Phelims Brother Terilaugh O Neale should be sent to them and the Nurie which should be undertaken by Sir Margeriasse and his Brothers for whom Sir Phelim in regard they were his brothers in law his deceased Lady being their Sister did undertake Moreover it was agreed that Sir Phelim Master O Rely Master Coll. Macmahone and my brother should with all speed they could after that day raise all the forces they could and follow us to Dublin both to arme the men and succour us and defend and garrison the Towne and Castle and likewise Master More should appoint Leinster-Gentlemen to send like supply of men All which I was by their appointment to informe Master O Rely I being next him together with what he was to doe for his own part Then there was feare of the Scots conceived that they would presently oppose themselves and that would make the matter more difficult to avoide which danger it was resolved not to meddle with them or any thing belonging to them and to demeane our selves towards them as if they were of us which we thought would pacify them from making any opposition and if the Scots would not accept of that offer of Amity but would oppose us we were in good hope to cause a stirre in Scotland that might divert them from us And I beleeve the ground for that hope was that two yeares before in or about the beginning of the Scots troubles my Lord of Tyrone sent one Terilagh O Neale a Preist out of Spayne and this I take it was the time that he was in Treaty with Cardinall Richelieu to my Lord of Argyle to treat with him for help from my Lord for him to come into Ireland and as was saide for a marriage betweene the saide Earle and my Lord of Argyles daughter or Sister I know not which and this messenger tooke Ireland in his way thither with whom Master Terilagh O Neale Sir Phelims Brother had conference from whom this relation was had That said messenger went into Scotland as I did heare from the said Master Neale or from Emer Macmahone afore named I know not from which of them but what he did there I could never heare by reason that my Lord of Tyrone was presently after killed they were the more confirmed therein hearing that my Lord of Argyle did say neare on the same time as I guesse and when the Army was raised in Ireland as I thinke to a great Lady in Scotland I know not her name but did heare that she was much imbarked in the troubles of that Kingdome then she questioning how they could subsist against the two Kingdomes of England and Ireland that if the King did endeavour to stirre Ireland against them he would kindle such a fire in Ireland as would hardly or never be quenched And moreover we knew my Lord to be powerfull with the Ilanders or Red-shankes in Scotland whom we judged would be prone and ready to such Actions they for the most part being descended out of Ireland and holding the Irish language and manners still and so we parted the next day being Wednesday from Lough Rosse every man about his owne taske and so when I came home I acquainted my brother with all that was done and what they had appointed him to doe and did likewise according as they appointed me send to Master O Rely to let him know as much And the eighteenth of the same moneth I began my journey to Dublin and when I came to Dublin being the day before the appointed day of putting that resolution in execution there I met with Captaine Con O Neale sent out of the Low-Countryes by Colonell O Neale who came after the messenger sent by us formerly to the saide Colonell and was by him dispatched with his Answer to encourage us in our resolution and to speedy performance with assurance of succours which he said would not fail on the Collonells behalfe And for the more certainty of helpe from him and to assure us that the Colonell had good hopes to procure aide from others he said that it was he himself that was imploied from him to Card. Richelieu twice that Summer who gave them very faire promises to answer the Colonells expectation with which he said that the said Colonell and himselfe were really assured of the Cardinalls aide and that he was likewise commanded by the Collonell upon our Resolution of the day to give notice thereof to him and that he would be within foureteene dayes over with us with aide but he the said Con O Neale landing 9. or 10. dayes before and meeting with Captaine Brian O Neale who made him acquainted with what was resolved he did write all the matter to Colonell O Neale so as he was sure of his speedy comming And that Evening he and I came to meete the other Gentlemen and there we met Master Moore Collonell Birne Collonell Plunket Captaine Fox and another Leinster-Gentleman a Captaine I thinke of the Birnes but I am not sure wheiher a Birne or a Toole and Captaine Birgan O Neale and taking an accompt of those that should have beene there it was founde that Sir Phelim O Neale and Master Collo Macmahone did faile of sending their men and Colonell Birne did misse Sir Mergan Cavanagh that had promised him to be there but he said he was sure he would not fail to be that night or the next morning in Town and of the two hundred men that were appointed there were onely eighty present yet notwithstanding they were resolved to goe on in their Resolution and all the difference was at what time of the day they should set on the Castle and after some debate it was resolved in the afternoone and the rather hoping to meete the Councell there then for they saide if they should take the Castle and be inforced by any extreamity for not receiving timely succour out of the Countrey having them they could not want and so parted that night but to meete in the morning to see further what was to be done and immediately thereon I came to my Chamber and about nine of the clock Master Moore and Captaine Fox came to me and told me that all was discovered and that the City was in Armes and the Gates shut up and so departed from me and what became of them or of the rest I know not but think that they escaped yet how or at what time I doe not know because I my selfe was taken that morning After a deliberate reading and rumination of this account given by Macquir I shall desire the Reader to be distinct in these particular considerations First I would have him observe here the principall Agents in this desperate Assassination Secondly I would have notice taken what the end and pretences were which moved and enraged these Agents Thirdly what the opportunities and contingencies were which made that very season pitcht upon for action Fourthly what the stratagems and policies were which attended their enterprize Fiftly To
whilst we are placed in the light to the Court will sufficiently verifie that the prime Engeniers and Masters of this infernall plot had not religious but politick ends therein and those not peculiar to Ireland but common to all the three Kingdomes and such as I have already intimated But I must not frame a meere narrative or play the Historian I have to doe with a shameles and lying generation with whom Authorities themselves are scarce authenticall wherefore for my cheife fundamentall I will insist upon that confession which was made and penned by the Lord Macqueir himself This confession was voluntarily written by the said Lord about June 1642. whilst he was a prisoner in the Tower and it was afterwards avowed by him at the day of his death in the presence of the Leiutenant of the Tower of the two Sheriffes of London and many others And because it seemes something concise in some passages and a little too darke in others and hitherto hath not beene printed in so exact a Coppy as it might I shall now publish it more perfect and more punctually agreeing with the originall which still remaines in Master Becks hands of Lincolnes Inne and for the better understanding of such as are not so inquisitive or inspective I shall adde some Observations and give a few unquestionable Illustrations of mine owne The Confession followes in haec verba JUNE 1642. BEing in Dublin Candlemas Terme last was twelve moneth the Parliament then sitting Master Roger More did write to me desiring me that if I could in that spare time I would come to his house for then the Parliament did nothing but sit and adjourn expecting a commission for the continuance thereof their former commission being expired and that some things he had to say to me that did neerely concerne me and on receipt of his Letter the new Commission for continuing the Parliament landed and I did returne him an answer that I could not fulfill his request for that present and thereupon he himselfe came to towne presently after and sending to me I went to see him to his lodging and after some little time spent in salutations he began to discourse of the many afflictions and sufferings of the Natives of that Kingdom and particularly in those latter times of my Lord of Straffords Government which gave distast to the whole Kingdom and then he began to particularize the suffering of them that were the more ancient Natives as were the Irish how that on the severall Plantations they were all put out of their Ancestours estates which sufferings as he said did beget a generall discontentment over all the whole Kingdome in both the Natives to wit the old and new Irish and that if the Gentlemen of the Kingdom were disposed to free themselves furtherly from the like inconveniency and get good conditions for themselves for regaining their Ancestours or at least a good part thereof estates they could never desire a more convenienter time then that time the distempers of Scotland being then a foot and did aske me what I thought of it I made him answer that I could not tell what to think of it such matters being altogether out of my element then he would needs have an oath of secrecie from me which I gave him and thereupon he told me that he spoke to the best Gentlemen of quality in Lemster and a great part of Conaught touching that matter and he found all of them willing thereunto if so be they could draw to them the Gentlemen of Vlster for which cause said he I came to speake to you then he began to lay down to me the case that I was in then overwhelmed in debt the smalnesse of my estate and the greatnesse of the estate my Ancestors had and how I should be sure to get it againe or at least a good part thereof and moreover how the welfare and mainteining of the Catholique Religion which he said undoubtedly the Parliament now in England will suppresse doth depend on it for said he it is to be feared and so much I heare from every understanding man the Parliament intends the utter subversion of our Religion by which perswasions he obtained my consent and so demanded whether any more of Vlster Gentlemen were in Town I told him that Master Philip Rely Master Torrilagh O Neile brother to Sir Phillim O Neile and Master Colloe Macmahone were in town and so for that time wee parted The next day he invited Master O Rely and me to dine with him and after dinner he sent for those other Gentlemen Mr. Neale and Mr. Macmahon and when they were come he began the discourse formerly used to me to them and with the same perswasions formerly used to me he obtained their consent And then he began to discourse of the feazebility and easines of the attempt considering matters as they then stood in England the troubles of Scotland the great number of able men in the Kingdome meaning Ireland what succours they were more then to hope for from abroade and the Army then raised all Irish men and well armed meaning the Army raised by my Lord Strafford against Scotland then of the manner how it ought to be done First that every one should indeavour to draw his owne freinds into that act and at least those that did live in one Countrey with them and when they had so done that there should be a set day appointed and every one in his own quarters should rise out that day and seize on all the Armes he could get in his countrey and send to the Irish in the low Countreis and Spaine to let them know of the day and resolution so that they be over with them by that Day or soone after with supplyes of Armes and Ammunition as they could and this Day to be neere winter so that England could not be able to send forces into Ireland before May and by that time there was no doubt to be made but that they themselves would be supplyed by the Irish beyond Seas who he said could not misse of help from either Spaine or the Pope But that his resolution was not in all things allowed For first it was resolved nothing should be done untill first they had sent to the Irish over Seas to know their advice and what hope of succour they could give for in them as they said all their hope of releife was and they would have both their advice and resolution before any further proceedings more then to speake to and try the Gentlemen of the Kingdome every one as he could convenietly to see in case they would at any time grow to a Resolution what back and strength they might trust to Then Master Moore told them that it was to no purpose to spend much time in speaking to the Gentlemen for there was no doubt to be made of the ancient Irish that they would be ready at any time And that all the doubt was in the Gentlemen of the
Pale but he said that for his owne part he was really assured when they had risen out the Pale Gentlemen would not stay long after them at least that they would not oppose them in any thing but be Neuters if in case they did that they had men enough in the Kingdome without them Moreover he said that he had spoke to a great man who then should be nameles that would not faile at the appointed day of rising out to appeare and be seene in the Act but that untill then he was sworne not to reveale him And that was all that was done at that meeting onely that Master Moore should the next Lent following make a journey downe into the North to know what was done there and that he also might informe them what he had done and so on parting Master Philip Rely and I did importune Master Moore for the knowledge of that great man that he spoke of and on long intreaty after binding us to new secrecy not to disclose him untill the day should be appointed he told it was the Lord of Mayo who was very powerfull in command of men in those parts of Conaght where-he lived and that there was no doubt to be made of him no more then was of himselfe and so we parted The next Lent following Master More according to his promise came to Vlster and by reason it was the time of Assizes in severall Counties there he met onely with M. Rely and nothing was then done but all matters put off untill the May following where we or most of us should meet at Dublin it then both being Parliament and Terme time In the mean time there landed in Ireland one Neale O Neale sent by the Earle of Tyrone out of Spaine to speak to those Gentlemen of his name and kindred to let them know that he had treated with Cardinall Richelieu for obtaining succour to come for Irrland and that he prevailed with the Cardinall so that he was to have Armes Munition and Money from him on demand to come for Ireland and that he onely expected a convenient time to come away and to desire them to be in a readinesse and to procure all others whom they could to be so likewise which message did set forward the proceedings very much so that Master More Master Rely my Brother and I meeting the next day in Dublin and the same Messenger being there too it was resolved that he should returne to the Earle into Spaine with their resolution which was that they would rise out 12. or 14. dayes before or after Alhollantide as they should see cause and that he should not faile 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 beleeved by reason of many such reports formarly which was found to be false and so the Messenger departed with directions that if the Earles death were true he should repaire into the Low-countries to Colonell Owen O Neale and acquaint him with his Comission from the Earle whereof it was thought he was not ignorant and to see what he would advise or could do himself therein and returne an answer But present after his departure the certainty of the Earles death was known and on further resolution it was agreed that an expresse Messenger should be sent to the Colonell to make all the resolutions known to him and to returne speedily with his answer and so one Toole Connilly a Priest as I think Parish Priest to Master More was sent away to Colonell O Neale In the interim there came severall Letters and news out of England to Dublin of Proclamations against the Catholiques in England and also that the Army raised in Ireland should be disbanded and conveied into Spaine and presently after severall Colonels and Captaines landed with directions to carry away those men amongst whom Colonell Pluncket Colonell Birne and Captaine Brian O Neale came but did not all come together for Colonell Pluncket landed before my comming out of town and the other two after whereupon a great feare of suppressing Religion was conceived and especially by the Gentlemen of the Pale and it was very common amongst them that it would be very inconvenient to suffer so many men to be conveied out of the Kingdome it being as it was said very confidently reported that the Scottish Army did threaten never to lay down Armes untill an uniformity of Religion were in the three Kingdoms and the Catholique Religion suppressed And thereupon both Houses of Parliament began to oppose their going and the Houses were divided in opinion some would have them go others not but what the definitive conclusion of the Houses was touching that point I cannot tell for by leave from the House of Lords I departed into the Countrey before the Prorogation but before my departure I was informed by John Barnewall a Frier that those Gentlemen of the Pale and some others Members of the House of Commons had severall meetings and consultations how they might make stay of the Souldiers in the Kingdome and likewise Arme them for the defence of the King being then much injured both of England and Scotland as they were informed and to prevent any attempt against Religion for it was said but very secretly that the King did in those times say to Master Nicholas Plunket one of the Irish Committee then in England that if they would stick to him he would sticke to them this I heard I think from the said John Barnewell but in truth I am not sure whether from him or no but certaine I am that he from whom I heard it did confidently report it And presently after I departed into the Countrey and Master O Rely being a Member of the House of Commons stayed till the Prorogation and on his coming into the Countrey sent to me to meet him and I came to his house where he told me that he heard for certaine that the former narration of Barnewall to me for I did acquaint him with it was true and that he heard it from severall there was also Emer Macmahone made privy formerly to all our proceedings at Mr. O Relyes lately come out of the place where he met with the aforenamed John Barnewall who told him as much as he formerly told me and moreover that those Collonells that lately came over did proffer their service and industry in that act and so would raise their men under colour to convey them into Spaine and then seize on the Castle of Dublin and with the Armes there Arme their souldiers and have them ready for any action that should be commanded them but that they â—â—d not concluded any thing because they were not assured how the Gentlemen of the remote parts of the Kingdome and especially of Vlster would stand affected to that act and that assurance of that doubt was all their impediment then we three began to think how we might assure them of the
should be undertaken by those of Vlster and because there was a doubt made how all this could be done in so short a time they did appoint that all that were there present should not faile to meete againe there the twenty of September to give an Accompt of all things as well hopes as impediments and if at that interveiw all things should happen to be well that they goe forward or if otherwise to prolong the Execution of it to a more convenient time and so we parted every man into the Countrey about his owne taske and I in my way home came to Master O Relyes house and there I received a letter from Sir Phelim O Neale that his Lady was dead and to be buried on the Sunday following this being on the Saturday and desiring me in all kindnes to come to the buriall and Master O Rely having received another letter to the same effect would needes have me goe thither whereunto I was very unwilling being weary and withall not provided to goe to such a meeting as well said he to prevent any jealousie from the Ladies freinds as also to conferre with Sir Phelim touching all these proceedings for neither he nor I did ever speak to Sir Phelim concerning those matters before but to his brother Mr. Tiloragh O Neale comming thither we found Capt. Bryan O Neale lately come out of the low Countries sent over by Col. O Neale to speake to and provoke those of Vlster to rise out into Armes and that he would be with them on notice of their day the same day or soone after it and it was asked of the said Captaine what aide he could send or procure being but a private Collonell or where he could get any He replyed that the said Collonell told him that hee had sent to severall places that Summer to demaund aide and in particular to Cardinall Richeleiu into France to whom he had sent twice that yeare and had comfortable and very hopefull promises from them and especially from that Cardinall on whom he thought the Collonell did most depend so that there was no doubt to be made of succour from him and especially when they had risen out that it would be a meanes to the Cardinall to give aide we did the more credit him in regard of the former treaty betweene the said Cardinall and the Earle of Tyrone as formerly is said for my owne part I did and doe beleeve that the Collonell doth depend on France for aide more then on any other place as well for these reasons as also that Omer Macmahone formerly mentioned told me that presently after the Isle of Rees enterprize he being then in the Low Countreies did heare for certaine that the Earl of Tyrone together with the Colonells did send into France to the Marshall of France that was the Generall of the French forces at the Isle of Rees to deale with him for procuring of aide to come then for Ireland and that he received in answer from the said Marshall that he was most willing and ready to contribute his indeaveours for his furtherance therein but that for the present he could not answer my Lords expectation by reason that the King had wars then in Italy which hee thought would be at an end within halfe a yeare or little more and then my Lord should not doubt of any thing that he could doe for his assistance but those warres continued a great deale longer so for that time that enterprize failed and after the buriall was done I gave those Gentlemen knowledge of what I had done at Dublin and how I was to returne thither and then they began to thinke how to surprize London-Derry they being neere it but could not then agree in the manner and so Sir Phelim desired me to take his house in my way going to Dublin and that I should have a Resolution to to carry with me touching London-Derry and thereupon I parted home but soone after came to Dublin to the afore-appointed meeting with those Colonells But first I tooke in my way Sir Phelim O Neales house to be certaine what he had done and his answer was that he knew that matters could not be put in execution by the fift of October as was appointed and that they would make another longer day for it and that he would provide for the taking of London-Derry by that day and so I came to Dublin to give an account of that was done and also know what further should be done I was not two houres in my lodging when Master Moore came to me who knew of what was done by those Colonells formerly by Coll. Birne and told me that the Messenger sent to Colonell Neale was come with answer desiring us not to delay any time in rising out and to let him know of that day before hand and that hee would not faile to be with us within fourteene dayes of that day with good aide also desiring us by any meanes to seaze the Castle of Dublin if we could for he heard that there was great provision in it for warre and Mr. Moore moreover said that time was not to be over-slipped and desired me to be very pressing with the Colonells to goe on in their resolution but on meeting with them they were fallen from their former resolution because those of the Pale would doe nothing therein first but when it was done they would not faile to assist as Collonell Plunket did affirme and so on severall meetings it was resolved on by them to desist from that enterprize for that time and to expect a more convenient time but before that their resolution Sir Phelim O Neale and the aforesaid Capt. Brian O Neale followed me to Dublin as they said to assist and advise me how to proceede with that Colonell but neither they nor Mr. Moore would be seene therein themselves to those Gentlemen but would meete me privately and know what was done at every meeting alleadging for excuse that I being first imployed in that matter it would not be expedient that they should be seene in it and moreover they would not be knowne to me to be in Towne but by a few of their friends untill they were in a manner ready to depart at least as long as I was in Towne for I left them there but when I made them acquainted with their determination of desisting from that enterprize they thought it convenient that we should meete with Master Moore and Collonell Birne to see what was further to be done concerning the former intention of their owne and accordingly we did send to them that they should meete us and at that meeting where were onely Sir Phelim Mr. Moore Colonell Birne Captaine Neale and my selfe after long debate it was resolved that we with all those that were of our faction should goe on with that determination that was formerly in May concluded to wit to rise out and moreover to seize on the Castle as the Colonells were purposed