HAving Received your Lord­ships of the 24th Current, with your printed Memoires, which you are pleased in some sort to Intitle me to; and I will not conceal from your Lordship that I am not yet a­shamed, now I have read them, though I cannot approve all in them, that I was the first incentive to your Writ­ing them; which was upon this occasion, having sat along with your Lordship [Page 2]in Parliament, and observing for the most part such a consent between your Lordship and me, in proceedings there upon the most abstracted Prin­ciples of Honour and Allegiance, I could not but account of your Lordship as a true Englishman and a Loyal Sub­ject, whatsoever blemish your en­gagement under the confederate Re­bels of Ireland had before fixed on you; and having heard you so often pathe­tically declare your self fully to mine and most honest Mens Minds, against the dangers of the growing greatness of the French and the too fast Declen­sion of the Spaniard, between which great Powers of the World, the Crown of England was so happy and wise in former times as to hold and guide the Ballance; and finding by your frequent, and as I could not but conceive, Cor­dial Expressions against the Pope of Rome's Usurping Authority in these Dominions, over and against his Ma­jesty, and Kingdoms, to such a de­gree, [Page 3]that you spared not, like a right Ancient Peer of this Realm, often to say, That if the Pope himself should Attack any of his Majesties Dominions, you would be one of the first to labour his Destruction; I was deservedly much delighted in your Lordships Converse: which having been often honoured with, both by your Let­ters, when in Foreign parts, and your favourable Society here at home, I was instrumental, as your Lordship well knows, to prevail with the Par­liament to set a mark of great Ho­nour on your Lordship, by a special recommendation and intercession to his Majesty for a regard to and repa­ration of the Breaches time and mis­fortune had made upon so Ancient and Honourable a Family. And looking upon your Lordship as a Peer of most noble Principles, and free of the worst part of Bigotry, I could not but la­ment your leaving the Parliament, and still wish your return.

During our said Converse, being ingaged in the History of Ireland, to which I was the more inclined by an interest therein for several Generations; my Great Grandfather, Sir John Perrot, having been Deputy thereof, govern­ing the same with great Wisdom and Success, my Grandfather Annesley hav­ing been Commander at Sea in Queen Elizabeths time, and one of the Un­dertakers for Land in Munster, after the Earl of Desmond's Rebellion; my Father, the Lord Baron of Mount­norris, and Viscount of Valentia (of whom I have very often heard your Lordship speak with great Honour, and as your worthy Friend) having faithfully served King James and King Charles the First, near Forty years in that Kingdom, in Offices and Im­ployments of high Trust; and I my self being a Native of the City of Dub­lin, a diligent Observer of the Trou­bles there, wherein I had some share; and having both Honours and Lands [Page 5]descended to me in that Realm; and knowing that your Lordship had here­tofore a great part in the Action there, and taking notice that no Memorials I had yet seen, did give a full account of your Lordship, whom as my own Friend and my Fathers Friend, I was willing to do right to in History, as far as I could; ever highly esteeming the Bravery of your Actions and Wis­dom of your Conduct, as far as I had Cognizance thereof, though I bemoaned the unhappy circumstances of your en­gaging under a Power usurping over your own Prince, and incroaching Royal Power; which I find you can­not digest, either the Pope or Duke of Lorraine should have done: I dis­coursed with your Lordship many of the most important Designs, Actions and Traverses of Fortune in Ireland, since the fatal 23 of October 1641, and finding by your full Relations, with a perfect memory thereof, that you were able to give help to History [Page 6]therein; I moved your Lordship (to which you friendly consented) that at leasure hours you would reduce to writing what you could remember, with as exact reference to Time and Order (as you could recollect) of Pas­sages and Exploits there; and that I might by your favour be possessed thereof: And I wish things had rested there, little expecting a formal Rela­tion in print, and much less so in­troduced before I had the perusal of it; for I must now acquaint your Lord­ship, that I did not, after what I have above related, save now and then to your self, inquire after your Memoires promised me, till by a Letter of the 16th of this moneth, from a hand I respect, I had notice he had seen them; and my Censure thereon was desired, they seeming to him (after 28 years silence, to cast a Calumny on the Government then; and as he suspects, with no good intention, though he refers that to my Opinion; knowing (as he is [Page 7]pleased to say) none to appeal to but me. Your Lordship sees now how you are ingaged for want of com­manding my Service before the Prin­ters: and I am confident the heat of a Battle would be less formidable to you then the Paper warre you must expect to be assaulted with; wherein, if I be necessitated to have the least hand, your Lordship may be assured it shall be en Gentilhome & en amy, and chiefly with an aim to convince your Lordship of that which hath ob­scured the Glory of your Adventures and Exploits or Undertakings, in that unfortunate Kingdom; and therefore I forbear giving any Opinion to my Friend, till I have vented my thoughts to your Lordship, which I shall now take the liberty to do.

Upon serious perusal of your Book, I find your Lordships Story of two parts, The First till the Cessation of Arms concluded by the Rebels Com­missioners at Seginstowne, with the [Page 8]Marquess of Ormond, Sept. 15, 1643; all which time your Lordship was wholly of the Rebels Party, and un­der their Pay and Command, which I wish your Lordship had not thought fit for the Press, though there were some Acts of Souldierly bravery in it. The Second Part, From that time till your Lordship finding the ill state of Affairs in Ireland, was dispatched by the then Lord Deputy Clanrickord, to set out the same to the King in France; from whence, though your Lordship procured a Letter from his Majesty to the Lord Deputy, and sent the same by a safe Messenger, yet you returned not again, but in­gaged in the Service of the Prince of Conde. My Lord, I am loath now to make my Remarques upon this Se­cond Part, because your Lordships acting therein at times, under the Con­federate Irish their Commission, and under his Majesties Authority at o­ther times, and sometimes under both. [Page 9]It will be fitter at present for me to be silent therein, than to attempt the unblending such a mixture, and se­perate your Acts of Allegiance from those of Opposition to the King, which I must always blame you for: or to condemn you intirely, when some things your Lordship did were by full Authority, though very fatal to the English Protestant interest in that Kingdom, and no ways advan­tageous to his Majesty or his Affairs.

But the First Part of your Story, which takes up three Sections of your Memoirs, I cannot let pass unanimad­verted and corrected, without con­demning the generation of the just; suffering Blemish, and Calumny, to lie upon his Majesty and Government, both in England and Ireland; and leaving your Lordship in a mistake of having done well, when I hope I shall evince that you did very ill, unless the galantry of a Souldier can expiate for all that was amiss. For this end [Page 10]I must take notice to your Lordship, that all I find you urge to satisfie your own Conscience, or to vindicate your Honour and Integrity to the World, in this your ingaging your self amongst the Irish, is to this effect: Your Lord­ship saith, That at the first eruption of the Rebellion (which you seem to tye to the North, but was universal) you acquainted the Lords Justices with your willingness to serve the King against the Rebels, as your An­cestors had formerly done in Ireland; but they replying, that your Religion was an Obstacle; there being then a Parliament in that Kingdom sitting, you were resolved to see the event, sending your Brother to your House at Madingstowne, in the County of Kildare, to secure and defend it, in case there were any rising in those parts. Sometime after the Parliament being dissolved (but you do not men­tion that you attended your duty in Parliament, when it was sitting, and [Page 11]declaring against the Rebels) your Lordship desired a Pass from the Ju­stices to go to England, but they re­fusing, you acquainted them with the condition of your Estate, and desired a supply of Money till you could ap­ply to the Parliament of England for a Pass to bring you over, which they denyed. You press'd them then to di­rect you what course you should steer, to which they replied, Go home and make fair weather. You took this ad­vice, and being come, my Lord of Antrim, and my Lady Dutchess of Buckingham (both Papists, and after that deeply ingaged in the Rebellion) soon followed (whether by concert with your Lordship is not said) and you were very well pleased with so good company. But in a short time the Irish came and drove away great part of your Stock, which you reco­vered by a party sent out with your Brother, who brought with him two or three of the chiefest Conductors of [Page 12]that Rabble. This inraged the Irish so much, as you conceived your Bro­ther was not safe there, and therefore sent him to Dublin, to attend the Justices Orders, and assure them of your readiness to return on a call, they sending a Convoy, which they promised to do as Occasion re­quired. But your Lordship hearing that you were indicted of High Trea­son, and hereupon your Brother ad­dressing to the Lords Justices again, to let them know that they had not kept their words with him, in suffer­ing this clandestine proceeding against you (as your Brothers Letter calls it) you went to Dublin, and addressed your self to my Lord of Ormond, as your Brother did in your behalf to the Lords Justices and Council, to ac­quaint them with your coming; and upon your appearance before them they ordered you to come the day fol­lowing, at which time, without calling you in, they committed you to [Page 13]Mr. Woodcock's House, one of the Sheriffs of Dublin. Your Brother see­ing (as he calls it) this rigorous usage towards you, and being refused a Pass for himself to go for England, he got away to the King at York, and peti­tioned him that you might be sent for over to be tryed here by your Peers. But his Majesties Answer was, That he had left all the Affairs of Ireland to the Parliament; upon which he petitioned the Parliament to the same effect: their Answer was, that they could do nothing without the King. After this your Brother saith, he was continually serving his Majesty in Eng­land. Your Lordship once more placeth your self at Madenstowne, whither you had at first retired by advice of the Lords Justices, and continued there some Five or six moneths after in peace and quietness; but your Lordship doth not mention that other neighbouring places possessed by the English did so; or what in diligence [Page 14]your Lordship had with or gave to the State. But proceed to say, That in the mean while Parties were sent out by the Justices from Dublin, and the Towns adjacent, to kill and destroy the Rebels; and the like was done through all parts of the Kingdom. But your Lordship adds, the Officers and Souldiers did not take care enough to distinguish between the Rebels and Subjects, but killed in many places promiscuously; on which partly, and partly on other provocations that pro­ceeded, and some too that followed, the whole Nation finding themselves con­cerned, took to Arms for their own defence, and particularly the Lords of the Pale did so, who yet at the same time desired the Justices to send their Petition to the King, which was re­fused. And for their further discou­ragement, Sir John Read, his Maje­sties sworn Servant (a stranger to the Countrey, uningaged, and an Eye­witness of their proceedings, then [Page 15]upon his Journey to England) pre­vailed with by them, to carry their Remonstrance to his Majesty, and to beg his Pardon for what they had done; coming to Dublin, and not conceal­ing his Message, was put to the Rack for his good will. The said Lords having tryed this and other ways to acquaint the King with their Grievan­ces, and all failing, an open War broke forth generally throughout the Kingdom. Your Lordship next takes notice of your accidental entertaining my Lord of Ormond at Dinner, im­mediately after the Battle of Killrush, which you were a Spectator of, being in sight of your House; but that some who came with him, turned this ano­ther way, and publishing through the Army, that it was a mighty Feast for my Lord Mount Garret and the Re­bels; this through the English Quar­ters past for currant. And you be­lieve it was much the cause of this under-hand villainous proceedings (as [Page 16]you call it) against you fore-menti­oned. Your Lordship proceeds to tells us, That after Twenty Weeks that you had remained in Prison, you were ordered to be removed to the Castle of Dublin, which startled you, and brought to your thoughts the proceed­ings against the Earl of Strafford, who confiding in his Innocency, lost his Head: you concluded then that Innocen­cy was a scurvey plea in an angry time; besides, your Lordship looked upon the Justices and most of the Council to be of the Parliaments Perswasion; wherefore you resolved to attempt an escape, and save your self in the Irish Quarters, which your Lordship did, and give us a Relation of the manner of it; and how your Lordship took your way towards the Mountains of Wickow, where being come, you cared little for the Justices, though before Dinner, your escape being dis­covered, on notice given to the Ju­stices, you were pursued by a party [Page 17]of Horse, taking their way to your House at Madingstowne, which they invested in the night: but not finding your Lordship, after possessing them­selves of what your Lordship had within and without, they killed many of your Servants and burnt the House. Your Lordship kept on your way to Kilkenny, as much through the Fast Countrey as you could, till you arrived, where you found the Town very full, and many of your acquaintance, all preparing for their Natural Defence; seeing no distinction made, or safety but in Arms. To this end your Lord­ship saith, They had chosen amongst themselves, out of the most eminent Persons, a Council, and gave it the Title of, The Supream Council of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland; and formed an Oath of Association, by which all were bound to obey them. They had made Four Generald of the Four Provinces, Preston of Leinster, Barry of Munster, Owen-Roe Oneal [Page 18]of Ʋlster, and one Burk of Connaught; and being to give Commissions, they caused a Seal to be made, which was the Seal of the Council. Your Lord­ship saith, you were sent for to this Council to tell your Story, which you did. And being asked what you in­tended to do, you answered, to get into France, and so to England; upon which they told you their condition, and what they were doing for their preservation, perswading you to stay with them, being your Lordship was beloved in the Countrey; had three Sisters married amongst them, was per­secuted upon the same score they were, and ruined; so that you had no more to lose but your Lives. You took two or three days to think of this Pro­position, examining the Model of Go­vernment they had prepared against the meeting of the general Assembly, and most particularly their Oath of As­sociation, which your Lordship judged to be very reasonable, as the case stood. [Page 19]On the whole matter you returned to this Council, Thanked them for their good Opinion of you, and engaged your self to run a Fortune with them. Whether Anger and Revenge did not incline you to it as much as any other consideration, you say you cannot re­solve; but this you well remember, that you considered how you had been used, and seen your House burning as you passed by; besides, that you were a light man, with no charge, and not any hopes of redress from the King, who was then engaged in an intestine War. Now being thus a Confederate, and having taken the Oath, they made your Lordship one of the Council, and General of the Horse under Preston.

The Assembly met the 24th of Octo­ber, 1642. It differed nothing from a Parliament, other then that the Lords and Commons sate together, and not in two Houses.

This your Lordship saith, we see was a force-put upon you, and you [Page 20]hoped in time, the storm being pas­sed, to return to your old Govern­ment under the King. You had many Learned in the Law amongst you, whom you incouraged to keep you as near the Old Government as might be; holding to the Ancient Laws of the Land.

That Assemby, without delay, ap­proved all the Council had done, and settled a Model of Government, viz. That at the end of every General Assembly, the Supreme Council should be Confirmed or Changed as they thought sit. That it should consist of Twenty five, six out of each Province, three of the six still Resident.

[...] was your Lordship, with [...] to any Province, but to the Kingdom in general. Every Pro­vince had a Provincial Assembly, which met on occasions, and each Countrey had Commissions for Applotting Money within themselves, as it came to their st [...]res, upon the general Applotment [Page 21]of the Province. Many other things there were as to Government. If a better came to them written in Irish, it would be wondred at, and hardly could one be found to read it. You say you were not in case to bring to Justice those that begun the Rebellion. But you never saw any of them e­steemed or advanced. The general Assembly being put off, the Generals fell to their work, and your Lordships General took in Burras, Fort Fauk­land and Barrish, in the Kings County, where you were with him. Your Lord­ship was also with this General the 18th of March, 1642, when he was beaten at Rose by the Marquess of Or­mond, and by Collonel Monk, since Duke of Albermarie, at Timochoe, in the Queens County, the Fifth of October, 1642. Yet afterwards he besieging Ballynekill, in the same County, you ventured once more with him; where he having intelli­gence that Major General Crawford [Page 22]was Besieging Ballybritas, a Castle, belonging to the Viscount Clanmalleer, he sent your Lordship with a party of Fifteen hundred Horse and Foot, to endeavour the succouring of that place, which your Lordship did; and Crawford drawing off, in passing the River of the Barrow, in a Skirmish, had his Thigh broken with a Musket Shot. You returned as Ballynekill was rendred. After this your Lord­ship remained at Kilhenny, with the Supream Council, and Preston went into the lower parts of the Province with the Army; of whose Absence, the Enemies Garrisons, in the County of Catherlagh and Queens County, taking advantage, allarm'd the County of Kilkenny, even to the Gates of the City. Your Lordship was then by the Council commanded to go against them. And therefore having gotten together about 2000 Men, with some Cannon, you marched to Ballynunry, in the County of Catherlagh, and [Page 23]took it; as also Cloghgrenan, where the County of Wexford's Regiment mutined, but were reduced and some Examples made, served well for the future. Your Lordship marched thence into the Queens County, and Besieg­ed Bellylenan, Commanded by the Grimes's, a valiant People, with a strong Garrison. But a great breach being made, their Succour came by the way of Athy. Your Lordship was not well at this Allarm, but laid upon your Bed in your Tent. However you made no great matter of it, knowing the Succour could not be considerable; but your Lordship beating their Suc­cour in their view, the besieged Gar­rison yielded, on condition to march out with their Arms. And then your Lordship was perswaded to head the Munster Forces, of whose Success, under your Command, you give a full Relation; and then returning to Kil­kenny, gave the Assembly an account of what had passed. Soon after the [Page 24]Assembly being broke up, and a Su­pream Council chosen to govern in their absence; you retired to Kilkash, your Brother Butler's House, to rest your self. The Council went to Ross, and whilst they were there, a Trum­pet brought them a Letter from the Marquess of Ormond, setting forth his being appointed by the King to hear your Grievances, and to treat for an accommodation. The particulars of the Letter you know not, but the Trum­pet was quickly dispatched with some slight Answer; which coming to your knowledge, you repaired to Kilkenny, whither the Council was returned; and on information, finding what you had heard to be true, you sent for Sir Bobert Talbot, Sir Richard Barn­wall, Collonel Walter Bagnal, and such others as were in the Town, well affected and leading Men of the Assem­bly, though not of the Council. Now being in your Lodging, you acquainted them with what you had understood, [Page 25]and that if they would stick to you, you would endeavour to give it a turn. You all agreed on the way, which was to go to the Council then sitting, to take notice of the Kings offer, and their return; and to mind them that the consideration and reso­lutions concerning Peace and War, the general Assembly referved to them­selves only; and therefore to require that they would send immediately a Trumpet of their own, with a Letter to the Marquess of Ormond, giving him to understand they had issued a Summons for a general Assembly, in order to acknowledge the Kings gra­cious Favour, in naming him his Com­missioner to hear your Aggrievances and redress them. This you put in execution, and gained your point without much resistance.

The Marquess of Ormond being thus brought into a Treaty, the Confe­derate Commissioners met at Segin­stowne, near the Nasse, as his Excel­lency [Page 26]had appointed, in order to a Cessation of Arms. At which time all Parties laboured to get into possession of what they could. Collonel Monk, after made Duke of Albermarle, march'd into the County of Wicklow to take in the Harvest, and possess some Castles. Your Lordship being then commanded by the Council to go against him, and having Rendevouz'd your Troops, consisting of about 3000 Horse and Foot at Ballynekill, in the County of Catherlagh; notice was brought you that Collonel Monk was marched away in all haste to the assi­stance of the Lord Moor, then facing Owen Roe Oneal, near Portlester. You finding your self now to have nothing to do, thought it worth the while to endeavour taking in Duller­stown, Tully, Lacagh, and all other Castles in the County of Kildare, between the Rivers of the Barrow and Liffe, which you did; leaving Gar­risons in them. This done, you re­past [Page 27]past the Barrow at Monaster-Evan, marched into Leix, and took three or four small places. But as you were going on, had Advice from the Com­missioners at Seginstowne, that they had on the 15th of September, 1643, concluded a Cessation of Arms with the Marquess of Ormond, to which you submited.

As your Lordship did also to the two Peaces of 1646, 1648, both su­table, and of the same strain; and though both were of advantage only to the Irish, and highly dishonourable to the Crown of England, and de­structive to the English and Prote­stants, yet both were broken and set at naught by the Irish themselves, a just Judgment of God against them, whose hands were full of Blood; and there being no hopes that such untem­pered Morter could cement them and the Posterity left alive of murdered Parents, Brothers, Sisters, and other Relations; or that ever the English [Page 28]could live out of danger, and free of Massacres for the future, without ex­emplary punishment of the Murderers and Rebels, and bringing them by forfeitures and otherwise, to an abso­lute subjection to the Laws, and keeping them in that state, as it is now hoped they are, and will be by the watchful Eye of Government.

I shall now, as briefly as I can, take the liberty to give your Lordship im­partial Remarks upon what your Lord­ship hath written in justification of the Rebels, or tending to caluminate his Majesties Government, or English and Pretestant Subjects; reserving a fuller account thereof to a fitter occasion.

In the first place, Seeing your Lord­ships Memoires, dedicated to the King, I cannot but take notice how danger­ous a thing it is, and of how bad con­sequence it may prove, especially in this case and juncture, to misinform his Majesty; not that I do suspect or tax your Lordship of design to abuse [Page 29]the King; for I do charitably believe, as your Lordship affirms upon your word, that they do not contain a lie or mistake to your knowledge, yet I must positively aver, and it is my part to make it good, that the Rela­tion wants the most material and preg­nant Truths in the principal part thereof, and of most consequence to the Publick, as I doubt not your Lord­ship will believe and confess upon such glances as I shall make upon par­ticulars as I go over them. But before I proceed, it will import the giving clear light to an affair, which contrary interests have so much endeavoured to perplex, to observe the state that un­happy Kingdom of Ireland was in at the Eruption of that satal Rebellion. A Parliament sitting the year before in Ireland, both Houses taking notice of some Grievances growing upon them, and the want of some good New Laws for advancing the Prosperity and good Government of that Kingdom, [Page 30]did send chosen Agents or Commissi­oners, both Lords and Commons, of most esteem amongst them, to attend his Majesty in England, for redress of such Grievances, and procuring such new Grants and Graces, as they were directed to move for, from a Gracious King. His Majesty received them fa­vourably and with good dispatch, they returned for Ireland fully satisfied, and loaden with all the Graces and Boun­ties, good Subjects could hope to re­ceive upon such an Address to their Prince; and what needed Confirmati­on in Parliament, was to be done when the Parliament should meet, at the day to which it was Prorogued. The People of Ireland were never bet­ter pleased then with the gracious Re­turns his Majesty had made by their Commissioners. That Kingdom never enjoyed a more prosound, and more like to be lasting Peace and Prosperity, Commerce and Trade, both at home and abroad, never flourished more; [Page 31]barbarous Customs were never more entirely subdued and abrogated; there never was more Unity, Friendship, and good Agreement, amongst all sorts and degrees (except in the stand­ing root of miscnief, the difference in Religions then at this time, nor more mutual Confidence. I can say, being that time there, the Sheep and the Goats lived quietly together; and there was that intire trust in one another, as to all Matters Civil and Temporal, that I remember very well, the Summer before the Rebellion, The Titular Bishop of Fernes coming his Visitation into the County of Wexford, where I then dwelt, at the request of a Popish Priest, I lent most of my Silver Plate to entertain the said Bishop with, and had it honestly restored. In this serene and happy state was that Kingdom, every one sitting under his own Vine and Fig-tree in peace, and in the a­bundance of all things, when, whe­ther surfeiting of Quiet and Plenty, [Page 32]or by the just Judgment of God upon a sinful and superstitious Nation; or that the said Committees having staid in England till they saw symptoms of a misunderstanding between his Ma­jesty and his two Houses af Parliament in England, and being most of them Papists, conceived they had fallen into a fit juncture to set up their darling Idolatry, and restore the pretended Jurisdiction of their Idolized Forraign Power of the Pope of Rome, or being in at the Intrigues of the Popish Faction all Court, and receiving incourage­ment by what they observed, and was infused into them; they had here laid the Foundation of the Massacre and Rebellion, whereof Ireland was to be the Scene; or upon what other grounds, I shall not here take upon me determine, but I well remember that he 23d. of October, after their Return, broke out upon a formed Combina­tion and Conspiracy, wherein almost all the said Popish Committees were [Page 33]leading Men and principal Actors, such a horrid and bloody Massacre and Rebellion, as is not to be parallell'd in History; neither Man, Woman, nor Infants in the Womb, or at the Breast, being spared; but the genera­lity of that Nation turning barbarous and wild Irish again, after so many hundred years Subjection to the Crown of England, and Endeavours of their Reformation and Civilizing to so vast an expence of Blood and Trea­sure, as is hardly to be believed. But, my Lord, I may now but touch at things, Comme en passant, that I may keep within the bounds of a Let­ter; but when, what I have meditated, and am preparing from Records and authentick, unquestionble Relations and Transactions of that bloody Tra­gedy and matchless Defection from the Crown and very Nation of Eng­lish Men, shall see the light, your Lordship will be informed, of what, it seems, hath not yet come to your [Page 34]knowledge, and what must make your Lordship blush, at your so fatal mi­stake, to have ever been (so far (as you confess your self) in so ill Com­pany, and to have partaken in the least in so foul a Guilt.

Having made this necessary Excur­sion and Caution, I proceed in your Lordships own Method, Going first with your Lordship to the Lords Ju­stices, acquainting them of your wil­lingness to serve the King against the Rebels, to which no doubt, by advice of his Majesties Privy Council in that Kingdom, they gave a very prudent Answer, That your Religion was an ob­stacle; and how could they well say less, when it was apparent that it was a Popish Conspiracy, and those of that profession universally ingaged in the Defection; in so much that though the State there would have distinguished them into Allegiance, and for that end, more out of desire to win them than any confidence they had in them, but [Page 35]to leave them without excuse, put Arms and Ammuuition into the hands of the Lord Viscount Gormanston; and other Popish Lords and Gentle­men of best Quality and Estates in the English Pale; and who by their te­nures had formerly, and were o­bliged to assist the Crown, in times of danger; and they, almost all of them, went with his Majesties Arms in Aid of the Rebells; and they who did best, did but restore the Kings Arms, and joyned themselves, and all the power they could make, to the In­surrection; forgetting the Grants and bountiful Gifts of Lands their Ance­stors had received from the Crown, for former, and on condition of future Service; in which Rank your Lordship placeth your noble Ancestors, and I heartily wish you had continued that station.

Your Lordships next motion was to the Lords Justices, for a Pass to go for England, which, though they could [Page 36]not consent to, they gave your Lord­ship good Advice, and which for a time you followed (viz.) to go home to your House, being but 20 miles from Dublin, and under the protection or reach of the State, as there should be occasion, and as your Lordship found afterwards.

Concerning your Lordships enter­taining my Lord of Antrim and the Dutchess of Buckingham at Madin­stowne, whither they soon followed, whither by consent with your Lord­ship is not said, and your delight in their company, I have nothing to say, but that it was an ill time for Feast­ing and Jollity, when stript, and al­most starved English, came flying by your Gate every day from the Rebels Cruelty. And I find, that both the Marquess of Antrim and the Dutchess, were after that deeply ingaged in the Rebellion; and her Grace living and dying in the Irish Quarters, chose to be buried at Waterford. And though [Page 37]your Lordship had power enough, when the Irish came and drove away a great part of your Stock; to recover it, by a party sent out with your Brother, who brought with him two or three of the chiefest Conductors of that Rab­ble; yet you do not so much as pre­tend that you delivered up any of them to Justice (as you ought.) But you say that this inraged the Irish so much, as you conceived your Brother was not safe there (where yet you thought fit to continue; but sending him to Dublin to attend the Justices Orders, and assure them of your readiness to return on a Call, they sending a Con­voy, which they promised to do as occasion required, yet your Lordship hearing that you were indicted of high Treason (the most publick way of accusing, though your Brothers Letter calls it Clandestine) you went to Dublin (it seems you could go when you pleased without a Convoy) but did not, it seems, think fit to appear [Page 38]and oppose the Indictment, but be­ing committed by the Lords Justices and Council (the Justification whereof is not the work of this Letter, but will have its proper time and place) your Lordship after addressing your Case, by your Brother, to the King and Par­liament in England, without success, whither your Brother, being refused a Pass by the Justices, was gotten. It seems your Lordship meditated your escape into the Irish Quarters, and relate the manner how you compassed the same, which few will believe your Lordship would have done, or held it the way to save your self, but that you knew you had deserved it of them, and that they had no cause to hurt you, as appeared after, by their making you General of their Horse; and your Lordship, chusing the Oath of Association before that of Allegiance.

Your Lordships having now shifted sides, betake your self roundly to a justification of the Rebels cause, I must [Page 39]follow you your own way, though it be not so methodical as I could wish, and is with great confusion of times and affairs, which the thred of History will reduce to order when time serves. It is true, that Parties were sent out by the Justices, according to his Ma­jesties Direction, to kill and destroy the Rebels throughout all the parts of the Kingdom; and if the Officers and Souldiers did not take care e­nough (in your Lordships Opinion) to distinguish between the Rebels and the Subjects, but killed in many places promiscuously (whereof your Lordship gives no instances, or of particular complaints to have been made of any such thing) I wou'd fain know what distinction could be made of those that were found in Arms or Action against the Kings Authority; for there will appear to have been no prosecution of others, nor any others killed, unless by such accidents as might happen in full peace, and when the course of Justice is free.

But your Lordship saith, that on this partly, and partly on other occasions that preceded, and some too that fol­lowed (but you enumerate none) the whole Nation finding themselves con­cerned, took Arms for their own de­fence; and partlcularly the Lords of the Pale did so, who yet at the same time, desired the Justices to send their Petition to the King, which was re­fused.

This being the chief ground by which your Lordship would justifie the most formed and dangerous Con­spiracy and Rebellion that ever was in that Kingdom since the Crown of Englands first Title thereunto, which your Lordship (being a Peer of England) should have distinguished from a just and a lawful War, but do not. I must observe to your Lordship, that its an ill way to acquaint the King with their pretended Grievances, La main a lespe; they should have done that, if they had any, before their [Page 41]treacherous and bloody Massacres and open Rebellion; but indeed they had none to offer, but what was the just return of their own black Actions; for your Lordship knows (as I have said before) that by Committees of both Houses of Parliament in Ireland, whereof most were Papists, they had just before their Rebellion, returned loaden with such Graces and Conde­scentions of Favour from the Crown, as had been sufficient (meeting with the least ingenuity, gratitude and hu­manity) to have made wavering Per­sons good Subjects; but the Lord Macguires and others Confessions, ma­nifested that they had laid their Design of Treason too deep to retreat easily, when they had once struck the stroak, till finding their error, not from re­morse, but from sense of danger im­minent (which must inevitably follow, unless they could subdue England too. At the first they made a loud cry of Grievances, and at length bid fair, as [Page 42]they had made Ireland a field of Blood and Desolation, to disturb England also.

Concerning the further discourage­ment the Rebels received by Sir John Reads treatment, and what that was, and upon what grounds, though I have all the passages thereof by me, and will by no means allow of Racking any Man, as being contrary to the Law of England; yet I must observe that it was a very jealous time, after so many thousands slaughtered barba­rously in cold blood, the Rebellion in­creasing every day, too great a curiosity arising to know the bottom of the de­sign, that remedies proportionable might be applied; and Sir John Read being one of the Kings Servants and a designing Papist, being there so un­seasonably, without being able to give a good account of himself or business, and going away Agent for the Rebels in Arms, without leave of the State, might make them exceed the strict [Page 43]bounds of Law in his Examination

Your Lordship in the next place tak­ing notice that you had tryed this and other ways to acquaint the King with your Grievances (which I have shewed before were none) and all failing, an o­pen War broke forth generally through­out the Kingdom; this being a meer colour and pretence, your Lordship unfortunately puts the effect before the pretended cause; for by what you had said before, and what the truth of the cause is, the horrid Rebellion, (for it never merited the name of a War) was universal, before they so much as alleadged any Grievance. Your next Memoire is of your enter­taining my Lord of Ormond at Dinner after the Battle of Kilrush, which you were a Spectator of; and that some who came with him, turned it another way, publishing through the Army that it was a Feast for my Lord Mount­garret and the Rebels, which through the English Quarters past for currant.

Here your Lordship, by your own shewing, intimates, that though you were a Spectator from your own House of a Battle, wherein the Crown lay at stake, and had formerly discovered you had force enough to recover your Cat el taken away by the Rebels, and apprehend some of their Leaders, which you call Rogues, yet (though a Peer of both Kingdoms) you would be no Actor, though the Kings Gene­ral was at your Gate, doubting, it seems, the event of Battle; but the success rendring my Lord of Ormond Victorious, you set before him that Dinner, which you had not strength to keep from him. And indeed it was generally then held by the English, that if the Rebels had gained the day, your Lordship would more frankly have bid the Lord Mountgarret, their General (and a Butler also) welcome to that Dinner than you did my Lord of Ormond; and this is what passeth rant in this particular to this day, which [Page 45]you believe was much the cause of that villainous proceeding (as you call it) fore-mentioned, whereas it seems you were so far from being ill dealt with in the least, that my Lord of Or­mond, your Guest, though he might have justified his carrying you Prisoner with him to Dublin, who would not assist him in Fight, as your Tenure required left you (as some think by a blameable omission) Master of your own House, and without the least damage done you, though much hap­pened after to the Kingdom by your liberty, of which you were for some time restrained in the Sheriffs hands, and after ordered to be removed to the Castle of Dublin, which you say startled you, and it brought to your thoughts the proceedings against the Earl of Strafford, &c. whereupon you made an escape, probably in the man­ner related.

But here your Lordship, not distin­guishing times, and I not having Pa­pers [Page 46]by me, am so doubtful of an in­termixture of Affairs to your advan­tage, that I must reserve the unfold­ing thereof to another tfme, when I shall be able exactly to shew you the times of your Lordships appearing and joyning with the Rebels; and of the proceeding against the Earl of Straf­ford, and how they preceded on the other. I shall only for the present, observe how that great personage (though more innocent than your Lord­ship could pretend to) never sled his Tryal, well knowing that would have fixed more guilt upon him in con­struction of Law, than could be proved against him; and judged it more ho­nourable to hazard the losing of his Head than his Innocency. Your Lord­ships Wisdom took a contrary course, and concluding that Innocency was a scurvy plea in an angry time (as in deed it is in any times, where it is so thin laid, that gross guilt appears under it) you find it safer to arraign the [Page 47]state than to abide a Tryal; and ac­cordingly taxing them for passion and partiality, and to be of the Parliaments perswasion (when your Lordship would have had them and the whole King­dom of yours, and by what means time hath manifested) you resolved to attempt an escape and save your self in the Irish Quarters, which your Lordship did to the Mountains of Wick­low; where being come, you cared little for the Justices. Is it possible, if your Lordship had thought your self innocent, that you would seek safety, or count your self safe among the most enormously bloody and guilty men that ever were under the Sun; and fly the Kings Justice with reflecti­on and scorn upon the State, that was pursuing them for their Crimes; and to avoid the inward stings of Guilt or Apprehensions of Punishment, run head-long into open and a vowed Guilt, among those who were under Gods Vengeance and the Kings. I leave [Page 48]this to your Lordships more serious second thoughts.

Being out of the danger of Justice, though your Lordship cared little for the Justices (as how could your Lord­ship, when you were associated with those who had bid defiance to God and the King) yet your Lordship quickly saw a proof, how civil and merciful they had been to you hither­to, when they upon your escape, shewed you they had power enough to pursue you, and pillage and burn your House in your Mountain view, and use your Family as Enemies, which they might have done before, but their constant course was to endea­vour the re-gaining those who had fal­tered in their Allegiance; and not to increase the number, which was too heavy upon them already.

Your Lordship at length arrived to the beloved place designed, the City of Kilkenny, Head Quarters of the Confederate Rebels, where you found [Page 49]many of your acquaintance preparing for their natural defence, seeing no distinction made, or safety but in Arms.

Your Lordships heart was now at rest among your Friends and Relations, to whom indeed, after committing all the wickedness their hand of vio­lence could reach to, being defeated in several Battels by his Majesties Forces, and driven into their Holds, defence became natural, their Crimes having left them no hopes but in Arms; and who could expect no distinction to be made, where they were univer­sally involved in the same black guilt.

For this end your Lordship saith they had chosen a Council, formed an Oath of Association, made Four Ge­nerals of the Four Provinces, caused a Seal to be made, raised Monys, constituted a General Assembly, &c. all ensigns of the more than Regal Power they had usurped. To this Council your Lordship was sent for, [Page 50]and being well prepared by those in­clinations which made you forsake the Kings Government and the Laws, you quickly closed with them upon the grounds before expressed, and upon consideration of their model of Govern­ment, and very reasonable (as your Lordship judged it) Oath of Associa­tion, which your Lordship prints at large, and their desiring your con­junction, with thanks returned, your Lordship engaged your self to run a Fortune with them, upon very ill prin­ciples, if anger and revenge inclined you to it as much as any other conside­ration (which you intimate, though you say you cannot resolve.)

Its strange how the Earl of Castle­haven and Lord Audley in England. could close so cordially with the Irish, who had shed so much innocent Eng­lish Blood in full peace, and think himself justified by such an account of his ingagement as this, unless he had been resolved in the justice of their [Page 51]cause from the beginning, however he carried it with seeming fairness to the Lords Justices till he got out of their reach.

But ingaged your Lordship was, and being thus Confederate, and having taken the Oath of Association, becom­ing one of their Council, and General of the Horse under Preston, and giv­ing the most specious account you can of your proceedings in that quality. Truth being the greatest and best friend, I had rather one or several Persons and Families, should lie under the Consequences of its impartiality, than that the English Nation and Pro­testant Religion should suffer by a ti­morous unworthy concealing, or with­holding any part of it. And since your Lordship, to palliate or justifie your own Actions, and the Confederate Irish Cause, endeavours to render the generality of the English Protestants Criminal, your Lordship must not think it much, that I, one of English Race, [Page 52]and for Religion of the Church of Eng­land, should be a little plain in their Justification and Defence; and for that end remove the mask your Lordship hath put upon the face of Affairs, by continuing my Remarques upon your Lordships Memoires. And first to the constitution of a Council, it was made up of Members uncapable of that trust by Law. In the Oath of Association, and Propositions grounded thereon, there is not a word but breaths high Treason (except the first thirteen lines, which set up the Kings Name and Au­thority only in pagentry and mockery, to be crucified and contradicted by all that follows; and yet this Oath your Lordship held very reasonable, as the case then stood, that is, when you and your Confederates were incou­raged or heightned with a Power able, as you fancied, to make good what you had sworn. And suitable to this ungodly, trayterous Oath, where all the subsequent proceedings of the Con­federates, [Page 53]their Councils at home and their Actions abroad, their Cessations and pretended Peaces, which I shall take notice of more particularly in their respective series of time.

The general Assembly met the 24th of October 1642; your Lordship saith it differ'd nothing from a Parliament, but that the Lords and Commons sate together, and not in two Houses. Was this so inconsiderable a difference in the Opinion of a Peer of England as well as Ireland, or fit for one of so noble Extraction to be submitted to, against Honour, Law and right Reason. But the truth is, and I speak it for the honour of the Nobility of Ireland, the Rebels had not debauched enough of them, either for interest or number, to bear the Countenance of a House of Peers, or to be of any considerable fi­gure among that People, who having cast off Majesty, could not be warmed by the beams thereof, which I count the Nobility; but they resolved of [Page 54]course into common persons again, and had but single Votes among the Croud, instead of those Honourable Priviledges and Negative Voice, which their An­cestors had acquired as the just re­ward of their faithfulness to the Crown in former times, and in all De­fections and Rebellions since the sub­jection of that Nation to England. And this your Lordship ingeniously confesseth (and saith we see it) was a force-put upon you, and you hoped in time the storm being passed, to return to your old Government under the King. Here you own the being fal­len from it, but could your Lordship imagine, or any others believe, this Cob-web pretence possible, were you not all ingaged by the bond of an Oath to the contrary, and to preserve your new upstart treasonable Model and Constitution; and that the storm should never cease till you had by Arms attained a confirmation of all that you had done, for which, by the said Oath, [Page 55]you renounced the receiving any Par­don or Protection, but by your own Sword. But that Assembly differed also from a Parliament in this, That it was called by a packt party of bloody Papists in Rebellion and Confederacy, and had neither Legal nor Regal Au­thority.

But to conciliate, credit and belief, you add, That there were many learned in the Law amongst you, whom you incouraged to keep you as near the old Government as might be, holding to the Ancient Laws of the Land.

This is as improbable as the other, but if true, is a demonstration that Irish Popish Lawyers, are the worst in­struments that can be tollerated in Ireland. And it is notorious in Fact, that these were the Men that did both contrive and put in order the Rebel­lion, and frame their whole Consti­tution, and without whose Council and Abilities (having had their Edu­cation in the Inns of Court of England) [Page 56]they had never come out of that Chaos of Confusion, where they were at first, or reduced their Affairs to a consistency, but had been quickly mastered. And therefore I hope this hint concerning the Lawyers will awaken his Majesty and Parliament of England, and the Government in Ireland, to provide against the continuance of such dan­gerous instruments, as the Popish Lawyers have shewed themselves to be, and in probability will so con­tinue; making use of their Learning and Skill for subversion of Government and good Order: So that Ireland is never like to be quiet if they be tol­lerated. Your Lordship proceeds to tell us, that this Assembly without de­lay approved all the Council had done, (how could they well in gratitude do less, being themselves a Creature of that Councils making) and settled a Model of Government, viz. That at the end of every General Assembly, the supream Council should be confirm­ed [Page 57]or changed, as they thought fit. That it should consist of Twenty five, six out of each Province, three of the six still resident, the 25th was your Lordship, with no relation to any Pro­vince, but to the Kingdom in gene­ral, &c. Your Lordships Relation was a mock Image of his Majesty, which was also to the Kingdom in ge­neral, and, but that it is not now my business, I could here evince that this Constitution cast the over balance of the Government clearly into the Irish hands, such of the old English Ex­traction as joyned with them, being Ciphers upon the matter, as it ap­peared afterwards in practice: so im­probable was what your Lordship as­serts, that if a Letter came to them written in Irish, it would be wondred at, and hardly could one be found to read it, unless you would confess, that those skilled in reading the Irish Lan­guage are extinct; for the meerest I­rish of that Kingdom, and all the Po­pish [Page 58]Clergy, who (if any) are likli­est to be skilled in it, were ingaged in the Rebellion, and constant promo­ters of it, having their Colledges and Monasteries in Kilkenny, and all Cities and chief Towns under the Confede­rate Irish Power, and wholly at their Command. For a close of this Para­graph, your Lordship saith, you were not in case to bring to Justice those that begun the Rebellion, but you ne­ver saw any of them esteemed or ad­vanced. This is strange, when Owen Roe Oneal, Sir Phelemy Oneal, Con Oneal, the Mc. Donnels, Mc. Thomas, the Farrolls, the Delyes, the Mc. Car­tyes, Mc. Guires, Mc. Mahans, Fitz­patricks, Mc. Gennis's; and generally those of the meer Irish septs and Fami­lies, were chiefly trusted, whose names it were too tedious to repeat, but I have Authentick Lists of them; but indeed I do believe the Confederates, even of English Extraction, had as little will as power to question those [Page 59]that begun the Rebellion; and to this day they are so far from any inclination to condemn it, that all their Writings run in Justification of it; and I never yet met with any that cordially seemed to repent it, or perswade others to it, except only Peter Walsh, whom your Lordship calls your Ghostly Father Caron, and some few Remonstrants with them, who condemning the Do­ctrines of Rebellion, King killing, and Deposing, &c. do obliquely censure this Rebellion; and some of them po­sitively call the beginners and conti­nuers thereof to repentance.

The rest of your Lordships Me­moires is more History than Justifica­tion, as well whilst you continued to serve under the Confederate Catho­licks, which was till the Peace of 1646, proclaimed, as after, till you left Ireland, wherein your Lordships part being mixed of Gallentry and Ge­nerosity in some instances, as well as Severity and fierce Prosecution of the [Page 61] English in others, I will not be a critical observer thereof, or lead a­ny to envy your Lordship, the just esteem of whatever you did honoura­bly, though in an ill cause. But since your Lordship lays some weight of me­rit upon the Cessation, and two Peaces of 1646, and 1648, and expresseth no unfavourable Opinion of that which goes by the name of Glamorgan's Peace, and think much that the Irish their Estates were given away by the Acts of Settlement, I shall only make some general Remarks upon those par­ticulars, and the whole state of that Rebellion, and so put an end to your Lordships trouble and my own.

And first, I must observe upon the whole matter, that the Irish did the English more hurt, and advantage themselves more by the Cessation and two first Peaces, than ever they did or could do by open force after the first Massacre. Upon this grounds the Lords Justices and Council, were from [Page 60]the beginning averse to them; and for me to shew the Design and Intrigue of the Cessation and Peaces, which I can do by unquestionable Memorials and Records, will make a great part of a Volumn, and cannot well come within the bounds of a Letter; but when I have said all, I think fit to your Lordship, upon occasion of your Letter, your Lordship who (as you were an Enemy, as keen as generous) having been by your place and interest privy to all the Cabals and secret Coun­cils against the English and Prote­stants, being deeply ingaged in the Roman Catholick Confederacy; and any other Attempts against them, in what shape or form soever they ap­peared) will I hope, if you find any thing written by me questionable or doubtful in your opinion, favour me with your severest Reflections thereup­on; for as I design nothing but exact truth wherever it light, so if by inad­vertency or want of full information, [Page 62]I should erre, or come short in the least, your Lordship shall find me ready to retract or supply, but never to per­sist in it.

Your Lordship knows as well as any man, that the Earl of Ormoud, made afterwards Marquess and Duke with the same Title, was the first of that Fa­mily of the Botelers, that was Edu­cated in the Protestant Religion; his Mother the Lady Thurles, Brothers, Sisters, and all his Relations continuing Roman Catholicks, and in the Irish Quarters, and those able to bear Arms, as the Lord Muskery, after Earl of Clancarty, and Collonel Fitzpatrick, his Brother in Law, his Brother Col­lonel Richard Butler of Vilcash, and Collonel George Mathewes, and other his Relations; as the Lords Mountgar­ret, Dunboyne, and divers other Lords, and others of his Name and Family, were Generals or Commanders of lower Quality in the Rebels Army; so that his Lordship was upon the matter single [Page 63]in any Duty and Allegiance to the Crown; all his Lordships Friends, Kindred and Dependants, taking the contrary part; and his Lordship escap­ing soon after the Rebellion to Dublin, only with the Kings Troop, which he Commanded, and some Servants that attended him. The Earl of Leicester, Lord Lieutenant, as he was upon his Journey for Ireland, was discharged that Imployment, to make way for the Marquess of Ormond to succeed him, who had an unlimitted Commission sent him, sole to examine the pretended Grievances of the Irish, and for mak­ing a Cessation with the Rebels, which he did, and was after made Lord Lieu­tenant, and concluded the two first Peaces before-mentioned. I have heard Sir Philip Percival, a very worthy Person and of a fair Estate, being asked why he would by his Certificates of Defect of Stores, give countenance and furtherance to a Cessation, which [Page 64]he knew could only advantage the Re­bels, and be ruinous to the English? Answer, The Stores were really wasted upon unprofitable, fruitless Marches, and then his Certificates being required, he durst not (as an Officer) refuse them, though he was aware of the use would be made of them.

To shew your Lordship how the Ces­sation operated (laying aside at present, the question of the warrantableness on necessity thereof) and that the two first Peaces were against Law, and se­veral Acts of Parliament, in both King­doms (and upon that and other ac­counts, the validity thereof) I must take another opportunity, when I may discourse things more fully with your Lordship. I can now only briefly tell your Lordship, that all the Proceedings of the Rebels in Arms, and all their Demands, were Treason: That the English and Protestants had the Laws on their side, which the Irish by com­bination [Page 65]and force did break, and de­signed wholly to subvert: That the I­rish tollerated no Protestants in their Quarters, though that Religion were the only legal Establishment; but seized and forfeited all their Estates, whilst the Protestants afforded the measure and benefit of the Laws to the Irish and Papists, even to those who had been in Rebellion, whensoever they came in or submitted.

It is not then to be wondred at, that the chief and most of the English No­bility in Ireland, and the generality of English, Scotch, and Irish Protestants of all qualities and degrees, sooner or later, opposed both the Cessation and Peaces, as destructive to them, and derogatory to the Crown, in which number we find, the Earls of Kildare, Thomond, Cork, Barrimore, Drogheda, Donnagall, Claubrasill, Mount Alexander, &c. The Viscounts of Valentia, Conoway, Ranelagh, Kin­nelmeky, [Page 66]Shannon, &c. Barons or Lords Elsmond Juchequin, Blaney, Broghill, &c. But it were endless to name all, and of no use to your Lord­ship, who know this as well as I.

By this it appears how ungratefully the Irish did requite the Marquess of Ormond, for his unwillingness that the whole Irish Nation should ruin them­selves by their persisting in Rebellion. And now, whether it was their vain confidence to carry the day, or what else occasioned it, they lost the oppor­tunity of deliverance, which the Mar­quess of Ormond being related to so many of them by Blood and Alliance, had compassionately designed for them, though with great hardship and da­mage to the English. And whatever grounds the Marquess of Ormond had for the Cessation and Peaces (by which he could have got nothing, but would have incurred manifest loss) which it chiefly concerns himself to vouch, [Page 67]that in the eye of the World he may stand clear, as a true English Man and faithful Subject. It is apparent, that now by the Forfeiture and Punishment of the Irish, his Lordship and Family are the greatest gainers of the King­dom, and have added to their Inhe­ritances vast scopes of Land, and a Revenue three times greater than what his Paternal Estate was before the Re­bellion; and most of his increase is out of their Estates who adheared to the Peaces, or served under his Maje­sties Ensigns abroad; which shews, that whatsoever of Compassion or Na­tural Affection, or otherwise, might incline him to make those Peaces, he is in Judgment and Conscience against them, and so hath since appeared, and hath advantage by their laying a­side. The like may be said of the Duke of York, the Earl of Arlington, Lord Lanesborough, and others, who have great Estates of the Irish freely [Page 68]given them upon the same foundation. So that 'tis to be hoped whether the Bills already come over to confirm the forfeited Rebels Estates to English and Protestants, will do the work or no: That his Grace, or whosoever shall suc­ceed him in the Lieutenancy, will in time transmit such Bills as shall do that work effectually, and unite and streng­then his Majesties Protestant Subjects, to oppose and break the further De­signs of that Rebellious Generation, which they will never keep free from, so long as they acknowledge and obey a Forreign Head.

I shall make no reflection at this time upon the Peace called Glamor­gan's Peace, but what your Lordship gives occasion for by mentioning it, viz. That it was the most destructive of all to the English and Protestants, but suited best with the Confederate De­sign of establishing the Romish Idolatry, which your Lordship in your Oath of [Page 69]Association engaged as deep in as any, excepting the first foundation laid in Blood, a fit basis for a Faction, only supported by Fraud and Cruelty.

One passage in your Lordships Me­moires I cannot but take notice of, for your Honour, as an English Man, That when the Marques of Ormond in his extremity, between the Nuncio party and the Parliament of England, asked your Lordship with which of his Ene­mies he should treat. You answered, That you were confident he had re­solved that before, there being no question in the case; when it was no question with your Lordship, I wonder how it came to be one with his Lord­ship; but the success of your Council was happy, and founded upon solid grounds of Reason.

Your Lordship sees I can but glance at particulars in this Letter, and being (by so noble a Pens ingaging in justifi­cation of a Quarrel, which casts refle­ction [Page 70]upon all that took contrary part to the Irish, of which number I was one) contrary to my first intention up­on the matter, necessitated (in vindica­tion of as just a cause as ever was ma­naged under the Sun) to hasten out the last part of the general History of Ireland first (Wherein I shall so im­partially make relation beyond all pos­sibility of contradiction, that I doubt not your Lordship will reflect with remorse upon what you have done and written, wherein I differ from you, and the World will know ex­actly the truth of that sad story.) I shall in the mean time, only as in an abstract, ser these things before you, and upon the whole matter in answer to your Lordships specious justification, and for your present mortification, let you know that by Judgment of the King and his Privy Councils and Parliaments in both Kingdoms. You are involved in the guilt of Treason, and under for­feiture [Page 71]of all you have, and as a friend, yet advise you to get his Majesties Par­don, if the Acts of Parliaments have not precluded you; for its more than I know if all your Lordships active Ser­vices in Ireland be not yet liable to the utmost penalties and Severities of the Law. So far are they from being fit to be offered as entertainment to his Majesty by an Epistle Dedicatory, as your Lordship hath done.

I find your Lordship in several places reflects upon those who broke the first Peace, and call it unparallell'd breach of Faith, punished by heavy Judgments from Heaven; and yet this was the Con­federates own Act. But as if the breach of the Oath of Allegiance by the Irish, and their treacherous and bloody de­fection from the Crown of England, were a Peccadillo, your Lordship hard­ly takes notice of it, but repines at the forfeiture of Estates grounded thereup­on, though God and Man agreed in that Vengeance and Punishment.

And let this Rebellion be compared to all before it, there will not appear, since the English Title to Ireland, so just and clear grounds of forfeiture and extirpating a Nation, as have done upon this; but the King hath mingled Mercy with Justice; and though by a Providence from Heaven to the English, the Marquesses of Ormond and Clan­rickard, his Majestles chief Governors, incouraged the Irish to keep up a War against the English, wherein they were so much hardened to their ruin, that they were at length intirely subdu­ed, without condition to any save for life, and left to be as miserable as they had made others in all other respects, yet multitudes of them have been re­stored, and must yet own their Lives and Estates to the Clemency of the King, and the mildness of the English Go­vernment, which they had cast off, and put themselves under a Forreign Yoke, which neither we nor our Fa­thers [Page 73]were able to bear. The Wisdom of God thus punishing one sin of theirs with another, till they are scarce a Peo­ple; and the English and Protestant interest never more flourishing in that Kingdom. Insomuch, that it would be now the greatest folly imaginable in the Government of England and Ireland, ever to suffer the Papists to grow ca­pable of raising such a Rebellion a­gain, which they will certainly do when able; Bigottery and sottish Ig­norance, both of Priests and People in Religion, being the growing root of mischief there.

Upon the whole, since the Cobweb excuses your Lordship hath made, can­not cover the Blood that hath been shed, or bring quiet to the Consciences of any that had hand therein; and since your Lordship so well knows the Temper and Constitution of the Irish, by your long continuance and interest among them, I cannot but yet hope [Page 74]and therefore do with the most friendly adjurations beseech your Lordship here­in) that the zeal, which you yet seem to have for the King his Laws, and the English Government, will incline you to let him know (the truth you cannot be ignorant of) that they are a Nation never to be trusted till reform­ed, that so his Majesty and his Eng­lish Subjects may run no more hazards of suffering by confidence in them, or regard to their Crocodile Tears and groundless Complaints, by which they have deceived the English in all times. And that by your Repentance, imitat­ing your Ghostly Father Peter Walsh, his Advice to his Countrey Men for Repentance and change of Principles, your Lordship may give another in­stance to the World that Allegiance and the Religion you profess may dwell in the same Breast, then which nothing can more conduce to divert the Irish from future Attempts of Re­bellion.

My Lord, I find many Queries fit to be made on your Memoires, and many other particulars; a Redire therein, but you will, perhaps, think I have done too much already. I shall therefore re­serve these to another opportunity, and here close in the wonted manner, with the assurance of my being (sav­ing in the Irish Confederacy and Mat­ter of Religion)