Adventurer to Aid him with his utmost Power and Dermot coming to him at Bristol an agreement was made that Strangebow should marry Dermots only Daughter Eva and after his Death should enjoy the Kingdom of Leinster of which she was Heiress after which Strangebow ingaging some other private Gentlemen in the Design they got together a party of 490 Men which they Transported in three Ships to Wexford in Ireland and there joyning with some of Dermots Forces they not only Reduced that Town but soon after possest themselves of all the Maritime Parts of Leinster King Henry upon the News of the prosperous reducement of so large a Territory by such inconsiderable Forces desirous to share with his Subjects both in the profit and glory of so great an Action Resolved to make an Expedition thither in Person when he Arrived there the Presence of so great a Prince had such a strange Influence on the Minds of the rude Savage Natives that partly by the Power of his Arms and partly by his Grace and Favour in receiving them upon their feigned Submissions he soon Subdued this Barbarous Divided People This happened in 1172. the King found the Land good and flourishing with plenty of all kind of Provisions the Soil Rich and Fertile the Air Sweet and Temperate the Heavens safe and commodious several Towns and Villages scattered up and down in several parts of the Countrey but the Buildings so Mean and Contemptible that when the King Arrived at Dublin their Chief City he found no place for Entertainment but was obliged to set up a long House made of Smoothed Wattles after the manner of that 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 Easterlings which formerly Inhabited there He found likewise several Monuments of Piety and other Remarkable Testimonies that the Christian Religion had been planted there about 400 years after Christ by some Holy and Learned Men from Forreign Par◠〈◊〉 Sedulius Paladius and Patricius the Famous Irish Staint born at Kirk Patrick near Glasgoâ— in Scotland who came hither out of a Pious Desire to propagate the Gospel and for the Conversion of a Barbarous People instructing them in the Principles of the Christian Faith and St Patricius with his unwearied endeavours had such great Success that some Authors write the Couren of Armagh was by him Erected into an Episcopal See 350 Bishops Consecrated great Numbers of Clergymen Instituted who notwithstanding the Notorious Ignorance and Debauchery of the Common People being most Monks by Profession and of strict and severe Lives were so admited by other Nations in those rude Times that in Respect to them Ireland was Termed the Isle of Saintsâ— But so quickly did Piety Decay that this Name was lost Yea the very Prints and Characters of Devotion Obliterated even among the Clergy themselves and so filthy and depraved were the manners of the Common People that when King Henry the II. designed to go thither he obtained a Bull of Pope Adrian to go over and Conquer Ireland and Reduce the Beastly Inhabitants into the way of Truth and the King at his Arrival found them so indeed being generally void of all manner of Civility Governed by no Setled Laws living like Beasts Biting and Devouring one another without all Rules Customs or Reasonable Constitutions either for Regulation of Property or against open Force and Violence most Notorious Murthers Rapes Robberies and other Acts of Inhumanity and Barbarism Raging without Controul or Punishment whereupon he without any manner of Scruple or further Inquisition into particular Titles resolving it seems to make good by the Sword the Popes Donation made a General Seizure of all the Lands of the whole Kingdom and without further Ceremony took them into his own hands And the more speedily to introduce Religion and Civility and Accomplish the Work so gloriously begun the King called a great Council at Lissemore where he caused the Laws of England to be received and Setled in Ireland which he United to the Imperial Crown of England and Distributed the whole Land among his English Officers and Souldiers A Learned Author in his Observations upon the Causes of the sudden Reducing of Ireland gives this as one Reason thereof That a Synod or Council of the Clergy being Assembled at Armagh and that point fully Debated it was unanimously agreed That the Sins of the People and particularly their buying of Englishmen from Pyrates and Detaining them under most miserable Bondage was one great occasion of the Heavy Judgment fallen upon the Nation and that Heaven by way of just Retaliation had now suffered them to be Reduced by the English to the same Slavery Whereupon they Ordered all the English in Captivity throughout the Land to be Released If so heavy a Judgment fell upon them for the hard usage of some few English what Expiation can they now pretend to make for the Effusion of so much Innocent Blood in 1641. when in two years time above three Hundred Thousand Protestants were cruelly Murthered in Cold Blood King John came into Ireland in his Minority to little purpose but upon a second general Defection in the 12 year of his Reign he made a second Expedition thither and Built several Forts and strong Castles many of which remain to this Day â—e Erected Courts of Judicature and setled the English Colonies and Civil Government King Richard II. upon the same occasion made two Voyages thither in Person but both these Princes to save English Blood and Treasure and having likewise Troâ—bles at Home were both content to suffer themselves to be abused by the feigned Submissions of the Irish who finding their present inability to resist such great Forces came from the farthest parts of the Kingdom to submit to their Merey and yet some have observed that they left not one True Subject more behind them than they found at their first Arrival However by the Presence of these Princes and the Care of the Governours set over them the first Adventurers and others of the English Nation drove the Irish out of all the Habitable parts of the Countrey especially those on the Sea-Coasts and afterwards grew so Potent that they Entertained private Animosities against each other yea their Dissentions were so great that at length they drew in the Irish whom they had driven up into the Mountains and ever esteemed their most deadly Enemies to take part in their Quarre's shamelesly using their Affistance for the Inlargement of their own private Territories against their own Compaâ—â—iots and Joynt Tenants in that good Land the Irish glad of the Occasion Fomented these Broils among the English whom they mortally hated to the utmost and notwithstanding the great Priviledges they enjoyed by their Protection always shewed the utmost Aversion to them and their Laws Insomuch that besides the five Irish Kings and their Families aforementioned
discourse that at Leisure we only desire the Favour to Reside some short time in your Land as our Necessities require A King craves this kindness of a King and Souldiers of Souldiers Princes are easily sensible how much it concerns their Honour and Interest to Relieve and Support other Princes oppressed by Trayterous practices yea all Men are naturally inclined to have Compassion of their fellow Creatures and to be sensibly touched with their Calamities Admit then we beseech you these scattered Remnants of Scythia If your Land be narrow we are not many if your Soil be Barren we are born and bred to Hardiness If you live in peace we are at your Command as Subjects If you make War we are ready to serve you as Souldiers We demand no Kingdom no State no Pomps nor Triumphs in Ireland we are here alone and have left those things behind us with our Enemies howsoever you dispose of us we shall be content therewith not remembring what we formerly have been but what we now are After mature consultation with their Ancient Records which forbid them to mingle divers Nations in one Realm as occasioning quarrels and dissentions and considering their want of Room they perswaded these strangers to go into Brittain providing Ships and Guides to convey them thither who landed them in the North parts now called Scotland where contrary to their expectation Marius King of the Brittains waiting their coming fell upon them and slew King Roderick and most of his Followers those who escaped upon humble Submission he licensed to inhabit the uttermost parts of Scotland at length Fergus came out of Ireland with his Scots and inhabited there as is already related The Irish as some Authors Write were first converted to Christianity by St James the Apostle about this time though themselves say that Paladius was first sent from Pope Celestine to preach the Gospel to them and after him the Renowned St. Patrick who acted wonders among them making many female Saints and among others St. Bridget a By blow of a Captain in Leinster who finding his wench with Child â—â—â—er she was Delivered of this Bridget sold her privately to an Irish Conjurer for fear of his Wives Jealousie the young Lass was instructed in the Faith by St. Patrick and was of so great Judgment that â—ot only the people but a whole Synod of Bishops assembled near Dublin to hear her Wise Counsel in many weighty causes One action in her Childhood made her famous The King of Leinster had bestowed on her Father for his good Service a Rich Sword garnished with many costly Jewels This Damsel going often to visit her poor sick neighbours and having not wherewithal to relieve them by reason of the covetousness of her Father and Mother she secretly gave them those Jewels out of that useless Sword which being known the King was much offended thereat and coming one time to Banquet with her Father he called her before him not yet above nine years old demanding how she durst in that manner deface the gift of a King she answered They are bestowed upon a better King than you whom finding in such extremity I would have given all that my Father yea all that you had and your selves too if it were in my power rather than Jesus Christ should starve In the year of Christ 586 the Danes or Norvegians being much inclined to invade other Countreys sensible they could not find more Barren Londs than their own grew dreadful both by Sea and Land seizing upon the Isles of Orkney and going from thence to Ireland under one Turgesius conquering the Irish Kings and reigned thirty years exercising all kind of Tyranny upon the Nobility and Commons it happened that the King of Meath was in some trust with him of whom he required his only Daughter for his Concubine the Father readily answered saving your Highnesses Fancy there are divers Ladies of Quality in this Countrey fitter Bed-fellows for a King than my Brown Girl and then reckoned up many of his Nieces and Cousens extolling them to be rather Angels than mortal Creatures that he even ravished the Tyrant with Joy before he saw them but making some delay he began to suspect that it was only a trick to preserve his Daughter from him to take off which the King of Meath spake thus to him If I should say that I willingly gave you my only Daughter to be deflowred your Highness wisdom would surely judge I did but flatter you and yet if ten such Daughters were dearer to me than the satisfying your pleasure by whose bounty and goodness she and I and all the rest are supported I should be unworthy of that Friendship and Confidence which you are pleased to allow me as for the Wench she must needs reckon it a great honour to be admitted to to the Bed of so great a Prince since Queens have formerly taken long Journeys to yield themselves up to Noble Conquerors in hope to have issue by them if there be any scandal in it a short time will wear that out but such a friend as you have been to me and mine I can never hope to find and therefore fear your displeasure more than the loss of Twenty Maidenheads since Fathers have not valued to give their own Wives to satisfie the Lusts of their Sons appoint then the time and place remote from your Court and I will send you my Daughter accompanied with twelve or fixteen Ladies the meanest of whom is an Empress in comparison of her and when they are before you chuse your Game as you like and if my Child chance to please you she cannot be too good to be at your Command I defire only that if any other of your friends shall require the same favour your Majesty would remember whose Daughter she is The Tyrant dismissed him with repeated thanks for this liberal offer and the King of Meath at the time appointed drest up his Daughter in the best manner and with her fixteen handsome beautiful young Men in Womens clothes who were all presented to him in his privy Chamber 〈◊〉 being present but a few debauched attendants whereupon these Young Men drew out their 〈◊〉 and killed the Tyrant and all the rest 〈…〉 small resistance this act was soon blown over 〈…〉 and the oppressed Princes instantly rose in Arms to recover their Liberties all Meath and Leinster quickly assembled whom the King commending for their forwardness in so natural a quarrel thus incouraged my Lords and Friends the case neither admitteth delay nor requires any great consulting speed and courage is all in all while the thing is fresh and new and some of our Enemies are still and asleep some lament others curse some are counselling but all dismayed let us prevent their fury dismember their strength cut off their flight and seize upon their places of refuge and defence it is no Victory if we pluck their Feathers and do not break their Necks not to chase them in but
the rest of that Nation were always reckoned Aliens and absolute Enemies so that from Hen. II. to Hen. VIII none were admitted to be Subjects or received any benefit by the English Laws but such as purchased Charters of Denization and it was no Capital Offence to kill any of them since the Laws did neither protect their lives nor Revenge their Deaths so that living in the Bogs and Woods on the Mountains they upon all occasions declared their Malice and Hatred against the English Colonies planted near them However the English were still Owners and Possessors of the Kingdom and kept themselves almost Entire for the first Hundred years after their Arrival not suffering the Irish to live promiscuously among them but by an High Hand Kept them in due Obedience and Subjection to the Crown of England and when they afterwards grew more careless and intermingled among them whereby the english learnt their beastly Manners and Customs there were very severe Laws made against them so that in the Reign of King Edward III. It was declared High Treason to Marry with the Irish or to let them Nurse their Children and to use the Irish Language Names or Apparel was made a Premunire that is to lose their Estates and be perpetually imprisoned And though in after Ages the English endeavoured to Civilize the People and introduce the English Laws Language Habit and Customs among them thereby to reduce them to Civility yet such was their Rough Rebellious Disposition and their implacable Malice to the English that nothing could Attemper or Reduce them to any Tolerable patience or perswade them to live peaceably among them So that in all times as well when they were admitted into the Condition of Subjects as while they were Esteemed and Treated as Enemies they took all Advantages most perfidiously to rise up and imbrue their Hands in the Blood of their English Neighbours and Ireland hath long continued a true Aceldama or Field of Blood and a dismal Sepulchre for the English Nation for after their intermixing with the Irish they Barbarouslâ— Degenerated into their Manners and Customs inso much that-by their intestine Broils and the Mischievous Attempts of the Irish upon them the English from their first Access to Ireland till the Reign of Queen Elizabeth being above 380 years had no setled Peace nor Comfortable Subsistance amongst them but were in such perpetual Troubles and so over-worn with misery that they could scarce Survive the Universal Calamity that over-spread the face of the whole Kingdom Whereupon that excellent Queen in the beginning of her Reign out of her Pious Intentions and Affections to her People took care to Redress these Disorders and sending over Prudent and Religious Governors made a great Reformation by many good Laws Enacted against the Barbarous Customs of the Irish and for the Execution of Justice throughout the Countrey which were reduced into Shires and Sheriffs and others Ministers of Justice placed in them and the High Powers Usurpations and Extortions of the Irish were Restramed and several Destructive Customs Repressâ—d The two Presidential Courts of Munster and Connaught were then Instituted and special Order taken for Free Schools to be Erected for Educating Youth throughout the Kingdom But these and other Courses for the Advancement of True Religion and Civility were Highly Disagreeable to the loose Humours of the Natives who pretended the English Government was Insupportable and began Desperately to struggle for their Liberty several Plots were laid some by those who were of the Old English by Extraction and divers Rebellions and petty Revolts happened during that Queens Reign which she timely Supprest either by Force and Favour often Renewing her kindness to them upon their continued provocations Restoring some Rebellious Lords to their Forfeited Estates and Commands and Bestowing New Titles of Honour upon others But all was in vain the Malignant impressions of Irreligion and Barbarism Transmitted from their Ancestors either by Infusion or Natural Generation had so irrefragably Stiffened their Necks and hardened their Hearts that they still retained all their wicked Customs and Inclinations without change in their Affections or Manners having their Eyes inflamed and their minds inraged with Rancor and Revenge against the English Nation breathing forth nothing but their Ruine Destruction and â—tter Extirpation and resolving at once to Disburthen the whole Kingdom and their Posterity of them and deliver themselves from their Subjection to the Crown of England a desperate Rebellion was raised by the Earl of Tyrone who had received Titles of Honour from the Queen a Command of Horse and Foot great proportions of Land and other Favours which he now ingratefully Cancell'd ingaging most of the Irish and some English Degenerate Families in his Treacherous Designs and likewise calling in some Foreign Forces to his Assistance The Queen perceiving that no Obligations would secure the Irish Loyalty Resolved to Reduce them by Force which was done in a short time and Tyrone brought upon his Knees though not without the Expence of much English Blood above a Million of Money the Country miserably wasted and a general Desolation and Famine over-spreading the Land King James at his first coming to the Crown conceiving that the powerful Conjunction of England and Scotland would overcome the Irish and contain them in their due Obedience resolved not to take any Advantage of these Forfeitures and great Confiscations which he was most justly Intituled to by Tyrones Rebellion but restored all the Natives to the entire possession of their own Lands After which for six years the Countrey was indifferent quiet when Tyrone made a second Insurrection and drew in the whole Province of Ulster who were absolutely at his Devotion to joyn with him but his Plot failed him for not finding himself in a Capacity to Resist the English Forces he fled into Spain promising speedily to return with Forreign Succors but by the care of the Government this Designed Rebellion was quell'd in the beginning and Tyrone never came back After which King James being justly provoked by the High Ingratitude of these Traytors caused their Persons to be Attainted and their Lands to be Seized and Distributed them among Brittish Undertakers many of whom came over and Setled in the Province of Ulster with their Families and Built several good Towns and Castles in divers parts of the Country whereby much Civility was introduced and the whole Kingdom began to Flourish in Costly Buildings and all manner of Improvements and the very Irish seemed to be much satisfied with the Peace and Tranquillity they enjoyed King Charles the I. was no less Indulgent to them for in 1640. upon the Complaint and Remonstrance sent him from both Houses of Parliament then Sitting at Dublin Representing the Heavy Pressures they had suffered under the Government of the E. of Strafford he made present Provision for their Redress Constituting Sir William Parsons and Sir John Burlace Lords Justices of that Kingdom who declared against the late proceedings
as varying from the Common Law and abated the Subsidy that was given in the Earl of Straffords time from 40000 to 12000 l. and soon after Robert Sydney Earl of Leicester was made Lord Lieutenant The Roman Catholicks likewise privately enjoyed the free Exercise of their Religion and by the over-great indulgence of the late Governors had their Titular Archbishops Bishops Vicars General Provincial Consistories Deans Abbots Priors and Nuns who without Controul exercised a voluntary Jurisdiction over them they had also their Priests Jesuits and Fryers who came in great Numbers from Forreign Parts and without restraint Setled themselves in all the Chief Towns Villages Noble-Men and Gentlemens Houses and none of the Laws were put in Execution against them and the Ancient Animosities between the two Nations seemed to be Buryed so that they lived together in Peace for 40 years Marriages and all other indearments of Friendship passing between them and the Irish Lords and Gentlemen found such Advantage by the English Commerce and Cohabitation in the great Improvement of their Lands and Native Commodities beyond what they ever formerly enjoyed that Phelini O Neal and many other principal Leaders in the Succeeding Rebellion had not long before turned their Irish Tennants out of their Lands and exposed them to starve upon the Mountains and took the English for their Tenants who gave them greater Rents and payed them more certainly These and many other Symptoms of a Flourishing Kingdom seemed to declare That the Peace and Tranquillity of the Nation was fully Setled and humanly probable so to continue and the Irish Army Raised for the Invasion of Scotland was peaceably Disbanded and no Noise of War temained in the Coasts In this great Calm the English continued in a most deep Security when on a sudden the Irish Papists raised a Rebellion so execrable in its self so oâ—ious to God and the whole World as no Age Kingdom nor People can parallel the Horrid Cruelties and Abominable Murthers that were without Number as well as without Mercy committed upon the Brittish Inhabitants throughout the Land of what Sex Age or Condition soever which was long before presaged by some discerning Persons particularly by the excellent Learned and Religious Archbishop Usher of Armagh who amongst many other extraordinary Gifts and Graces wherewith he was endowed had a wonderful Spirit of Prophecy from which among many other things he foretold this Bloody Rebellion 40 years beâ—re it came to pass in a Sermon preached at Dublin in 1601. where from Ezekiel 4.6 Discoursing concerning the Prophets bearing the iniquity of Judah 40 Days the Lord therein appointing a Day for a year he made this direct Application in Relation to the Connivance at Popery at that time From this year says he will I reckon the Sin of Ireland that those whom you now imbrace shall be your Ruine and you shall bear your Iniquity Which Prediction proved exactly true for from that time 1601. to 1641. was just 40 years It is observed that the Irish have naturally a dull and deep Reservedness which makes them carry on their Business with much Silence and Secrecy but yet it is Admirable to consider how this mischievous Plot which was generally to be acted by several Persons in divers places at the same time should without Noise be brought to the very point of Execution without any Notice or Intimation given to any two of that huge Multitude of Persons who were designed to be Sacrificed in it there not being any certain Discovery made of it till Oct. 22. which happened in the manner following Owen O Covally a Gentleman of a meer Irish Family but had long lived among the English being a Servant to Sir John Clothwarthy and Trained up in the Protestant Religion came to the Lord Justice Parsons about nine a Clock that Evening and gave an account of a Wicked and Damnable Plot contrived by the Irish Papists for Seising the Castle of Dublin the very next Day with all the Arms and Ammunition therein And at the same Hour all other Forts and Magazines of Arms in the Kingdom and that all the Protestants and English who would not joyn with them should be cut off and thereby the Papists would be possest of the Government and Kingdom at the same instant upon this Discovery the Lords Justices and Councils caused Recruits to be put into the Castle and the City to be Guarded and then endeavoured to seise the Traytors many of whom came into the City that Night and Hugh Mac-Mahon Esquire Grandson to the Rebel Tyrone and the Lord Mac-Guire Two of the principal Conspirators were made Prisoners but several others of the chief escaped that Night So that only 30 of the most inconsiderable were taken the great ones having too many Friends in the City who furthered their escape Mac-Malion being Examined before the Council without much Difficulty confest the Plot Resolutely telling them That on that very Day Oct. 23. 1641. All the Forts and strong Places in Ireland would be taken That he with the Lord Mac-Guire Hugh Birn Captain Brian O Neal and several other Irish Gentlemen were come up expresly to Surprise the Castle of Dublin that 20 Men out of each County were to be there to joyn with them That all the Popish Lords and Gentlemen in the Kingdom were ingaged in this Plot that what was that Day to be done in other Parts of the Country was so far Advanced by that time as it was impossible for the Wit of Man to prevent it and added that it was true they had him now in their power and might use him how they pleased but he was sure he should be Revenged The next Day News Arrived that the Irish were Risen in the Province of Ulster Plundering Burning and Massacring the poor English and the Rebellion appeared to be general over all the Northern part of the Kingdom and every Hour people Arrived at Dublin like Jobs Messengers telling the Story of their own Sufferings and the fearful Murthers of the Protestants in all parts from whence they came The Rebels grew stronger every Day and by the latter end of October had got possession of all the Towns Forts Castles and Gentlemens Houses in seven whole Counties and half the County of Doun except London-Derry Colrain and the Town and Castle of Inniskilling this impetuous Torrent of Success seemed to proceed from the great Security and Confidence the English had in the Irish with whom they lived peaceably and quietly and to whom they had not given the least provocation So that in the Northern Countries they were suddenly swallowed up and over-run before they could make any manner of Resistance For most of the English having either Irish Tenants Servants Landlords or Familiar Neighbours So soon as the Country began to rise about them many fled to them for preservation and with great Confidence put their Lives Wives Children and all they had into their Power but these generally either betrayed them into the
Voted the Restoration of K. Charles II. and upon notice thereof the like was done in Ireland and several of the most Eminent of that Nation were upon the Kings Arrival at White Hall sent by the Convention to wait upon him in the Name of that Kingdom with a tender of their Allegiance and a Present of 4000 l. to the Duke of York and soon after the King was proclaimed and universally acknowledged throughout the Kingdom But it was not long ere the great Inclinations to the Popish Partie in Ireland were made apparent in the Court of England and several Disputes arose about the Settlement of that Kingdom which were Debated before the King and Council where the Lord Chief Justice Santry in an Excellent Speech Represented to the Board the Horrid Rebellion of 1641. with the Barbarous and Inhuman Massacres which he had been eye witness of In Opposition to which Sir Nich. Plunchel one of the Popes Knights endeavoured to defend the Irish but so weakly having a bad Cause to Manage that the Lord Santry clearly carryed the point in the Judgment of the Auditors he desiring that they might be Tryed by the Common Law where they would meet with a fair and indifferent Tryal by Juties of their Neighbours and thereby could have no wrong done them But the King having Dissolved the Convention and called a Parliament in Ireland he prevailed so much upon them that an Act of Settlement was pressed and a Court of Claims thereby erected who were to Determine all Differences between the English and Irish Proprietars of the Lands there and to declare who were Nocent and who Innocent Papists These Commissioners being Nominated by the King he had so great an influence over them that they commonly gave their Opinions according to his Direction which was oftentimes very favourable to the Irish Rebels particularly in the Case of the Earl of Antrim one of the chief of them as by the following Letter to 〈◊〉 of Ormond then Lord Lieutenant and the Privy Council there doth appear CHARLES R. RIght Trusty and well beloved Cousins and Counsellors c. We greet you well How far we have been from interposing on the behalf of any of our Irish Subjects who by their miscarriages in the late Rebellion in that Kingdom of Ireland had made themselves unworthy of our Grace and Protection is notorious to all Men and we were so jealous in that particular that shortly after our return into this our Kingdom when the Marquess of Antrim came hither to present his Duty to us upon the Information we received from those Persons who then attended us by a Deputation from our Kingdom of Ireland or from those who at that time owned our Authority there that the Marquess of Antrim had so misbehaved himself towards us and our late Royal Father of Blessed Memory that he was in no degree worthy of the least Countenance from us and that they had manifest and unquestionable Evidence of such his Guilt Whereupon we refuse to admit the said Marquess so much as into our Presence but on the contrary committed him Prisoner to our Tower of London where after he had continued several Months under a strict restraint upon the continued Information of the said Persons we sent him into Ireland without interposing the least on his behalf but left him to undergo such a Trial and Punishment as by the Justice of that our Kingdom should be found due to his Crime expecting still that some heinous Matter would be objected and proved against him to make him uncapable and to deprive him of that Favour and Protection from us which we know his former Actions and Services had Meritest After many Months attendance there and wâ—presume after such Examinations as were requisite he was at last dismissed without any Censure and without any transmission of Charge against him to us and with a Licence to Transport himself into this Kingdom We concluded that it was then time to give him some instance of our Favour and to remember the many Services he had done and the Sufferings he had undergone for his Affections and Fidelity to our Royal Father and our Self and that it was time to redeem him from those Calamities which yet do lye as heavy upon him fince as before our happy Return And thereupon we recommended him to you our Lieutenant that you should move our Council there for preparing a Bill to be Transmitted to us for the Re-investing him the said Marquess in the possession of his Estate in that our Kingdom as had been done in some other Cases To which Letter you our said Lieutenant returned us answer That you had informed our Council of that our Letter and that you were upon consideration thereof unanimously of Opinion that such a Bill ought not to be transmitted to us the Reason whereof would forthwith be presented to us from our Council After which time we received the inclosed Petition from the said Marquess which we referred to the Considerations and Examinations of the Lords of our Privy Council whose Names are mentioned in that our Reference which is annexed to the said Petition who thereupon met together and after having heard the Marquess of Antrim did not think to make any Report to us till they might see and understand the Reasons which induced you not to transmit the Bill we had proposed which Letter was not then come to our Hands After which time we have received your Letter of the 18th of March together with several Petitions which had been presented to you as well from the Old Soldiers and Adventurers as from the Lady Marchioness of Antrim all which we likewise transmitted to the Lords Referees Upon a second Petition presented to us by Lord Marquess which is here likewise enclosed commanding our said Referees to take the same into their serious consideration and to hear what the Petitioner had to offer in his own Vindication and to report the whole matter to us upon a third Petition herein likewise inclosed we required them to expedite with what speed they could By which deliberate Proceedings of ours you cannot but observe that no Importunity how just soever could prevail with us to bring our self to a Judgment in this Affair without very ample Information Our said Referees after several Meetings and perusal of what had been offered to them by the said Marquess have reported unto us That they have seen several Letters all of them the Hand-writing of our Royal Father to the said Marquess and several Instructions concerning his Treating and Joining with the Irish in order to the King's Service by reducing to their Obedience and by drawing some Forces from them for the Service of Scotland That besides the Letters and Orders under his Majesty's Hand they have received sufficient Evidence and Testimony of several private Messages and Directions sent from our Royal Father and from our Royal Mother with the Privity and with the Directions of the King our Father by which they
Though we like your preaching yet we are not willing to lose our liberty you tell us many strange stories persuading us to forsake our pleasures and delights on Earth for which you promise us a reward in an unknown place in the other World You likewise threaten us with a dismal Dungeon appointed for Offenders which if we could believe to be true would more effectually prevail with us to leave our Delights than any other Motive St. Patrick perceiving that the fear of Torment had more influence upon them than the blessedness of Heaven prayed earnestly that God would give them some resemblance of the future misery of sinful Souls whereupon he was directed to this place wherein if any Person would enter he was to prepare himself by prayer and fasting 15 days during which time the Friers represented to him the horrors of the place and how the evil Spirits would torture them so that as soon as they were in what for want of Food and Sleep their fancies have been much disturbed and they have dreamed of those terrible things that have been told them which indeed was the whole Mystery of all these illusions as divers affirmed who tryed the Experiment in those Superstitious times however the Priests made good use of it by gaining Credit and Money from the poor deluded People Neither is that Excellent Blessing procured to this Island by the Prayers of their Patron St. Patrick to be forgot namely their Freedom from Serpents and all other venemous Creatures to confirm which one of their Authors confidently Relates the following story A young Man in the North of England lying asleep in the Fields with his Mouth open an Adder crept into it and so down into his Belly and tormented him with such violent pains that he desired his Friends to kill him it never ceasing to tear and rend his Bowels but while he was eating Medicines nor Pilgrimages to Saints would do no good at length being advised to go to Ireland he no sooner arrived there and had eat and drank upon the Island but the Serpent was immediately killed within him and voiding it downward was instantly cured and returned in good health to England So that it was a a Proverb formerly there was nothing venemous in Ireland but the Men and Women which was intended of the Savage and Brutish manners of the Wild Irish Neither was the inhabiting of this Countrey less miraculous than the place especially as to the Antiquity thereof for it is recorded in the Irish Chronicles that when the Patriarch Noah threatned the people of the Old World that vengeance would follow their wickedness and thereupon built an Ark to convince them that the whole Earth would be overflown in a few years the generality disregarded his Admonitions only Cesarea Noahs Niece believing her Uncles Prophecy got a Ship and accompanyed with three Men and fifty Women resolved to find out some Country never yet Inhabited but unspotted with Vice and thereby free from the Sentence of Gods wrath After long Sailing and many Dangers they at length arrived in Ireland but within forty days after their Landing the Universal Deluge came and swept away all these new Inhabitants at once This they say happened in the year after the Creation of the World 1556. Which was very wonderful being long before the Art of Navigation was invented But to let this pass with as little credit as the Reader pleases it will be a sufficient Honour to the Antiquity of the Irish to allow that their Countrey was first peopled by some of Noahs Kindred even as soon as any Island in the World for their Histories relate that about two hundred years after the Flood upon the confusion of Tongues at Babel Japhet and his Posterity imboldned by Noans Ark built a Ship wherein they adventured to make new Discoveries in the unknown parts of the World among them was one Bastolenus who incouraged by the example of Nimrod then Monarch of Assyria resolved to settle a Kingdom in these Western Islands where he might Rule without Controul and at length Fortune brought him and his People to the Coast of Ireland where he setled and left three Sons behind him Among his Followers were some of the Posterity of Cham that were Giants who by the example of Ninus Rebelled against their King and set up another who contended together with dubious Success at length the Giants were utterly subdued their Enemies spâ—ring neither Man Woman nor Child and to satisfie their Revenge to the full they would not vouchsafe to bury them but let them lye like dead Dogs the stench whereof caused such a mortal Pestilence that few of the Victors escaped with Life but those who fled away by Sea to avoid the Infection And here our Irish Author tells us that one of the Giants named Ruanus who was preserved lived above Two Thousand years after twice the Age of Methusalem by whom St. Patrick was throughly informed of the state of this Country and being Baptized by him dyed in the year of our Lord 430. Some few of these Giants hid themselves in Gaves and Dens after the last Battle till Famine forced them to seek for Relief when creeping out and finding no Resistance they grew Bolder and having notice how matters had happened setled themselves in the best part of the Countrey Then Magog one of the Sons of Japhet Inhabiting in Scythia in process of time several of his Posterity desirous to seek adventures landed in Ireland but were chased thence by the Giants after Wars had continued between them 216. Years Next the five Sons of Dela from Greece came hither and utterly routed the Giants being before weakened by their own Dissension and then Divided the Country into five provinces as they are at this Day fixing a Stone in the midst of the Country to make the Division more equal but at length ambition prevailing one of these Sons named Slanius subdued his other Brethren and Reigned alone but was interrupted in his new Dominion by an Army of Scythians who invaded the Land and after them the Brittains and then the Scots under Gathelus as is afore-mentioned came from Spain and fixed here Reigning agreat while in peace till the Picts came thither out of Scythia under Roderick being accidentally cast a shore upon those Coasts who were brought before the King of Ireland to whom Roderick thus spake It is not because we degenerate from the courage of our Ancestors but by the Frowns of Fortune that we are now become humble Supplicants to Ireland who never yet submitted to any other Nation Behold Sir King and regard us well and then believe that it is no small occasion which makes our lusty Bodies thus to stoop Scythians we are even Picts of Scythia from which two Names there redounds to us much Glory we will not whine and complain that Civil Wars at home forced us from our own Country thereby to move pity in you towards Strangers let our Servants and Children
their Petition to him Asserted That the King by taking notice of a Bill while in Debate in the House of Lords had broken the Fundamental Priviledge of Parliament which he ought not to do concerning any Bill till it be presented to him in due course of Parliament and desired Reparation They then desired that an Army of Scots should be sent thither and that they should have the keeping of the Town and Castle of Carick-fergus but the King said that he doubted this might be to the Damage of England The Scots Commissioners replyed That they were sorry his Majesty being their Native King should repose less Trust in them than their Naighbouring Nation had freely done So that at length this was granted It was thought to be the most Feasible way for Reducing Ireland that proportions of Land there should be shared among English Adventurers proportional to those Sums of Money they should Subscribe that so whosoever in Person or Purse should assist in Conquering the Bloody Rebels might be Recompensed if the Work were done and Propositions were framed in Parliament to that purpose which the King confirmed Though at first he laught at them and was heard to say That they were like to him who Sold the Bears Skin before the Bear was killed At length an Act was passed for impowring the Parliament to carry on that War till Ireland should be declared wholy Subdued and that no Peace nor Cessation of Arms should ever be made with the Rebels without consent of both Houses of Parliament The King then offered to go in Person thither but the Parliament thought it not fit to hazard his Person in such an Expedition The Queen about February went to Holland carrying with her most of the Crown Jewels which she had pledged for Money and Arms for the King her Husband and for which she was afterwards voted a Traytor by the Parliament the King having taken leave of her at Dover went with the Prince and Duke of York to Theobalds and from thence to Newmarket where both Houses Presented him a Declaration sent by two Lords in which they Repeat the old Grievances the War of Scotland the Rebellion in Ireland his entring the House of Commons his causless fear of Residing near London to the perplexing of the Kingdom the hindring the Relief of Ireland and incouraging the ill affected Party in the Kingdom To which the King answered with great Indignation extenuating some things and excusing others accusing them for raising needless Fears and Jealousies After which the King passed farther North to York upon which the Parliament voted That the Kings Absence so far Remote from his Parliament is not only an Obstruction but may be a Destruction to the Affairs of Ireland That when the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall declare what the Law of the Land is to have this not only questioned and controverted but contradicted and a command that it should not be obeyed is an High Breach of the Priviledge of Parliament That they which advise the K. to absent himself from his Parliament are Enemies to the Peace of this Kingdom and justly to be suspected as Favourers of the Rebellion in Ireland From York the King sent a Message to the Parliament April 8. 1642. That he would go in Person over to Ireland against those Bloody Rebels and intended to raise a Guard for his Person in Cheshire to carry thither of 2000 Foot and 100 Horse whom he would Arm from his Magazine of Hull But the Parliament having Intimation that the K. designed to Seise that Magazine to Arm himself against them sent Sir John Hotham thither who refused to admit him Entrance upon which the K. Proclaimed him Traytor and complained to the Parliament of the Affront who endeavoured to appease him but justified Hothams Act and declared that the Proclaiming him Traytor without process of Law was against the Liberty of the Subject and Laws of the Land The King daily Summoned the Gentry of the Northern Counties to attend him all York as a Guard for his Person which he declared was in danger from the Parliament who thereupon declared That it appears that the King Seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make a War against the Parliament who in all their Consultations and Actions have proposed no other end to themselves but the Care of his Kingdoms and the performance of all Duty and Loyalty to his Person That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the Trust Reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the Dissolution of the Government That whosoever shall Serve and Assist him in such Wars are Traytors by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament 11 Rich. II. and 1 Henry IV. and that such Persons ought to suffer as Traytors the King Justified himself in his Declarations and Proclamations against the Parliament which daily encountred each other So that all things tended to an absolute Rupture and presaged the Calamities of the Civil War which soon after followed For both sides flying to Arms and the Nation being divided into Parties several bloody Battels were fought and the whole Kingdom was in a Flame In 1643. The Parliament of England invited the Scots to come in to their Assistance with an Army of 21000. Horse and Foot ingaging to pay them an Hundred Thousand pound towards the Charge of Raising them On the other side the King to withdraw the Protestant Army out of Ireland for Aiding him against the Scots concluded a Cessation of Arms for a year with those Rebels and 3000 of the English Army were Imbarqued from thence to joyn with the King This Cessation was much complained of by the Parliament since it was not only for the benefit of the Irish Rebels who gave him 3000 l. for the Favour but also directly contrary to the Act which the King hath lately Signed That no Cessation should be made without the consent of both Houses Thus was Assistance brought to either side and that English Army which for almost a year had fought Valiantly and Victoriously against those Rebels was now brought over to fight against the Parliament of England The War still continued with much Vigor and great Slaughter was made throughout the Kingdom yet in the midst thereof some Glimmerings of Peace began to appear for in 1644. Conditions were proposed both by the King and Parliament and a Treaty began at Uxbridge between Commissioners from both Parties during which the care of the War was not neglected on either side the King endeavouring to bring over some Forces from the Duke of Lorrain and some Irish to his Assistance and by his Letters to the Lord Lieutenant to make a Peace with the Rebels or at least to continue the Cessation for a year and to promise and grant them the free Exercise of the Romish Religion assuring them that if by their Assistance he could but finish his War in
cannot be far from 〈◊〉 where Vice is Patroniz'd and Antrim a Rebel upon Record and so lately and clearly proved one should have no other Colour for his Actions but the King 's own Letter which takes off all Imputations from Antrim and lays them totally upon his own Father Sir I shall by the next if possible send you over one of our Briefs against my Lord by some Friend It 's too large for a Pacquet it being no less in Bulk than a Book of Martyrs Well might the Irish decline their Tryals by indifferent Juries and Appeal to this Court of Claims which the Lord Chief Justice Santry declared was like the Usurpers High Court of Justice Arbitrary and Unlimited and the English complained that the Natives by this Illegal Court were made Innocent though they were known to be deeply concerned in the Rebellion for that it was beyond all peradventure that not 10 of the Irish Papists were free from Rebellion and Murther and most of them stood Indicted and Outlawed for Treason and therefore dispaired upon their Tryal at the Bar to make any considerable defence Upon this a New Act was prepared to explain the former But Talbot after Tyrconnel being made a Principal Agent for the Irish and they insinuating themselves into the favour of Rainsford afterward made a Judge in England for his good Services in Ireland and the Commissioners of the Court of Claims it so fell out that though it was believed upon the Kings Restoration there could not have been the twentieth part of Ireland gained from the English Yet by Recommendatory Letters and other Stratagems of the Court in England there was almost an half of the Kingdom in value lost and at the same time the most Innocent Irish lost their Estates and the greatest Rebels got twice more than they had before the Rebellion began to such a height was Popery already grown which so far incouraged the Irish that they often told the English that in a short time the Protestants must be all of their Religion In 1669. The Lord Roberts was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland but soon recalled and John Lord Berkley was sent in his Room In 1670. The Papists set up a pretence that the King when in Exile had ingaged to the French King to restore the Irish to their Religion and Estates which not being done might occasion a Breach with that Crown Whereupon Commissions were sent to Irish Papists to make them Justices of Peace in which Office they soon discovered themselves to be so partial and insolent that their proceedings were abhor'd not only by the Protestants but the most thinking Irish After this there was a design for Regulating the Corporations of Ireland and the Popish Party began with Dublin where without any Legal proceeding or pretence 7 of the Aldermen and Sir William Davis the Recorder who were opposite to the Romish Party were turned out in a Tumultuous Irregular manner and 7 of the Rabble put in their places and Sir Ellis Leaton the Lord Lieutenants Secretary was made Recorder and Papists were daily brought into the Common Council to the great Terror of the Citizens who plainly perceived that the design was apparently level'd at the Foundation of the Protestant Interest and Religion and for introducing Popery and Arbitrary Power In which Opinion they were confirmed by some Passages that happened about the same time Particularly that Talbot the Popish Archbishop of Dublin in 1672. Desiring of the Lord Lieutenant to borrow the Hangings of the Castle Silver Candlesticks and other Plate to the use at High-â—â—â—ss they were sent by Sir Ellis Leaton with this Complement that he hoped to have High Mass by Christmas at Christ-Church To effect which soon after an horrid Plot was discovered whereby all the Protestants were to have been barbarously Murthered and the Signal appointed to Distinguish the Irish from the Hereticks was a Cross of Straw which the Priests earnestly enjoyned every one to fix over their Doors telling them the omission thereof might be their Ruine for where the Cross were not found they would be destroyed as Hereticks But this Horrid Conspiracy being happily Discovered upon Search small Crosses of Straw not easily perceived were found on the Houses of most of the Irish in the Province of Munster But the Government of Ireland was at that time so Popishly inclined that they would not incourage the further Discovery thereof and those that appeared earnest in laying it open had their Cattel stole and were threatned to have their Houses burnt so that the whole Villainy was husht up in silence In 3673. The Earl of Essex was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the proceedings in the former year being thought by Courts of England too bare-faced This worthy and prudent Governor managed Affairs with so much skill and integrity that the Papists could hope for no Advantage whilst he held the Sword therefore one Sheredon and Edward Coleman were thought fit Instruments to imbarrass Affairs and manage the Catholick Interest but by the unparallel'd Conduct of this prudent Earl he so far outvy'd the Romish Politicks as to Cajole that Party into an approbation of those Proceedings which proved fatally Destructive to their designs of which at length the D. of York was so sensible that he became his inveterate enemy and set up private designs against him and at length prevailed to have him recalled and in 1677. the Duke of Ormond was again sent Lord Lieutenant thither This year the Papists set up another Project which was that the French should make some new Demands for the Irish upon pretence of the Articles made by King Charles 〈◊〉 in their favour and the King of England was to admit the French to Land Men The Earl of Tyrone the Lord Brâ—â—as and others were also to raise Men in Ireland in order to make a diversion to the putting the Popish Plot in force in England and an Insurrection was designed at the same time in Ireland the King was unacquainted with the chief part of the contrivance the Duke of York having undertaken to qualifie him if he should hear of the Irish Intreague but this was divulged by some of the Irish and the King was hardly prevailed with not to believe it at length the King and Council fearing some danger from Ireland the Duke of Ormond was sent thither and the Duke of York did not think it seasonable to oppose it but yet prevailed so powerfully with the King that he sent Orders for raising Men in Ireland upon pretence of Forreign Service they were all Papists except some Officers who were ready to be so but the Lord Lieutenant would not deliver them Arms so they were exercised with Sticks The next year 1678 the Popish Plot was discovered in England and soon after that in Ireland which was detected by those of their own Party and Religion not one Protestant appearing as evidence against them Upon which Orders came from England for Disarming all Papists but their Friends at
they were to encounter with to effect it and therefore moved the King that their Estates might be secured by an Act of Parliament with Liberty of Exercising their Religion only privately but Peters opposed this as a consideration too Worldly adding that if they would persue his measures he doubted not to see the Holy Church Triumphant in England Other Papists desired the King they might have Liberty to sell their Estates and retire into France and by his Intercession might be provided for in that Kings Dominions To which he replyed that before their desires came to him he had often thought of them and had as he believed provided a sure Sanctuary for them in Ireland if all those endeavours should be blasted in England which he had made for their Security and of whose Success he had not reason to despair adding many zealous Expressions of his extream kindness for the Catholick Church As that he resolved rather to dye a Martyr than not to settle the Roman Religion and that he would choose to dye the next day that design being compassed rather than live 50 years without effecting it having already been almost a Martyr for the Catholick Cause which had been the occasion of all his Troubles In pursuance of these Resolutions the King gave himself wholly up to the Conduct and Counsels of the Furious Jesuits being entred into their Society and was become a Lay Brother of that Order and consequently judged it Meritorious to extirpate and destroy Heresie especially being told That it would be a most glorious Action and that no doubt he would be Canonized for a Saint if he could Reduce 3 Kingdoms to their Ancient Obedience to the Holy See from which they had been so long Apostates and had Nurst up so many Damned Hereticks to the Disturbance of Holy Church But the present Lord Lieutenant being an Obstacle to the Vigorous progress of Popery in Ireland land the Jesuits resolved to remove him of which design a Person of Honour acquainted the King who absolutely denyed there was any such intention or that he had any thoughts of it nor did believe he ever should whilst both lived remove him from that Government though the Papists in Ireland confidently affirmed That he had before given assurance to Father Peters that Tyrconnel should be Lord Deputy and accordingly in 1686. he obtained that Government against all opposition the News of which so surprized the Protestants in Ireland that almost all that were able Deserted the Kingdom and flockt in great numbers to the Isle of Man Scotland and other places so great was their Terror and Consternation at these dreadful tydings and the dismal effects which they expected from his Management of Affairs at length Tyrconnel arrived there after having been kept a considerable time at the Sea side by contrary winds which seemed a Signal Act of providence to give warning and opportunity to the People to fly from the judgments just ready to fall upon that distressed Kingdom The Lord Clarendon Surrendred the Sword to him with an Admirable Speech concluding that as he had kept an equal hand of Justice to the Roman Catholicks so he hoped his Lordship would do to the Protestants But Popery was the Scene which must be Acted and the Protestants Trembled at the Terrible Consequences thereof whilst the Irish Triumpht and insulted over their Dejection reproaching them both as Englishmen and Protestants and usually calling them Fanatick Dogs and Damned Hereticks Yea so Barbarous were their Affronts and Indignities that the English were daily afraid of a general Massacre to be inhumanly put in Execution against them Tyrconnel now places Popish Judges and Officers in all the Courts of Judicature and then proceeds against the Charters of all the Cities and Corporations of the Kingdom He endeavoured to perswade the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of Dublin to Surrender theirs to the King but meeting with much Opposition therein he in a Rage told them that this was the continuance of their former Rebellion having turn'd out all the Loyal Subjects in the last War of Ireland and would do so now if it were in their power whereupon they produced a Letter from King Charles I. Dated at Oxford containing great acknowledgments of their Signal Loyalty and Faithfulness to him with High Assurances of being Eminently rewarded if he were again Restored to his Crown But this availed nothing for the common saying of the Irish was that K. James would regard no Man for any Service formerly done to him his Father or Brother but only for future Service that he expected from them So that though the Citizens of Dublin sent a Gentleman on purpose to the K. with a Petition and Representation of their Case yet he would not regard him but upon first sight askt him if he had the Lord Deputies leave to come with this Petition and that he had those in Ireland that understood the Law better than himself and so turned from him and he was forced to go back again re infecta Yet the City of Dublin was resolved not to betray their Liberties but imploy'd the Council to defend their Charters but these Judges who had already broken through all inclosures of Law and Trampled upon the known Constitutions of the Kingdom that they were opposite to their Popish and Arbitrary Designs over ruled all their Pleadings and gave Judgment against them to the universal excessive Joy of the Irish and great Mortification of the Protestants Consonant to the Sentence against Dublin was Judgment given against all the Charters of the Kingdom except those who quietly Surrendred them The New Lord Deputy now chose him a Privy Council that all but three had scarce common Sense of which two of them would often complain saying that nothing could pass at the Council-Board of publick concern but their Country-men must first ask Teige ' if that would not spoil his Potato Garden but however they all agreed to inslaven and beggar their Country especially in matter of Trade as appeared by Tyrconnels first Proclamation with the Advice of his Council to break an Act of Parliament in taking off the Duty of Iron and this without asking the King leave but as soon as it was heard of in England a Proclamation came from thence forbidding this wise Act made by these Notable Statesmen and the Lord Bellasis swore in Council That Fool in Ireland was Fool and Mad-man enough to ruine 10 Kingdoms And Father Peters secretly Reprimanded him for his Political Blunder and writ to him if he acted not with greater Caution the King could not possibly preserve him in that Government This with the vast numbers of People that Deserted the Kingdom upon Tyrconnels coming Lord Deputy thither whereby the Towns and Cities were made almost Desolate and Traffick so ruined that the publick Revenue was sunk incredibly from the former value were so strongly pressed against him at the English Privy Council to his Disadvantage that he obtained the Favour of
Chief Justice Nugent Lord Chief Baron Rice and Neagle drew up the Form of an Act which in the nature of it gave the whole Lands of Ireland into the Hands of the King and though the Catholicks were to have but half their Estates yet the other part was under such qualifications as the King might dispose of them to those who were most Obedient and Useful to him This was brought over by these 3 who were called the Irish Ambassadors and at length approved of by Father Peters and presented to the King with strong Assurances that if he would but call a Parliament there they could have whom they pleased elected all Corporations being already put into Popish hands and all the Sheriffs of Counties Papists who would be sure to make returns as they thought fit King James who was become a Vassal to the French King durst not refuse their Proposals for fear of disobliging him and having as he constantly did debated it in the Cabinet Councel it was resolved to be brought into the Privy Council which the King did accordingly and being read the Lord Bellasis passionately inveighed against it saying That if such Designs as these were incouraged the Catholicks of England had best in time look out for another Country and not stay to be a mad Sacrifice for Irish Rebels others seconded it and none durst offer any thing in behalf of it afterwards the 3 Irish Ambassadors had Audience at the Council where Rice spoke in the behalf of the rest but the Lords Bellasis and Pours called him Fool and Knave even in the Kings presence Bellasis bidding them make hast to the Fool their Master and bid him next Message he sent to imploy Wiser Men and upon a more honest Errand and every one fell so violently upon them that they kissed the Kings Hand and departed he himself not speaking a word but instantly breaking up the Council And the noise of their Business being known abroad the Boys in the Streets run after the Coach where Rice and Nugent at any time were with Potatoes stuck in sticks crying out make way for the Irish Ambassadors In 1688. The Joyful News of the Birth of the supposed Prince of Wales arrived there about the same time with that of the Imprisoning the Bishopâ— in the Tower which filled them with such exaltations that they could hardly bear it Glorying They had now a Prince who would become a Patron to Holy Church and perpetuate the Catholick Religion to all Posterity by the utter extirpation of Heresie It is remarkable that as soon as ever it was publickly declared the Queen was with Child the Irish throughout the Nation were so confident that it would be a Son that they offered to lay 20 Guinies to one of it which the English were very sensible they would never have ventured had they not been acquainted with the Mystery of it And now they express their Rejoycing with Bonfires Bagpipes Drinking and Revelling for several Nights together forcing the English to come out of their Beds and to drink the King and Princes good Health with Confusion to their Enemies upon their Knees which they well understood were the Protestants and such as would not comply were called Fanatick Oliverian Dogs and they hardly refrain'd from Murthering them and the Officers of Christ-Church were committed to the Stocks because Tyrconnel fancyed that the Bells did not Ring merrily enough on that occasion But the Scripture says The Joy of the Wicked is short and so theirs proved for a while after a Ship came from Amsterdam to Dublin with Letters from a Friend of Tyrconnels to acquaint him that he did imagine the Prince of Orange had a Design against England since none in Holland could guess what else the great and hasty preparations made there should mean Tyrconnel sent this Letter to the Secretary of State who shewed it the King but they made no other use of it than to Scorn and Redicule his Intelligence as the Secretary did in a Letter sent back to him But fresh Suspicions daily arose and the matter seemed still more probable whereupon the huffing Irish called the English Rebels saying they were sure they would joyn with the Prince and as certain that they would be beaten and be served the same sauce as Monmoth was and Bloodily and Maliciously exprest themselves against the Prince whose Head they threatned to stick on a Pole and carry it round the Kingdom and after K. James Proclamation came to them L. C. Justice Nugent that Confident Ignorant Irishman in his Charge to the Jury among other Vilifying Reproaches upon the P. of Orange Audaciously and Impudently added that now the States of Holland were weary of their Prince they had sent him over to be drest as Monmouth was but that was too good for him and that he doubted not before a Month passed to hear that they were hung up all over England in Bunches like Ropes of Onions At this time of his present Majesties Descent into England the Popish Army in Ireland were about 8000 whereof near half were sent into England to assist K. James and the other were dispersed up and down the Kingdom being but an handful in comparison of the Protestants who had Arms enough in Dublin alone to have Mastered them and it was proposed by some when they heard the King had sent Commissioners to Treat with his Highness the Prince of Orange to Seize the Castle of Dublin with the Stores and Ammunition which had been very Feasible by securing Tyrconnel who had only 600 Men to guard him and they by the continual Expresses from England of the wonderful Progress of the Princes Forces were so generally Discouraged that they declared themselves desirous to lay down their Arms proposing to themselves only to remain in the same condition they were in K. Charles II. time and Tyrconnel himself commanded the Protestants to signifie the same to their Friends in England that he was willing to part with the Sword upon those Terms with K. James his leave For though he received the first News of the Princes Landing with the greatest Disdain and Contempt Boasting that he was able to raise an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men on a Months notice and gave Commissions to every one that would accept of them yet the additional Accounts of his Highnesses daily Success raised such a Consternation in him that by all his Actions it did sufficiently appear he had no thoughts of standing out and all his Discourses expressed his Disordered and ill Apprehension of the present Tendency of Affairs which was much increased by the dreadful Alarm that the Protestants had from a Letter sent to the Earl of Mount Alexander giving him an account of an Horrible Massacre designed upon the Protestants on December 9. being Sunday the Letter came to Dublin the Friday before and the News thereof so Terrified the Protestants that the next Day above 3000 got away into the Ships that were in the Harbor at that time