Court a Stranger to the Kingdom to the Laws and to the Practice and Rules of Court and withal a Man of a heavy and slow Understanding should on a sudden be able to dispatch the Business of the highest Court in the Kingdom and penetrate into the most intricate Causes which are commonly determined in that Court He was so far from this that he was forced to make many needless References to the Masters in Causes that had no difficulty in them This was the general way of his dispatching Causes And then what Report could be expected from Mr. Stafford one of these Masters a Popish Priest noted and exposed by his own party for want of Sense and who perhaps had never been within the Courts till he sate down as one of the Masters of the Chancery or from the other Masters who were yet more ignorant and unexperienced if possible than he 3. If we take a view of the Country we shall find their Case rather worse One that a few days before was no other than a Cowherd to his Protestant Landlord perhaps was set before him on the Bench as a Justice of the Peace and preferred to command as Captain in the Field or a Deputy Lieutenant in the County I am assured that some were thus preferred without passing through any intermediate steps to prepare or fit themselves for the better Discharge of those Places The Consequence of which is easie to be imagined every one that is acquainted with Business and Dispatch knows what a Torment it is to have to do with raw and unexperienced Officers who must be taught by him that comes to have his Business done how they should go about it and which is often hardest to do he must convince them that they are mistaken or do not understand their own Offices which such Men are most unwillingly brought to own and yet no Busisiness can be rightly done till they are convinced of it This was the condition of all the Offices in Ireland from the King 's Privy Council and Secretaries of State to the High Constables which without any other Defect must and did bring many Inconveniencies to the Kingdom 4. But after all if none but Men of ordinary parts and tolerable natural fagacity had been employed tho unexperienced and uneducated time might have taught them and made them at least tolerable if not dexterous at their Business But the generality of those who were preferred had such weak Understandings and unimprovable Capacities that they who were superseded by them could not reflect on it without the greatest Indignation to see Men not much removed from Idiots put into their Places and Offices which they had bought with their Mony and had taken considerable pains and spent a good part of their Lives to qualifie themselves to execute whereas those that succeeded them had nothing of Improvement or Education and withal were so proud and lazy and dull that they neither would nor could make themselves better by Application or Industry who had nothing to recommend them to the King but that they were Papists and such as he believed would never scruple any Command however illegal or absurd so it tended to weaken or destroy Protestants which was the sole Qualification that recommended them SECT VII III. King James had gotten a Sett of Officers fitted to destroy a Kingdom by reason of their loose Principles and want of Moral Honesty 1. THE Instruments King James used to carry on his Design were not only very poor and insufficient for their Places but they were likewise Men fit to be employed in ill Designs and it is hardly credible how rare it was to find amongst them a Man that had ordinary Moral Honesty It is true they seemed to make Conscience of hearing Mass and not eating Flesh on Fridays but hardly of any thing else To have been always reckoned a Knave was no Exception or Bar to any Man's Preferment amongst them they declared they must make use of such Those that were infamous whilst the Government was in the Hands of Protestants for Forgeries Perjuries Robberies and Burglaries were all indifferently employed by them That some such should be admitted into the Army is not so much to be wondered at but that honest Gentlemen should be turned out to make room for them was intolerable and yet here not only the Army but even the Courts of Justice were filled with such One of the new Examinators of the Chancery was formerly detected of a Forgery Several of their Burgesses nay Sheriffs were notorious Thieves and some burnt in the Hand The Speech of one of their new Justices of the Peace gave some Diversion it was one Mr. Stafford for whom the Master of Chancery his Son had procured a Commission of the Peace it was soon after the Earl of Tyrconnel came over Governour and it fell to the new Justice's turn to give the Charge at the quarter-Quarter-Sessions in which he set forth as well as he could the Happiness of the Kingdom under the new Government Amongst other Conveniences that we reap by it said he it has rid us of Tories for all those are taken into the King's Army And the Truth was many of these that had been indicted outlawed nay condemned got Commissions The famous Tories the Brannans who had been guilty not only of Burglary and Robbery but of Murther also who were under Sentence of Death and had escaped it by breaking Goal were made amongst the rest Officers and the Earl of Tyrconnel seemed to bear a peculiar favour to these Tories and a spite to such as had been diligent to suppress them There was a famous Tory in Munster one Power who did abundance of Mischief and disturbed the whole Country Mr. Fitz-Simons a Gentleman of the Army had rid the Country of him by which Piece of Service he deserved very well but instead of being rewarded he was one of the first Protestant Officers that was cashiered There was another notable Tory one Flemming that was very troublesom and mischievous in Leinster some Troopers by their diligence surprized him and cut him off it was observed that the Earl call'd out those Troopers first and cashiered them some considerable time before he turned out the rest of the Troop which every Body interpreted to be a Mark of his Displeasure for that Service I have heard it observed that there were at least twenty noted Tories Officers in one Regiment and very few Regiments were without some 2. There was another sort of People had mighty favour with them I mean Converts to their Religion A man may I confess upon just motives or such as seem just to him change his Opinion and Religion and cannot justly be condemned of Dishonesty for so doing but he is certainly a very dishonest Man that dissembles or alters his Opinion without any other visible motive besides Gain or Preferment Now this was the Case of many of their Officers Several of the Children of the Papists of the Kingdom had
of them 9. Secondly It was not safe for any Officer that was not forcibly turn'd out to refuse to act if he had either voluntarily resign'd his Place or refused to officiate in it he must have expected to be treated with more severe usage than other People as one peculiarly disaffected Some therefore were forc'd to keep even in the Army in their own defence but these were so few that there need not much be said for them I do not remember above three that had Commissions in the Army who were desirous to leave it and those were kept in only for a pretence of Impartiality and for such as acted as Justices of Peace they were often serviceable to Protestants in freeing them from Oppressions and Injuries Those few Protestants that took Commissions of Oyer and Terminer did it on a Publick Account and always acted for the Benefit of Protestants 3. Protestants by keeping in Employments though never so insignificant found means and opportunities of serving their distressed and oppressed Friends and they seldom fail'd to improve these means to the best advantage the poor People that stay'd in Ireland were sensible of this and often wisht that more had stay'd on this account and truely if they had by the advantage of their Address and Understanding above the Papists who generally were ignorant of business they might probably have done much good and have gained farther time for the poor People from their destruction 10. However I do not intend to justifie all that was done by Protestant Officers if any of them advanced abetted or concurr'd in an ill thing let them suffer for it but I humbly conceive the Protestants of Ireland that staid here and saw and observed every Man's behaviour and were the only sufferers by the ill management of any Officer whatever his Station was may be safely trusted to give a Character of each I own that it is not reasonable that a Certificate under a few hands should be accepted as a Vindication of any Man for an Officer might have serv'd and oblig'd a few who cannot in gratitude refuse to certifie for him and yet have done mischief enough to others but on the other hand is it reasonable that secret whispers or surmises especially of such as were absent and strangers to their behaviour should undo or misrepresent any Man and therefore I think if any dispute should arise concerning such Matters a fair and legal hearing in publick were the most equal way and is all the favour that generally any Protestant Gentleman who staid and officiated under King James needs desire They are so few that this would not be any great trouble and their Honesty and Prudence generally so notorious that it would not be any blemish to them nor were they guilty of any servile or mean Compliances or paid any other deference than what was due to a Government under whose Power God's Providence had placed them and which by unseasonable opposition they would only have exasperated to their own destruction 11. Fourthly As to the Clergy that staid it were an injustice to them to make any Apology for them they staid in pure sense and conscience of their Duty and minded it so effectually that their Labours were acceptable and useful to their People in many respects and I doubt not but will be approv'd by all good Men they foresaw what use Papists would make of empty Churches and deserted Congregations and that the Priests would not be wanting to perswade the People that they were no true Pastors that deserted them in time of danger they were acquainted with the Artifices us'd to draw Protestants from their Religion and that the present juncture would afford new Temptations which the Seducers would not fail to press with all possible advantage it required therefore all their Skill and Industry to arm their People against these Instruments of Seduction and keep them steady to their Principles under such mighty Temptations and we owe it to the Prudence Industry and Courage of the Clergy that remain'd next to God's goodness that so few were prevail'd with to change their Religion notwithstanding that they saw they must be ruined if they stood firm whereas if they comply'd they would not be only safe but sharers likewise in the Booty 'T is true many of them suffered by their staying and lay under great difficulties but it pleas'd God to support and deliver them and if they had perished it had been with this comfort that it was in their Office and in their Masters Work The Conclusion 1. AND here I do solemnly protest that no private disatisfaction that no ill will to King James's Person nor prejudice against any Body has moved me to say what I have said but that I might vindicate our selves by speaking truth in a matter that so nearly concern'd us both in our Temporal and Eternal Interest And I must likewise protest before God who will judge between us and our Enemies in this Point that I have not aggravated the Calamities we have suffered nor misrepresented the Proceedings against us out of favour or affection to a Party but have rather told things nakedly and in general than insisted on such Particulars as might seem to serve no other purpose but to make our Adversaries odious 2. It were much to be wished and in due time it is hoped that Commissions may be issued by the proper Authority into the several Counties to enquire of the treatment the Protestants underwent and the damages they suffered and I am well assured that if this be done and an Account be taken on Oath from the Eye Witnesses and Sufferers the matter will appear with a much worse Face than it is here represented and where one Story may happen undesignedly to be aggravated twenty worse will be to be added to supply it There is not a more necessary or effectual Means can be taken for clearing the Protestants in this Kingdom or justifying the State in their proceeding against the Irish and we are ready and willing to stand or fall in the Censure of the World by this Plea according as on proof of Particulars by sufficient Evidence the Truth shall appear 3. Upon the whole the Irish may justly blame themselves and their Idol the Earl of Tirconnel as King James may them both for whatever they have or shall suffer in the issue of this Matter since it is apparent that the necessity was brought about by them that either they or we must be ruin'd King James if the Earl of Tirconnel may be believed chang'd his Religion on His Sollicitations for he often brag'd that he was the King's Converter He preferr'd the gratifying this Favourites Ambition to the affections of his Protestant Subjects in England and Ireland He left England and came into Ireland on his invitation and he brought ruin and desolation on the Kingdom especially on his Protestant Subjects in prosecution of the measures laid down by him yet so far was he in love with
Encouragers and Abettors of them by an unpardonable neglect in the Execution of his Royal Orders And whereas the Issuing out Commissions of Oyer and Terminer in all the Counties of the Kingdom which was done some Months ago was judged by his Majesty with the Advice of his Privy Council the most Efficacious means to prevent and quash such horrid Disorders I. You are Ordered by his Majesty on sight hereof to let Me his Principal Secretary of State know what you can alledge to justifie your selves from the Imputation of having strangely Neglected all this time the Execution of your Commission which proves the chiefest Cause of this general Desolation of the Country II. You are Commanded by his Majesty to proceed without the least delay to the Execution of your Commission and send to me for his Majesties information a Weekly Account of your Proceedings III. That you Adjourn from one Week to another and at farthest not above a Fortnight IV. That you proceed with all Just Severity against such of the Justices of the Peace as have Bayled contrary to Law Malefactors And against all such as favour in any manner Robbers and Thieves V. That you proceed against all persons whatsoever who have given or will give any Obstruction to the Execution of your Commission And if they prove Officers of the Army or Absent so as you do not think fit to proceed against them that you forthwith send me an Account thereof VI. That you proceed with all Rigour against all persons found Guilty of Counterfeiting the Kings Coyn. VII And lastly That you Order all men to fall upon publick Robbers who have no regard of their Duty towards GOD their King or Country destitute of all sense of humanity and consider them but as wild beasts who live upon Prey and Rapine This is Gentlemen what I have at present in Command from his Majesty to send to you to which I will adde this Advertisement That you cannot light upon better Measures to Allay the KINGS just Resentment of your former Neglects the occasion of a world of Mischief then by a speedy and vigorous Execution of your Commission Let the present general cryes of the people for Justice and the present general Oppression under which the Country groans move you to have a Compassion of it and to raise in you such a publick spirit as may Save it from this inundation of Miseries that break in upon it by a Neglect of his Majesties Orders and by a general relaxation of all Civil and Military Laws Consider that our Enemies leaving us to our selves as they do conclude we shall prove greater Enemies to one another than they can be to us and that we will destroy the Country and enslave our selves more than they are able to do What Inhumanities are daily committed against one another gives but too much ground to the truth of what our Enemies conclude of us I had almost forgot a special Command of his Majesty that is That you will consider the Liberty of Conscience granted by Act of Parliament and to punish the Infringers of that Law who by an indiscreet and inconsiderable Zeal usurp his Majesties Prerogative not reflecting how much his Majesties and the Nations interest and not only the Religion of the Nation but the Catholick Religion in all the parts of Christendom is involved in a Religious Execution of that Liberty of Conscience Dublin-Castle Jan. 2. 1689. I am Gentlemen Your most humble Servant Marquis D Albaville To the Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer for the County of Dublin or to any or either of them to be Communicated to the rest To the Lord Chief Justice Nugent No. 26. A Copy of a Petition of the Minister of Wexford for his Church and the Order thereupon To the KING 's most Excellent Majesty The humble Petition of Alex r. Allen of Wexford Clerk Most humbly Sheweth THAT your Petitioner being Minister of the Parish Church of St. Iberius in the Town of Wexford hath therein for several Years past daily celebrated Divine Service and exercised all other Offices of his Function with Piety to GOD and constant Loyalty to your Majesty Yet Your Petitioner on the 25th of October last was Dispossessed of his said Church contrary to the late Act of Liberty of Conscience by Edward Wiseman Esq Mayor of Wexford who a few dayes after did not only by the Rabble introduced by him brake down and demolish all the Pewes and Altar of the said Church but did seize and unjustly deny your Petitioners Vestmonts Church Book and other Ornaments thereof to the great prejudice of your Petitioner and his Parishoners although your Majesties Roman Catholick Subjects have several Chappels fit for the free Exercise of their Religion both within and without the Walls of the said Town and whereunto several Protestant Inhabitants have given liberal Contribution Your Petitioner further sheweth That he the said Edward Wiseman as Magistrate of the Town of Wexford is obliged as usually it hath been by Act of Vestry to encourage and provide for the relief of distressed Orphans and other poor of the said Town of Wexford yet uncharitably refuseth to interpose his Authority in the behalf of such poor whereby they must inevitably perish if not speedily Relieved May it therefore please Your Majesty to Restore your Petitioner to his Parish Church which was never Forfeited by Absence or otherwise And that the said Edward Wiseman may be obliged to Repair it and leave it in the same condition he found it and that such care may be taken for Relief of distressed Orphans and other Poor from Famine as is usual And Your Petitioner shall ever pray c. At the Court in Dublin-Castle Jan. 28th 1690. Present the KING 's most Excellent Majesty in Council WHEREAS His Majesty is Informed upon Oath That Edw. Wiseman late Mayor of the Town of Wexford did Illegally seize upon the Parish Church of St. Iberius in the said Town of Wexford broke down the Pews and Altar of the said Church and detained the Vestmonts Church-Books and other Ornaments thereunto belonging His Majesty was Graciously pleased to Order Mr. Nicholas Stafford present Mayor of the said Town of Wexford forthwith to cause the said Church and Goods to be Restored to Alex r. Allen Minister of the said Parish in the same condition they were in when Seiz'd upon by the said Edward Wiseman Hugh Reily No. 27. Mr. Prowd Minister of Trim his Account of the Remarkable Accident that hapned upon Plundring the Church of Trim. SIR THIS will give you an Account of an eminent Instance of Gods Vengeance shewn on one John Keating a Church Rapparee who in the very act of Plundring and Breaking of our Church was struck with a sudden Madness in which he continued for the space of Three Weeks and that day three weeks he was struck Mad dyed in a sad and miserable Condition The manner of it was thus This Keating was a Souldier in the Lord of Kinmares