and who are accounted his Majesties true Subjects who Malignants But all this is easily blasted with the Consideration that they are the Expressions of Rebels pretending his Majesties name and service for their advantage No under favour they are the expressions of his Roman Catholique Subjects so stiled in the late Cessation concluded in his Majesties name and by his Majesties authority September 15. 1643. and ranked equally with other his Majesties good Subjects and therefore no reason to discountenance this Evidence not yet those of the like nature hereafter to be produced However it aboundantly shewes the end for which it was mentioned the proving that Rebellion to be a Quarrell of Religion Let us now trie what Evidence may be brought forth to prove that the Papists in Ireland and the Armies in England engaged against the Parliament are doing the same work and that there is a line of Communication betwixt their Counsells To this purpose let us consider a Commission and a Cessation to which whatsoever else is to be said in this matter may be reduced Common fame none of the worst witnesses hath brought to every mans eares the noyse of the Kings favouring the Irish Massacre and that the Catholique Subjects there have called themselves the Queenes Army and intimated themselves the Kings by saying they had good warrant in black and white for their proceedings and crying out upon the English Parliament and Puritanes as the Kings Enemies and theirs It were well worth the knowing the truth of this so important businesse Let us goe as neare it as the nature of a Mystery will admit And first let the Copy of the Commission said to be given by the King to his Catholique Subjects of Ireland be read and examined From our Camp at Newrie this fourth of November 1641. Philem Oneale Rorie Macguire To all Catholiques of the Romish Partie both English and Irish within the Kingdome of Ireland we wish all Happinesse Freedome of Conscience and Victory over the English Hereticks who have for a long time tyrannized over our bodies and usurped by Extortion our Estates BE it hereby made known unto you all our Friends and Countrey-men that the Kings most excellent Majesty for many great and urgent Causes him thereunto moving reposing trust and confidence in our fidelities hath signified unto us by his Commission under the great Seal of Scotland bearing date at Edingburgh the first day of this instant October 1641. and also by Letters under his signe manuall bearing date with the said Commission of divers great and heinous astronts that the English Protestants especially the Parliament there have published against his Royall Prerogative and also against our Catholique Friends within the Kingdom of England The Copy of which Commission we have here sent unto you to be published with all speed in all parts of this Kingdome that you may be assured of our sufficient warrant and authority herein THE COMMISSION CHARLES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. To all our Catholike Subjects within Our Kingdome of Ireland greeting Know ye that We for the safeguard and preservation of Our person have been enforced to make Our abode and residence in our Kingdom of Scotland for a long season occasioned by reason of the obstinate and disobedient carriage of Our Parliament in England against Vs who have not onely presumed to take upon them the government and disposing of those Princely Rights and Prerogatives that have justly descended upon Vs from Our Predecessours both Kings and Queens of the said Kingdome for many hundred yeares past but also have possessed themselves of the whole strength of the said Kingdome in appointing Governours Commanders and Officers in all parts and places therein at their own wils and pleasures without Our consent whereby we are deprived of Our Soveraignty and left naked without defence And forasmuch as we are in Our selfe very sensible that these stormes blow aloft and are very likely to be carried by the vehemency of the â—…rotestant Party into Our Kingdome of Ireland and endanger Our Regall power and authority there also Know yee therefore that we reposing much care and trust in your duties and obedience which we have for many years past found Doe hereby give unto you full power and authority to assemble and meet together with all the speed and diligence that a businesse of so great a Consequence doth require and to advise and consult together by sufficient and discreet numbers at all times dayes and places which you shall in your judgements hold most convenient and materiall for the ordering setling and effecting of this Great work mentioned and directed unto you in Our Letters and to use all politick wayes and meanes possible to possesse your selves for Our use and safety of all the Forts Castles and places of strength and defence within the said Kingdom except the Places Persons and Estates of Our loyall and loving Subjects the Scots and also to arrest and seize the Goods Estates and Persons of all the English Protestants within the said Kingdom to Our use And in your care and speedy performance of this Our will and pleasure we shall perceive your wonted duty and allegiance unto Vs which we shall accept and reward in due time witnesse Our selfe at Edinburgh the first day of October in the seventeenth yeare of Our Reigne This Deponent maketh Oath that about the middle of November last living then in the Parish of Saint Michans neare Dublin being accompanied with one master Stapleton of Dublin aforesaid Gentleman they happened into the company of a Popish Priest commonly called Father Birne who being formerly acquainted with the said master Stapleton desired to drink with him at a Taâ—…ern called the Bull upon Merchants key in Dublin where 〈◊〉 of the injuries and troubles of the times the Priest answered that the Irish not enduring to have them called Rebels had sufficient warrant for what they did and stood strongly in defence of their actions and presently to justifie his words produced a writing according to the tenour of the premises mentioned in this writing abovesaid whereof the Deponent desired a Copy and he willingly yeelded unto it and thereupon he wrote this Copy out of his literatim in the presence of the said master Stapleton who is now living in Dublin This is the true copy of that Commission with the annexed Warrant and Deposition for I will conceale nothing in a businesse of this importance as it came to my hands in a paper thus endorsed A copy of the forged Commission in Ireland published by those traiterous Rebels Sir Philemy Oneale Knight Rory Maguier Esquire and others with their lying perswasiâ—…n to seduce and stirre up the whole Romish Party to Rebellion wherein may be seene how heinously his Majesty is abused and the Parliament unjustly taxed by the â—…apists This last clause I take for granted but as for the rest give me leave to try whether
that they made use neither of the Kings offer to the Scots by declaring it nor the Scots to them by accepting it and one of them was so farre more ambitious of his Majesties favour then carefull of his owne honour as to acquaint the King with the businesse Aâ—…ke the Lord of Dorset who it was But I hasten from this Digression and returne to that conclusion which I thinke I may clearely make from these premises That his Majesty before any of these apparent Quarrels about Tumules or the like used earnest endeavours for destroying the Parliament so contrary both in its constitution and proceedings to the intended subversion of Religion and Liberty either in their persons or priviledges So that though these plots and transactions did not serve the Kings turn for the intended mischiefe yet they serve mine very well in the cleare proofe of the intention of the mischiefe Something might further be added out of the Irish businesse to make this assertion cleare but I reserve that to its owne place being the Mystery of this Mystery and the Iniquity of this Iniquity By what hath beene declared it may appeare what aspect the King and the Councels in which he was ingaged had toward the Parliament of England Let us proceed to examine the courâ—…es which were afterward taken in prosecution of this Design against them and those that for love of Religion Liberâ—…y adhered to them and by considering the Wayes Counsels Instruments which have beene used in this service we shall obtaine yet further evidence that this present warre undertaken by the King and his party was intended for the subvers on of the professed Religion and establisht Government When therfore the Armies raised both in England and Ireland not without some relustancy as not having performed their intended service were unavoidably to be dis-banded in the declining part of the yeare 1641. we must suppose a Counsell most solemnly to be called at White-hall about July or August before the Kings going into Scotland it being then very seasonable in regard that the Irish Committee especially so able and active men as Gormonston Muskery Plunket Browne and Bourke who were privately treated with was then in England wherein as may appeare by the precedent and future practises it was laid as a ground That this Parliament with the Puritanes their Adherents who stood so obstinately in the way of this propounded and so farre promoted Designe must be removed or subdned And to this End wayes of violence blood being the Whores drinke Revel. 17. 6. and iâ—…perium quolibet pretio constans bene an absolute rule being cheap at any rate are resolved upon especially considering that many broken pieces of the Armies raised against Scotland might easily be made use of againe the Occasion being very little different And in this Conspiracy was that monstâ—…ous Rebellion in Ireland to use the words in the Kings answer to the Petition of the Irish Commanders dated at Oxford December 1. 1642. for we cannot wish better words though we expect better deeds practised by those mercilesse and idolatrous Rebels more then probably contrived Let us stand behind the curtaine some policie may be learnt and honesty too by way of defiance After the Proposition of the destroying this Parliament in case it could not be reduced to the service of this Catholique Designe which was almost past hope seeing no more royall inclinations in them after so many Acts of Grace besides personall honours and offers made to some accepted by others which was resolved doubrlesse nemine contradicente The next consultation must naturally and necessarily be of the manner which must likewise be Confusion and Blood sceleribus non nisi per scelera tutum est iter But nothing is to be done rashly the Cause being as full of hazard as importance let therefore the State of the Kingdome of England and the neighbour Kingdomes and States in reference to this Cause be duly considered The condition of England may be thus represented for the body of it It consists of Papists Protestants viz. the King Prelates Courtiers and Cavaliers the dissolute Gentry the superstitious Clergy the profane and ignorant people the only Protestants now accounted of all the rest are but Anabaptists and Brownists and a third party of Purita is that is Lovers of the Protestant Religion with the desire of Reformatioâ—… friends to the Parliament and native Liberty of the Subject This latter part though very strong yet may be supposed well ballanced by the other two whom they without a mistake as now appeaâ—…es presumed might be made one upon the Coincidencie of popery absolute power Prelacie indifferency in Religion and profanenesse especially with the advantages of their opposition to puritanisme and Reformation and the manifold pretences that might be continually made against the Parliament And whereas it might be objected that the Parliament now made indissoluble by a late act would be a very great impediment in regard of its power and estimation with the people especially now after their pressures sustained for want of Parliaments This was put of with the projects of defaming and disgraceing it withdrawing some of the Members corrupting others and bringing the Kingdome into that condition that the Parliament shall be constrained to disingage the people by requiring Contribution rather then ingage them by present freedome and reformation England thus represented is no great discouragement to the worke But what shall be done with Scotland a people full of foresight and resolution thâ—…ir late carriage towards this very businesse hath given abundant testimony That they upon the stateing of the Quarrell by the Parliament for Religion and Liberty will easily be drawne into their assistance The course since taken seemes grounded upon such Councell as this The King is to goe into Scotland and so to pasâ—…e by the Armies the Commanders of which may occasionally be saluted and there he may upon the place be advised to what may be best for his ends If by faire offers and pretences they can be deluded let them not be spared that they may be either ingaged by kindnesse or upbraided with unkindnesse If they be found peremptory since there is an advantage of the Kings presence and so many resolved Cavaliers to attend him as there did both Popish and others let some of the Heads of the faction bt taken off as Argyle for one and Hamilton likewise who by playing booty on both sides that he might be sure to save his stake had like to have lost all which was accordingly attempted by Crawfords Designe but through Gods providence prevented by making a difference betwixt the Contrivers and stirring up a more â—…oble resolution in one of the Commanders though since unworthy enough who thought and said it was the worke of Butchers and not Souldiers that was propounded But let the worst be supposed and provided for As Scotland is for the most part Puritanicall so is Ireland Popish And the Irish Papists may first
had not been sufficiently provided for by Ignorance the naturall mother of it the Prelates by the examples of their own families for the most part and the procuring and pressing the Book of licentiousnesse upon the Sabbath were diligent Nurses thereof And if it be further enquired how these Twinnes became serviceable to Popery the resolution is very cleer Ignorance you know is the mother of Popish Devotion that is Superstition and a speciall qualification of a disciple of Rome where blindfold is the onely play a trick the Pope borrows from the Divell The god of this world hath blinded their mindes 2 Cor. 4. 4. And so likewise Prophanenesse is a borderer upon Popery by the loose Principles of which it is much countenanced It is true Some sins are not so good cheap among them as others but all may be had at a reasonable rate And prophane persons whose remainders of Conscience tell them they must at least pretend to some Religion or other unlesse they have arrived at the height of Atheism readily pitch upon that next hand which would allow most Liberty And our present experience gives testimony of the service these two fruits of the Bishops Government have done Prophanenesse hath made a generall aversenesse to Reformation and Ignorance with the help of that hath furnished the King with an Army against the Parliament fetcht from the barren Mountains of Wales Cornewall and the North which were kept sâ—…re without the means of knowledge as a fit reserve for such a time as this I speak of the common sort of souldiers many of the rest have too much knowledge and too little conscience Thus have we an account of the more remote preparations for this great service which had wrought so well that it was thought seasonable to adventure more boldly upon the businesse And the Prelats with their forward dependants as impatient of this dilatory proceeding begin to offer presse Popish innovations to preach divers doctrines of grosse Popery for the which I referre you to the Canterburians self-conviction The Schooles the Presse the Pulpit began to speake Italian apace The Martyrs of the Protestant Religion disgraced the Conspirators in the Powder-Treason excused as in a Sermon at Saint Maries in Cambridge by Kemp of Queenes Colledge And the affront to Rome in the Common Prayer Booke viz. Whose Faith is Faction Religion Rebellion must be taken out that the Proverb might be verified Misso non mordet Our Churches began to put on the attire of the Harlot Altars Crucifixes and other idolatrous Pictures were frequently set up and â—…ervently maintained The Divine service as they called it was a Messe so prepared as that strangers from beyond Sea could scarce beleeve themselves to be in England but rather in France or Italy and cryed Non tam ovum ovo simile nec lac lactâ—… c. And if all this will not perswade the incredulous Reader that there was a strong endeavour of altering Religion among us I shall commend to his consideration not so much Romes Master-piece which may be Canterburâ—…es Master piece for ought I know it lookes so like a disguise as that serious and ingenious Tract called The English Pope together with the Popes Nuntioes annexed which gives a more exact account then I thought the secrecie of those Negotiations could have afforded to a man dis-affected to them Wherein you have the propounding and driving of the bargaine betwixt the Agents for Rome and the Archbishop with his Complices who bought and sold the Puritans for Cardinals Caps and pensions among whom the then Chichester now Salisbury was a Chiefe and therefore fiâ—…est to be the Princes Tutour But I should wrong both that Authour and my Reader to tell that Storie after him And though England was the maine Shop of this Forgerie as being most considerable as also because in Ireland there needed not so much diligence and in Scotland there was not much matter to be wrought upon yet in the two other Kingdomes this pious inclination to peace with Rome was not neglected In Ireland in the fourth yeare of his Majesty severall Immunities and Encouragements were granted to the Papists The then Deputie though his Veine lay more right for tyranny and exaction in regard of his imperious spirit yet he failed not to doâ—… many good Offices for the papists by connivence and countenance given to the free and publike exercise of Idolatry This the King helped on by making many popish peeres that a parliament in that Kingdome might occasionally prove rather advantageous to the designe then otherwise The fruit of which liberality of honour was reaped in the Irish parliaments allowing a Contribution to the warre against Scotland and their sending a Committee many of which were forward papists now chiefe Rebels to White hall the summer before the Rebellion brake forth who in all probability shuffled the Cards for the cloudy Game which was plaid October after And that Canterbury might not stand idle he dispatcht thither Chappell and other such Agents who by their Arminianisme and Superstition might traine up the ordinary sort of Protestants there and bring them to that temper that upon a difference they should propend rather to the Papists then the true Protestants of which allay Ormond Canterburies Nursling and his followers now prove Thus was Ireland managed that it might serve the turn it now doth of which afterwards In Scotland likewise all possible industry was used to facilitate an Accommodation with Englad first and so with Rome And to that purpose the Popish and prelaticall partie were very busie there particularly Spotswood Archbishop of Saint Andrews a deepe and subtle Dissembler who had discouraged and extirpated by degrees and under divers pretexts most of the faithfull Ministers there and had he been left to his own Politicks in which he was beyond his patron Canterbury in probability he had made the condition of that Nation almost desperate But Canterbury meeting with a man of his owne mettall Maxwell Bishop of Rosse â—…it to be Iehu's coachman being a furious driver to this Samaritane mixture who apprehended and represented the condition of that Nation too forwardly and presumptuously in his zeale rather then discretion gave heed to him and would needs be gathering the 〈◊〉 of the Scottish endeavours before they could be ripened in that cold Countrey more backward then England and so set his owne and fellowes teeth on edge In confidence therefore that the Scottish Church and Nation was so well prepared as by other endeavours so by his Sermon preached at Edinburgh when he was there with the King about the Partition-wall Eph. 2. 14. which he miserably handled when he made it to be the Jesuits and Puritans hindering his Reformation that is Reconciliation with Rome as to receive the English Liturgie and that corrupted or to give good advantages to the Designe by their refuâ—…all It was boldly offered them back'd with the Kings power prostituted to all such services by that Prelaticall
suppresse the Protestants among themselves and so not onely occasion the Exhaustion of England and the distraction of the Parliament there by a warre but also be servâ—…ceable upon the perfection of their worke or an allowed Cessation from it to strengthen the Kings party in Enâ—…land or annoy Scotland to the prevention of their Assistance Very good or at least very true But what may be expected of Holland from the people little hindâ—…ance being drowned in their owne interest of gaine Were we all Spaniards we could have supplies from thence for our money and from the Prince of Orange who hath well gained not onely by that state but upon it all possible assistance by reason of the contraâ—…t of marriage with England and the possibility there may be of requiting him in the same kind when our worke is done Which by the way when the Netherlanders are awake they shall doe well â—…o consider of and reflect upon the Belgick blood and English treasure expended in the freeing them from that bondage to which by 〈◊〉 at supplies against the Parliament they are hastening againe As for Denmarke the case is cleere the Obligation of Consanguinity the interest of Royaltie will ingage that Prince and to put it utterly out of doubt the incouragement given by Letters under his owne hand is abundantly sufficient As for France and Spaine Popery and Monarchy or rather Tyranny will bring â—…n them notwithstanding their great and important differences as Pilate and Herod to joyne in crucifiing Christ The greatest doubt may seeme of France Spaine having a firmer interest in the Papists of Ireland and England but considering it is for the Catholique Cause And that if the proceedings of the true Protestants of England and Scotland prosper it may be an ill president to the Protestants of France to strive to regain what the other strive to keep no doubt he will cast a favourable eye upon this businesse as now appeares by sending his Agent into Scotland to hinder the Union of the two Nations Things being thus digested as in all reason they might and were no wonder though the King upon his returne from Scotland and the Rebellion begunne in Ireland altered his language and carriage to the Parliament and sought nothing more then occasions of beginning the Quarrell as by the illegall accusation of their members Going to the house of Commons to demand them so attended upon whose instigation and with what intention appeares by the Queenes carriage at his frustrate returne as also by the confessions of divers of that desperate Guard These violent assassinating courses attempted in England and Scotland practised in Ireland though they are not certaine Evidences are usuall signes of a Popish Designe and Jesuiticall Councels After this attempt not through pretended feare for his Majesty adventured into the City the next day with a small Guard but through indignation at the disappointed mischiefe and as the Lord Digbie saith to keepe the Cavaliers from trampling and reproach the King removes from London cum tota sequela except some who were left to be Agents in City and Parliament for this great service whom we could as well have spared And now the plot of raising an Army long before contrived being ready for the birth Iune Lucina fâ—…r opem Let the Queen find a pretence to goe into Holland taking with her the Crowne Jewels which were pawned or sould not to gaine but lose the Pearle of price with the more freedome to negotiate forreigne supplies of Money Armes Ammunition and Commanders whither likewise some other officious persons as Iermine Digbie c. were before by his Majesties warrant despatched and to speake without flattery she did speciall service for which no doubt she shall have her Indulgences and Pardons free as she hath occasion to use them In the meane while the King is going on pilgrimage in Devotion to this Romish Cause and though continually petitioned for returne and obtested by bleeding Ireland makes little stay till he comes to York where after the Courting of that Country and his many Protestations taking the Lords in for security Iune 15. 1642. whose honours were pawned for his Majesties intentions whereby it was thought the people were better prepared then indeed they were he goes to Hull and upon Sit Iohn Hothams refusall takes occasion to raise a Guard for his person in a place whose Loyalty was so much magnified which by the helpe of the Commission of Array and forreign supplies hath ingendred a plentifull issue of three or foure Armies But what is all this to the subversion of the Protestant Religion if there had been any such intention in the raising the Army the Papists whose speciall interest it was should have beene taken in who are by a Proclamation dated at York August 10. 1642. forbidden not onely the Court a place so unfit for them the Queen being now absent but any Office or service in the Kings Army and as if his Majesty were so farre from expecting their assistance that he feared their vengeance in his instructions to the Commissioners of Array August 29. 1642. dated at Nottingham charge is given that Recusants be disarmed This cannot be denied but it may be contradicted as it was by his Majesty in an answer to the Petition of the Recusants of Lancashire dated at Chester September 27. 1642. where they are not onely allowed but according to the knowne Law of the Land required to provide sufficient armes for themselves their servants and tennants And wheras it may be said the case was different in August and September it s yeelded his Majesties Case was different though his Cause the same To have received them before others were ingaged had beene to disingage the Protestants and interrupt the worke in its tender beginnings And therefore it must be so timed that as many Protestants as could be deluded with pretences might be drawne in and ingaged beyond a retreat before the assistance of the Papists was required Thus have you an account of those groundâ—… for which those Counsels Conâ—…rivances and disguises by which the maine Army countenanced by the Kings favour and presence was raised against the Parliament I have no minde to trace it over-shooes through that innocent blood which hath been spilt by it neither is it to my present purpose to doe it The indeavours to the same end in the North by the Earle of Newcastle in Wales and Cornewall by the Marqu of Hertford and Sir Ralph Hopton These latter grounded rather as I suppose upon the Principles of Prerogative then Popery I purposely omit onely let me take notice that this worke of darknesse hath made the darke corners of the land its refuge and received most assistance from places most void of the knowledge of God which we are in a high degree to impute to the more then barbarous cruelty of the Prelats not onely not providing but preventing their supplies and discouraging the Liberality and Piety of those who indeavoured the
the inside or the outside of my paper be the tiuer And this I shall doe with all due respect both to the King and Parliament that his Majesty may see that there was some fire in the midst of all the smoak and that the jealousies of his people concerning the Irish businesse were not altogether groundlesse as also that the King may have a sit occasion to abâ—…ure this Commission and cleare himselfe of the aspersions cast upon him with respect thereto and chastise as his Majesties phrase is those wicked fellows but I crave mercy they are not my fellows they are owned Subjects but I and the rest of the Parliaments friends proclaimed Rebels And that the more full and particular satisfaction may be given for discourses and protestations will not be taken any longer for payment I shall give all the Arguments I can to prove the reality of it First therefore let us consider the time a materiall circumstance when this Commission is dated that is the first of October 1641. in one copy and the fourth in another no great difference the Massacre beginning the 23. of the same month which was presently after the Conferences at White-hall with the Lord Muskerie and his fellows who returned into Ireland the same month his Majesty went for Scotland leaving the Lord Dillon who was presently after sent with the Queenes Letters requesting or requiring his being made Counsellor of Ireland to his Majesty then at Edinburgh where it is said this Commission was signed with the broad Seal of that Kingdome being not then setled in the hands of any Officer who could be answerable for the use of it but during the vacancy of the Chancellors place intmsted with Marquesse Hammilton and by him with one master Iohn Hammilton the Scribe to the Crosse Petitioners in Scotland and sometimes under the care of master Endimion Porter a very fit opportunity for such a clandestine transaction And let it not be omitted that presently after the date of this Commission Dillon Butler and divers other Irish Commanders of which the Court was then full were dispatched for Ireland by his Majesties Licence not without the just suspition of By-standers The Commission it selfe for the grounds and language of it is very suitable to other dispatches and writings under his Majesties name expressing much bittemesse against the Parliament and jealousie of the diminution of his Prerogative which was alwayes his great feare But I shall be unwilling to fetch the least proofe from the matter or stile of the Commission the Argument is not so beggarly as to necessitate a Petitio Principii Let us go on to examine the grounds why such a thing should be forged and why such a thing should be granted and see which are the more probable I know no ground why such a Commission should be forged It was not to make his Majesty odious for in all their writings they expresse all tendernesse of his honour and forwardnesse of their obedience particularly in the forementioned Assembly at Kilkenny where next after the Article for the injoyment of all the Priviledges and Immunities of the Romane Church as in the ninth yeare of Henry the third the Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty is established its likely according to the agreement of the Reconciliation with a Salvo to the Sea of Rome and their constant and generall professions of loyalty now so well confirmed by his Majesties expressions to them and their contributions to him do clearly evince that they had not so much ill will to the King as to raise such a scandall of him And more especially though a Commission might do them some advantage yet the forgery of one could not but be prejudiciall it being a necessary ingagement of his Majesty in his owne justification to have used the utmost of his skill and power against them as to have staid with his Parliament and prevented a war in England But though a forged Commission might be unprofitable yet a reall one I wonder not should be demanded though a stranger to the Mystery would wonder it should be granted First that hereby the King whom they knew in his own disposition apt enough to start from his Expressions upon an advantage might be firmly bound to them and their proceedings as also that the more backward Papists who were more good natured then to rebell against a King whom they had â—…ound so propitious and more wary then by such Rebellion to forfeit their Estates which under him with the advantage of their Religion they doubted not to enjoy might the more easily be brought in If it be objected this might be done by a forged Commission I answer not so well Forgery is an unruly help being often requited with the double hinderance of a discovery Papists though sometimes they delude us they deale freely especially in a common Catholique Cause with one another And what end such fraud could have upon the Protestants unlesse a little to amaze them at first then exasperate them I cannot conceive However it is be assured that Oneale and Mac-â—…arty beare so high upon this Commission that they have offered Major Monro and the Scots in Vâ—…ster an appeale to the King which have the truer Commission and which are the better Subjects and according to that determination to quit or hold their employment if the Scots would mutually promiâ—…e the same But sure sayes my honest Reader who thinks other men meane as well as he this cannot be Why not as well as that Commission for the cutting thy throat at London much after this â—…enour and pasted in the same private manner But how can it stand with his Maâ—…estes Protestations against them under the name of wicked and detestable Rebels with his Declaration against any toleration of Religion there or 〈◊〉 of the Lawes in force against Recusants with his Prâ—…clamation of Rebellion against then dated â—…anuary â—… 1641. directly opposite to this Commission It were heartily to be wished that his Majesty had â—…ept his word as well with the Protestants as with the Popish Faction There passed one Article in the Treaty of marriage with the Queen which through the care of Canterbury and the paines of Windebank hath been better kept then any Protestant Protestation The words of which Article are faithfully translated out of the French copy to this effect The 27. Article is That the King of Great Brittaine having regard unto the prayer of the Lady and 〈◊〉 testifie his affection to her shall grant unto his Catholique Subjects the security of their lives and goods so that they shall not be troubled for making profession of the Catholique Religion they rendring unto him that obedience and fidelity they owâ—… unto him to which they shall not be thought deficient for refusing to take any Oath or doe any act contrary to their Religion But it is answered It concernes his Majesty most to look to that how his words and warrants agree yet we will be so bold in a
Cause of so great consequence as the imminent danger of the Protestant Religion as to examine some of his Actions and see whether they have been more suitable to the Commission oâ—… Proclamation The Proclamation it selfe though in its nature opposite yee in its time and circumstances was too suitable to the Commission being deferred from the latter end of October to the first of January and then so sparingly printed so warily published as if it had been under the controll of some former Act whose leave must first be craved But his Majesty hath reason to expresse violence against these his Catholike Subjects or to chastise them at least for they went beyond this Commission though supposed reall that gave but a Yard they took an Ell though they were allowed to seiâ—…e the goods estates and persons of his Majesties Protestant Subjects yet they were not allowed to cut their throats unleâ—…le the private Letters concomitant can help out at such a pinch and their very transgression in this matter might justly occasion and provoke the title of mercilesse wicked Rebels But to return to Actions the best Commentaries upon words it is to be feared they will be found more agreeable to the Commission then the Proclamation as may be discerned in the unanswered Remonstrance of the rise and progresse of the Grand Rebellion in Ireland For instance What shall indifferent men think of his Majesties withdrawing himself from his Parliament declared by the then reall though now pretended Parliament to be a great obstruction to the prosperity of the Irish undertakings Of his raising war against his Subjects here the greatest service that could be done to the pretended rebels there being a diversion of that strength and a distraction of those Counsels that should have suppressed them Of his granting passes for notorious Papists as Butler the sons of the â—…ord Nettersfield and others to go thither for which see the Declaration of Parliament March 16. 1641. and if you will the Answ March 19. The stopping of provisions going to the supply of the Army against them taking away the horses prepared by the E. of Leicester for that service as appears by his complaint in a printed letter to the Earl of Northumberlana Of the free accesse of those that have been active in that Design to his Majesties camp and Court Of his putting in demuâ—…res to the Bill of pressing souldiers and deniall to the sending ships for that service It must not be denied that his Majesty was earnest in pressing care of that businesse of Ireland upon the Houses and passed some things to the advantage of it and in a message of the 8. of April 1642. spared not to offer his going in person to chastise those wicked and detestable Rebels with the renouncing of all other Ends but if his Majesty had continued in that angry minde hee might with ease have chastised them when they came over to him as they have done â—…ince plentifully I wish I had many more such actions to repeat But it must be considered there was a Proclamation that required some countenance and could not well have lesse then it had but I forestall no mans judgement but leave the impartiall reader to the weighing what hath been said and what hath been produced upon Oath in the Declaration of the Commons Iuly 25. 1643. And if the ballance be equall I shall only cast in some scruples of the late Cessation which unlesse the beame be false will make the Commission weigh down the Proclamation 1. First the scruple of c. in the nomination of the parties in this Treaty Is his Majesties Title of Defender of the Faith come to an intricate c. Yâ—…s and good reason for the other party with whom his 〈◊〉 treats upon equâ—…ll terms are content with an c. and are called His Romane Catholique Subjects now in armes c. whereas it should have bâ—…en added according to the Acts of Kâ—…lkenny for the Exaltation of the Holy Roman Catholique Church 2. The scruple of their sudden transformation from monstrous mercilesse Rebells into Subjects conjâ—…yned with other his Majesties good Subjects What shall the 〈◊〉 of Scotland thinke of this who hardly obtained the lâ—…ke retractation when they defended the Pâ—…orestant Religion or the Parliament of England and their Adherents who cannot yet finde that favour But yet Mopso Nisa datur quid non speremus c. His Majesty sure had thoughts of this dishonourable recancation when hee was so loth to publish the Proclamation against them 3. The third scruple is â—…ersecute for that is the word in the Irish coppy not prosâ—…cute A license granted to 〈◊〉 â—…ure the Bishops had a finger in this Article and that Persecuted Protestants should expect no protection from his Majesty nor any of his forces against the Parsecution of the Papists but rather have occasion to feare the joyning of the forces the King shall have interest in in the Persâ—…cution as is desired by the Catholiques to whom no such trifle must be denied is to me a sad story 4. The fourth scruple that these Catholique Subjects shall have liberty to send such Agents to his Majesty as thâ—…y shall thinke fit from time to time Priests and Iesuites not excepted If the Scales be not yet turned take the whole Cessation and the thirty thousand eight hundred pound and that will 〈◊〉 weigh it downe to the ground But I have much 〈◊〉 leave the contemplation of this Cessation Let us take a second view 1. Of the time whâ—…n it was granted moâ—…t seasonably when the Pâ—…pish party was driven to great Extremities for want of victual â—…nd had bâ—…en in greater had nor the Forces raised and 〈◊〉 by the Parliament bâ—…en seducâ—…d into a disaffâ—…ction to their service 2. Oâ—… the Grounds all Acts of importance that are to passe the eye and censure of the world use to come armed against aâ—…l Exceptions with a preamble shewing the ground and necessity of them How comes it to be here â—…mitted that we have neither real nor * pretended causes and considerations but a down-right Cesâ—…ation or rather Accommodation as Souldiers judge it Was it such broadâ—â—ced iniquity that no mask neitâ—…er in Oxford nor Dublin would fit it Was it neither for the preservation of the Protestant Religion nor affection to the ancient and native â—…ingdom of Scotland nor for the reconciling of the Distractions of the Kingdome of England Since those dull contrivers could fâ—…nde no matter for a foundation give us leave to â—…upply Seing the Catholike cause which the King of England is induced to serve either nakedly or cloathed with this pretâ—…rce oâ—… upholding his Poweâ—… and Prerogative which is suggested to be invaded and endangered by the Puritans there is now very much concerâ—…ed in the due ordering of the affaires of Great Brittain aâ—…d Ireland And whereas the Irish Catholikes have given so good tâ—…stimony of their approved zeal and cruelty in massacring near two hundred thousand Hereticks