The Horrid CONSPIRACIE Of such IMPENITENT TRAYTORS As intended A New Rebellion In the Kingdom of Ireland.
WITH A LIST of the PRISONERS, AND The Particular Manner of Seizing Dublin-Castle BY LƲDLOW, And His ACCOMPLICES.
Verbatim out of the Expresses sent to His MAJESTY from the Duke of ORMOND.
Published by Authority.
LONDON: Printed for Samuel Speed at the Rain-Bow near the Inner Temple-Gate in Fleetstreet. 1663.
The HORRID CONSPIRACIE OF Such Impenitent Traytors as intended A NEW REBELLION in the Kingdom of IRELAND.
THough God Almighty hath been pleased by his unexpressible mercy to restore His Sacred MAJESTIE to his Crown and Dignity, and thereby his good Subjects of his three Kingdoms; Yet after so long and various Rebellions it cannot seem strange if some wicked and desperate Principles still lurk in those who before were swoln to such a prodigious height by Rapine and Bloud. And though the unparallel'd Clemencie of our gracious Soveraign were sufficient (one would think) to make them remember nothing but their Pardon; yet these ungrateful Wretches have broke afresh into the Act of Indempnity, plotting most wickedly the Ruine and Destruction of all that love the Peace and Government of the three Nations: And in order thereunto, contrived first to seize upon the Royal Castle of Dublin, and then to cut off that Excellent Personage James Duke of Ormond, His Majesties Lieutenant [Page 2] of the Realm of Ireland; both which they plotted to put in execution the 21 of this last month of May. But God (who is better pleased with his own Mercies) would not prosper such ungrateful Traytors, but brought it to light; so as many of the Conspirators are now apprehended, and the rest so pursu'd as no doubt they shall not long escape. But (which is most remarkable) that all the world may see what impudent and groundless Traytors these are, they had drawn a Declaration (to be forthwith published) wherein they onely repeat the self-same Excuses which Themselves and their Predecessors us'd for the first Rebellion; pretending (forsooth) their former Oaths and Covenants, (which God knows binde them onely to Repentance that ever they took them:) That His Majestie is seduced by evil Counsellors, (because He will not consent to His own and His Peoples Destruction:) That their intent to take Arms was for their just Defence; (which hath been the Pretence of all Rebels since the world began:) That they will stand for a Religion according to the tenure of the Solemn League and Covenant; (which those very Traytors, who are all Independents, fought against) And bring all things to that state it was in the year 1659. (which was the most wilde and desperate condition, when we had Four Governments in one year.) And all this they call The Repairing of the Breaches.
The manner of putting this horrid Villany in execution, take in the very words of the Express it self.
[Page 3] ‘WHen 120 Horse, and as many Foot are had, 80 of the Foot are to be put into the Back-side, and House, being most lodged there one night, after a Scout being in, tells all is clear within; then six of them being upon occasions with Petitions in their hands, or the like, within the Castle waiting; as soon as the six men come into the Castle, they send a Messenger to the 80. to tell them; who immediately return them him again, as soon as they are ready: and at his heels comes a Basket of Bread, and other Provisions; and after it three or four men, who interpose between the Basket and the 80 Foot, lest any seeing the Party, should run before, and Alarm the Guard. As soon as the six men within see the aforesaid Messenger return, as aforesaid from the eighty, they (though scatteringly) make towards the back-gate that goeth into Sheep-street, to go forth; where, in the shutting of the Gate (for by that time the Basket will be let down, and the eighty men will appear) there will [Page 4] some strife arise between the Guard at the door and the Basket-men; the which the six men within will decide, by taking the Baskets part, and so let the eighty in, wh [...] being divided, thirty to the Guard at the door, thirty for the Guard in the great gate, ten for the Gate they enter at, and ten to the Stable-yard Gate, to force it open to receive in a select party of Horse; twenty men are to go to Jones his Chamber, and to secure him and the Ladies. All these are to have their several Leaders to each Party, of the most resolute and stoutest of the Party, and each to stand to his Business. The Horse are to be disposed of as followeth: thirty over the Water, thirty against the Stable-yard-Gate, thirty without New-gate, twenty in Wine-Tavern-street: There must be attending upon the aforesaid Foot eight Messengers, which must each couple be assign'd their party of Horse to go to: and assoon as the Foot are ready for the attempt of the Castle, they immediately send to each party of Horse one Messenger; the other four stay for further Orders. At the coming of the first Messengers, [Page 5] he that hath the charge of each party of Horse sends in four or five Horse within each Gate, and immediately mounts his men, unto whom he gives, if they want, (which few, if any, will then) a Pistol, with Ammunition. Then by that time the News comes that the Castle is taken (which the four Messengers left are to convey with all speed to their several Charges) all the Horse are marched into the Citie, without any stir or confusion, and shut the gates after them, leaving without at each Gate two Scouts to checque the Alarm of any jealous head, and to give account how things are without. At Ormond-Gate there must be left three or four men, to shut it; seven or eight at Pole-gate, and Nicholas-gate, to shut them; and so at each Gate: then each Party having their Ward assigned them, they scowre the Streets of the Citie, and disperse gatherings of the Souldiery, if any be endeavoured, and cry, A free Parliament, and an English Interest. Assoon as ever the Citie is put into any Order, (for by that time it is supposed that the Reputation of the Castle, and the undertaking [Page 6] of the English Interest, will gain followers enough) they must issue into the Suburbs, and scowre those Streets, being then assisted by most of the Forces that attempted the Castle; and so proceed, and according as they finde opportunity, require men. There must be left about twenty men near the Main-Guard under the Tholshal, to help the twenty Horse in Wine-Tavern-street, to secure it; which Guard at that time a day are but a few.’
Upon the Discovery of this Horrid Designe, the Lord Lieutenant and Council in Ireland immediately set forth this following Declaration.
BY The Lord Lieutenant AND COUNCIL.
WHEREAS certain wicked persons of Fanatick and Disloyal principles, disaffected to His Majesties Iust and Gracious Government, and to the Peace and Settlement of this Kingdom, have lately most Traiterously and Disloyally conspired to raise Rebellious Disturbances in this Realm, and particularly had designed on the 21 day of this present May to surprize and take His Majesties [Page 8] Castle of Dublin, His principal Fort in this His Kingdom, and to seize on the Person of Vs the Lord-Lieutenant, in order to their carrying on their mischievous Contrivances, for renewing Bloudy Confusions thorowout this Kingddm, from which Evils this Realm and all His Majesties Subje [...]ts therein have been but newly redeemed, and that by the blessing of God and His Majesties happie Restauration to His Rightful Crowns and Kingdoms: And as We look upon those Odious Conspiracies as the mischievous Contrivances of some Fanatick and Disloyal persons of Desperate Fortunes, as well as of desperate and destructive Principles, who endeavour to amend their own conditions by the ruine of others, or to set up some thing (if they knew what) suitable to the Frenzie of their own Humours and Imaginations, though at the charge and hazard of others, and at the price of other mens blood whom they labour to sedure; so now their horrid Conspiracie being by the Blessing of God discovered and disappointed, and some of the Conspirators apprehended and committed to Prison, We therefore have thought fit hereby to make it publickly known, for the comfort & quieting the minds of all His Majesties good and loyal Subjects in all parts of the Kingdome; and do pray and require the Presidents of the several Provinces of Munster and Connaght, as We also require all and every the Mayors and chief Officers of all Cities and Corporate Towns, and all and every the Iustices of the Peace of all and every the Counties in this Kingdome, to cause diligent search and inquiry to be made for, and to cause to be apprehended and committed to Prison all persons within their respective limits whom they shall [Page 9] find to have had any hand in the said Conspiracie, and to give to Vs the Lord Lieutenant a speedy accompt of their Proceedings herein, and Advertisements from time to time of all Occurrences falling within their knowledge or observation, which may any way tend to the Disturbance of that happy Peace and Quietness which by the Blessing of God upon His Majesties gracious Government this Kingdome and His good Subjects therein have hitherto comfortably enjoyed.
- Jo. Armachanus,
- Mau. Eustace, Canc.
- Ja. Dublin.
- Ossory,
- Kildare,
- Mount-Alexander,
- Anglesey,
- Massareene,
- Hen. Midensis,
- Joh. Clogher.
- W. Caulfield,
- Fran. Angier,
- R. Coote,
- Santry,
- Hen. Tichborne,
- Ja. Donelan,
- Jo. Bysse,
- T. Temple,
- Paul Davis,
- Ja. Ware,
- Rob. Meredith,
- Theo. Jones,
- Tho. Pigot.
And within two days afterward, the foregoing Declaration was seconded by another; which is this that follws.
By The Lord Lieutenant AND COUNCIL.
WHEREAS We have by the Blessing of God discovered and disappointed a Traiterous Conspiracy for surprizing and taking His Majesties Castle of Dublin, (His Majesties principal Fort in this His Kingdom) which the said Conspirators had designed to do on the 21 day of this present Month of May; And whereas divers of the Conspirators are apprehended and committed to Prison, where they still remain; And whereas divers others of the said Conspirators (being conscious to themselves of their own Guilts) have found means to escape, and are not as yet apprehended, namely, Thomas Blood, late of Sarny near Dunboine in the [Page 11] County of Meath, Colonel Daniel Abbot, Major Abel Warren, Andrew Mac Cormock a pretended Minister, lately of Magherawly in the County of Down, Robert Chambers, a pretended Minister, Colonel Gilbert Carr, commonly called Gibby Carr, John Chamberlin late of Dublin Brewer, John Fooke late of Atherdee in the County of Lowth Esquire, Lieutenant John Ruxton late of the same, Lieutenant De la Rock, Major Henry Jones late of Stelorgan in the County of Dublin, Major Alexander Staples late of Londonderry, Lieutenant Colonel William Moore, who was lately Disbanded, and had been formerly Garisoned at Gallway, and afterwards at Athlone. We therefore do by this Proclamation in His Majesties Name strictly charge and command all and every the said forenamed Persons, that within eight and forty hours after the publishing of this Proclamation, within the County where such Person or Persons shall then be, he and they do render his and their persons to Vs, the Lord Lieutenant, or to one of His Majesties Privy Council in this Kingdom, or to one of His Majesties Iustices of Peace next adjoyning to the place or places where such person or persons now are, or then shall be: wherein if they or any of them shall fail, We do hereby Declare and publish them and every of them so failing, to be Rebels and Traitors against His Majesty, His Crown and Dignity, and to be accordingly prosecuted by all His Majesties good Subjects. And we do hereby publish and declare, That all and every person and persons that shall relieve or conceal any of the said forenamed persons at any time after the publishing of this Proclamation as aforesaid, that they also shall be proceeded against as Relievers and Abattors [Page 12] of Rebels and Traitors. And we require all his Majesties Officers and Loving Subjects to endeavour the Apprehension of all and every the said fore-named persons. And we do hereby declare, That any person or persons that shall apprehend the said Thomas Blood, Major Abel Warren, Andrew Mac Cormock, Robert Chambers, Colonel Gilbert Carr, commonly called Gibby Carr, or any of them, and bring him or them, or cause him or them to be brought to the High Sheriff of the County wherein he or they shall be apprehended, at, by or before the 24th day of June next, shall have as a reward for the said Service, the sum of One hundred pounds for every of the said last named persons, so to be apprehended and brought in as aforesaid by or before the said 24th day of June next.
- Mau. Eustace, Canc.
- Drogheda,
- Mount-Alexander,
- Anglesey,
- Massereene,
- Dungannon,
- VV. Caulfield,
- R. Coote,
- Santry,
- Hen. Tichborne,
- Ia. Donelan,
- Io. Bysse,
- I. Temple,
- Paul Davis,
- Tho. Pigot.
BY this time 'tis too plain that the Loyal Parliaments of England, Scotland and Ireland, had too much reason to order a Renunciation of the Solemn League and Covenant; when those very Rebels which abhor and despise it (as if they were honest men) do to this hour make it the bottom for a new Rebellion: who are so weary of their own happiness, that they would not live under a Prince whom they can onely fault, that he is too good to be their King.
- [Page 15]THomas Scot, formerly a Colonel under Harry Cromwel, and continued in the Army till the Kings Restauration; and son to the Regicide.
- Col. Edward Warren, a Colonel under Harry Cromwel, and so continued till Harry Cromwel's leaving Ireland.
- Theophilus Sandford, a Capt. of Horse in Harry Cromwel's time, and so continued till his Majesties Restauration.
- John Chambers, formerly a Capt. of Horse in his Maties service, and afterwards served as a Trooper under Cromwel.
- Alexander Jephson, a Phanatick Justice of Peace, and Portriff of Trim; formerly of the Army under Cromwel.
- Philip Alden, an expert Atturney.
- Richard Thompson, formerly a Lieutenant of Horse to Ottoway, and is now Deputy-Provost-Marsoal of Lei [...]ster.
- [Page 12] John Fouke, son to Col. John Fouke, formerly Governor of Drogheda under Cromwel.
- Edward Baines, a Fanatick Preacher, formerly Harry Cromwel's Chaplain.
- William Lackey, a Presbyterian Preacher, and a School-master.
- Thomas Boyd, a Merchant of Dublin.
- James Tanner, formerly a Clerk to Dr Gorge when he was Secretary to Harry Cromwel.
- Andrew Sturges, an Inn-keeper where the Conspirators usually met.
- William Dod, a Clerk in the Discriminators Office.
- Stephen Radford, an ordinary Towns-man, and a professed Fencer.
- Abraham Langton, an ordinary Citizen of Dublin.
- William Bayly, a Towns-man.
- Robert Davies, a Trooper formerly.
- John Biddel, a Trooper formerly.
- John Smullen, a Trooper formerly.
- Thomas Ball, a Towns-man, and formerly a Trooper.
- John Griffin, a Trooper formerly.
- [Page 15] William Bradford.
- Samuel Fann, alias Farr. Taken since.
- Major Henry Jones.
- Richard Price.
THere is a dayly expectation of some farther Intelligence, which shall be made publick with the first opportunity: till then, t [...]e Reader must be satisfied with what hath been already related, it being an exact Narrative as it was represented to His Majesty Himself. If you meet with any other Accompts of the Irish Affairs, they must be imperfect and counterfeit, and not as this is,
Printed and Published by Authority.