used that one of the children died presently having the guts pluckt out and the Deponent Patrick Maxwel further saith that there were taken out of Graige by the Rebels and hanged to death one John Stone and his wife and his sonne William Valentine Robert Pyme and his wife one of their children of a yeer and a halfe old and Thomas White a Merchant and his wife who being great with child had her belly ripped up after she was hanged so as the child fell out of the cawle alive Walter Sherley Mistris Joane Salter an ancient Widow one John a servant to Stone aforenamed the
this is a true Relation as neare as I could collect it from the mouthes of those that were present of that famous victory so much boasted of by the Irish whereunto the inexperience of the English Commanders and the disorders of the common souldiers who were then but newly taken up and had never seene any service contributed farre more then any skill or courage shewed by the Rebels which they had only opportunity at that time to expresse by a loud shout Besides they were treble their number and had for their leaders Roger Moore Hugh Birne and Philip O-Rely the two last persons who had been trained in the Warres abroad under the Spanish Discipline and were of greatest experience among them they brought down a great part of those Forces out of the Counties of Cavan and Monagham and as soone as they came within the River of Boyne great numbers of the ordinary churles of the Pale adjoyned themselves unto their men and so made up a body sufficient to performe that service The newes of this unhappy defeat was brought the very same day being munday the 29 of November at evening to the Lords Justices as they sate in Councell It troubled them very much and as it was a matter of great rejoycing among the Popish Inhabitants of the City so it bred a generall sorrow and consternation among the English and Protestants It hapned in a very ill season the late made Colonels were but then in raising of their men And such Companies as were compleated were by the Lords the same day of the marching of the 600 men to Tredagh Sir Charls Coots Expedition into the County of Wiclow commanded out under Sir Charles Coot into the County of Wiclow for the repressing the insolencies of the Birnes and the Tooles towards the poore Engl sh whom they began to fall upon most furiously stripping murdering and driving them all out of that Territory as soone as they had taken in the Kings Fort in that County called Carews Fort and possessed themselves of the chiefe places of strength belonging to the English Gentlemen there He marched to the Town of Wiclow where he caused some few men and one woman to be executed they being found upon Examination guilty of the late spoyles committed most brabarously upon the English there and the very cloaths of an English woman that was stripped being found upon the back of that Irish woman that was there hanged In his return Luke Toole with neare a 1000 Irish under his command encountred him but he quickly made them flie and take to the next Bogge with the losse of some few of their men And so he returned with all possible speed to Dublin the Lords having sent him notice of the late defeat given to the Forces sent to Tredagh As soone as he arrived he applyed himselfe very carefully to the securing of the Town which now began to be more desperately threatned then ever by the neare approaches of the Rebels And so great were the disorders then in the City so inconsiderable the Forces raised the English Inhabitants so strangly dismayed the Papists so highly raised in spirit and courage as had the Commanders of the Rebels drawn those Forces together as they had in readinesse on both sides the River of Boyne for the siege of Tredagh and so marching up to Dublin had taken the advantage of the present distractions and forward affections which they would have undoubtedly found there to assist them They had in all humane probability made themselves Masters of the City and might so straightly have begirt the Castle as would within a very short time have endangerd the surrender of it But it pleased God to infatuate their Counsells The strong opinion they had that they should presently carry Tredagh and so possesse themselves of all the Armes and Munition they had in that Town caused them to fix their resolutions there and to set up their rest upon the obtaining that place In this as in many other wonderfull acts of divine providence which I then observed with great admiration it pleased God to appeare even miraculously in the preservation of the City and Castle of Dublin with the poore remainders of English and Protestants who had there taken sanctuary And now the Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale thought it high time to discover themselves and their affections to the cause They certainly had not only long entertained a defection in their thoughts but were as the severall forementioned Examinations testifie The defection of the Lords and chiefe Gentlemen within the English Pale the first contrivers and bringers in of the Northern Rebels into this execrable Plot they had now likewise drawn them into rhe Pale and therefore they could not hope now much longer to walk under a maske and entertaine the state with further professions of their loyalty They had gotten a competent proportion of Armes and Munition out of his Majesties store into their own possession They saw now the Northern Rebels advanced within the River of Boyne with very considerable Forces to strengthen their Party and by the late encounter and successefull victory they had therein they pleased their fancies with confident conceits of certaine prevailing if they would now declare themselves by a publike conjunction in the common cause and raising such numbers of men and quantities of provision as the plentifull circuit of the Pale did afford would prosecute the warre so happily begun and so successefully managed hitherto These and severall other considerations working very powerfully among the Lords and cheife Gentlemen of the Pale they did within very few dayes after the late defeat solemnly proceede on to the actuall consummation of their long meditated revolt For the manner place The manner of the conjunction of the Lords and chief Gentlemen of the men of the English Pale with the Northern Rebels expressed in the Examination of Edward Dowdall Esquire time and all other circumstances I shall referre the Reader to this ensuing Relation given in upon Oath March 1641. before Sir Robert Meredith Knight Chancellour of the Exchequer in the Examination of Edward Dowdall Esquire a Gentleman of the Pale one very well esteemed among them one that was present at all their meetings and deeply engaged in all their councells and actions He deposeth that some foure or five dayes after the defeat of the English souldiers at the Bridge of Gellianstown there issued a Warrant from the Lord of Gormanston to the Sheriffe of the County for a generall meeting of all the Countie at Dulick But the place of meeting was afterwards changed to the Hill of Crofty where all the Lords and Gentry of the Country met viz. The Earle of Fingale the Lord Viscount Gormanston the Lord of Slaine the Lord of Lowth the Lord of Dunsany the Lord of Trimblestone the Lord Nettervile And of the Gentry Sir Patrick Barnwall Sir Christopher Bellew Patrick Barnwall of Kilbrew Nicholas Darcy of Plattin James Bath of Acharn
them and so conclude with some professions of their Loyalty and readinesse to give their advices for the advancement of his Majesties service and the common peace of the Kingdome This was an Answer such as might justly be expected to come from persons so deeply now involved in the guilt of so high a Rebellion The great indulgence-used by the Lords Iustices and Councell towards the Lords of the Pale It is no wonder that they were thus put to their shifts and enforced to take up such fond excuses and imaginary pretences for their disloyalty For they could not in their own consciences but be most sensible of the very great indulgence used by the Lords towards them They had not failed in severall particulars to manifest the great confidence they had in their good affections They had refrained from giving them any manner of provocation or jealousie They had forborn the doing some acts of hostility for a time upon some Rebels among them because they would not give them any the least cause of complaint And however it appeared by the Examination of Mac Mahone and severall others that they were privie to the first plot yet the Lords proceeded with so much caution and tendernesse towards them hoping that now the Conspirators had failed in the maine part of their design which was the surprisall of the Castle of Dublin that they might yet reclaime them thereby and draw them into a just concurrence with them for the preservation of the Kingdome out of the hands of those bloody Northern Rebels who in the beginning were the only appearers in the cause But all was to no purpose they were too deeply engaged to recede therefore they ran now violently on and drew along all the cheife Gentlemen likewise of the Pale with them And now it shall be declared Luke Nettervile and others of the chief Gentlemen of the Pale gather Forces and quarter them within six miles of the City of Dublin how the cheife Gentlemen of the Pale began and proceeded on to act their parts About the beginning of December presently after the late defeat given to the English souldiers in their march to Tredagh Luke Nettervile second Sonne to the Lord Viscount Nettervile caused a Proclamation to be made in the Market place of Lusk requiring all the chiefe Gentlemen and other Inhabitants thereabouts not to faile upon paine of death presently to repaire unto Swoords a Town within six miles of the City of Dublin And within few dayes after did meet there the said Luke Nettervile George Blackney Esquire George King Iohn Talbot Richard Golding Thomas Russell Christopher Russell Patrick Caddell William Travers Richard Barnwell Laurence Bealing Holywood of Artaine and severall other Gentlemen who began to gather great numbers of men about them and putting such Armes into their hands as they had in readinesse at the present made their provisions to entertaine a settled Camp within that place The Lords understanding of this unlawfull tumultuous Assembly The Gentlemen of the Pale required by the Lords Iustices and Councell to repaire to Dublin and deeply apprehending the mischievous consequences that might ensue thereupon sent this Warrant following in a faire manner requiring thereby their present repaire unto them By the Lords Justices and Councell William Persons Io Burlace WHereas we have received information that Luke Nettervile Esquire Blackney of Rickenhore Esquire and George King of Clontarfe Gentleman and other Gentlemen of the County of Dublin with great numbers of men are assembled together in a body at Swoords and there abouts within six miles of this City for what intent we know not but apparently to the terror of his Majesties good Subjects and although considering the unseasonablenesse of this time chosen for such an act without our privity whatsoever their pretence is a construction might be made thereof to their disadvantage yet we being willing to make an indulgent interpretation of their actions in regard of the good opinion wee have of the Loyalty of those Gentlemen who it seemes are principalls amongst them in that Assembly and conceiving there may be some mistaking in that enterprise we have chosen the rather hereby to charge the said Luke Nettervile Blackney King and all the persons there Assembled with them upon their duties of Alleageance to his Majesty immediately upon sight hereof to separate and not to unite any more in that manner without direction from us and that the said Nettervill Blackney King and six others of the principall persons of those who are so assembled at Swoords or thereabouts as aforesaid doe appear before us to morrow morning at ten of the Clock to shew the cause of their assembling in that manner whereof they may not faile at their extreame perils Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin 9. December 1641. Ormond Ossory Rob. Dillon Cha. Lambart Jo. Temple Charles Coot But they were so farre from rendring obedience to the commands they received from the Board as they kept the Messenger in restraint a day and a night threatning to hang him and after returned a scornfull peremptory Answer signifying unto their Lordships The Answer made by the Pale to the Lords Warrant That they were constrained to meet there together for the safety of their lives that they were put in so great a terror by the rising out of some horse Troops and foot Companies at Dublin who killed foure Catholikes for no other reason then 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 runne the hazard thereof by manifesting their obedience due unto their Lordships These were the very words and expressions used by those Gentlemen in their Answer And accordingly they still continued together encreasing their numbers of men and threatning to come down and encamp themselves at Clantarfe a little Village standing upon the very Harbour of Dublin where some of their followers had already at a low water seised upon a Bark lying there and carried away all the Commodities they found in her a great part whereof they had put into the then dwelling house of the said King to whom that Village did belong This was an act of so high a straine and so eminently tending to the present ruine of the City as it required a sudden remedy Delayes were dangerous in a matter of such perillous consequence and the Lords Justices and Councell plainely perceived that if the Rebels were suffered to come down and lodge there that they might without much difficulty make themselves masters of those few Barkes then in the Harbour the State having at that time no Ships of force to guard them and so put themselves in a faire way if they could bring the Wexford Ships about to joyn with them to block up the Harbour and stop the comming in to their reliefe all such succours as should
be designed in England to Land at that Port. Whereupon the Lords finding that the said King continued still with Luke Nettervile and those other Gentlemen at Swoords that they carried themselves with such high contumacy as that disdaining to render any obedience to their Warrant they neither made their departure from that place disbanded their men nor so much as pretended to repaire to them according to their commands at the time prefixed therein It was thought high time to take some other course with them And therefore about foure dayes after the day first set down by the Lords for their appearing before them and the very next day after another Proclamation published for their immediate separation the Lords Justices and Councell made this ensuing Order directed to the Earle of Ormond Lievtenant Generall of his Majesties forces in Ireland By the Lords Iustices and Councell William Parsons Io Burlace A Warrant from the Lords Iustices and Councell for the suppressing of the Rebels of the Pale FOrasmuch as divers of the Inhabitants of Clantarfe Raheny and Kilbarrock have declared themselves Rebells and having robbed and spoyled some of his Majesties good Subjects are now assembled thereabouts in Armes in great numbers mustering and training of their Rebellious multitudes to the terror and danger of his Majesties good subjects as well at Land as at Sea which their boldnesse is acted in such manner as to put scornes and affronts upon this State and Government they acting such depredations even before our faces and in our own view as it were in despight of us It is therefore ordered that our very good Lord the Earle of Ormond and Ossory Lievtenant Generall of the Army doe forthwith send out a party of Souldiers of horse and foot to fall upon those Rebels at Clantarfe and thereabouts who in such disdainfull manner stand to out-face and dare us and to endeavour to cut them off as well for punishment as terror to others and to burn and spoyle the Rebels houses and goods And to prevent their further anoying of the shipping going out and comming 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 spoyle and sinke and make unserviceable the rest Given at his Majesties Castle of Dublin December 14. 1641. Ormond Ossory Rob Dillon Cha Lambart Ad Loftus Jo Temple Cha Coote Fran Willoughby According to their Lordships directions the Earle of Ormond gave present order to Sir Charles Coot to march out privately with some Forces unto Clantarfe which he did without any noise and meeting there with no opposition Sir Charls Coot Marches out with some Forces to Clantarfe he only suffered his men to pillage the Town whereof they burnt some part as also part of Mr Kings house in which much of the goods were found that had been taken out of the Bark before mentioned And this was the first expedition that the Forces newly raised in Dublin made after the defeat of the 600 men in their passage to Tredagh As for the Massacre at Santry mentioned in the Answer from the Lords of the Pale The true Relation of the pretended Massacre at Santry and obtruded to the World as a just pretence to deterre them from waiting on the Lords at Dublin it was no other then this Information was given to some of the Officers of the Army that there had been a robbery newly committed by certaine Rebels at the house of one Smith called the Buskin within five miles of the City And that if a Party of Souldiers might be sent forth the Informer offered to bring them upon those Rebels as also upon other Rebels who had lately murdered one Mr Derick Huberts a Dutch Merchant at the Skirries whereupon two Officers with 40 foot were sent out with direction to fall upon those Rebels They went directly to Santry and there finding some strangers with weapons lodged in suspicious places they slew foure of them who as was conceived were criminall Offendours and one of them after upon further enquiry found to be a Protestant But how fairely soever this matter was carried The proceedings held by the Lords and chiefe Gentlemen of the English Pale after they had joyned with the Northern Rebels yet they resolved to make use of it for the present by way of justification of their disloyalty And having so farre publickly declared themselves they held it not fit to sit idle any longer but began to put the whole Circuite of the Pale into a posture of Warre and to make all such preparatives as might enable them by the powerfull assistance they had out of the North presently to take in Tredagh and afterwards to march up to Dublin and there make themselves Masters of that City and Castle A work as now it stood represented unto them not likely to prove lesse glorious then successefull and easie to be atchieved They had for this end many publike meetings among themselves as also with the cheife Comanders of the Northern Rebels In the first place they declared the Lord Viscount Gormanstone Generall of the Forces to be raised in the Pale Hugh Birne Lievtenant Generall the Earle of Fingale Generall of the horse Then they gave power to those Lords to nominate Captaines in severall Baronies to be respectively appointed out of them and likewise to raise souldiers in every such Barony viz. eight souldiers out of a Plowland land which containes according to the ancient estimation 120 Acres and every Plowland to maintaine the Souldiers to be set out by them The Barony of Duleek was assigned to the Lord of Gormanston the Barony of Screene and Desse to the Earle of Fingale the Barony of Slaine to the Lord of Slaine the Barony of the Navan to the Lord of Trimblestone Kells to the Lord Dunsany Ratogh and Dunboine to Sir Richard Barnewall of Crickestown Baronite and Patrick Barnwell of Kilbrew and by these persons severall Captaines were appointed and numbers of Souldiers raised according to the orders set down at the general meeting There were also Warranrs issued out by the Lord Gormanston whereby those persons appointed to raise the men and to furnish them with provisions for their entertainment were required upon paine of death to send them out Other Warrants were likewise sent out to other persons who were appointed Overseers for the threshing out of all the Protestants corne which was assigned generally through the Pale to be applyed towards the maintenance of their Army The next work was to make a constant provision of all manner of necessaries for the entertainment of such Forces as were already brought down out of the North as well as those raised in the Pale and set down at the siege of Tredagh And for this service they sessed the whole Country thereabouts and ordered what proportions of corne and numbers of cattell should be
Garret Ailmer the Lawyer Cusake of Gormanston William Malone of Lesmullin Sedgrave of Kileglan Linch of the Knos Lynam of Adamstown Laurence Doudall of Athlumney Nicholas Doudall of Brownstown this Examinates brother and him this Examinate with a multitude of others to the number of a 1000 persons at the least whose names he this Examinate cannot for the present call to minde And after about two or three houres spent upon the said Hill of Crofty by the Lords and Gentry aforesaid There came towards them Colonel Mahowne Philip O-Rely Hugh Boy-Rely Roger Moore Hugh Birne and Captaine Fox attended on with a gard of Musketiers These were some of the chiefe Leaders among the Northern Rebels And this Examinate saith That as soone as the parties drew neare unto the said Hill the Lords and Gentry of the Pale rode towards them and the Lord of Gormanstone being one of the first spake unto them and demanded of them Why and for what reason they came Armed into the Pale Vnto which Roger Moore made present Answer That the ground of their comming thither and taking up Armes was for the freedome and liberty of their consciences the maintenance of his Majesties Prerogative in which they understood he was abridged and the making the subjects in this Kingdome as free as those in England were whereupon the said Lord of Gormanston desired to understand from them truly and faithfully whether those were not pretences and not the true grounds indeed of their so doing and likewise whether they had not some other private ends of their own which being by all denied upon profession of their sincerity his Lordship the Lord of Gormanston then told them Seing these be your true ends we will likewise joyn with you therein unto which course all agreed And thereupon it was publikly and generally declared that whosoever should deny to joyn with them or refuse to assist them therein they would accompt him as an Enemy and to the utmost of their power labour his destruction And this Examinate saith That after the agreement so made as aforesaid There issued another Warrant to the Sheriffe of the County of Meath to summon all the Lords and Gentry 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 Earle of Fingale the Lord of Gormanston and the rest of the Lords and Gentlemen aforenamed 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 unto Dublin which Answer was brought ready drawn by the Lord of Gormanston and presented by his Lordship and being perused by the said Councell at Law was signed by the Lords In this manner was this great transaction most solemnly consummated betwixt Lemster and Vlster Valence and Brabant as Sir Phelim O. Neale stiles them in his Characteristicall Letter before mentioned sent to Owen Roe O-Neale in Flanders were now publickly united together in that great Assembly The Lord Viscount Gormanston on the one side and Roger Moore on the other had both been long tampering about the drawing of this most important work to the forme it now received they had at length brought it unto perfection they two had the glory of it and appeared the great publike instruments of this powerfull union The Lords and chiefe Gentlemen of the Pale having thus farre declared themselves became so high and presuming The endeavours of those of the Pale to strengthen their party against the power of the State as they little valued what was done or commanded by the State at Dublin they now wholly applyed their endeavours to make such preparatives towards the warre as might strengthen their party which as it now stood in conjuncture with the Northern Rebels they beheld as invincible and their power not to be resisted by the inconsiderable Forces drawn together by the Lords Justices and Counsell at Dublin Severall Gentlemen who in the severall Counties of the Pale were made Captaines and had received Arms from the State for their Companies departed from their obedience and addressed themselves and their Companies wholly to the service of the Rebels Nicholas White Esquire Sonne and Heire to Sir Nicholas White of Lislip was the first that gave the example about the second of December but he carried the matter so handsomely as his Company ranne away to the Rebels as he pretended without his consent or even his knowledge any longer time before their departure then to give him opportunity to come and acquaint the State therewith and his own disability to hinder the same The reasons why the State Summond the grand Counsell of all the Lords of the Pale and others then in the City of Dublin But before it was possible to use any meanes of prevention the men were all gone with their Armes and Munition to the Rebels Many of the other Captaines desired no such fine cover for their intentions but delivered themselves and their Armes up to be disposed as they should direct without any further scruple or complement to the State Whereupon the Lords finding how notoriously they were abused by the very great confidence reposed in such Gentlemen of the Pale as being made Captaines had received Armes from them and perceiving what course they began now to stear and how they were resolved to imploy their own Armes against them they took such order and with such celerity and diligence made stay of severall of those Armes which were delivered out for the use of the Pale as of the 1700 Armes distributed among the severall Counties thereof they recovered againe into their hands 950. And now by reason the Northern Rebels had settled their Camp within the River of Boyne and so lay betwixt Tredagh and the City of Dublin all entercouse in the Pale was interrupted the passages stopt up and the Lords Iustices and Councell understood very little or nothing of any proceedings held there They therefore finding their dangers daily to encrease through the near approach of the Rebels unto the City of Dublin the continuall affronts and new scornes the State daily received from them their own want of strength to represse their bold attempts or to preserve the poore English round about them out of their bloody hands resolved now in these their high extremities to try the effects of those large protestations and great professions of loyalty the Lords of the Pale had lately made unto them and to give them a faire opportunity of rendring a most acceptable service to his Majesty and the state here For this end therefore they determined to call a grand Councell of all the Lords which resided within any convenient distance of the City of Dublin clearly and freely to represent unto them the ill condition of their affaires and how highly it imported them in respect of their own