uncertainely and falsly grounded are worthie of no answer at all having all along the plain marks of insoliditie and sedition upon them yet to satisfie the doubts of such judicious and upright men as onely desire to know the truth and com not with a minde pre-occupate and suborned by injurious principles I shall indeavor to lay open the Querist's errors and delirements resolve the Queres hee makes and discover the truth in the things hee most harp's upon for his advantage and becaus I conceiv the Jesuit's first Quere though not in plain words yet implicitely by insinuation intend's principally Ireland and the pretended interest of the Irish as hee in som of them after expresseth And although also my short and weak wings are farr deficient to soar so high a pitch as to cite all or neer the sum of all authentick Authors and Records manifesting the proprietie right and interest of the Land of Ireland to be originally in the British yet becaus those of the Nation of England already led away with the aërie and vain pretenses of the Irish and who never yet scrutinized the English interest may bee undeceived made sensible of their former errors possessed with the English right bee acquainted with the iterated rebellions of the Irish in manie ages the often reducing and bringing them to subjection by the British or English and with other things by these Queres made disputable I shall freely contribute my Talent to this so necessarie work and first set down the Queres in order and then answer them severally AN ANSWER TO THE Irish Queres The first Quere WHether the Land or inheritance that a Nation hath for som hundreds or thousands of yeers enjoyed and possessed without any others laying claim to have a more special right to the same bee not their special right which God and nature hath given them The first Answer IN this first Quere the Querist desire 's to have it inferred and also granted that the Irish Inhabitants as they now stand in opposition to England are an entire Nation and that they were the first and sole Proprietors of Ireland as given unto them by God and nature whereas in truth they are a people composed partly of the old Britains the first Inhabitants thereof partly of Scythians and Gothes sent thither out of Biscaie in Spain partly of Danes and other Easterlings som sent in by the Kings of Britain and others intruding themselvs and principallly of English sent thither by the Kings of England in several ages as in the ensuing discours shall appear so as the fraud and fallacie of this first Quere being cleerly laid open strike's farr to the answering of all the rest And first to say somthing of the soil and Island now called Ireland which by several ancient writers hath been rendred by several other names signifying for the most part that it is a Western part of Britain which the very name now given unto it by the Irish viz. Eirin signifying a western Countrie doth much demonstrate and besides at this day a part of Mounster in Ireland is called Hiermoun in English West-Mounster which shew the name Eirin to bee derived from Hier which is west as appear's plainly by Mr Cambden a faithful relater of the best antiquities extant the ancient Geographer writeth in these words of Islands for greatness the Indian Taprobane is prime and principal next after it Britain and in third degree another British Island called Hibernia that is Ireland whereupon Ptolomie in his writings of Geographie call's it in plain words Britannia parva the old Geographers called it the Britains Island Strabo called the Inhabitants Britains Diodorus Siculus termed Irin a part of Britain and Aristotle in his book de mundo Cap. 3. hath these words as they stand translated viz. Ibi sunt Insulae quae quantitate maximae habentur numero verò duae sunt Britanicae dicuntur Albion Hibernia By all which it fall's cleer that by the most ancient and authentick writers the Island of Ireland was ever taken and accounted a British Island only belonging to great Britain neither is it found in any approved Writer or Record that ever any King or Potentate claimed right or interest in the soil or Land of that Island save only the Kings of great Britain in right of their Kingdom now called England which in several ages they have not failed to doe by reducing and subduing the unjust rebellion and usurpation of those unrulie Inhabitants and if you look into Monuments or Records of later time you shall never finde it called a Kingdom or a Realm till in the reign of Henrie the 8. when by Act of Parlament it was made and styled a Kingdom and that King declared and confessed King thereof unanimously agreed by all the Inhabitants of that Island But that by all Acts of Parlament in that Land and other Records it was alwaies till then for 400 yeers or thereabouts called the King's land of Ireland and by several Acts of Parlament viz. one Act in the twentie eighth yeer of that King Henry the 8 reign Cap. 2. That Land is declared to be appending and belonging to England And by another Act there made in that King's reign the said Island is declared to be a Member appending and rightfully belonging to England and united to the same and in severall other Acts there the same in substance is asserted and ordained and all this agreed and assented unto by the very Ancestors of those now in Arms there against England and the Governors thereof and yet by this Querist it is esteemed to bee an Original entire Nation distinct from any Conqueror yea such as hee scruple 's to have them call'd Rebels Thus having given you the opinion and report of the ancient and som modern proofs of the denomination and full relation of that Island to Great Britain it will bee requisite that by the like ancient and modern evidence the just right and proprietie of the English to that Land and to the dominion thereof and to the naturall subjection of all the Inhabitants thereof to England bee also manifested and avowed the better to let the world see the Querist's fraud and subtiltie in this general vast Quere and indeed throughout all the rest of his abusive Queres and insinuations Mr Cambden that faithfull searcher into Antiquities affirmeth that most of the best approved and knowing Writers out of Antiquities do determin that the first known Inhabitants of Ireland were Britains sent thither by the Kings of Great Britain of which opinion he conclude's himself to bee but that they could not send sufficient Inhabitants to replenish such a Continent and that by a great mortalitie happening among them they were much diminished and you may perceiv by a Statute made in Ireland in the 11. yeer of Queen Elizabeth that Gormond by som Writers called Gorgund Son to Belin King of Great Britain was Lord of Biscaie in Spain as his posteritie long after him
their homage to him who thereupon came and performed the same accordingly which was don in the year after our Saviour's nativitie 579 and this prove's a claim at least made by the Kings of great Britain to the Island of Ireland as part of their dominions Afterwards as is known to all men of anie reading the Saxons and Angles out of Germanie invaded great Britain and by manie contests in Arms and bloudie Battels obteined the Dominion thereof dividing it into several Kingdoms amongst themselvs which continued for manie years In all which times the Irish Inhabitants took more Libertie to root themselvs in their barbarous usurpation and tyrannie for wee cannot finde that then before or since they established anie certain Government either regal or otherwise neither are there extant anie authentick memories of anie certain or passable Laws ordeined by them for the regulating of anie Christian people yet soon after the Saxon's Heptarchie was reduced into an Entire Monarchie It is manifest by good Historie and Record that Edgar King of great Britain then and now called England not unmindful of that Kingdom 's ancient right and interest in Ireland labored and obteined another reducement and had the possession of most of that continent as appear's by the Books of that excellent writer Judg Cook extracted out of Records of the Tower Afterwards when the Danes obteined the Rule and power in great Britain they so little forgot the ancient and just challenge to Ireland as that they sent thither good numbers of men who gained large footing in several places of the best parts of the Island of whom there yet remain manie visible Monuments as their intrenchments and Fortifications to this daie called Danes Mounts or Rathes in Irish Lisses and round slender high Towers yet called Danes Steeples or Danes Towers yea the best and largest Suburbs about Dublin is yet called Ostmantown which term the Saxons gave to the Danes as Easterlings and doubtless it is their then access and som former incursions made by them as aforesaid which left manie of them there fixed who were the ancestors to the now pretended original Nation as pretended to bee given to them by God and Nature Afterwards the Norman William the Conqueror became possessed of the Dominions of England it is universally known what business hee had aswel to settle that so gained Land as to content his Allies and parties brought with him and to preserv what hee left behind him in France to which retrospect hee was enforced by manie disturbances and attempts neither is it unknown how unwarrantably his three next successors came to the Crown in England and against what counterworkings and heart-burnings they held Regencie there besides their distractions in their affairs and from their neighbors of France beeing not free from incumbrances of Scots and Welsh whereby all judicious men may conclude that none of them could safely embrace the restitution of Ireland howsoever it concerned them But assoon as one lineal descent had setled the Crown of England upon King Henry the second who was great Granchilde of the said William the Norman and who is recorded to bee the most powerful English Monarch both in England and France since the Normans coming in That King applied to the Pope for his consent to regain his said Land of Ireland who consenting thereunto to the end it might bee brought into orderly Government as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Hee yet suspended all action thither for som years beeing interrupted by his affairs in France and the disobedient combinations of his sons But after an occasion hapning by the invocation of one of the Irish pettie Kings hee permitted manie of his Subjects of England and Wales to pass thither who by their valor possessed themselvs of a good part of that Island Then in the year 1172 did that King with a competent Armie repair thither in person and resumed into his hands his ancient right of Dominion and interest there without much bloudshed and was therein confirmed by the absolute and free submissions of all the pettie Kings and other Rulers aswel Ecclesiastical as Temporal and by all others then of anie value there which they delivered unto him under their Seals There did hee also receiv the Homage Fealtie Allegiance and subjection of all those pettie usurping Princes and others as his Liege Subjects There did hee hold a great Council or general Assmblie of all the Prime inhabitants of that Island at Lismore which they called a Parlament and gave them the English Laws Vbi Leges Angliae ab omnibus sunt gratanter receptae juratoriâ cautioone praestitâ confirmatae There did hee send his Mandats to the Archbishops Bishops and Clergie of Ireland to assemble in a Synod at Cashel wherein Cbristianus Bishop of Lismore was President in which Synod that King's entrance actions and atchievments there were declared to bee lawful and it was there also concluded that it was most meet that as Ireland by God's appointment had recovered a lawful Lord and King from England so also they should from thence receiv a better from of living they also then established that all Divine Offices of holy Church should from thenceforth bee handled in all parts of Ireland according as the Church of England did observ them In that Synod also they made divers other Canons concerning the Church-Government there which Acts were ratified by the Regal Autoritie of the same Henrie the second To the same purposes another general Synod was soon after held at Armagh in Vlster where the same things and others for right ordering of that Government were resolved and agreed upon There was also placed Hugh Lacie Justice of Ireland for the Government of that Land wherein that Land then seemed to bee formally setled in a peaceable subject condition to England as it ought to bee Thus may the Querist and all others see that that Land and supposed original Nation did not continue manie hundreds or thousands of years nor was enjoied till these times without anie others laying claim to have right to the same It may bee demanded though standing thus how might King Henrie the second seiz all that Land into his own hands and grant it to adventurers as after hee did To this the answer is easie For in a short time after that King and the greatest part of his Army withdrew into England Then did all those pettie Kings Rulers and men of value and the other Inhabitants falsly and traiterously join in a Confederacie and action to extirpate and expuls all the English and Welsh then left there and did cast aside their dutie and obedience to England and the good order and Laws so freely and lately entertained by them breaking all Faith and Allegiance to him to whom they had formerly sworn it they murthered as manie as they could take at advantage and at last besieged Dublin and other Towns intending to destroie all the English But the valor of those men left there and the
the entire Countie of Meath the best and greatest part of the Countie of Westmeath all the Countie of Kildare the greatest and best part of the Countie of Catberlagh part of the Countie of Wickloe the greatest and best part of the Countie of Wexford all the Countie of Waterford the greatest and best part of the great Countie of Cork the greatest and best part of the Countie of Limerick a great part of the Countie of Kerrie the better half of the Countie of Tipperary all the Countie of Kilkennie all the Countie of Galwaie a good part of the Countie of Roscomon the most part of the Countie of Maye besides the large territories of Leix and Ophalie in the Queen's Countie and King's Countie planted in Queen Maries and the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reigns upon the Rebellion of the Mores and Conners the surnames of these old English so manie as of manie hundreds more can here bee remembred are annexed towards the end of this Answer to the first Quere Of these sirnames manie are spread into verie numerous Families and persons of which manie are advanced to degrees of Honor and verie manie possessed of great estates and further to prove that those English were so possessed of all those Lands King Henrie the second and som other succeeding Kings granted unto manie of those Adventurers Countie Palatines and unto manie other verie large Franchises and immunities for the better ordering of the Colonies those Adventurers divided the Lands generally into Mannors particular Freeholds and other English holdings which for the most part do so continue to this daie they granted all those Lands for easie rents and services to their Comilitants except som small parts which they kept in their own hands who or others deriving from them do still hold the same pro parte conquestus as generally appear's in their ancient evidences Yet further to prove the English great and general possessions there it is an apparent and unquestionable truth that the English and strangers onely did build all the Castles and stone-buildings which then and for som hundreds of years after were to bee seen in anie part of that Island neither had the Irish anie stone buildings of their own erecting till about the reign of King Henrie the eighth when som of them gained estates from the Crown howbeit it is related in Historie that the English built Castles from Sea to Sea beeing enjoined thereto by Law beside what was don by Kings great Lords and other principal adventurers It is further true that all the Cities Towns and Corporations throughout that Land are entirely English and onely and originally endowed with Charters Franchises and Lands by the English And howsoever som of the Maritim towns were at first planted as is traditioned from the Ancients by Owstmen or Easterlings who fully submitted to the English Law not suffering anie Irish to dwell amongst them yet those first Inhabitants were after either so retracted or so worne out as the Inhabitants became wholly English as they undoubtedly remained till the reign of Henrie the eighth and are for the most part hitherto the same where they have not in som parts of Ireland been ruined and corrupted by Irish Rebellions and insurrections It is true likewise that all the bridges and passages were built and made onely by the English of old and of late by the English autoritie And also that all Monasteries Religious Houses and Churches of anie good structure were founded built and endowed by the English only som few despicable Cels of Monks there were and some few poor Chappels dispised specially in some poore Islands thereof These being evident demonstrations of the universall possession of the English in that Island it is further verified by some of their Laws in that Land wherein mention is made of beautifull Cities and Townes planted by the English in that Island but destroyed by Irish Commotions and garboils And more particularly by the Statute of Absentees in tempore Henrie 8 and other Statutes wherein are expressions declaring the tranquillitie and good order of the English in that Land that the English long defended it in due subjection against the Irish enemies It is also much to be observed that it is not to be seen before the time of King Henry the 8 That the Irish had either Charter evidence or authentick writings for any Lands or possessions neither could they have Interest they being no other till then but enemies and Aliens neither had they distinctions or degrees of honor or Gentrie neither Armenor other Enfigns or Officers of honours or gentrie as Duke Marquess Earl Viscount Baron Knight of any Order Esquire or Gentleman till the English introduced them neither had they Governors of any legal or orderlie form or Judges or Officers of any certaine Law or judicial cours neither had they Migistrates of anie Cities Burroughs or other Corporations or Courts of Justice Ecclesiastical or Civil or seals either of Justice or honour or other species of civil or certain Reglement And to give you these truths of the ancient and modern right and possession of the Britains and English in and to Ireland somwhat further ratified in all the parts of interest in jurisdiction and dependence it appear's by good antiquities that long before the entrance of William the Norman into England the Arch-Bishops of Canterburie had primacie over all Ireland and that the Bishops of Ireland according to the ancient usage and custome as is written received their consecrations from the Metropolitan of England it being declared in the time of the said King William and his Son that Canterburie was the Mother Church of England Scotland and Ireland and other Islands adjacent there being no Arch-Bishops in Ireland till about the yeer 1152. In justification of what is before premised it is recorded that Gotherick one of the pettie Kings in Ireland did write to Lanfrank Arch-Bishop of Canterburie for consecration to be granted to Patrick nominated for a Bishoprick Also that the said Arch-Bishop Lanfrank out of his authoritie there did write to Thurdelnack another pettie King there wherein he laie's to their charge That the Irish men at their pleasure did forsake their wedded wives without canonicall caus and match with any others even such as were neer a kin to themselvs or their abandoned wives and that if another man with like wickedness cast off a Wife her also rashly and hand over head they joined withal by lawes of marriage or rather fornication an abuse worthy to be punished Also that Murchertagh another pettie King of Ireland and the Citizens of Waterford addressed to Anselmus Arch-Bishop of Canterburie Anno Dom. 1095. for erecting and ordaining at Waterford a Bishop where no Bishop had been and for consecrating a Bishop there whose name was Malchus hee also wrot for consecrating another to be Bishop of Dublin much about the same time also that the Citizens of Dublin sent Gregorie chosen to bee Bishop there unto Ralph Arch-Bishop of
Canterburie suing to him in these words viz. Antecessorum vestrorum magisterio c. that is Vnto the Mastership or chief rule of your Ancestors wee willingly submitted our Prelats from which wee remember that our Prelats have received their ecclesiasticall dignities c. All which and other applications of like nature doe cleerly evince the submission of the Irish Clergie to the rule and superintendencie of the Arch-Bishop of Canterburie their then acknowledged Metropolitan And to proceed yet a little further to prove the antient English Title to Ireland In the Statute of the 11. Reginae Elizabethae for granting lands in Vlster to that Queen her heirs and Successors It is declared That the Crown of England had ancient and authentick Titles to the State and possession of the Land of Ireland conveied farr beyond the linage of the Irish Also By a Statute tempore Philippi Mariae for vesting the two large Territories of Leix and Ophalie in the Crowne It is there again declared That the Crown of England had good right thereunto before and that the Irish had entred into those lands by force and wrongfully usurped the possession thereof Which Statutes were enacted by the immediate Ancestors of that supposed Nation now in Rebellion the one made under a Popish Prince the other under a Protestant Other Statutes and Records make like mention of the antient right of England to the Land of Ireland and where there is mention above made of about one hundred yeers quiet possession of the English over all that Island in the time of Henry the second and after it may be demanded how afterwards those despicable Irish so gain'd upon the English as in somtimes they did and how they obtained such large possessions as in later times they had A cleer and obvious Answer to all that well know Ireland may be given That those English Lords Adventurers having jura Regalia and other great priviledges and authorities within their Counties Palatine being eight in number at one time and therein power to pardon make Chancellors Barons and Knights to make Judges Sheriffs and all Officers within themselvs the Kings having few Sheriffs any where except in the Crosses or Tipperarie in Mounster neither was there much Law executed by the Kings immediate Authoritie those Lords received great yeerlie revenues and some of them often advanced to the government of that Land by the King's favour the Colonies under them being rich and spread all over the Land Those Lords being com to the height of prosperitie and not able wisely to manage and applie to their own good those great powers endowments and Graces of their Kings fell into jealousies and emulations one against another whereupon ensued sharp and bloudie contentions they having power to make peace and warr at pleasure without the licens or authority of their chief Governors which power was afterwards taken away by several statutes they entred into sundrie violences one against another and combined Parties against Parties to maintain which they called in to their Assistance their known enemies the Irish then grown up into som numbers and so farr were they transported with their blind envious surie that they put Arms into the hands of the Irish and conducted them to their battails as hired Souldiers they assumed power to lay Taxes Cesses and Impositions upon their English Colonies Tenants and Dependants and by that meanes supported both their English and Irish Soldiers to the oppression of the other English but Lords countenancing and strengthning of the Irish besides training them in Martiall actions These dissentions and animosities began in the reign of King John as is before touched but they rose not to much virulence till towards the end of the reign of King Henrie the third and so continued by fits in the reign of King Edward the first as that King 's greater actions in France Scotland and Wales averted him from the more special care of that Common-wealth they conflicted in this manner many times one against another to the great consumption of their English Tenants who served under them as the Lacies of Meath warred against Courcie of Vlster the foresaid Lacies after against the Bourks of Vlster and Connaght the foresaid Lacies against the Marshals of Leimster who held that Countrie in right of the daughter heir of the bovsaid Richard Earl of Pembroke of Stigil married to Marshal The Garaldines of Mounster Leimster against the Butlers the Garaldines against the Bourks the Bourks against the Verdons of Meath Lowth the Bourks against the Clares the Briminghams against the Verdons and other English in the Pale The Garaldines Butlers and Briminghams against the Bourks and Poers and indeed all the English Progenies by part-taking and private Offences given and taken were imbroiled in the same quarrels the Irish looking on and siding wheresoever they thought best striving by their cunning and malicious insinuations to enlarge and blow everie spark of discord amongst them into flames of hostilitie Hereupon start up that destructive and wicked custom of Coigne and Liverie which was hors-meat mans-meat and money taken by the Soldiers upon the Colonies and English Inhabitants which custom and exaction was afterwards by some Statutes made Felonie and by other Satutes made treason one whereof hath this expression Viz. At the request and supplication of the Commons of this Land of Ireland c. Whereas of long time there hath been used exacted by the Lords and Gentlemen of this Land many and divers damnable customs and usages which have been called Coigne and Liverie that is hors-meat and mans-meat for finding their Hors-men and Foot-men and over that four-pence a day for every of them to be had and paid of the poot earth-tillers and tenants inhabitants of the same Land without anie thing doing or paying for the same besides mante Robberies murthers rapes and other manifold extortions and oppressions by the said horsmen and footmen daily and nightly committed and don which bee the principal causes of the desolation and destruction of the said Land and hath brought the same into ruine and decaie so as most part of the English Freeholders and tenants have been departed thereof som into the realm of England and som into other strange Lands Whereupon the aforesaid Lords and Gentlemen have intruded into the said Freeholders and tenants inheritances and the same kept and occupied as their own and set under them in the same Lands the King's Irish enemies to the diminishing of holy Church-rights the disherison of the King and his obedient Subjects and the utter ruine and desolation of the Land For Reformation whereof bee it enacted c. By this and manie other like Laws it is apparent how the Irish thrust themselvs into great quantities of the English Land and afterwards as in the sequel appeareth made themselvs owners of them Another waie of their entrance was by frauduent force and incursion as when by these broils one Colonie had ruined another the Irish
or Marcheor Law That if anie of the English race should use an Irish name Irish language Irish apparrel or anie other guise or fashion of the Irish his Lands should bee seised till hee conformed Or if he no Land then other mulcts were appointed That the Lords should not disturb the King's Officers in executing their Offices That Serjeants Bailiffs should execute the commands of the King and of the Sheriffs that the Sheriffs and Serjeants of Franchises should give acquittances for the Kings money received of Debtors and receiv and pay by Indenture That no Sheriffs should hold Courts contrarie to the Common Law That the English should not marrie nor Gossip with the Irish That the English should use the English language and nurture That old and new English should all alike be called Lieges of the King That no English should use Irish or barbarous sports that no Irish Pipers Rimers bablers Skelaghs Ferdanes Carraghs or news-tellers should bee suffered to com amongst the English That no Kearns Hoblers nor idle men should range take meat c of the people against their wills but hue and crie to be made after them That no Irish should be admitted to benefits or entred into religious houses That Judges should travel half yeerly to enquire of offences and to execute the Law That four Justices of peace of and in each Countie should charge the Inhabitants with hors and foot to defend themselvs against Irish enemies That robberies committed in the guildable should not be protected in the franchises and so on the contrarie but the theeves to be delivered up to the proper officers and many other like Laws were then made towards restauration and recomposing of the then deformed and adulterated English and for the further redress divers other Laws som before and som after were made viz. One to take away protections which with frequent pardons were observed to be pestilent Remora's to the English restitution and secure peace insomuch as King Edward the third towards the later end of his reign sent two Ordinances into Ireland viz. First Justitiarius Hiberniae non concedat pardonationes de morte hominis nec de roberiis seu incendiis et quòd de caetero certificet dominum Regem de nominibus petentium Secondly Item quòd nec Justitiarius nec aliquis magnas Hiberniae concedat protectiones alicui contra pacem regis existentis And the experience of the common dammage by such pardons and protections ever since prove's the malignancie of them that being charged by divers good authors conversant in Irish affairs to be the dishonour and ruine of the Common-wealth Other Laws were also made viz. One to distinguish betwixt the English and Irish by the cutting off their beards Another against the taking of amends for the murther of a friend Another That no man should stirr up the Irish to assist in their warr Another Against taking Theeves into Comerick in English protection All which Laws at Kilkenny were after confirmed and revived by another Law made in the tenth yeer of King Henrie the seventh Chap. 8 Wherein are these words viz. As long as those Laws were put in ure and execution this Land continued in prosperitie and honor and since they were not executed the people rebelled and digressed from their obedience and the Land fell to ruine and desolation c. And the truth is it appear's by good Histories of those times and more authentically by Records both of the Exchequer Common-pleas of those yeers that by practice of these Lawes and the industrie travel of the said Lionel notable alteration was made in the manners of the people and much don of value towards the restitution of the English Government in the English Colonies That the Crown-Revenues both certain and casuall were duly accompted for in all the Provinces and that the King's Writ did run the Common-Law executed in all parts amongst the English This Duke built the wals of Catherlagh hee also reduced much lands in Connaght and Vlster into the English mens hands and this good order continued all the residue of that King's reign and part of the reign of King Richard the second but towards the middle of his time the Irish and som farr degenerate English hearing of the Duke of Clarence his death in Italie and finding great dissentions to arise in England combined themselvs to the fresh annoiance of the English and prosecuting their long intendment to exstirpate them And now did the English finde caus to rais themselvs into defens against the Irish which they were afterwards dangerously put unto thereupon that King having received repuls in his affectation to bee Emperor and desirous to act somthing of glorie and satisfaction to his people about the 18 yeer of his reign undertook a roial expedition into Ireland transporting with him 30000 foot and 4000 men at Arms as the Chronicles relate whereat the Irish being terrified fell into their old lock of submissions the verie gulf which hath hitherto swallowed up all the essaies and labors of reformation there hoping thereby to dissolv that force and frustrate his good design and to insist on the verie truth that cours of pardons upon submissions of the Irish hath for at least three hundred yeers past bottomed all the combustions and insults of the Irish That King being not in case to be long absent was perswaded to accept of their submissions which hee did from all the powerful men of the Irish and som degenerate English Lords those Irish of Leimster taking Oath to leav the Land to his free dispose by a certain time Great quantities of the Leimster land were granted to Sir John de Bellomonto and others whose issues long after enjoyed it he also conditioned with the Irish of Connaght and Ulster upon their submissions to restore the Lands to the English which the Irish never performed So this young Prince abused by the fraudulent submissions of the Irish as others before and after were returned with his men into England leaving the English in Ireland in but a little better case then he found them Soon after his departure the Irish brake forth and stood up for their ends as high as ever whereupon ensued great conflicts between them and the English in one of which was slain Mortimer Earl of March the King's Lievtenant thereupon did many of the English overhaled with burthens and harrowings relinquish their estates and resort into England to side with Parties there as their affections did lead them though Lawes were in Ireland and Ordinances in England as well to stop their going as to return them back It is not recorded nor known as is conceived that in the reigns of King Henrie the fourth or King Henrie the fifth who were much taken up in other business any forces were sent into Ireland whereby the Irish inlarged much partly through the departure of the English and chiefly by the great devastations they formerly suffered besides what diminutions they endured by
several Kings transmitting great numbers of them to assist in the warrs of France Scotland and Wales in several times In the former part of the reign of King Henrie the sixth Ireland continued In the same posture the English beeing now put to their defence in all parts but the greatest and most remarkable decaie and ruine of the prosperitie and possession of the English in Ireland began in the later end of the reign of King Henrie the sixt and in the beginning of King Edward the fourth For after the middle of the reign of King Henrie the sixt Richard Duke of York beginning to whisper his right to the Crown more audibly then before hee was soon after sent into Ireland Lievtenant which was somtimes usual as a removal of such as were dangerous or pretended trouble There hee had given him much regal autoritie more then might bee consonant to right reason had they well considered the place or the consequences hee was continued there nine or ten years by himself and his Deputies himself making starts into England which as it was handled amplified his power in Ireland hee had power to dispose the King's revenues as hee thought fit hee had power to grant and let the King's Lands in Ireland to place and displace officers and to wage what men hee thought good This Lord esteemed there a person of high blood having an eie more upon events in England then the reducement of Ireland applied himself for the most part towards his own pretentions hee entertained both parties English and Irish in a plausible waie travelling in his secret thoughts to fasten parties to him against the time hee might have use of them Hee tolerated the Irish to hold what they had formerly intruded unto not sparing favors where hee observed reason to oblige and they regarding somwhat his high birth a thing they seem most to adore were by those means held more quiet then in former times hee conteined the English by courtesie and fair entreatie and by bestowing of imploiments so as hee found great adherence by waie of personal affection hee made som journies into England always accompanied with som of the Gentrie of Ireland to propagate and ripen confederacie In England hee endured the changes of war At last hee was forced into Ireland where hee gather's more strength and hearing that Warwick and Salisburie had taken the King hee com's over attended with good numbers of the English Lords and others and som of the Irish Hee obtein's his ends in Parlament The Queen flie's into Scotland and coming back the Duke of York meet 's her at Wakefield where hee was slain and manie of those of Ireland with him the Earl of Ormond on the other side beeing a professor to the hous of Lancaster passed into England about the same time with manie of the English and som Irish the Earl of March encounter 's him and others at Mortimer's Cross in Wales there is Ormond and the rest defeated and manie of Ireland slain So as what by the companies which at times passed over with the Duke of York and what by such as voluntarily led themselvs into England on both sides during those combustions great consumptions of those of Ireland could not but bee the consequent especially the Gentrie and best men Hereupon did the Irish on all sides exspatiate and fasten upon the English possessions where they could reach and indeed in short time so dilated themselvs as they for the time forced the English into their strengths and into narrow rooms they confirmed themselvs in their formerly erected and usurped Captainships which before the reign of King Henrie the eight were far to manie and most of them so continued till the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth therein exercising an absolute tyrannical power over all inferiors aswell all such English as hazarded to continue amongst them as the Irish And here may the Querist and all others take full view of the progress foot-steps and means of the Irish incroachments upon the English possessions though it is true that in after times manie of the English became repossessed of much of their antient Lands except in Vlster and Connaght in which Provinces manie of the old English are now as barbarous as the meer Irish hardly to bee distinguished yet by what is above written it grow's more lucid and cleer that the Inhabitants of that Island who now stand in arms against England who in several successions setled them there are not such an entire nation fixed there by God and Nature free from anie other power and challenge as the Querist propound's them and where the entiretie of such a Nation footed there as is pretended is to bee found as things are before discovered will require a verie wearisom scrutinie and at last satisfie no understanding man Nay it is avouched by several good writers and may bee truly asserted in the experience of such as well understand Ireland that setting aside the first Inhabitants from Britain and other Nations inserted there by the permission of the Britains and such as had power in Britain and such as of themselvs intruded before the entrance of King Henrie the second promiscuously laced amongst them who all now pass under the Notion and style of the old Irish the verie English sent in thither by King Henrie the second and other Kings succeeding him before King James and who at the beginning of this Rebellion were really stated and vested in Lands in that Island though not in numbers and bodies of men becaus most of the Churls and laborers as aforesaid were Irish nor perhaps in quantities and extents of Lands yet in true value and command over others did far exceed and were far more estimable and powerful in that Island then those denominated the old Irish besides the the great towns which as is above said are wholly in a manner English for consider their present composure of persons and affairs even after this late horrid and inhumane eradication of the new English and protestants First Their Nobilitie now in rebellion are all old English except a verie few which were and yet are both weak in power and strength Their supream Council as they call it and other Provincial and Countie Councils and their general Assemblie are for the most part old English most of the best Commanders in the war are of the same most of their hors and manie of their foot who have been most daring in the Rebellion are of the same the whole frame of their new-Modelled-Government was at first digested and is ever since countenanced and enlivened by the old English they seem in their constitutions to put themselvs for the most part in waie of policie at present into the frame of the English Laws becaus they well know how uncertain and barbarous their supposed Irish Laws were though verie manie of them rather desire the old Irish Tyrannie and rude exorbitancie And were it not that the old English were and still are
AN ANSWER To certain seditious and Jesuitical Queres Heretofore purposely and maliciously cast out to retard and hinder the English forces in their going over into Ireland Whereby is fully proved that the British were the first and most ancient Proprietors and Inhabitants of that Land which was at the first called Britain the Less before the accession of the Irish thither and that the Irish came in but by the sufferance of the British Of what Countrie the Irish at the first were their often rebellions and defections the subduing and reducing all of them to obedience aswel long before the Conquest of England by William the Norman as since together also with the names of the new Kings which the Irish have lately elected and made amongst themselvs with manie other necessarie discoveries of great concernment fully manifesting the English interest to that Land and the miserable sufferings of the English there in all ages by the barbarous and bloudie actions of the Irish LONDON Printed by WILLIAM Du-GARD Printer To the Right Honorable The Lord PRESIDENT and COUNCIL of STATE Right Honorable IT 's not my abilitie but the force of the Caus and necessitie of this task others of better parts beeing silent that prompt mee to challenge an interest in your honor's patronage of my weak endeavors in asserting the English interest in Ireland against a more dangerous then known stickler for the Irish and their gangren'd Caus discovering himself in som pernicious Queres cunningly dispersed at such a season wherein they might have a full influence upon the common genius of the Armie then designed for Ireland And finding light sufficient in my self from such experimental truths as lodg in my own bosom to discover the Querist's Prestigies I have adventured a little to draw the curtain and make way for som more fit and able to vindicate the just interest of England against their causless and implacable enemies the barbarous Irish Rebels This piece beeing onely intended as an incitement thereunto And such it will surely prove if it finde your honor 's favourable aspect and the like approbation from those other wise steers-men whom the Lord hath placed at the helm of this Nation 's Government And for those adherents to the Irish whose mindes are fore-stalled and carried away with the stream of their fals asseverations and lose the reputation of their modestie in the Irish impudencie although I wish they may bee in their Judgments rectified and manners reformed yet I value not their carpings nor vain exceptions Quia Momus nunquam gnarus est I onely beg your honor's acceptance of these lines from my poor hand so as my joies may bee continued in the memorie of your good Acts my affection owe's a dutie to the performance of this work which will at last toll in better Ringers prostrateing my endeavors at the feet of your honors as those of a sublime understanding I am Your Honor 's most humble and engaged Servant THO. WARING TO HIS EXCELLENCIE Oliver Cromwel Lord GENERAL of the Armies of England Scotland and Ireland And also to the Right Honorable HENRIE IRETON Lord Deputie of IRELAND THe present seed of the ancient Scythians and other barbarous Easterlings the now Irish assisted with som collapsed and degenerate English Papists striking at the verie root of the tree of Protestanism do not content themselvs with their barbarous torturing and murdering of vast numbers of our Religion and blood everie daies fierie malice as I may saie producing a new waie of the most exsecrable and amarulent tortures of those most innocent people in coolness of blood wherein they glutted themselvs But of late finding the sword of God drawn out and prosecuted by your Excellencie and seeing the noble English spirits impatient until God by his and their swords should avenge their brethren's bloods by the destruction of that inhumane generation Som of them as far as possible to take off the resolute intentions of the Protestant souldierie from retaliating upon the Irish such destruction as they had generally vowed to exercise upon us all have cast out certain cavelling and seditious Queres whereby they would amaze and blinde som inadvertent men excuse or at least extenuate their own high offences make the English interest to Ireland seem dubious and themselvs to bee the ancient proprietors of that Land thereby also with a sublime disdain inveighing against Conquerors and Conquests the greatest persons and most common interests of all the whole world which is a boldness without paralel Now others of better talent and more versed in the antiquities of Ireland sparing their pens I have taken up the boldness out of small abilitie to contrive the following Answers to those Queres by which if anie formerly seduced by the vain pretences of the Irish bee untwined from them and brought within the sight of the truth I have my desires And as your excellencie's valor against these Monsters of men hath by God's assistance quelled their furies and your wisdom infatuated their Counsels so I doubt not but the eie of your Judgment hath discerned their bloudie and subtil intentions in part declared by their actions I am yet a stranger to your Excellencie's persons but not to your heroïck noble and pious deeds My lines though not satisfactorie I beseech you yet take in such worth as when perused you will vouchsafe to call upon more able pens to perform that dutie wherein unwillingly I am yet deficient the great God of truth so order all your Councils and Actions that they maybee crowned with a glorious and your most desired success so praye's Your Excellencie's most humble Servant THO. WARING THE PREFACE THere hath bin lately published a certain seditious Pamphlet intituled Queres propounded to the consideration of such as were intended for the service of Ireland which as it seem's was brought in by one Gawre of an Irish name and one who as I have been informed since is a Jesuit of that Countrie This man in formalitie smoothly pretendeth to righteousnes but in realitie discernable to the dullest apprehension hatcheth and harboureth horrible hellish and most bloudie thoughts and inflamed with a fierie malice thirsteth after the destruction of the Protestant Religion the exstirpation of all the Religious English in that Land both root and branch together with their interest there and would by his subtil and numerous questions dishearten the conscientious noble English Spirits from ingaging that way either in person or expence to reduce that Island from meer barbarism and Idolatrie to the true worship of God and obedience to the Laws established by the antient proprietors of that Nation the English and both antiently and lately submitted unto by all Inhabitants of the same But if you mark this Querist hee persueth the sophistrie and subtiltie antiently practised by the Jesuits so farr as hee would have all his Questions believed and grounded upon undoubted truths and to bee admitted as verities And although these Queres being so
that the bodie of their order and connexion even apparently managing their whole partie as to war and Government the rest would soon dissolv into their old Kearnish habit both in fight and onely confidence in bogs and woods And which seem's most of amazement in this business the old English shewing themselvs of late years in manie things much more swelling and envious against the Protestant Religion and the English Government and conversation then the meer Irish were the principal contrivers and ripeners of this destable Rebellion and Assassination without whose incitement and flexible concurrence as Ireland at the begining of the Rebellion stood furnished with multitudes of new English in all parts except Connaght where they were fewest and strengthned with the old English if they had stood loial to their own Nation or really sensible of their own happiness as in nature and all prudence they should have don the Irish no waie durst have entered upon such an attempt against the English and Protestants especially a Parlament then sitting in England who they might well believ would so far distaste such high and unparaleld Ravages and horrible effusion of bloud without caus or provocation committed upon som of their own flesh and bloud and also such savage indignities offered to the English Nation as that they would speedily bend their power to redress and revenge the same And yet it may bee considered that the opportunitie of the attempt of the Irish will not appear so strange when wee consider their animation and incouragement to have its rise from manie of the Native Inhabitants of England of the same Religion with the Irish Rebels who made it their work to feel the puls and finde the distempers of England to that end And the Commissioners procured for the Irish to secure the persons and Estates of the English Protestants of Ireland was to speak effectively to command them to destroie both which if not speedily executed might have exspired or been rewaked upon discoverie which is most obvious it wee reflect upon the several journies of the popish partie of those Agents imploied by the Parlament in Ireland to the eminent Popish Families in England as Brown and Plunket have often with oftentation acknowledged besides the constant Negotiation of Mr Brent an English Papist and expert manager of such a business to manie of the active Papists of England at the same time doth fully manifest the same with suits with the constant expressions of the Rebels in all parts of Ireland affirming there could bee no exspectation of anie considerable or seasonable relief out of England It is also too well known that when the Cavalier interest had life in it the English Romanists would often boast of this their Master-piece their managing the Irish insurrection as they termed it at that season wherein it should finde least opposition from England and so most successful for the improvement of the Catholick caus The names of the old English now stated and planted in Ireland as can at present bee remembred of many hundreds there resident at the beginning of this Rebellion and for the most part yet being there with the mention what Noble men are of those Families without mentioning what greater and further Members are of each or any of their Names or Families are as follloweth Archbalds Ashes aliàs de fraxineto Almers Allens Arthurs Archers Ailworth or Ailward Audleys Archdecons Arundels Butlers 6 Noble men of the name Bourks 5 Noble men Barries 1 Noble man Breminghams 1 Noble man Barnwels 2 Noblemen Brownes Bagnals Burnels Baathes Bellow alias Bedlows Blakes Belins Bagot 's Blackneys Brandons Blanchfeilds Bensons Balfe Boise Brewer Bale Brian Busher Burford Brereton Barret Benfeild Baron Birt alias Britt Barington Basgravile Beard Courcies 1 Noble man Cheevers Cusacks Cogan Cadels Colleys Cosby Cods Cruces Chamberlain Chaceys or Caseys Clintons Clinches Comerfords Cosgraves Colbies Cosbies Condon Cossen Conron Cashell Cardiff Colclogh Crolie Carey Coffie Coppinger Comins Clundake Dillons 2 Noble men Dowdales Dungans Darcies Devereuxes Daltons Drilands Dormers Donnels or M c Donnels 1 Noble man Downes Denn Dixon Dromgool Daniel Dobbin Deering Delamares Deece Davels Draicot Dardes Drakes Dexeters Elliots Evers alias Ewre Eustacks Esmond Everard English Fitz-Garalds 1 Noble man Fitz-Morris 1 Noble man Fitz-VVilliams 1 Noble man Fitz-Simons Fitz-Harries Frends Fians Fennels Fitz Stephens French Font or Fawnt Fitz Zery Fitz-Leones Flemings 1 Noble man Flatsburie Foxes Forestal Forlongs Fitz Nichols Forsters Finglasses Fottrels Fanings Faies Frenches Garnons Grants Garvies Grahams Gerons Graces Goldings Goghes Galtrims Galwaies Hores Harpenies Hussies Hassans Hides or de la Hides Hardins Holliwoods Hetheringtons Howlins Harpools Handcock Hays Hadsors Hurleys Hopps Harries Harrisons Herberts Horis Harold Jordans Jans Joices Jacobs Itchingham Kings Keatings Kents Laulis Lenard Luttrels Lanfant Lacies Lanes Linches Lovels Leicesters Ledwiches Longs Locks Lamports Moores Missets Mastersons Morris Martins Mandevils Meilers Moilers Malpas Masons Mellins Netervils 1 Noble man Nugents 1 Noble man Nangles Nottinghams Nevils Ovingtons Plunkets 3 Noble men Prestons 1 Noble man Powers 1 Noble man Purcels Peirce Pigot Pendergafts Philips Peppards Penteins Petits Prowdfoots Roches 1 Noble man Rogers Rices Reinolds Rochforths Roceter Russels Rooths Remond Reinolds Stantons Sentlawrences 1 Noble man Sarsfields 1 Noble man Skelton Strong Sedgraves Sinnots Shortels Sempes Sankies Sigen Samonds aliàs St Amonds Scurlock St John Sherlock Stanleys Stapletons Soars Stephens St Michael Silvester Suttons Stritch Staffords Swords Scallann Skiddies aliàs Scudamore Sermons Smiths Sentlegers Savages Talbots Tints Taffs 1 Noble man Turnors Tirrels Trawnt Travers Tallon Ushers Verdons Verden Veal Walshes Wolverstons Wogans Wottons Whits Waddings Walters Wises Westons Wellesley Workley Whitties Wickens THere are 29 Families more not there named of later discent which have every one a Noble man thereof whose Estates are in Ireland And there are but eight noble men in Ireland of meer Irish So that the Nobilitie of English descent not reckoning those that live in England who onely have honors and no estates there are seven to one of the Irish And there are in all about ninetie two Nobilitie of Ireland I had almost forgotten one thing of considerable value which is this admitting that the pretended antient title of the meer Irish were as it is not good to the Lands of Ireland yet nothing is more true then that great parts thereof have been bought at dear rates by the English from the Irish and more would have been had the Irish frequent proffers a little before their last Rebellion been accepted of by the English to whom the Querist must need 's allow a cleer interest in the Lands so purchased as also to their personal estates and those that deprive them of such their Civil Right can bee no other then thievs and robbers and at once root out God's Law man's propertie and National Equitie so just is this Querist to God
and Nature on whom hee would father the Irish depredations and murthers And this may in som measure suffice for an Answer to the first Quere at least to shew how the Querist seek's to blinde inadvertent men with a far fetched supposition which want's substance in everie particular when examined yet framed as an Engine to retard all succors for Ireland then at the point to bee lost The second Quere VVHether a people or Nation so setled have not a power to establish all Laws Government Offices and Officers amongst themselvs and to oppose and execute all such as shall endeavor to impose and obtrude upon them Laws Government Offices and Officers without or against their consent The second Answer THe Irish are not such a people or Nation so setled have not a power to establish all Laws Government c. But the people of England to whom Ireland belong's are and have such a power to establish all Laws Government Offices and Officers in Ireland their own Dominions and to oppose and execute all such as shall endeavor to impose and obtrude in their said Dominions Laws Government Offices and Officers without or against their consent The third Quere WHether God and Nature having given a people and Nation such a possession of Lands and som other Prince or people should invade or conquer them deprive them of much of their Land impose Laws Government and Officers upon them without or against their consent if it bee anie other then robberie in the Invaders and the just right of the invaded and conquered to cut off their enemies to procure their own Freedom and inheritance again The third Answer GOd and Nature hath so given Ireland for a possession and Government to the Inhabitants and people of England from the beginning as in the Answer to the first Quere is cleer And this Quere more properly relate's to the English just title against the claim of the Irish who were not the original Inhabiters of Ireland and so no claim from God and Nature for such a possession of theirs and therefore the Irish invasion and expulsion of the English depriving them of much of their Lands framing Laws Government and Officers in the English Dominions or against the English consent is no other then robberie in the Irish Invaders and it is the just right of the Invaded and part conquered English to cut off their Irish enemies and to procure theirs and their Brethren's freedom to regain their own lawful government and inheritance And for further resolution this Quere as it is stated is not the case of the Irish For as before is truly said the permission of the British planted and gave them first footing there and the several Conquests or rather reducements of them by the British there was no invasion but a bringing of the rebelling Irish to due obedience and Christian-like submission to their supreme Governors whose right onely it is to impose Laws Governors and Officers upon them and therefore no robberie for the English to enter on their own Land but most just to punish and disseis them who by their frequent Rebellions were no more to bee trusted with them then a mad-man with a sword yet the indulgence of the English Government hath alway as been so great as to take but a part of the Rebel's estates whereas they had forfeited all by their iterated former rebellions Then where is the caus or right of the Irish to cut off the English in cold blood in time of peace and in the best Government and improvement the Irish ever injoyed The fourth Quere WHether length of time where the original Nation is distinct from the Conqueror doth swallow up the right of the conquered that they have no right to seek after and regain their own freedoms and possessions yea or no The fourth Answer LEngth of time cannot privilege or discharge a people originally subordinate to another from their due conformitie and obedience to the Laws and Government of those by whose permission they were received into the Verge of their dominions as the Irish were into the dominions of the British in Ireland neither are the Irish Rebels as now composed a distinct Nation of themselvs nor so distinct in descent from those who at all times lawfully reduced them But that the now most ruling and powerful partie of the Rebels are descended of English lineage as aforesaid and neither they nor the other old degenerate English can justly pretend to anie Land there but what hath been passed unto them under the great Seal of that Land and therefore their freedom and right cannot bee anie wise said to bee swallowed up by the English for from anie other they cannot truly derive either their Freedom Lands or possessions as beeing granted unto them by the English and the meer Irish as is abovesaid not beeing half of the Inhabitants of Ireland nor of anie considerable riches strength or policie The fift Quere HOw can the conquered justly bee called or accounted Rebels if anie time they shall seek and endeavor to free themselvs and to regain their own Lands and Liberties The fift Answer THe Inhabitants of Ireland now in Arms against the power and just right of England are no better then perfidious rebels intruders and inhumane blood-suckers not onely for the causes before shewed but for their iterated Rebellions and former massacring of the English and have been well known to bee such brutish enemies for divers ages past And if it should bee allowed that they at their wills and pleasures might shake off the yoke of obedience and to perpetrate the inhumane cruelties semblable to their former then would they at length as it were change their shape of men into the state of Divels The sixt Quere WHether Julius Caesar Alexander the great William Duke of Normandie or anie other the great Conquerors of the world were anie other then so manie great and lawless thievs And whether it bee not altogether as unjust to take our neighbor Nations Lands and liberties from them as our neighbor's goods of our own Nation The sixt Answer HEre might I now suspend further labor as superfluous in contesting with extravagant impertinencies having expended much time upon the main But I have alreadie as I conceiv irrecoverably thrown down the fals foundation upon which this presumptuous Impostor doth rear the whole fabrick of his insnaring Queres In the fall whereof they are slaughtered as I may saie in the mother's bellie resolved before well objected and may bee left as dead and buried in their first ruines yet since the easiest part of my task is now behinde I will wave the trouble I might justly avoid in beeing filent and crave leav to proceed in the solution of the remaining interrogations to their utmost borders lest by such silence I should give advantage to the contriver of them to surfet with conceit of his supposed unanswerable suggestions By this question that now look's so big stare's us in the face
of war aswel as former And then why may not befal to those Inhabitants of Ireland which challenge the Land to bee given them by God and Nature that which hath betided other Nations by the secret counsels of that God in whose hands the Inhabitants of the earth are tossed as a ball Did not Eneas by conquest of the Latines settle his posteritie in Italie did not the Franks by invasion and conquests take possession of Gallia now their native habitation was not Britain in France surprized by the power of the English Saxons and from them denominated continuing in their possession to this daie Did not the Huns becom Masters of Pannonia now of them called Hungarie And to conclude is not Conquest an universal title throughout the world Is not that Jus gentium quod ubique valet And if this Jus Belli stand for a Plea for them why may not wee then saie as the Civillians fully resoly the lawfulness and proprietie of things gotten by war in this known Maxime Ea quae ab hostibus capiuntur jure gentium statim fiunt capientium I cannot omit som material instances and so conclude the Answer to this Quere whereby the present acting power of a Conqueror is allowed and approved in an usurper by the Lord Jesus Christ who was born under an usurping power to teach us as a judicious Commentator observ's Indicat deinde ipsâ nativitate se non pellere magistratum ordinarium adventu suo imò approbare who besides his universal title to all the world had an indubitable title and claim to the temporal Kingdom of the Jews then under the Romane usurping power Witness that antient Manuscript Michael Nauclerus de Monarchia divina ex libro vaticano yet did so far submit unto the title of Conquest and his intrusion that hee the lawful heir was contented to becom a Subject in his own Land Eodem tempore quo muâ—ti Tyranni occupabant though all power was his and hee that little stone foretold that hee should bee cut out of the Mountain c. yet hee neither smite's them with tongue Dan. 2.45 nor opposeth them by practice but practically useth and teacheth obedience by paying tribute yea becom's an Advocate for Cesar's interest Give unto Cesar that which is Cesar's and in a word was so far from exclaiming against that Romane though usurping autoritie that hee looking up to Heaven affirm's the invader's powers to bee of God and therefore afterwards submit's to an unjust Sentence of death whose steps the holie Apostle following and filled with the Spirit of the same Christ the onely blessed potentate doth in express terms without exclusion Rom. 13. v. 2 3 4 5 6 7. enjoin submission to all sorts of powers c. Hee saie's not they have no title they came in by Conquest they are thievs Robbers but honor's them with the title of lawful Magistrates and command's the conquered Subject upon pain of damnation to afford obedience unto them as the Ministers of God using these words that all powers that bee are of God And for the later part of this Quere viz Whether it bee not altogether as unjust to take our neighbor's Lands and Liberties from them as our neighbor's goods from our own Nation Iâ— is answered that although the Irish have verie long usurped the possession of the Lands and Liberties of the English in Ireland beeing the Lands and Liberties in the neighboring Countrie which the Querist meaneth and which of right and from antiquitie and so until this daie do truly and justly belong to the Engliish as in the first Quere is resolved Yet neither when this present Rebellion brake out in Ireland nor of a number of yeers before were anie Lands or Liberties unjustly taken held or deteined from anie the Rebels of Ireland And hee can pretend to nothing but dull ignorance that know's it not to have been still consistent with the Laws and Customs aswel of England as of other civil Nations of the world to seiz and take the goods and liberties of such neighbors of their own Nation as would not stoop to obedience but Rebel against the known Laws of anie Land where they lived especially wilful Law-breakers such as should first begin and attempt depredations and surprising of the goods and estates of the obedient parties the like Laws beeing for such contemners and Rebels also in such cases to lose their lives The seventh Quere WHether God at the last daie will not call men to an account even for those things which they are unaccountable for here as great Conquerors are The seventh Answer GOd at the last daie will justifie all men that zealously execute the work of his own righteous justice and that are instrumental in the propagation of his truth and glorie as the English now are and as I am confident they will persist in Ireland their own Countrie against and upon the wicked Inhabitants thereof the Irish Rebels who for their abominations as I may boldly saie stink in the nostrils of the Lord and of all his servants and must at last without doubt bee brought to an account for all their ungrateful inhumane bloodie and barbarous actions wherein the hand of the Lord is most visible unto us having alreadie brought manie to the sword destroied som by famine but far more by pestilence and other waies of his Justice and now those whose persons as yet met not with those Judgments and proudly triumphed over and stood upon the necks of the deplorable This at large appear's by the examinations taken at Dublin upon oath and infinitely distressed English do like dust before the winde flie from the faces of our English Protestant souldiers not daring to justifie the least of their acts or undertakings but for refuge flie to Mountains woods bogs and other obscure and unaccessible places cursing now the first plotters contrivers and beginners of their Rebellion and hellish designs And doth not the Querist think that manie of these bloud-suckers in this world and the rest in the world to com shall meet with condign punishment suitable to their demerits The eighth Quere WHether the condition of the conquered bee not Ireland and the condition of the Conquerors bee not England and Ireland unjustly tearmed Rebels and their caus just and England a thieving usurping Tyrannie and their caus altogether unjust beeing against God and Nature and therein such as no judicious conscientious man can assist or bid God speed The eighth Answer THe condition of the conquered is not Ireland beeing as aforesaid not a distinct nation and people but the greatest part of them consisting of English or those from thence extracted And the several Conquests of them but reducements to legal and civil obedience to the just and proper right and interest of England Nor can the condition of the Conquerors of them bee as over an absolute Nation therefore the Inhabitants of Ireland now in arms against the just rights and proprietie of England are properly
and palpably Rebels and their caus unjust and England's a legal power right and Government and their caus altogether just beeing for God and Nature For God to punish the rebellious wicked and obstinate to root out Idolatrie to plant and dress the Lord's Vineyard by holding out the glorious light of the truth and not suffer it to bee covered or trampled on For Nature such as all judicious conscientious men will assist and bid God speed unto beeing to redeem their brethren the dispoiled Protestants in Ireland restore them to their just and lawful possessions vindicate the robberies murthers tortures rapes and inhumane cruelties barbarously executed on them and reduce that Countrie to Peace and quietness The ninth Quere WHether it bee not the dutie of everie honest man by all fair and peaceable means to endeavor the diverting of the States from the prosecution of so unjust a caus especially decline all means where himself might promote the same but to shew his utter dislike of it The ninth Answer IT is the dutie of everie honest man by all earnest zealous and lawful means to endeavor the encouragement and furtherance of the State of England for their prosecution of their so just a caus especially to undertake all means and to run through all difficulties whereby hee himself might promote the same and shew his willingness unto and good liking of it and hee neither is nor can bee a good Christian that will not contribute to the suppression of these Idolaters murtherers and apparent enemies of God The tenth Quere VVHether those that conted for their freedom as the English now shall not make themselvs altogether unexcusable if they shall intrench upon other's freedoms And whether it bee not an especial note and characterizing badg of a true pattern of freedom to indeavor the just freedom of all men as well as his own The tenth Answer THose that contend for their freedom as the â—aglish now who are backt and seconded by original just Principles fundamental Laws inherent Rights legal and due grants and acknowledgment of their rights from their former accepted Governors make 's the resolution flatly opposite unto and inconsistent with the rebellious Inhabitants of Ireland who have neither original Principles fundamental Laws inherent Rights legal and due grants and acknowledgments of their rights from their former rightful Governors in anie sort or manner distinct and separate from the right power and Government of England over them But as a member to the bodie so is Ireland to England And therefore England need 's no excuse but is everie waie justifiable to rectifie or cut off a corrupt rebellious and gangren'd member who never had imposed on it or reteined anie other defect restriction or freedom then the whole bodie suffered And if the indeavors of England have been so candid as to make Ireland a fellow-member of its own freedom and enjoyment of Laws and Libertie equal with it self in such of the Inhabitants as are capable and deserving the same it is a special note and characterizing badg of a true Pattern of freedom to bring such as belong to them into the like condition of themselvs and to suppress those in Ireland aswel as those in England that oppose the same The Eleventh Quere VVHether in Judgment and Conscience the Irish are not to bee justified in all that they have don against the English in Ireland and in complying with assisting and seeking assistance from anie that would or will bee England's enemies to preserv and deliver them from the crueltie and usurpation of the English rather then to becom slaves to their wills And whether the English would not do as the Irish do were they in like condition The eleventh Answer IF Traitors murtherers ravishers robbers cruel inhumane persecutors of true Christians sacrilegious abominable Idolaters are justifiable then are the Inhabitants of Ireland now in arms against the English to bee justified But if by the Law of God and man such of their partakers Abettors and countenancers are to bee prosecuted and punished by those into whose hands God hath put the sword of legal power and just Government as now in the English Then in Judgment and conscience the said Inhabitants of Ireland deserv sharp prosecution and just condemnation and the rather for that they to uphold themselvs in their mischief have against their dutie and Ioialtie to the lawful Government and right of England assisted and sought assistance from such as are and alwaies have been England's professed enemies and therefore for the English to endeavor the acquifition of their own just rights and to punish those rebellious obstinate and inhumane inhabitants of Ireland is but their dutie and so conscience not crueltie equitie and just right not usurpation They deserving the greatest severitie for their falshood and treacherie who so exorbitantly abused the greatest freedom that ever anie Nation enjoied and were not made slaves to the will of the English Protestants but for manie years past had as much freedom and far more then their evil manners rendered them capable of The twelfth Quere VVHether the English would account anie thing crueltie enough for them to exercise upon the Irish if the Irish should dispossess them in England and tyrannize over them here as the English have don over them there if afterwards the English should get the upper hand The twelfth Answer THe English never dispossed nor tyrannized over the Irish either in Ireland or England but contrariwise were ever indulgent and loving to them and now as the English will account nothing severe enough if warrantable by God's Law for them to execute upon the rebellious Irish if they should dispossess the English in England and tyrannize over them here as they the Irish have most unlawfully don over English Protestants in Ireland So it is warrantable by God's Law to recover their right in Ireland and by the same Law if they get the upper hand severely to prosecute and punish the blood-guiltie Inhabitants of Ireland it beeing a dutie and trust imposed on them by God against such Idolaters and murtherers and none ought without great offence but prosecute such a cause with effect The thirteenth Quere WHether it bee not the dutie of the English Nation rather to repent of the oppression usurpation and intrusion of themselvs their Kings and forefathers then with a high hand to pursue those designs of violence The thirteenth Answer IT is the part and dutie of the English Nation rather to prosecute and force the rebellious member Ireland to repent their oppression usurpation and intrusion into the right and Government of the English and for their violent depriving them and their harmless neighbors of their Liberties lives goods Lands and other Estates and for the English to recover their own rights in all ages made good by the expence of their fore-father's blood and treasure and with a high hand to pursue the designs of the opposers and where the English never oppressed usurped or
intruded upon the Irish there they need no repentance The fourteenth Quere WHether if they shall still pursue the same it will not maintain a lasting chargeable war to bee a large and strange footing for the enemies to England's peace to stand upon to render the Nation to bee no true lovers of freedom but of domination give occasion to the enemies to blaspheme make our Religion odious and by perpetual piracie even utterly spoil all our trade by Sea and so bee at the last our own ruine and whether the gain at the last by a perfect conquest over them which is uncertain will equipoiz all that charge and blood that must bee spilt for the obteining of the same especially considering their eternal loss dying in the prosecution of so unjust a caus The fourteenth Answer IF they the English now in the nick of time pursue the Irish Rebels considering the present power and posture that England is in and the great number of its able bodies fit for emploiment which on a setled peace at home cannot bee better imploied or bestowed then in so conscionable a service conducing to the honor and glorie of God the peace and quiet of all the Dominions of England the advance of Trade the terror of England's enemies the gaining of a most fruitful and plentiful receptacle for a flowing off-spring if now so enabled they shall effectually pursue the service against the Rebels in Ireland beeing so disseminated and scattered as they now are it will not maintein a lasting chargeable war For now but a competent number to bee sent out of England with those faithful and noble ones their Commilitants now there will doubtless by God's gracious assistance do the blessed work of reducing them and remove the largest and strongest footings the enemies of England have gotten render the Nation of England to bee true Lovers of Freedom and the noble preservers of that part of their bodie and dominion This also will take away all occasion from the enemie to blaspheme since the true worship and service of God will bee advanced in place of idolatrous Popetie so much of late years hazarding the peace of England make our Religion that true one indeed beautiful lovely and delightful free our Seas from the brood of Dunkirkers Pickaro's and others of the like stamp Irish Pirats when they shall have no place of harbor or retirement amongst us whereby trade will bee advanced And so in a short time may a firm and lasting peace and safetie bee acquired the gain whereof will not onely equipoiz but out-ballance all the charge that can bee spent for obteining of the same The blood that may bee spilt therein is in the dispofing of the Lord Armipotent the God of Battel from whom our small handfuls of men have not onely met with glorious and most strange and often deliverances far transcending the thoughts of natural man in all their former ingagements but maie doubtless exspect it still and for those that fall in the Lord's baâ—â— they die not but to live eternally in and with him the true knowledg of whom teacheth us that all our daies are numbred and that not one life shall bee lost but by his fore purpose and divine appointment who will still especially in our greatest weakness cover us with his shield in the daie of battel and enable us to trample on the necks of his and our enemies and which is far more excellent they shall surely bee members of the Church and live amongst the Saints triumphant whose death shall happen in a caus so just God's caus And here it may bee noted that the Irish Rebels by their last immane cruelties filling up the measure of their iniquitie seem to bee a people adopted by providence to an utter exstirpation Whereunto all faithful English-men have a call from Heaven in vindication of that innocent bloud there most profusely spilt without leaving that detestable brand of Astorgism upon the English Nation to perpetuitie The Fifteenth Quere VVHether it bee not the dutie of the State and Trustees of the Nation rather to minde seek and preserv the general peace safetie and welfare of the whole Nation then the honors and profits of particular men And whether particulnr men may not in an humble and peaceable manner present their thoughts to the State for a general good The fifteenth Answer THe whole Quere is affirmatively confessed and therefore it is hoped that Ireland a Countrie appropriate to this Nation and the major part of Inhabitants there of English descent will bee looked on not as the honors and profits of particular men but as a general concernment the desertion whereof will redound to the honors and profits of particular men enemies to the peace and welfare of England the most malignant of its enemies the Papists and therefore particular peaceable wel-affected men ought in an humble and peaceable manner to present their thoughts thereof to the State for a general good The sixteenth Quere WHether if the State of England should now in their full strength proclaim Ireland a free State repenting of all the evils that themselvs have acted and intended and that our King hath formerly acted against that Nation and that they will not further act to their prejudice but onely sit down by them as a neighbor-State as Holland doth and that they onely desire that they may bee in mutual league and as friends to seek the peace and welfare of each other that they will not countenance assist or protect each other's enemies nor anie that shall disturb the peace or safetie of anie of the Nation and onely require som considerable Sea-Port-Towns as securitie and bond to tie the Irish to the performance of the Covenants I saie whether this may not bee everie waie as advantagious to the State and people of England as a conquest over them the charge considered The sixteenth Answer IF the State of England should now in their full strength proclaim Ireland a free State and do further as in the Quere is propounded yet our true knowledg and experience of the Rebel's disposition promonisheth that they will bee still especially upon anie occasion of advantage forward and readie to the uttermost of their powers and malice to cut their benefactor's throats besides it would bee the most prejudicial act that could bee imagined against the State and people of England For set aside the honor due to almightie God in giving up that Countrie from his true worship and service to Idolatrie and prophaneness set aside their guilt of the innocent blood of our brethren kindred and Nation there barbarously poured out which will doubtless hang over the heads of the Pardoners set aside the utter overthrow and loss of manie thousands of Families their goods and Estates and the giving up the poor yet considerable remain of the English Protestant partie there to the disposition of their most cruel enemies Set aside the bloud and treasure there spent out of England since the
rebellion wherein not a Family in England but is interessed and which they exspect not to bee rendered fruitless to the dishonor of the whole Nation Set all these aside yet humane reason and policie dictate's that the Hous cannot bee safe so long as the back door is open The father wrong's his posteritie if hee lavishly give away halfe his inheritance the regaining whereof hereafter may bee a cause of ten fold loss of blood and treasure to what it may cost in preservation that it is neither safe or just in the Law of Nature to fling away anie part of our Arms or defence though at present cumbersom which may advantage the enemie by taking possession of and using as the popish partie will against us And saie the right and interest of England to Ireland were not so great cleer and undeniable as it is yet the late revolutions considered England must never exspect to bee advantaged or anie waie bettered by deserting Ireland and giving it up to the Rebellious Inhabitants A people so foully and lately treacherous to the Protestants and later English Which people are neither so formidable in their best arms defences and power to keep themselvs in such a proclaimed condition or freedom Nor is it the aim or mark of their new Grandees to effect and maintein it whose divisions and contrarie inclinations amongst themselvs are and will ever bee a readie and open gap for anie England's enemies to enter in at And saie they have no realitie in them to a kingly claim as without doubt they have not they having now of late made amongst them so manie new Kings yet it were an Act of destructive and dangerous consequence to give Ireland to the disposal of the Pope and hee to the Spaniard his dear childe which the Inhabitants of Ireland are not much against but contrariwise manie of them desire it and which undoubtedly if not prevented would happen And so that bit bee brought into the mouth of the Spaniard which hee hath so long gaped after to swallow and devour And admit that Ireland were of the Protestant Religion as well as England and thereby the above inconveniencies avoided yet were it neither safe nor commendable to quit the dependance of that Island on England by proclaiming the Inhabitants thereof a free State since what such a State might do upon verie slender grounds and mistakes let Scotland witness The resolution therefore is that to do as this Quere propound's is extreme loss hazard and disadvantage to the people of England and the reducement of that Countrie to its lawful dependance and Government of England by a full conquest of the present Rebels let the charge bee what it will is more honorable safe profitable and advantagious to England then to proclaim them a free State who are not in a capacitie to make and keep themselvs so nor are or ever were a distinct Nation as is before said and here take notice how the Querist propound's a suitable reward indeed for the State of England to bestow upon the Reâ—â—â—â—â— of Ireland for murdering their kindred and allies acknowledging the said Rebels a free State and in amitie with them and thereby for ever to quit their own undoubted interest establish the worst of their enemies becom guiltie of the unparalel'd murthers of those that were flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone and leav the remnant of the poor English there continually open to the rapine of those whose mercies are cruelties So as the Querist would work the State of England into an impious unprovident and unnatural desertion of the caus of God their own interest and National quarrel The seventeenth Quere VVhether Ireland were not altogether as like to accept of protection safetie and defenâ—e from the State and people of England as from Spain or any other Nation especially would they not rather then from Prince Charles Rupert or from such like forlorn Soldiers how would they then style the malignant Partie inconsiderable And whether they were not then likelie suddenly to recall their Sea-Pirats and so suddenly set open all Trade by Sea The seventeenth Answer BEcaus the Rebellious Inhabitants of Ireland have cast off their obedience to the government of England and as is too well known have plotted and as farr as they could indeavored the utter exâ—tirpation of the English Protestants have in coolness of bloud and without any provocation given them maliciously and most barbarously murthered som hundreds of thousands of them driven the rest from their habitations robbed them of their Estates wounded maimed and most miserably intreated great numbers of others have burned their houses Casiles and Churches and have elected and made to and amongst themselvs several new Kings viz. the Pope the King of Spaine Owen M c Art O Neil Sr Phelim O Neil The Lord Maguire since deceased O Conner Dun of Sligoh Philip M c Hugh M c Sane O Rely Dermot M c Doolin Cavenagh and one O Shergil as doth and will fully appear in the examinations taken in that behalf and becaus also those rebellious Irish have declined all English government returned to their barbarous manners and customs have set up a new government have vowed and many of them taken the Sacrament to destroy not only all the men women and children of the English Protestants but also all irrational Creatures of the English breed and becaus also they have in a most high manner as farr as they could prophaned the Churches books and daies of God's true worship have brought to death as many Professors of his truth as they could possiblie surprise and have dilated their power and strength in the acting and perpetrating of any crime destructive to the English Protestants and which might render themselvs uncapable of mercie protection or safetie from the people of England therefore none ought to be given them nor ought the sword now justly and upon necessitie drawn out against them be returned to the Scabbard before that destruction they denounced and resolved to execute upon the English be retaliated upon themselvs least such mercie be recompenced with a curs as the holie Ghost by the Prophet in a case such semblance pronounced Jer. 28.10 Cursed bee bee that doth the work of the Lord negligently and cursed bee hee that keepeth back his Sword from bloud But I wonder from what the Querist mean's they should be protected saved or defended if hee intend it to bee from that punishment they have so justly merited by their Rebellion and wickedness past according to that protection and those Concessions they lately had by Compact with Ormond grounded upon a Commission from the late King Charle To that I answer That if the indulgent English should grant it to them no doubt they would accept and make use of it so long as they should finde it to promote and be consistent with their own ends and surely they would to themselvs take up no little glorie to meet with such a color of justification as they might thereby transferr their odious guilt upon the Protectors so much elevate the policie and wit of the old Serpent their dread Lord and Master above the English Protestant genius and bee thereby also the further enabled to destroy the remaining Partie of the Protestants in Ireland too precious wee hope to bee the price of their securitie But for further resolution These rebellious Inhabitants of Ireland are so contemptuous to the English laws so opposite in profession to the English Protestant so hardned in their wickedness envie and hatred against God's truth and them for the truth's sake and so wil ully bent to persist as till suppressed they will not omit but contrariwise with greediness draw into their confederacie countenance and assistance any whether forreign Prince or other person and never think themselvs in good condition or safetie until if possible they have sounded the dreinings of the English veins to their abyss through their deepest lakes of bloud and have brought the undestroied part of the English to the lowest ebb of tranquilitie which they will endeavour to effect and hasten on as well by Sea as Land and have in most esteem all malignant Parties lending a hand and enabling them to effect it But the Lord prevent them Something may bee said concerning Edmond Gawre who delivered the formerly recited and answered cavilling Queres to Mr Theodore Jennings who delivered them over to the Lord President of the Council of State as that it is verie like lie he is an Irishman and one whom by credible information doth or lately did covertly cnnningly shelter among the soldierie in or about Londor and is a Jesuitical Papist for the verie Queres themselvs smel of the breath of a Jesuit the truth whereof may do well if found out by inquisition after his present being parentage and education which is left to the discretion of those eminent persons in anthoritie the Impostorâ—s then present drift being to retard and hinder if possible forces and succors from our Partie in Ireland at that time when the Land was in greatest danger to bee â—ent and taken from us FINIS