offence given by the Bishops but through his owne heightie mind which in all matters and in all occasions must rule and domineere or will have peace nor quietness with any man this matter comprehending many parts arguments and circumstances I shal be forced to bestow more time about it It fell out soe that the confederat Catholicks appointed certain persons of qualitie as Commissioners of treaty they appointed others for preparing instructions for those that were to treat whom they named commissioners of instructions to treat and conclude a peace with Ormond then lord Leutenant this was done in the yeare 1644. the names of those appointed were Richard lord viscount of Mongaret Donogh lord viscount of Musgrie Sr. Robert Talbot Barronet Dermot ô Brien Patrick Darcy Geffery Brouwne and Iohn Dillon Esquires After a long debate vpon neare two yeares a peace was at lenght concluded between them and his Excellency the lord Leutenant consisting of thirty articles which articles after being perfected duely and maturely examined by vnderstanding and learned men were suspected vnsafe for the Chatholicks this is the subject the mentioned divine handled and soundly Proved and vpon the same occasion learnedly justified the rejection of that peace out of the arguments and decrees of the Ecclesiastical congregation CHAP V. The rejection of the peace of 1646 made by the Bishops and Cleargy at Waterford maintained and justified which peace was alsoe voyd for being perfected without authoritie of Ormond ' s part THis author sayes the Bishops and Cleargy allarmed at the publication of the said peace in Dublin and Kilkenme and obedience the Citizens and other natives gave therunto they saw the Gouverment was devolved the supreme Councell of the Nation dissolved and the forces and armies and all to be put into the hands of said Ormond lord Leutenant the peace as above was said being not secure for the cheefest concernements of the Catholicks convened and came togither at VVaterford a noble and Catholick Cittie the sixt of August 1466. the zeale of Gods house and of theyr flocks soe requiring to consider seriously the contents of the Articles of said peace and ackordingly to determine as pietie and the saftye of Religion and thir flocks would require at their hands The method said the Author the Eishops and Cleargy observed in rejecting said Peace and the order of their consultations was grave and yet free giving every divine licence to argue discourse and deliver his opinion as to the question proposed the Chancelour of the congregation taking in the meane time his notes in writing of every mans sense and sentence of the question ventilated and after a full debate repeting viva voce the substance of the arguments they voted with much tranquilitie a result or conclusion and indeed soe much was said to every of these articles that came vnder debate as nothing was left vnsaid that could be pertinent A love Principium was the begining of this Congregation they publickly sacrificed and prayed with flamming Charitie and profound humilitie demanding from God light and wisedom in this most important affaire that soe touched holy Religion and his divine worship that he would be pleased to give a blessing to their worke there and for the better guiding their Consciences they seriously perused First the oath of association the rule of warr and peace with the confederat Catholicks which could not be contravened by any without perfidiousness and impietie 2. The model of Gouvernement 3. Several remonst rances printed in France the yeare 1642. Fourthly our grevances presented at Tryme March the 17. 1642. Fifthly the several acts and protestations made by the Kingdom in open assembly at Kilkennie in the mounths Iuliâ— and August 1645. for the liberties and splendour of Religion and for the Churches Sixtly the 17. propositions exhibited to his Maiestie yeare 1644. Seaventhly the further addition and propositions after propounded to the lord Marques of Ormond All these things 〈◊〉 examened with great deliberation and attention being the rules laid downe by the whole Kingdom for regulating the committie of treaty as alsoe the committie of instructions for the said treaty and all others to whom any charge was intrusted They began with the important propositions the committie of treaty for the peace were to present vnto the Lord Marquez of Ormond Leutenant Generael of Irland sor and in behalfe of the confederat Catholicks of Irland for concluding a peace those propositions were the cheefe rules they were bound to observe in that treaty 1. One proposition was â—that the Roman Catholicks both Cleargy and Laity haue and enjoy the free and publick exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion through out that Kingdom as it was in the raigne of Henry the 7. or any other Catholick King his ptedecessours Kings of England and Lords of Irland had either in England or Irland 2. That the secular roman Cleargy of irland viz Primats Arch-bishops Bishops Ordinaries Deans and Chapters Archideakens and other dignitaries Persons Vicars and all other Pastors of the secular Cleargy and their respective successours shall have and enjoy all and every of them all manner of jurisdictions priviledges and immunites in as full and ample manner as the Roman Catholick Cleargy had or enjoyed within this Realme at any time during the raigne of the late King Henry the 7. of England and Lord of Irland any declaration of law laws statute power or any authoritie to the contrarie not with standing 3. That all laws and statutes made since the time of King Henry the 8. whereby any restreinght penaltie mulct or incapacitie or other restriction what-soever is or may be laid vpon any of the Roman Catholicks either of the Cleargy or laity for such the said exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion within this Kingdom and of their several functions jurisdictions and Priviledges may be repealed revoked and declared voyd in the next Parlament by one or more acts of parlament to be passed therin 4. That the Primats Bishops Archbishops Ordinaries Deans and Chapters Archdeakens Chancelours Treasurers Chanters prevosts Guardians of Collegial Churches Prebendaries and other dignitaries Persons Vicars and other Pastors of the Roman Catholick Cleargy and their respective â—uccessours shall have hould and enjoy all the Churches and Church liuings â—as large and ample manner as the late Potestant Cleargy respectively enjoyed the same in the first day of Septem 1641 togither with all their rights profits emoluments perquisits liberties to their respective Seas and Churches belonging as well in all places now in the possession of the confederat Catholicks as alsoe all other places that shall be recovered by the confederat Catholicks from the adverse partie within this Kingdom saving to the Roman Catholick Laity and their respective rights ackording to the lawes of the land The Roman Catholick Regular Cleargy of the Kingdom were to have and hould the Bodyes sites and precincts of their Abbeys Monasteries and churches c. These foure propositions were sworne by the Confederat Catholicks
was a sensible greefe to his Holynesse to see his Children of Irland a constant people in Catholick Religion soe sorly afflicted and cast downe and holy faith allmost extinguished and that there was noe way possible to releeve them the Prelate reply'd our wound is now indeed soe wide and feastered as is very hard to heal it but when it was fresh not soe wide and as yet curable our Nation found no Samaritan that would power oyle and wine into it One thing I shall say worthy to be written in Characters of gold that a Catholick Prince driven out of his owne Dominions was hee that offered fairest Ad rem Catholicorum in Hibernia restituendam Charles P. M. late Duke of Loraine a Caesar in fortitude and Resolution one of the greatest Captaines Europ had seen for som ages a Prince that by longe experience of crosses and Calamities made the world know Quod sciveriâ— fortia agere fortia pati To this Duke were sent from Irland Anno 1651. Stilo veteri a Bishop a Cheralier of high quality from the Clergy and from the then Visroy or Lord Deputy and the people a Viscâ—uâ—â— and two noble Cheâ—aliers all able men and fitt to manage soe Important a business as that was The Duke received them with all afability and after a deliberation and debate of som monthes they proceeded to an agreement very advantagious to Catholick Religion the king and Nation the sum of this capitulation was that his highness vndertook to warr vpon the Rebelling Parlament to pay the Army and to furnish Canon and all war-like Amunition vntill the Kingdom were recovered and those vndertook in behalfe of the Nation to reimbours his highness and to give him for Caution som townes his Highness medled not at all with the civill goverment of the Kingdom but only with the Militia and was ingag'd to restore the Cautionary townes his disboursments being payd The Duke advanced twenty thousand pistols in ready mony six thousand therof went over with his Envoy the Abbot of S. Catharin whoe tooke vp fourteen thousand more of the Marchants in Irland which some was payd them in Antwerp by the Dukes order His Highness sent over two little vessels with Amunition and Armes which arrived and two other little vessels were taken vpon the Coast of Britanie The whole came to som thirty thousand pistols and was not this a Princly and magâ—ificent liberality of a Duke then out of his owne Country But let noe man wonder at this it being naturall to the great Dukes of Loraine to fight Battles for holy Religion and the house of God in all extremities and what other can be expected from Princes descending from Godeâ—ry king of Hierusalem I should fill a vollume if I should speak at large of his warlike feats and vallour let the day and Battle of Norlingham alone speak wherin were slaine 18000. Swedes to his vallour and conduct was attributed a great share of this victory Vâ—o verbâ— in all encounters hee play'd a souldiers part as well as that of a Captaine Et licet fuerit maximus Imperio militars fuit tamen major exemplâ— fortitudinis This digression and mention of his high exploits and fortitude is a gratitude due from mee to his highness who hath been a patron and father to my Countrimen in theire exile and confident I am God will poure blessings aboundantlv vpon his gallant Childe Prince de Vaudemont and noe less on his Nephew present Duke Charles of Lorainâ— a Prince of great expectation and on the whole family a most glorious house that hath evermore defended and protected the Catholick Church To speak of the greatness antiquity and splendor of the house of Loraine is but to hold a candle to the sunne All Europ knowes the puissance and piety of the house of Guise a branch of Loraine which gave a Queen to Scoâ—tland Mary second wife to King Iames the fifthâ— mother to Queen Mary of Scotts put to death in England by Cruell Elizabeth great Grandmother To King Charles the second by her right hee is true Heire and King of the three Kingdoms There are other noble Fâ—â—ilies in France as D'â—â—ouf Maine Ioyes Harcour and many more golden streames flowing from theire fountaine the house of Guisâ— as that from Loraine those houses have alsoe given most Excellent Heroes and Captains all of them ever true to the holy Church and Loyall to theire Princes the most Christian Kings Soone after the a forsaid Capitulation was perfected our King arriving at Paris after the defeat and Roote of his army at Worcester the Duke demanded his Royall assent to the agreement hee had made with his Catholick subjects the King heervpon cald together his counsell Ormond was one of them for giving answer they Iudg'd it noe way expedient that the King should agree to what had past between the Duke and his subjects at Brusells Which seemed strange to all that heard it seeing noe Prince in Europ took part with our King but the Duke a lone It seems this Counsell all compos'd of Protestants would not have Irland recovered by a Catholick Prince they could by noe meanes agree with two Articles of the Capitulation the one that the Duke had been accepted by those contracted with him for Protector Royall of the Nation they were less troubled that Crumwell who had murthered one King and forced another the Present King out of his Dominions should take all then a most antient Catholick Duke and his Majestyes â—insman should bee stiled Royall Protector of the Catholicks of Irland whereas soon after Crumwell was over all Europ called Protector of the three Kingdoms The other displeasing Article was that his Highness engag'd himselfe to restore Catholick Religion in Irland in its splendor and soe Catholick was the Duke as hee chiefly took in hand our quarrell for making good this Article The Capitulation from which wee hoped for preservation being blasted in this Kindâ— his Majestey Employed two Envoyes to the Duke an English Protestant Lord and Sr. Henry de Visque his Majesties then Râ—â—ideâ—â— in Brussell with those the King returned the Duke thanks by a Kinde letter for his care of his intrest and desired him to treat with these new men who were curteously received by his Highness but at the second conference hee told them hee did not know what matter of Capitulation could pass between him and theire maister who had not at that tyme in his owne possession as much as one Citty wal'd-towne fort or Port in his three Kingdoms yet not withstanding if his Majesty would bee pleas'd to consent to the Articles hee had perfected with the aforesaid Catholick commissioners hee would perform all of his part which answer being not accepted by the Kings counsell the Duke by a handsom manifest soon after discharg'd his owne honour from all blame and Imputation touching the forementioned Capitulation and agreement Be pleased my civill reader to consider the deplorable and sadd condition of the Catholicks
and for their surer conduct and better vnderstanding of all made vse of the advise and counsell of the two eminentest and famous lawyers of the land who made certaine sound observations vpon that peace and concessions of Glanmorgan the substance of those observations is digested into four Articles 1. That the Committie of treaty waved the the benefit of Glanmorgan's concessions by not onely not insisting vpon them but not soe much as proposing them during the treaty with my lord Leutenant which was contrarie to the trust and charge laid vpon them by the Kingdom 2. A publick faith given by the Kingdom to the lord Nuntio and Cleargy to make Glanmorgan's concessions and all conditions for Churches and Religion as publick as valid and of as much force as that of the temporal was not performed 3. That the king did disavow Glanmormorgan's concessions soe as they became vtterly therby void for which reasons the Cleargy were to provide for themselves by other wayes 4. Vpon the perclosing of those observations the said lawyers hath this ensueing language If the case of reference to further concessions granted in the agreement of said 30. Articles can not extend to what the lord Leutenant publickly disauoued and as wee vnderstand on the very perfection of said 30. Arucles he before witnesses expressed to witt that the said clause of further concessions in his peace was not meant by him to extend to Glanmorgan's concessions shall then the securitie of Religion and Churches in all the Kingdom depend on a matter that hath soe many doubts in it Besides if those 30. Articles concluded with Ormond had any matter of moment in them for Religion before perfection of them the King reuoked the lord Leutenant's commission and by this all goes to ground for without authoritie he could not perfect articles This revocation is in print and expressed in a letter from his Majestie to the Marquez of Ormond the 11. 1646. as followeth C. R. RIght trusty c. having long with much grief looked vpon the sad condition our Kingdom of Irland hath been in these divers yeares through the wicked and desperat rebellion there and the bloudy effects have insued there-vpon For the setling where-of wee would have wholy applyed our selves if the difference betwixt vs and our subjects heere had not diverted and withdrawen vs and not having beene able by force for that respect to reduce them wee were necessitated for the present safâ—y of our protestant subjects there to give you power and authoritie to treat with them vpon such pious honorable and safe grounds as that our kingdom did then reqiure but for many reasons to long for a letter wee thimke fit to require you to proceed noe further in treaty with the rebells nor to ingage vs vpon any condition with them after sight hereof And having formerly found such reall proofs of your ready obedience to our commands wee doubt not of your care in this wherein our service and the good of our protestant subjects in Irland is soe much concerned from Newcastle Iune the 11. 1646. This letter was receaved by Ormed before perfecting of the 30. Articles where fore said articles can be of noe force what remedy then can be had â— what healp to make the 30. Articles valid they said Digby brought some thing in Cypher to incourrage the Lord Leutenant and what then shall wee rely upon a cypher and gett noe better securitie for our Religion and Churches for our liues fortunes and estates then the relying upon a cypher this were in good earnest to make a peace in Cypher Heere I haue given you the sence of the two famous lawyers upon the 30. articles one of those for his abilities was well known to the learnedest juges of England and Irland was a Counsellor to Ormonds familie and one that knew as much of the ground and cause of our quarrel and of all that passed in the Assembly Councel and several commities as any who somever in the Kingdom By what is said you see Ormonds commission was reuoked before perfecting the said peace of 30. Articles which shall be more expressly made cleare hereafter and did not his Excellencie knowing this play fooly with the confederat catholicks what then did he intend by intruding this peace vpon us what other but to cheat and deceave us by getting from us vpon consideratâ—â—n of such a peace as in effect he did all our forts citties townes armes armies and nauy vnder his owne command and by dissoluing our association and gouvemement was not this a handsom tricke and plott for vndoeing vs taking away all our defense for noe other consideration then that of those plaistred articles perfected without any commission that could and lightly would be disavoued in Parlament by his Majestie as concluded without his authoritie and consequently wee should gaine noe grace nor pardon by them After the Bishops and other ordinaries and diuins had well considered these things and more particularly the result of the two renowned lawyers who were especial leading-men in the common-wealth after long debate and learned arguments great diligence search and paines they found it evident that Religion estates lives liberties and saftie of the Catholicks lay open to danger notwithstanding the 30. articles agreed vpon with Ormond by the commitie of treaty who discharging not the trust laid vpon them by failing to pursue the instructions giuen them as aboue was said and finding all the citties townes forts Garrisons armie ships magazins and the strenght of the Catholicks to be rendred vp to the lord Leutenant as some of them already was and the supreame Councel had by that time â—eded their authoritie and submitted to the said peace which had been as was said proclaimed and published solemnly by the Kings-at-armes in Dublin and Kilkennie and that the lord Leutenant come from Dublin gallantly attended by many hundreds of prime Gentlemen was then at Kelkenny and began to gouverne acccording the articles of the peace the Bishops I say and Cleargy naked and without any garde other then the protection of God and affection of good Catholicks after invoking the name of the most high came to a final result which was the insueing decree which they put foorth and caused to be published to the Catholicks over the Kingdom Per congregationem Ecclesiasticam vtriusque cleri hibernici in Spiritu Sancto congregatam Waterfordiae coram Illustrissimo D Archiespiscopo FIRMANO Nuntio Apostolico extraordinario in Iberniam SVper quastione inter nos orta per multos dies exagitata an perjuri declarandi essent qui pacem contentam triginta articulis ad nos â— supremo Concilio transmissis acceptarent successiuè an tanquam perjuri forent excommunicandi auditis prius singulorum sententijs rationibus lectisque aliquorum sacrae theologiae doctorum scriptis decretum est vnanimi consensu singulorum votis nemine contradicente quod omnes singuli confaederati Catholici qui simili paâ—i
adhaerebunt vel ejus fautoribus consentient aut alio modo illam amplectentur perjuri absolutè habendi sint ea praecipuè de causa quod in ijs articulis nulla facta est mentio Catholicae Religionis ejusque securitatis nec vlla habita ratio conseruanis priuilegiorum Patriae sicuti juramento legitur promissum sed potius omnia referantur ad arbitrium Serenissimi Regis a quo in presenti rerum statu nihil certi potest haberi interim subijciantur exercitus arma munimenta ipsumque supremum Concilium confederatorum Catholicorum authoritati dominio Concilij status suae Majestatis officialium protestantium a quibus vt securi fieremus Iuramentum illud suscepimus Ex quibus ex pluribus alijs causis sola nostra conscientia moti solumque Deum prae oculis habentes vt notum sit vniversis singulis tum Ibernis tum exteris tali pace nos non dedisse nec daturos consensum nisi pro Religione Rege patria juxta nostrum juramentum securae conditiones apponantur vt Greges nostri confaederatique omnes Catholici qui in generalibus comitijs aliquando in hoc Spirituali negotio velut ad Ecclesiasticum judicem vnice spectante sententiam nostram rogauerunt certo sciant quod a nobis determinatum fuerit vt in eum sensum tanquam pij sideles Catholici pastoribus suis obedientes concurrant Hoc decretum scribi vbique locorum anglicâ vel etiam Ibernicâ lingua publicari jussâ—mus manibus ac sigillis nostris firmauimus Alteram verò quaestionem de Excommunicatione ad proximas sessiones reseruamus Datum Waterfodiae die 12 Aug anno 1646. Ioannes Baptista Archiespiscopus FIRMANVS Nuntius Apostolicus Fr. Thomas Archiepiscopus Dublin Hiberniae Primas Thomas Archiepiscopus Casseliensis Fr. Boetius Episcopus Elphin Ioannes Episcopus Loanensis Franciscus Episcopus Aladensis Nicolaus Episcopus Fernensis Fr. Patricius Episcop VVaterford Lismor Ioannes Clonsertensis Episcopusâ— Fr. Edmundus Episcopus Lacklin Richardus Adfertensis Accadem Episcop Edmundus Episcop Limericensis Emerus Episcop Clocheren Fr. Iacobus Abbas Benchorensis Fr. Patricius Abbas B. M. Dublin Fr. Laurentius Abbas de surio Fr. Iacobus Abbas de S. Cruce Fr. Iacobus Tobin Abbas de Kilcoole Robertus vicarius Apostol Rossen Donaldus Vicarius Funiborensis Fr. Gregor Prior Prouinc Ord Praedicat Fr. Diomsius Prior Prouinc Erim S. Aug. Edmundus ô Theige Procur Illustriss D. Armach VValterus Vicar Apost Tuamens Guilelmus Vicar Apost Imolacen Iacobus Vicar Generael Kildar Cornelius Vicar General Ardensis Oliverius Vicar general Meden Dominicus Vicar General Corcagien Simon Vicar General Cluanensis Edmundus Vicar General Clowensis Cornelius Vicar general Cluan Robertus Superior Societ Iesu Fr. Antonius Procurator Provinc FF Minorum Fr. Barnabas Commiss Gener Capuci These are the names of such as sate in the Ecclesiastical congregation of both the Irish cleargy secular and regular in true spirit of the holy Ghost conuened at VVaterford before the most Illustrious and most Reuerend Archbishop Firmanus Nuntio Apostolical in Irland The decree is thus Englished As to the question betwixt vs moued and for many dayes discussed whether such as would accept of that peace contained in the 30. articles remitted vnto vs from the supreme Councel are to be declared perjurious and consequently whether as perjurious they are to be excommunicated wee having first given eare to each ones opinion and sentiment in this matter as alsoe having read the writings of some doctors of Diuinitie it is decreed and by each ones vote in particular none contradicting that all and euery one of the confederat Catholicks that will adhere to such a peace or consent to the furtherers therof or in any other manner or way will embrace the same shall be absolutly as perjurions esteemed cheefly in as much as there is noe mention made in them 30 articles nor prouision for the Catholick Religion or safty therof nor any respect had for the preservation of the Kingdom 's priuiledges as were promised in the oath of association but to the contrary all remitted and referred to the Kings will and pleasure from whome as the case stands at present with his Majestie noe certainty of things can be had or expected yeâ— in the meane time all the armes armies fortifications even the very supreme Councel of the confederat Catholicks are and is to be subjected to the authoritie and â—ule of his Majesties Councel of State and protestant officers from whom that wee may be safe and secure wee have taken that oath Out of which and several other reasons wee moved therunto by our only conscience having God before our eyes would have it known to all and to each person and persons as well of the Irish natiues as to forrain nations that wee gave noe consent nor will any to such a peace if they will not grant vs further surer and safer conditions for our Religion our King and Countrie according to our oath of association and to the end our flocks all the confederat Catholicks who in their general assemblies required our sentence in this spiritual matter appertaining to vs onely as Ecclesiastical Iudges may know for certain what is by vs determined herein and as godly and faithfull Catholicks obeyng their Pastors may concurre with vs wee have ordered this decree to be written and published each where both in the English and Irish toung Given vnder our hands and sealed with our proper seales The other question of Excommunication wee reserve to next sessions Given at Waterford the 21. of August 1646. This Decree was the principal worke of the Congregation after which they writ to the Citties and townes in the Catholick quarters to the Generals of the Armies and some other principal officers and to seueral other noble men warning them of the danger and insecuritie of said peace adhorting all to concurre and joyne with them in rejecting the same peace and at the same time they writ the ensueing letter to the lord president and members of the late supreme Councel residing at Kelkennie Right honorable after a serious debate with Mr. Plunket and Mr. Darcy desiring and hoping for a good vnderstanding between vs whereby the vnion and true peace of the Kingdom may be preserved wee conceaued and drew vp the inclosed declaration and propositions containing our truâ— sense of the late peace and our iust demands for a sufficient prouision and securitie for the Catholick Religion churches liues liberties and estates of the confederat Catholicks of thisâ— Kingdom praying wee may with all conuenien speed receaue your answers which if not timely returned wee shall find our selues obliged in conscience to let our declaration and propositions be made publick with our best wishes wee rest your Honnour 's louing frinds Waterford 24. August 1646. by command of the lord Renuccini Archbishop and Prince of Fermo Apostolical Nuncio and of the Ecclesiastical Congregation of both the secular and Regular Clergy of Irland
some yeares continued his capitulations and treatings with the Catholicks of Irland and did indeed wijre-drawe them to theyr great losse both to the dishartning of their souldiers consumption of their treasures and letting slip great advantages of service great matters we expected from Ormond and noe lesse did our Commissioners tell us that he was ready to condescend to our demaunds and graunt us good things but in the end litle or nothing was don not withstanding all this any thing that seemed to be with the Kings interest or for the Kings service did much relish with the Catholicks and soe desirous and forward we were to make peace with any party the King owned to be his owne as we omitted to pursue vigorously a good warr and at long running wee made noe good peace for libertie Religion Fortunes or honour of the Nation CHAP. IIII. Glanmorgans peace rendered voide by the Kings disavoving any authoritie given to that effect Twice we concluded peace by our Commissioners the one off which have been with the Earle of Glanmorgan and the other with Ormond and in fin wee had neither peace nor the assurance of a peace the said Earle of Glanmorgan shewed us under the privat signet a faire and large commission he had from the King authorizing him to conclude a peace with us and to graunt us such favourable concessions for religion as Ormond the Kings Lieutenant who also had a comission under the great seale could not Publickly graunt or be seen in this peace made with Glanmorgan became voyd and of noe force the King disavowing any power given to that effect vnto Glanmorgan you shall find the Kings disavowing of any such power in his booke commonly caled Reliquiae Sacrae Carolinae pag the 29 in a message given as it is written in our court at Oxford the 29 lanu 1645. to the speaker of the house of Peeres pro tempore to be communicated to the two houses of Parliament at westminster and to the commissioners of the Parliament in Scotland His Majesties message of Ianuary 29. 1645. about Irland and his Majesties further Concessions and desire of a personal treaty Oxford C R His Majestie having receaved information from the lord Leutenant and Councel in Irland that the Earle of Glanmorgan hath without his or their orders or priuitie entered into a treaty with some Commissioners on the Roman Catholick partie there and alsoe drawne vp and agreed vnto certain articles with the said Commissioners highly derogatory to his Majesties honour and royal dignitie and most prejudicial vnto the protestant religion and church there in Irland wherevpon the said Earle of Glanmorgan is arrested vpon suspition of high treason and imprisoned by the said lord Leutenant and Councel at the instance and by the impeachment of the lord Digby who by reason of his place and former employment in these affaires doth best know how contrarie that proceeding of the said Earle hath been to his Majesties intentions and directions what great prejudice it might bring to his affaires if those proceedings of the Earle of Glanmorgan should â—e any way vnderstood to have been done by directions liking or approbation of his Majestie having in his former messages for a personal treaty offered to give contentment to his two Houses in the business of Irland hath now thought fitting the better to shew his clearer intentions and to give satisfaction to his two Houses of Parlament and the rest of his subjects in all his Kingdoms to send his declarations to his said houses containing the whole truth of the busines which is That the Earle of Glanmorgan having made offer vnto his Majestie to raise forces in the Kingdom of Irland and to conduct them into England for his Majesties service had a commission to that purpose and to that purpose only That he had noe commission at all to treat of any thing else without the privitie and direction of the lord Leutenant much lesse to Capitulat any thing concerning religion or any propertie belonging either to Church or Laity That it clearly appeares by the lord Leutenants procedings with the said Earle that he had noe notice at all of what the said Earle had treated and pretended to have capitulated with the Irish vntill by accident it came to his knowledge And his Majestie doth protest that vntill such time as he had advertisment that the person of the said Earle of Glanmorgan was arrested and restrained as is aboue said he neuer heard nor had any kind of notice that the said Earle had entred into any kind of treaty or capitulation with the Irish commissioners much lesse that he had concluded or signed these articles soe destructiue both to Church and State and soe repugnant to his Majesties publick professions and knowne resolution And for the further vindication of his Majesties honour and integritie heerin he doth declare that he is soe far from considering any thing contained in those papers or writings framed by the said Earle and those commissioners with whom he treated as he doth absolutly disavow him therein and hath giuen commandements to the lord Leutenant and the Councel there to proceed against the said Earle as one who either out of falseness presumption or folly had soe hazarded the blemishing of his Majesties reputation with his good subiects and soe impertinently framed those articles of his owne head without the consent privitie or directions of his Majestie or the lord Leutenant or any of his Majesties Councel there but true it is that for the necessarie preservation of his Majesties protestant subiects in Irland whose case was dayly represented vnto him to be soe desperat his Majestie have given commission to the lord Leutenant to treat and conclude such a peace there as might be for safty of that Crowne the preservation of the protestant religion and noe way derâ—gatery to his owne honour and publick professions You see plainly by this his Majesties disavowig letter of any power given to Glanmorgan as to the effect of peace to be concluded with the confederat Catholicks how Glanmorgans peace came to nothing and of noe validitie though much labour paines and monnies it cost to the confederat Catholicks and not without great discredit to the said Earle As for the peace made with Ormond yeare 1646. who had the Kings commission vnder the great seale it had noe better issue then the former as shal be made cleare out of the aboue specified divine his writings reasons arguments and woords as they are put downe And in as much as the Bishops and Cleargy their opposition to that peace hath drawne vpon them the implacable anger of Ormond pervsing what I shall write you shal be able to iudge the reasons given by the Prelats were valid and themselves honest in their intentions and vpright in their proceedings and that they haue done nothing but what pietie and the obligation of their pastoral care did require consequently yon will graunt that the dukes anger and rancour came by noe
considerations being now manifest that the English rebells have as farre as in them lyes given the command of Irland to the Scotts that theire ayme is at a totall subversion of Religion and real power and that nothing less will content them or purchase peace Heer I think my selfe bound in conscience not to let slip the meanes of settling that Kingdom if it may be fully vnder my obedience nor to loose that assistance which I may hope from my Irish subjects for such scrupels as in a less pressing condition might reasonably be struck at by mee for theire satisfaction I doe therfore command you to conclude a peace with the Irish whatever it cost soe that my Protstant subjects there may be secured and my regal authority preserved but for all this you are to make for mee the best hargain you can and not discover your enlargment of power till you needs must and though I leave the management of this great matter and necessary worke intirely vnto you yet I cannot but tell you that if the suspension of Poynings act for such bills as shall be agreed vpon between you there and the present taking away the penal lawes against Papists by a law will doe it I shall not think it a hard bargine soe that freely and vigorously they engage themselves in my assistance against my rebells of England and Scotland for vvhich noe conditions can be to hard not being against conscience or honour Can there be any thing clearer then these expressions can there be a larger commission given or more streighter commaund layd on Ormond for compassing speedily a peace with the Irish Catholicks then what is repeated heer can Ormond pretend hee wanted power to conclude a peace or the King a willingness to have it don his Majestyes intentions desires and solicitations to that effect are vrged in these words what ever it cost soe my protestant subjects may be secure and Royal authority there is nothing soe certaine securing Catholicks Religion then that wee desired and vnanimously minded to â—â—â—ure the Kings intrest and prerogative and to help him to our power and not to molest or trouble any of his protestant subjects if not provoked by themselues thervnto take notice in this place of his royall assent to a Suspension of Poynings act for such bills as should be agreed vpon betwixt Ormond and us and the takeing away the penal Lawes against us neither did hee think it a hard bargin soe wee freely and vigorously engaged our selves in his Royall service against his Rebells of England and Scotland and says noe conditions can be to hard soe this be don and that in performing it nothing is against conscience and honour heer you may observe the distinction his Majesty makes at that tyme betwixt his Catholick subjects of Irland and those his Protestant Rebells of England and Scotland his Majesty whose intrest it was and the only Iudge of that fact to aprove or disaprove us as such gave each according his desert calling us his Irish subjects and those of England and Scotland his Rebels yet Ormond in his conference with Mr. Wintergrâ—nt calls us otherwise euen Rebels as those of England and Scotland were adding thervnto that if there were necessity to give vp those places vnder his commaund vnto any of the three Nations hee would rather make them over to his English rebels then to his Majestys faithfull Irish subjects of which opinion hee thought every good Englishman was to which expression Mr. Wintergrant a Roman Catholick and a person who had a better opinion of theire conscience then Ormond replyed nothing By the prefated expressions of Ormond you see how hee declared himselfe for an Englishman and being the Kings Lieutenant in that Kingdome hee showed himselfe only exteriourly for the King but interiourly a right Parlamentier as by his severall open disobediences and distructive delays to the King Queen and Princes orders and instructions as to the hastning of the Irish peace is manifested such a one in effect I must confess his darling Orrery would have him to be by all attributes of Religion breeding person speech dispossitions by his Lady and children and predecessors though Irish and well skild in the Irish speech and of 480. yeares and more standing in that Country would to God Orrery had gotten his wish in this and that his Ormond had been of two sydes an Englishman and that our Country and Countrymen had never knowne Ormond Orrery or Orrerys father were it soe things had gon far better with vs and with the Country you see how this Statsman makes noe difference between the confederate Catholicks and the Rebells of Scotland and England whoe got vp in actuall Armes against the King who bought and sould him had him close Prisoner at the same tyme these words were spoken by Ormond can Ormond produce such an oath of association made and agreed vpon by the Parlimentary party to maintaine the Kings prorogatives rights person and Royall interest as wee have made and set forth vnto the world vpon all occations and in all places even in the lowest ebb of his Majestys affaires wee spoke with veneration and respect of his sacred person when they in pulpits streets banks and theaters in theire privat meetings and Counsels disdainfully violated his sacred person and persued him even in theire news books as you may see in the Heu and Cry of Mercurius Britantcus ridiculously set forth in this forme If any man can bring tale or tyding of a wilfull King which hath wilfully gon a stray from his Parliment with a guilty conscience bloody hands a hart full of broaken vowes and protestations if these marks be not sufficient there is another in the mouth for bid him speak and you will soon know him then give notice to Britanicus and you shall be well payd for your paines god saue the Parliment These and such like scurrilous disrespects to his Royaell person would be theire quotidian pastime yet our good Ormond was pleased to list vs in the ranke and cathalogue of those rediculous prophaine Rebells His Vnâ—e and his Brother-inlaw the two prefated Viscounts and the rest of his affected frinds would hardly believe had an Angel affirmd it that Ormond would harbour soe hard a thought of the confederate Catholicks whome hee knew full well in his â—art to be good faithfull and Zealous subjects Now notwithstanding all these instructions and the Kings letters before mentioned with all the instances Mr. Win ergrant could make which were done with a great deal of care and Iudgment notwithstanding the accomodation which I shall insert heere sent by the confederate Catholicks to Ormond notwithstanding all this I say hee yielded vp to the Kings enemys the Castle of Dublin the Sword and all in which and by which action hee discovered his hatred to the confederate Catholicks his affection to the Parliment his disrespect and manifest disobedience to the Kings orders and commaunds and to those of the Queen and