brought down out of every part for the victualling of those that lay encamped about the Town There was allotted to every Company consisting of a hundred men for their daily allowance one biefe and halfe a barrell of corne And that they might with the more facility bring in the Country people to furnish their Army with these proportions they made not only prohibitions that no corne should be carried to Dublin but so blocked up the wayes as the poore churles that lived somewhat distant from the City could not carry their corne thither without apparent danger whereby the Market began to be very ill provided and great want and scarcity was much feared by reason of the large accession of people come from severall parts of the Kingdom up unto the City for safety Whereupon the Lords Justices and Councell made Proclamations to be published That all such as had corne remaining within some few miles distance should as their usuall manner was bring it to the Market at Dublin and they should receive ready money for the same in case they did not that they would presently send out Parties and burn their corn as it stood in the haggards and so prevent the use the Rebels intended to make of it for the victualing of their Army By this meanes the City was indifferently well supplyed all that winter with corn the Country people though otherwayes very malicious against the English and Protestants being content though with much hazard to adventure the bringing their corn where they sold it at a good rate for ready money rather then to suffer it to be threshed out by Warrants from the Lord of Gormanston for the use of the Irish Army then lying before Tredagh But while they continue their fruitlesse and unprofitable attemps there having neither skill courage experience The sad condition of the publike affaires of the State nor any meanes to bring about their impetuous desires and fond endeavours for the taking in of that Town I shall briefly represent a view of the sad estate of our affaires in Dublin It was now almost full two Months since the breaking out of this Rebellion The Lords Justices and Councell out of their deep apprehensions of a generall revolt of all the Irish through the Kingdome did in the very beginning with much earnestnesse sollicite the present sending over of Succours out of England And as soone as they began to make a little further discovery into the strength of this Conspiracy and found their own wants and utter disabilities to make any long or considerable opposition against the universall power of the whole body of the Irish as it then began to appeare unto them firmly united with almost all the Old English that were of the Romish Profession incorporated into their party throughout Ireland they did with much more earnestnesse by their frequent Letters and severall Agents represent unto his Majesty and the Parliament of England the very ill even desperate condition they were in and therefore desired that supplyes both of men money and all kinde of warlick provisions might be sent away with all speed unto them declaring that unlesse they received them presently and that in great proportions they were not able longer to subsist as they stood now environed on all sides with multitudes of the Rebels but had just reason to apprehend their own present ruine and the inevitable losse of the whole Kingdome And because they conceived the Levies in England could not be so suddenly made nor the men so easily transported from thence into the North of Ireland where the Rebels appeared in greatest numbers and had by their most unparalled cruelty towards the English done most mischeife as out of Scotland They made a proposition to the Lord Lievtenant to move both his Majesty and the Parliament The sending of 10000 Scots into Ireland pressed by the Lords Iustices and Councell that 10000 Scots might be presently raised and sent over into those Parts This they pressed with much earnestnesse representing the very great terrour the meere Irish had of that Nation that their bodies would better sort with that Climate endure more hardship and with lesse distemper undergoe the toile and miseries of an Irish war that the transportation would be made with much more facility and lesse charge it being not above three or foure houres saile from some parts of Scotland into the North of Ireland That the Kingdome of Scotland had been lately in Armes and so had all provisions necessary for the furnishing of their men for this expedition in readinesse And lastly they having so good a foundation in the multitude of their own Countrymen so advantagiously settled there already would no doubt undertake the work with all alacrity and vigorously prosecute the warre with such sharpnesse as might testifie their deep resentment of the horrid cruelties exercised upon so many thousands of their own Nation by that barbarous people Commissioners sent out of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the reliefe of Ireland These Letters arrived very opportunely about the time of the Kings return from Edenburgh to the Parliament of England then sitting at Westminster And there being even then two Scotish Lords come out of the Kingdome of Scotland to Treat with the Parliament of England concerning the sending Forces from thence for the reliefe of Ireland His Majesty sent to the Lords and Commons to give them notice of their arrivall and withall desired that certaine Commissioners appointed by himselfe and both Houses of Parliament might bee presently named to Treat with them and from time to time give an account of their proceedings to his Majesty and both Houses This motion was with very great readinesse yeelded unto and it was ordered that the Earle of Bedford the Earle of Leycester Lord Lievtenant of Ireland the Lord Howard of Estric nominated by the House of Peeres And Nathaniel Fiennes Esquire Sir William Ermin Baronite Sir Philip Stapleton Knight John Hampden Esquire nominated by the House of Commons should Treat with the Scotish Commissioners concerning the affaires of Ireland and that there should be a Commission granted unto them to this effect under the great Seale of England together with particular Instructions to regulate the manner of their proceedings In the propositions given in by the Scotish Commissioners they did in the first place make offer of 10000 men in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland Propositions presented to the Parliament of England for the reliefe of Ireland And that they might be enabled to send them speedily away they desired an advance of 30000 l. of the brotherly assistance afforded unto them by the Kingdome of England and that what Armes and Munition they sent into Ireland might in the same proportions be returned unto them with all expedition Next they desired that some ships of Warre might be appointed to guard the Seas betwixt Scotland and Ireland to waft over their Souldiers which they designed to transport
over the poore surprized unresisting English in those Parts and had so deeply drenched their hands in the blood of those innocents as they thought to carry the whole Kingdome before them and therefore would yeeld to no Treaties but in a most barbarous manner tore the Order of Parliament together with the Letter sent unto them and returned a most scornfull Answer fully expressing thereby how farre they were from any thought of laying down Armes or entertaining any overtures towards an Accommodation Within few dayes after the adjournment of the Parliament the Lord Dillon of Costelo accompanied with the Lord Taffe imbarqued for England but by a most impetuous storme were driven into Scotland where they landed and went up to London At the Town of Ware their papers were seized upon by directions from the Parliament of England and their persons committed unto safe custody Mr Thomas Burk went over much about the same time and certainly upon the same errand When the unhappy breach began first betwixt the King and the Parliament of England and that his Majesty thought fit to retire to York those two Lords found meanes to make an escape and all three constantly followed the Court where in those high distempers that afterwards hapned in England they easily found meanes to ingratiate themselves at Court and had the opportunity to doe those good offices for their Country-men which brought on the Cessation of Armes with them in due time The Lords Iustices and Councell by their Letters bearing date about the 20 of November Letters written to the Lord Lievtenant gave unto the Lord Lievtenant a more certaine and full account of the state of the Kingdome then they could any wayes doe at the first breaking out of the Rebellion and thereby making known the very ill condition of their present affaires they moved that the supplies of men money Commanders and Armes mentioned in their former Letters might be with all speed sent over unto them and that his Lordship would presently repaire hither in his own person to undertake the management of the warre About the tenth of the Month of November their Lordships received an Answer from the Lord Lievtenant to their former Letters of the 25 of October whereby he gave them to understand that he had communicated their Letters to the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell and that by Order from their Lordships he had acquainted both Houses of Parliament with them that he had also sent to his Majesty still continuing at Edenborough in Scotland to represent the condition of their affaires and that he understood his Majesty had received some advertisements out of the North of Ireland of the present Rebellion there His Lordship also farther let them know that his Majesty had referred the whole businesse of Ireland to the Parliament of England that they had undertaken the charge and management of the warre that they had declared they should be speedily and vigorously assisted and had designed for their present supplies the summe of 50000 l. and had taken order for making of all further Provisions necessary for the Service as may appeare by the Order of Parliament made there at that time and trans-mitted over by the Lord Lievtenant together with his said Letters unto the Lords Iustices by whose command it was reprinted at Dublin November 12. 1641. as here followeth being intituled An Order of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament in England concerning Ireland THe Lords and Commons in this present Parliament being advertised of the dangerous Conspiracie and Rebellion in Ireland by the Treacherous and wicked Instigation of Romish Priests and Jesuites for the Bloody Massacre and Destruction of all Protestants living there and other his Majesties Loyall Subjects of English blood though of the Romish Religion being ancient Inhabitants within severall Counties and Parts of that Realme who have alwayes in former Rebellions given Testimony of their fidelity to this Crown And for the utter depriving of his Royall Majestie and the Crown of England from the Government of that Kingdome under pretence of setting up the Popish Religion Have thereupon taken into their serious Consideration how those mischievous Attemps might be most speedily and effectually prevented wherein the Honour Safety and Interest of this Kingdom are most nearely and fully concerned Wherefore they doe hereby declare that they doe intend to serve his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes for the suppressing of this wicked Rebellion in such a way as shall be thought most effectuall by the Wisdome and Authority of Parliament And thereupon have Ordered and Provided for a present Supply of Money and raysing the number of six thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse to be sent from England being the full proportion desired by the Lords Iustices and his Majesties Councell resident in that Kingdome with a Resolution to adde such further Succours as the necessity of those Affaires shall require They have also resolved of providing Armes and Munition not only for those Men but likewise for his Majesties faithfull Subjects in that Kingdome with Store of Victuals and other Necessaries as there shall be occasion and that these Provisions may more conveniently be transported thither they have appointed three severall Ports of this Kingdome that is to say Bristoll Westchester and one other in Cumberland where the Magazines and Store-houses shall be kept for the Supply of the severall parts of Ireland They have likewise resolved to be humble Mediators to His most Excellent Majesty for the encouragement of those English or Irish who shall upon their own charges raise any number of Horse or Foot for his Service against the Rebells that they shall be honourably rewarded with Lands of Inheritance in Ireland according to their Merits And for the better inducing the Rebels to repent of their wicked Attempts they doe hereby commend it to the Lord Lievtenant of Ireland or in his absence to the Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices there according to the power of the Commission granted them in that behalfe to bestow his Majesties gracious Pardon to all such as within a convenient time to be declared by the Lord Lievtenant Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices and Councell of that Kingdome shall return to their due obedience the greatest part whereof they conceive have been seduced upon false Grounds by the cunning and subtle practises of some of the most malignant Rebels Enemies to this State and to the Reformed Religion and likewise to bestow such Rewards as shall be thought fit and publisht by the said Lord Lievtenant Lord Deputy or Lords Iustices and Councell upon all those who shall arrest the Persons or bring in the Heads of such Traytors as shall be personally named in any Proclamation published by the State there And they doe hereby exhort and require all his Majesties loving Subjects both in this and in that Kingdome to remember their duty and conscience to God and his Religion and the great and eminent danger which will
down to posterity the noble atchievements and great victories already obtained by small numbers of the English forces over huge multitudes of these Irish Rebels THE TABLE THe Oiginall of the Irish fol. 1. The first enterprize of the English for the conquest of Ireland made by private adventurers during the reign of King Henry the 2d. King of England fol. 3. Christian Religion setled in Ireland in the fourth Age after the birth of our Saviour fol. 4. The numbers of British and Protestants murthered or otherwise destroyed since the beginning of the Rebellion unto the time of the making of the first Cessation of armes with the Irish Rebels fol. 6. The ancient malice born by the Irish towards the English fol. 7. The royall endeavours of Queen Elizabeth for the reducing of Ireland fol. 8. The miserable condition of Ireland when King James came to the Crown of England fol. 11. The Irish Commissioners present their grievances to King Charles His great readinesse to redresse them fol. 12. The Earl of Leicester declared L. Lieutenant of Ireland fol. 14. The happy condition of Ireland at the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion fol. 16. The manner of the discovery of the Conspiracy of the Irish for the seazing upon the Castle and City of Dublin fol. 18. The rising of the Irish within the Province of Ulster fol. 24. A Letter from the Lords Justices and Councell to the Lord Lieutenant fol. 28. A Proclamation issued out for the satisfaction of the Lords and chief Gentlemen of the English Pale fol. 37. The names of the chief Rebels in Ulster severall Forts and places of strength suddenly surprized by them fol. 39 Severall policies used by the Irish to prevent the rising of the English against them fol. 41. Sir Phelim O Neals proceedings in Ulster fol. 44. The second dispatch of the Lords Justices and Councell into England fol. 46. The Proceedings of the Parliament in England upon the first advertisements brought unto them of the Rebellion raised in Ireland fol. 48. Order taken for victualling the Castle of Dublin and for the safety of the City fol. 53. The sad condition of the City of Dublin fol. 61. The particulars of the first plot of the Rebellion fol. 65. The plot for a generall Rebellion in Ireland of an ancient date fol. 66. The Plot for this late Rebellion first discovered to the Lord Mac Guire upon Mr. John Bellewes return out of England with Commission to continue the Parliament in Ireland fol. 69 That the Lords of the English Pale were engaged in the first Plot is very probable fol. 73. The Romish Clergy and the Irish Lawyers great instruments in raising the Rebellion fol. 76. The means used by them to stir up the people fol. 78. The resolution of the Irish to root out the British out of Ireland fol. 84. Vpon their first rising they seize upon all the English mens goods and cattell next strip them naked and so turn them out of their doors fol. 88. A particular enumeration of severall bloody massacres and horrid cruelties exercised upon the British all testified upon oath and taken out of severall examinations inserted in the margine fol. 90. The Remonstrance of the Protestants of Munster fol. 110. The examinations of severall persons inhabiting within the severall Provinces of this Kingdom taken upon Oath wherein are deposed severall particulars concerning the murders and cruelties used by the Rebels to the British in all parts of the countrey fol. 116. Severall examinations concerning the Apparitions at Portnedown Bridge fol. 133. The cruelties acted by the Irish upon the British were before any provocation given them fol. 1. Concerning the adjournment of the Parliament in Ireland fol. 4. The approach of the Rebels to Tredagh and the defeat of the English forces sent for the relief of that Town fol. 16. The defection of the Lords and chief Gentlemen of the English Pale fol. 18. The manner of their conjunction with the Northern Rebels fol. 19. Their refusall to repair to the Lords Justices and Councell fol. 24. Their proceedings after they had joyned with the Northern Rebels fol. 29. The Kingdome of Scotland sends Commissioners to treat with the Parliament of England concerning the relief of Ireland fol. 32. Their Propositions debated in the House of Peers fol. 34. The revolt of the Province of Munster fol. 35. A Letter from the Lords Justices and Councell to the Lord Lieutenant fol. 39 The Irish Rebellion OR An History of the beginnings and first progresse of the generall Rebellion raised within the Kingdom of Ireland in the Year 1641. THE Kingdome of Ireland which hath for almost five hundred yeares continued under the Soveraignty of the Crown of England was presently after the first conquest of it planted with English Colonies long since worn out or for the most part become Irish And therefore it hath again in this last Age been supplyed with great numbers of people drawn out of England and Scotland to settle their habitations in that Country Now the most execrable plot laid by the Irish for the universall extirpation of all these British and Protestants the bloody progresse of their Rebellion within the compasse of the first two moneths their horrid cruelties in most barbarously murdering or otherwaies destroying many thousands of men women and children peaceably setled and securely intermixed among them and that without any provocation or considerable resistance at first made I intend shall be the present subject of the first Part of this ensuing Story The originall of the Irish The Irish want not many fabulous inventions to magnifie the very first beginnings of their Nation Whether the Scythians Gaules Africans Gothes or some other more Eastern Nation that anciently inhabited Spaine came and sate down first in Ireland I shall not much trouble my selfe here to enquire If wee should give credit to the Irish Chronicles or their Bards who deliver no certain truths we might finde stuffe enough for an ancient pedegree made up out of a most various strange composure of the Irish Nation But to let them passe there are certainly a concurrence of divers manners and customes such affinity of severall of their words and names and so great resemblance of many long used rites and still retained ceremonies as do give us some ground to believe that they do not improbably deduce their first originall from some of those people It may very well be conjectured for infallible Records I finde none that as the Eastern parts of Ireland bordering upon England were first planted by the old Brittaines * Toole of the old Britein word Toll a hil-country Birne of Brin woods Cauvenagh of Cauve strong The view of Ireland by Spencer fol. 33. Toole Birne and Cauvenagh the ancient Septs and still inhabitants of that part of the country being old British words And as the Northern parts of Ireland were first inhabited by the Scythians from whom it was called ** Ireland is often called Scotia maior
among ancient writers Scytenland or Scotland So the Southern and more Westerne parts thereof were peopled from the Maritine parts of Spaine being the next continent not by the now Spanish Nation who are strangely compounded of a different admixture of severall people But as I said peradventure by the Gaules who anciently inhabited all the Sea coasts of Spaine the Syrians or some other of those more Eastern Nations who intermixing with the naturall Inhabitants of that Country made a transmigration into Ireland and so setled some Colonies there Ireland anciently divided into divers petty principalities The whole Kingdome of Ireland was divided into divers petty principalities and of later times there were five principall Chieftains viz. Mac Morough of Lemster Mac Cartye of Munster O Neale of Vlster O Connor of Conaght and O Malaghlin of Meath For such were the Irish denominations Isti reges non fuerunt ordinati solemnitate alicuius ordinis nec unctionis sacramento nec iure hereditarto vel aliqua proprietatis successione sed vt armis quilibet regnum suum obtinuit The black book of Christ-church in Dublin it is an ancient Manuscript kept there and I do not finde they were called Kings till about the time of the comming over of the English Giraldus Cambrensis who came into Ireland in the time of Hen. 2. of England being the first writer that gives them that Title Besides as they came not in either by hereditary right or lawfull Election so their investiture was solemnized neither by Unctiō or Coronation they made their way by the Sword had certain kinds of barbarous ceremonies used at their Inauguration kept up their power with a high hand and held the people most monstrously enslaved to all the savage customes practised under their dominion And thus they continued untill the Raign of Hen. 2. King of England in whose time the undertakings for the Conquest of Ireland were successefully made by most powerfull though private adventurers upon this occasion Dermott Mac Morough King of Lemster being by the Kings of Conaght and Meath enforced to flie his country made his repaire directly to Hen. 2. King of England The first enterprise of the English upon Ireland made by private adventurers then personally attending his Wars in France and with much earnestnesse implored his aid for the recovery of his territories in Ireland most injuriously as he pretended wrested out of his hands The King refused to imbarque himself in this quarrell yet graciously recommended the justice of his cause to all his loving Subjects and by his Letters Patents assured them that whosoever would afford the said Mac-Morough assistance towards his resettlement should not only have free liberty to transport their Forces Se nostram ad hoc tam gratiam noverit quam licentiam obtinere Gir. Cambren expugnata Hib. cap. 1. but be held to do very acceptable service therein Hereupon Earle Strangebow first engaging himself determined as a private Adventurer to endeavour his restitution with the utmost forces he could raise he lying then very conveniently at Bristol where Mac-Morough came unto him in his passage back from the King into Ireland There were certain conditions agreed upon between them and a transaction made by Mac-Morough of his kingdome of Lemster unto the Earl upon his marriage with his only daughter Eva. And so he being desirous to return speedily into his own country passed to St. Davids in South-Wales from whence is the shortest passage out of England into Ireland and there he further engaged Fitz-Stephen and Fitz-Gerald private Gentlemen in this service These by their power among their country-men in those parts having gotten together a patty of 490 men Cambr. cap. 3. transported them in three ships into Ireland landing at the Banne a little Creek neer Featherd in the county of Wexford and there joyning with some Forces brought unto them by Mac-Morough made their first attempt upon the town of Wexford they were gallantly seconded by Earl Strangebow who followed presently after with no very considerable forces and yet by the power of their arms within a very short time prevailed so far in the country as they made themselves masters thereof and so gained the possession of all the maritime parts of Lemster King Henry upon the news of their prosperous successe in the sudden reducement of so large a territory by such inconsiderable forces as they carried with them desirous to share with his subjects in the rich fruits K. Henry the 2. his expedition into Ireland An. 1172. as well as in the glory of so great an action undertook an expedition in his own person into Ireland the year following And so strange an influence had the very presence of this great Prince into the minds of the rude savage Natives as partly by the power of his arms partly by his grace and favour in receiving of them in upon their fained submissions most humbly tendred unto him he easily subdued a barbarous divided people The first beginnings of the Conquest of this Kingdome were thus gloriously laid by this King in the year of our Lord 1172. Now for the Land it selfe he found it good and flourishing with many excellent commodities plentifull in all kinds of provision the Soile rich and fertile the Aire sweet and temperate the Havens very safe and commodious severall Towns and little Villages scattered up and down in the severall parts of the country Rog. Hoveden cals it Palatium regium miro artificio de virgis levigatis ad modum patriae illius constructum fol. 528. but the Buildings so poor and contemptible as when that King arrived at Dublin their chief city and finding there neither place fit for receipt or entertainment he set up a long house made of smoothed wattles after the manner of the country and therein kept his Christmas All their Forts Castles stately buildings and other edifices were afterwards erected by the English except some of their maritime towns which were built by the Ostmanni or Easterlings who anciently came and inhabited in Ireland Christian religion setled in Ireland Moreover He found likewise by severall monuments of piety and other remarkable testimonies that Christian religion had been long since introduced and planted among the inhabitants of the land It is not certainly without some good grounds affirmed by ancient writers That in the fourth age after the incarnation of our blessed Lord and Saviour some holy and learned men came over out of forraigne parts into Ireland out of their pious desires to propagate the blessed Gospel throughout the Kingdome By Sedulius Palladius Patricius in the fourth age after the birth of our Saviour as Sedulius Palladius and besides severall others Patricius the famous Irish Saint A Britain borne at a place now called Kirk-Patrick near Glascow in Scotland then the utmost boundary of the Britains dominion in those parts who out of meer devotion came and spent much of their time among the
Irish and out of their zealous affectioÌ„s for the conversion of a barbarous people applied theÌ„selves with great care and industry to the instructing of them in the true grounds and principles of Christian religion And with so great successe and such unwearied endeavours did S. Patrick travail in this work as if we will give credit to some writers we must believe that the Church of Armagh was by him erected into an Archiepiscopal See three hundred and fifty Bishops consecrated great numbers of Clergy-men instituted who notwithstanding the notorious impiety and continued prophanesse of the common sort of people being most of them Monks by vow and profession of great learning very austere and strict in their discipline were so much taken notice of in those rude ignorant times by other Nations as in respect of them some gave unto the Island the denomination of Insula Sanctorum But so quickly did the power of holinesse decay in the land as the name was soon lost and even the very prints and characters thereof among the very Clergie themselves obliterated the life of the people so beastly their manners so depraved and barbarous as that King Henry when he entertained the first thoughts of transferring his Arms over into Ireland made suit unto the Pope that he would give him leave to go and conquer Ireland and reduce those beastly men unto the way of truth Rex Anglorum Hen. nuncios solennes Romam mittens regaâ—it Papam Adrianum ut sibi liceret Hibernia Insulam intrare et terram subiugare atquehomines illos bestiales ad fidem et viam reducere veritatis Mat Paris an 1156. Answerable whereunto was the tenor of Pope Adrians Bull as appears at large in Parisiensis whereby he gave him liberty to go over and subdue the Irish nation A sufficient demonstration of the condition of that people and what opinion was held of them as well by their holy father the Pope as other Princes And the King at his arrivall found them no other than a beastly people indeed For the Inhabitants were generally devoid of all manner of civility governed by no setled lawes living like beasts biting and devouring one another without all rules customes or reasonable constitutions either for regulation of Property or against open force and violence most notorious murthers rapes robberies and all other acts of inhumanity and barbarisme raging without controll or due course of punishment Whereupon He without any manner of scruple or farther inquisition into particular titles resolving as it seems to make good by the sword the Popes donation made a generall seizure of all the lands of the whole kingdom and so without other ceremony took them all into his own hands And that he might the more speedily introduce Religion and civility Rex antequam ab Hibernia redibat consilium congregavit apud Lismore ubi leges Angliae ab omnibus gratantur sunt accepta et iuratoria cautione prestita confirmata Mat. Paris an 1172. and so draw on towards the accomplishment of that great work which he had so gloriously begun he first in a great Counsell held at Lissemore caused the Laws of England to be received and setled in Ireland then he afterwards united it to the Imperiall Crown of England making large distributions to his followers by particular grants allotting out in great proportions the whole Land of Ireland among the English Commanders who made estates and gave severall shares to their friends and commilitants that came over private adventurers with them But before I passe further I shall take the liberty here to insert one observation out of Giraldus Cambrensis concerning the causes and reasons of the prosperity of the English undertakings in Ireland He saith that a Synod Ireland divided by K. Hen. 2. among his followers and other adventurers or Counsell of the Clergy being there assembled at Armagh and that point fully debated it was unanimously agreed by them all that the sins of the people were the occasion of that heavy judgement then fallen upon their Nation and that especially their buying of English men from Merchants and Pirates and detaining them under a most miserable hard bondage Decretum est itaque praedicto concilio et cum universitatis conscensu publice Statutum ut Angli ubique per insulam servitutis vinculo mancipati in pristinam revocentur libertatem Gir. Camb. expug Hib. c. 18 had caused the Lord by way of just retalliation to leave them to be reduced by the English to the same slavery Whereupon they made a publique act in that counsell that all the English held in captivity throughout the whole Land should be presently restored to their former liberty If so heavy a Judgement fell then upon the Irish for their hard usage of some few English what are they now to expect or what expiation can they now pretend to make for the late effusion of so much innocent English blood after so horrid despitefull and execrable a manner There being since the Rebellion first brake out unto the time of the Cessation made Sept. 15. 1643. which was not full two years after above 300000 Brittish and Protestants cruelly murthered in cold blood The numbers of British and protestants destroyed since the Rebellion destroyed some otherway or expelled out of their habitations according to the strictest conjecture and computation of those who seemed best to understand the numbers of English planted in Ireland besides those few which perished in the heat of Fight during the war King John came into Ireland during his minority though to little purpose The fruitlesse expeditions of K. Iohn and K. Richard 2. into Ireland but after about the twelfth year of his Raign upon the generall defection of the Irish he made a second expedition and during his stay there built severall Forts and strong Castles many of which remain unto this day he erected all the Courts of Judicature and contributed very much towards the settlement of the English Colonies as also of the civill Government King Richard the second made likewise in the time of his Raign upon the same occasion two other expeditions into Ireland in his owne person But both those Princes out of a desire to spare the effusion of English blood as also the expence of treasure being likewise hastened back by the distempers of their own Subjects in England were both content to suffer themselves to be again abused by the fained submissions of the Irish who finding their own weaknesse and utter disability to resist the power of those two mighty Monarchs came with all humility even from the farthest parts of the kingdom to submit to their mercy And yet it is well observed by some that say they returned back not leaving one true subject more behind them than they found at their first arrivall Howsoever by the very presence of these Princes and by the carefull endeavours of the Governours sent over by other of the Kings of England those
him upon his knees And howsoever before this glorious work was fully accomplished it pleased God to put a period to her dayes yet lived she long enough to see just vengeance brought down upon the head of that unnaturall disturber of the peace of the kingdome himself in a manner wholly deserted his country most miserably wasted and a generall desolation and famine brought in mightily consuming what was left undevoured by the sword It is very easie to conjecture in what a most miserable condition Ireland then was The miserable condition of Ireland when K. Iames came to the Crown of England the English colonies being for the most part barbarously rooted out the remainders degenerated into Irish manners and names the very Irish themlelves most mightily wasted and destroyed by the late wars and thereby much of the kingdome depopulated in every place large monuments of calamity and undiscontinued troubles King James of blessed memory found it at his first accession to the Crown of England in this deplorable estate whereupon he presently took into his care the peaceable settlement of Ireland and civilizing of the people And conceiving that the powerfull conjunction of England and Scotland would now overawe the Irish and contain them in their due obedience His lenity towards the Irish rebels and his endeavours for a civill reformation He resolved not to take any advantage of those forfeitures and great confiscations which he was most justly intitled unto by Tyrone's rebellion but out of his Royall bounty and Princely magnificence restored all the Natives to the entire possession of their own lands A work most munificent in it self and such as he had reason to believe would for the time to come perpetually oblige their obedience to the Crown of England And in this state the Kingdom continued under some indifferent terms of peace and tranquility untill the sixth year of his raigne Then did the Earl of Tyrone take up new thoughts of rising in arms and into his rebellious designe he easily drew the whole province of Vlster then entirely at his devotion But his plot failed and he finding himself not able to get together any considerable forces he with the principall of his adherents quitting the kingdom fled into Spain leaving some busie incendiaries to foment those beginnings he had laid for a new rebellion in Ireland and promising speedily to return well attended with forraigne succours to their aid But by the great blessing of Almighty God upon the wise Councels of that King and the carefull endeavours of his vigilant Ministers the distempers occasioned by the noise of that commotion were soon allayed and Tyrone never returning the peace of the kingdome much confirmed and setled King James hereupon being now so justly provoked by the high ingratitude of those rebellious traitours caused their persons to be attainted their lands to be seized and those six Counties within the Province of Vlster which belonged unto them to be surveyed and all except some small parts of them reserved to gratifie the well-affected natives to be distributed in certain proportions among British undertakers who came over and setled themselves and many other British families in those parts By this meanes the foundations of some good Towns soon after encompassed with stone wals were presently laid severall castles and houses of strength built in severall parts of the country great numbers of British inhabitants there setled to the great comfort and security of the whole kingdome And the same course was taken likewise for the better assurance of the peace of the country in the plantation of severall parts of Lemster where the Irish had made incursions and violently expelled the old English out of their possessions But howsoever the King was by due course of law justly intitled to all their whole estates there yet he was graciously pleased to take but one fourth part of their lands which was delivered over likewise into the hands of British undertakers who with great cost and much industry planted themselves so firmly as they became of great security to the country and were a most especiall means to introduce civility in those parts so as now the whole kingdome began exceedingly to flourish in costly buildings K. Charles great readinesse to redresse the grievances presented unto him by the Irish Commissioners 1640 The Lords L. Vicount Gormanstone L. Vicount Kilmaloc L. Vicount Costeloe L Vicount Baltinglas Commons Lemster Nic. Plunket Digbie Richard Fitz-garret Nic Barnewall Esq Munster Sir Hardresse Waller Io. Welsh Sir Donnogh Mac Cartie Conaght Robert Linch Geffrie Browne Thomas Burke Vlster Sir William Cole Sir Iames Mongomerie and all manner of improvements the people to multiply and increase and the very Irish seemed to be much satisfied with the benefits of that peaceable government and generell tranquility which they so happily enjoyed ANd now of late such was the great indulgence of K. Charles our Soveraign that now reigneth to his Subjects of Ireland as that in the year 1640. upon their complaints and a generall Remonstrance sent over unto him from both Houses of Parliament then sitting at Dublin by a Committee of foure temporall Lords of the upper house and twelve Members of the house of Commons with instructions to represent the heavy pressures they had for some time suffered under the government of the Earl of Strafford He took their grievances into his royall consideration descended so far to their satisfaction as that he heard them himself and made present provisions for their redresse And upon the decease of Mr. Wandsford Master of the Rols in Ireland and then Lord Deputy here under the said Earl of Strafford who still continued Lord Lieutenant of this kingdome though then accused of high treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London by the Parliament of England His Majesty sent a Commission of Government to the Lord Dillon of Kilkenny west and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet Master of the Wards in Ireland Yet soon after finding the choice of the Lord Dillon to be much disgusted by the Committee he did at their motion cause the said commission to be cancelled and with their consent and approbation placed the government upon Sir William Parsons and Sir Iohn Borlace Knight Sir Will. Parsons and Sir Iohn Borlace made L. Iustices Master of the Ordnance both esteemed persons of great integrity and the Master of the Wards by reason of his very long continued imployment in the State his particular knowledge of the kingdome much valued and well beloved among the people They took the sword upon the 9. of Febr. 1640. And in the first place they applied themselves with all manner of gentle lenitives to mollifie the sharp humours raised by the rigid passages in the former government They apply themselves to give contentment to the people They declared themselves against all such proceedings lately used as they found any wayes varying from the Common Law They gave all due encouragement to the
23 day of this moneth We conceiving that as soon as it should be known that the plot for seizing Dublin Castle was disappointed all the Conspirators in the remote parts might be somewhat disheartned as on the other side the good Subjects would be comforted and would then with the more confidence stand on their guard did prepare to send abroad to all parts of the Kingdome this Proclamation which we send you here inclosed and so having provided that the City and Castle should be so guarded as upon the sudden Wee could promise Wee concluded that long continued consultation On Saturday at 12 of the clock at night the Lord Blany came to town and brought Vs the ill news of the Rebels seising with two hundred men his house at Castle Blany in the County of Monaghan and his Wife Children and Servants as also a house of the Earle of Essex called Carrickmacrosse with two hundred men a house of Sir Henry Spotswood in the same County with two hundred men where there being a little Plantation of Brittish they plundred the Town and burnt divers houses and it since appears that they burnt divers other Villages and robbed and spoiler many English and none but Protestants leaving the English Papists untouched as well as the Irish On Sunday morning at three of the clock We had intelligence from Sir Arthur Terringham that the Irish in the town had that day also broken up the Kings store of arms and munition at the Newry and where the store of arms hath lyen ever since the peace and where they found fourscore and ten barrels of powder and armed themselves and put them under the command of Sir Con. Magennis Knight and one Creely a Monk and plundered the English there and disarmed the Garrison And this though too much is all that We yet hear is done by them However We shall stand on our guard the best We may to defend the Castle and City principally those being the pieces of most importance But if the Conspiracy be so universall as Mac Mahon saith in his Examination it is namely That all the Counties in the Kingdome have conspired in it which We admire should so fall out in this time of universall peace and carried with that secrecy that none of the English could have any friend amongst them to disclose it then indeed We shall be in high extremity and the Kingdome in the greatest danger that ever it underwent considering our want of men money and armes to enable Vs to encounter so great multitudes as they can make if all should joyn against Vs the rather because We have pregnant cause to doubt that the combination hath taken force by the incitement of Jesuits Priests and Fryars All the hope We have here is the old English of the Pale and some other parts will continue constant to the King in their fidelity as they did in former rebellions And now in these straits We must under God depend on ayd forth of England for our present supply with all speed especially money We having none and arms which we shall exceedingly want without which We are very doubtfull what account We shall give to the King of his Kingdome But if the Conspiracy be only of Mac Guire and some other Irish of the kindred and friends of the Rebell Tirone and other Irish in the Counties of Downe Monaghan Cavan Fermanagh and Armagh and no generall revolt following thereupon we hope then to make head against them in a reasonable measure if We be enabled with money from thence without which We can raise no forces so great is our want of money as we have formerly written and our debt so great to the Army nor is money to be borrowed here and if it were we would engage all our estates for it neither have we any hope to get in his Majesties rents and subsidies in these disturbances which adde extreamly to our necessities On Sunday morning 24. We met again in Councell and sent to all parts of the Kingdome the enclosed Proclamation and issued Potents to draw hither seven Horse troopes as a further strength to this place and to be with us in case the Rebels shall make head and march hitherward so as we may be necessitated to give them battell We also then sent away our Letters to the President of both the Provinces of Munster and Conaght And we likewise then sent Letters to the Sheriffes of the five Counties of the Pale to consult of the best way and means of their own preservation That day the Lord Vice Com. Gormanston the Lord Vice Co. Nettervile the Lord Vice Co. Fitz Williams and the Lord of Houth and since the Earles of Kildare and Fingall and the Lords of Dunsany and Slane all Noblemen of the English Pale came unto us declaring that they then and not before heard of the matter and professed loyalty to his Majesty and concurrence with the State but said they wanted armes whereof they desired to be supplyed by Vs which we told them we would willingly do as relying much on their faithfulnesse to the Crown but we were not yet certain whether or no we had enough to arme our strength for the guard of the City and Castle yet we supplyed such of them as lay in most danger with a small proportion of Arms and Munition for their houses lest they should conceive we apprehended any jealousie of them And we commanded them to be very diligent in sending out watches and making all the discoveries they could and thereof to advertise us which they readily promised to do And if it fall out that the Irish generally rise which we have cause to suspect then we must of necessity put Arms into the hands of the English Pale in present and to others as fast as we can to fight for defence of the State and themselves Your Lordship now sees the condition wherein we stand and how necessary it is first that we enjoy your presence speedily for the better guiding of those and other the publick affairs of the King Kingdom And secondly that the Parliament there be moved immediately to advance to Vs a good sum of money which being now speedily sent hither may prevent the expence of very much treasure blood in a long continued war And if your Lordship shall happen to stay on that side any longer time we must then desire your Lordship to appoint a Lieutenant Generall to discharge the great and weighty burthen of commanding the forces here Amidst these confusions and discords fallen upon Vs We bethought Vs of the Parliament which was formerly adjourned to November next the term now also at hand which will draw such a concourse of people hither give opportunity under that pretence assembling and taking new Councels seeing the former seems to be in some part disappointed and of contriving further danger to this State and People We have therefore found it of unavoidable necessity to prorogue it accordingly and to
involve this whole Kingdome in generall and themselves in particular if this abhominable Treason be not timely suppressed and therefore with all readinesse bounty and chearefulnesse to conferre their Assistance in their Persons or Estates to this so important and necessary a Service for the common good of all Io. Browne Cleric Parliament About the same time the Lord Lievtenant finding that he could not procure so speedy a dispatch of all things necessary for the service of Ireland Commission granted to the Earle of Ormond to be Lievtenant Generall of the Forces in Ireland as would enable him presently to repaire thither in his own person made the Earle of Ormond Lievtenant Generall of the Forces there and sent him over a Commission for the same And the said Earle did within few dayes after receive a Letter from his Majesty out of Scotland wherein he was graciously pleased to let him know it was his pleasure to conferre upon him that charge There was then likewise brought over the summe of 20000 l. from the Parliament the coyne which arrived here was all in Spanish pieces of eight which went for 4 d. in a piece here more then in England and this gaine the Parliament was content the Merchants that undertook the transportation should make at that time in regard of the charge and venture they undertook to stand to It arrived most seasonably even when all that little money they had was quite spent in raising and paying the new Companies and that they were wholly destitute of all meanes to draw in any contributions towards the relieving of their present necessities There continued daily to repaire unto the City of Dublin great numbers of poore distressed English Commissions issued out for the Examination upon Oath of the losses of the British and the cruelties exercised by the Irish upon them who had been most barbarously stripped robbed and despoiled of all their goods and substance by the Rebels Now that it might appeare what their losses were what cruelties were acted what murders committed and who were the chiefe actors in them thorow out the severall Provinces The Lords Iustices and Councell thought fit to issue out a Commission under the Great Seale directed to certaine of the Clergy to take upon oath the severall Examinations of all such persons that having suffered by this present Rebellion would think fit to repaire unto them as will appeare by the Commission it selfe a Copy whereof I have thought fit to insert CHarles by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To our well-beloved Henry Jones Deane of Kilmore Roger Puttock William Huthcok Randall Adams Iohn Sterne William Aldrich Henry Brereton and Iohn Watsons Clerks Greeting Whereas divers wicked and disloyall people have lately risen in Armes in severall parts of this Kingdome and have robbed and spoiled many of our good Subjects British and Protestants who have been separated from their severall habitations and scattered in most lamentable manner And for as much as it is needfull to take due Examination concerning the same Know ye that we reposing special trust and confidence in your care diligence and provident circumspection have nominated and appointed you to be our Commissioners and doe hereby give unto you or any two or more of you full power and authority from time to time to call before you and examine upon Oath on the holy Evangelists which hereby we authorize you or any two or more of you to administer as well all such persons as have been robbed and despoiled as all the witnesses that can give testimony therein what robberies and spoyles have been committed on them since the 22 of October last or shall hereafter be committed on them or any of them what the particulars were or are whereof they were or shall be so robbed or spoiled to what value by whom what their names are or where they now or last dwelt that committed those robberies on what day or night the said robberies or spoiles committed or to be committed were done what Traiterous or disloyall words speeches or actions were then or at any other time uttered or committed by those robbers or any them and how often and all other circumstances concerning the said particulars and every of them And you our said Commissioners are to reduce to writing all the Examinations which you or any two or more of you shall take as aforesaid and the same to return to our Iustices and Counsell of this our Realme of Ireland under the hands and seales of any two or more of you as aforesaid Witnesse our right trusty and well-beloved Counsellours Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet and Sir Iohn Borlace Knight our Iustices of our said Realm of Ireland Dublin 23 of December in the seventeenth year of our Raigne Carleton The Commissioners above nominated did very seriously addresse themselves to this work employing their paines therein with great diligence and faithfulnesse and have so well performed the charge imposed upon them as that by severall Examinations many principall Gentlemen of good estates were discovered to be the chiefe actors in the depredations of the British and to have committed many most horrid murders and other notorious cruelties which thorough their industry will now remaine upon Record but had otherwayes been concealed from Posterity and wrapt up in oblivion The like Commissions were in a short time after sent into Munster and Vlster In the Provine of Munster the Commissioners took great care in the Execution of it many Examinations of high concernment were taken by vertue thereof though they remaine as yet concealed and not returned up according as is required by the said Commissions Towards the latter end of November the Lords Iustices and Councell considering the miserable desolations brought upon the whole Kingdome A weekly Fast appointed by the Lords Iustices and Councell and the further calamities threatned by Warre and Famine did by a Proclamation set forth in print give strict charge and command That upon every friday a publike and religious fast should be devoutly and piously observed in and thorow the whole City and Suburbs of Dublin by all his Majesties people therein and that Divine Service and Sermons be celebrated and heard upon the said day weekly in every Cathedrall and other Church and Chappell in the said City and Suburbs thereof And this to be performed as is expressed in the said Proclamation to the end that the severe wrath and indignation of Almighty God may be averted from this Kingdome his divine aide and assistance implored and that some reliefe in these calamitous times may the better be afforded to such miserable persons as these Traytors by their rapine and cruelty have deprived of their fortunes and sent naked and almost famished up to this City The Lords Iustices and Councell being advertised of the neare approach of the Rebels to Tredagh The approach of the Rebels to Tredagh prepared to send down supplies both of
from the Lady Ofaly and a Letter containing most insolent Menaces inclosed therein sent her from the Rebels to which shee sent them a noble Answer Copies whereof we send here inclosed One of the Rebels stiling himselfe Chaplaine Major and Overseer of the Coasts and Harbours lately sent a Summons in a proud and vaunting manner to one Edward Leech that was entrusted to keep the Iland of Lambay requiring the delivery up of that Iland to the Rebels which being done he gave Leech a Passe where in he stiles the Rebels Forces the Catholike Army A copy of which Summons and Passe we send your Lordship here inclosed and Leech told us that that mighty Chaplaine declared openly to him That he was Plotter of this Rebellion That he had spent in Travell and Prosecution of that design beyond Seas foure thousand pounds and that all the Kings in Christendome excepting the King of England and the King of Denmark have hands in this businesse A Castle in the Town of Langford held by the English who stood out awhile against the Rebels being in the end through want of victuals necessitated to be rendered up to them upon promise of quarter a Popish Priest standing with his Skeane in his hand watching for the comming forth of a Minister then amongst the English did by thrusting that Skeane into the Ministers guts and ripping up his belly give that as a signall to the Rebels for falling upon the rest of the English which they did accordingly assoone as the Minister was murthered killing some and hanging the rest most perfidiously On the ninth of this Month we received advertisement that great numbers of men were gathered together in War-like manner at Swoords in the County of Dublin within six miles of us they having the Army of the Rebels behind them on this side Drogheda whereupon we then immediately sent out our Warrant commanding them to disperse A Copy whereof we send your Lordship here inclosed which was not obeyed but a Letter sent us from Luke Nettervile Sonne to the Lord Viscount Nettervile and others of them A Copie whereof we likewise send here inclosed whereupon we published the inclosed Manifest for vindicating this State from their aspersions also And it is observable that those Gentlemen at Swoords could even on that very Tuesday night wherein they alledge they were so affrighted at their Houses assemble twelve hundred men together in that moment of time to have in readinesse against any attempt from the State whereas for many dayes before they could sit still and look on whilst an Army of the Enemy lay behind them betwixt them and Drogheda and whilst some of them openly declared Rebels and many of their neighbours who doubtlesse hold under-hand intelligence with the Rebels robbed and spoiled the English on all parts round about them and yet those Gentlemen could not in all that time be either so affrighted by the Rebels or so compassionate of their poore English neighbours as to assemble any men for the defence of themselves or those their poore English neighbours and certainly those Gentlemen might have been as believing in this State who have alwayes used lenity and mildnesse towards them as in the Forces of the Rebels which lie so neare behind them and who they know have murthered many of his Majesties good and innocent Subjects and for ought they know if there were not secret intelligence between them might have used them also in like manner But the truth is we conceive those Gentlemen had a minde to joyn with the Rebels and doe now take up pretences to cover their disloyalty and cast scandall on this Government The Rebels in the Pale as in other parts have caused Masses to be said openly in the Churches expelled the Ministers from Officiating in their Churches and forced divers persons for saving their lives and goods to become Papists openly professing that no Protestant shall be suffered to live in Ireland and whilst they insult thus over all the English and Protestants destroying them for no other reason but for that they are Protestants and English we let fall nothing against them touching Religion and yet they faine things against us tending that way to give some colour to their cruell proceedings The Rebels of the County of Kildare have taken the Naas and Kildare in the County of Kildare The Rebels of Meath have taken Trim and Ashboy in the County of Meath and divers other places The Rebels of the County of Dublin have possessed Swoords and Rathcoole and spoyled all the English and Protestants even to the Gates of Dublin and now about fifteen hundred of the Rebels of Wiclow are in and about Powerscait and about ten miles from this City There are also between this and the Naas within six or seven miles of us a thousand of the Rebels of Kildare and the Borders of Wiclow and Dublin so as we are in this City invironed by them on all sides by Land and they begin to stop accesses to us by Sea for the Fishermen on the Sea Coasts being all Irish and Papists Inhabitants in the Pale brake out also into Rebellion with the multitude and have robbed spoyled and pillaged even within the Bay of Dublin severall Barkes comming hither forth of England And if to revenge this villany on the Fishermen at Clantarfe and thereabouts so neere us we send forth a Party of Souldiers to burn and spoyle those Rebels houses and corn the Gentlemen of the Pale will immediately take new offence but that we will adventure upon for now there is no dalliance with them who so farre declare themselves against the State not caring what scorns are put upon the Government wherein is observable that the Landlord of Clantarfe is one of those Gentlemen risen in Armes at Swoords Your Lordship now sees not only the necessity of hastning with all possible speed our Succours of men and armes both out of England and Scotland in greater numbers then those at first designed seeing the breach appeares to be farre greater and the defection more generall then at first was conceived and yet so as such of them as are ready be not forced to stay for the rest but that those may be so ordered as to come after for no flesh can imagine unlesse they saw it as we doe the greatnesse of our danger who are but a handfull in comparison of the multitudes risen against us And we desire that the ten thousand designed to come from Scotland may be wholly sent away as well the five thousand intended to be left there in readinesse as the rest with direction to land as neare Dublin as they may and wheresoever they land to march to Dublin if possibly they can And to send away with all speed the Ships appointed for guarding these Coasts is also very necessary to be hastned and that two or three Ships of good strength follow after doubtlesse these Rebels expect a very great supply of Armes and Munition from forraign Parts either